SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL • Los Angeles, CA February 2018 • Sh’vat 5778 • Vol. 18, Issue 3 shalhevetboilingpoint.com
More than half of school’s advanced STEM students are girls, defying norms
New next door
By hannah jannol, Editor-in-Chief, and Maya Tochner, Staff Writer
BP Photo by Kate Orlanski
STATEMENT: Shalhevet’s new neighbor, almost ready to open with 149 apartments, the Vinz on Fairfax, seems to be several different buildings at once. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is explored by two of our editors in contrasting reviews on Page 20.
Lots of guns, not much worry Survey finds 17 percent of Shalhevet students have firearms at home By Tyler Ekaireb, Outside News Editor Seventeen percent of Shalhevet students have firearms at home, 99 percent of whom know where they are kept and all of whom say their guns are under lock and key, according to a Boiling Point poll. The poll, taken at the end of November, 2017, also found that 32 percent of students have family members trained to use firearms, perhaps reflecting U.S. or Israeli military training, though the poll didn’t ask about that. And 96 percent of students agree or strongly agree that people should be able to own guns, most citing self-defense and sport. Not that the subject seems simple to them, however.
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“I personally like that we can own guns and am in favor of keeping that legal, but I really don’t know if it is right,” said senior Maya Schechter, whose family owns multiple firearms. “It makes me feel safe to have guns in the house.” According to a CBS News poll, nationally about 30 percent of households owned firearms in 2016, the lowest in almost 40 years. Gun ownership reached a peak of 53 percent in 1994, the same poll showed. Seventeen percent suggests about 36 Shalhevet families are armed. According to Gun Violence Archive, more than 15,000 peoContinued on page 17
‘Strategic shuffling’ replaces former principal Existing faculty and new Dean of Student Life position will cover old roles By Clara Sandler, Community Editor Rabbi David Block is coordinating Judaic Studies and newcomer Dr. Jonathan Ravanshenas is Dean of Student Life in a “strategic shuffling” announced by Rabbi Segal after the removal of Principal Dr. Noam Weissman from his administrative role. Dr. Weissman, who is still teaching three classes, will not return next year. As principal, he oversaw almost everything that happened at school, in addition to having written or co-written most of the school’s Judaic and Israel-related curricula. He led student leadership seminars, hosted onegs at his home, attended sports games and inspired both discipline and ruach (spirit) on holidays, school trips, assemblies and more.
Led by surges in Computer Science and Biology, female enrollment in advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) classes at Shalhevet now totals 51.1 percent, which is unusual in the context of national averages in which women are typically a small minority in both career fields and academic settings. And Shalhevet’s Robotics program, which is not a class but a co-curricular that competes against other schools, is more than half female this year for the first time since the program started in 2015. The classes with the highest female enrollment are SAS Biology, which is is 70 percent girls, and SAS Computer Science, which is 61 percent. (SAS stands for Shalhevet Advanced Studies.) Nationally, just 18 percent of people majoring in Computer Science were female in 2014, according to the Washington Post. The trend has not yet reached math and physics, however. Shalhevet’s most advanced math and physics classes this year are just one-third female. The AB Calculus class is comprised of nine members, two female, and the BC calculus class has six students, three of them female. The SAS Physics class this year consists of 10 members, two of whom are female. Nationally, 39 percent of physical science majors in 2014 were female, according to The Washington Post. And according to the Ameri-
Students were quoting his catch-phrase -- “Transition is the greatest sign of maturity,” used to keep the growing student body in order during complicated events and ceremonies -- as they grappled with the adjustment to his absence. But in announcing the current transition, Head of School Rabbi Ari Segal was confident about the school’s ability to move forward. “This is as strong, passionate, capable, and diverse a group of educators as I have seen,” Rabbi Segal wrote in an email to current parents Jan. 11, three days after the announcement about Dr. Weissman was made (see related story, Page 5). “We are fortunate to have a cadre of truly world-class talent
From schools to market stalls, choir entertains in Seattle By Rebecca Cohen, Staff Writer Twenty-five teenagers are wandering around the famous Pike Place Market in Seattle, indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd that is chatting, laughing and admiring the produce. At one moment, a few teens seem to break out into song, and gradually they are joined by more who have walked over, until finally the strangers around them stop their errands to watch, listen and video with their cellphones: it’s a flashmob! The Choirhawks flew to Seattle Dec. 13 for their second-ever Hannukah performance tour, spending four days singing not only flash mobs but planned concerts for people ranging from kindergarteners to senior citizens. The singers themselves were among the biggest fans. “There is something I call the field trip high that you get when you are with friends from school, in a school setting but going somewhere else, that can’t be achieved anywhere else,” said senior Daniel Lorell, who sings bass. Two years ago, the choir bused to San Francisco and sang at schools, synagogues and the Golden Gate Bridge. This year, they Continued on page 23
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WHAT’S INSIDE...
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KERATIN
Page 21
Page 4
Page 9
Opinion
Community
Torah
It stings and it burns, and it’s really, really popular. The lengths to which girls will go for straight hair.
4 BEN SHAPIRO
Calm and uncensored, still opposes gay marriage.
9
TU B’SHVAT
Lanterns, lights, and listening at Tu B’Shvat on the roof.