Lower and Middle School students and teachers in flash mob. (Photo by Janine Frier)

By Sara S.
Seventh Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation

As Krieger Schechter Day School celebrates its 36th year — double chai — the school commemorated the 36th day of the school year in a special way.

On Monday, Oct. 30, the 36th school day was packed with exciting activities. The day started off with former KSDS administrators excitedly greeting students and teachers in morning carpool line while reminiscing about KSDS.

The honored guests included Dr. Paul D. Schneider, KSDS’s first headmaster, Margie Hoffman, the school’s first middle school head, Shelley Hendler, former middle school head, Carolyn Helfman, former middle school head, Hedy Goldstein, former lower school administrative assistant and lower school teacher, and Joshua Bender, former lower school head.

“The number of [alumni] whose children are now students here … it just touches me. It’s amazing,” Hoffman said with a big smile. She referenced the online social media platform Facebook and a posted a picture of 40-year-old KSDS graduates who were in a carpool together many years ago. One of them wrote, “‘The reason I send my kids to a Jewish day school is because these are my friends forever.’”

Another highlight of the day was a flash mob. Surprising the younger students, KSDS middle schoolers secretly learned an Israeli dance and joined the lower school students’ dance to celebrate. With the help of Yali Lowenberg, a KSDS class of 2009 member and current KSDS lower school teacher, lower and middle school students separately learned and rehearsed the flash mob dance multiple times before the surprise performance.

After arrival time, lower schoolers showcased their rehearsed dance to the administrative guests while middle schoolers quietly lined up along the lobby’s upstairs overhang. After the first verse, the middle schoolers suddenly joined the lower schoolers’ performance.

The flash mob was a big success, and the lower school students were surprised to be joined by the older students. Sivan E., a KSDS fourth grader, described her feelings when the middle schoolers suddenly joined the dance performance: “I was shocked and surprised. It was a good feeling. I could see my sister on the balcony.”

The administrative guests were beyond excited for the performance. They loved the enthusiasm of the students for the double chai celebration, and they smiled throughout the dance. Hendler described her happiness throughout the performance: “It was so exciting to see the entire school gather and dance. I know that I speak for all of the former administrators when I say that it brought us so much joy to see the collective spirit and enthusiasm of the students and teachers. We were so appreciative to be a part of celebrating KSDS on its 36th anniversary.”

The events surrounding the 36th day of school was one of 36 celebratory days planned throughout the academic year. Others include a KSDS film festival, the sponsorship of 36 families for Chanukah and Mitzvah Day. The 36th day of school was yet another exciting celebration of KSDS’s big year.

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