New Girls' High School

Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

I thought some imamothers might be interested in Kol Hadassa. Please feel free to be in touch with any questions.

Kol Hadassa is a one year program, with an optional shana bet, based in the heart of the Ramat Beit Shemesh community, combining academic studies with a student-run business, in a strong Torah environment.

The program is geared towards teenage girls who are seeking an alternate educational environment. Many girls are finding the expectations and pressures of mainstream high schools overwhelming. The academic program at Kol Hadassa is unique. We are using a home schooling system accredited by Pennsylvania State called Penn Foster. Each student will work individually on their course work, guided by their teachers in goal setting and staying on track. Girls can work at a pace that suits them and choose electives that fit their interests. This is a different way of study for anyone coming from a typical high school background and may take some getting used to by the girls. For this reason the first units will be taught in the more traditional frontal-learning style that is used in the vast majority of classrooms.

Once the new routine of self-study is established, the benefits will be enormous. No one will have to wait patiently for their classmates to catch up on material that they have breezed through. No one will have to struggle to keep up a pace that they find challenging.

The Jewish Studies curriculum has been created to strengthen and inspire the students. It includes text based learning, guest speakers and Rabbi Rietti's amazing programmes, taught by a teacher specifically trained in his techniques.

A school business will be set-up and run by the girls, with professional guidance and training. It will be a chance for them to develop life skills necessary for success in the wider world such as budgeting and public speaking.

We have already had some girls from families in the States register for the program and would be happy to answer any further enquiries. The school would provide a space for the girls to live, meals and a madricha who would arrange activities in the evenings as well as provide supervision.

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Silver Member Joined: Apr 26 2010 Posts: 977 Location: NJ

What age girl is this for?
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Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

Hi Mamaleh!
The age is 15-18. The length of the program (1 year or 2) will depend on how many high school credits they enter with.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 01 2007 Posts: 2430

its for Israelis? who is this program aimed at in Israel? What language is it in?
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Silver Member Joined: Apr 26 2010 Posts: 977 Location: NJ

Would this be appropriate for girls (15-17yr olds) who have quit high school and gotten their GED.

Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

Hi lilacdreams, the program was originally deisgned for Anglo olim who were looking for an alternative to Israeli school options. Girls from chutz la'aretz have also started to register so there will be a mix of olim and chutznikim. All the classes are in English.

Mamaleh - each girl's situation is unique and I would have to know more before deciding if the program would be suitable for her and if she would be suitable for the program. The course of study we are doing is much broader and more extensive than the GEDs.

Posted: Mon, Jul 23 2012, 3:14 pm Post subject: re: New Girls' High School

A child would need to be very focused to complete it. In a regular classroom, you are following a certain regimen. Basically, you know that you need to complete a certain amount of material each day.

With Penn Foster, you can do nothing and not feel pressure to graduate. Some people never finish, because there is no pressure, no structure, which means no high school diploma!

The kids I know of who did it were very studious and motivated. If your daughter is not motivated to work on her own, and she does better in a structured environment, then this is not for you.
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Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

'A child would need to be very focused to complete it. In a regular classroom, you are following a certain regimen. Basically, you know that you need to complete a certain amount of material each day.'
This is why in our classroom the teachers are guiding each student to make appropriate goals for themselves. Girls know that they have to complete a certain amount of material each day, it just might be different material to the girls they're sitting next to.

'With Penn Foster, you can do nothing and not feel pressure to graduate. Some people never finish, because there is no pressure, no structure, which means no high school diploma!'
This might well be true when doing Penn Foster on your own. However, at Kol Hadassa you will not be on your own. There are very clear times to work and teachers are monitoring to make sure girls actually are working!

'The kids I know of who did it were very studious and motivated. If your daughter is not motivated to work on her own, and she does better in a structured environment, then this is not for you.'
The environment is very structured. There is no need for girls to be motivated to study on their own as they are not expected to do so. The only exception might be if a girl wants to finish in 1-1.5 years and doesn't have many high school credits yet. She will have to push herself to work in the evenings and during the summer.

Edited to say: sorry I don't know how to quote!

Gold Member Joined: Jan 01 2007 Posts: 2430

who is heading the program? Is it just secular studies or also jewish studies, and if so which rabbanim are endorsing this program?

Posted: Tue, Jul 24 2012, 11:50 am Post subject: re: New Girls' High School

Sounds like a great program! I may know a girl or two - I'll PM you.

Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

Hi lilacdreams! The person heading the program is Mrs Rebecca Aminoff. This is the information that is given about her on our website: Over the past few years, Rebecca has recognized a growing need in the community for a program that addresses the issues facing Olim teen girls. The focus of her studies and research has been to develop a program to build self-esteem and life-skills in girls who might otherwise be struggling.

Rebecca has a Masters in Educational Leadership, as well as experience teaching and working with high-school students; both in mainstream schools and in programs for youth at risk.

There is a strong Jewish Studies component and the program is endorsed by many community Rabbonim. Specifically, Rabbi Yaacov Haber of Kehillat Shivtei Yeshurun has agreed to answer any halachic queries that arise.

Shaz, thankyou for your PM!

Gold Member Joined: Jan 01 2007 Posts: 2430

Thankyou for answering. Sounds like a good program, and I know Rav Haber is a well known and respected rav in the RBS sommunity. Behatzlacha raba!

Beginner Joined: Jul 18 2012 Posts: 13

I just wanted to invite everyone to visit our website - www.kolhadassa.org - it gives a more in depth overview of the program.