General Studies
Barkai Yeshivah High School cultivates well rounded students who can think critically and engage with the world around them. We utilize an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to use skills gained in various classes to gain a full understanding of the world around them. Jewish History is integrated with world history so that students better understand the trajectory of the Jewish people and the advancement of society in general. This is paralleled by their study of literature, art and music so that students develop a full picture of society and their role in preserving their past and contributing to the future.
STEM education combines mathematics, scientific methods and art to innovate and create technologies that serve society. Students engage with the STEM fields to understand the concepts behind how our world and technologies work to solve real world problems. They participate in the study of what has already been discovered. A multi-level inquiry method encourages them to learn for themselves and deepen their understanding of the elements of how our world works and how we can each contribute to solving the issues facing society today.
Students have choice and voice in their education, particularly with electives, as they choose classes based on interest and passion. Electives allow students to explore their creativity, build credits toward a college degree and pursue introductory courses in their fields of choice.
Barkai Yeshivah is committed to partnering with community members to mentor our students in their fields of interest. These mentors share their wisdom with our students in terms of their educational background, how their careers began, challenges they faced and how they overcame those challenges. Mentors span the community and the Jewish world in the United States and the State of Israel, giving our students a national and global perspective.
College guidance begins in the 9th grade, as we help our students explore their interests, challenge themselves through competitions and submit their writings and research for publication. Students have opportunities to hear from professors, experts in various fields, and from students who are a few years ahead of them in the journey. The process of choosing a path begins in the 9th grade, as exploration and discovery. Our college guidance program looks at the whole child and the college communities as they exist and evolve.
Language Arts
Communication is a key component for success in any arena of life. Barkai students attain a mastery of the English language through skill building in a language arts program that focuses on reading, writing, vocabulary, and public speaking. Our English program is also paired with our History program so that as students are exploring literature, they are also discovering the history, art, music and other important pieces of the landscape of the time. In addition to the required English courses, students have the opportunity to take classes in Arabic,Spanish and coding.
Social Studies
4 years: Humanities includes the study of History, English, Art and Music. 9th and 10th grades cover world history and culture. 11th and 12th grades cover American history, government and culture. Writing and critical reading of literature and non-fiction will be key components of the humanities. Students will learn how to discern facts from opinions, recognize patterns and make connections across time periods and disciplines and how to construct an argument. Students will utilize these skills to better understand the past, current events, the society around them and engage with the world using these skills.
Science
3 years minimum, 4 years optional: Biology and Chemistry are required courses. Students can elect their science course in junior year and whether to pursue science in their senior year. All science courses will have full labs and lab reports. Elective possibilities in science include, but are not limited to: Geology, Physics, APs in Human Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and several Physics courses.
Math
4 years.: All students will complete Algebra, Algebra II\Trigonometry, and Geometry.
For those students who excel at Math, AP Calculus courses will be offered. For students who are not accelerated in Math, they will have the ability to choose between a pre-calculus course, an AP Calculus course, or a business math course, in consultation with college guidance. All students will minimally complete the coursework necessary for a pre-calculus course in college.
Electives
Electives will be based on student voice and choice. Students will choose electives throughout their high school career. Categories of electives are:
Liberal Arts -Journalism, Creative Writing, Graphic Design, Studio Art, Art History, Mechanical Drawing, Psychology, Street Law, Political Science, Comparative Governments, Literature
Business- Accounting, Business Management, Introduction to Business, Entrepreneurship,
Sciences - APs, Nutrition, Forensics, Human Anatomy, Astronomy, Meteorology, Human Pathology)
Students who express an interest, a commitment and a maturity level can pursue independent studies with the approval of the administration. These independent studies will involve either in person or online meetings with a mentor and an exhibition of learning at key moments during the year.
Physical Education
The Barkai physical education program strives to develop student-athletes who excel both athletically and personally. It aims to nurture individuals who are not just outstanding athletes, but also exceptional individuals. The program focuses on instilling values such as a strong work ethic, integrity, teamwork, and self-confidence in student-athletes. Loyalty, trust, effective communication, and good character are also emphasized on the field or court. Mental and physical toughness is cultivated along with a strong commitment in success in goals set ahead. They are expected to exhibit discipline, composure, and respect towards others, fostering emotional maturity and mental toughness. Upholding high standards creates an atmosphere of sportsmanship and contributes to success both in and outside of sports.
Art & Stem
At Barkai Yeshivah, Art is taught both as a subject in its own right and also as a means for reinforcing knowledge in the major areas of study such as Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math, as well as Judaic Studies. We emphasize Process over Product. Techniques are the introductory part of every art lesson. Experimentation with various materials opens up creative possibilities for the young artist. Exploration is encouraged, as it leads to discovery. Creative problem solving is at the heart of all lessons, and we aim to foster the unique and individual spirit of each learner.
STEM
Our STEM curriculum prepares students for careers in engineering, robotics, programming, and advanced technology. Through hands-on exploration in our state of the art maker space, students are able to create and build, bringing ideas to reality. Students are offered a variety of courses in the STEM area, beginning with the basics of engineering and branching out from there based on skill level and passion.
