Kohelet Yeshiva High School

Kohelet Yeshiva High School
Address
223 North Highland Avenue
Merion Station, Pennsylvania 19066
United States
Coordinates 40°00′08″N 75°14′28″W / 40.0021°N 75.2411°W / 40.0021; -75.2411Coordinates: 40°00′08″N 75°14′28″W / 40.0021°N 75.2411°W / 40.0021; -75.2411
Information
Type Private high school, Yeshiva
Established 2000
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 166 (2013-2014)
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Maroon and Gold
Nickname Kings
Accreditation Pennsylvania State Board of Private Academic Schools[1]
Affiliation Modern Orthodox Judaism
Website School website

Kohelet Yeshiva High School is a Modern Orthodox college preparatory Jewish high school that offers an equal dual curriculum program of Judaic and General Studies for both boys and girls. Originally called Stern Hebrew High School and located in Northeast Philadelphia, the school moved to its current site in Merion Station, PA, in 2010. The new site is the former home of Akiba Hebrew Academy (now called Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy). The move was made possible by the generosity of the Kohelet Foundation, and the school was renamed "Kohelet Yeshiva High School" in recognition of that gift.[2] In addition to its Judaic and General Studies curriculum, Kohelet has extra curricular activities and "Brain Blast," a daily 20-minute time slot devoted to "high energy" activities.[3] As of the 2013-2014 school year, 166 were enrolled at the school.

About

Kohelet was previously located in Northeast Philadelphia at JCC Klein, and until 2010, on Hoffnagle Street under the name Stern Hebrew High School, named after founder Harry Stern.[4] The name and site were changed after philanthropist David Magerman's foundation, the Kohelet Foundation, purchased the formerly owned Barrack Hebrew Academy's site in Merion Station,[5] and added a Beit Midrash to the property.[6]

Athletics

Kohelet Yeshiva High School's sports team is named the Kings, with soccer, basketball, cross-country, and baseball programs for boys, and soccer, cross-country and basketball programs for girls.[7]

Academics and Extracurriculars

General Studies

In addition to regular college preparatory classes, Kohelet offers the following Advance Placement (AP) courses: English, United States History, Calculus, Chemistry, Psychology, and Studio Art.[8]

Judaic Studies

The dual curriculum component of Kohelet consists of Judaic classes for students of all backgrounds. These courses include Talmud, Navi, Chumash, Hebrew Language, Jewish History, and Issues in Judaism.[9]

Advisory and Town Hall

Woven into the curriculum are non-academic subjects that include a bi-weekly Advisory (time-slot), where students are randomly distributed into discussion groups led by a staff member; and Town Hall, a weekly period where all students participate in group discussions that range from moral dilemmas to school concerns. Prestigious guest speakers periodically present during this slot.

"Brain Blast"

In lieu of semi-weekly gym classes, Kohelet introduced a program of high-energy, high-fun activities that oxygenate the brain at the heat of the day. Activities include spin bikes, yoga sessions, basketball, soccer, a rock climbing wall, ping-pong, acrobatics, or weight lifting.[10]

Intensives

In addition to the daily Brain Blast period, students participate in a weekly 2-hour time slot dedicated to sports games, film, drama, boys health, a capella, music ensemble, SAT Prep-Math, strategic games, Yoga, or acrobatics.

Extracurriculars

Extracurriculars include: Student Government, World Affairs Council (Model Senate Hearings, Model World Court), Model UN (Steering Committee, sponsored by Yeshiva University),[11] Drama Club, Shakespeare Festival, Mother-Daughter Purim Chagigah, and Chesed (Visiting the sick and elderly, Tutoring local elementary students, Providing meals and activities in homeless shelters, Satell Teen Fellowship for Leadership and Social Activism, Friendship Circle).

Publications produced by the student body include: The Torch (yearbook), The Kohelet Proclamation (newspaper), and The Kohelet Expressions (literary magazine).

Competitions include: Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition on the Holocaust, Pennsylvania Math League American Math Competition, Chidon HaTanach International Bible Contest, and Jerusalem Science Chidon.

Technology

Beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, Kohelet introduced free iPads for all students, to work alongside the TeamBoards and iMacs in most classrooms.[12]

References

  1. "Kohelet Yeshiva High School - Accreditation". Pennsylvania Department of Education. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  2. "Kohelet Yeshiva High School opens at ex-Akiba". Main Line Times. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  3. "Kohelet" (PDF). Jewish Community Voice. 10 August 2011. pp. S–8. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. "Kohelet Yeshiva High School". 2012-05-16.
  5. Schwartzman, Bryan (March 19, 2009). "Stern Hebrew High School Set to Occupy Former Akiba Building". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  6. "Boundless Innovations at Kohelet" (PDF). Jewish Community Voice. 10 August 2011. p. S-4. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  7. "Kohelet Yeshiva High School - Sports". 2012-05-16.
  8. "Academic Offerings-General Studies". 2012-05-16.
  9. "Academic Offerings-Judaic Studies". 2012-05-16.
  10. "Kohelet" (PDF). Jewish Community Voice. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  11. "YU National Model United Nations". Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  12. "Local Jewish Schools Introduce $850,000 iPad Program". 2012-10-12.
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