This week, the Yeshiva had the privilege of hosting prospective students who have been accepted for the 2005-2006 academic year. We welcomed five boys from West Hempstead this week, including students from HarTorah, Yeshiva Toras Chaim (South Shore), and HANC. We also welcomed a student from Manhattan who currently attends the Ramaz school.

The guests enjoyed meeting with our student leaders and administration, who showed them around the campus, and gave the visitors a sense of the DRS experience. Next week, there are fourteen boys from YCQ in Queens scheduled to visit the Yeshiva, as well as four from Tiferes Moshe, four from HarTorah, and a few more from Toras Chaim and Derech Hatorah. Visiting slots are disappearing fast, so if any prospective students still want to visit, please call Sue Weinberg at extension 102 right away.

Yair (Jay) Frankel, a senior at DRS, has been named a Finalist in the 2005 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Yair was one of 16,000 scholastically talented high school seniors who were selected earlier this year as a Semifinalist out of more than 1.3 million juniors throughout the U.S. who took the PSAT qualifying test last year. From approximately 50,000 Semifinalists, Yair then advanced to Finalist status. To be considered for finalist status, an applicant must, among other things, have a very high academic average in all of grades 9 through 12 and have distinguished himself on the PSAT exams given the year before. The applicant must also have a high potential for future academic accomplishment.

At DRS, Yair is a member of the National Honor Society, and an AP Scholar with Honors. He is a past president of his junior class and is currently the treasurer of the student government. Additionally, Yair is a writer and an associate editor of the school newspaper, and an active member of the hockey, math, tennis and college bowl teams.

We wish him and his family Mazal Tov on this outstanding accomplishment!

It's been another busy week for DRS athletics, as we get ready for the playoffs. The JV hockey team beat SAR 3-1 to clinch the top seed in the playoffs. Yoni Fein, Sruli Beitler, and Yoni Orlofsky lead the way with a goal each, as well as another superlative performance by goalie Yehuda Newman.

The Varsity basketball team lost to North Shore and HAFTR in down to the wire heartbreakers. Evan Cohen lead the way against HAFTR, scoring 26 points in the losing effort. The team still holds out hope for a playoff berth, and more information will be forthcoming.

The JV basketball team beat HAFTR 56-33 in a stunning victory on Thursday night. Gary Stein led the team with 16 points.

GO CATS!!

We are proud of the hard work our students put into their studies, and we are pleased to present the Honor Roll for the Fall Semester. The Honor Roll signifies an exemplary academic record, with an overall GPA above a 90.

9th Grade: Asher Abittan, Eytan Austein, David Barkhordar, Mordechai Bennett, Tuvia Blisko, Yitzi Diskind, Zach Donner, Zack Englander, Ariel Fromowitz, Zack Goldsmith, Yehuda Grossman, Ezra Grushko, Adam Hersch, Jeffrey Kalker, Effie Klein, Chesky Kopel, Yosef Krausz, Noah Lindenfeld, Ari Mirzoeff, Benjamin Niknam, Zachary Perlitsh, Jonathan Reich, Yair Saperstein, Dani Schoenfeld, David Shekhtikhin, Yoni Speiser, David Steinmetz, and Jonathan Weiss.

10th Grade: Ariel Auman, Jeremy Bari, Michael Billet, Avi Bursky-Tammam, Elie Cohen, Akiva Ehrlich, Bari Eichenbaum, Yechiel Eisenberg, Mordy Fenster, Josh Gersten, Max Gottfried, David Ishaal, Yehoshua Joseph, Kenneth Kantowitz, Zev Klapholz, Ephraim Leiderman, Ari Lipsky, Elie Margulies, Josh Maslow, Zeke Miller, Yehuda Newman, Moshe Nissanian, Daniel Rahmanan, Judah Schiff, Eitan Schreier, Elliot Schrier, Eliezer Seidenfeld, Jason Strauss, Gavi Unger, and Jonathan Weitzman.

11th Grade: Baruch Shalom Abittan, Baruch Yechiel Abittan, Yossi Berger, Rafi Blumenthal, Yoni Bryk, Tzvi Cederbaum, Chaim Chovev, Benjamin Eghbali, Steven Feldman, Ari Feldstein, Steven Genachowski, Ezri Hamlet, Daniel Hefter, Avi Heinberg, Ariel Jacob, Joey Lehmann,, Judd Lindenfeld, Jonathan Mael, Alon Mallin, Yosef Miller, Dani Muchnick, Elliot Samuels, Yona Saperstein, Aryeh Schlusselberg, Dan Shekhtikhin, Eli Sklar, Etan Slomovic, Andy Stahler, Sammy Steiner, Aaron Weiss, and Oriel Zarifpoor.

12th Grade: David Aharonoff, Josh Blachman, Eli Brecher, Akiva Feinberg, Yair Frankel, David Frankel, Elie Freilich, Josh Ginsberg, Joshua Hersch, Steven Kantowitz, Zachary Klein, Marc Liebman, Eitan Lipstein, Josh Lobell, Jonathan Mann, Dov Moskowitz, Josh Nissel, Gabi Orner, Ariel Pinn, Josh Reich, Micky Reich, Tzvi Shapiro, Benjamin Trachtenberg, Yosef Weg, Binyamin Weinstein, David Weiss, Yossi Westreich, Eliezer Williams, and Ari Zinberg.

This past week, Mrs. Fishbane's 9th grade English 1 classes took their studies to the next level with dramatic readings from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The boys picked scenes from the play, rehearsed them and then performed for their classes.

As you can see, there was a tremendous amount of creativity and imagination at work. Mrs. Fishbane challenged her students to develop their own costumes and props based on their interpretations of the work and their study of the historical background, and they did not disappoint! Bright outfits complemented clever props, as everyone came away entertained, and more importantly, excited about Shakespeare. Costumes and props were left entirely up to the boys and the results were fantastic.

This past Monday, DRS welcomed our Juniors and their Parents to an evening program on next year's electives, scholarships and the college admissions process. Our Menahel, Rabbi Kaminetsky, greeted the audience and delivered words of chizuk as they approach this significant time in their lives. Our students and their parents heard from Mr. Feldman, DRS Principal, about next year's varied elective choices, with an explanation of each course. Mr. Feldman stressed the importance of team cooperation and parental support. Mr. Rahr, DRS Assistant Principal, introduced numerous excellent scholarship opportunities and cautioned parents not to be fooled by attractive sites that are costly and unproductive. Finally, Mrs. Hefter explained the procedures for filing the college applications, recommendations and extracurricular activities. We look forward to an excellent working relationship and welcome the Juniors to the College Guidance Office with any questions they may have!

The "early decision" seniors (Joshua Blachman, Michael Friedmann, Elihu Herskovics and Joshua Nissel) treated our Director of College Guidance to a sumptuous lunch at Sushi Metsuyan, where they feasted on sushi, sushi, and sushi (and steak). Mrs. Hefter, whose passion for the "godzilla roll" is well known, advised the group, "Guys, you can put this on your extracurricular activities' list and submit it with the MidYear Report." Michael Friedmann, in his meticulous chauffeur uniform, cap, and gloves added a sense of decorum to the outing. Cars stopped for his gloved hand as the group crossed Central Avenue. Upon their return to school, Mrs. Hefter was overheard muttering, "I can hardly wait for the rest of the college responses to come in!"

There are many exciting events coming up on the DRS schedule! The Junior Class trip to the Yeshiva University Seforim Sale will take place on Thursday, February 24. The Freshmen Shabbaton will take place at yeshiva February 25-26, and the annual Ski Trip will take place the next day on the 27th. The 2nd annual Alumni Melava Malka will take place Motzai Shabbat, March 5, at Rabbi Kaminetsky's house. Stay tuned to future issues for more information on these events, and the grade trips coming up in March!

It's February, and that means that it's time for the Freshmen to get ready for some amazing programs! Next weekend, the 9th grade class will descend on the Yeshiva for "Shabbat in the 'Mere," (Woodmere) the annual Freshman Shabbaton. 2 weeks later is the Boston Road Trip. Letters went out to all Freshmen parents this week, and your prompt reply is appreciated. Get ready Freshmen! It's gonna be awesome!

In what is becoming an annual DRS tradition, Rabbi Stern took his shiur on the road..to Madison Square Garden for a night of achdut, basketball, and fun. On Wednesday evening, the shiur boarded the bus for Manhattan, and along the way feasted on a choice of delights from Dougie's or Pizza Proffessor.

Once at the Garden, the Knicks did not disappoint, beating the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 108-90. For you DRS trivia buffs out there, the Bucks are now 1-1 in games played in front of a DRS trip crowd (see Boston Freshman Road Trip 2004, DRS Address 2003-2004, Issue 14). The talmidim had a great time, and are all psyched up for the Freshmen Shabbaton and Boston Trip, both taking place in the next month.

The 50th Annual HALB Dinner will take place, IY"H, on Motzai Shabbat, March 12th at the Sands at Atlantic Beach at 8:45pm, where we will pay tribute to "50 Years of Our History". HALB will honor its past presidents who have worked tirelessly to make HALB what it is today. Rabbi Dr. Armin H Friedman will be the recipient of a Distinguished Educator Award and HALB will also present a special Community Service Award to Mr. John Adam Kanas, President, Chairman and CEO of North Fork Bank.

To place an ad in our souvenir journal or to make dinner reservations, please call 516-791-8200 x107, fax 516-791-6261, e-mail dinner@halb.org or visit our website through the link below.