One of the fascinating elements of the narrative of Parshat Shelach is that two of the emissaries sent by Moshe see things one way and the other ten saw the exact same events in a completely different light. The result was that the two provided one summary report and the others delivered a very different and negative report. Of course we are dismayed by this outcome because our heroes are Yehoshua and Kalev, and at this stage of the nation's story we root for momentum towards Eretz Yisrael and not the slamming on the brakes of the national project. However, the point of interest I'd like to highlight is that different people can experience the exact same experience and walk away with diametrically opposed impressions of what took place.

This Covid-19 Year comes to a close with this week's Highlites and a few more final exams next week. For numbers of us this was a tough year and that is the lens through which we see these past fifteen months. For some, this year of challenge was a year of redefining our understanding ourselves as instructors, as students, as friends, and as people. Mask wearing and podding wasn't fun, but we took solace in the grade unity and faculty room camaraderie that ensued. We may not have liked the absence of Rosh Chodesh Chagigot, but we appreciated all the more our Chanuka concert and our Yom HaAtzmaut festivities-plus-Color-War. On the one hand it was the year nobody expected or wanted. And yet, this has still been a year of growth and a year to appreciate for its positives.

Thank you to the students who were diligent about being present, and to those who were quarantined for your patience. Thank you to our staff for excellently holding down the fort during the entire year and providing a quality education to our students. Thank you to our parents who maintained faith that KYHS would be able to address the challenges, and we hope you feel that we succeeded. Thank you to the Highlites staff for maintaining high standards of production throughout the year despite having to work remotely for much of time.

Baruch HaShem, we can see a lot of light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully we now close the book on the 2020-21 school year and optimistically and excitedly look forward to starting the next chapter of KYHS' glorious history in August.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Levitt
5781 Graduation
Goodbye Seniors We Will Miss You!
Graphic: Chana Schandelson ('22)
After a wonderful "Covid" Outdoor parking lot graduation that occurred last year, we knew it would take a lot to "Trump" that event. But we did at the beautify Trump Doral in Miami on June 2nd.

Thank you Shimmie Kaminetsky for planning the event and Zachary Cohen for the amazing videos! The event speaks for itself:


Senior Trip
Top of the Trees to Top of Atlanta

Because of new Covid rules and vaccinations, seniors were allowed to have a senior trip. And what a great trip it was! From zip lining to white water rafting, to Coke museum and The amazing Georgia Aquarium. The seniors really got a taste of Atlanta. Many thanks to Rabbi Akiva Wolk and Mrs. Shainde Hochner for planning the trip and to the other chaperones: Rabbi Ben Sugerman, Rabbi Avi Levitt, Mrs. Claudia Cohen and Mrs. Lysee Stein for ensuring that every child had an amazing time! Watch the video and look at the images-for the real story!


 Senior Dinner
5781 Yearbook Makes it's Deput

Senior dinner was truly a night that will always be remembered by every graduate. Starting off with some mingling, then a delicious catered dinner, and a fun game planned by the senior dinner committee (Eliana Broide, Samantha Cleeman, Hannah Leibowitz, and Sophia Hoffman), followed by a heartwarming video made by Shuli Frier, Benny Frank, and Adam Dennis, and ending off the night by receiving our yearbooks, which were introduced by the hardworking Editors-in-Chief (Ariella Gross, Yosef Scher, and Alex Lurie).
Throughout the night, there was an undeniable camaraderie between the graduating class. Senior dinner was the perfect way to end the year with such immense joy. Despite a challenging year because of COVID-19, the senior class was able to make the most of the situation they were given, and we truly came together as a family.

Senior dinner simply highlighted that bond we have made. It was also extremely beautiful to see that not single person wanted the night to end, causing the cleaning crew to force everyone out of the room. A short paragraph does not do justice to how special and memorable the night was, but I am certain that anyone who attended understands exactly what I am talking about. Finally, a big shout out to Mrs. Hochner for planning the entire event!

Student Council Elections

Graphic: Chana Schandelson ('22)

Last week we held our annual KYHS Student Council (StuCo) elections. Each grade heard from their class presidential candidates and school presidential candidates. Each candidate delivered original speeches filled with exciting plans for the future if they were to be elected. After voting took place, the results came back with Eitan Pitch('22) and Shayla Saida ('22) as School Presidents, Sara Nagler ('22) and Mendy Gilinksi ('22) as Senior class Presidents, Jamie Berger ('23) and Moises Tache ('23)as Junior class Presidents, and Samuel Lindenbaum ('24) and Lia Sedaghati ('24) as Sophomore class Presidents. In one of our closest elections ever, it was great to see over 96 percent of the student body vote and voice their opinion. We look forward to all of the great things that StuCo has in store for next year!


Article: Rabbi Moshe Nachbar
See you in the Quad!
KYHS Students get accepted to top Colleges and Universities!
Graphic By Chana Shandelson ('22))
With everything going on in the world, we were so impressed by your perseverance, general optimism, and camaraderie. This partial list of schools to which you were accepted demonstrates the hard work you have put in over the past four years. We know that you will continue to be successful as you embark on the next step in your educational journey. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

Barnard College
Binghamton University
Boston University 
Brandeis University
Columbia University
Concordia University
CUNY Baruch College
CUNY Hunter College
CUNY Queens College
Drexel University
Emory University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University - Wilkes Honors College
Florida International University
Florida State University
The George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Indiana University
IDC - Herzliya
Johns Hopkins University
Lander College for Men
Lander College for Women 
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
Long Island University
New York School of Career and Applied Sciences
Northeastern University
New York University
Pace University
Palm Beach State College
Rutgers University
Technion
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Central Florida
University of Colorado - Boulder
University of Florida
University of Maryland
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of New Hampshire
University of Pennsylvania
University of South Florida
University of Southern California
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Washington University in St. Louis
Yeshiva University 

Article by Holly Seidenfeld and Lawrence Wolff
Virtual Dinner
Thank you to our Medical Advisory Board and the KYHS Faculty
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our KYHS Virtual Dinner honoring our Dedicated Faculty and Medical Advisory Committee who have done so much to ensure that KYHS stayed open this entire school year.  We are so happy to have the chance to recognize the incredible work of these individuals, along with Mrs. Debby Levitt, who did an incredible job this school year managing and coordinating all of the contact tracing that needed to be done in order for school to stay open.
 
In addition to honoring these very special individuals, we heard from Eli Beer, founder of United Hatzalah who shared his journey and amazing story of survival through COVID-19. The night ended on a lighter note with comedian, Eli Lebowicz!
 
Thank you to all of our generous donors for contributing to the event which is our most important fundraiser of the year. If you’d still like to contribute, please click here to participate.
 
For those who missed out, check out all of the videos below that were shown at the event as well as a recording of the event itself.





Highlites Staff