New Classrooms, New Students, New Year at LYA

Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy (LYA) in Longmeadow, MA opened its doors to more than just a school year. “As we continue to see an increase in enrollment in all departments, LYA staff mobilized over the summer to find space for new students and new classes in time for the opening of school”, commented Rabbi Noach Kosofsky, the school’s principal.

As students and families entered LYA, larger classes meant new configurations and enhancements in the building.  The Early Childhood Department is enjoying the newly installed tile floors in the classrooms.  Elementary students found that some of their classrooms were relocated to accommodate the restructuring of LYA’s middle school.  LYA has seen a 25% increase in middle school students and this resulted in creating new schedules for the middle school, requiring LYA to hire more staff.

“The beginning of the year has picked up right where the girls left off last year,” remarked Lauren Parzivand on a smooth transition.   “It is amazing to see them jump right back into the swing of things with the same enthusiasm (if not more) than they had last year.”

William Doldt and Lauren Parzivand relocated their family from Raleigh, North Carolina last December and enrolled their two daughters, Lily and Emma, in LYA preschool and kindergarten last year.  Lauren Parzivand was no stranger to LYA, as her three younger siblings are LYA graduates.

“Our daughters’ excitement is a testament to the wonderful, warm staff that my girls have come to love since moving to our new community and they are ready for all the new and wonderful things they will learn and experience this year.”

This October marks five years since LYA was reaccredited by New England Association of School and Colleges (NEASC). For this milestone LYA will submit a five year report in which the school reflect on its successes and set goals for the next five years.

LYA administration and staff members strive to constantly challenge themselves to improve and raise the bar on educational excellence.  The summer of 2014 was no exception.   The Language Arts committee continued to review new curriculum material that will become part of the LYA’s Language Arts curriculum. The staff met as a group and took a booster session in the 7 Habits in preparation for modeling and using the 7 Habits with their students.

“As LYA enters the fourth year using The Leader in Me Model, we continue to see the positive results of students taking control in their lives, achieving their goals and becoming competent and confident leaders”, remarked Rabbi Kosofsky.

“Our son Mendel was truly excited to return to school!  He was looking forward to being with his friends, to learning new things, to move forward and upward on his leadership journey”, commented Dr. Miriam Buckberg on the beginning of a new year.

Dr. Buckberg and her husband, Reuven, relocated to Longmeadow from Maine two years ago and were drawn to the community because of LYA.  “Mendel finds school at LYA fun and exciting because of the wonderful programs that the school provides in addition to the curriculum covered in class.”

Community-wide attendance increased at programs and events organized by the school during the past year and into the summer months.  Summer Gan Israel Camp, the LYA Summer Barbecue and weekly study classes during July and August make LYA a destination all year long.

“LYA is excited for the New Year and the future of Jewish Education in our community”, remarked Rabbi Kosofsky.

LYA serves the Jewish community of Western Massachusetts for close to seventy years.  LYA is accredited by NEASC, The New England Association of School and Colleges and is a Leader in Me school.  An LYA education offers excellence in Judaic and secular studies for toddlers through eighth grade with individualized attention, as well as providing family education, holiday programming, a Hebrew School and Hachai Hebrew High School.

For more information about LYA, please call 413-567-8665 or log onto their newly designed website at www.LYA.org.