Twelve Months a Year, Seven Days a Week, Twenty-four Hours a Day- Part of the Yavneh Family

Here at Yavneh we call ourselves “part of the Yavneh family.” As faculty in the school, we take that seriously. Consequently, when students leave the campus- whether at 4:40 each day or on June 20^th, we do not stop thinking about them, and even worrying about them. It would be easy for us to say, “They are not in our building now. They are not our responsibility.” A family relationship does not take time off for two months a year. And, that closeness does not go on hiatus in the evening during the school year. That is why we put so much effort into our social/emotional curriculum and particularly into our weekly Advisory classes. We understand that those are the skills they need to succeed out of the protective bubble of their second home- when we are not with them. We want them to have the skills to navigate camp, Bar Mitzvahs, high school...- all outside of Yavneh and all topics we cover in our Advisory curriculum.

In planning the last few weeks of the 2011-12 school year we focused on what our students will confront outside of Yavneh. Our Sixth Graders spent the year in their Advisory program focusing on their transition to Middle School and adolescence. Organization, time management, etiquette, friendship skills, and body image were some topics they tackled this year.

This past week, the sixth graders had workshops on “Preparing for Camp.” They discussed challenges that they might face in both day and sleepaway camps. Beginning with situations such as, “Jake has been waiting an hour for his turn in the shower after the big hockey game. He finally gets his turn and as he's showering he hears laughing. Suddenly, the curtain to his shower opens and he sees Tom, Louis and Steven standing there hysterically laughing." Our boys discussed: What is wrong with this situation? What would they do? Why is it important to tell someone? Who should they tell? Why do children sometimes not tell? What is our responsibility as bystanders? We focused on the importance of listening to that voice inside of us , and when we are uncomfortable, we must do something. We also need to know our own personal boundaries and when someone crosses those boundaries, we need to make it stop. The boys focused on the importance of protecting oneself from abuse from one's peers and from adults as well- even adults we trust. A scenario such as, "The head counselor of your camp, a really great guy, asks you to go out to the woods with him to collect fire wood for the camp fire later. Everyone else is in the Cafeteria far away on the other side of camp," was discussed, for example. Our students learned that most adults have our best interests at heart, but we need to utilize the safety rules without exception- just in case.

Other issues discussed by the girls were- What are some of the challenges I face if I go to a local day camp with non- Jewish campers? What do I do if I am home for the summer and lonely? What if my counselor is not receptive to my problem, who should I tell? How do body image issues pop up over the summer? How do we deal with homesickness? Fights with bunkmates? The insightful discussions that ensued provided our students with essential and practical skills need for life outside of Yavneh- during those other two months of the year!

Our seventh graders completed their year- long curriculum of “Prepare Yourselves to Change the World.” Their year was highlighted by internalizing the skills of empathy, resiliency building, and strength of character to withstand peer pressure among numerous other skills. Projects such as working with the homeless, decorating and delivering pillowcases to ill children, and writing letters and petitions against a nuclear armed Iran allowed for them to take the skills they learned and translate them into action. During their last lesson they created “7^th Grade Time Capsules” to be opened in 2022. They had the opportunity to record what they are like now and what they predict they will be like in the future- outside of Yavneh!

Our eighth graders culminated their Advisory curriculum “Preparing for Life After Yavneh” with lessons asking them to contemplate what they anticipate the next few months will be like and how they feel about leaving Yavneh. What did they gain in their years here? What are their worries about the years ahead? What excites them about their new beginning? Students were asked to complete surveys about their time here to provide us with feedback to improve or continue various aspects of our Middle School. At their Graduation Brunch the eighth graders read and took to heart the inscriptions written by their peers that they found inside their new Siddurim. Those inscriptions hopefully inspired them to strive higher and farther as they leave Yavneh.

At 11:30 on June 20^th we will wave good-bye to our students for the summer. They rush to the door “כתינוק הבורח מבית הספר" “like a young child who runs from school”- literally. But, I, with the rest of my colleagues, will be thinking of them all summer. Are they able to implement the skills we taught them in the “real world”? Can they face challenges and successes in life with ease and resiliency? Will they make the rest of the Yavneh family proud? What can we change, revamp, redesign or innovate so that they can do even better outside of Yavneh?