Class of 2020: What is the Plan for Graduation?
June 9, 2020
After four years of hard work at Ramaz, the class of 2020 is finally graduating. Before quarantine, the plan was to have a graduation celebration like every other year: blue and white caps and gowns with speakers congratulating the students and wishing them luck for their futures. Once it became clear t...
Bridging the Gap: Are Seniors Taking Gap Years in Israel?
June 9, 2020
For some Ramaz Upper School graduates, this summer is a break before leaving for college. For others, college is still over a year away. Come fall, these students are looking forward to a gap year, likely in Israel to learn and explore both the country and their inner selves. A gap year between grad...
The Final Classes: Senior Programming in May
June 9, 2020
Everyone knows that the highlight of their four years in high school is the second semester of senior year. No work, easy classes, and their grade are the rulers of the school. At Ramaz, this idealized experience is complete with a grade-wide Poland trip. However, unfortunately for this year’s seniors, one ...
Farewell Tribute to Rabbi Slomnicki
William Kremer ’20
June 8, 2020
When the school doors (potentially) reopen this fall, Ramaz will be missing a key player. On May 26, Rabbi Stochel announced that Rabbi Eli Slomnicki, Dean of Students, Junior Grade Dean, and a freshman advisor, will be leaving Ramaz to become the High School Principal of the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HA...
Virtual Celebration of the Arts is Alive!
June 5, 2020
Artwork lined from floor to ceiling, the band plucking tunes on the perimeter of the room, murmurs of guests wafting through the aisles: Ramaz’s annual Celebration of the Arts is a culmination of the year-long student investment of time, genius, sacrifice, and commitment in music, writing, visual art, ...
June Tests During Corona: Pros and Cons
Sydney Eisenstein ’22
June 5, 2020
During the week of June 15 to 19, Ramaz students will be taking exams despite the virtual learning environment. Although having these tests may be a nuisance to some, tests will give students the opportunity to display their knowledge and dedication to their academics. Additionally, they will help st...
Teachers With Young Children Struggle Amidst Coronavirus Lockdown
Nicole Hirschkorn '22 and Eric Kalimi '22
June 5, 2020
With COVID-19 ravaging the lives of everyone around the world, and many living their lives online and from a distance, schools are closed, and young children need their parents to teach them or help them log into their classes. Teachers especially are finding themselves in a position where they have t...
Absence of Anecdotals
May 15, 2020
A typical semester at Ramaz consists of in-person classes, tests, assignments, and socializing with friends. This semester of school is anything but normal. Perhaps the biggest change to students’ “new normal” is online classes and interactions through Zoom. However, learning and studying through...
Remembering and Celebrating the Yoms Through Zoom
Rebecca Massel ’21 and Gabby Ostad ’21
May 15, 2020
Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom Haatzmaut are known to be some of the most meaningful days on the Ramaz calendar. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Upper School faculty and administration were faced with the challenge of how they would unite the community online. The school had to figure out ho...
New Zoom Schedule
May 15, 2020
Starting on March 12th with the shutdown of all three divisions of Ramaz, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has redefined the meaning of “school.” What began as a snow-day-like feeling of euphoria with school temporarily canceled quickly morphed into a new long-term reality for students and facult...
How Are Students Retrieving Items From School?
May 15, 2020
Almost a full two months ago, on March 11, the Ramaz building on 78th Street was closed. Despite being warned about the building’s imminent closing, many students found themselves unable to bring all of their books and materials home from their lockers. Some left important notes while others left their t...
How Are Students Positively Affected By Quarantine?
May 11, 2020
It’s no secret that people around the world are going through a difficult and stressful time. High school students especially, who are already dealing with stress in their teenage years, are struggling with the sudden changes caused by COVID-19. According to a New York Times article written by Lisa Da...
