A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 57, Issue 5 • February 2024 / 5784
Schedule overhaul shortens school day By Rae Levy
Contributing Writer
Starting in September, Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School will be making huge changes to its daily schedule. The most significant of them is that the school day will start later and end earlier, with nine periods each day—a big change from the current 12. Shacharit will start at 7:45, 15 minutes later than the current 7:30. The administration said they understand that teenagers need time to wake up in the morning and want them to struggle less with getting to school on time. Breakfast will last until 8:50 in order to not rush minyan, especially on days with Torah in the morning. Mincha will also be longer to provide
students with a bigger break to get food and relax before resuming classes. Each period will last an extra 7 minutes, with 4-minute breaks between periods, hopefully allowing for the transition from class to class to become easier. Additionally, all classes will start at a time ending with a zero, to make the bell schedule easier for students and teachers to remember. With fewer periods each
most classes that currently seems to fall onto juniors. Incoming jumeet 6 times a week will niors used to be able to choose up to three meet only 5 times, and elective classes, including a science elective most classes that are now of their choice, but now have the option to meeting 5 times a week take only one elective, while physics will will meet 4 times a week. be mandatory as their science class. (See The overall total yearly accompanying article below for more.) class time should stay In the students’ one free elective period, roughly the same, not continued on page 6 affecting the amount of learning teachers will be able to teach. The administration said they do not foresee any issues with Regents classes finishing the curricu- By Robin Shatzkes Contributing Writer lum in time. day, The biggest change to everyday life Beginning in September, all Flatbush juniors will be required to take physics. For many years, Yeshivah of Flatbush’s students have had to take biology in freshman year, chemistry in sophomore year, and an elective in science in junior or senior year. However, it recently came to the attention of the faculty and administration that this may not be the best curriculum will be very beneficial to so many, for student’s college applications, work regardless of the unusual circum- ethics, and more. stances.” To many, this may seem like a great adSeniors who attended ILE- justment, because most selective colleges AD this past summer still highly look for three years of traditional sciences: recommend the program to ju- biology, chemistry, and physics. So taking niors. “Going to ILEAD is worth a science that colleges find important is it because you get to experience vital to students who would like to go to the land of Israel in a way you’ve selective colleges. The Yeshivah of Flatbush never done before, learn values staff has also spoken with many other high for life, and form lifetime connec- schools and looked at their curriculums; tions with counselors who are all many other high schools require physics former IDF soldiers. It’s an experi- for their 11th graders. Ms. Freedman, head of the science deILEAD participants on a hike last summer ence that will change people’s lives in very profound ways, for those partment, shared that she’s been trying to concerns due to its usual lack of protection looking to make a change in their make this change for a couple of years. She and supervision. Historically focused on lives and be open to new perspectives on hopes that next year, students will have the freedom and improvement, this upcom- life,” Max Elmann, an ILEAD attendee in opportunity to choose from multiple types ing summer, changes were implemented 2023, commented. of physics courses. “I would venture to say to ensure attendees’ safety. According to Regardless of the recommendations that we are going to offer anywhere from ILEAD staff, armed guards will now ac- from seniors, junior Nina Tawil is on the conceptual physics, to algebra-based physcompany students everywhere they go. verge of forgoing her ILEAD dreams. Due ics, and AP physics, for the higher honors The general consensus among students is to the tragedies of October 7 and families classes,” she said. that the spontaneity that the trip once had being torn apart, substantial numbers of Other AP science courses and science will be gone this year. Every aspect will be Israeli children have been put in children’s electives will be available for juniors who carefully calculated, and many students homes recently. Tawil would rather spend want to take a second science concurrently, are turned off by this. time with them and other people in need, and will be available to seniors. Katie Hidary, however, still has her preferring to “focus the summer on helpRabbi Galpert believes that this new adeyes on ILEAD. “A lot of my family mem- ing others than developing myself as a justment is very beneficial when it comes bers have gone on the trip and raved person, especially in these hard times.” to colleges. He spoke to other schools and about it. I honestly believe that the trip
All juniors will take Physics
Israel war has many juniors rethinking summer plans
By Sylvia Saad Fashion Editor
During Junior Seminar, Sophie Cattan took to the floor of Tisch with a tear-jerking speech about her experience in Kol Hanearim (KH), a program in Israel where American high school students live in children’s homes alongside children from troubled backgrounds. Cattan’s story from the Bet Elazraki home touched the hearts of everyone in the audience. After hearing her speech, many began contemplating their summer plans. Students set on ILEAD were no longer sure if it was the right choice. Many juniors are opting for different programs in Israel this summer, largely due to the war. A gradewide survey revealed a significant drop in the number of students planning to attend ILEAD, from around 65 in 2022 to around 10 this year. Instead, many have chosen to go on alternate and somewhat unknown programs, such as KH, or to not go to Israel at all. ILEAD, a program dedicated to the personal growth of participants through real-life experiences, is now facing safety
In This Issue
World news: Page 4 D’var Torah: Page 5 Ask Merle: Page 9
continued on page 6
Opinion: Is Starbucks better than Chock? Page 2
Entertainment: Predicting the Oscars Page 10
continued on page 6
Sports: Using math for March Madness Page 12 phoenix@flatbush.org | 1