Learning In Action

At Chaviva, we believe that meaningful growth happens through reflection, expression, and deep engagement with learning. The third quarter included many powerful examples of that commitment across all areas of school life.

In February, we hosted our annual week of student-teacher conferences, creating space for thoughtful, one-on-one conversations about student progress in Core classes. These meetings allowed students to reflect on their learning and partner with their teachers to set goals moving forward. We are grateful to our teachers for approaching these conversations with humility and curiosity, and to our students for engaging with such maturity, respect, and thoughtfulness.

Across our classrooms, learning has been both rigorous and deeply experiential. In Mrs. Berkowitz’s 9th-grade Chumash class, students encountered the Akeidas Yitzchok in a powerful and immersive way. Walking into a room arranged as one large table, with soft, emotional music setting the tone, students were drawn into the magnitude of the moment. Through their learning, they developed a deeper appreciation for the gadlus and emunah of Avraham Avinu, and the enduring legacy of sacrifice and devotion to Hashem’s ratzon.

In 11th-grade Chumash, students in Mrs. Ferder’s class participated in a thoughtfully prepared Socratic Seminar on Parshas Korach. Drawing from Rashi, Ramban, Seforno, and Kli Yakar, they asked meaningful questions, supported their ideas with textual evidence, and extended their learning into practical, real-world applications.

In Navi, Mrs. Wolman’s 12th-grade class began Sefer Yonah through the lens of the Gra’s mashal, which compares Yonah to a neshama about to enter this world. To frame the unit, students listened to “Little Neshamela” by Abie Rotenberg and explored the tension between a neshama’s closeness to Hashem and its mission in this world. This theme continues to guide their learning as they consider the challenges and purpose of the neshama’s journey. In her 10th-grade Tehillim class, students prepared for Pesach by learning the perakim of Hallel, focusing on developing a deeper sense of gratitude. Each student reflected on something personal to thank Hashem for—ranging from family and friendships to the simple gifts of everyday life—bringing greater meaning to the Hallel they will recite at their sedarim.

In General Studies, students have been building both analytical and creative skills. In 10th-grade English, students explored literary conflict through short stories before crafting their own pieces of fiction centered on internal and external struggles. Meanwhile, 11th-grade English students, having completed Lord of the Flies, began their “This I Believe” unit, writing personal essays that articulate their core values. Inspired by the original 1951 series created by Edward R. Murrow, students used vivid writing techniques to thoughtfully express and examine their beliefs.

In the sciences, hands-on and integrative learning has been a central focus. In 10th-grade Human Anatomy, students studied how the nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems work together to enable movement. Through both conceptual learning and applied lessons, including the role of exercise in shaping our bodies, students gained a deeper understanding of how the human body functions as an interconnected system. In Mrs. Belsky’s 9th and 10th-grade Biology classes, students combined what they had learned about Meiosis and Mendelian genetics to breed Reebops. Reebops are imaginary creatures made out of marshmallows. Students were given the parents’ chromosomes and simulated Meiosis and fertilization, then examined the genes of their baby Reebops. It was fascinating to see that even though all groups started with the same parents, no two baby Reebops looked the same, reinforcing the concepts of genetic variation in a fun and tangible way.

In 12th-grade Statistics, students explored normal distribution by creating interactive flip charts to visualize the different sections of the curve and calculate the percentage of data within each range. Through this work, they discovered how commonly normal distribution appears in the world around us, from height and weight to blood pressure and IQ.

Together, these experiences reflect a semester defined by thoughtful reflection, meaningful learning, and a deepening sense of curiosity and purpose across our school community.