Schechter Shavua: May 29, 2026

Building on a Foundation: Nevatim Students (gr. 5-6) Connect with Schechter’s Early History in Contemporary Ways

Through the Hava Dunn z”l Legacy Project, our students connected personally with stories about Schechter’s beginnings. Our founders believed deeply in the power of Jewish education to shape lives and sustain our people; they worked tirelessly to establish a place of learning, community, and connection. They secured a building, created a curriculum, and wove together the threads of education, religion, and love of Israel to create a strong foundation for all who would follow.

Nevatim students (gr. 5 & 6)explored this history, interviewing the school’s founders and exploring the world in which Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford was born. Beginning with a text study on peoplehood and place, they grounded their research in what it takes to start a new community, then explored the Jewish archives in West Hartford and learned interview skills to facilitate conversations with our school’s founders and early students. Groups collaborated to produce podcasts or Instagram reels, gaining insight into the process of creating something meaningful and lasting. Through the lenses of education, pop culture, religion, and Israel, they discovered the impact that interviewees had on Schechter and how the founders’ vision continues to shape their daily lives today. We look forward to debuting the final product of this exciting new Hava Dunn z”l  Legacy Project in the spring through different media forms.
 

Digging Into Science: Alim Students Explore the Birth of Rocks

The Alim students (gr. 3–4) have been hard at work uncovering the mysteries of Earth’s history through their exciting science unit, The Birth of Rocks. As part of their learning, students explored how fossils provide important clues about how environments on Earth have changed over millions of years.

To bring this concept to life, students participated in a hands-on fossil lab that transformed the classroom into a mini paleontology workshop! Using packing peanuts and toothpicks, students constructed model animals to represent living creatures. Then came the exciting part: carefully dripping water onto their creations to observe what would happen over time.

As the packing peanuts slowly dissolved, students saw a powerful visual representation of how animal flesh decomposes after death. What remained behind were mostly toothpicks — standing in for bones that can eventually become fossilized when buried underground for thousands or even millions of years.

The activity sparked curiosity, thoughtful questions, and plenty of excitement as students connected their experiment to real fossils scientists discover today. Through hands-on exploration, the Alim students gained a deeper understanding of how fossils form and how they help tell the story of Earth’s past.

Learning truly came alive as our young scientists investigated the processes that shape our planet — one fossil at a time!
 

Exploring the Immigrant Experience in New York City 

The Nevatim 6th graders recently traveled to New York City for an unforgettable educational experience that brought their study of immigration to life. Through hands-on learning, historical exploration, and meaningful reflection, students deepened their understanding of the immigrant experience in America.

The trip began with a visit to the Tenement Museum, where students learned about the Confino family, Jewish immigrants from Greece who settled in New York in the early 1900s. A highlight of the visit was the immersive experience with an actor portraying Victoria Confino, which helped students connect personally to the challenges and hopes of immigrant families. Students also toured the historic Eldridge Street Synagogue, gaining insight into the lives and traditions of Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side. No study of immigration would be complete without visits to two iconic landmarks: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. After exploring Liberty Island, students traveled to Ellis Island, where they enjoyed an engaging audio tour and spent time learning about the journeys of millions of immigrants who entered the United States there.

One especially meaningful moment took place during a Tefillah discussion, when students reflected on what prayers they might say if they were arriving in America through Ellis Island. Held on the beautiful rooftop of the hotel, the conversation encouraged students to connect emotionally and spiritually with the immigrant experience.

Of course, the trip also included plenty of fun! Students enjoyed delicious eateries, visits to neighborhood playgrounds, refreshing bubble tea stops, and an exciting outing to see Aladdin on Broadway.

The trip was a wonderful blend of learning, reflection, and community-building, and it gave students memories — and lessons — that will stay with them for years to come.

Mazal tov to Schechter's class of 2022!

We are excited to watch you blaze new trails into adulthood!