This year not only brings new teachers and new students but also new changes to the school’s signature programs

Tenth grade is an unnecessarily complicated year. Freshman year has ended and friendships are, in general, solidified. The awkwardness of new encounters has ended, and the pressure of college has yet to hit. This makes tenth grade the perfect opportunity for new experiences. These new experiences have brought about pointless conflict, which has left certain students feeling upset and hurt.

Within tenth grade there are three programs, EIEP, SIEP, and Petach. Each offers different possibilities and all are highly rewarding. Most of us know that these programs exist, but not all of us know the amount of work that gets put into them. Coordinating the EIEP and SIEP programs across the world, with a ten-hour time difference, must make it practically impossible. But our astounding faculty gets it done.

These programs bring about lifelong friends and lifelong memories.

Noam Haykeen (11th Grade), past EIEP student, said that he “enjoyed every moment” and that it helped him to “grow as an individual.”

Lots of work goes into making sure every student has an enjoyable experience. For the few that either didn’t want to go to Israel, or didn’t have the option to, Petach is an amazing program for the students in LA.

Mr. Kelman has been involved with the Petach program for three years now and said that his favorite moment is having the students see the “fruits of their labor knowing they have done something to help.”

Every year the faculty listens to comments from last year in an attempt to improve the programs, said Mr. Kelman, director of the Petach program.

These programs, although intended to be entirely positive, have in the past incited some conflict. Through no fault of the school, jealousies have developed due to students or groups feeling excluded. This problem sometimes leads to the grade feeling divided.

EIEP and SIEP are highly recognized because they include travelling thousands of miles away with no parental supervision. Petach, although a great program, does not include the appeal of travelling abroad. As a result, EIEP and SIEP are praised, and Petach is not.

Also, in the past, while EIEP and SIEP Israelis have been in Los Angeles, Petach students haven’t been included in bonding activities with the visiting Israelis.

Petach also is a difficult program to plan and execute. Students travel to important service organizations throughout Los Angeles. Unfortunately, this travel involves long bus rides some logistical difficulties (some organizations cannot host all students involved in the program).

When a current sophomore was asked about what she has heard about all the tenth grade programs, she responded, “I’ve heard they’re both great.” She had no idea that there were three programs instead of two.

This is a clear indication of a continuing problem. However, it is still early in the year, and changes are coming.

Ms. Kamenir, the tenth grade dean, is attempting to address these concerns. She said, “We are working with tenth grade student council to create unifying and bonding opportunities for the tenth grade around the Israel/Petach programs.”

Unfortunately, rivalry is a by-product of most parallel programs. Rivalry is not something that the school condones and certainly not something that is promoted by the school. The leaders of these programs are trying to implement changes to solve these problems.

Ms. Kamenir is excited already about the grade’s enthusiasm. “They are full of spirit and energy. I’m excited to take that through the school year.”