Students learn all about Yeshiva University

Graphic by Sydney Freedman ('20)
Article by Jacqueline Zimmerman ('19) 

This week, 11th and 12th graders were privileged to receive a presentation from Yeshiva University. The representative from YU spoke about the incredible academics and extracurricular activities that are available at the school, while also emphasizing the religious component that the university offers. YU makes it extremely feasible for a religious Jew to have a genuine college experience while comfortably observing Judaism. YU attracts students from a variety of religious backgrounds while ensuring that their specific religious preferences are accommodated. In addition, YU is a rigorous college that effectively challenges students both secularly and religiously. The university even offers a prestigious honors program for those applicants who display exceptional academic success. To top it all off, Yeshiva University is located in New York City, making its environment lively and exciting, especially for a college student. It was greatly beneficial to learn about this option presented by the college guidance team.  

 

Article by Yoni Mayer ('18)

On Tuesday, the senior class was granted the privilege of sitting down with one of the many admissions counselors as practice for interviews in general and as a way for the admissions office to get to know us by face as well as name. Parents of high school students, and prospective Yeshiva University attending seniors also took part in the YU week with a presentation given by the admissions team at the Englander house. Overall, the YU admissions staff made their presence known in Katz Yeshiva High School and its attending families with their efforts to impress and attract future YU families.  

Freshman Bond During a Boating Adventure

Graphic by Akiva Stadlan ('19) and Akiva Groman ('19)

Article by Aleksandra Shapiro ('21)

Rosh Chodesh Breakfast and Chagigah Usher in the New Month

Graphic by Eitan Ben-Aaron ('19)

The Success of the 8:20 Start Time

Graphic by Highlights Staff

Article by Sara Deichman ('19)

Whispers of the rumored 8:20 am start time occupied the hallways of KYHS last year, filling students with hope of a few more minutes of peaceful sleep in contrast to the 8:03 start time. The rumor became reality once Rabbi Kroll announced to the student body that school would in fact begin at 8:20 am during the 2017-2018 school year and beyond. To begin the evaluation of the effects, I recognized one main reason as to why the later start occurred. For years, students traveling each and every morning from Hollywood, North Miami Beach, Boynton, and other cities beyond Boca Raton have commuted for periods of time that seem extenuating to local Boca kids. This division fueled a schism; the commuters versus the students living on Montoya Circle itself, or nearby. Commuters felt they were at a disadvantage, with homes they could not walk to, and parents that could not drive five minutes to pick them up when necessary. For this reason, commuters spend time at local friend's houses, often sleeping over, and simply cannot wait to get a license of their own. The location change of the new building has certainly altered the commuter vs. local perspective. For years, Montoya circle residents lived in bliss, with school just a minute away, however, now they too are commuters, and while the drive may be shorter, Boca kids have begun to know how it feels. The light on Glades road also seems to be an area of aggravation. Many students entering the school through the north entrance must wait for minutes on end at the light entering the federation campus through Glades. It's a good thing the school has two entrances, because many students are forced to wait at the entrance light and are in turn late as is. Due to the location change, many more students are required to drive to school.

According to many studies, the brain of a teenager is not fully alert until 10 am, and adolescents should not be woken up before 7. Our later start time may in fact, even by very little, help student brain function in the future. With an extra fifteen minutes of sleep, students have more time to become alert and take on the school day with full force.

    Glancing around during daily davening, it is easy to see improvement from the 8:20 start time. While arrival of buses from the south still depends on morning traffic, the school as a whole seems to be more on time! Many Boca residents recall arriving to school late in the past years due to their short distance from the building. Therefore, it was easy to arrive a few minutes late and take their time in the mornings, assuming that with such a short commute, they could take their time. However, this mirage has evaporated, and many Boca residents now say they have a significantly smaller number of lates this year. On the other end, that is not the case for Hollywood residents. The overarching answer received is that students coming from the South either arrive late to school more often or have the same number of late arrivals as last year. Both coffee consumption and average student bedtimes are evidently the same as last year within the student body according to collected data. The new start time is proving beneficial thus far with more precise arrivals within the Boca Raton community, However, the response of those coming from the south varies, and the true effects of the start time are inconclusive. Hopefully our students are no longer L8!

Parent Teacher Student Conferences

Graphic by Daniel Gross ('19)

Article by Adina Hirsch ('19)

9th-11th Graders Take the PSATs to Prepare for SATs

Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19)

Empowering Girls Through the Power of Code

Graphic by Yosef Linzer ('18)

Article by Lexi Cohen ('19)