Shulamith open house

They registered, grabbed a program and a goodie bag, found their seats, and for the next few hours, were completely blown away. We’re talking about the guests at Shulamith’s Open House, where the energy did not stop pumping through the building as prospective parents and students experienced the Shulamith magic.

Shulamith open house

From the opening address to the spectacular Student Life fair, Open House was an “opportunity to truly experience Shulamith High School,” said Mrs. Rina Zerykier, principal at Shulamith. In her welcoming address, she talked about exactly what that experience is; “Shulamith inspires girls to become. To become committed bnot Torah, strong, smart, educated women who have a real connection with Hashem.”

Mrs. Zerykier continued, “Girls today deserve to know that they matter and that they can make a difference in their world. It is they who will one day become wives, mothers, and leaders who will shape the future of Klal Yisrael.” Asked how Shulamith goes about accomplishing this mission, Mrs. Zerykier spoke about the “cutting edge education, dizzying array of academic and co-curricular opportunities, and social-emotional curriculum” that Shulamith offers.

Aside from the core curriculum and high academic standards at Shulamith, there are various AP offerings, coding classes, STEM classes, art and language electives, and clubs such as AIPAC, drama club, fashion club, chess club, Chopped! club, boxing teams and numerous other athletic teams, to name a few. And Shulamith’s social-emotional curriculum speaks for itself, having attracted the attention of Harvard University, which, in 2018, chose Shulamith as a leading school for this curriculum.

Now, take all these opportunities and curricula and combine them with a warm, vibrant, and encouraging atmosphere, and you can get an idea of what Shulamith is all about. As Rabbi Ya’akov Trump puts it, “To us, our Open House… is really an Open Home.” The Shulamith environment is one that makes every girl feel like family. It’s an environment where girls feel comfortable taking on new challenges, pushing their limits, and being real with themselves, their lives, their growth, and their challenges. Shulamith embraces the real lives of students in 2018. “We are very current,” Judaic Studies teacher Mrs. Adina Wolf stresses. “We are aware of the challenges [facing our girls today]…and we try to take them head on, [and] give our students the tools they need to live in the culture that we live in as Torah-true Jews.”

Although many were sold at this point, it wasn’t just the faculty showcasing what Shulamith is all about. At Shulamith, Open House is a school-wide affair. Current Shulamith students from every grade wanted in. They got involved in the big day, from preparation to execution, heading student panels and helping to make sure the program ran smoothly.

What could make a high school student give up her Sunday just like that? A serious amount of love and pride in her school. Student Ambassador and G.O. member Tali Hertz agrees. Tali feels that she’s giving back by representing Shulamith at their Open House. “I wanted to be a part of the Open House because I am so happy that I chose to go to Shulamith. It has impacted me tremendously both as a learner and as a person and I want to help impact other girls’ lives the way mine was,” she explains.

Ariella Lax, a current senior at Shulamith, also volunteered to be a part of the Open House excitement. As part of the first graduating class at Shulamith, Ariella remembers when she was in the position that the prospective students are now in. Looking back at how much the school has grown over the past four years, Ariella feels a pride in her school and like Tali, a desire to give back. “I wanted to welcome [the girls] as I was welcomed into the school,” she says, “[with] open arms and friendly faces.”

It seems that the efforts of both the faculty and the students paid off. After getting a taste of Shulamith High School, prospective students and parents are genuinely impressed with the vision and passion of Shulamith.

Galia Jadidian, a current eighth-grader considering Shulamith for high school, said that aside from “how academically impressive Shulamith seemed to me, what really stood out … was [Shulamith’s focus on] who you are as a person and who you should strive to be ….[They really want you to] truly become the best version of yourself.”

Galia’s mom agrees. She says that she really appreciates the holistic approach Shulamith brings to education; “from head to heart,” as Mrs. Zerykier is fond of saying.

Another prospective student, Liora Aghalar, gushes, “I really enjoyed the Shulamith Open House! What I like about Shulamith is that the teachers teach with so much excitement … [I know that that] would give me such a passion to learn.”

Similar sentiments are buzzing around the community. With a standing-room only turn-out at the Open House, and only 40 new seats opening up next year in the incoming freshman class, it seems like Shulamith High School has emerged as a first choice for many teens and their families.

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