CIJE Innovation Day

Our freshmen had a unique opportunity to step outside the classroom and represent Chaviva at CIJE’s Innovation Day, held at the American Dream Mall’s convention center.

This event, hosted by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, invites students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation. Participants present original projects built and programmed using Arduino kits, pitching their solutions to a panel of judges for feedback, recognition, and prizes.

Chaviva’s ninth graders stood out not only because they were the youngest group competing but also because they did so with tremendous grit and poise. Most other teams consisted of 10th through 12th graders, many returning for their second or third year. This was a first for our students, and they rose to the occasion beautifully.

Their projects reflected weeks of work, including market research, product development, and digital branding. Among their innovations were HydroGlow, a water bottle designed to encourage healthy hydration through interactive lights and reminders, and the Door Horn, a safety solution to help prevent collisions with doors opening unexpectedly. Each group also created a project website to help communicate their vision and function clearly to the judges.

Beyond presenting their ideas, our students gained inspiration from seeing what older students had created and enjoyed some well-earned downtime exploring the mall.

We’re so proud of their initiative, courage, and the thoughtful innovation they brought to the experience!