STUDENT HANDBOOK YDE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL - ד"סב
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בס"ד
YDE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT HANDBOOK
1TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3 CO-CURRICULAR & EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 14
HOME AND SCHOOL 3 LUNCH 16
PARENT INVOLVEMENT 3 ACADEMICS AND TESTING 16
YDE EMERGENCY HOTLINE 4 REGENTS EXAMINATIONS 18
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION 4 MAKE-UP TEST POLICY 18
DAILY SCHOOL SCHEDULE 4 HOMEWORK 19
NIGHT SEDER 5 YDE STANDARDS FOR ESSAYS, REPORTS AND 19
TERM PAPERS SUBMITTED FROM HOME
SCHOOL SUPPLIES 5 REPORT CARDS, PROGRESS REPORTS AND 20
GRADES
CALCULATORS 5 CLASS PLACEMENT 21
TEXTBOOKS 5 ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CELL PHONE POLICIES 22
SEFARIM 5 HEALTH AND SAFETY 23
LOCKERS 5 SECURITY 24
DRESS CODE 6 VISITORS 25
SENI'UT AND APPROPRIATE DRESS 7 STUDENT CONDUCT 25
DERECH ERES IN SCHOOL 7 DISCIPLINE AND SANCTIONS 29
DERECH ERES ON THE BUS 7 CODE OF BEHAVIOR 30
TEFILLA PROCEDURES 7 APPENDIX A - POLICY FOR USE OF STUDENT- 32
OWNED LAPTOPS IN SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE POLICIES & PROCEDURES 8 APPENDIX B - DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES 36
LATENESS TO CLASS OR SCHOOL 10 TEACHER'S CONTACT LIST 41
SCHOOL CALENDAR 11
STUDENT SUPPORT 11
COLLEGE AND ISRAEL GUIDANCE 13
STUDENT PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES & 13
AWARDS
2INTRODUCTION
YDE High School for Boys strives for academic excellence in Limude Kodesh and General
Studies. We seek to inculcate in our talmidim Yirat Shamayim, a love for Torah, and a
commitment to the misvot. Limud Torah and the religious atmosphere within the school seek
to promote love of learning, a keen awareness of misvot ben adam lahabero, deep appreciation
for tefilla, and devotion to hessed. Our General Studies program challenges our students to
master the critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills and knowledge that will prepare
them for success as life-long learners and to enter the college of their choice.
At the conclusion of our four-year program, students will earn a YDE Diploma and a New York
State Regents Diploma.
YDE Yeshiva is a makom Torah, a place where the values and morality of Torah form the fabric
of our daily lives. At the foundation is emet: truth, honesty and integrity. With these, we can
function as a strong community. Any dishonesty ruptures the beautiful warmth and openness
of the school. We encourage and expect our students to approach school life, activities and
tasks with responsibility, honor, integrity, and commitment to kabod haberiyot, which includes
dealing truthfully and sensitively with all members of our school family.
We pride ourselves on the atmosphere at YDE. We hope that you, our students, share in the
pride we take in creating the atmosphere of kedusha of a makom Torah and strive to further
elevate it and make it part of your daily lives.
The following information will assist students and parents in gaining a better understanding
of our school policies and procedures and hopefully will help strengthen our community and
Yeshiva. Here’s to a great year!
HOME AND SCHOOL
Everything that happens at home vitally affects students; therefore, it is essential that the
Administration be made aware of any unusual events which are taking place in the family.
This includes the happy and the sad - births or marriages of siblings, special semahot, illnesses
at home, anticipated trips by parents, deaths in the family or marital issues. Properly
informed teachers will be able to deal with students with greater understanding. A note or
telephone call to the principal will be greatly appreciated. Please be assured that all
information of this type will be kept strictly confidential.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
The YDE High School for Boys is your school. It invites and welcomes your support and
participation in any way you feel qualified. In conjunction with our Parent Council, we will be
offering a series of workshops on Parenting and Communication for our parent body,
including a mandatory seminar on Internet Safety for students and their parents.
Participation in the Yeshiva High School for Boys Parent Council will enable you as a parent to
play an active role in our Yeshiva and to provide the school with many extras and enrichment
3programs to enhance the education of your son. If you are interested in devoting your time in
any capacity, feel free to contact the high school office staff.
YDE EMERGENCY HOTLINE
For your convenience, the YDE Emergency Hotline (718) 705-8950 can be called in the event
of school closings.
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION
We cannot stress enough the importance of regular, accurate and supportive
communication between home and school. It makes a critical difference in every child’s
progress and success. At YDE, parents are partners and we welcome your active
participation in the growth and development of your children.
Performance Updates will be mailed home throughout the term when students are excelling
or when they may not be working to potential.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled to coincide with the distribution of middle of
the semester Progress Reports. Our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for
November 22 and 30. Spring Conferences are scheduled for March 28. Information will be
e-mailed to you before each term’s conferences as a reminder and instructions as to how to
schedule appointments.
Since most communications take place via e-mail, all families must register their e-mail
address. Any necessary communication with your son's teacher should take place in writing,
e-mail or through the school office. Every teacher has a YDE e-mail address and voice-mail
extension which may be found on the last page of this handbook. We encourage meaningful
communication between the home and our faculty and administrators. Please do not call a
teacher at home unless the teacher has asked the parent to do so.
September 7 – Student Orientation for all students
September 8 – Regular classes begin
DAILY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Monday - Thursday 7:25 AM– 5:45 PM
Friday 7:25 AM – 12:35 PM
Sunday 8:25 AM – 11:15 AM, 11:15 Voluntary “Torah Lishma” Program
Lunch: There is a daily lunch period of forty-five minutes Monday – Thursday, Period 6.
(Lunch details are presented below)
Gym Activities are generally given twice a week. Club Activities will be held once every two
weeks on Wednesdays.
4NIGHT SEDER
Students are encouraged to attend night seder, which will take place Monday through
Thursday evenings.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Students must provide their own supplies. Students are required to maintain a daily loose-leaf
with separate sections for secular studies classes and notebooks for other subjects, and be
prepared with pens, pencils, and composition paper. Each teacher may have special
requirements for supplies that they will announce on the first day of school. Please be
advised that the yeshiva office cannot and will not provide pens, pencils or calculators
for students.
CALCULATORS
All students in Math classes are required to purchase a calculator appropriate for their course.
Students will need a scientific calculator or a TI 83+ or 84+. Students in Pre-Calculus or AP
Calculus will need a TI - 84+ graphing calculator. The TI-89 graphing calculator is also
acceptable for Calculus classes.
TEXTBOOKS
Most general studies books are distributed to students without charge. These books must be
returned at the end of the year in the same basic condition as when they were distributed.
Workbooks that are designed for student writing are not required to be returned, unless
instructed otherwise by the teacher. Students are responsible for any loss, theft, damage or
defacement of books. Textbooks will be collected on the day of the final examination for that
subject. Students must return either the appropriate textbook or a check to cover the cost of
the textbook in order to take the exam that day. Failure to return textbooks can affect the
student’s right to take a final examination, receipt of student report cards, release of Regents
scores and transcripts, and the right to receive textbooks in the future.
SEFARIM
Since we hope that our talmidim will begin to develop their own personal sefarim libraries,
talmidim will need to provide their own sefarim from home or receive them at their
orientation as per previously placed orders.
LOCKERS
The Yeshiva will assign lockers on orientation day.
• Student lockers should be used to store all books, supplies and clothing. These items may
not be left in the classroom or hallway.
• Students should not go to their lockers while classes are in session.
5• Be sure to close lockers, especially overnight. The school cannot be held responsible for
any losses from your locker. Please note that lateness due to “locker visits” will be
considered unexcused. Students should anticipate their needs for morning and afternoon
classes and go to their lockers during breakfast, breaks and/or after lunch.
• Students should clean their lockers on a periodic basis to maintain a healthy and vermin-
free environment.
• If you would like to purchase a lock from the school, it will be available for a ten-dollar fee.
Fire codes require that locker doors remain shut throughout the day and that no book bags,
coats or lunches clutter the hallway floor in any way. Bags and other items left in the hallways
may be confiscated and a one dollar fine will be levied each time before they are returned to
the student. A student who consistently disregards the fire codes may serve detention.
School lockers, desks and other similar equipment are not the private property of students,
but the property of the school, and may be opened and subject to inspection from time to time
by school officials, without advance warning or notice.
DRESS CODE
“Rabbi Yohanan used to call his garments ‘the things that honor me’”. (Shabbat 113a)
In order to create a proper learning environment and to be able to convey to our talmidim a
sense of dignity and midot tobot, it is crucial for all talmidim to dress in a manner that reflects
self-esteem and respect for the Yeshiva as a makom Torah.
Talmidim are required to wear dark colored slacks; black, navy, and dark gray are acceptable.
No baggy, denim/jeans or exterior carpenter style pockets permitted. Shirts must be full
buttoned-down collared dress shirts. Shirts may not have any prints or words; stripes and
plaids are acceptable. No t-shirts or polo style shirts will be permitted. Colors for uniform
dress collared shirts should be appropriate for the Yeshiva and should not be loud,
flashy or flamboyant in color. The administration reserves the right to determine
appropriate footwear. During Gym, sneakers must be worn for students’ safety. A kippah must
be worn as well (no hats or caps). Seesit must be worn at all times, except during Gym. A
student will not be admitted to class without seesit. If he does not have seesit in school, he
may either arrange to have a pair brought in, or he may purchase a pair from the office for
$15.00.
To reflect the dignity of a ben-Torah, talmidim should make sure their shirts are tucked in at
all times, and will not be admitted to tefilla with an un-tucked shirt. To ensure this positive
atmosphere, a student may be given one warning for any dress code violation. A second
infraction may result in a detention. Students will not be admitted to class if not in proper
dress code and will have to wait in the office until a change of clothing is brought.
A talmid’s hairstyle and hair-length also affect the learning environment of a Yeshiva.
Consequently, talmidim will not be admitted to class with any “step”, “buzz” cuts, unkempt
hair or have excessive long hair or any other such hairstyle deemed inappropriate by the
Administration.
All talmidim are expected to be clean-shaven except during the Sefirat Ha’omer period.
6SENI’UT AND APPROPRIATE DRESS
A Way of Life: Seni’ut has been erroneously and narrowly understood to deal only with a
modest mode of dress. In reality, seni’ut, or modesty, is a way of life, an attitude and a
sensitivity, which governs our relationship to G-d and to one another, and which guides us
within the halachic system to develop our own personal set of values and priorities.
One of the major goals of YDE, of course, is to help foster a life of seni’ut. This is accomplished
first by encouraging students to adopt specific patterns of behavior. More importantly, we try
to help students develop the intuition that will allow them to discern on their own the entire
realm of seni’ut which cannot, and should not, be defined merely by a list of rules and
regulations.
One aspect of seni’ut, which is governed by Halacha, is the requirement to dress in accordance
with the Torah concept of decency and modesty. All adults who visit our Yeshiva or are
dropping off children at the Yeshiva entrance are expected to dress in accordance with
standards befitting a Yeshiva atmosphere. We teach the children about seni’ut and as adults,
we must set an example for them to follow. We request that women do not enter our building
in slacks, shorts, or immodest tops in adherence to our Yeshiva’s policy. Men are expected to
wear kipot. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring consistency in the examples we set
for our children and ourselves.
DERECH ERES IN SCHOOL
In keeping with the concept that “Derech eres kadma laTorah”, students are expected to stand
up when all faculty members, whether limude kodesh or general studies, as well as all adults
enter the classroom. We hope that this will promote an atmosphere of “kabod” and “hakarat
hatob” that will pervade the many attitudes and relationships within the Yeshiva.
DERECH ERES ON THE BUS
Student behavior on the bus should be consistent with the Torah standards and behavior level
expected in school. Shemirat Halashon is a requirement as is the avoidance of any form of
"Nibul Peh". Calling out of the bus to passing motorists or pedestrians is inappropriate and
clearly a "Hilul Hashem".
TEFILLA PROCEDURES
“’And I will be for you a small Bet Hamikdash’. R. Zera said this refers to the Synagogues and
Bate Midrash of Babel” (Megillah 21a).
In our beautiful and inspiring Bet Midrash, we have the opportunity to instill in our talmidim a
deep sense of kavanah and decorum during tefilla, as well as a realization that one who prays
stands in the Divine Presence. To maintain an atmosphere conducive to meaningful tefilla, we
have a list of customs and rules that must be followed by every student.
71. Each morning our yeshiva begins sessions at 7:25 am with tefillat shahrit in the Bet
Midrash. Every talmid must be in the Bet Midrash promptly at 7:20 am to put on tefillin
before tefilla. Tefilla will commence at 7:25, and any talmid arriving after the five-minute
grace period, at 7:30 am will be noted late, except for lateness due to yeshiva-arranged
transportation or a note from a parent with an appropriate and acceptable explanation.
Excessive lateness will result in detention assigned for the next scheduled detention
day, and a conference with the parents will be scheduled to discuss how to correct
the situation.
2. Each talmid is to sit in the seat assigned to him the first day of yeshiva. Students will be
seated for morning prayers by shiur and each child is required to sit with his shiur
classmates.
3. In order to enable everyone to have a spiritually meaningful experience, absolutely no
conversation of any kind is permitted throughout the entire tefilla. Persistent tefilla
disruption will result in a parent conference and disciplinary action.
4. Students must remain in the Bet Midrash for the entire duration of the tefilla, wearing
tefillin and following along in their siddur. If a student must use the restroom during tefilla,
he must ask his rabbi for permission to leave. A student found outside of the Bet
Midrash during tefilla without permission will receive detention. Note that any
student out of tefilla for 15 minutes or longer will be given a “cut.”
5. All talmidim are to leave their tefillin on until after the morning announcements following
tefilla.
6. If a student does not have his tefillin with him for any reason, he should pray with the
minyan for the entire tefilla, and then borrow a friend’s tefillin at the end of tefilla to make
the beracha and recite Keriat Shema.
7. Proper kavanah in one’s assigned seat must also be maintained during Minha and Arbit.
Students should have their own daily Siddurim, a small Minha-Arbit booklet and a pocket
“Birkat Hamazon”. A student who cuts Minha may be recorded as cutting a class.
Be’ezrat Hashem, together with your participation we will make tefilla at our Yeshiva a truly
meaningful and inspirational experience.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Regular attendance is a necessity for effective academic performance. Personal business,
appointments and routine medical and dental visits should not be scheduled during school
hours. Remember, good attendance leads to good grades while poor attendance records are
noted on your college transcripts.
Any unexcused absence due to “cutting” will result in the assignment of a double
detention. The second cut may lead to suspension and a parent conference. A third cut class
may result in a student being placed on academic and extracurricular probation. Subsequent
cut classes may result in more extensive suspensions and expulsion.
Sundays and Fridays are treated the same as any other full school day. Lateness or absence on
those days will be treated the same as any other unexcused absence.
Any student who misses a class without written authorization from the teacher of that
class or the Administration, is considered to have ‘cut’ the class. If for whatever reason
8you must miss a class to meet with any school official such as a guidance counselor,
Rabbi or member of the administration, you must notify your subject teacher first and
get his permission to miss that class for the meeting.
Number of Absences (Academic Residency Requirement):
Because there may be occasions that will necessitate absences, there are no adverse
consequences if a student is absent up to 5 times per semester. Please note that Sunday is and
will be treated as a regular school day. Any unexcused absence on a Sunday, will result in a
failing grade on that week’s Gemara test, without any makeup possibility. Absences beyond
this amount result in a loss of one point in that class per absence, due to the student not
meeting the school’s residency requirement in that class. In the event of extenuating
circumstances, please speak to the principal to determine if additional absences will be
excused. Please be advised this policy is separate from "cuts" of class. A student who is in
school and misses class is considered to have cut the class. In that circumstance, in addition to
having that period count towards his absence limit for the semester, he will also be subject to
the consequences of a cut class.
Absences due to school-sanctioned activities or meetings are, of course, not counted in the
above-mentioned quota. A student must inform his teacher at the beginning of the period that
he will be missing class. Absences due to sickness, a simha, oversleeping, extended trips, etc.
are included in the allotted number.
When absent from class for any reason, a student is responsible for making up all assignments,
class notes, and projects on time. A student should arrange with other students, either by
speaking with them directly or by calling the school office, to have his work collected and sent
home. Every student should have the phone number of another student in each of his classes
whom he can call to find out what work was assigned so he will be able to complete the work
in the evening and have it ready for the next day or when he returns to school.
It is the responsibility of each student and his parents to be aware of the number of times he
has been absent in each semester and the impact it might have on the student’s grades.
The Residency Requirement functions for each semester. Unused absences do not accumulate
from one semester to another. In a case of extended illness (3 or more consecutive days),
consultations with the student’s physician are necessary. Each extended illness will be dealt
with on an individual basis.
Please make sure that all carpool arrangements are set up in a way which ensures that all
students in the carpool will get to Yeshiva on time. Lateness due to carpool issues is not an
excused lateness.
9Steps to follow in case of absence:
• To ensure the safety of our students, parents must call the school office and leave
a message on the secretary's voicemail by 9:00 AM on the morning of the
student’s absence.
• A medical or parental note explaining the student’s absence must be submitted when
the student returns to school. Students will be required to submit this note to the
secretary or a member of the administration before being allowed to re-enter class that
day.
• A medical note is required for absences of three days or more.
• In the event of sudden illness or accident during the day, students should inform their
teacher and report to the office immediately. If the secretary is not available, students
should report to the Principal.
LATENESS TO CLASS OR SCHOOL
Lateness to Class
Students are expected to be in class by the sound of the bell. A student who arrives AFTER
THE BELL RINGS is considered late, regardless of whether the lesson has begun or the teacher
has arrived. If one needs to use the lavatory facilities, he must receive the teacher’s
permission. Students have ample time to use the bathroom during the morning break,
lunch and afternoon break without taking away from class time unless absolutely
necessary. Any student found outside of class without permission may receive detention.
Students are not permitted to leave the class to use the restroom during the first and
last five minutes of the period. A student who is out of class for more than 15 minutes
will be considered to have cut the class. Additionally, if a student is found in the gym (or
other areas) during class time (for a class other than gym), he may automatically
receive a cut, regardless of how much or little time was spent in the gym. No teacher will
allow more than one student out at a time. It is the teacher’s discretion to allow a student to
leave the room. A student who arrives in class without the necessary books and supplies
creates a disturbance in the class due to his need to go in and out of class to obtain these
materials. Therefore, a student who is unprepared for class at the beginning of the period is
considered to be late to class.
Unexcused lateness will affect a student’s learning and adversely affect his grades. Parents will
be notified after the second lateness to any class. A student who receives three unexcused
lateness marks, in the aggregate, in a semester, will be assigned a detention. Subsequent
lateness may result in more extensive disciplinary action by the administration. Student
lateness will only be considered excused with a signed note from the Principal or member of
the administrative staff.
10Lateness to School
• A student who is absent from minyan without a valid note (or phone call) of explanation
from a parent will be given a warning. If it happens a second time the student will not
be permitted to attend classes that day and will be sent home. This incident will
count towards the number of absences in the Academic Residency Requirement (see
below), and the student will not be permitted to participate in any athletic or extra-
curricular event that day or evening.
• Arrival after Shahrit will only be permitted with a doctor’s note or parental phone call;
arrival after 11 AM will be considered a half-day absence.
• Any student who arrives in school after Shahrit (with a note or without) must meet
with the Principal prior to checking in with the office secretary.
• Any full- or half-day absence requires a consultation with the Principal in order
to determine eligibility for any athletic events that day or evening.
• To be fair to other students, in no case will a student with an unexcused absence
in the morning be permitted to take a test in the afternoon.
• Parents should notify the office, by phone at 718-232-0100, at least a day before an
important appointment or activity that will cause lateness or absence or early
dismissal.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Please incorporate the enclosed calendar into your own family calendar. Please do not
schedule family vacations, trips and other appointments when your son is expected in school.
Requests for exceptions to this rule undermine the school and its policies. Special problems
should be discussed with the Administration, well in advance of schedule conflicts. Please
note there can be no make-ups for midterm and final exams, unless there is a medically
documented illness or a pre-arranged family simha that has received Administration
pre-approval. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
STUDENT SUPPORT
Guidance Services
Personal and religious guidance services are available for all students. All high school
students experience heightened pressures during certain seasons of the year – midterms and
finals weeks, the end of marking periods, and when major term papers or projects are due.
Careful and realistic choices when selecting electives will also help manage student stress
effectively. The Yeshiva faculty and Administration are deeply committed to working with our
Guidance Personnel, as well as our School Psychologists and Social Worker and with our
students at every level, to monitor the workload carefully and help reduce stress. Wise
parental guidance and reassurance in these areas are essential to a healthy, productive, and
self-confident student.
11Students With Special Needs
At YDE we are committed to meeting individual needs and helping each student maximize his
potential. If a student is experiencing difficulties and an administrator, teacher or parent
believes there may be underlying issues, we may recommend an evaluation which is usually
conducted by a team of specialists from the local school district, with input from teachers,
administrators, school psychologist, and parents. A meeting with parents will follow the
evaluation to develop an appropriate plan of action. As necessary, referrals for assessment
services will be made to the student’s public school district; and/or further assessment with
outside mental health or other professionals. In order for modifications to be administered,
documentation by the appropriate department of special services is required.
Faculty Assistance
The YDE Faculty prides itself in maintaining strong and warm teacher–student relationships.
Teachers are always available to chat with students or help them with their work. Students are
encouraged to seek out teachers for help with specific issues. In order to maximize the
tutoring experience for your son and his classmates, please note these guidelines:
• Following an absence, students should first obtain and review all class notes and relevant
hand-outs. Please come to the teacher prepared with specific questions. It is unrealistic and
unreasonable to expect the teacher to “re-teach” all the material that was missed.
• Teachers will not be expected to review or teach material that was covered during an
unexcused absence or vacation. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on an
individual basis.
• Teachers are available to assist students. Since there is a limited amount of time available
to each teacher, the student’s request will be evaluated by the teacher and incorporated
into his/her schedule at the teacher’s discretion, time permitting.
• Non-lunch time meetings must be cleared with the teacher whose class you will miss, in
advance of the meeting, in written form.
• If a student needs additional help, on a consistent basis, that goes beyond the scope of
periodic meetings, parents are urged to consider outside tutoring to bolster the student’s
“in class” experience.
Outside Tutoring
In the event that outside tutoring is needed, the following policies are crucial.
1. A student may not be tutored by any of his classroom teachers for that year, even in a
different subject.
2. Parents should ensure that the tutor is in regular contact with the classroom teacher to
allow for maximum benefit. When contacted, the teacher will work with the tutor to
establish ground rules for the type of assistance to be offered for completing
assignments, especially those involving writing and research. This contact will preclude
any questions that could arise regarding the integrity of the student’s work.
3. While we encourage tutoring for the challenged student, the outside support can also
potentially affect the classroom learning experience for that student and for the class at
large. “I can tune out; I’ll learn it from my tutor” is a remark that could be heard
from students who consistently receive outside help. Please help your son
12understand that, if tutored, he is also expected to maximize the classroom
learning experience for him.
COLLEGE AND ISRAEL GUIDANCE
There is a special orientation for college readiness program which includes a College Night
and a College Orientation Evening for students and parents, and a YDE Financial Aid evening
as students move up in the grades closer to graduation. Regardless of grade, Mr. Feldman and
the college guidance counselor are available to all students to discuss college issues on an
appointment basis.
The Rosh HaYeshiva or his designate will meet with students when they become seniors and
advise them on appropriate choices for post high-school study in Israel for those students
wishing to pursue a year of study in Israel.
STUDENT PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES & AWARDS
Gemiloot Hasadeem
Ongoing commitment and practice of community service heightens sensitivity to misvot ben
adam lahabero. The Yeshiva’s Hesed program requires each student to complete 15 hours of
hessed per semester. Hesed hour sheets will be distributed at the beginning of the year.
Students should consult with the Hesed Coordinator, to determine eligibility, with questions
they may have regarding hessed opportunities and registering hessed hours. A student’s June
report card will not be mailed, nor will a senior receive his diploma until his hesed
requirement is fulfilled.
Midot
Exemplary midot are an important foundation of yahdut and an area where we strive to grow
on a daily basis. To help promote good character, strong midot need to be nurtured and
developed. A midot education program that supplements our classroom learning takes place
every day through our mussar program before minha.
Midot awards are presented to recognize excellence in character. Peer election is the
determining factor in the selection process. Only three or four students per grade level receive
this award.
At the Yeshiva's first graduation from high school and thereafter, the Keter Shem Tob Award is
bestowed to a member of the senior class who demonstrates outstanding midot. This awardee,
too, is selected by his classmates and is honored at Graduation.
Torah Growth Award
To pay tribute to those boys who have excelled throughout the year in learning, each class will
choose the Torah Growth Awardee from their shiur. This award goes to the student whose
learning has developed the most over the year.
13Summer Programs
The summer is an opportunity for students to relax and enjoy a vacation from school life and
the pressures of academia. Choosing the right summer program can be difficult, but it is a
personal decision to be made by the student together with his parents.
Consistency is the key! The program, the climate and supervision should be conducive to
personal growth, Torah study and Yirat Shamayim. This is especially true of the “traveling
camps”, particularly the Israel programs.
How well supervised is the program? Are the atmosphere and goals consistent with those the
students are exposed to at the Yeshiva? Are the values of the program consistent with your
family’s values? Is the level of halachic observance of the participants consistent with your
son’s commitments? Will he feel comfortable with the surroundings and can he grow in that
setting?
Choosing a program entails careful research into the suitability of the program. The school
would like to help students avoid the confusion and disappointment we know occurs when
boys have chosen a program they regretfully feel was inconsistent with their own growth and
development. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to discuss the different program
options with our Administration or Limude Kodesh staff.
Unique study opportunities and internships are often available for the interested student.
These include laboratory, hospital and research settings that can lead to Intel projects
developed under faculty mentors. Students that would like to get a jump-start on the
following year’s work should speak to the Rosh HaYeshiva or Principal.
CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in school co-curricular and extra-
curricular activities. These programs are geared toward developing character and
leadership skills and encouraging community service. They can help him develop his talents,
focus his interests, make school more fun and rewarding and are certainly looked upon
favorably by colleges. You can participate in sedaka and hesed projects, teams, clubs and
school publications.
Club Period takes place once every two weeks and is an opportunity for students to find an
area of interest outside the classroom. Club options include: Debating Team, Survivalist,
Creative Writing, Instrumental Music, Krav Maga, Yahadut, First Aid and more.
Sports opportunities include Basketball, Hockey, and Softball teams to start. Student interest
will determine the formation of additional teams such as Tennis, Bowling, Volleyball and
others. Tryouts are held on a seasonal basis, in early fall and spring. Intramural sports will be
conducted both during and after the school day. Please note that participation in our athletic
program is limited to students in good academic standing. Any student that is failing two
14classes at any time is ineligible to participate in YDE athletics until his average is raised to a
passing level.
Educational Trips and a Shabbaton are scheduled at various times during the year. These
are planned with an eye toward enriching school curriculum, expanding experiential horizons
and building ahdut, with sensitivity towards budgetary concerns.
YDE will begin to create student publications including a YDE Newspaper, a school Torah
publication and a senior yearbook literary magazine, among others. The school can exercise
reasonable restrictions on student publications that are produced and sponsored by the
school, including the school newspaper. The Administration or faculty advisor will review all
publications to ensure that they are consistent with the rules for responsible journalism and
the School’s education mission. In addition, students may not distribute literature or flyers on
school grounds and in school buildings without the prior consent of the Administration who
may regulate the time, manner, place and duration of such distribution. The Administration
may also regulate the content of literature to be distributed to avoid interference with the
educational mission of the school or for other reasons based on the Administration’s
educational judgment.
Honor Society/Academic Achievement
Students with a cumulative average of 90 or more are invited to apply for membership to the
YDE Chapter of the National Honor Society. Applicants must receive faculty approbation in the
area of character. Inductions are held each fall at an evening ceremony. Membership is
reviewed on an ongoing basis and is dependent on satisfactory maintenance of all of the above
criteria. Honor Society membership is achieved after two full years in high school.
There will be a Principal's Honor Roll for each report card period listing students who have
achieved a 90% average or higher.
Science and Social Science Research Program
YDE students may do science lab research during the summer months at a special program at
the Stony Brook or other labs or hospitals, where available. Our science staff will work with
the students to coordinate and present their research to the appropriate competitions that are
available. Students interested in Social Science research (anthropology, sociology, psychology,
etc.) will be mentored by a member of the History Department.
Celebrate Israel
The creation of the State of Israel is one of the seminal events in Jewish History. Recognizing
the significance of the State and its national institutions, we seek to instill in our students an
attachment to the State of Israel and its people as well as a sense of responsibility for their
welfare.
LUNCH
151. The Yeshiva facilitates a voluntary hot lunch program during the week whereby students
can place their orders in advance from local restaurants. The menus vary depending on the
day.
2. No student may take the lunch of an absent student.
3. If they wish, students may bring dairy lunches from home when there is a dairy menu and
meat lunches on days when there is a meat menu. Lunch bags should be kept in the locker
until lunchtime.
4. All food must be eaten in the cafeteria or designated area. In order to keep our school
facilities enjoyable and maintain a clean learning atmosphere, there can be absolutely no
eating in the classrooms. Students who eat in these areas may be assigned detention.
5. All students must take personal responsibility to dispose of all refuse properly and
promptly in all areas of the school.
ACADEMICS AND TESTING
Advanced Placement Courses
AP courses are a challenging way for students to enhance their learning and experience
college-level courses in a high school setting. Not only do they have the opportunity to earn
college credits, but many competitive colleges will look more favorably when reviewing their
high school transcripts. AP courses are college level courses and students are expected to
work on a college level and do independent work in addition to the work covered in class.
Over the four years of high school, we offer AP courses in the following areas: Biology,
Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Computer Science, English
Literature, English Language and Composition, European History, U.S. Government and
Politics, Psychology, Statistics, World History and United States History. For students who
qualify we offer AP courses in Music Theory and Art. Please note that students must be
approved by a member of the administration for admittance into an AP course.
All students in AP courses must take the College Board AP examination administered in
May. If a student does not take the AP exam, the AP designation for that class will be
removed from his transcript. Additionally, note that all AP students will take a teacher
administered final for that class in June. Students in AP courses must maintain an
average of 85 or higher in order to remain in the AP course.
AP Scholar Awards
The AP Program offers several Advanced Placement Scholar Awards to recognize high school
students who have demonstrated college level achievement through AP Courses and exams.
In addition to receiving an award certificate, your achievement is acknowledged on any grade
report you send to college the following fall. An AP Scholar award is granted to students who
receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams on full-year courses. An AP Scholar
with Honor award is granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all
AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams on full-year courses.
An AP Scholar with Distinction award is granted to students who receive an average grade of
at least 3.5 on all AP Exams and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams in full-
16year courses. A National AP Scholar award is awarded to students who take 7 AP courses and
achieve an average grade of 4.0 or higher
Testing Policy
1. A copy of the Yeshiva Testing Schedule will be posted and mailed. Students should
consult the test schedule regularly to supplement the announcements made in class.
2. School Policy does not permit more than one test in secular studies and one test in
Judaic Studies to be given on the same day except in rare circumstances. When possible,
students will be notified of each test, one week in advance.
3. Quizzes can be given at any time; quizzes will cover less material than tests and require
less study time.
4. A student who was absent on days preceding an exam must make arrangements with a
fellow student to obtain the missing work, and will be responsible to take the exam
on the scheduled day.
5. Tests should be concluded within the assigned class period. Only students with
documented individual educational plans (IEPs) who have completed the required
testing process or who were issued a 504 will be granted extended time for
examinations.
6. On the day following a Yom Tov, no general studies exam will be scheduled so that
students can fully enjoy the hag with their families.
8. Midterm and final examinations are cumulative and include any or all of a semester’s
work. There can be no make-up exams for midterms or finals unless there is a medically
documented illness or a family obligation that has received Administration pre-
approval.
9. A schedule of term papers and project deadlines will be closely coordinated by the
faculty and the Administration.
10. In general, a term paper in Language Arts will be scheduled in the Fall Semester, and a
term paper in History will be scheduled in the Spring Semester.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and integrity are moral imperatives yahdut requires of every Jew. It is important that
a student’s actions place him above suspicion. Talking during an examination or having
papers nearby is inappropriate behavior.
Any student who acts dishonestly on a class test or plagiarizes a report will be
penalized with a zero on that examination or report, a letter placed in their file and an
assignment administered by Rabbi Bensoussan. The second offense will also lead to a
loss of eligibility for YDE Honor Society and/or Principal's Honor Roll for one year, a
one day in school suspension and a conference will be held with their parents. The third
offense may lead to a one-week suspension from school, a zero on the assignment, and a
minimum one year probation period during which no extracurricular activities may be
pursued. A fourth offense may lead to expulsion from school. In addition, multiple
incidences of academic dishonesty may prevent a student from receiving any awards or
honors upon graduation.
Final Examination Days
17 Any student who misses tefilla will have ten points deducted from his final exam.
Any student who violates the Yeshiva dress code will have ten points deducted from his
final exam.
REGENTS EXAMINATIONS
Students are required to take New York State Regents Examinations in courses culminating
with these exams. Regents’ failures must be made up during the summer. To receive a YDE
Regents Diploma, students must pass the following Regents Exams (typical schedule):
• Grade 9: Living Environment, Algebra, Hebrew
• Grade 10: Chemistry, Geometry, Global History
• Grade 11: Intermediate Algebra & Trigonometry, Physics or Earth Science, United
States History and Government, English
Any student who fails a Regents exam will be required to make up that exam in his local
School District in August.
Students who took the Hebrew Regents Exam in eighth grade will only be given High
School Regents credit for a grade of 85 or higher. If they score below an 85, they will
need to retake the Regents in ninth grade, in addition to their regular Hebrew Final.
Students will receive a Regents Diploma with Honors, if they earn an average of 90 on
Regents examinations.
MAKE-UP TEST POLICY
Teachers prepare and administer their most appropriate examinations at a scheduled time.
Students are expected to take these exams when they are scheduled. However, it is
understood that in exceptional cases a student may be absent from an examination. In such
cases the following regulations apply:
1. A parent must notify the office that the student is absent and that the student will miss
an exam.
2. Make-up exams will be administered during the next day that the student is in school.
It is the student’s responsibility to approach Rabbi Bensoussan upon arriving at school
and arrange at what time he will take the make-up exam.
3. Students who do not take their scheduled make-up exam on the next day will take
it on the following day with a 15-point penalty, and if that second make-up day is
missed, they will receive a zero as their exam grade.
4. In a situation of extended illness or other extenuating circumstances that would
prevent a student from being able to take his exam on the assigned make up day,
a parent must contact the secretary before the make-up day, and an alternate
plan will be established.
5. If a student has more than one examination to make up, they will take one on the first
make-up day and the second on the next make-up day, etc.
6. Make-up exams cannot be given prior to the exam being given to the class.
187. Make-up exams may not be identical to the planned classroom exam. Students and
parents should be aware that since the teacher gives the fairest exam to the class at the
scheduled time, make-up exams may be more difficult and the student may have fewer
choices. In addition, the teacher will not be present during make-up exams to answer
questions. Therefore, every effort should be made to take exams the day they are
scheduled.
8. There will be a ten (10) point penalty on the second make-up exam a student takes in
the same subject. For each subsequent make-up exam in the same subject the penalty
shall be fifteen (15) points.
9. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all their exams are taken and all work is
made up.
HOMEWORK
Reading, writing and study assignments are a student's daily responsibility and will require
work at home after the school day ends and on weekends. Homework will certainly be
reflected in student report card grades. If a student is absent, he should arrange to call a
classmate. The amount of homework varies from subject to subject. Students should expect
EXTRA homework in Regents subjects and EVEN MORE in AP courses. Homework
preparation can include material not covered in the classroom; this is especially true for
textual preparation in Limude Kodesh subjects.
YDE STANDARDS FOR ALL ESSAYS, REPORTS AND TERM PAPERS SUBMITTED FROM
HOME
The following standards apply to all students: (other than regular homework assignments)
• All papers must be typed, double-spaced with no more than 1” margins. Students should
always keep a printed “file copy” at home, in addition to a back-up disk, of all reports and
important work.
• The teacher must approve all topics for research papers in advance.
• The teacher, according to the nature of the assignment, will determine the length of
research papers for all grades. However, a minimum of four pages and a maximum of eight
pages are suggested.
• All papers must have a clear thesis statement, specific sequential development and a
conclusion that does not merely rehash the thesis statement but reflects individual
judgment and inferential skills. Errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation will detract
from the overall grade.
• Documentation of all research (from books, articles and Internet sources) as well as
context citations and a list of works cited page must follow the standards set in the MLA
Handbook. All students will be given a copy of the MLA Handbook.
• Naturally, all students’ work must be their own. Any act of plagiarism will be considered
cheating and will be dealt with by the Administration accordingly (see page on dishonesty).
As a deterrent, YDE reserves the right to submit any paper to an Internet Research Paper
Search Engine to determine its origin.
• If a student is working with an outside tutor, care must be taken to uphold the integrity of
student’s original work. (See “Outside Tutoring” section for further details.)
19REPORT CARDS, PROGRESS REPORTS AND GRADES
A. DISTRIBUTION
YDE operates with a two-semester academic calendar. The Fall Semester begins in September
and ends with the Winter Vacation in January, while the Spring Semester begins following the
vacation and runs through the end of the school year in June.
REPORT CARD Grades are recorded on each student’s transcript twice a year, at the end of
each semester. Grades are based on student performance for the entire semester and are
utilized to form the student’s grade point average. These grades make up what is known as the
student’s ‘permanent record,’ and they are very important for acceptance into college
programs. It is these grades that are recorded on the report cards that are distributed at
the end of each semester.
PROGRESS REPORTS: In addition to report cards, two progress reports will be sent over the
course of the school year, one in the middle of the Fall Semester, and one in the middle of
the Spring Semester. Please note that these reports are important “snapshots” provided by
the school so parents and their sons can track their academic progress halfway through each
semester, and make appropriate adjustments. The grade listed on the progress report is
simply the student’s average in a particular class at that point in time. It is NOT the grade that
goes on the transcript. However, the grades that go into making up the progress report ARE
counted in computing the semester report card grade entered on college applications.
We encourage parents and students to utilize the progress reports as a valuable tool for
determining if more effort is needed in certain academic areas, and to consult with the faculty
and administration if assistance is required. Of course, we urge parents to monitor their son’s
schoolwork closely and communicate regularly with the school.
B. GRADES
• Generally, report card grades will be computed on the basis of 80-90 % from tests, quizzes,
reports, projects and homework, and 10-20% class work (class participation, attendance,
and effort.) These percentages will vary depending on the course and will be explained by
the teacher. Several points can be deducted for each homework missed, up to a maximum
of twenty points.
• Report card and progress report grades are recorded in numerical form.
• Comments are also recorded on report cards to indicate areas of weakness and strength
that have affected the final grade.
• Students who fail a course in the January term may be given an assignment of an
appropriate nature that, when completed with an examination, may reverse the course
failure. Students will have 4 weeks to complete this assignment and take the examination.
January “incompletes” will be converted to “55” before the March Report Card is issued.
20• The final grades in both Judaic and General Studies on the two semester report cards
(January & June) are cumulative of each semester and are entered on the school
transcript that is sent to colleges.
C. FAILURES FOR THE SEMESTER
The Yeshiva encourages and expects all students to live-up to their personal best and to work
to potential. If a student, however, fails a required course in the General Studies
department, this subject must be made up in an accredited summer school, or a
tutoring equivalent subject to YDE approval, culminating in a final exam administered
by YDE. If a student fails any of his Jewish Studies courses, special summer work will be
assigned to him to complete, and be tested on, before the start of the coming school year. If the
work is not made up over the summer, the student will not be admitted to school until it is
made up. Our faculty will inform parents of significant changes in student performance.
All members of the Yeshiva faculty and administration are committed to working together
with the students to help ensure that they are reaching their potential. If a student is
struggling, teachers will engage in various forms of intervention to assist that student. If,
however, despite this help, a student still fails more than two subjects, than we as a school are
not properly servicing the child. As such, a student who fails more than two subjects at the end
of the academic year may not be asked to return to Yeshiva the following year.
D. ACADEMIC PROBATION
Students who have any two grades lower than 65 or any incompletes are placed on Academic
Probation. While a student is on Academic Probation, he cannot participate in any
extracurricular programs including teams and clubs. A student can be removed from
Academic Probation when they are no longer failing two classes, or when the incomplete is
converted to a passing grade.
CLASS PLACEMENT
The administration works very hard to make sure that class placement and the class mix is the
most appropriate for all the boys in Yeshiva to learn at the highest level possible. We take into
account academic level, personality, and many other factors to create a positive balance for a
class. Please note that once schedules are assigned classes will not be changed until the end
of the first marking period unless there are extenuating circumstances. After that, to
maintain the academic integrity of the classes, classes will only be changed due to severe
extenuating circumstance and only between semesters in January.
Honors Math Placement Accelerated Track
Honors math placement in grade 9 requires a minimum of an 85 on the algebra regent
administered in 8th grade and a minimum of 85 in the subject, though a grade of 90 or better is
preferred. Students must maintain an 85 or better average to remain in an accelerated math
class in any grade. Should a student not maintain the required average, he will be placed in a
regular math track appropriate for that grade.
21ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CELL PHONE POLICIES
Electronic devices such as iPods, gaming devices and cell phones are not allowed on school
grounds during the school day. Please note that cell phones have a very negative affect upon
the learning atmosphere and environment of the school.
Any cell phone or other electronic device seen on school grounds will be confiscated for
one week on the first offense, and for each offense thereafter. A third offense may
result in a parental conference. Special lockers will be provided where students will
lock up their cell phones and any other electronic devices upon entry in the morning
and will retrieve them at dismissal at the end of the day. Cell phones may be used on
school grounds during lunch (6th period), but not during breakfast or a free period,
even if the free period precedes or follows lunch.
Lasers of any type are not permitted in school. A student found with a laser in his
possession, whether on or off, will automatically be suspended from school.
Telephone
If parents need to reach their son during the school day, they should call the office.
Please note that a student who is using a cell phone, even when he is contacted by a parent,
will have his phone taken away subject to the guidelines above. We will convey emergency
messages during school hours. Under no circumstances are the telephones in any of the
offices to be used without prior permission. Calls will be permitted in the office for emergency
use only. Please understand that there can be no exceptions to this policy.
Computer Use
School computers may not be used by students without permission from the teacher.
Computers may only be used for school work. Students may not bring private software or
programs of any kind for use on the school’s computer. Students who wish to use educational
programs not available in school must receive permission from the principal.)
Internet Usage
Internet access is currently available to YDE students for school-related use in our Computer
Room. Students are expected to abide by the accepted rules of “network etiquette” as outlined
in the enclosed policy statement that should be signed and submitted by all students on
Orientation Day. We trust that students will familiarize themselves with requirements and be
able to benefit from the privilege of technology use. Internet access is for research and
educational purposes. All other uses of our Internet facilities, including non-filtered
connections made in the classroom are prohibited at all times. Students who abuse school
technology will lose their access privileges and are subject to serious disciplinary action.
The School is committed to safeguard students’ access to the Internet and World Wide Web on
school computers. Although the school cannot totally guarantee the effectiveness of selected
filtering and blocking technology, the school will use such measures that block or filter
22Internet access that is inappropriate, illegal, obscene or otherwise harmful to minors as
defined in the Student's Internet Protection Act.
Computer Use: Students may not bring private software or programs for use on the school’s
computer. Students who wish to use educational programs not available in school must
receive permission from the principal.)
Laptop Usage
See full laptop policy in Appendix A.
Student’s Use of Social Networking Internet Sites
YDE does not actively monitor a student's online social networking page but if information or
images come to YDE's attention that may be in violation of YDE's policies or code of conduct, it
may engage in further investigation including accessing a student's online social networking
page. Information and images posted to a social networking site may be used by YDE to
enforce YDE's policies or code of conduct. A student's online activities should not in any way
violate any of YDE's policies or code of conduct.
Students are prohibited from recording, photographing or videotaping YDE students, faculty
members or administrators on school property, or at school activities, without their prior
explicit permission. Without prior explicit permission, students are also prohibited and
discouraged from posting photographs or video of YDE students, faculty or administrators on
social networking or any other Internet sites. Students found to be in violation of this policy
are subject to discipline including expulsion.
YDE on the Web
You may log onto www.ydeschool.org to check on the latest school activities. You can also e-
mail faculty members at school (see e-mail roster on the last page of this handbook).
Teacher’s Lounge
The faculty room is intended for faculty and therefore it stands to reason that students are not
permitted in the Teacher’s Workroom without faculty or administrative approval. If a student
is scheduled to meet with a teacher, it is the teacher's responsibility to take the student into
the lounge. If a note needs to be left in a teacher's mailbox, it is to be submitted to the upstairs
office only. No student is permitted to put in or take anything from a teacher's mailbox
or use the computers in the workroom.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Health Office Report
State law requires that all school-age children must have documented proof of adequate
immunization against diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, or have documented
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