Mesivta Ateres Yaakov (commonly referred to as MAY) is an Orthodox Jewish, all-male high school in Lawrence, New York.[1] Founded in 1987 as a part of the Yeshiva of South Shore, the Mesivta became both financially and administratively independent in 2003. By 2010, a rapidly expanding student body saw the Mesivta move to a 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m2) campus in Lawrence, New York, where it currently operates.[2]

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov
Location
Map
131 Washington Avenue, Lawrence, New York, United States of America
Coordinates40°37′13″N 73°43′38″W / 40.620199°N 73.727210°W / 40.620199; -73.727210
Information
School typePrivate School
MottoRabbeim for life. Education for life. Torah for life.
Religious affiliation(s)Jewish
Established1987
NCES District IDA0302259
AdministratorMordechai Yaffe
Grades9th-12th
Enrollment200-250
Student to teacher ratio11:1
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)   
MascotEagle
NewspaperAY Star, Ateres HaShavua
Websitehttps://www.ateresyaakov.com

History

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MAY was first established as a secondary school for the Yeshiva of South Shore in 1987. After years of growth, financial issues caught up to the Yeshiva, prompting MAY to become an independent organization by 2003, and move operations to Lynbrook. After success in Lynbrook, the Mesivta moved to a 3.5 million dollar campus in Lawrence, New York.[3]

In 2018, successful fundraising allowed for an indoor basketball gym to be built on premises.[4][5] School wide renovations, including a remodeling of the synagogue featuring an intricate Torah ark followed.[6]

Academics

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MAY employs a dual-curriculum in which the students spend half the day studying Jewish subjects, and the other half devoted to secular education.[7] According to school-published statistics, 98% of MAY alumni take a gap year in Israel, followed by 95% who attend four-year college.[8] MAY students perform high on New York State Regents Examinations; MAY students averaged 6 points higher on the NYS Physics Regent Exam than public schools.[9][10]

Charitable works

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In 2014, the MAY student government donated a rescue boat to the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.[11] Then-mayor Andrew J. Parise praised the donation as one that will "Always be remembered with pride."

The school holds blood drives annually.[12]

Athletics

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MAY supports separate varsity and junior-varsity teams for basketball,[13] softball[14] and flag-football.[15] The basketball and football teams are part of the "Yeshiva League;" the softball team is part of the Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League).[16]

The Torah Bowl team has won the eastern division championship in 11 of 15 years it has participated, as well as the national championship twice.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for MESIVTA ATERES YAAKOV". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  2. ^ "131 Washington Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559 – Owner & Property Information | PropertyShark". www.propertyshark.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  3. ^ "131 Washington Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559 - Owner & Property Information | PropertyShark". www.propertyshark.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  4. ^ "Five Towns Jewish Home - 11-21-19". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  5. ^ "Home | Mesivta Basketball Association". mesivtabasketball. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  6. ^ "Five Towns celebrates yeshiva's new home". The Jewish Star. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  7. ^ "Plan that would shift control of private schools to public school officials draws outrage". longisland.news12.com. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  8. ^ "Explore Mesivta Ateres Yaakov". Niche. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  9. ^ "Acing the Regents exams". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  10. ^ "Five Towns officials oppose State Education Department private school guidelines". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  11. ^ "Students of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Donates a rescue boat to Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department". Incorporated Village of Cedarhurst. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  12. ^ "Donor Drive - Mesivta Ateres Yaakov". www.giftoflife.org. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  13. ^ "Standings". mesivtabasketball. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  14. ^ "M.Y.H.S.A.L". mobile.myhsal.com. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  15. ^ Football, Mesivta. "Mesivta Football League". Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  16. ^ "M.Y.H.S.A.L". mobile.myhsal.com. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  17. ^ "Back to School Guide 2011: Part Two/Nassau County". The Jewish Star. Retrieved 2020-08-09.