January 2023: The knight of the Midterm 🤺⚔

Your girls take midterms?

Of course they do!

They might need some help refining their study strategy, organizing their week, and loosening up on test day. But they’re just like every other kid on midterm week —  mostly prepared, slightly jittery, and more than a little eager to prove their salt. 

So, how do we get them from queasy to confident?

First, we bust some myths:

1. “Tests these days are made for geniuses. Unless I have a photographic memory I’m gonna fail.”

Studying has nothing to do with mindless memorizing and everything to do with strategic planning. 

Strategic planning = a successful performance. 

Weeks in advance we move into action. 

💥Our speech therapists, led by Mrs. Penina Kaufman, SLP model hands-on strategies and time management techniques in study skills workshops, that prep our girls to pace, plan and perfect their game plan. 

💥Co-teachers and counseling staff create personalized study plans for each student that map their study time day by day. 

💥 And teachers create in-depth reviews, outlines, and cram sheets, that help our girls master the material with ease. 

2. “As long as you have the notes, and memorize them until you’re blue in the face, you’re good. “

  Yeah, maybe if you’re Einstein. 

We believe in active reading and learning. It’s research-based and it works.

Our girls learn how to deep dive into their info, go through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reads like a pro, ask pointed questions during reviews, and create associations and flashcards that actually stick. Boots on the ground. 

They could teach mainstream kids a thing or two about surviving midterm muddle. 

3. “Midterms is a school headache. Not a mom and dad problem.”

Not quite. 

The home-school partnership is a huge piece in your daughter’s success. 

Moms and dads, you can support your daughter by encouraging 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reads and keeping tabs on her midterm schedule. A reassuring note or little treat goes a long way in showing her you care. 

The rest is just positive thinking, a good night’s rest, and siyatta d’Shmaya. 

And thus we win the battles — and the war. 

Good luck to us all!

January hasn’t been all study and sweat. 

This month, we were delighted to learn that we have some super-talented young ladies in our midst. 

Dancers, singers, and actresses in both the 9th and 12th grades starred in YOB’s riveting musical about Communist Russia, while Gur’s Expo Illuminated run by the talented Mrs. Rochel Rosenwald, featured a stunning manifestation of the four galiyos, presented in true-to-life exhibits and breathtaking performances.  

Dr. Tamara Perlman delivered yet another powerful workshop to our speech and counseling staff. Her talk,  “How to Identify Telltale Signs of Trauma in School,”  explored the impact Big T’s and Little T’s have on a child’s psyche and how to treat signs of life in seemingly “dead” limbs and lives. 

This month’s Feature Teacher applauded a brand new teacher, Mrs. Sara Toby Silver. Mrs. Silver melded right into the pace and style of Ichud HS as if she had been with us for years. From the start, Mrs. Silver captured both the love and respect of her students. The girls feel accountable in her class but are also drawn to her warmth and ease. 

Case in point. Last week a few students approached me to discuss adding a weekly Parsha class (as an aside — aren’t our girls amazing?) As I was mulling over some ideas in my head and thinking who I can ask to take this on, they quickly suggested Mrs. Silver! That alone spoke volumes. 

When our students (and children) want more of us in their lives, we know we’re doing something right. 

It’s our running theme, but I’ll say it again: Be there for her. 

All the best, 

Mrs. Malky Bergstein

P.S. The ADHD Symposium, with lectures from David Becker, LCSW, ranks high on our February to-do list. As do our ice skating, snow tubing, and Panama trips! Looking forward!