The School Your Daughter Wants To Attend

VALLEY STREAM, LONG ISLAND — Bnos Chomesh Academy, a new girls’ high school located just 30 minutes from Crown Heights is now open for registration for the 2007-2008 academic year for 9th and 10th grades. Bnos Chomesh combines a strong academic curriculum with the kind of individual attention that only a school with small classes can provide.

The school’s founder and principal is Mrs. Dena Gorkin, an acclaimed mechaneches who has been working with teenage girls both in and out of the classroom for 15 years. Bnos Chomesh faculty is experienced, caring and tuned in to the educational, social, and spiritual needs of each girl. As a result, this new school has already gained the support and endorsement of some of the most respected mechanchim. The school has also received a whole-hearted approval from the principals of Beth Rivka High School.

When you hear Mrs. Gorkin speak about Bnos Chomesh, her enthusiasm is infectious, “We are committed to providing a total experience for our girls, so that every one of them will succeed both academically and spiritually; so that they will be eager to incorporate the learning into their lives and have real chayus in Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit. Every detail of our program is designed with this goal in mind.”

She elaborates, “One of the most important aspects of our approach is teaching the vital skill-based subjects such as Chumash by ‘level’, rather than by grade. This ensures that every student is appropriately challenged. As students improve their skills they advance to the next ‘level’ to climb new heights. The Rebbe teaches us never to be complacent. We must constantly set new goals when old ones are achieved. This is the cornerstone of our school’s philosophy.”

Bnos Chomesh Academy offers a full range of challenging Limudei Kodesh courses that combine innovative and traditional learning methods. There is, for example, a Chavrusa learning program wherein girls choose a partner with whom they cover a subject of their choice… it might be Chumash, Mishna or a Ma’amar. During the Chavrusa sessions, teachers are on site to monitor the girls’ progress and help them hone independent learning skills.

The Limudei Chol curriculum is just as engaging. Academic subjects such as math, history, language arts and science are offered on a NYS Regents level. What’s more, art, music and gym are also part of the regular curriculum. A dynamic Bnos Chabad leader is ready with programs designed to augment the learning, ensuring that school is not only educational, but loads of fun as well! Many special interest workshops are offered – CPR, handwriting analysis, nutrition, needlework and cooking. School trips and outings and visits to local shluchim for special occasions will complement the academic curriculum.

But wait, there’s more! As a dormitory school, Bnos Chomesh offers a truly nurturing environment for girls. A warm, devoted, chassidishe staff is ready and waiting to welcome each girl and create for her a home away from home. At Bnos Chomesh, boredom is simply not an option! Daily activities are scheduled for after-school hours. One day there is a craft or sports workshop, another – community service (like friendship circle), yet another – a farbrengen! As one member of the Bnos Chomesh Academy Board of Directors aptly put it, “This school is so exciting, girls will actually be looking forward to coming back to school after vacation!”

But at the end of the day, learning is still at the center of what the Bnos Chomesh is all about. As her guiding principle, Mrs. Gorkin talks about a “learning triangle” that is essential for any student’s success – “LEARN,” “LOVE,” “LIVE.”

First, students need to have the opportunity to LEARN, and that happens only if learning is geared to each and every type of student. Some students prefer visual learning, others absorb information better auditorily; some memorize with great ease, others thrive on in depth text learning. A teacher must know how to get the material across to each type of learner, so that they all have the opportunity to master the subject.

Secondly, students need to be shown how to LOVE learning. That is only possible in an environment that encourages the development of individual strengths and where questions of any kind are welcome… Teachers’ must be truly excited about their subject matter and love their students.

And finally comes discovering how to LIVE the learning. How does this perek in Tanya or the Or Hachayim on this posuk apply to my interaction with my roommate? How can this sicha help me improve a midah that I need to work on? How can I make a difference in the world after all my schooling is complete?

True, that’s really a lot to expect from a school. Bnos Chomesh will live up to this high standard and in no small measure due to a rigorous and ongoing teacher-training program. Mrs. Gorkin believes that Bnos Chomesh is a place of learning not only for the students, but for the teachers and parents as well. The school has scheduled monthly teacher workshops and designed a mentoring program that pairs up the more experienced teachers with the younger ones. “We value the wisdom of our seasoned teachers and the enthusiasm of the newer ones. They have much to learn from each other, and this program is just one way of making it happen,” says Mrs. Gorkin. Additionally, parents can take advantage of workshops throughout the year that will help them understand the developing needs of their teenage daughters.

Bnos Chomesh is now open for registration for the 2007-2008 academic year for 9th and 10th grades and classes are filling up quickly.

For more information or to register your daughter,
please call (718) 687-3183 or email to bnoschomesh@gmail.com