The Jeanie Gluck High School Academy for Girls
Instilling Growth and Emuna in Every Program
370 young women finished the school year last month at the Jeanie Gluck High School Academy for Girls. The end of the year was marked with a "Kululam" - a school-wide singing performance - after a two-year hiatus of seeing it to fruition due to Covid-19.
The performance included a mash-up of Atah Bachartanu (a tefilla said in the Amidah on holidays) and Sibat HaSibot (the most popular song of famous religious Israeli singer Yishai Ribo). Atah Bachartanu - trans. "You chose us" - was chosen as annual overarching concept that the young women would explore throughout the year (the year prior was "Mizmor l'Todah" in reference to the Covid-19 outbreak). Every month the young women explored a different angle of the concept, a different way in which the Jewish People were "chosen" by HaShem. For example, in Heshvan they learned about Shmita, the Land of Israel, and rain.
Next year's concept has already been chosen. It will be based on a phrase mentioned in the Gemara: "Motzei shvi'it, ben David bah" (trans. "The year after Shmita, the Mashiach will come"). Since women have always played a significant role in the geula of Israel, every month will highlight one Jewish heroine from the ancient past, and one Jewish heroine from the recent past (eg. Queen Esther and Hannah Senesh), by pinpointing the commonality in their actions and how their actions brought the geula.
The Jeanie Gluck High School Academy for Girls only accepts young women who dorm in, and as such, they work hard to create a "summer camp" feel, whereby the social scene takes place in the school itself. Studies are in session until 5pm each day, and every evening there is an event or program of some sort for the students to participate in if they choose to do so.
Additionally, every grade has an annual "Mas'a" (trans. "Journey"). The journey is not just a 3-4-day field trip, but also a journey in strengthening their own sense of self. The school staff strives to choose topics that directly address the needs of each age group, and the unique struggles experienced by teenager women growing up in Judea and Samaria, to strengthen their emuna and their kokhot, trans. personal strengths. For example, last year's 10th grade Mas'a was about identifying and growing one's own strengths, and dealing with one's failures. They completed a ropes course, and also went to Tel-Aviv to interview people on the street with questions like "What are your thoughts about Am Yisrael?", "What do you think about the fact that I'm religious?", etc. in order to expose them to the thoughts and ideas of Israelis who are unlike them - not observant, living outside Judea and Samaria, politically liberal, etc.
The school is composed of 14 classes (two of which are special ed.), divided into 4 grades. In addition to the administration, the staff also includes Banot Sherut (young women completing their national service) as well as teachers who almost exclusively live in Bet El.
Due to Covid-19, the student missed out on several programs over the last two years, so this past year the staff decided to do everything that they missed over the course of one year. By the end of the year, they realized that they had completely left out "Women's ed" - a program that was often done throughout the year that focuses on womanhood, relationships, the body, beauty, etc. The staff decided to dedicate four days at the end of the year to do an intensive program, with each day consisting of several lectures and classes on various topics relating to womanhood. The outcome was an incredible program that the students loved and found so meaningful and significant that the school will from now on begin incorporating the intensive women's program into their annual calendar - this upcoming year it will take place just after Hanukah.