By Dahlia Matanky-
The Coronavirus Pandemic has presented new challenges to every aspect of our lives, including serious environmental concerns. Although Ida Crown takes efforts to be environmentally conscious, such as introducing timed lights into the classrooms, there are always ways for our community to improve.
By Gideon Miller-
At the beginning of this year due to the novel coronavirus, Ida Crown did not mandate that students daven at school. On October 19, ICJA reintroduced mandatory mincha at school, but davening shacharit at school remains optional. It is unclear when davening shacharit at school will become mandatory again. Although Rabbi Matanky, the dean of ICJA, said that the “expectation is that we will have shacharit again at school,” he does not foresee this happening until at least the beginning of the second semester.
By Isaac Shiner-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorizations (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, an important milestone in battling this pandemic. The vaccines were approved for individuals 16 and 18 years of age and older respectively and consists of a two-dose series separated by 21 days and 28 days respectively.
By Gabriel Gordon-Burstyn-
Rabbi Yoni Fox and Mrs. Zeffren run Ida Crown’s Chesed program; Rabbi Fox says that he saw it as imperative that even in the pandemic there is a schoolwide Chesed program. Rabbi Fox wanted to find a way to do Chesed while minimizing risk for the student body, and he finally found this opportunity with the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign.
By Simone Miller-
Fifteen students and several teachers have opted to learn via zoom this school year, participating in classes through standing iPads that are ubiquitous in every classroom. I spoke to a few of these zoomers to see how their year is going so far:
Note: interviews are edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
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 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.
