On Thursday morning, the Grade 2 classrooms and breakout spaces were transformed into an Ellis Island simulation for students and their families. Over the past few weeks, students have taken a deep dive with General Studies Teachers Sara Bellick and Sara Margolis into the topic of immigration, specifically through the lens of Jewish immigrants traveling through Ellis Island. They explored different Jewish immigration stories and the immigrants' reasons for coming to the United States while learning about their own family's story.

Additionally, Judaic Studies and Hebrew Teachers Penina Berdugo and Nadine Linton focused on the creation of the modern State of Israel and the three major waves of “aliyah” - people who migrated after the Holocaust to Israel from Poland, Morocco, and Ethiopia.

As students prepared for the exciting day, they spent time collaborating to create an authentic Ellis Island experience. They created suitcases and assumed the role of a character to help them understand what the journey and experience might have been like. Thursday's journey began as students read the Tefilat Haderech (Traveler's Prayer) in Hebrew. They then had to pass medical, legal, literacy, and baggage screenings and go through customs. If they did not pass the first time, they had to get back in line and try again. Once they entered America, students enjoyed a few activities with their families before concluding by singing the Shehecheyanu, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and performing a little skit. Todah rabah to Grade 2 families for accompanying their children in this immersive experience! In the coming weeks, students will continue their immigration study as they pivot their focus toward modern day immigration experience and later on take a field trip to the Swedish Museum.