SAR 2010-2011 Annual Report

SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL

windows2011 ANNUAL REPORT

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“Windows,” our second Annual Report, is a reminder of all the moving pieces that must come together in order to provide the excellence in education that we deliver each year at SAR. We have much to celebrate—from our academicachievements to our faculty commitment, from our financial resources to ourmany talented volunteers. This Report reflects on SAR’s milestones, highlightedby the NYSAIS accreditation, and recognizes our more than 1,500 donors whoraised $3.3 million for scholarships and numerous school initiatives, and the parents who entrust us with educating their children.

Your valuable time and contributions assure that we can continue to enrich eachchild’s experience. Whether you volunteer for Learning to Look, serve on theJuniors’ College Night committee, spearhead phone calls for the Journal Dinner,anonymously provide Shabbat meals to a family in need, or are ‘1 in 1000,’ youmake it possible to keep our school strong and vibrant.We value your dedication to our community, and we thank you for the role each ofyou has played in making this a dynamic and successful year for SAR.

Jack C. BendheimPresident, SAR Board of Trustees

Dear SAR Community,

Dear Friends,We are pleased to present the Annual Report to you, a reflection on the 2010-2011school year, which will open windows to showcase SAR’s milestones and honorour community’s accomplishments. Most importantly, it is a token of our heartfeltthanks to you—the community—for all that you do to make SAR a rich, vibrantand inspired place of learning and growth.

Each day in our tefilla, we thank God for granting us "תורת חיים ואהבת חסד ", a living Torah and an altruistic and giving spirit. Each day, we declare ourcommitment to bringing Judaism to life through learning and action, and it is that spirit that shapes life at SAR each and every day, both in and out of theclassroom. Through chesed, community service, hands-on learning, and a richarray of co-curricular opportunities and programs, students discover theexcitement of bringing learning to life.

We hope that you enjoy reading the Report. Our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported SAR as it continues to grow and thrive.

Rabbi Binyamin Krauss (‘84) Rabbi Tully HarcsztarkPrincipal, SAR Academy Principal, SAR High School

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SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL 1

On May 25, 2011, SAR was awarded accreditation by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). The committee reported:

The Visiting Committee was impressed with the breadth and depth of SAR Academy and SAR High School. Throughout the open and inviting campuses, there is an energy built upon layers of academic, cultural, religious, and co-curricular opportunities that is infectious to a visitor. We saw many examples of the ‘divine spark’ in each student, and a dedication by each member of the faculty to respect individual uniqueness. The Grand Conversation is a true reality, as students are engaged at every level in learning and service between the Torah and the world. We cannot recall another school wherethe sense of mission is so vibrant and evidentthroughout all components of school life.

SAR is pleased to be recognized not only as an outstanding institution, but most especially we are proud that the NYSAIS team understands andvalues our mission.

Thank you to Debby Schloss, Rebecca Hirschfield, Gila Kolb, Marge Jacobs,Michelle Hoch, and everyone who worked throughout the past two years toreview our schools so thoroughly and to make our achievement a reality.

“ You have no idea of the extent to which we areblown away byyour school.”NYSAIS

SAR Team Leader

“ I do not know how to express exactly what it isthat makes yourschool so special.But if you couldpackage it andteach it to others, this would be a phenomenalgift.”NYSAIS

Visiting Committee Member

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2 SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL

The music plays on at SAR…fourth graders celebrated their abilities and interests in March as part of the National Musicin our Schools month. The choir participated in the Third Annual SAR Spring Concert, joined by the Yavneh AcademyChoir, Ramaz Middle School Choir, the SAR Seventh and EighthGrade Ensemble, and SAR High School Choir. The Maccabeats,YU's a capella group, performed three pre-Shavuot concerts. And,the eighth graders performed a self-written cantata at graduation.

On the basketball court, our seventh-grade boys won the league championship in a nail-biter of a game. Our middleschoolers joined students around the country in the MathLeague Competition, and both our boys’ and girls’ teams went to the Torah Bowl World Series on Long Island after winning the Central Division championship.

Our new Advanced Gemara Class was offered for the firsttime to eighth graders ready for a bigger challenge. Studentslearned the standard curriculum and then delved deeper, movingat a faster pace and learning more rishonim on each sugya. Students were assigned to learn mishnayot every week at home. It was wonderful to witness students developing as young Jewish adults with strong critical thinking skills.

We also brought back an old tradition, inviting our eighthgraders to a Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabba so that they couldlearn Torah together all night. It was a beautiful evening oflearning and tefilla, with terrific ruach and fun.

As always, the Chaggim were central to the year, and a reflectionof experiential learning, of living what we learn. Nearly 700 students gathered on the Academy steps in a ruach-filled atmosphere to shake the lulav, light the chanukiah, offer tributeto those lost on Veteran’s Day and Yom HaZikaron, and chant bur Hallel b’ Tzibur on Yom Yerushalayim. Parents logged ontothe Chanukah “Moodle” site for family activities, prepared for Pesach, and danced on the field for Yom Ha'Atzmaut. And ofcourse, there was cheesecake for all who counted sefirah.

These are just a few of the many highlights that made 2010-11such a productive and exciting year.

Rabbi Binyamin Krauss (‘84)PRINCIPAL, SAR ACADEMY

The 2010-11 academic year was an eventful one for SAR Academy,and I’m proud of our many achievements as we continued to foster a community of b’nai and b’not Torah, each with a divinespark. We offered many exciting learning opportunities, insideand outside our classrooms. Our main focus remained our coreproduct — providing an excellent Judaic and secular education.

This philosophy was the driving force behind our theme for theyear —Good Choices: In Deeds and Voices. Each month we explored new subthemes of that idea, using a rich mixture of outside speakers, lessons, events and songs to help our studentsrecognize just how crucial good choices are in their lives. Wehelped empower our students to say “no” to bullies, and westressed the importance of saying “thank you” to Hashem and to those around us. We infused the theme and the monthly subthemes into both the general and Judaic curriculum. Forexample, students were asked to study the choices AvrahamAveenu made, or to question how fictional characters might haveused their words better.

Inspired by a blog post of our dear friend Matthew Fenster z"l in April, the entire school embarked on a campaign to learnabout the Power of Words and heighten sensitivity to ShmirathaLashon. In May, throughout the school, teachers presentedshort lessons on Shmirat haLashon, culminating with a day-longfair of unique and meaningful events.

For our youngest students, we expanded the Ivrit curriculum, introduced in 2010, to the pre-K classes and kindergarten. Hebrew teachers provided direct instruction throughout ourELC classrooms, offering one hour per day for the three’s, and 90 minutes per day for the four’s and kindergarten. We now ensure that our ELC students start first grade with a strongfoundation in Hebrew.

In third grade, we introduced the Social Decision Making/Problem Solving curriculum, a research validated programdesigned to help children regulate their emotions, and makehealthy and responsible choices. The program was embraced byHebrew and English teachers, as well as specialty teachers. Theprogram will be expanded next year to include fourth graders.

For the first time, our second graders conducted a “Penny Harvest.” As students collected pennies, they not only workedon math concepts, but got a first-hand lesson in chesed. Together,the children researched, discussed and then voted to donate$2,400 to five charities, including Japan’s earthquake relief,Birthday Angels, and Gift of Life.

GoodChoices:SAR ACADEMY

A MESSAGE FROM RABBI BINYAMIN KRAUSS

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The theme of our school was “Good Choices: In Deeds and Voices.”Here at SAR, we have always been treated as a whole person, as an individual. By respecting our opinions and allowing each of us to express our own spark of creativity, SAR has taught us not to follow the crowd but rather to learn and think for ourselves….SAR hasequipped us with an independent set of ethics and standards that we follow every day….Faith in God, thinking independently, and our love of Torah and learning are the tools necessary for us to move aheadin our lives and make the best choices.”Emily David, Class Representative, SAR Academy Graduation 2011

“



Students Shine in Science and WritingSenior Leora Apfelbaumwas a semifinalist in the prestigious NationalSiemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. Rebecca Sichel, 10thgrader, authored a paper for the American Baseball Research Journal, and met President Obama at the NYC Science andEngineering Fair. At the Academy, 8thgrader Yale Buchwald’s essay won theEmunahLegacy of Courage first prize.

One Lego at a Time We BuildJerusalemOn Yom Yerushalayim, students built a replica of Jerusalem out of Lego’s under the direction of architect Stephen W. Schwartz. Using over 50,000 Lego pieces, Jewish history came alive as students created a lifelikemodel of Jerusalem.

Enriching Judaic Studies:Ymei IyunLearningIn both the Academy and the High School, Ymei Iyun enriched religious life. Sixth graders concentrated on Hakarat Hatov and the halachot related to zimmun. In the High School, author Dr. David Pelcovitz taught how tefilla cananchor our lives, focusing on hoda'ah(giving thanks) and bakasha (what we ask for). Later, the entire school partici-pated in tefillaworkshops, which continued during the semester.

Creating the Whole MegillahDavid Wander, artist-in-residence, and 24 extremely gifted High School students created a stunning MegillatEsther, an oversized illuminatedscroll, illustrated with images and calligraphy depicting each chapter. The Megillah, to be printed for use nextyear, is now on permanent display at the High School.

AccomplishmentsandReflections



Exceptional Year for High School Math AchievementSAR hosted the Yeshiva High School Math Bowl, with 10schools competing. Students also participated in the AmericanMathematics Competition, and theGreater MetropolitanNY Math Fair. SAR Math Mag took First Place, Special Meritfor the second time, and won Best High School Subject Magazine.At the Columbia Scholastic Press Association meeting, it won asecond straight Gold Medal, and the All-Columbian Award.

SAR Wishes Mazal Tov Chidon HaTanachYishai Chamudot—9th grade, SAR High School. U.S. Representative, International Bible Contest. Chidon HaTanach HaOlami. Jerusalem, Yom Ha’Atzmaut 2011.

Jonah Chill—6th grade, SAR Academy. First Place, National Chidon HaTanach. U.S. Representative, International Chidon HaTanach HaOlami. Jerusalem, Yom Ha’Atzmaut 2012.Also competing: Joshua Edelstein, Yitzy Richter and Yair Slasky. Kol Hakavod to coach Sara Gutenberg.

Massye Kestenbaum—11th grade, SAR High School. SecondPlace, National Chidon HaTanach, Yeshiva High School Division.Also competing: Adin Goldstein (5th place) and Leah Slaten (9thplace). Regional Participants: Tal Fortgang, Gabriel Metzger, Daniel Moskowitz and Tamar Rothstein. Kol Hakavod to coach Rabbi Jeremy Spierer.

Academy Hosts Ministry of EducationIn April, the Academy welcomed Dr. Moshe Dekalo and Sima Haddad of the Misrad Hachinuch, the Israeli Ministry of Education. They met with E2K students as they explored math and maps and observed Rocketry class, in which students designedexperiments correlating energy creation with structure design.

Setting the Stage for a21st Century SchoolSAR began using collaborative online technology to foster 21st century skills, and empower teachers to enhance curriculum. Our faculty used web 2.0 tools and applications to bring new ideasto engage students and create global connections.

We offered extensive professional development opportunities:Lunch ‘n Learn trainings on free web 2.0 tools to enrich academictopics and themes, such as Pesach and Good Choices; dailyTechnology Tidbits, linking faculty to webinarswhere theycould connect with Technology in Education’s annual conference.We used Twitter to relay academic and athletic updates to fami-lies; live-streamed events to share plays and graduation; made‘friends’ through an alumni Facebook page; and launched a newmore robust school website.

According to Rabbi Krauss, “These advances in technology willhelp all of us develop a vision for a 21st century school, consistentwith the values and mission of SAR.”

Students are engaged at every level in learning and service between the Torah and the world.” —NYSAIS“


SAR HIGH SCHOOL


The math department published Math Mag, which the AmericanScholastic Press Association has awarded First Place honors to all six issues. Our students participated once again in a MathBowl as well as competitions in science. And speaking of SARpublications, Euphrates showcased literature, and a new editionof Science Journal appeared.

For the first time, students will be able to set their sights on theheavens, thanks to the telescope of the late Dr. Joshua Lederberg,Nobel laureate and president of Rockefeller University from 1978-1990. The telescope was presented to SAR by Dr. Lederberg’s wife, Dr. Marguerite S. Lederberg, MD. Dr. Joshua Lederberg wasawarded a Nobel Prize in 1958 at the age of 33 for his work on thegenetic structure and function of bacteria.

At the same time, our science department continued the GrandConversation by inviting outstanding speakers to explore topicssuch as Torah and Evolution, and Jewish laws regarding stemcell research and cloning. Another speaker was Dr. Robert Mar-ion, who performed a landmark operation, separating conjoined twins at Montefiore Hospital. Students were alsobrought to science symposia at Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center and Rockefeller University.

For the first year, SAR not only competed in Yeshiva University’sSarachek Tournament, but we clinched the title as victoriouschampions! The Jewish Hoops America End of Year Awards announced its Coach of the Year, naming SAR's Rafi Halpert as this year's recipient. On the courts, the girls won the varsitytennis championship— and, we’re proud to report that ourstudents made it to the finals in six other sports.

Finally, we’re also beginning to broadcast our games, thanks to a grant from Cablevision's MSG Varsity. Students film the games,record play-by-plays and conduct interviews, all of which can beviewed at http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/sar.

Of course, this list doesn’t begin to tell the whole story. Through-out our community, the Grand Conversation occurs daily inmany different forms both inside, in a building we all “love,”and outside our classrooms, creating an exciting and productivelearning environment.

Rabbi Tully HarcsztarkPRINCIPAL, SAR HIGH SCHOOL

At SAR High School, our goal is to immerse our students in a cul-ture of learning and service and to encourage them to become trueparticipants in the Grand Conversationbetween Torah and theworld. We’re pleased to report that during the 2010-11 school year,that Grand Conversation not only created a stimulating environ-ment for learning, but led to some very significant achievements.

For example, our history department brought the world a littlecloser to students with its new History Matters club. At clubmeetings, students watched election night returns, met withAIPAC leaders, attended a dinner for the Jewish Federationfor the Righteous and toured the United Nations. Likewise inan effort to extend learning outside the classroom, the foreignlanguage department brought the Consul General of Franceand the Polish Ambassador to speak with students.

The English department helped bring classic literature to life by introducing students to a new event — the Shakespearecompetition. Students studied, prepared and then performedindividual monologues in front of a packed SAR audience. The winners, chosen by a team of judges, went on to representSAR at a regional Shakespeare competition, joining thousandsof students from around the country.

We were particularly proud of the Chidon HaTanachcompetition this year, in which eight High School students participated. Yishai Chamudot, ninth grader, was the U.S. Representative for the International Bible Contest which washeld in Jerusalem during Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and attended by several government officials including Prime Minister Netanyahu. SAR placed second, fifth and ninth in the NationalCompetition, Yeshiva High School Division.

Our talented student body took the stage at another event, participating in an American Idol competition, Israeli style.Demonstrating our commitment to Israel and the Hebrew language, the Kochav Nolad competition drew more than 40talented students, who sang and performed solely in Hebrew.Audience members texted their votes in to select the winners.We were thrilled to see that one of our celebrated performerswas our very first exchange student from Germany.

Through our new Beit Midrash program, ninth- and tenth-gradestudents learned Torah in small groups with a faculty member,which went a long way toward improving the religious life of theschool “one mitzvah at a time.”Our vibrant religious life wasalso evident in the April school-wide shabbaton, which drew 625people, 95% of the student body, setting the record for what mightbe the largest high school shabbaton anywhere in the country.

GrandConversation:A MESSAGE FROM RABBI TULLY HARCSZTARK



At SAR, we’re rightly proud of academic excellence, mastering the black letters of holy books and textbooks; that is how we grade.Earthly success is measured by the black, but you fall in love in the White Space, after hours, outside the classroom.God is rightfully proud that His children can do long division, but Hecalls to the angels to see SAR dressed in white….This dinner keepsSAR in the black, but what you do — all of you here — keeps us in theWhite. May each of you be blessed with beautiful years at SAR, with the best Chalek in Olam Hazeh, and beyond.”Jonathan Mark, High School Parent, excerpted from SAR’s 42nd Anniversary Dinner Journal

“



Fourth Graders Learn Life LessonsFourth graders learned the heroic story of the Protestant village of Le Chambon,France, whose people acted with braveryand righteousness to shelter and save 5,000Jews during the Shoah. SAR sent letters anda gift of Magna-Tiles to thank their students’grandparents for saving our students’grandparents during the Holocaust.

SAR High School’s Arts are AliveThe Drama Society created a tableau of live paintings at the Night of Music and Arts, posing as famous works of art.The night included performances by theWind Ensemble, Chorus, Band, andDrama Society. In separate news, the SAR Burnt Ice band won the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Yeshiva of Flatbush.

Tales of Survival and Aliyah fromEthiopian JewsIn May, the 20th anniversary of Operation Solomon, two Ethiopian Jews captivated our middle schoolers with their stories of courage and survival.Daniel Sahalo, who made aliyah in 1984through Operation Moses, was five yearsold when he and his family made the eight-week, 300 mile journey by foot to Israel.

SAR Seniors Advocate for IsraelThe Israel Advocacy Training Seminar prepared seniors and their families for the challenges students faceon campus. Five students attendedAIPAC’s national convention. Seven students participated in advocacy train-ing, and several more traveled to Albanyand Manhattan to lobby legislators. Threestudents were invited to AIPAC’s SabanLeadership Seminar in Washington to interact with leading policy makers, officials, and Middle East experts.

Service,SpiritandSports



...SAR has an energy builtupon layers of academic, cultural, religious, and co-curricular opportunities…” NYSAIS

“

Academy Concert Rocked byMaccabeatsAcademy students enjoyed a special pre-Shavuot concert by the Maccabeats, Yeshiva University’s renowned college a cappella group.

Mock Trial Ranked #1 in NYC RegionFor the seventh year in a row, the SAR mock trial team, coached by parent volunteer Stuart Levi, advanced into the singleelimination state-wide tournament. After the preliminary round,they were seeded #1 in New York City. The team went on to the Regional Finals. As the region has close to 100 schools, emerging asa top-two finalist is an incredible accomplishment.

Varsity Boys and GirlsWin TitlesSAR won YU's 20th nationalSarachek Basketball Tournament.According to the tournament’s blog, “For SAR, this will be… proofthat they can play with the Yeshiva League and national elite.” Mostimportantly, spectators commented on SAR fans’ impressive midot.

The seventh-grade boys’ basketball team, coached by parent Jeff Morris, were the Metropolitan Jewish Day School Basketball League Champions, with a 10-2 record. Separately,Tal “Mr. Basketball” Brody, an American-Israeli former player,current Goodwill ambassador and Israeli icon, visited SAR to discuss Jewish and Israeli pride.

The girls’ varsity tennis team also scored big, winning the 2011Yeshiva League Championship.


TAMI BEZBORODKO (’83) AND BARBARA SOPHER (’80)OUTGOING ACADEMY PTC CO-PRESIDENTS As you complete your three-year term as SAR PTC presidents, on behalf of the entire faculty and staff, we thank you for your partnership, generosity and support.Your contributions leading the PTC, and advocating for our children, played a crucial role in keeping parents informed, and supporting and enhancing the educa-tional and social environment within SAR. During your term, hundreds of parentsparticipated in programming that impacted all of our children. Nearly every dayparents were at SAR decorating Rachel’s tent, filling Purim baskets, setting up forparenting symposia, or a Yom Ha'Azmaut celebration.

We are particularly proud of several new initiatives and accomplishments duringyour term, including launching the SAR-PTC moderated Yahoo Community Group,conceiving “The Open Kitchen” cookbook, introducing PayPal, and selling SARSting Spirit-wear.

A special thank you to Robin Reich, HS PTC chair, for her contributions to SARHigh School, and best of luck to incoming Academy chairs Sara Blechner,Stephanie Minkove (‘91) and Adeena Rosen.

Tami and Barbara, your vision, enthusiasm and dedication are legendary. Kol Hakavodto you and to all of our volunteers.

AN OPEN LETTER TO:

WindowsOpening


SAR Runs Extensive Adult Education ProgrammingAt SAR, learning is not an activity directed at only students, but one that draws countless parents, grandparents and alumnito the two campuses on numerous occasions. At the Academy, for instance, the Your Turn to Learn series offered shiurim onsuch topics as “Is It Ever Okay to Lie?” and “Why Do We Do WhatWe Do at the Seder?” With the TefillaMinute and Bring it tothe Table in Chadashot, the whole family could enjoy learningtogether about the parsha around the Shabbat table. At the HighSchool, adult education classes were offered on Women in theTalmud and in Bereishit as well as on Megillat Esther. In theevening, both campuses brought several distinguished speakersto address issues of importance to parents, such as treating eating disorders, cyber-safety, student integrity and social/emo-tional health. They also hosted a seven part book club series.In the SAR community, everyone has the opportunity to learn.

Ohel Bais Ezra, One of 35 High School Chesed ProgramsWith a new program, dedicated to the blessed memory of JJ Greenberg z"l, SAR High School expanded its already extensive chesed offerings to include chavruta learning. Several times during the year, residents from Ohel Bais Ezra, a program for developmentally disabled children and adults, came to the High School to learn together with SAR students, as they celebrated chaggim, ate, danced and got to know one another. SAR students also traveled to New Orleans for fivedays of jam-packed service activities such as serving lunch at a homeless shelter, building homes with the St. Bernard Project, and reading with children at a charter school. To offer even more support for the New Orleans community, over 100 students and staff participated in a two-day dodgeballfundraising tournament back at SAR.

Community Outreach Defines SAR


891ACADEMY

ENROLLMENT

438HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

222ACADEMY FACULTY

AND STAFF

125HIGH SCHOOL

FACULTY AND STAFF

Kol Hakavod to the facultyand staff of SAR Academy and SAR High School. Your work this past year illuminatedour students’ hearts and minds,and indelibly contributed to their growth as members of K’lal Yisrael.

I’ve developed confidence from my teachers’ positive encouragementto grow. I like knowing that others want to hear what I have to say. It’s the only school I know that students and teachers wake up with smiles on their faces. SAR’s their family. SAR’s my family…my home. — Shiri Wasserman

The teachers are awesome. Not only are they very smart, theyare also great all-around people. Another thing I love aboutSAR is the openness of the school. You really see everyone allthe time. You end up becoming friends with everyone in yourgrade. I will never forget this school. - Joe Kanner

The atmosphere alone is something lots of kids will take into their older lives, learning to focus on what's important, doing the right thing, and not getting too caught up in the constanthumming of life around you. — Ayelet Kalfus

What I find special about SAR is the unique and ever-intensifying relationships with our faculty, even on a personal level. The students and the faculty as a wholemesh together to form this beautiful tapestry in which we live, learn and thrive. — Max Altholz




Todah Rabba to all of you, and to our program chairs.

$1.5 MILLION

LEAD DONORS SAR extends a heartfelt thank you to our lead donors—we could not meet the needs of so manywithout your help.

$1.4 MILLION

SAR’S 42ND ANNIVERSARY DINNER

1,000+ feted SAR’sbrilliant honorees andcelebrated SAR'saccomplishments.CHAIRS:

Tani Benovitz ('82)Tamar EisenstatMichael Jesselson

$220,000

SHAVUOT APPEAL5771, “FACES OF SAR”Kol Hakavod to HIR,RJC, YINR and YIOZ for partneringwith SAR to raisemuch needed scholarship funds.CHAIRS:

Deena Berger ('89)Elana MinkoveDana Teplitsky ('90)

$100,000

“READY, SET,AUCTION…”

Showing the power of grassroots efforts,over 450 items weredonated and 350 bidders participated.

$40,600

1 IN 1000The Facebook ChallengeSAR needed 1,000people to give $18 or more to take advantage of an AviChai Foundationmatch. Results: 1,040people made onlinedonations.

Fundraising Campaigns

IT WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING, but the SAR community camethrough. Contributions from over 1,500 donors resulted in a record $3.3 millionraised to fund scholarship aid and school activities. In addition, 147 new donorsstepped up with $5 million of new capital pledges in response to the inspirationalBendheim Challenge Grant. This will take us halfway toward our goal of retiringSAR’s debt by the end of 2012, and we must keep the momentum going to eliminate the debt entirely.

Requests for scholarship aid increased again this past year. Thanks to you, we were able to extend financial assistance to every family in need.

We cannot thank you enough for prioritizing SAR in your tzedakah giving. We asked you to commit to an annual contribution, and are so grateful that so many of you responded. Please continue to give generously, as your participation makes a huge impact.

Thank you for all your incredible efforts,

Teena L. Lerner, PhDChair, SAR Development CommitteeSAR Parent, 1984-2010

Dear SAR Family,



SAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN2010-2011 REVENUE SAR ACADEMY AND SAR HIGH SCHOOLTuition, grants, and other revenue cover 87.9% of our needs. Remaining 12.1% is $3.3 million, which must be secured through fundraising campaigns.

2010-2011 EXPENSES SAR ACADEMY AND SAR HIGH SCHOOLTotal Expenses $28 Million*

Salaries and Benefits are 85.4% of total.

*Not including construction, improvements, interest expenseand loan repayments.

THE PAST YEARSEPTEMBER 2010 – AUGUST 2011

CAPITAL SPENDING (in millions)

Loan Repayments $2.44MInterest Expense 0.60MConstruction/Building Improvements 0.51MTOTAL $3.55M

THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARSSEPTEMBER 2000 – AUGUST 2010

TOTAL CAPITAL SPENDING (in millions)

Construction/Building Improvements $38.47M Interest Expense 5.96MTOTAL $44.43M

SOURCE OF FUNDS

Capital Funds Raised $30.44MFunds Borrowed, Net of Repayment 13.99M TOTAL $44.43M

CONSTRUCTION/BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

• High School campus• New Junior High School area• Renovations to 7th and 8th grade area• New all-weather ball field• Renovations to 1st-3rd grade areas• New playgrounds in ELC and Academy• Renovations to the ELC• SMARTboards• Rewiring for Internet and Wi-Fi• Parking lot expansion

CAPITAL SPENDING NEEDS

(IN MILLIONS)

0

5

10

15

20

25

THE NEXT FIVE YEARSSEPTEMBER 2010 – AUGUST 2015

FIVE-YEAR GOAL: $25 MILLION

All figures unaudited, as of 8.31.11

84.7%TUITION, ANNUALFUND AND FEES(NET OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS OF $5.2 MILLION)

12.1%FUNDRAISING

2.7%EDUCATIONALGRANTS AND OTHER

0.5%ENDOWMENT WITHDRAWAL

65.7%ACADEMIC SALARIES

10.8%ACADEMIC BENEFITS

8.9%BUSINESS OFFICE AND FACILITIES—SALARIES AND BENEFITS

6.3%FACILITY EXPENSES

2.3%SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

2.0%FOOD PROGRAM

2.0%LEGAL, ACCOUNTING ANDOTHER SERVICES

1.1%STUDENT ACTIVITIES,TRIPS AND TEAMS

0.8%TECHNOLOGY

0.1%OTHER EXPENSES

2010-2011 Financials

4BUILDING IMPROVEMENTFUND

6CONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS (HS & AC)

15DEBT RETIREMENT

2.5BENDHEIM CHALLENGEGRANT

5NEW PLEDGES

RAISEDTO DATE(IN MILLIONS)



Find us on FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/SARalumni

30%OF OUR ALUMNI

DONORS ARE CURRENT SAR

PARENTS

80%AVERAGE

PERCENTAGE OF SAR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS WHOSTUDY IN ISRAEL THE YEAR AFTER

GRADUATION



SAR ACADEMY

Rabbi Binyamin Krauss ('84) PrincipalMarcia Jacobowitz Associate PrincipalSharon Richter Associate PrincipalMilly Rosner Associate PrincipalBecky Hirschfield Associate PrincipalDeganit Ronen Associate Principal

Dr. Barbara Gochberg Director of Inclusion Program

SAR HIGH SCHOOL

Rabbi Tully Harcsztark PrincipalDr. Mark Shinar Director of General StudiesNancy Lerea Associate PrincipalRabbi Jonathan Kroll Associate PrincipalDr. Rivka Schwartz Assistant Principal; Grade Twelve CoordinatorLisa Schlaff Assistant Principal; Israel Guidance

Marjorie Jacobs Director of College CounselingMichael Courtney Associate Director of College CounselingLisa Birnbaum Assistant Director of College Counseling;

Grade Ten CoordinatorRabbi Akiva Block Israel GuidanceRabbi Ruben Gober Israel GuidanceRabbi Jeremy Spierer Israel Guidance; Grade Eleven Coordinator

Karen Goldscheider Grade Nine CoordinatorShoshana Chanales Grade Nine CoordinatorShira Hecht-Koller Grade Nine CoordinatorGloria Schneider Grade Ten Coordinator

Dr. Russell Hoffman School PsychologistDr. Michelle Humi School Psychologist

Gila Kolb RegistrarMichelle Hoch Operations Manager;

Grade Eleven Coordinator

BUSINESS OFFICE

Debra May ('85) Executive DirectorGeet Engel Director of FinanceHeidi Greenbaum Director of DevelopmentAndy Sandler Information Technology DirectorNick Fadda Facilities and Grounds Manager

2010-2011 SAR COMMUNITY EVENTS

NEW PARENT BREAKFAST

Judith Block, Alice Lebowitz, Academy ChairsAudrey Reich, High School ChairNava Cohen, Stephanie Minkove ('91), Liz Spevack, ELC Chairs

ACADEMY CLASS OF 2011 GRADUATION

Andrea Harris, Alice Lebowitz, Chairs

LEARNING TO LOOK

Sarah Zitter Milstein, Tami Weitzman, Chairs

SIDDUR SPARKS

Michelle & Jeff Kobrin, Hosts

2010-2011 PARENT-TEACHER COUNCIL (PTC) PROGRAMS

PTC CO-PRESIDENTS FOR ACADEMY

Tami Bezborodko ('83), Barbara Sopher ('80)

PTC CHAIR, HIGH SCHOOL

Robin Reich

ACADEMY HIGHLIGHTS

BOOK FAIR

Rachel Berger, Adina Garbuz, Chairs

ELC NIGHT

Nava Cohen, Erica Edelman, Liz Spevack, Chairs

ELC WELCOME PICNIC AND CONCERT

Stephanie Minkove ('91), Chair

3RD ANNUAL PARENTING SYMPOSIUM

Elissa Shay Ordan, Jessica Schwab, Program Coordinators

“THE OPEN KITCHEN” COOKBOOK

Tamar Benovitz, Tami Bezborodko, Mona Friedan, Aliza Major, Yardeena Osband, Stanley Raskas, Shoshana Winter

SAR SPIRITWEAR

Susie Loberfeld

YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION

Susie Loberfeld, Marcella Marcus

PARENT SUPPORT COMMITTEE

Andrea Harris, Dina Sterman, Chairs

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

LIAISON COMMITTEE

Rachel Jubas, Stuart Levi, Robin Reich, Liz Samuels, Gail Schorr, Neal Smolar,Karen Sperling

NYSAIS ACCREDITATION PROCESS

Adrienne Alexander, Ana Lilienfeld, Cindy Safdeye, Liz Samuels, Chairs

HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL EVENING

Sharon Freudenstein, Careena Parker, Chairs

JUNIORS' COLLEGE NIGHT

Adrienne Alexander, Careena Parker, Adrienne Cooper, Chairs

2011 ANNUAL REPORT

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Heidi Greenbaum

EDITOR

Heidi Kane

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Ahlgrim Design Group

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kathy Kafer

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Rachel Spinner

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Judy Friedman, Sandra Greenstein

PHOTOGRAPHY

Gilad Mor, as well as staff, parents & alumni who submitted photos.

Administration & Programming

If you would like to discuss making a gift, or leaving a bequest to SAR, please contact Heidi Greenbaum, Director of Development, [email protected] or (718) 548-1717 x1256.


IN MEMORIAM

“Hebrew is the line of communication that has kept all Jews of past, present, and future connected. That is exactly the message of this speech: keep open our lines of communication,our connection, forever, just like the Hebrew language does for our people. We createdsomething very special in these past four years, something I will never forget and am extremelyproud of. As long as everyone still feels part of the Class of 2011, we will always be able to drawfrom that communal energy, and grow and change together.”JOSHUA PITKOFF — Class Representative, SAR High School Graduation 2011

OFFICERS

Ludwig Jesselson z"lFounding Chairman, Board ofTrustees

Ludwig BravmannVice Chairman, Board of Trustees

Jack C. BendheimPresident

Harvey BekerChairman, Executive Committee

Michael JesselsonVice President

Sidney NewmanVice President

David M. SableVice President

Dr. Bernard M. WeinerVice President

Dr. Harvey BennettTreasurer

Nachman MazurekSecretary

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Hudi Bellin Askowitz ('87)Dr. Tzvi Bar-DavidBenjy BelferLouis BenjaminEthan (Tani) Benovitz ('82)Jeff BogurskySaul E. BurianIlana ChillShelley CohenAdrienne Cooper ('78)Deborah E. David ('78)Abe EisenstatStanley FortgangAvi Friedman

Alan E. GoldbergMarvin GoldsteinDr. Steven I. GoldsteinAlan M. GreenbergRabbi Irving GreenbergMoshe Greenberg ('76)Ira A. GreensteinAri HaitAdam IngberBenson JerusalmiEsther JoelHoward JonasDr. Dov Kahane ('72)Nathan KahnMeyer KoplowDr. Michael KramerFaye LandesJosh LandesDr. Larry LernerPolina LibermanNathan LindenbaumDr. Donald LissSteven MajorDaniel PerlaSteven S. PretsfelderMichael RaskasTobias B. SchapiroGail SchorrMark SemerElissa Shay OrdanSusan ShayZev SkolnickMarilyn SopherJonathan Tropper ('83)Alan Wasserman ('75)Spencer M. WaxmanJonathan N. Wiener

COMMUNITY TRUSTEES

Dr. Norman KahanDr. Sheldon KupfermanDr. Martin L. LeibMichael M. MartonDr. Stanley F. SchoenbachZiggy SpindlerMilton SteinbergAbraham ZionMark S. Zion

ADVISORY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dr. Jayne and Harvey BekerDr. Giti and Jack BendheimLudwig BravmannTamar and Abe EisenstatLinda and Michael JesselsonSandy and Nathan KahnTeena Lerner, PhD and Dr. Larry Lerner

David SableBettina and Spencer Waxman

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Barry Aranoff, ChairpersonIra A. GreensteinAdam Ingber

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Sandy Kahn, Acting ChairpersonTeena Lerner, PhD, Vice ChairpersonHarvey BekerJack C. BendheimTani Benovitz ('82)Michael JesselsonGabriel LambertLeon MetzgerNachman MazurekNoah Weisberger

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Teena Lerner, PhD, ChairpersonHudi (Bellin) Askowitz ('87)Louis BenjaminTani Benovitz ('82)Lawrence BurianShelley CohenTamar EisenstatMichael JesselsonAlyssa Herman KronischDan PerlaMark SemerLynette Tulkoff

SAR ACADEMY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dr. David Noble, ChairpersonHerbert BlockDr. Jayne BekerDr. Giti BendheimDr. Hal BlumenfeldDr. Idana GoldbergAtara GorsetmanDr. Laurel HechtRachel Jacoby RosenfieldLamelle RymanMonica ShapiroNoah Weisberger

2010-2011 Officers, Board of Trustees, and Board Committees

Stephen Lubofsky z"lOCTOBER 27, 2010

19 CHESHVAN 5771

Beloved husband of Yael, father of Noam, Daniel and Eliana

Armando PennFEBRUARY 8, 2011

Beloved SAR facilities staff member, husband of Clara, father of LuisaMaria, Rosa Amanda and Dahiana

Elisha ChaninaGoldscheider z"lFEBRUARY 16, 2011

12 ADAR 1 5771

Beloved four-year nursery student and son of Rabbi Aaron and Mrs. Karen Goldscheider, brother to Shalom, Yonah, Shira,Yakir, Ora, Tehila, Zviand Elisheva

Ilan Tokayer z"l MARCH 3, 2011

28 ADAR 1 5771

Beloved son of Reva and Aaron, brother ofDanelle, Noam and Yaron

Matthew Fenster z"l AUGUST 18, 2011

18 AV 5771

Beloved husband of Jennifer, father of Leah, Yonah, Ari and Elie

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SAR ACADEMY SAR HIGH SCHOOL

Jesselson Campus Dedicated to the Memory of JJ Geenberg z"l655 West 254th Street 503 West 259th StreetRiverdale, NY 10471 Riverdale, NY 10471718.548.1717 718.548.2727www.saracademy.org www.sarhighschool.org

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Documents

SAR 2010-2011 Annual Report