Massachusetts School Excited About the Future
A roller skating rabbi and hockey playing educational director are not the norm of what students see during a typical school day, unless you attend Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy (LYA) in Longmeadow, MA.
On Friday, March 14, LYA staff, students and parents were treated to a hockey competition between its two enthusiastic administrators, Rabbi Noach Kosofsky, Principal and Dr. Mitchell Kupperman, Educational Director. This game was a result of another successful Registration Mania Week that was held at the school.
Registration Mania Week occurs every year at LYA in the beginning of March and includes monetary incentives for families that register, as well as a week full of exciting activities for the student body.
This year, LYA chose “Around the World at LYA” as the theme for its Registration Week activities. Classes were transformed into countries and were challenged to travel around the world during the week, while participating in a variety of activities that were designed to be fun and build school spirit. Countries earned points for their participation in various activities and charted their progress on a large map that was posted in the school.
Countries created flags, dressed in spirited costumes, competed in travel races, played country sports and spoke different languages. The week culminated in a fiesta during which countries served food they prepared from their country. The fourth grade, representing England, was the first country to complete their travel around the world and was awarded a vacation to New Zealand for their hard work and synergy during the week.
“Registration Mania Week at LYA is more than just a fun week of school”, commented Rabbi Noach Kosofsky, Principal. “It validates the confidence that families in our community have in the educational excellence that they receive at LYA.”
The highlight of Registration Mania Week is the Registration Challenge set by LYA’s creative administrators. This year, they set a challenge to the school community to register in excess of the 90% of the current student body. Having exceeded that challenge and successfully reregistering 96% of the students, Dr. Mitchell Kupperman and Rabbi Noach Kosofsky participated in a hockey game in full uniform while on roller skates.
LYA looks to the 2014-15 school year with great excitement. The school will be planning for an increased size in their middle school and preschool. As a Leader in Me school, LYA is looking forward to its continued implementation of the model including student led conferences and Leadership Days. LYA 7th and 8th grade students will be traveling to Israel for the school 9th Israel Experience. LYA will also focus on increasing technology into the curriculum.
“We have so much to be thankful for as we plan for the future of Jewish Education in our community”, commented Rabbi Noach Kosofsky.
