Explore
About RKYHS
Take the Lead
RKYHS students are always starting something....and we encourage it! They know that they can approach the administration and suggest new clubs or activities, and that their suggestions will be supported and brought to life. We love hearing their ideas and derive a tremendous amount of satisfaction from watching quiet students step up and become leaders in the arts, science, politics, davening, sports, and learning.
Connect to Torah
Embracing the Torah in all its aspects is central to the RKYHS philosophy. Whether formulating a novel interpretation of a pasuk in the classroom, vigorously debating a passage in Talmud with a learning partner in the Beit Midrash, or davening Shacharit in one of our boutique Tefilla minyanim, RKYHS students are engaged in learning Torah the way it’s meant to be learned: with depth and dimension. Our Judaic Studies teachers are passionate about what they do and in the spirit of inquiry-based learning, they welcome questions and debate. At RKYHS, we believe there is no mission more crucial than creating the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Make a difference
RKYHS students bring the concept of tikkun olam to a new level. Chesed is built into our student programming,giving students the chance to live what they learn. With multiple chesed opportunities available through school-wide initiatives, chugim, and co-curricular activities, our students take the lead in making the world a better place. Whether they are feeding homeless people on the streets, packing boxes at the Food Bank,bringing joy to nursing home residents or even creating their own initiatives such as the Solidarity Sleepout, our students bring the Torah to life by active mitzvot.
Student Support
The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School Learning Lab provides mainstream students who have documented learning disabilities with the tools and strategies they need to become successful independent learners within the rigorous setting of our yeshiva high school. Working in small groups with trained professionals, students enhance their understanding of both General and Judaic Studies subject areas, while mastering study skills. In addition, students learn how to prioritize and how to practice self-assessment and develop self-reliance—skills that are critical to success in school and the workplace.
The Learning Lab is open to eligible freshmen, sophomores and select juniors; services are available as needed for upperclassmen. In addition, the Lab oversees accommodations for students who meet College Board and ACT criteria, and provides students with access to dedicated computer workstations, Chromebooks and SmartBoards.
Learning Lab Goals:
- Strengthen academic skills/develop learning, study, note-taking and test- taking strategies to be applied in other venues
- Recognize personal strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles; practice self-assessment and acceptance of academic responsibility
- Prioritize short and long-term assignments and goals/make good choices
- Manage time, workload, and co-curricular activities with other obligations
- Develop independence and self-advocacy skills
- Successfully complete assignments and test preparation
- Seek resources to help reinforce/clarify content areas
While the Learning Lab provides educational support to students who qualify for services, all students can benefit from the unique ideas and strategies that are developed by our dedicated staff. To insure each student's success, our Dean of Academic Affairs meets with students of all ability levels to help develop and refine skills, and serves as a resource for teachers to enhance their professional practice.
Guidance
A successful counseling program in a community of learners is one that helps students to reach their full academic and social potential. The Guidance Department at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School takes this responsibility seriously, offering students a wealth of programs and services including counseling, academic advisement, and college and Israel guidance.
Academic and Social Guidance
The lives of high school students are continually changing, which can exert a great deal of pressure on today’s teen. One way the Guidance Department helps students manage these challenges is by matching each student with a guidance professional who supports him/her throughout the four years of high school. This system ensures that counselors are available to meet students whenever needs arise, and allows students to feel comfortable about sharing concerns.
Further, the department offers students personalized, individual counseling, as well as small and large group programs focusing on a wide range of issues of special interest to teenagers, such as social skills, the changing family and bereavement; student needs determine the content and scheduling of each year’s roster of programs. In addition, the department creates special educational programs for the entire student body, along with assemblies aimed at particular grade levels, and an annual, interactive freshman orientation program.
Israel Guidance
Instilling a love and understanding of the land of Israel is one of the most important goals of our school. The guidance department assists with this goal, through education and an array of programs built around the theme of Israel. We encourage our students to spend a gap year abroad in Israel continuing their Jewish studies and strengthening their bond with the State of Israel. With two highly knowledgeable Israel guidance counselors in the department, our students also receive individualized counseling about the various Israel study programs available post-senior year. There are Yeshivot, seminaries and other programs to match every interest and need and the Guidance Department is committed to finding the perfect fit for each student wishing to participate.
College Guidance
College guidance is a major focus of the Guidance Department. Our expert college counselors work individually with all seniors to review their transcripts, discuss options, and assist with the college application and school choice process. Additionally, workshops for parents and students offer a wealth of information on topics such as the admissions process and financial aid. Workshops and individual counseling are not only for seniors, as counselors create programs geared at making knowledge and counseling available to all underclassmen and their parents. Finally, our website tracking system allows seniors to monitor the status of their applications online, throughout the college acceptance months.
With all of the expert advice and individualized attention our students receive, it is no surprise that they have earned numerous academic awards. Our graduates include National Merit Scholarship finalists and A.P. Scholars with Distinction Award winners among others. The Guidance Department is proud to support all of our students’ academic aspirations and to help them gain admission to the colleges and universities of their choosing, as well as prestigious Yeshivot, seminaries and programs in Israel.
Summer Programs
Some parents expressed interest in knowing about summer enrichment opportunities for their children. We have compiled information on various programs local, national and international, in various categories. These resources include programs in Theatre, Art, Science/Engineering, Judaic Studies, Computers, Israel, and General Academic Enrichment. Several of our students have participated in a number of these programs.
When making inquiries concerning programs that are not local, please be sure to inquire about kashrut and provisions for Shabbat. With some programs, kashrut and Shabbat accommodations are in place, but for others, accommodations need to be made. We will help in any way we can.
*Please note that several of the summer programs have February/March deadlines.
Our Values
