By Isaac Shiner-
This year, 23 seniors were selected to be a part of the Senior Leader program. The Senior Leader program at Ida Crown Jewish Academy assigns a senior to a group of freshmen each year. The seniors work to make the freshmen feel welcomed at Ida Crown and help them transition to high school life. The Student Social Services department, led by Mr. Zbaraz (Doc Phil) and Ms. Avner, runs the program and selects the senior leaders from a group of applicants.
By Ari Baral-
Every new school year always brings some change, but no change to the student’s everyday school life has been as drastic as the school year of 2020-2021.
By Hannah Stein-
Amid the strangest of springs because of a global pandemic, fifty seniors graduated from Ida Crown Jewish Academy. This year’s graduation was unparalleled in many ways: the seniors and their families sat six feet apart outside, everyone had to wear masks, only one person could be on the stage at a time, and only immediate family members could join the graduation ceremony in person. Regardless of the extenuating circumstances, the seniors were smiling.
By Sarah Friedman-
Ida Crown’s cross country team has been running and completing challenges over the course of COVID-19. Ezra Jaffe, one of the coaches of the team , explains the great measures that he has taken in order to keep the team running and happy. “It’s been challenging getting the team ready for the 2020 XC season. We have tried to have an all school virtual 5k race, but the school had some concerns over peer pressure this could create. We have been unable to do distance team conditioning drills over the spring. . . but both Coach Hunter and I have been communicating with team members and encouraging them to run.”
By Simone Miller-
Ida Crown welcomes two new members to its staff this year: Julie Avner and Yehudah Meyers.
Ms. Avner will be the new social worker-- a job that was previously filled by Shuli Tsadok. Ms. Avner has been passionate about art and counseling from a young age. She attended art programs over the summer while in high school, and she took AP Psychology as a senior, which sparked her interest in counseling.
COVID-19 has changed what Ida Crown’s sports will look like this year. In response to COVID-19, safety guidelines have been adopted by some sports, other sports have switched seasons, and some sports have been canceled.
By Hannah Rothner-
The beginning of the school year signifies a return to early mornings and long days. Tests and homework are being assigned every day, and sports have just begun. The start of the year can be overwhelming, and another question is on many students’ minds: how do you find the right club? This will serve as the perfect guide for all incoming freshmen, or even students that are returning to school and need a refresher.
By Hadassah Bernstein-
Ida Crown welcomed 58 incoming freshmen joining the school this year from the various middle schools in Illinois and throughout the United States. These feeder schools include Akiba Shechter, Arie Crown, Chicagoland Jewish Day School, Hillel Torah, Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov, Solomon Schecter, and Torah Academy of Minneapolis. Let us meet these new freshmen!
By Kayla Kupietzky-
Incoming freshmen at Ida Crown find themselves in a new school with new peers and teachers, an experience that can be scary and sometimes overwhelming. However, freshman year is also incredibly exciting and filled with many new opportunities.
By Gabe Burstyn-
COVID-19 forced the cancellation of popular Ida Crown summer activities such as Camp Moshava and Israel programs, creating an unconventional summer. Despite these losses, students took the opportunity to take online classes, get jobs, run backyard camps, and work in camps.
