The Academy Voice

The Student Newspaper of HBHA
5801 West 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211
913-327-8150
www.hbha.edu

Senior Editor-Elana G.
News Editor-Maggie H., Op-Ed. Editor-David H., Sports Editor- Hannah A., Photo/A&E Editor-Jonathan E.
Staff Writers: Ari W., Mikayla D., Josie T., Hannah C., Max F.

Please contact Faculty Advisor James Wilcox at jwilcox@hbha.edu with comments, concerns, or questions about The Academy Voice

Students Get in the Spirit
Jonathan E./The Academy Voice

    Wacky, tacky, warm, cozy, colorful and all around spirited; the upper school students of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy had their first spirit week of the year to celebrate the start of the Rams Basketball season. There was a twist to this year’s spirit week. The class that had the most kids who dressed up and brought the most cans in to be donated won a free lunch from Kosher Subway. The senior class won the competition and the high school over all collect more than 200 cans.
    “We thought to ourselves, ‘what better way to have a spirit week then to have it while supporting a good cause’” Student Council president Hillary G. said.
    The spirit days included Wacky Tacky Day, Rams Spirit Day, Pajama Day, Dress Like a Teacher Day and Color Wars Day. On Dress Like a Teacher Day, the freshmen dressed up as Mike Bannen, the sophomores as Cody Welton, the juniors as Edna Meltzer and the seniors as Austin Benton.
    “It was such a fun week,” Freshman Emma R. exclaimed, “It was so nice not to have a strict dress code for a change.”

HBHA Pricked by Vaccine
David H./The Academy Voice

    To assuage concerns about the H1N1 outbreak, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy distributed vaccinations to the students and faculty last Thurs. and Fri., Nov. 19 and 20, respectively.
    Although HBHA gives seasonal flu vaccines to the faculty annually, this is the first time a flu vaccine was given to students, although the vaccination students received did not include the seasonal flu vaccine. According to nurse Elisa Pener, the school was presented with a unique opportunity. Several schools within the county were given accreditation by the State of Kansas to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to students and serve essentially as satellite clinics for their local county’s health department.
    “There is a lot of concern since we are the primary, at-risk, age group. Under twenty-four year olds are one of the primary groups affected by the illness”, said Pener. 
    According to Pener, the school distributed nearly 150 vaccines to students and faculty and has no knowledge of any side effects.
    As an additional protocol, students under ten years of age are advised to receive a second dose of the vaccine. The school will provide students with the additional vaccine the week of Dec. 15, the week before winter break. 

PTO and Rams Cafe Serve up a Tasty Serving of Technology
Max F./The Academy Voice

    "That’s a really good idea. I’m really glad they did that.”  This was freshman Emma Marie R.’s reaction when she heard about the donation of $17,800 for technology advancements at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. This donation was made possible by the Parent- Teacher Organization from the revenue generated from The Rams Café.
    The donation will purchase eleven ceiling – mounted projectors, along with 18 DVD VCR combo projectors. Each classroom in the school will be equipped with the ceiling – mounted projectors. In addition the Computer Lab software will be updated and new keyboard software will be purchased.
    “I can’t tell you how amazing this contribution is,” said Principal Gayle Gray, “We have come so far with the technology initiative and I’m excited that all teachers will now be able to utilize projectors in the classrooms.”
    PTO president, Miriam Kaseff does not believe that the PTO should get all the credit for the donation. “The Middle School and High School Students who eat in the café day in and day out, as well as the volunteers who spend countless hours there preparing and serving food ought to have the accolades,” she said.
    “It’s very generous of them [PTO],” IMAK Teacher Nancy Franks said “it helps us keep up with the changing technological world. All the teachers are extremely grateful.”
    In addition to the technology donation, the PTO has committed $9,600 towards the "March of the Living" Junior and Senior Class Trip to Poland and Israel. This money will be evenly distributed among all the students, giving each approximately $400 towards the $5000 trip.
    “Even though the students are doing their own fundraising, the PTO felt that The Rams Café really is their fundraiser,” Kaseff continued. “It is our hope that going forward the PTO will be able to continue contributing $10,000 for this extremely worthwhile bi-annual trip.”

History and Dancing Rolled Into One
Hannah A./The Academy Voice

    Cross, back, side, front! This year the Alvin Ailey Dance Workshop came to the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy not once, not twice, but three times. They performed their work shop for sixth- through twelfth-grade.
    The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrated their fiftieth-anniversary this year. Alvin Ailey started off as a gymnast, but was told he would be a great dancer.  Ailey said that he did not know how to dance, but after several years later of sitting in on dance classes, Ailey’s dance career took off.
The program that was brought to the school is an outreach program. A representative from the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Paula Lang, came to the school and HBHA students received a history lesson along with a dance lesson.
    “That woman was a beast. It was extremely fun. I really enjoyed watching people attempting to do the dance moves,” said tenth-grader Jake R.
    During the workshop, Lang taught the students a dance instead of performing for the students. Before the students learned the dance, Lang took them through taught them stretches, basic positions and steps. The dance was a choreographed dance that all the students who participated in the program. The dance was a short two-minute dance that involved many basic modern and hip hop moves combined into a short dance.
    “It was so much fun! I learned cool dance moves that I can use at bar and bat mitzvahs. I learned about Alvin Ailey and how inspirational he was,” said ninth-grader Sarah H.

A Gift of Siddurim
Jonathan E./The Academy Voice

    Shehehcheyahnu Vekiyimanu Vehegianu Lazman Hazeh. On Fri. Nov. 13, eight new students at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy recieved Siddurim (prayer books) at the Taste of Shabbat Program. The students included second-graders Addison B., Ali C., River H., Moshe S., and Lily M., third-graders Josh K. and Tal B. and fifth-grader Sara S. also recieved the new siddurim.
    "I remember my chag siddur," Senior Hannah G. said, " I still have my siddur from first grade. The cover is peeling a little but it brings back so many great memories."
    Fifth-grader Sara S. was extatic about recieving her siddur. "I was in a Jewish day school in Kindergarten and I didn't get a siddur. I was so excited to get one now. When I went up in front of the entire school, I couldn't stop smiling."

Mazel Tov Laura Siebers

Middle and Upper School Social Studies Teacher Laura Siebers gave birth to Owen Zachary S. at 10:45pm Sunday evening. Siebers son, arriving four weeks early, weighted in at five pounds, one ounce and seventeen inches long.

Eboo Patel Speaks to Religious Tolerance
Maggie H./The Academy Voice

    Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Dalai Llama and Eboo Patel, will a Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy student be the next interfaith leader? On Tues. Nov. 10, the HBHA upper school student council traveled to Notre Dame de Sion High School to hear interfaith leader, Eboo Patel speak about religious tolerance.
    The event was organized by the Interfaith Youth Alliance, which is made up of high school students of different religious faiths from around the Kansas City area. The Alliance was inspired by the national youth movement The Interfaith Youth Core, led by Eboo Patel . The Youth Core encourages youth from around the nation to gather together and promote religious tolerance.
    Senior Ilana H. is a partial member of the Interfaith Youth Alliance. “I joined the council because I think it is important to be aware and knowledgeable about other religions and in order to have an opinion and make a difference you have to know the facts," she said.
    Patel an Indian-American Muslim spoke to students about the importance of religious tolerance. He told students about his personal experiences and how he transformed into the person that he is today.
    The bulk of the lecture however, was a question and answer session. Audience members had the chance to ask questions. One question pertained to the recent shooting at Fort Hood. The student asked about Patel’s view on the situation, particularly the role of the religion of the shooter. Patel responded that, “a Muslim did not do this. The man who killed a group of American soldiers deserves one name and one name only, murderer”.
    Junior Jonathan E. was inspired by the presentation. “I think that Eboo Patel’s response to Fort Hood was great. By associating a religion or nationality with the acts of a crime, it only brings about stereotypes to the rest of the people. As a member of Student Council I am a leader in the school. I hope to take what I learned today and use it in the future”.

New to HBHA
Maggie H./The Academy Voice

    The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy just received two new additions to its family, eighth-grader Tyler M. and tenth-grader Shahar B. Both students started attending HBHA, not at the beginning of the year, but at the beginning of the second quarter.
    Both students have found the change to HBHA challenging; however, they are enjoying their new environment. Tyler, having moved to Kansas from Indianapolis, IN, attended a public school and was in a class with four hundred other eighth-graders. “I wouldn’t say the change is good or bad, just different from what I am used to,” said Tyler.
    Despite the many changes, Tyler is enjoying HBHA. “Everybody here is really nice. They welcomed me and helped me become part of the class”.
    Sophomore Shahar B. officially became a student at HBHA on Mon., Nov. 9, although she visited HBHA on Tues., Nov. 3. Shahar moved to Kansas from Yokneon, Israel. “I was nervous coming to a new school. I like it so far though,” said Shahar.
    Sophomore Jeremy G. is excited about the idea of a new student in his class. “Our class is so small we always need more people. Plus, I’m sure that she [Shahar] will be a great addition to our class”.

A Sukkot Visitor
Elana G./The Acadmey Voice

    This past Oct. Rabbi Simcha Morgenstern came to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
    Morgenstern is working on his Masters of Education degree and completed a practicum with HBHA Jewish Studies teacher Rabbi Berel Sosover.
    Morgenstern did the practicum during the holiday of Sukkot. He saw the timing as a perfect opportunity because he wanted to make Sukkot “more alive for the students and have them involved in the holiday at school”.
    He, along with Sosover, taught students in grades eight through twelve the aspects of a Kosher sukkah and the laws of Sukkot. He explained that they focused on this, “so they [HBHA students] can be involved in building the school sukkah and it will bring more enthusiasm because they were involved in it.” In Sosover’s eighth-grade class, they went into greater detail about a kosher sukkah and even built miniature model sukkot.
    On Oct. 8, Morgenstern also participated in the HBHA sukkot dinner. Despite the rainy weather, “all of the grades seemed to enjoy it.” Rabbi Robert Tobin from Beth Shalom and Rabbi Scott White from Ohev Shalom also came.
    Morgenstern is very thankful to HBHA for this opportunity. He said, “I was welcomed very warmly”.

We Are All the Same on Thanksgiving
Elana G./The Academy Voice

What do seniors and kindergartners at Hymand Brand Hebrew Academy have in common? The seniors are spending their last Thanksgiving at home and the kindergarteners are just beginning their elementary school careers. However, this Thanksgiving, senior and kindergarteners have more in common than one might believe.  Jed L., a kindergartener, and Hillary G, a senior, were both asked about their Thanksgiving plans for this year:

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Jed: Carrot cake, and my favorite dessert is ice cream
Hillary: Mashed potatoes, and my favorite dessert is chocolate chip pumpkin bread

Who and where are you celebrating with?
Jed: I am going to my Grandma’s house with my cousins.
Hillary: My whole family is coming to my house. Both my mom’s side of the family and my dad’s side of the family are coming.

What are you most excited about?
Jed: I’m excited to be with my cousins on Thanksgiving.
Hillary: My brother Cory is coming home from college!

What is your favorite thing to do on Thanksgiving morning?
Jed: I like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and I like to see the Plaza lights.
Hillary: I like to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV.

HBHA Fifth-Grade Plays With Golem
Ari W./The Academy Voice

    On Thur. Nov. 12, Rabbi David Bauman of Kehilath Israel Synagogue spoke to the fifth-grade class about the legend of the Golem of Prague. The Rabbi introduced the students to a Hebrew text that taught about how man was created with a soul, and that the difference between man and the Golem was that man has a soul and the Golem did not.
    Bauman became interested in the Golem because he is working on his PhD from the Sphardic Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, and his advisor is a major scholar on the legend of the Golem.
    After Bauman spoke, the class put on a small play about the Golem. Fifth-grade teacher Nancy Franks found the play in a book called Reader's Theater, and the class decided that they wanted to present it. The play included Naveh B., Matan B., Alexis D., Sammy G., Ariel B., Lauren H., and Elen-Sarrah D.
    "We had fun putting on the play," said Sammy G., "and we learned a lot from [Rabbi Bauman]."

Homeless for a Night
Mikayla D./The Academy Voice

“It was cold but we made a big cardboard fortress, it was awesome” said freshman Zachary P. about the One Homeless Night experience at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
On Nov. 12, eighth grade and high school students of HBHA participated in One Homeless Night. The program allows high school students to experience what it might be like if they were a homeless teenager.
Junior Justin R. said, “it really made me realize how hard it is to be homeless; it was hard but a good experience. I’m glad that I did it, it was very eye opening”.
The students had to make their own shelter out of cardboard boxes and duck tape. Throughout the night various speakers from different organizations, including the sponsoring organization Synergy, came to speak about being homeless. The event took place from 7:00pm until the next morning when the students had to get up and go to school on time.
    “I think it went really well, I anticipate that next year will be even more successful in raising money for homeless youth” said Head of English Department Cynthia Knight, “it was very difficult to sleep outside and it was only in the low 40’s, it made me think about how we can make a difference and making it easier for those teens who have to go through the experience”.

Grandparents Visit the HBHA
Hannah A./The Academy Voice

    On Tues. Nov. 10, the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy invited grandparents/ friends of lower school students to the school for Grandparents Day. Students and grandparents/ friends participated in activities together. The HBHA supplied refreshments for the visiting grandparents/friends in the Social Hall of the Jewish Community Center.
    “I enjoyed having my grandparents come to school. I had fun doing the hand making activity with them. The only bad thing was that I had to share them with my sisters. I think that we should have grandparents come every single day.” said fifth-grader Stella S.
    The students and grandparents/friends played activity called "Hands across Generations. During this activity, the student and grandparent/friend were given a paper hand. All the hands were different colors. The students sat in small groups with one grandparent/friend in each of the groups. With the grandparents/friends the students were able to discuss childhood memories that related to school, activities, stories, candy and music.
    For each finger on the hand, the student was asked to write their favorite from each of the categories from their childhood, or from the present. Then in the middle of the hand each student wrote their name so they would know that it was theirs.
    Once they finished with the hands, all the hands were put up on the bulletin board at the end of the Lower School hallway. The bulletin board has a tree on it, and the hands were placed on the branches and all over the tree.

Buy Books, Support HBHA
Mikayla D./The Academy Voice

    On Sun. Nov. 8, there was a fundraising book fair at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Town Center, hosted by the Parent-Teacher Organization to raise money for the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. There were books for kids of every age; for lower school as well as upper school students. The book fair was open from 10am-9pm.
    Along with book sales, there were lots of activities for kids and adults to enjoy. At 10:30 there was story time with HBHA librarian Civia White, at eleven there was story time with Headmaster Howard Haas, at 10:30-12:30 there was a scavenger Hunt and the time to make Thanksgiving cards. At 1:30-2:30 the Lower School Students sang.
    “Singing wait for the wagon, and goober peas was fun” said fifth-grader Matan B.
    Then at 2:30-3:15 ninth grade students read “This I Believe” statements, which were statements on what the students believe in.
    There was also a special guest; Principal Gayle Gray dressed as Pippy Long Stocking. 
    “I dressed as Pippy Long Stocking because when I was little it was my favorite book and kids now do not know Pippy so I wanted to introduce them to the book in a fun way”.
    “Reading with Jacob Abrams was my favorite part” said second-grader Jered C.
    Some high school students also performed science experiments. Some of the science experiments were dry ice and dishwasher soap, and “we also did an experiment when we out cornstarch in water” said junior Jonathan E.
    Second-grader Caylen N. said “singing songs, seeing the science experiments and reading books were really fun”.

Is Curious George Jewish?
Max F./The Academy Voice

    Is the monkey Curious George Jewish? On Wed., Nov. 4, author Louis Borden visited the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy to teach fourth- and fifth-grade students about the two authors of the children’s book series Curious George. Borden wrote the book The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, after traveling across the country for her research.
    Nathan S., a fourth grader, really enjoyed the presentation, “It was really cool how she went to France and found artifacts all by herself,” he said.
    The artifacts included photos, journal writings and even train ticket stubs, which the Reys left behind before fleeing Nazi Germany. The presentation included a PowerPoint presentation and writing tips for aspiring writers.
    “She showed them how she comes up with ideas then how she relates them to her own life,” fourth-grade teacher, Jessica Kyanka said. “She also showed them how books were made and the kids got to see the illustrations, it was really fascinating.”
    The children’s book focuses around the authors of Curious George and their remarkable escape from Germany in 1940. The two authors left Germany for southern France, leaving on bicycles with only a few possessions, including their children’s book manuscripts. The students were able to relate to Borden speaking about Curious George, not just because the authors were Jewish, but because many of the students have read the book themselves.
    “It was pretty cool to have a speaker talk about the book because I have it at home and I’ve read it,” fourth-grader Amanda S. said.
    As far as Curious George being Jewish, he might be. Borden, in an interview on her website, said she believes that the Jewish authors are very similar to the monkey.
    “I think that Hans and Margret live on via the wonderful personality of their famous George. Just by reading the Reys' letters to their family and their editors, I instantly recognized their humor and playful approach to life. Even when they were living through threatening circumstances, their humor and positive energy shone through like a bright thread.”

International Educators Visit HBHA
David H./The Academy Voice

    "You have maintained a balance between science and religion and mastered the difficult business of finance," said Boaventura Zita. Zita was one of four African visitors who toured the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy on Mon., Nov. 9. The delegates, nearly all of them religious leaders, were in the United States as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, a program sponsored by a bureau within the U.S. Department of State. The program helps teach the values of religious freedom, examines the roles of religious leaders and observes the interaction between religious and political groups.
The delegates included Zita, the coordinator of the Peace Program for the Christian Council of Mozambique and national director for the Turning Weapons into Ploughshares project, a project that converts weapons into sculpture, Ibrahim Dukuly, grant manager of the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Wealthfare who has helped eliminate religious intolerance within Liberian society, Saiti Burhan Jambo, executive director of the Muslim Association of Malawi, who has coordinated interfaith programs that have helped combat national issues and the AIDS pandemic, and Yilma Geahun Zewede, Secretary General of the Bible Society of Ethiopia, who has helped promote interfaith cooperation within major religious groups in Ethiopia.
    Their visit has already taken them to many parts of the country, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Huntsville, AL. In Kansas City, the visitors will meet with the Center for Religious Experience and Study, the Interfaith Youth Alliance of Kansas City, the Somali Foundation, members of The Kansas City Star, and the Interfaith Youth Core.
    During their stay at the HBHA, the guests toured the school and had a brief meeting with Head of School Howard Haas, Head of Jewish Studies Rabbi Avi Weinstein, and Marvin Szneler, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau. The visitors expressed a sincere interest in Judaism since it parallels religious practices within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Islam. The visitors asked about the complexities of Judaism and Zionism, the uniqueness of the American Jewish community. The guests also enjoyed some rugelach while explaining an oral tradition in Western Africa that they are descendants of one of the ancient tribes of Israel.
    During their visit at HBHA, the guests listened with interest as they learned about Jewish tradition and observed how the school was able to combine religious and secular teachings. As the guests left, they felt enlightened by the teachings they received. Speaking about the visitors, Haas said, "This was a group of Muslims and Christians and I was very impressed that they were doing such interfaith dialogue in Africa and the more multicultural experiences we give to our students helps them experience more of the world."

Disappointed By Homeless Night
Maggie H./The Academy Voice

    I really, really, really do not want to become homeless. Now, don’t think that I aspired to become homeless in the first place, but Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s One Homeless Night on Thurs., Nov. 9, just confirmed the fact that a life of homelessness would be awful.
    I was not sure what to expect when I signed up for One Homeless Night. The speaker from the Synergy's homeless teen shelter assured the Upper and Middle School students that the One Homeless Night program would be a life-changing, mind-altering experience. I was inspired, a night with my friends and an experience I will never forget, sounded like a great evening!
    However, as the event was approaching I found myself getting less and less excited. The event took place in the middle of “death week”, a week in which nearly every class had a major assignment due. I could not imagine how I could possibly sleep outside in the cold and have an essay and test the next day.
    I still decided to go to the “life-changing” event. When I arrived that evening we set up boxes, did a service project and just hung out. We had the opportunity to listen to two great speakers. Afterwards, it was cold and we went to sleep on the frigid concrete.
    I woke up in the morning, shivery and uncomfortable. I felt the same, no major epiphany. My life was just the way as it was the day before. Was the whole night spent outside a waste?
    I continued on with my day. I did a lab, took a test and wrote up an experiment. I went home exhausted. School was a lot more difficult than normal. It was then that I realized maybe the homeless experience was not over when I woke up in the morning, but instead carried on throughout the day. School is hard as is, but as a homeless person even harder. Someone who is in an unfortunate situation has to work that much harder than a normal person. A normal week for me would have the difficulty of a “death week” for a homeless person. I cannot even imagine how to cope with that.
    Honestly; however, I did not learn as much as I had hoped from One Homeless Night. It just seemed like a night of hanging out with my friends and sleeping in the cold. I was a little disappointed by the experience.