The Cougar Chronicle Spring 2019

The Cougar Chronicle June 2019

JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY

Volume XXIX Issue 4

I s Standar dized Testing Really That Standar d? Devora Solomon, Opinion Editor a test be to focus on basic skills and truly subjects that they must master in standard order to succeed in college. Many or fair if colleges and universities have some required courses, such as math, people science, writing, and history, and have extra standardized testing lets students time to know what to expect in these check classes by forcing them to study their and learn core subjects. answers The argument on the other or redo side states that there is no way to questions? really make sure that standardized Many testing is standard. Not all high would say that if a student needs school students have access to extra time on tests, this does not books or tutors to help them study. show colleges how they would Taking the SAT or ACT is also perform on real-time exams, when expensive, and although both the purpose of standardized tests provide opportunities for students is for colleges to evaluate how to waive the fees, it is difficult for well a student might do in an students to take the tests multiple academic environment. times and prepare themselves Standardized testing also adequately without spending any changes the way schools teach. money. Others, like Orli Many schools are now being Friedman, ?20, believe that not all accused of ?teaching to test?, students have time to study as meaning that educators are not much as they may need to and it teaching the students in engaging ?causes unnecessary stress during ways to spark their interests, but an already stressful time in Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor rather, they are teaching just so students?lives.? that students perform well on People against standardized tests. This method does not testing also argue that when produce creative or critical students are granted extra time on thinkers. Tests such as these do the SAT or ACT, it makes the not show a college how an art baseline argument void. How can Photo Credit: columbiaspectarots.com

Ruby Benjamin, ?20, said that standardized tests ?provide a baseline for colleges to compare students based on criteria that is the same no matter the students? location or school.? This sets up the primary argument in favor of standardized testing, which was put in place to level the playing field, so to speak. It gives students equal opportunity to show their capabilities and prove how and if they will succeed in college. Basically, standardized testing can act as an equalizer for students, since schools across the world grade so differently. Maya Langer, ?20, said that colleges do not necessarily ?know the reputations of different schools and how one teacher may grade or skew the data.? This is also an argument commonly used, because colleges often lie when they say they have people in the admissions offices who know each school. In reality, it is difficult for an admissions officer to know that one teacher is known for never giving A?s, or that a student may have had a bad day and did not do as well on the finals as he or she should have. Many people also say that standardized testing helps students

major is gifted in sculpture or how a math prodigy might struggle with humanities. Schools do not provide these students with the resources to further their passions if they are teaching everyone the same thing because, after all, not everyone learns or takes tests in the same way. Standardized testing is an issue that has been controversial since its implementation. Although there is no end in sight for this debate, both sides have arguments that prove their point. These persuasive arguments force schools, students, and teachers to really think about what they are learning and why.

Do You Really K now Jack? Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor Every ending brings a new beginning. September 11th now memorializes a tragic day in American history when the United States became the victim of a terror attack in 2001. However, on a much more positive note, September 11th is also the day that Mr. Oscar Divinsky opened Akiba Hebrew Academy in 1946. In 1946, the history of the Jewish people was changed forever. World War II had ended,

and the State of Israel was to be born within the next few years. This was a time of grief over the six million Jews lost, thankfulness by survivors that the war was over, victory for the Allied powers, battle by Zionists over the establishment of a Jewish state, and a desire for growth, both spiritual and physical, of the Jewish people. The late 1940s was a period of rebuilding, which gave way to

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the reemergence of religious pride in response to the significant loss of Jews during the war. In Northeastern United States, Mr. Divinsky responded by taking it upon himself to educate the next generation of Jewish leaders despite the depressing atmosphere. His goal was to create a school ?where Jewish adolescents would experience a dual curriculum of secular and Jewish studies, prepare for leadership roles in the Jewish Students' takes on the Union dissolution Page 4

community and the community at large, and come together to study their common heritage? in a pluralistic setting (quote from jbha.org). The first few classes in the school lived through Israel?s declaration of independence, giving them a greater connection to the history of Israel and the Jewish people. Continued on Page 17

Barrack Students React to College Admissions Scandal Page 19

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I s Representative I lhan Omar Antisemitic? Serena Levingston, World News Editor

Ilhan Omar, a Democrat loyalty. Dual loyalty is a but she continued, ?At the same a Republican Representative from from Minnesota, is one of the first problematic stereotype suggesting time, I reaffirm the problematic Missouri, shouted, ?Go back to two Muslim women to be elected role of lobbyists in our politics.? Puerto Rico!? at Representative to Congress. Along with Opinions vary on Tony Cรกrdenas, a Democrat from ?I n recent months, Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Representative Omar?s apology. California. Representative Smith Democrat from Michigan, her Representative Omar While her initial comments may election brought great joy to many have been overtly antisemitic, shouted this on the floor during has come under fire not Democrats and other Americans they were problematic. the government shutdown this seeking more diversity within the Democratic Senator Bernie for antisemitic past winter in response to the government. However, the Sanders, a left-wing Jew, stated tweets.? House Democrats rejecting the uncomplicated joy soon took a that while Representative Omar is request to redo the vote on a bill turn. not antisemitic, ?Ilhan has got to that Jews are more loyal to Israel In recent months, do a better job in speaking to the funded by Democrats to keep the than to America, and results in Representative Omar has come Jewish community.? Washington government open through accusations that Jews are not true under fire for her controversial State Democrat Pramila Jayapal Americans. These accusations are February 28th. tweets that some say are said that ?[Ilhan] has to be really irrational, especially considering In the Barrack community, antisemitic. Referring to careful about her language, but I how many immigrants come to there are, of course, a wide range American support of Israel, she also think she has shown a real America and are very patriotic; of opinions on Representative tweeted that ?it?s all Ilhan Omar?s comments about the Benjamins and apology. Rivkah baby? (?Benjamins? Wyner ?20 said, ?Her being a word for $100 comments might not be bills). This suggests a threatening, but they are belief that American a sad example of support of Israel is the...existence of driven by money from antisemitism in donors and lobbying America.? Rivkah groups such as AIPAC, thought ?her comments rather than by common demonstrate genuine values or goals. In antisemitism and her addition, her comment apology could only be evoked a harmful accepted if she didn?t antisemitic stereotype continue dishing out that Jews control the antisemitic tropes.? Sam world?s money, which is Pomerantz ?20 added false and dates back to that, though in the the Middle Ages, when beginning he thought Jews were not allowed Representative Omar?s to have many jobs, but comments were merely were allowed to be ?insensitive,? he believes money lenders. that now ?she keeps Further showing digging herself a bigger her ignorance on the hole and I believe it is topic, ?AIPAC? was getting to the point Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN), one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to what Representative Omar where it is antisemitic.? Congress, with Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. was referencing in her Although she ?Benjamins? tweet. AIPAC, apologized with the which stands for the American there are ways to be loyal to both willingness to learn.? While Ilhan ?right intentions,? Pomerantz Israel Public Affairs Committee, America and one?s country of ?is under a serious microscope?, maintains that it ?seemed lobbies on behalf of Israel and origin at the same time. in Representative Jayapal?s inauthentic.? arranges bipartisan congressional Speaker of the House, opinion, problematic comments America was a safe haven for trips to Israel but, notably, does Nancy Pelosi, and other from members of Congress from many of our Jewish ancestors after not give money to political Democratic leaders publicly the right have gone unnoticed. they had been persecuted in campaigns. Rabbi Jonah Pesner, denounced Representative Omar?s Supporters of Europe or the Middle East. Now the Director of the Religious comments, writing that though Representative Omar?s apology that hate speech, which is speech Action Center of Reform Judaism, ?legitimate criticism of Israel?s demonstrating hate against a say that while her comments were emphasized that AIPAC uses its policies is protected by the values group of people, is gaining controversial and had hints of ?constitutionally protected rights of free speech,? Representative traction, we as Jews must not to advocate,? but when Omar or antisemitism, her critics ignore Omar?s comments were ?deeply become complacent about our others criticize it, ?it feeds that offensive.? Soon after, Republican members of Congress comfortable lives in America. We stereotype of [Jews] controlling Representative Omar published a who have made similar comments. must continue to fight against the world.? note of apology on Twitter, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a discrimination and oppression Another controversial tweet from acknowledging that while lifting up other minorities Democratic representative from Representative Omar declared that ?anti-Semitism is real.? She who share our struggles. Only by she ?should not be expected to New York, tweeted that ?no one wrote, ?My intention is never to not tolerating hate in any form, have allegiance/pledge support to offend my constituents or Jewish seeks this level of reprimand when whether it be through tweets or a foreign country in order to serve Americans as a whole,? and ?this members make statements about speech, can we eradicate the my country in Congress?. While is why I unequivocally Latinx + other communities,? persecution and demonization of this is valid, it brought up another apologize.? This would have been Jews and other minorities. citing the time when Jason Smith, antisemitic stereotype: dual enough to appease her voter base,

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The Subtle Sexism That No One Sees in Politics Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor The 2020 election is coming faster than we think, and there?s a lot to discuss. For one, will Kanye really be running for President?? Or maybe, will Biden's decision to run bring us more fantastic memes?? And no, Oprah Winfrey is definitely not planning on running. Although all of these questions are extremely pressing, there is one uniquely notable aspect of this election which is under-discussed, and that is the number of women who have already announced their candidacy. Hearing names such as Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 polls is certainly exciting. In fact, this upcoming election already has a historic number of women running which is particularly impressive because through all 59 Presidential elections, there has yet to be one woman President. Now, the purpose of this article isn?t to prove that figures like Hillary Clinton or Jill Stein lost because they are women. Rather, it?s to offer the fact that subtle sexism is present in politics today, and that the double standards and stereotypes hurt the female candidates?chances at winning the position. Sexualizing strong female leaders is something not uncommon to women; in fact, it?s been done for centuries. One popular example is Cleopatra, who was an amazing leader of her time, but most of what she is remembered for is her relationships and seductive reputation. Senator Kamala Harris of California faced questions about her previous relationships within the first 24 hours of her campaign. When she first ran for public office in 2003, Senator Harris received a huge amount of criticism over her previous relationship with powerful

California politician Willie Brown. There were rumors of an affair with married Willie Brown and that she then used this relationship to get her political

ability or his success in being President. Yet when Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announced her candidacy, the very first question of her campaign was

Female Candidates in the 2020 Demorcratic Primaries

career off the ground ? both of which have been revealed as false and genuinely ridiculous claims. When Harris announced her candidacy for the 2020 Presidential election, Brown subsequently took credit for beginning her career. This behavior sexualizes women, limits and reduces their success to the relationships they?ve been in and is not only exemplified through Kamala Harris but is seen countless times throughout history. Yet another example of the double standard that exists for women in politics ? Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who just recently announced her candidacy, has already been berated for her reputation of having a harsh work environment and being a demanding boss. Of course, men also rebuke their staff immensely (isn?t it President Trump who?s known for the catch-phrase, ?You?re fired!??) but it?s oftentimes seen more as an honor for a man to be tough, and even if it?s not, it would never become a great source of criticism for them as it has for Senator Klobuchar. Now, President Trump?s ?likability?or rather, lack thereof, is not a secret but this has never been a prevalent question in his

about her likability. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts faced these same questions early in her campaign as well. The female Presidential candidates now face a serious problem: they can take the form of a ?likable?candidate and fear the possibility of being seen as timid, unfit for the role and not be taken seriously; or they can take the form of the ?harsh boss?which has already been criticized by the media and is evidently seen as aggressive and undesirable. There is no winning for female candidates within these options. A Politico tweet asks, ?How does Elizabeth Warren avoid a Clinton redux ? written off as too unlikable before her campaign gets off the ground?? Male candidates do not have an easy campaign in any way, but they don?t have to be concerned with what personality they want to show, or fear being compared to their similar predecessors (because every single President is a ?similar predecessor?-- male!) These female candidates must face this double standard and an impossible choice with no victory in either path. Yet another part of campaigning which women must be concerned with is their appearance. In the 2016

campaign, if anyone remembers, Hillary Clinton's red suit gained a lot of criticism in the media. Another example, perhaps, is when President Trump mocked Carly Fiorina (who ran against Trump in the Republican primary), asking, ?Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next President?? Would a man ever be told he is less worthy of the Presidency because of his appearance? Can anyone imagine a candidate from this 2020 presidential election saying: ?I am more worthy of this Presidency because you, Mr. Trump, are slightly orange and in fact, fairly ugly?? The answer is no; this scenario is unimaginable because it would never occur to a male candidate. It seems ridiculous, but it is exactly what the female candidates face, not only in clothing or physical appearance but also in their facial expressions, voice, and body language. Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, explains that ?[she] would love to think that they won?t get the kind of comments that Hillary Clinton got about, ?Why is she yelling at me?? ?Why doesn?t she smile more?? [She?d] love to think that that?s all gone now, but [she doesn?t] believe that to be true.? The Presidential election and politics, in general, are filled with subtle, non-deliberate misogyny, and this article only outlines a few ways it?s shown. I urge readers to be careful when judging the female candidates in this upcoming election. Look past the sexist stereotypes, realize the unfair double standards, and don?t take anything for granted when it comes to female candidates. They are forced to face higher standards and more prejudice from the beginning.

When White M eets Jewish Michal Loren, Staff Writer Whether or not European Jews are considered ?white? is up for debate, but there is no question that I look like a typical white girl. Navigating the structures of American privilege and oppression as a white Jew is so complex that I often find myself fighting the temptation to fall into the safety net of white privilege. I don?t dress in a way that distinguishes me from any other participant in

American society or that indicates my Judaism. Unlike people of color, I don?t encounter blatantly hateful experiences on a daily basis merely due to assumptions based on the color of my skin. Because I attend a Jewish day school, I also don?t deal with repulsive anti-Semitic comments or jokes at school. Still, I am a Jew in a world that is increasingly hostile toward us.

It is not obvious based on my appearance that I am a Jew; rather, my religion is something I may choose to disclose to the people I meet. But if I do not disclose it, I would most likely be presumed a member of the Christian majority of Caucasians, if religion is even considered. Because of this, I am a recipient of white privilege in a way that my grandparents and

great-grandparents in Eastern Europe were not. From the mundane (I can always find makeup to match my skin tone), to the frightening (I don?t fear being shot by police), I very much share the experience of being white in this country. Continued on Page 4

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Jewish ancestry. Evidently, not much has changed. When I walked Still, as a Jew, I never feel past a man on the corner in completely safe. After downtown Providence this appearances, the next thing people summer, as he shouted and held up learn about others is their name. a sign that read, ?Jews kill kids,? I What do I say to people when they knew that if I didn?t approach him, ask the origin of my name? If I say he would leave me alone. At the my name is Hebrew, will they same time, he was a disturbing make assumptions about me example of anti-Semitism that has because I am Jewish? My lasted for centuries, not just in the grandfather, after surviving the United States, but across the Holocaust, chose to change his world. I have seen anti-Semitic name when he came to this country sentiment come from all points on in order to assimilate, to blend in, the political spectrum. It no longer so he wouldn?t be harmed or surprises me; it just leaves me disadvantaged because of his

feeling alone, like the only people standing in solidarity with me are other Jews. The Neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville two years ago, the desecration of Jewish cemeteries in 2016 and 2017, the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last October, and the overall rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes in Europe and the United States terrify me. The world only seems to be growing more dangerous for Jews. Anyone I meet could hate me or treat me poorly for no reason other than the fact that I am Jewish.

Page 4 As an Ashkenazi Jew, I must remind myself that, whether I choose to be or not, I am both complicit in and a victim of the structures of power in the United States. But I reject the notion that it is a binary choice to oppress others as a white-skinned person or to stand as a Jew with other marginalized groups. Instead, I remind myself that, while being passively compliant is easy and comfortable, being an assertive advocate will ultimately lead to a more just world for all of us.

I f Not Now, When? Sophia Decherney with Ida Narli, Staff Writers One of the most famously cited quotations from Jewish history is from Hillel HaZaken: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?" While this can be considered a clichĂŠ, this quote perfectly sums up the feelings and thoughts of the students in favor of the Barrack teachers union. A teachers union is ?an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights.? In other words, a union is a community of teachers who have come together to stand up for themselves. Without a union, teachers would be forced to solely rely on the administration of their school to make decisions on issues such as the teachers? healthcare, salary transparency, courseload, and protocol prior to termination. As students, we can appreciate the power of working together. Without our Student Association to represent us to the school administration, we would be unable to protest what we consider unjust rules. While I?m sure none of us thinks that the administration would perpetuate injustice, we still want a voice in the decisions that affect our lives and our education. Many have argued that students have no place interfering in the repeal of the teachers union because it does not affect the students directly.

However, any Barrack student knows that Barrack is a school that values community and civil involvement, as demonstrated in grade meetings and the 10th grade

was not personally affected? As Maddy Denker ?22 put it, dissolving the union ?is against our Derech Eretz value of community.? The value of

dialogue with the administration and school board. Granted, it may feel uncomfortable for those against the union to hear opinions that oppose their own. However, as stated by the majority opinion in the Supreme Court case for free speech in schools, ?In order for...school officials to justify prohibition of a particular expression of opinion, it must be able to show that its action was caused by something more than a mere desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint.? Dissent is never pleasant, but it is the ability to voice an unpopular opinion that makes our democracy so strong. We may have been the only Jewish private school in the United States to still have a union,

Barrack Students supporting the Teachers' Union

Washington DC lobbying trip. Additionally, the rights insured by a teachers union affect each and every Barrack student. For example, if teachers?course loads were increased, teachers would have less time to spend giving individualized attention to students and grading assignments efficiently. Moreover, students have the responsibility to stand up for the rights of teachers. How many times has a teacher gone above and beyond to help a student even when that teacher

community teaches us to support one another regardless of whether or not an issue impacts us personally. So what can Barrack students do to support what remains of the union? Our most important and impactful tool for change is our voice. Whether our voice is expressed through joining the teachers by wearing red on Fridays or participating in a walkout at break, speaking up on behalf of the teachers union is the first step to initiating a successful

?The r ights insured by a teacher s union affect each and ever y Bar r ack student.? but we should be proud of our uniqueness. Our teachers ensure that we love where we learn; now is the time for the students to fight to ensure that their teachers love where they teach, because if not now, when?

Don't L egalize Danger ! Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor Whether you call it pot, weed, dope, or marijuana, the issue of legalizing this specific substance is highly debated. Ever

since Canada passed a bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in June of 2018, many people have been saying that it is

about time the United States follows suit. However, despite the many reasonable arguments in favor, the legalized recreational

use of marijuana would be a danger to our society, particularly to our teenagers. Continued on following page.

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The Other Side of the Red Anonymous Staff Writer Barrack?s verdict to not renew the teachers union was a decision that caused months of controversy, red clothing, and a walkout. For those of you who do not know, labor unions date back to the 18th century and were created to represent workers and provide better working conditions

" I f a union is necessar y in our school, then we are doing something ter r ibly wrong.? for those who, at the time, were not being treated well. The labor union was a necessary aspect of American history that resulted in the protection of workers in laboring professions and the reduction of human rights violations. Today, unions are seen in many professions that are not related to manual labor, such as nursing, engineering, and teaching. These unions beg the question: are they still needed? Unions were a very necessary aspect of America?s

history and can do much good in professions where wages and working conditions are not fair, but I do not believe that a union is necessary for our school. In a school with a teachers union, teachers receive raises based on seniority instead of performance, which provides no incentive for teachers to improve as educators. When a school has to make cuts to the staff, teachers are chosen to be laid off based on the seniority policy, ensuring that the teachers who have been working at the school the shortest, are the first to go. This results in the retention of teachers who may not necessarily be the most effective for the education of students. It is also difficult to fire those teachers due to tenure and job protection agreements in teachers?contracts, both of which restrict the administration's ability to make staffing changes. Removing a teacher becomes an inordinately expensive and time-consuming process. Additionally, unions have the ability to go on strike to negotiate terms of their contract or other aspects of their job. Nine years ago, the union could not agree on new contract terms with the school, so the teachers went

on strike for weeks. Seniors were abandoned by their teachers during the most crucial weeks of their college process. This ability to go on strike reduces

school left in the country with a teachers union. The continuation of our school community without the presence of a union was not a

educational opportunities for the students and there is no telling what else it could affect. However, the most compelling reason to discontinue the union is that we do not need a union to teach us how to treat one another. As Jews, we learn through our Derech Eretz values that we are responsible for one another. The union should not be necessary to ensure that we treat our teachers fairly, and if a union is necessary for our school, then we are doing something terribly wrong. This may be the reason why we are the only Jewish day

decision made lightly, it was made because the Board believes it is in the best interest of our school at the moment. George Gordon, Board president, stated in a recent letter to the Barrack community, ?All teachers (with the exception of one retirement) have signed letters of employment committing to return to school for the 2019-20 academic year?. Teachers unions have their pros and cons, but ultimately, I think that removing the union at Barrack was the right decision for our school and our community.

I t's Time to M ake Pot L egal Hillel Weitzman, Staff Writer

One controversial topic that recreational purposes throughout has been flooding headlines and the country, the first of which conversations in recent months is being the economic incentives. The the legalization of marijuana. implementation of dispensaries in While this issue is states that legalized certainly more " How does one recreational marijuana divisive in some has led to economic r ationalize areas than others, a growth. The conversation about keeping mar ij uana establishment of this the reasons why illegal, but alcohol new, trendy industry and ways in which will circulate more purchasable at marijuana should money into the many dr ug stores be legalized is economy, as well as throughout the create jobs for citizens important to discuss of those states. countr y? " everywhere, Additionally, according especially since to a study done by a more states have legalized it in Harvard economist, the US diverts every election. more than 17 billion dollars towards marijuana prohibition There are many compelling every year, often solely to bring reasons for why marijuana should charges for possession. Thus, the undoubtedly be legalized for legalization of marijuana would

clearly have far-reaching economic benefits. The second reason marijuana should be legalized is because it is not harmful, and certainly less damaging than other legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. An analysis of 69 previous studies done by JAMA Psychiatry found that the negative cognitive effects of marijuana in young brains diminishes almost completely after 72 hours. This is a staggering statistic, especially in developing brains. However, legalization will only permit individuals who are 21 years or older to possess and consume marijuana, thus yielding even fewer negative effects.

only one recorded death from marijuana use, whereas alcohol takes the lives of 88,000 people every year in the US alone, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. How does one rationalize keeping marijuana illegal, but alcohol purchasable at many drug stores throughout the country?

Marijuana is also known to have many positive effects. Between helping cancer patients through chemo, and vastly lowering stress, it is clear that the proven positive effects of smoking marijuana outweigh the alleged negative effects, perpetuated by some media outlets. These clear arguments prove that marijuana should absolutely be legalized Additionally, there has been throughout the country.

Continued from previous page Maybe you think marijuana needs to be legal because of its many medical benefits. Maybe you think it should be legalized because you believe the government should regulate marijuana the way it regulates alcohol. But these arguments are all null and void in the face of the dangers of marijuana. Some of its risks include effects on short-term memory, impairment of cognitive ability, and damage to lung tissue. The biggest danger, however, is that marijuana does, contrary to popular belief, carry a risk of abuse and addiction. If marijuana were legalized, underage teenagers would have much easier access to the substance than they do now. Although marijuana is not addictive in the sense that heroin, nicotine, and crystal meth are addictive, it is still dangerous. Especially for teenagers, frequent recreational usage of marijuana does result in physical addiction. The real danger is that these teenagers become more susceptible to trying significantly more dangerous drugs. Thus, the legalization of marijuana would inevitably cause this substance to be a gateway drug to other substances, which seriously needs to be prevented.

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Not Your Aver age Hamsa: A L egacy Proj ect Photo Credit: Ruthie Meles

Ruthie Meles, For the Chronicle Holocaust Education And Reflection (HEAR) Club?s mission is hamsa starting with, ?I remember? lessons from the Holocaust?. pretty straightforward: ?to educate others and reflect? is the way club These hamsas are being hung up on the wall where the staff and advisor and Spanish teacher, Mrs. Susan Schwartz, would put it. As faculty mailboxes were previously. Students many already know, HEAR Club has an annual Yom will also have the opportunity to add to the Hashoah assembly and legacy project, both of which wall in the future. These lessons, written really impact Barrack?s students and faculty. Some down, are sure to be remembered and examples reminisced. The outgoing presidents, Molly of past ?These lessons, wr itten legacy Lavoe ?19 and Noah Stein ?19, put in down, are sure to be projects countless hours of work and planning to include a remembered and make sure this year?s legacy project is garden and exceptionally impactful. Lavoe stated that it reminisced? mural, both is ?our mission is to educate future of which generations as well as ourselves?, and Stein commemorate those who perished in the Holocaust. agreed, adding that ?our mission as HEAR Club presidents is more important than ever now because of This year, every student participated in the legacy project recent anti-Semitic attacks?. after the Yom Hashoah assembly, when students wrote a note on a

New SA and JL I : Our School I s in Good Hands Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Elections for the new Student Association (SA) officers of the 2019-2020 school year took place at the beginning of March. While everyone who ran had excellent speeches and great platforms, only four could be selected. The officers for the 2019-2020 school year are Sophia Shapiro, president, Mia Erlbaum, vice president, Sarah Scheinmann, secretary, and Adam Maman, treasurer. These four amazing individuals are working very hard to make the next school year the best it can possibly be, with the creation of a new SA website and many more great ideas. Shapiro, SA President, stated that she ?want[s] to bring the students

and administration closer together and create a positive atmosphere for student advocacy on all levels.? Erbaum, SA Vice President, added to Shapiro?s point that ?It

is so important to me that we (the students) always have each other?s backs and feel a part of the Barrack Kehillah.? Scheinmann, SA Secretary, commented that ,?During my time in office I hope to help make a new homework policy and keep everything organized.? Maman, SA Treasurer, stated that, ?SA is working on making JBHA an even better place to be.? In addition to new SA officers, there are 11 new JLI members for the 2019-2020 school year. JLI stands for Jewish Leadership Initiative, and its goal is to promote Jewish learning and engagement throughout the school. The new JLI has been working hard, even in the few meetings they have had so far, in order to make sure they are fulfilling their

job as Jewish leaders. They have great ideas for school-wide programs, Shabbatonim, and even pre-Shabbat schmoozes, so look out for them because they are fueled and ready to be leaders. Matan Dolev, one of the new members of JLI, stated that he applied to be in JLI because he ?wanted to be a leader in his Jewish community.? One of his goals is to ?make people comfortable with their Judaism and to make people enjoy Judaism.? Mira Greenspan and Gisele Kahlon, two other new members of JLI, stated that they want to ?inspire and create a positive impact on younger students in the school so that they too will want to become Jewish leaders.? Good luck to the new SA and JLI members for the 2019-2020 school year!

Night at the Bar r ack Science M useum

On this exciting night, classmates from the class of ?22, (from left to right) Rebecca Wilson, Amina Levites-Cohen, and Sarah Spivak presented their findings regarding the effect of color on the eating habits of ants.

Photo Credit: Maya Shavit

Photo Credit: Maya Shavit

Photo Credit: Maya Shavit

Maya Shavit, Features and Games Editor

The upper school students created unique concepts for their experiments that used real organisms. (From left to right) Ninth graders Ethan Auritt, Caleb Shapiro Mendal-Singer, and Brandon Singer researched and tested planaria, a species of flatworms, for their labs.

Both 6th and 9th graders presented at the event. (From left to right) Sixth graders Aryeh Jaison, Izzy Sussman, and Izzy Greenberg spoke to parents and peers about the absorbency of different paper towels.

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Twelfth Gr ade in The Wor kplace Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor Members of the Class of 2019 enjoyed their last day of regular high school classes on March 20th. They spent the third trimester volunteering and interning to make positive impacts in the community. The grade experienced its introduction to working outside of school through positions at various places in many different fields. Twelfth graders wanted to give back to their local communities through volunteering their time. Hillel Weitzman volunteered at Gompers Elementary, a public school in Philadelphia. The position was recommended to him by his friend who volunteered there last year. Weitzman enjoyed ?working with the young kids

one-on-one.? Gefen Galfand also worked with children, but in an organization called The Breathing Room, that supports families with relatives who are cancer patients. She also learned about this non-profit through a friend, and

?They volunteered and acquired skills that are sure to be of use in their college year s and beyond? was interested in this opportunity to make a visible, immediate difference in people?s lives. Galfand?s highlights included

meeting other volunteers, and assembling and delivering Easter baskets. While some seniors worked in organizations in which they had direct contact with the recipients of the service, others participated in office jobs to help the public. Yasmin Stein found a community service job that aligned with her interests through Google (she will attend Rhode Island School of Design for college). Stein worked for the Community Design Collaborative, a ?corporation that finds and connects grants and design teams to fix community issues.? While doing office work -- such as organizing files -- she took an interest in seeing the

business side of the non-profit in addition to the design part. Daniel Nahamo also worked in an office, but as a volunteer for Dr. Helen Loeb, a Biomedical Research Engineer at The Children?s Hospital of Philadelphia. He, too, discovered this opportunity through a friend, and topics such as self-driving cars interested him. Nahamo helped create a paper based on a study about automatic vehicle safety, and utilized his computer-coding skills. The entire Class of 2019 spent a meaningful trimester outside of the school setting where they volunteered and acquired skills that are sure to be of use in their college years and beyond.

Review: Science Conference With a Twist Serena Levingston, World News Editor On April 16, 2019, Barrack hosted its biennial Science Conference, but this year it had a special twist: it was environment-themed. To pull this off, the Environmental Action Club (EAC) worked with the Topics in Science Club for months to organize the event. Together they invited speakers in the field of environmental science to come lead breakout sessions during the conference. On behalf of EAC, Michal Loren ?19, an EAC officer who helped organize the Science Conference, said that ?after putting so many hours into the conference, we?re really glad that it was so successful?. There was a wide variety of session leaders, ranging from scientists to lawyers, and topics ranging from aquatic wildlife to recycling and sustainability. This shows that environmental science is a

Environmental Action Club president and co-planner of SciCon, Ruthie Davis ?19 (right) with keynote speaker Sarah Endriss (left).

multifaceted field with many unexpected aspects. Regarding her breakout session on biomaterials, Lauren Mermelstein ?20 said she was interested in seeing ?how people create new technologies to help improve the environment?, and she ?learned how new materials are being made today that do not involve fossil fuels?, which cause many environmental problems. The topic of environmental science is not one taught extensively at Barrack, though it is a crucial field in this time of what many consider environmental crisis. In addition to breakout sessions, students heard keynote speakers; Sarah Endriss, an architect, spoke to the upper school, while

Amy Jewitt, who works in data management, spoke to the middle school. Lily Wolnek ?23 applauded Sarah Endriss for her speech, calling it ?interesting? and saying that she ?would have liked to know more?. All in all, the Science Conference was a success, from its speakers and topics to its student engagement. Mermelstein stated that her ?sessions were interesting? and that she thought the Science Conference was ?a huge success?. In her opinion, the environment theme is ?very relevant to issues we are all facing?. Loren concurred, saying it was especially important that the Science Conference this year

Students engaging in a breakout session

was environment-themed because ?as climate change becomes an even greater threat to our existence...the need for action becomes more immediate?. Some students have truly taken this message to heart. Wolnek told me that she?s been ?turning off the lights? when she leaves a room to help the environment, and the Science Conference reassured her that ?the things she is doing [are] actually helping the earth?. Like Wolnek, we need to think about how we can help the environment because each one of us can have a positive impact.

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What I s a Teacher 's Union, and What Does I t Do? Raphael Englander, For the Chronicle

This year, the students at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy heard a lot about the school?s teachers union. However, some may be wondering what a teachers union is and what it does. The simple answer is that a teachers union is a group of teachers who have banded together for a common purpose. That purpose is to protect their interests and rights. The most prominent manner in which teachers unions work to do this is through collective bargaining. This is the

negotiation of wages and other conditions by a group of employees. By using their great number of members to their advantage, a teachers union is able to acquire benefits for all of its members. Without their local union, and a national union, like the American Federation of Teachers, with which it is affiliated, the teachers might not have these benefits. The strongest weapon a teachers union has in its arsenal is a strike. This is when the employees refuse

to work until they are given better conditions or wages. Although the teachers at Barrack cannot strike due to their contract, many teachers from schools all around the country have been striking. All in all, a teachers union is a group of teachers who, through collective bargaining, are able to negotiate their wages and work conditions, protect their rights, and address their concerns. Teachers unions are only able to do this if all of the teachers are a part of the union and work

together, as collective bargaining is only able to achieve its goals through its strength in numbers. In addition, a school?s administration must be willing to recognize a union. If an administration withholds recognition of a union, collective bargaining can no longer take place. Without that recognition, and with no power to strike, a union becomes powerless.

STEAM Tr ies Renewable Ener gy In Barrack?s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Institute, students have the opportunity to explore various applications of technology. This year, two of my eleventh grade classmates, Ruby Benjamin and Orli Friedman, and I, are installing a solar panel array on the roof of Barrack?s main building. Our group intends to use the panels to create a renewable energy station in the STEAM lab where students could come to recharge phones, laptops, and batteries. Friedman, president of Environmental Action Club, said that her work on the array emphasized for her ?the importance of

renewable energy.? Benjamin found the technical aspect of the process very interesting, especially the ?different connections? used in creating the circuit. Our group also looks forward to collecting data from the panels to conduct research and experiments in order to learn about solar energy. Future students will have the benefit of this large body of data to work with should they choose to learn about solar energy. And who knows -- this may be only the beginning of STEAM?s ventures in renewable energy.

Photo Credit: Barrack Facebook Page

Helen Rudoler, Editor-in-Chief

From Left to right: Helen '20, Orli Friedman '20, and Ruby Benjamin '20

What Happened at DECA Nationals? Gabe Miller, For the Chronicle

Photo Credit: Barrack Facebook Page

business experts. DECA ICDC also featured a night This weekend, as students at Universal Studios and a performance by the Blue prepared for the end of spring break Man Group. and the return of school, juniors Ethan Kushnick, Gabe Miller, and Ira Scheer Kushnick, Miller, and Scheer presented a written traveled to the DECA International business plan to a judge. They have been working on Career Development Conference this business plan for over a year and placed second (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida. DECA in the Pennsylvania DECA Career Development ICDC is an international competition Conference. While they did not place in the National with over 22,000 competitors from the conference, they were honored to be one of the United States, Canada, Japan, South 22,000 attendees out of the 250,000 DECA members Korea, Spain, and more. At DECA ICDC, students compete in worldwide. They also were able to speak to business competitions in the categories of Finance, owners and executives who offered great advice Left to right: Gabe Miller '20, Ira Scheer '20, and Ethan Kushnick Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and and business opportunities as well as meet with Tourism, Sports, and Business DECA advisors about Barrack being more Management. In between competition, ICDC attendees can also visit a involved. in DECA next year. college exhibit hall which features name business programs such as the Ross School of Business, as well as attend breakout sessions led by

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M atch the Dog to the Chronicle Editor ! Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor

Serena Levingston, World News Editor

Pearson

Winston Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor

Roxie

Devora Solomon, Opinion Editor

Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor

Ollie Answers:

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L et's Backtr ack to AI PAC Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor lasts three days. On the Sunday and Monday of the conference, attendees have their schedules booked with general sessions and breakout sessions. There are five general sessions that take place with everyone together. At these

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senator of New York Charles Schumer, and former U.S. Ambassador to to the United Nations Nikki Haley all spoke. During the breakout sessions, attendees get to pick from the countless informational sessions offered. Devora Solomon ?20, a member of the Barrack delegation, said that the highlight of her experience was ?getting to hear Knesset members speak? in one of her breakout sessions, since ?it was an opportunity [she] could never get anywhere else.? On the last day of the conference, attendees have the option to lobby their Protesting Against AIPAC Representatives and Senators on Capitol Hill. This year?s legislative agenda sessions, all of the main speakers focused on opposing Iranian are featured. This year, Israeli aggression, gaining foreign aid Blue and White Party Leader support for Israel, and opposing Benny Gantz, Israeli Prime boycotts of Israel in the United Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rivkah Wyner, '20

A.n empowering experience that I .nfluences thousands to P.romote, A.dvocate for, and feel more deeply C.onnected to Israel? That may not be exactly what the acronym of AIPAC stands for, but it is an accurate depiction of this year?s AIPAC Policy Conference. American Israel Public Affairs Committee is what AIPAC literally stands for, and it is a well-known lobbying organization whose mission is to ?strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel? (Aipac.org). Every year, AIPAC hosts a policy conference in Washington DC. Over the years, the policy conference has grown; this year, approximately 18,000 people attended. Barrack had the privilege to send its own student delegation to the conference this year. Ten students comprised the Barrack delegation, which was organized by Israel Club members and advised by Barrack Librarian, Mrs. Wendie Sittenfield. The Policy Conference

States. The AIPAC policy conference is not only an empowering and informational experience, but it is also a great opportunity to support Israel while being surrounded by your friends and thousands of other pro-Israel

?A great oppor tunity to suppor t I sr ael while being sur rounded by your fr iends and thousands of other pro-I sr ael Amer icans.? Americans. Mira Greenspan ?20, another member of the Barrack delegation, described it as being ?overwhelming, but in a good way.? The only way, however, to understand what attending one of these conferences is like and what the buzz is all about is to actually attend one! So in summation, register for AIPAC Policy Conference 2020 -- you will not regret it.

Cool K ids Watch With Subtitles Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor Why watch television shows such as Gossip Girl or Riverdale when you can watch Fauda or Shtisel? Turns out, Israeli television programs are all the rage at the moment.

But these aren?t the only Israeli TV shows out there. There is

The new television series on Netflix, Shtisel, is a drama about the life of a Haredi family living in Jerusalem. The main character is Akiva Shtisel (played by Michael Aloni), who is a Rabbi in practice but an artist at heart. His father, Shulem Shtisel (played by Dov ?I sr aeli television Glickman), is a recent widower and just wants his progr ams are all son to get married and live a conventional the r age at the religious life. This show provides a rare and brilliant moment.? insight into Haredi life. Some issues the characters face are particular to their community, but many of their problems are relatable and heartwarming. Fauda has been on Netflix for a few years now, but people are still obsessing over it. Fauda is a political thriller featuring Doron Kavillio (played by Lior Raz), who was a commander in a elite unit in the Israel Defense Forces. Doron rejoins the army to capture Abu Ahmad, a dangerous Palestinian terrorist, when he is discovered to still be alive. This show demonstrates the different characters? extraordinary geniuses, cunning thought processes, and thrilling escapades. The plot is intense and exceptionally engaging. The third season will be aired in 2019.

Fauda on Netflix

also When Heroes Fly and the hilarious HaShoter Hatov. No matter what your preference is, you must add one of the many esteemed Israeli TV shows to your watch list right away.

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What's Next for I sr ael? Mira Greenspan, Israel Editor On April 9, 2019, is not large and strong enough to Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader operate the government on its of the Likud own. Netanyahu?s party, was ?The cur rent Pr ime coalition now voted into his includes two M inister of I sr ael 5th term as ultra-orthodox still has to get Prime Minister parties, Shas and of Israel. In an through indictments United Torah extremely close and investigations? Judaism, so the race against the right-wing Blue and White currently has the party?s leader, strongest influence Benny Gantz, in Knesset. Netanyahu reached the finish line With Likud continuing at the buzzer. its coalition with the After the election, right-wing parties, the Netanyahu urgently tried to form political divide in Israel is a strong coalition, in contrast to becoming more apparent. The the coalition that Gantz was not Labor party?s seats, the largest able to form. A coalition in the Israeli Knesset means to have the left-wing political party in the Knesset, have slowly been cooperation of several other declining in number, leaving parties in order to gain the them with only six seats as a majority of seats, since one party

result of the election. Meretz,

Benjamin Netanyahu

another left-wing party, has only been left with four. These

left-wing parties have been losing their influence, and might continue to do so, now that the person they put their trust in, Benny Gantz, ceded the election when he could not form his coalition. So what?s next for Bibi? The current Prime Minister of Israel still has to face indictments and investigations, but that will not stop him from doing what he believes is best for Israel by maintaining a strong relationship with his coalition and President Trump. Additionally, Bibi has failed to form a coalition and new elections will be held. His future remains to be seen.

Bar r ack Has " I sr aeli Spir it" Shaqed Tzabbar, Staff Writer I am proud to say that since August of 2018 I have been a StandWithUs High School Intern. StandWithUs believes that ?education is the road to peace? and its mission is to educate others about Israel. This year, I have held over 15 events dedicated to Israel education. One of my favorite and most successful events was named ?Israeli Spirit? and took place right here at Barrack. Oriented towards eighth through eleventh grades, the goal was to introduce students to the not-so-talked about ways that Israel is aiding the world and its people. I wanted to equip students with facts that show Israel?s crucial role in the development of the world today rather than just its biblical significance. The program itself consisted of four different

presentations about Israel?s world-wide significance: Innovation, Humanitarian Aid, Environmental Preservation, and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Each student selected and attended two presentations led

by some of Barrack?s very own juniors: Natalie Katalan, Rivkah Wyner, Sophie Warsetsky, Sabrina Chevlin, Devora Solomon, Serena Levingston, Lauren Mermelstein, and Orli Friedman. Three months prior to the event itself, I spent time

working with each student presenter, teaching them about their topics and creating their presentations until each became a near expert. During the event itself, I monitored the sessions and was met with the bright smiling faces of engaged students. I couldn't have been prouder. The presenters were confident, and the presentations almost perfectly timed.I realised that my event was a true success when no bored students roamed the hallways, and everyone was interested in their sessions. The outcome of ?Israeli Spirit? was awe-inspiring. For days following the event, impacted students were engaged in various discussions about Israel with their peers and teachers. Some were so impressed by Israel that they reached out to me, wanting to learn more.

Additionally, the event left in its wake a beautiful array of Israel swag. I Love Israel pins, blue and white StandWithUs bracelets, and exclusive

?Students were engaged in var ious discussions about I sr ael with their peer s and teacher s.? StandWithUs chapstick can still be seen around school. In a world permeated with hate and ignorance, I am proud to call myself a StandWithUs high school intern who has the ability to educate others. Seeing the impact that ?Israeli Spirit? had on the Jack M Barrack Hebrew Academy community gives me hope for a better, more understanding future, and empowers me to keep advocating and teaching.

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Effective Email Restr ictions? Mira Greenspan, Israel & Photography Editor This past year, the administration implemented a new email system to help reduce the number of emails that students receive on a daily or weekly basis. Included in the new system is a section for club emails. After the system was implemented, the number of emails did decrease, but at the cost of club membership. Originally, clubs would send out an email to the whole school as a reminder that their club was meeting the next day. With that system, students were getting almost triple the amount of emails that they should be, but were effectively reminded of when clubs were meeting. By having an email sent out every time a club

wanted to meet, students who did not normally attend the club got the chance to check it out. However, that does not seem to happen anymore. For the past couple of years, the Student Association (SA) tried to improve the situation by sending out ?SA Happenings,? an email with all the information for the upcoming week. In theory, this was a good idea. That being said, most students tended to ignore the email and send it to Spam, which Lane

Barsh ?21 says happens to every all-school email that is sent more than once. When that started happening, less-dedicated students of already-small clubs stopped attending. Since students do not typically read emails like the ?SA Happenings,? there is no reminder about when clubs are meeting. In order to fix this, clubs are allowed to send meeting emails to the students who signed up during the Club Fair. In all fairness, this system does work, but only to an extent. Usually, at the Club Fair, only students who have been in and know about the club put their names down.

Matthias Langer ?20 told the Chronicle that, ?as the year goes on, people start to forget about clubs and when they are [meeting] (unless they?re dedicated) so membership does tend to trickle down because reminders aren?t getting sent out every time.? The students who did not put their name down on the list at the Club Fair and want to join or check out a club have no easy way to access the information. All in all, the administration has done a decent job of limiting the number of emails sent to students. However, such lack of clutter has come at the cost of making

Bar r ack?s GSA: Re-imagined When I t?s Needed M ost Brandon Singer, For the Chronicle In the current social and political climate, it is important for an inclusive and supportive culture to exist within smaller environments. This allows marginalized groups of individuals, such as the LGBTQ+ community, to populate a location in which they feel validated and loved. For students at Barrack, it is notably challenging to experience such a sense of security. While queer individuals, which is an umbrella term for all members of the community, may not face consistent persecution and torment in the halls of the Academy, an underlying sense of alienation and confusion towards those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or pansexual, certainly lurks among Barrack?s student body. When ignorant comments and tasteless jokes are heard in the school, it becomes quite clear that allies of LGBTQ+ individuals must verbally and openly advocate for the community in order to muffle any discrete prejudice, and in turn assure that queer students at Barrack feel deservedly empowered. Thankfully, a definite safe space does thrive amidst the ignorance, and sometimes even bigotry, that exists among students. Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a club that meets every F-day at lunch,

in which students feel free to express their views and insights regarding current events affecting queer communities around the world, as well as acknowledge the culture generated by Barrack?s social climate. Due to most of the student body?s unawareness of the club?s purpose, members of the GSA have considered revamping the club in its entirety by inserting our mission and intent into other clubs? expressions of their goals. Although GSA will continue to meet during lunch, its members will begin to write articles such as this, as well as help to plan events with various clubs, in order to urge Barrack students to ignite a sense of compassion and unity, in an environment which some feel has lacked such qualities as of late. No matter the conditions of GSA, it is crucial that its members, as well as allies of the queer community, help preserve the club?s activity in order to eliminate the prejudice that affects the well-being of a number of students at Barrack.

www.cougar smonocle.what's_that? Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor Three years ago, Samantha Becker, Noah Glickman, and faculty advisor Mr. Tom McLaughlin began the Cougar?s Monocle ? Barrack?s very first satirical newspaper. Since then, there have been two more Editors-In-Chief, more than 25 articles written, an official website created and uncountable laughs curated. Yes, the Cougar?s Monocle may be three years old, but it still does not get the recognition it deserves from the Barrack student body! Satirical newspapers are an outlet to make fun of anything you want, from the presidential election to our own administration. For writers, it is the perfect 10-minute break from your homework to do something fun that you love. For readers, it is much more entertaining than perusing CNN, and I promise that you will laugh! If you see yourself as even remotely funny, love to write, and have an article idea, contact rebecca.shaid@jbha.org. If you are ever having a bad day and need a laugh, or just want to laugh on a good day, lay back, search up https://cougarsmonocle.com, and get ready to enjoy.

Human Rights Club: For Those Who Want to Help Maya Shavit, Features and Games Editor Human Rights Club (HRC) is the club at Barrack that nobody knows they need. The club meets once a cycle to discuss current events that degrade the basic rights of people around the globe, and occurrences that are both popular and unheard of. HRC is a place for all students to express their opinions on matters that indirectly affect their lives. The club is needed at Barrack because it advocates for the best interest of the individual. Long-time Human Rights Club member Sarah Miller ?21 acknowledged that ?Human Rights Club is important because we discuss and educate the school about issues that don?t just affect our local communities, but ones that affect people worldwide, such as genocides, world hunger, and extreme poverty.? A perfect recent example of Human Rights Club?s drive to assist others in their times of trouble around the globe is the club?s Against Malaria fund. Since the club works beyond school boundaries, the club leaders joined the Against Malaria movement to help purchase malaria nets for the extremely vulnerable and underprivileged in Africa. The members of HRC have encouraged this movement, as well as others, to try and make a change for the greater good of the world. To join the club?s effort, go to againstmalaria.com/barrackhrc. Human Rights Club has its own conference next year to spread its message of advocacy and education to fellow Barrack students and faculty. Joining its ranks will help you understand your own beliefs regarding the sanctity of human life and the many different ways to approach delicate situations. The club helps its members form their own opinions, debate strategies, and brainstorm ideas to further empathize with people around the globe.

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Have You Also Noticed Fewer People I n Your Clubs? Rebecca Shaid, School News Editor

It seems that general attendance in Barrack clubs has gone down in recent years. This could be due to a combination of reasons, but overall it is likely due to the increased anxiety over something some of you may know of as the college process. The college process is a major source of Barrack students? anxiety, not only as upperclassmen, but throughout high school and, for some, even middle school. Long before you have to think about your SAT scores or your recommendation

letters, you have to choose which clubs you want to join. Everybody must join a club in middle school if you want to become president by the time you are a senior; or everybody must try to create the newest club at Barrack, because that is what looks most impressive on your college application. Everybody has to join the most impressive clubs because Chess Club and Harry Potter Club, although they may be your passion, don?t look as shiny on your college application. These ?what would look good on a college application? thoughts are thrust upon us from a young age, and the effects of that are beginning to show: an overly competitive school atmosphere. Many people long for that dazzling word, ?founder?, to be put on their resume, so everyone tries to create the freshest, newest club. The abundance of clubs in the school is great, except for the fact that the student body of Barrack is not large enough to

sustain the amount of clubs that have been created throughout the years. The more clubs created at Barrack, the less membership the established clubs will have. Although in the past this has not been a problem, the newest clubs are beginning to become detrimental to the preexisting clubs. In an interview with clubs and activities director Mrs. Christine Farrell, she explained that 350 students is not enough to sustain the more than 50 clubs that Barrack has. She also noted her concern that she is afraid people, specifically juniors post-Muss, are creating clubs just for their college resume. This same belief was held by a Barrack sophomore who would like to remain anonymous. Additionally, because there are so many clubs, people are involved in so many of them. This phenomenon creates club members who are partially involved in many clubs, rather than fully devoted to a few. Less

devoted members feel less obliged to come to every club meeting, thereby affecting the clubs? attendance. Their lesser participation in the actual club meeting can also plausibly have the effect of lesser attendance. Thankfully, Mrs. Farrell is working with current Student Association President Sophia Shapiro on changes to Barrack?s club system to try to fix all of these problems. Perhaps they could make more difficult qualifications and requirements for people trying to create clubs in the future, or somehow make sure that the club founders are genuine in their efforts. Like junior Hayden Ufberg stated, ?No sustainable club comes from people who are doing it just for their college application?. Finding a solution will prove to be difficult because every club out there is worthy to be at Barrack but our student body simply cannot sustain them.

Jewish-M uslim Relations Club is Rocking JBHA?s Socks Serena Levingston, World News Editor On an average day in Jewish-Muslim Relations Club (JMR), students are diving into contentious problems head-first. JMR is a club where kids can take on the issue of peace regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the misconceptions surrounding Islam, and discuss with their friends. However, there is much more to the club than discussions every G Day at lunch. According to club President Sam Pomerantz ?20, the club began in 2018 because he and a few other students ?thought kids had the wrong idea about Islam.? He heard people ?calling Muslims terrorists? despite the fact that only a small minority of them are terrorists, and Islam does not in any way encourage terrorism. Spurred by the misconceptions about Muslims at Barrack and in the larger world, JMR was started to ?abolish the misconceptions? students had. With Jewish Studies and Bible teacher Mr. Barnett Kamen as the club advisor, Jewish-Muslim Relations Club does just that. At meetings, the club steers the dialogue towards ?current beliefs? regarding Jewish-Muslim relations, says Pomerantz. This is a broad category, so the discussion usually winds up being ?a conversation about Israel? or other issues regarding relations. Club member Nerya Freidenreich ?25 added that, in club meetings, ?it?s fun to compare cultures...in terms of values, practices, vision of God, and so much more.? JMR is important to Freidenreich because ?it opens up [her] mind to other religions and cultures.? In addition to the discourse about current events, Pomerantz said that the club works to plan events

?so we can continue having conversations about this issue.? One special event JMR had recently was a lunch with the Galilee Dreamers, a group of Jewish and Arab Israeli students from the north of Israel. About the lunch visit, Pomerantz said that while it was ?enlightening,? he felt that their teachers were trying to make it seem like the ?relationship between Israelis and Arabs was perfect,? even though there are ?clashing ideas.? Notably, while there are conflicts and differing opinions between Israelis and Arabs, Pomerantz ?does not think that means people cannot get along.? Jewish-Muslim Relations Club is certainly busy with day-to-day activities, but Pomerantz keeps the bigger picture in mind. He wishes to ?have a broader conversation with more opinions? by bringing in more members, and to hold more events so students can talk with each other about these issues, whether they are personally affected by them or not. Pomerantz believes that the key to peace is discourse that can lead to understanding; he hopes ?that everyone can understand each other...because on both sides there are misleading facts.? Freidenreich agreed, saying, ?It?s important to understand how similar we are.? With this understanding, ?there can be less violence? between Jews and Muslims. One way students can begin to make a positive difference, according to Pomerantz, is by ?reaching out to your fellow neighbors:? Jews, Muslims, or people of other religions. If we ?learn about other people?s cultures,? Pomerantz thinks we can influence our world. Considering how polarized our society is right now, there is no better way to begin the process of peace.

The Jewish M ock Tr ial Miriam Singer, For the Chronicle

Do you love mock trial but dislike the American legal system? Do you find yourself wishing that you could cite a rabbi in your argument? If you do, then Moot Beit Din (Mock Jewish Law Court) or the Jewish version of Mock Trial is the club for you. Rabbi Yondorf is the club advisor of Moot Beit Din and oversees the once-a-cycle club. Moot Beit Din is where we judge according to Jewish law, tackling difficult issues with Torah and responsa, which is modern rabbinic resolutions on Jewish law. At Moot Beit Din, you and your teammates become the judges who must make decisions supported by halackha (Jewish law) on hypothetical cases. Club members are required to research and write their assigned sections of the brief both during the club and outside of it. The club culminates in an amazing international Shabbaton where students from more than twenty schools gather for the oral competition. This year, the competition was held in North Carolina at the American Hebrew Academy. There, you could meet students from around the globe who share similar interests, spend a memorable Shabbat with them, and make a lasting connection over Jewish law. Barrack competes in the most difficult division, has a great record of placing in the competition, and could use all the help possible to keep it up. No experience with Jewish law is necessary to join; just a love of Judaism and an interest in solving tough ethical questions. We would love to have you!

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A Tr ibute to Andrew L loyd Webber, Cabaret Style Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor The Cabaret is an annual fundraiser event for the Upper School Musical. This year, the musical was Mamma Mia, and the cast was eager to raise as much money as they could. The Cabaret took place on April 7th, and almost every member of the cast of Mamma Mia sang a song according to the theme: songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Although many people chose songs from the School of Rock, there were also performances from Cats, Evita, and of course, from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While the Cabaret is first and foremost a fundraiser event, it is also a great opportunity for members of the Drama Department to showcase their

?I t is also a great oppor tunity for member s of the dr ama depar tment to showcase their talents in individual solo per for mances.? talents in solo performances. Maya Patent ?20, who sang ?Memory? from Cats, said that she most enjoyed ?feeling all the love from everyone?s family and just how supportive everyone is of each other.? Additionally, she said that ?it?s a really good experience to sing in front of people that you know but that you haven?t maybe sung in front of before.? Even for

students interested in theater, successful, the Cabaret also performing a solo can be showcased ?a little teaser, before challenging and nerve-racking. the musical, of people's?talents,? The Cabaret, remarked Sarah however, ?gives Eckstein-Indik ?19, who you an sang ?As If We Never opportunity to go Said Goodbye?, from outside of your Sunset Boulevard. A big comfort zone?, round of applause goes said Becca Rome out to the cast of Mamma ?19, who sang Mia; a shout-out to their ?You Must Love supporting friends and Me? from Evita. family; and the biggest With thanks to the director, everyone?s Drama Department head, Andrew Lloyd generous donations, Dewey Oriente; the Webber the Drama producer, Tony Oriente; and Department raised to everyone else who made more than $10,000 the Cabaret happen. from this event. In addition to being extremely fun and very

From Per for ming to Cr itiquing Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor The Cappies is an awards and writing program that trains high school students to review other high school shows as theater critics. It is a completely student-driven review and award process that exposes theater students to an assortment of plays and musicals. Each school involved gathers four to six students to form their school?s critic team. The job of a Cappies critic is to attend at least five high school shows as part of the program, and write a review for each one. After each show, Cappies students discuss the production and learn more about theater in order to write their reviews; some of the best-written reviews even get published in newspapers! At the end of the season, critics vote on their favorite shows, actors, and other aspects of the performances. Once the votes are tallied, nominations go out to performers and technicians with the highest votes from each category. Nominees have the opportunity to attend the glamorous Cappies Gala, which is similar in style to the Tony

Awards, where Cappies awards are presented and received. The Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is one of the schools involved in the Greater Philadelphia region of the Cappies program. This year, Barrack had a critic team of four students: Ruthie Davis ?19, the lead critic, Rivkah Wyner ?20, Sarah Eckstein-Indik ?19, and Sophia Shapiro ?20. Sarah Eckstein-Indik shared that she ?likes seeing other schools? shows and meeting new people who have similar interests as [her]? as a part of the Cappies program. ?It gives [her] experience in writing reviews and exposes [her] to talented high school performers.? In addition to having a Cappies critic team, Barrack?s student-directed play is one of the shows that gets reviewed and critiqued by critics from other schools. This year, Daniel Nahamo ?19 directed the production of Clue: On Stage. On February 3, 2019, the first performance of the play, nearly 50 Cappies critics from various

schools came to see it. The next day, the reviews were published. Finally, after voting on April 14th, the nominations were released. Barrack was nominated for the following categories: Props (Noah Feinberg) and Creativity (Daniel Nahamo). The Cappies experience is a wonderful addition to the Barrack Drama Department because it gives students the

opportunity to attend and review shows in addition to performing in productions at school. The entire Drama Department is very proud of Barrack?s Cappies critic team and is very excited about all of the nominations and the achievements of the performers in Barrack?s production of Clue: On Stage.

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Five Feet of Tear s Devora Soloman, Opinion Editor

If you enjoy crying your eyes out until you feel faint from dehydration, Five Feet Apart is the movie for you! The story is about two teenagers with cystic fibrosis who meet and begin spending time together, despite the requirement that they must stay six feet apart from each other because of their disease. The movie begins with an introduction of Stella, played by Haley Lu Richardson, a positive girl with cystic fibrosis (CF) and who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tendencies about her medical routine. She is introduced while being surrounded by her friends in her hospital room, which at first

glance looks like the bedroom of an average teenage girl. The viewers are treated to the art covering her walls and her video blogs in which she describes her disease and daily routine. Her positivity throughout and devotion to the treatment is inspiring, and it sets the stage for a beautiful story. Her day in the beginning of the movie starts with a visit from a kind nurse named Barb who brings her up to the Prenatal unit so that Stella can watch the newborn babies. On her way, Stella sees a boy joking around in his hospital room with his friends; he ends up following her down the hall. We soon learn that this boy, Will, played by Cole

Sprouse, also has CF, but he takes a different approach by pushing boundaries and acting rebellious. He is instantly set up as the bad boy who will teach Stella how to have fun and live life. They begin spending time together, and as they learn more about each other, the viewers experience a classic love story that evolves around two people who simply cannot be together. Stella ends up getting a pool cue, exactly five feet in length, and they use it to keep track of the space between them. The five feet are a symbol of them taking a bit of control, taking back the one foot, as Stella says (this is when the tears started). As they become closer, they both get

sicker due to the horrible disease they have. As they continue to defy the rules and the distance between them, Stella and Will become more confident in their abilities to overcome CF together. Unfortunately, this proves not to be true. This beautiful love story will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. Emily Kaplan ?20, said that she got so emotional because it ?gave [her] time to really connect with the characters and their story.? I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys romantic stories, teen movies, or just a moving story.

Bar r ack's Beat Goes On Liana Matez, Staff Writer Barrack?s middle school musical, The Beat Goes On, was an exciting show full of music from the end of the 1950s to the end of the 1960s. The cast performed music from a series of bands, singers, and groups with songs that were exciting and kept you on the edge of your seat. Some of the featured artists were Elvis, The Supremes, The 4 Tops, The Temptations, and so many more. The show started out with the cast singing a medley of songs that were released in the 1950s. The characters sang and danced as they welcomed the audience to a show that would leave them dancing afterward. Then, the

audience saw some of the groups perform. Act one ended with everyone on stage for ?The Beehive Dance?, a song from Beehive, The Musical, which is a show about women in the 1960s. Both acts included features from TV shows, commercials, and beach movies. Towards the end of the second act, the cast sang, ?What a Wonderful World,? by Louis

Armstrong. They performed this song using sign language, to tell the audience that the world is a wonderful place, even when bad things happen. While they were in rehearsals, the cast practiced on stage in the auditorium with the stage crew helping them. When they weren?t on stage, they efficiently practiced dances or group numbers with one another backstage. The cast came to rehearsals ready to sing,

dance, learn, and grow as actors. The rehearsals were tough at some points because of challenges learning the music or choreography, but the cast worked through them and figured out what needed to be done to fix the problems. The middle schoolers supported each other when needed, and put on their best show every time. This musical was not one to be missed, as there was so much work put into it, and it was truly an exciting show. It opened on March 3rd and closed on March 5th. Hopefully, you were lucky enough to see it!

M y Fair New Yor k Tr ip Rivkah Wyner, Executive Editor

Every year, Upper School Known to be a Broadway classic, students involved in the Drama My Fair Lady?s acclaimed score Department have the opportunity includes several of a Broadway to go on a day-trip to New York. nerd?s favorite songs: ?Wouldn?t In the It Be Loverly?, ?With a morning, Little Bit of Luck?, ?I ?Par ticipants get to Could Have Danced All participants take part in a Night?, and plenty more take par t in a workshop wor kshop where they hits. The show takes where they place in 1913 London lear n and per for m a and is about the poor learn and musical number with flower-seller, Eliza perform a musical Doolittle, whose life is choreogr aphy.? number with turned upside down choreography when Henry Higgins, a in the span of two hours. Sarah professor in phonetics, takes on a Eckstein-Indik ?19 remarked that bet to teach Eliza proper English she ?really enjoyed the theater and pass her off as a lady. Jack workshop where we learned from Zweben ?19 commented that ?it professionals who work in the has a very powerful message industry on how to improve our about the influence women can craft while having fun.? have in society, which is way Following the workshop, they see more than you?d think two Broadway shows, one in the (considering the time period). afternoon and one in the evening. Eliza is the perfect representation This year, the shows were My of how unequal women can be in Fair Lady and Be More Chill. society...and the ending is Lerner and Loewe?s My perfect!? But I won?t spoil Fair Lady, which originally anything. premiered in 1956, is a revival. The second show, Be

More Chill, by Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz, is quite the modern contrast to the traditional My Fair Lady. Be More Chill is based on a book by Ned Vizzini and premiered on Broadway in 2018. It is about Jeremy, a socially awkward teenager in high school, who hates the fact that he is a

My Fair laady

?loser?. To escape social ostracism, Jeremy takes a Squip, which is a pill with Japanese technology that connects to the brain and tells the user how to be cool and how to fit in. When Jeremy takes the pill, he finally

feels like he belongs, but to no surprise, it comes with a price. Although some people were turned off by the modern sci-fi vibes, Daniel Nahamo ?19 loved it, because ?it was great satirical comedy alongside a fun and compelling story, which made for a really enjoyable and memorable performance.? No matter which one you preferred, as Sarah Eckstein-Indik said, ?It was an amazing experience to see two shows in one day that greatly contrasted each other -- one being traditional musical theater and the other being a modern take.? From the enjoyable workshop, to walking around the city with friends, to seeing two amazing shows, the New York trip is just another one of the many perks of being involved in the JBHA Drama Department.

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Ask Jack

Page 16

Hi Jack!

Maya Shavit, Features and Games

How do I decide what to prioritize if I have multiple clubs on the same day? -JBHA Student

Hi Jack! Where is a good place to do homework during lunch?

Dear JBHA Student,

-JBHA Student Dear JBHA Student, Although it can be difficult to find a spot to do homework, there are definitely a few places that are not too distracting. The go-to place to do homework is the library, specifically the computer stations in the back. If you want to remain focused back there, I suggest claiming your own desk and bringing a pair of headphones to drown out the other students there. Another calm spot is the area with wooden benches directly outside the main entrance. If the weather is nice out, it is the most peaceful place to eat and read a book, or tackle some homework. Love,

Choosing which club to go to is a hard decision because they are all so different! I think that students should avoid seriously committing to more than one club per day. This is especially important, since many of Barrack?s clubs, like TEAMS and Mock Trial, are outcome-based clubs and require genuine commitment. Lay out in front of you all of the clubs you are interested in and weigh the pros and cons of each one. Also, you have to remember not to stretch yourself too thin! Try to leave yourself a day or two to meet with teachers or have a break to eat lunch with friends. If after all that you still aren?t sure which club to do, participate in both. Ask the club leaders if you can split your time between two, or even alternate between them every cycle. Love,

<3 Jack

<3 Jack

Hi Jack!

Hi Jack!

How do I start a club?

What do I do if I have issues with teachers and I'm scared to talk to them about it?

-JBHA Student

-JBHA Student Dear JBHA Student, It might seem really overwhelming when you want to start a club, but it is actually a relatively easy process. First, you want to tell all of your friends about your club idea to get them interested. You have to make sure that your brand new club will attract members! The easiest time of year to start a club is at the very beginning of the year before the Club Fair, that way, everybody can become aware of your club. Get in touch with a teacher you think would be willing to supervise the club and pitch to them what you want to do. Finally, contact Mrs. Farrell or Dr. Katz to tell them about your great idea. If they approve it, you can get started.

Dear JBHA Student,

Love,

It can be hard to approach some teachers, but it is important that you conquer your fear. If you are scared of going up to teachers after class, send them an email with your concerns regarding the class or your individual needs. If you show your teachers that you are actively seeking their attention and devotion to these issues, they will always be happy to help. Go into your meeting with a teacher confidently, and if you are nervous beforehand, jot down a few bullets about what you needed to talk to them about so you don?t forget. Remember that Barrack teachers value independent students, and it is crucial to strive towards self-advocacy.

<3 Jack

Love, <3 Jack

Goodbye to Stress, Hello Spotify Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Bad moods can occur whenever; there is not just a single trigger. Mostly, they occur if someone is feeling stressed, anxious, or is just having a plain old bad day. The one thing that can help the most is music! Music has a tremendously relaxing effect on the human body, especially songs which are slow and quiet. Not only can it provide a relaxing feeling, music also allows the body to absorb the rhythm, thus distracting one from everything that is stressful at that time of day. In addition to alleviating stress, music can be used to put someone in a good mood and feel the simplicity of happiness. If the feeling of stress is becoming overwhelming, here is a list of 10 songs that might help:

allow one to sit and relax.

7) All I Want-- Kodaline

2) Hold On-- Shawn Mendes

The beginning of the song is the rush of ocean waves, a comforting sound, and

There is a distinct guitar playing throughout the song, and it is easy to

the lyrics are nice.

fixate on it.

8) You-- A Great Big World

3) Like Real People Do-- Hozier

There is a simplicity to this song that makes it so calming.

A song that is quiet, but the quietness becomes the major focus. 4) Say You Won?t Let Go-- James Arthur A soothing song with an easy-to-follow tune. 5) Hey There Delilah-- Plain White T?s A song that makes you feel good.

1) Falling Slowly-- Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

6) Saturday Nights-- Khalid

The calming melody and voices of the artists

The tone of the singer?s voice is relaxing.

9) Feeling Whitney-- Post Malone The artist includes sounds that break up the verses, and that is satisfying to listen to. 10) The Days-- Avicii This is a feel-good song, a song that will make you smile and be happy!

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seer, meaning he could see the future. This power enabled him to base his school?s founding on significant events that would happen in the future in order to add meaning to the dates.

Continued From Front Page

Bar r ack's Histor y The late 1940s was a period of rebuilding, which gave way to the reemergence of religious pride in response to the significant loss of Jews during the war. In Northeastern United States, Mr. Divinsky responded by taking it upon himself to educate the next generation of Jewish leaders despite the depressing atmosphere. His goal was to create a school ?where Jewish adolescents would experience a dual curriculum of secular and Jewish studies, prepare for leadership roles in the Jewish community and the community at large, and come together to study their common heritage? in a pluralistic setting (quote from jbha.org). The first few classes in the school lived through Israel?s declaration of independence, giving them a greater connection to the history of Israel and the Jewish people. On September 11, 1946, Mr. Divinsky proudly opened Akiba with five teachers and 20 students in a rented area in Philadelphia?s YMHA branch. In the coming years, Akiba?s population skyrocketed; the school moved to increasingly larger facilities multiple times. In 1956, the school settled on its campus in Merion Station, now inhabited by the Kohelet Yeshiva, where it thrived for 52 years. In March 2007, Akiba (which was both a middle school and a high school) received a donation of five million dollars from Leonard Barrack in memory of his late brother, Jack ?60. Most of the money was to be used for scholarships. It was renamed Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in the subsequent school year and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia purchased Barrack?s current Bryn Mawr campus. Barrack moved there at the start of the 2008-9 school year. The most recent change was Barrack Hebrew Academy?s merge with its competitor, the Robert Saligman Middle School, in 2012. Saligman was a continuation of Perelman Jewish Day School, and a Solomon Schechter institution (part of a network of Conservative Jewish schools named after Rabbi Solomon Schechter). Along with the student bodies coming together, teachers from Saligman joined Barrack?s faculty; some of those teachers still work at Barrack. The merger of the middle schools represented the convergence of pluralistic Jewish values and renowned educational standards. Today, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is a school where students love where they learn because of the history that created a home for fostering creativity and academic excellence. Once upon a time, in a far-off land called Pennsylvania, Mr. Racso Yksnivid had an idea: to create a school ?where Jewish adolescents would experience a dual curriculum of secular and Jewish studies, prepare for leadership roles in the Jewish community and the community at large, and come together to study their common heritage? in a pluralistic setting (quote from jbha.org). He called it Akiba Hebrew Academy. Now, Mr. Yksnivid was not an ordinary person; he was a talented

In the year 1946, World War II had just ended and the State of Israel was to be born in about two years. This was a time of grief over the six million Jews lost in the Holocaust, thankfulness for Holocaust survivors that the war was over, victory for the Allied Powers, battle for Zionists who wanted to establish their state, and needed growth - spiritual and physical - - for the entire Jewish people. By establishing the school before Israel declared independence, students could trace the history of Israel and the Jewish people's growth which would give them a greater sense of connection by living through it. On September 11th, 2001, America would be the victim of a tragic terror attack. This sad date symbolizes that every ending is also a new beginning. Hence, Mr. Yksnivid opened Akiba Hebrew Academy on September 11th, 1946, with 20 students and five teachers in a room at the YMHA in Philadelphia. In the following years, Akiba?s population skyrocketed. The school moved a few times in order to escape the city because the science teachers explained how the nature-filled, suburban atmosphere makes students more engaged with their studies, as well as boosts memory and retention. In 1956, the school finally settled on its campus in Merion Station, now known as Kohelet, where it thrived for 52 years. Mr. Yksnivid especially enjoyed this campus because of the building?s grand, ancient facade; during his breaks, he drew inspiration from the structure to practice divination and meditation. In 2007, Akiba (which was both a middle and a high school) was renamed Barrack Hebrew Academy in honor of President Barack Obama?s candidacy and election (for more information on this topic, see the Alumni Spotlight). The additional ?r? that stands for ?Racso? serves as a nod to the school?s humble origins under the direction of Mr. Yksnivid. In 2008, Barrack moved to its current campus in Bryn Mawr, as a final effort to go even deeper into the suburbs. The school leadership delighted in continuing its history of prestigious education in a setting with many lawns to mow, many hallways to clean, and many bathrooms to fix. The most recent exciting change that took place was Barrack Hebrew Academy?s merge with the Robert Saligman Middle School in 2012. Saligman was a continuation of Perelman Jewish Day School, and a Solomon Schechter institution. The merger of the middle schools represented the convergence of pluralistic Jewish values, renowned educational standards, and immense attractions to state-of-the-art vending machines. That was not the last exciting change in store for the Akiba-Barrack community. The gematria (assigning numbers to letters) of the word ?Akiba? in Hebrew is equal to 183. Mr. Yksnivid?s legacy will live on as the community waits with bated breath for the momentous event that will occur in the year 2183, foreshadowed in his will.

Akiba-Barrack then and now.

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What Schools Should Teach Lilly Grossinger, Staff Writer

Every country has its own education system, ensuring that its youth come out of their formative years with an understanding of how to best contribute to the society of that country. I believe the education system of the United States falls short of that goal, and I will examine the curricula the U.S. deems necessary, versus the courses that it does not--and should. Go up to any high school seniors and they will ?Ensur ing that we can be able to tell you the equation for the area of a contr ibute to the circle. However, just over a society of tomor row as people in the U.S. fourth of well as possible, not know the three branches of government. This is the first the society of major issue with the education yester day.? system: you can graduate not knowing information like this, or information equally as important. For example, the law is something that will always be a part of everybody?s life, and there should be a much stronger emphasis put on it in school. Whether it be knowing what the First Amendment guarantees, or how to pay a traffic ticket, these intangibles would serve us our entire lives, and therefore should be recognized as extremely essential. The second way our schooling has failed us is through its inability to adapt. For the most part, our curriculum is the same as the curriculum of our parents. Thus, we learn a curriculum that isn?t created by the educators of today, and therefore isn?t customized for the youth of today. The industries that attract our generation are different from the industries that attracted the generation before us, and the generation before that, but our education system does not account for that. A more focused lens on the fields that are

up-and-coming in this generation would assist students who hope

to make a future in those fields. In turn, this would benefit those fields by providing more prepared future workers. The third way school has failed us is through not priming us for the everyday business of life. Paying taxes, dealing with a mortgage, preparing for a job interview, are all things that we need to know how to do, but often are forced to learn through doing them. If we are prepared from a young age to do all of these things that are tedious, but necessary, we will be much more successful when we actually must do them. Our current curriculum is preparing us well in many ways, but could be preparing us better. It should be ensuring that we can contribute to the society of tomorrow as well as possible, not the society of yesterday.

Public Tr anspor tation 101 Shirin Kaye, Centerspread Editor

When you travel to a new city or an area with which you are not familiar, you try to use what you have learned to help you get

around. If presented with the length of the sides of a right triangle, you can calculate the angle measurements. If shown a passage from The Odyssey, you can analyze the themes. If a bus rolls by, you can ? uh-oh, you did not learn about that in class! In school, you learn many facts and skills, but navigating everyday sticky situations is not one of them. That is where knowing about public transportation comes in.

There are some key terms and concepts to understand when navigating a city?s transit system. A fare is the amount of money that the customer must pay to ride. Often, passengers must bring exact cash because the drivers do not always have change. The fare is usually paid a few minutes after the passenger boards. A transfer ticket is a free or discounted piece of paper (sometimes available on debit-like cards) that allows the rider to change from one vehicle to another while going to a destination that is not reachable by the same route. There should be maps and schedules posted in the stations, as well as on a website or app belonging to the system. Information about detours, delays, and cancellations can be found online or on a poster at the stop itself. Our local system is called the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA has many vehicles -- buses, trolleys, trains, subways -- each with many routes. The buses are numbered, whereas the other lines have names. The standard fare is $2.50, which can be paid with cash or the SEPTA Key Card; the card also computes transfers (another ride within 90 minutes) for $1. The Regional Rail train fares are more expensive and are based on the passenger?s origin and destination; tickets may be bought in

advance from an officer in a train station, or a slightly more expensive fare can be bought from the conductor on the train. Another form of transportation is a taxi. Yellow cabs are very common in New York City, and other cities have them in different colors, too. To hail a cab, hold up an open hand, stand on the sidewalk near the road, and wait for a taxi to arrive. Taxis have meters, machines in the front of the car, that calculate the fare based on distance traveled plus tax. The fare is paid in cash or credit/debit at the end of the ride. Uber and Lyft are rideshare companies that are more popular than taxis nowadays because they are more convenient. In the app, type your origin and destination, then order a nearby car that will arrive within minutes. The fare is proposed before calling the cab and is paid online through a connected credit/debit card. Uber and Lyft drivers -- normal people who choose their own hours to work -- are changing the concept of ridesharing with their speed and presence everywhere. Though you did not learn it in class, now you will be prepared to face the world of public transportation fearlessly!

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Bar r ack Students React to College Admissions Scandal Helen Rudoler, Editor in Chief

In the recent college bribery scandal, prosecutors continue to can exert on us. It?s a? reminder of how desperate some people feel. uncover underhanded schemes and actions parents used to pay their It?s a bit ridiculous that people tried to bribe a school for entry, and it children?s way into college. Investigators have discovered that families makes me take a step back from the whole process and look at it as a paid up to $500,000 in bribes to get their children admitted to college whole.? under false pretenses. William Singer, a college consultant, is at the However, not all the students find it so problematic. Ruby heart of the scheme. Parents arranged, through him, to bribe coaches Benjamin suggested that ?they could have just bought a building? at and athletic officials to recruit their children for elite colleges. He also the schools they wanted their students to be accepted into, implying arranged for several students to cheat on their standardized tests. There that inequality is baked into the system, and that is just the way is a wide array of charges laid out in the case, including ?it definitely reflects? it is; despite these incidents having been illegal, there are ways conspiracy to commit mail fraud -- using the US postal how stressful it is for of paying your child?s way into college which are quite service to send documents associated with fraud; and people to apply to accepted. Rachel Civan ?20 respects the parents for the lengths racketeering -- fraudulent business dealings. After the they went to for their children, sharing that, ?If I was rich, I?d college.? initial charges, sixteen people were also charged with do it for my kids, too.? money laundering through Singer?s fake charity. Many have been indicted, and several have Rebecca Trajtenberg, JBHA?s college pled guilty. The scandal garnered guidance counselor, used the opportunity to extreme publicity partly because many teach the students about the college process. of the accused parents are celebrities, In an email to the student body, she shared including actress Lori Loughlin. that ?the frenzy surrounding college admission However, many people are harping on it has reached a point that can really warp the because of the greater problem it process.? It?s more important that students indicates. ?figure out who they are. The purpose of their time at Barrack, their academic and The Chronicle spoke with extra-curricular exploration and dedication, is several juniors, who are just beginning not to enable them to earn the prize of the college process, about their takes on Students use the new Senior Suite as a place to admission to a particular college. Rather, the the wider implications of the scandal. relax and prepare for college purpose of their time here is to learn for its own sake, Serena Levingston shared with the Chronicle to increase their understanding of the world around that ?it definitely reflects? how stressful it is them and the world of ideas, to develop as a person and to know for people to apply to college.? Maya Langer felt that ?the college themselves well enough to find a place to thrive.? scandal reminds us of the magnitude of the stress the college process

The Ongoing Tr agedy Of Venezuela Aron Shklar, Staff Writer Two figures are crucial to understanding All of the heavy industry was ruined by massive the crisis in Venezuela. The first is Nicolás blackouts, and the unemployment rate is at 38% Maduro, the sitting president of Venezuela. Many and rising fast. That?s something to think about, claim he won his most recent election unfairly, so because the all-time highest U.S. unemployment it was not recognized by Venezuela?s National rate was 24.9%, and that was during the Great Assembly, who oppose him. The second important Depression. Additionally, Venezuelan inflation is figure is Juan Guaidó. He is the president of the through the roof -- it?s expected to rise to 58 National Assembly, million percent. The highest and on January 23, inflation the U.S. ever faced was 2019, he declared 29.78% -- in 1778! himself interim Venezuela?s multiple blackouts have president. This happens crippled the country and caused only when the National widespread panic, problems, and Assembly does not accusations. The worst effects of the recognize the sitting blackouts have been that all president. Opinions machinery has been deactivated, about these two people communications are down, and vary around the world, there is no water from the faucets. and within our country. The latter has been the most Many blame Maduro devastating; instead of water, crude for Venezuela?s oil pours from the faucets. People?s economic collapse, due skin is stained dark with oil, and to his poor handling of there seems to be no end in sight. its resources and An unknown number of deaths government. However, Esmeralda Nava ,native to Venezuela, has at Barrack, Ethan not had running water for over 18 months at have resulted from the blackouts, with loved ones disappearing in Auritt ?22 says that her home in Caracas, and her family and ?Maduro lessening his neighbors must use large blue containers to the dark. stance is allowing for store water. The only way people have been humanitarian aid to able to escape the crisis is by assist his country. No running away. Almost three million people have matter his views, Maduro is making small steps, to fled across the borders, most going to other South a greater goal, of a safer country.? American countries. The U.S. and Spain have also accepted Venezuelans. Over 1 million people have Last year, the Venezuelan economy fled to Colombia, and almost 220,000 have fled to completely collapsed, and it?s only been getting Peru, 7% of the Venezuelan population. The worse, as the value of its oil has plummeted. The government has denied this, claiming these people country was built on oil, and now it cannot sell it.

are creating grounds for ?military intervention? by other countries. This, like many other statements by the Venezuelan government, is fabricated. Many have called what?s going on in Venezuela a humanitarian crisis. However, the Red Cross is providing aid. Kayla Bleier ?21 says, ?It?s so wonderful that people care and will do all that they can for others. It?s horrible that their aid is necessary, but at least the Red Cross is doing something to help ease the situation.? Hopefully, this will make things better for Venezuela. ??I nflation is set to hit 51 million percent this year Tor ino Capital?, says The New Yor k Times? Unfortunately, however, the unrest has recently escalated, with protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at army vehicles. The army has been just as bad, at one point driving an armored car into protesters, killing one. An army base was overrun by pro-Guaidó protesters, while the military attacked with rubber bullets and tear gas.Thousands march in the streets, for Guaidó and for Maduro, sometimes clashing. Maduro calls this a coup, but Guaidó sees this as a revolution to overthrow a corrupt leader. Nearly 100 people are in the hospital, and nothing is getting better. The question remains: How and when is this going to get better? And who?s going to cave first? Maduro or Guaidó?

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What I s the Green New Deal? Serena Levingston, World News Editor

President Donald J. Trump warned that it will take away Americans??airplane rights.? Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said we will have to ?ride around on high-speed light rail, supposedly powered by unicorn tears.? Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming cautioned that ?livestock will be banned.? These people are referring to the Green New Deal, a joint resolution proposed by Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and Senator Edward J. Markey from Massachusetts. In essence, the deal requires that the federal government of the United States of America cut down greenhouse gas emissions in this country and decrease its dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, the Green New Deal pledges to create more jobs in clean energy industries.

joined them. The resolution begins with a description of climate change, which it writes is ?causing...extreme weather events that threaten human life,? such as rising ocean levels and increased wildfires. In addition, it says climate change will eventually cost the United States money in the form of damages to infrastructure ($1,000,000,000,000) and in ?lost annual economic output in the United States? (more than $500,000,000,000 by 2100). According to the resolution, to keep climate change under control, the rise in global

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward J. Markey announcing the Green order to understand where New Deal Resolution at a news conference.

In

the Green New Deal is coming from, some background is essential. This is not the first resolution to call itself a ?New Deal?; in fact, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, introduced legislation called the New Deal in the 1930s. That New Deal was a collection of public works programs and financial reforms, not one single legislation, just like the Green New Deal, though the one Roosevelt put in place was intended to help get America out of the Great Depression. The current Green New Deal became well-known when Sunrise, a youth activist group for the environment, held a sit-in outside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi?s office and Representative Ocasio-Cortez

temperatures must be kept below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrialized levels. This would require a global decrease in greenhouse gas emissions of 40-60% by 2030, and ?net-zero global emissions by 2050,? meaning the amount of greenhouse gases emitted must be equal to the amount of greenhouse gases absorbed. An interesting aspect of this resolution is that it brings together many issues Americans see as separate, such as racial injustice and the economy. The Green New Deal posits that climate change has made systemic injustices worse by disproportionately affecting minorities, low-income and poor people, and the elderly; and the Green New Deal aims to fix this.

One way climate change might accentuate the wealth gap between the rich and the poor is when the houses of low-income people are damaged in natural

?The Green New Deal posits that climate change has made systemic inj ustices wor se by dispropor tionately affecting minor ities, low-income and poor people, and the elder ly, and aims to fix this.? disasters and they have to pay to repair them, especially as natural disasters become more frequent and severe. Affluent people will also have to pay to repair their houses, but the price will put less of a financial strain on them, although government assistance would most likely subsidize people in need. Among its many stipulations, the resolution calls for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and jobs for all Americans so that everyone can be economically secure. The Green New Deal wants ?to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression? of groups such as the Native Americans, people of color, and immigrants. To do this, the resolution calls for a ?10-year national mobilization?, or ?the Green New Deal mobilization.? Impressively (although many say unrealistically), the resolution demands that the United States provide ?clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources? for all power needed within a relatively short time-frame. To create more jobs, the Green New Deal proposes growing the clean manufacturing industry, manufacturing without greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture, a sector that many believe is harmful to the environment because of its high rate of water and land consumption, among other reasons, will be made more sustainable and less harmful to the environment under the Green New Deal, and there will be a ?food system that ensures universal access to healthy food.? Regarding transportation, the Green New Deal suggests

?high-speed rails? and other modes of transportation that are zero-emission. Asking a nation such as the United States to completely change the way it has been operating for more than two centuries is a huge request, which the Green New Deal seems to acknowledge. To make the burden easier, it plans to ?deepen and diversify? businesses in regional economies to increase wealth. Deindustrialized and low-income communities may have a harder time transitioning to a life free of using greenhouse gases; the Green New Deal makes a point of prioritizing ?job creation and economic, social, and environmental benefits? for these communities. As expected, the Green New Deal has been controversial. Republican Representative Francis Rooney of Florida does not support the Green New Deal, in part because he does not want to ?distract us from focusing on practical things we can actually accomplish, like a carbon tax, and developing the infrastructure necessary to fight sea level rise.? Additionally, Thomas Pyle, president of the pro-fossil fuel group, the Institute for Energy Research, says Green New Deal supporters must consider the environmental impacts of the planned infrastructure improvements. Pyle argues, ?Think about the sheer amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere for retrofitting alone. It?s almost as if they are suspending reality to get to their end goal.? This is a common criticism of the resolution: it is not practical. Joseph Pinion, a Republican political consultant, has chastised the situation the Green New Deal has created: if you do not support the Green New Deal, people automatically assume you are a radical who believes climate change is a hoax, or you are an ally to large corporations who emit lots of carbon. Regarding the deal, Pinion says it is ?possibly the largest setback? to bipartisan action on climate change he has ever seen. In Pinion?s opinion, the Green New Deal confirms Republican criticism that Democrats are using climate change as a mask to confront other issues on their agenda, and unites the Republicans against the Democrats. Continued on next page

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Continued from previous page

Across the aisle, many Democratic presidential candidates have co-sponsored the resolution, but it is unclear whether some of the co-sponsors truly believe in its viability or are supporting it for political reasons. When asked about her support of the Green New Deal, Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, avoided specifics, calling it ?something that we need to move toward.? In contrast, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, another Democratic presidential candidate who co-sponsored in tackling the issue of climate change. In response to criticism of the impracticality of the Green New Deal, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey encouraged Americans to ?be bold again,? because America is a nation that has always pushed boundaries. Despite the support from Democrats, the resolution failed to pass in the majority-Republican Senate. Barrack students showed a range of opinions about the Green New Deal. Devora Solomon ?20, treasurer of the Environmental Action Club, said that the Green New Deal was disguised as a deal mainly for climate change, but in reality, ?it was just a way for Democrats to put all of their platform under one topic.? Indeed, the resolution attempted to address many other important issues in addition to addressing climate change, such as respect for Native Americans?land rights and treaties. Orli Friedman ?20, co-president of the Environmental Action Club, called it ?a necessary and important step in the right direction,? despite its failure to pass with bipartisan support. Lauren Mermelstein ?20 said, ?The country is so divided, and while the Green New Deal has good intentions, people?s own politics will get in the way of a greener world.?

Cougar Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief: Helen Rudoler Executive Editor s: Stefanie Rose and Rivkah Wyner L ayout Editor : Ethan Aur itt L ayout Staff: Rebecca Shaid Wor ld News Editor : Serena L evingston School News Editor : Rebecca Shaid Opinion Editor : Devor a Solomon Features and Games Editor : M aya Shavit Center spread Editor : Shir in K aye Ar ts and Enter tainment Editor : Rivkah Wyner Spor ts Editor : Stefanie Rose I sr ael Editor : M ir a Greenspan Photogr aphy Editor : M ir a Greenspan

Although opinions are polarized on the Green New Deal specifically, many on both sides of the aisle agree that climate change is a growing emergency.

Business M anager : Devor a Solomon

Ter ror ism Against All Religions Maya Shavit, Features and Games Editor

On March 18, 2018, in Christchurch, New Zealand, a mosque was attacked by a lethal gunman. Fifty innocent people were murdered, and dozens were seriously injured during the terror attack. The attack occurred in two temples on the same street, the Al-Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center, in the heart of New Zealand?s countryside. The two mosques were attacked during a time of prayer when the sites were at full capacity. Brenton Tarrant, the primary criminal responsible for the devastating attack was charged shortly afterwards for the murder of innocent people at the two sites. He was chased out of the mosques by a father of four, Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah, who bravely drove off the shooter when he saw him

act of horror similar to the world-wide terror attacks on other religions. People of all faiths and walks of life are appalled by the violent reality they see around them. At JBHA, students remembered the victims during a moment of silence and are " People of all more aware now than ever of the faiths and walks danger of simply entering a place of worship. Eden of life are Shavit ?22 noted that ?it [was] a scary hate crime that hor r ified by the took place and it was an act of terrorism.?

enter the mosque where his children were. Wahabzadah attempted to prevent the gunman from entering the temple, but Tarrant was able to enter the prayer site to harm dozens, and exit without Wahabzadah catching up to him. Wahabzadah chased Tarrant down the street where he raced off and was caught by the New Zealand Police Force soon after.

Following the devastating attack at Christchurch, two more horrific tragedies occurred over Barrack?s spring break. On April 21st, a terrorist group associated with ISIS bombed people in Sri Lanka attending church services and staying at a local hotel for Easter Sunday. Around 250 innocent lives were lost for praying in peace. Terrorism reared its evil head once again only six days later on April 27th when a gunman entered the Chabad of Poway in San Diego, California. These two events show that hate snaps at every religion.

Since the attack, the New Zealand government has taken precautions regarding the ability to purchase and use guns. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that ?gun laws will change" after this terrifying attack. Until this attack, New Zealand?s gun restrictions were very relaxed, with no need to register firearms to legally own them. Before Christchurch, there had not been a massacre in New Zealand of similar magnitude in over thirty years. However, less than two days after the horrific event, Prime Minister Ardern stayed true to her word and created a ban that forced gun owners to hand in their firearms. The ban was supported by 61% of the population following the massacre. The devastating tragedy that took place in Christchurch is an

violent reality they see around them."

Terrorism is oftentimes associated with particular religions but it rears its ugly head in peaceful places around the globe. A Barrack student who wishes to remain anonymous commented that ?with the rise in antisemitism, often we get caught up in protecting our own community. We must remember, however, that we are all in the fight together against hate and short sightedness. We will only be stronger if we unite.?

Every person from every country, must do their absolute best to combat the hatred that corrupts the world around them. Reflecting on the tragic events, Helen Rudoler ?20 stated that ?as young people, we have our lives ahead of us... This horrible shooting tells us that now, more than ever, we need to be a part of shaping our future into a place where these things cannot happen.? The only way to stop violence from overtaking peace is to unite and be the change that the world needs. As the future local and global community, this generation be the one that stops hate.

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SheBelieves Cup Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Jena Rose, Staff Writer The USWNT started the tournament on February 27, 2019, In June 2019, the USWNT will be traveling to playing their first game out of three against Japan, in Chester, France to compete in the 8th edition of the FIFA Women?s Pennsylvania. World Cup. USWNT is This game ranked #1 out of all the resulted in a nations in the world; they 2-2 tie. In the are the reigning World USWNT?s Cup champions. Their second game, first game in the World in Nashville, Cup is on June 11th Tennessee, against Thailand, and the against World Cup ends July 7th. England, they Not only has the FIFA tied again with Women?s World Cup the same score, become popular over 2-2. In their time, women?s soccer as final game, a whole has become more played against popular to watch and Brazil, in attend. This summer, a Tampa, Florida, decent amount of the Starting 11 for the USWNT SheBelieves Cup against Brazil in Tampa, the USWNT World Cup games have Florida. (from L to R, top row then bottom) #7 Abby Dahlkemper, #17 been sold out. Good luck to won 1-0; the Tobin Heath, #3 Sam Mewis, goalie #24 Ashlyn Harris, #4 Becky goal was scored the USWNT in the 2019 Sauerbrunn, #15 Megan Rapinoe, #5 Kelley O?Hara, #11 Mallory Pugh by #17, attacker World Cup! Tobin Heath, in the twentieth minute. Although England won the SheBelieves Cup, the USWNT is ready to compete at their fiercest level in France in the World Cup over the summer!

google.com

The SheBelieves Cup is an invitational women?s soccer tournament held in the United States. This tournament has been in existence since 2016, and it serves as a way to give experience to the national teams. These teams do not usually play together, so this tournament allows teammates to

?Not only has the FI FA Women?s Wor ld Cup become popular over time,women?s soccer as a whole has become more popular to watch and attend? figure out their strategies and playing styles. This year, the fourth year of the SheBelieves Cup, happens to be a precursor to the 2019 World Cup that will be held in France this summer. For the US Women?s National Soccer team (USWNT), the SheBelieves Cup serves as good practice for the World Cup because the tournament consists of games against high level teams around the world. The teams in this tournament are England, Brazil, the United States and Japan.

The US Open Billy Cohen, For the Chronicle

MUSCO

The US Open is one of the four annual major tennis period at the end of the summer, which makes it a great event tournaments. This year will be the 139th for people of all ages to attend. People can buy seats in the US Open tournament, as it was larger ?Regar dless of when you go stadiums started in 1881. Played in the USTA or simply or where you sit, a day at the walk Billie Jean King National Tennis around to US Open is always fantastic? courts Center in New York, it is the only with major tennis tournament located in bleachers and perhaps watch younger or lesser-known North America. Both singles and players. Regardless of when you go or where you sit, a doubles players from all across the globe day at the US Open is always fantastic. gather to compete against each other. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis tournament is played over a two week Center in New York

NFL Dr aft Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Jena Rose, Staff Writer

A record high of 111 eligible players announced their intentions to enter his year?s Draft as underclassmen, the early entrants. These players were primarily juniors and redshirt sophomores. Redshirt players are students who are academic juniors but are in their second season of athletic participation. In order to be to enter the Draft, players must be out of ?Watch out, there are eligible high school for at least three years. The deadline some new Eagles for these players to declare their entrance was January 14, 2019. Including the early entrants, coming to there were 254 players that would be selected to Philadelphia, and they be signed in the NFL. The way the Draft usually works is that the teams with the lowest records get are ready to bleed the first few picks. Interestingly enough, when green? breaking down the different positions and seeing the potential players that could fill them, the position with the most potential candidates was linebacker. The Arizona Cardinals, who had a record of 3-13, had the first pick in the first round, and they selected Kyler Murray, a quarterback, from the University of Oklahoma. Watch out, there are some new Eagles coming to Philadelphia, and they are ready to bleed green! The Philadelphia Eagles had the 22nd pick in the Draft, and they chose Andre Dillard, an offensive tackle from Washington State. In the second round, the Eagles had the 53rd and 57th picks and they chose Miles Sanders, a running back from Penn State, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a wide receiver from Stanford University. The Eagles got another Penn State player in the 4th round, Shareef Miller, who is a defensive

end. In the final few rounds, the Eagles chose Clayton Thorson, a quarterback from Northwestern. Jena Rose ?23 stated that ?with the Eagles?new picks, Philadelphia is ready for a great 2020 season of football!?

Eagles Wire via USA today

On Thursday, April 25, 2019, the 84th annual National Football League (NFL) Draft was held for the teams to select new players. The seven rounds of the Draft were held in Nashville, Tennessee, and occurred through April 27th. There was a record high of 40 trades made during this Draft, surpassing the 37 trades that were made in 2017.

Pictured: Philadelphia Eagles, with the 22nd pick in the first round, drafted Andre Dillard (on left), an offensive tackle from the University of Washington.

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Star Athlete, Yasi Stein Lily Grossinger, Staff Writer

Yasi Stein has been a huge contributor to Barrack?s athletic imagine ever just not doing anything, so it?s not so much of what program since 8th grade. Playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse drives you but that I can?t imagine doing anything else with my for the fifth year at a varsity level, Yasi has time. For me, sports have always relieved etched her name onto a list with few others in stress and maintained stability in my life. I Barrack history. Just this past fall, she brought also really love the team aspect that builds the Varsity Girls Soccer Team, with a young community.? This love surely shows when core, all the way to the championship. She she is on the court. She is a gritty, did the same just three months later in competitive, energetic, player who can be basketball. She led the team back from being instrumental even without the ball in her down 18-2 in the championship, to make it a hands. Most of all though, she never gives one-point game, with clutch baskets and up -- not even down 18-2 in the defensive stops along the way. When asked championship. about coaches or mentors that have Yasi stepped on the field one last influenced and helped her reach these high time for lacrosse season, looking forward to levels of excellence, she responded, ?I?ve had her final ride. She was ?really excited for a lot of coaches at Barrack and each has Stein (middle) with her friends durring the upcoming lacrosse season. There?s a lot of soccer season impacted me in different ways. My basketball young talent, and the community of lacrosse coach, Mr. Corcoran, in particular has been is always a lot of fun to be a part of. Aside from wins and success, the most consistent and he has always pushed me to my highest in this final season, I hope to just have fun and enjoy the company level.? of everyone around because I know it?s something I will miss.? For Yasi, sports mean much more than just a game where Yasi has been a huge part of Barrack sports for the past five years, you win and lose. Sports play an essential role in her life. ?I can?t and we hope she enjoyed her final season!

An I ncredible L acrosse Season Was Had at Bar r ack! Stefanie Rose, Executive Editor Hillel Weitzman, Staff Writer

What an amazing Spring Sports Season Barrack had this year, especially after a very successful sports season last spring for the Cougars. From both Girls and Boys Varsity Lacrosse teams going to the TCISL Championships to the Boys Varsity Tennis team winning both the TCISL and PJAA Championships, Barrack has a lot to be proud of for this season!

next season brings!

And wow, what a season the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team had. Despite not making a deep run in the playoffs last year, when asked about the goals for the season, senior captain Juliet Hirsch responded, ?Win the championship.? This year?s team was composed of girls from 8th to 12th grade, The Boys Varsity Lacrosse team some of which had never played lacrosse in had a very successful season. Their their life. But, when seeing the team play on record was 8-2, losing to only the the field, one could not tell the difference Perkiomen School and Devon Prep. between girls who had just touched the Despite losing two starters,Gabe stick for the first time this season and those Bryant and Ben Wilson, after last who had been playing for years. Their season, the Boys Lacrosse Team record this year was 9-2-1, with their only had high aspirations for this season. loss to the Perkiomen school, and a tie with Senior captain Josh Goldstein stated Delaware County Christian. The girls that ?after winning the league for worked extremely hard, and kept fighting the first time in school history, I and for the win; they never put their heads the whole team [looked]forward to down, and that really showed. In the defending that title and working semi-finals against Collegium Prep, the hard to win again this season?; and game was tough, but the Cougars really that is exactly what they did. In turned up the heat and won 12-7. This is every game that they played, they the first year since 2012 that the turned it on and played hard. In the Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team at their Championship game at TCISL Semi-finals against Girls Varsity Lacrosse team went to Perkiomen School Delaware Valley School, they were the TCISL Championships. successful in keeping their opponents to only 3 goals. Their Although they lost to Perkiomen school 12-7 in the Championships, Championship game against Perkiomen school resulted in a very the entire team worked hard throughout the game. It is a win just to close loss, 8-6, but the boys played a very good game and with have made it to the Championships, and the future of the Girls everything they had. Even though they did not come home with Lacrosse team looks very bright! another championship victory, the Boys Varsity Lacrosse team played intensely and were overall very successful. I cannot wait to see what

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What You Should L ear n I n School Maya Shavit , Features and Games Editor

Answers: Down: 2) subway 3) beholder 4) dryer 7) egg 8) oil Across: 1) bus 4) detergent 5) taxes 6) apple 9) sewing

Sudoku's Are Fun!