Graduation

OYS graduates from his high school, DRS, next Monday, IYH.

It is a good time to offer words of hakoras hatov. Simply put, DRS has been great for OYS in many, many ways.

From a goofy 9th grader (is there any other kind?) OYS has grown to be a solid young man. He has excelled in sports, made wonderful friends, forged deep and important relationships with his teachers, rabbeim and Menahel and, acquired a love of learning and Yiddishkeit. MHW, of course, is mostly responsible but you cannot underestimate the impact of his school.

This is not accidental. The school, under the steady but inspired direction of the Menahel and his staff, has created an environment that is designed to achieve these kinds of results. But the results are not achieved through a cookie cutter methodology. There are different kinds of outlets for all types of kids, whether they are athletic, artistic, musical, creative, techno-geeky or studious. Each boy is encouraged to reach his potential in his own unique way.

And, importantly, there is a very big emphasis on personal relationships and mentoring and this, IMHO, pays huge dividends, because, as I have said before, mentoring relationships for teenagers are so, so important.

I am very busy at work and have not really had time to articulate clearly how pleased we are with DRS and why we think it is such a special place. But it would be wrong to let this milestone pass without at least letting the hanhalah and staff of the school know how much they have meant to OYS and us. Rock on.