Students Literally Form Lesson They Learned in Tanya

Bringing learning to life is something educators have always strived to implement. Now more than ever, there is a huge need for our youth to develop a real and authentic connection to Torah and Chassidus. Imagine if a school could come alive with hands-on learning, and students could explore deep understandings about the material independently.

At Bais Chana High School in Orange, Connecticut, students have ample opportunities to internalize and integrate their learning across the curriculum.

Over the past few months, students have been researching a comprehensive Chumash project on the topic of leadership. The girls delved into Tanach, Jewish history, the Rebbe’s sichos and much more to discover the Torah’s approach to good leadership, and presented the material in a written and visual format.

“These projects promote inner growth and spiritual growth,” explained Mrs. Hindy Kalmenson, veteran Chumash teacher at Bais Chana. “They enable students to use their talents and creativity, and walk away with a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

Tapping into the application and relevancy of Chassidus is a major focus at Bais Chana. The 9th grade students are working to gain the building blocks of chassidus, with Chassidus teacher, Mrs. Chaya Hecht. Using the Chassidus Basics curriculum, the girls utilize their creativity and artistic talents to create scrapbooks explaining each concept they mastered.

Meanwhile, in Tanya classes, with Mrs. Tonia Chazanov, students have a variety of hands-on projects that make the subject more tangible. For example, one class gained a better understanding of the concealment of Hashem’s light as it descends through seder hishtalshelus by using hands-on materials as an illustration.

“We molded clay into balls and dyed them,” described Miriam Haston, a senior student. “So the first ball was pure yellow, representing the revelation of G-dliness, and then we added more colors to each “world” until finally you couldn’t see the yellow at all— but we knew it was there.”

Students also fashioned a visual display to explain the flow of the ma’amer Vayishlach Yehoshua, with maamarim teacher, Mrs. Malka Schmukler. “The ma’amer discusses the garments of the Neshama, so we each chose an ois to summarize and display on a model clothesline,” explained student Rivka Rosa Sandman. The display includes the main ideas of the ma’amer and personal reflections from the girls on how to apply what they learned.

Moving forward, students have many more exciting and creative learning projects and experiences awaiting them!

Bais Chana Academy High School for Girls is committed to excellence in education and the development of self-assured young women who exemplify middos tovos, strength of character, and a sense of communal responsibility. Through a rigorous academic program of both Limudei Kodesh and Limudei Chol, as well as goal-oriented extra-curricular programs, BCA inspires within its students the confidence to discover and cultivate their own unique talents and to note their accomplishments with pride.

BCA instills yiras shamayim, an enthusiasm for Torah and Mitzvos and a practical understanding and appreciation for what limud hachasidus and darchei hachasidus add to daily life. The school’s focus is to foster dignified young women who will be able to assess their actions, and who will develop the sensitivity to make decisions that positively impact their growth and development in school and beyond.

Bais Chana High School is located just 1.5 hours from Crown Heights. For more information, call 203-795-5261.