MESIVTA ATERES TZVI HARRI HOFFMANN FAMILY

High School

The WITS high school program has been purposefully designed to meet the needs of students and families who seek, simultaneously, a comprehensive Yeshiva program and an uncompromising college preparatory General Studies program. However, at WITS, the Chinuch extends even beyond the academic programs. In the long standing tradition of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, with which WITS is affiliated, there is a strong emphasis on the realization of one's potential and the development of good Midos. It is hoped that the student will emerge from his years of study at WITS with a Torah perspective, which is both consistent and operative under all conditions. Character development and intellectual growth are both regarded as intrinsic to the goals of the Yeshiva.

If one were to focus on one particular feature which characterizes the educational experience at WITS it would be that learning is at once enjoyable, highly personal and very real. Discovery of the capacity to not only learn but, just as importantly, to enjoy learning, serves as the foundation for the development of each young man.

“Discovery of the capacity to not only learn but, just as importantly, to enjoy learning, serves as the foundation for the development of each young man.”

Setting

A spacious campus located on six wooded acres on the shore of Lake Michigan, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, being a small city, is advantageous to the talmid, as the lack of hustle and bustle allows for less distraction. The Bais Medrash (study and prayer room) offers an expansive setting, with a comfortable atmosphere and beauty that beckons to you. The Bais Medrash, dining facilities, and main dormitory are all housed in one building. All Rebbeim live within a five-block radius.

Caring and Dedicated Rebbeim

The relationship between rebbe and talmid transcends subject matter and goes to the heart of the real goal of the yeshiva: to mold Bnei Torah. The role of the Yeshiva rebbe is to provide a partnership of trust and concern between himself and the talmid. This partnership allows each talmid to access the rebbeim to obtain guidance in any and all areas to facilitate the complete development of a Ben Torah, including his goals and aspirations.

Mussar

A significant emphasis is placed on the refinement of character, and the constant need to improve one’s self. This emphasis is clearly evident throughout the curriculum, but manifests itself particularly in the form of daily study sessions, as well as mussar lectures three times a week.

Torah Studies

The curriculum emphasizes the study of Gemorah while focusing on a broad scope of other Torah subjects as well. In addition to the daytime schedule, there is an evening Seder during which the students review the daily Gemorah Shiur with their Chavrusas and older Bais Medrash students. The Shiurim stress student participation and the development of learning skills.

There are six levels of Shiurim. A student is placed in the Shiur that matches his abilities. As his mastery of skills increases, he moves on to the next level. Highly motivated, gifted students can advance into one of the Bais Medrash Shiurim as they demonstrate preparedness to do so.

The specific objectives which the Torah Studies program sets for its Talmidim are:

To acquire the language and analytical skills necessary for independent learning of Gemorah, Rashi, Tosfos, Rishonim, Achronim; Chumash with Rashi, Ramban and Sforno; and Shulchan Aruch with Mishnah Berurah.
To become clear and careful thinkers who can combine a logical thinking process with a developed sense of Svorah.
To acquire a well-rounded knowledge of Torah, its theoretical and practical aspects, Torah Hashkafa and Mussar.

+ Gemorah

Taught for a three hour span comprises class time as well as Hachana (preparation) for higher Shiurim.

Classes are divided according to skill level. Each class is geared toward developing the language and analytical skills necessary to achieve independence and sophistication in the learning of Gemorah and its commentaries.

Strong student participation generates involvement and develops creative thinking, along with respect for the vital exchange of ideas.

During night Seder, students review the daily Gemorah Shiur with a Chavrusa under the personal supervision of their Rebbe. Yeshiva Gedolah students learn together with the high school Chavrusas.

+ Bekius

There is a special Bekius learning program to provide the students with a broad based understanding of the Masechta being studied. Underclassmen learn Bekius five times weekly for 45 minutes. Upperclassmen learn independently in a supervised Seder four times weekly for 1 ½ hours.

+ Chumash

Taught four times weekly for 45 minutes during the first semester. The text and commentaries are studied with strong emphasis given to the development of textual skills, language inference, and idea content. Throughout the four-year cycle, the goal of the Chumash program is to equip the student with the skills needed for independent learning of Chumash and Rashi, Ramban, Sforno and other major commentaries.

+ Navi

Taught four times weekly for 45 minutes during the second semester. The goals of the Navi curriculum are similar to those of the Chumash curriculum.

+ Halacha

Studied three times weekly for 30 minutes. Subjects include laws of everyday living, Tefila and Yomim Tovim.

+ Mussar & Machshava

Taught twice weekly. Classic works addressing ethical development and Hashkafa are used. This study introduces concepts and ideas in fundamental areas of Torah living. The study of these Mussar texts underscores to the student the importance of developing Midos Tovos and a proper Torah outlook on life.

+ Hilchos Shabbos

Taught weekly for 45 minutes. A thorough curriculum covers all major laws of Shabbos in practical form and detail.

+ Jewish History

Taught weekly for 45 minutes. The curriculum covers from the destruction of the first Bais HaMikdash through the history of the modern era. Emphasis is given to insight and mastery of historical information and to the development of a Torah perspective in the knowledge of our history.

+ Ivrit

Taught two periods weekly as the foreign language requirement for the General Studies program. Students are placed in beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels based on their background and aptitude. Classes in the higher levels are conducted in Hebrew with the level of difficulty and sophistication escalating throughout the course of study. Short stories and newspapers written in modern Hebrew are studied.

NOTE: Upperclassmen study practical areas of Jewish living, focusing on the Mitzvos and customs of the life cycle. Additionally, they take a seminar in preparation and presentation of Divrei Torah. Laws of Lashon Hora are studied every Shabbos by all Talmidim.

General Studies

WITS operates an intensive highly accountable General Studies program. The North Central Association of Schools and Colleges has granted their Award of Excellence. The report notes, "The program stresses excellence and this is carried out as something that is natural. Each student is looking for challenge. Feelings of support, encouragement and belonging are fostered."

The curriculum is designed for a college preparatory Yeshiva High School. Within the programs, which are tailored to meet the needs of each individual, students confront a wide range of academic challenges. They learn how to grapple with independent research, oral presentation and laboratory experiments.

Nationally normed standardized tests are administered annually to evaluate each student's progress and the program's effectiveness. All candidates for admission take the TAP tests: Freshmen the NEDT; sophomores the NEDT and PSAT; juniors the PSAT and SAT, and seniors the SAT

There are two operational goals in the program:

Each student will become highly knowledgeable in subjects including English language, literature, history, mathematics, the sciences and computers.
Each student will have the prerequisite basic skills and study habits necessary to succeed in future academic endeavors.

Students are required to attend academic classes during four of the five General Studies periods. The fifth period is physical education, individual study, or tutoring.

+ Science

Ninth Grade – General Science: the philosophy and value systems of science, basic chemistry, chemical reactions, and equations, laboratory techniques, laws of motion, energy, temperature, heat, electricity, optics and conservation of energy. Special units on environmental topics are also studied.

Tenth Grade – Biology: the science of human, animal and plant life; the basic life processes such as photosynthesis, cell reproduction, genetic determination, nutrition and health; the functions of and relationship between various parts of organisms; and ecological relationships between the earth and all of its inhabitants

Eleventh grade – Chemistry: atoms, molecules, chemical formulae and equations, the elements, electronic structure, gas laws, liquids, solids, organic compounds, chemical reactions and environmental reactions.

Twelfth Grade – Physics: matter, energy, forces, gravitation, thermodynamics, wave motions, sound, sight, electrostatics, magnetism, atomic theory and environmental reactions.

Science courses use the science laboratory to support and expand material learned in the textbook.

+ Math

The Mathematics curriculum is organized along traditional lines with courses in algebra, geometry, advanced algebra/trigonometry, advanced mathematics/pre-calculus and calculus. The range of courses is structured to service individual needs. Students are placed in mathematics courses based on their past success, math proficiency test scores and teacher judgement. This allows students to advance to higher-level math courses solely on the basis of their proficiency and ability

Algebra: properties of real numbers, solving equations, interpreting word problems, polynomials, algebraic fractions, graphing, solving for two equations with two unknowns, properties of numbers and quadratic equation

Geometry: terminology, theorems and proofs, properties of shapes, areas, volumes, coordinates and loci

Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry: logarithms, exponentials, word problems, identities, trigonometric equations, functions, probability and complex numbers

Advanced Math/Pre-Calculus: theory of equations, probability and statistics, logarithms and exponential functions, limit theory, sequence and series

Calculus: limits, continuity, derivation, maxima and minima of functions

Math Honors Program: Advanced mathematics students are encouraged to take an accelerated program in which they complete algebra, geometry and advanced algebra in their freshmen and sophomore years. They then take advanced math/pre-calculus and calculus in their junior and senior years.

+ English

English instruction, although graded into ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade classes, is organized so that each topic necessary to learning the English language grammar, composition, literature, oral communication, written communication and library research is studied each year.

Grammar and composition instruction progress from basic sentence and paragraph structure and simple conventions of grammar and style, to content analysis, examination of syntax and creative composition. The accumulation of skills is reinforced through continuous usage that builds upon prior knowledge. The study of literature is divided as follows:

Ninth Grade: short story, novel and play

Tenth Grade: Shakespeare, drama, non-fiction, expository prose

Eleventh Grade: American literature

Twelfth grade: English and world literature

Ninth Grade – World History: Concentration is on world civilizations from their beginnings to the present day. Emphasis is on the development of all civilizations, Oriental and Occidental, not solely on those, which contributed directly to the stream of Western Civilization.

Tenth Grade – World History/American: The study of world history continues through the first semester of tenth grade. During the second semester students begin the study of American history, focusing on the formation of the United States and its emergence as a nation.

Eleventh Grade – American History: The study of American history continues as the social studies offering for eleventh graders with emphasis on the development of the United States and its relationship with the rest of the world.

Twelfth Grade – Government and Economics: In government, students learn about the three branches of government, how laws are passed and the responsibilities we have as citizens. Economics is designed to help students better understand the economic principles that influence business as well as their personal lives.

+ Computers

WITS provides its students with access to current computer technology. The new computer laboratory contains twenty-one Windows-based computers linked by a Novell Netware server, readily available for student use. The server client environment enables students at the work stations to share files and network based applications.

With the new computer laboratory in place, a wide range of opportunities in computers exists at WITS. All incoming freshmen are enrolled in a computer literacy class. Additional classes are offered in elementary and advanced programming, including lectures and instructor supervised programming lab sessions.

+ Physical Education

Organized instruction in physical education is built around the students' interests in seasonal sports activities such as football, softball, basketball, etc. Conditioning calisthenics and exercise are regularly included. Attendance in the physical education program is mandatory for each student.

Schedule

A Typical Day

7:10 am Wake Up
7:30 am Shacharis
8:20 am Breakfast
9:00 am Halacha
9:30 am Chumash/Navi
10:10 am Gemorah
11:30 am Break
11:50 am Gemorah
1:15 pm Mincha
1:30 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Bekius
2:50 pm General Studies Classes
7:00 pm Dinner
7:45 pm Night Seder and Maariv

The school year begins at the end of August and concludes toward the end of June.

There are three major periods when classes are not in session: two weeks following Yom Kippur until after Succos; one week following the conclusion of the first semester in January; and two and one half weeks for Pesach. Additionally, there are extended weekends off for Chanukah and for Purim.

+ Extra-Curricular Activities

Within the framework of its reality-oriented approach, WITS recognizes and appreciates the need for its students to have appropriate recreational and sports opportunities. They are afforded ample opportunity to take advantage of the grounds at WITS for baseball, volleyball and football on the expansive front yard and basketball on a newly constructed court. We also install a small skating rink during the winter, which is used for hockey and skating. In addition, the WITS Dormitory Recreation Room contains ping pong tables, games and a physical fitness area.

Off-campus, the staff arranges a full program of organized activities which meets the varied needs of the students. Special programming includes gym two evenings a week, weekly swimming, and on Sundays school outings.

+ Ahavas Chesed Commitee

The emphasis on Mussar and Midos Tovos underlies the existence of the student sponsored Ahavas Chesed Committee. Talmidim participate in an array of activities promoting the principle that acts of Chesed are an all-important part of the life of a Ben Torah. The five sub-committees, chaired by seniors, whose membership comprises Talmidim from all classes in the high school include:

Weekly visits to the Milwaukee Jewish Home and Care Center
Bikur Cholim for ill students at the Yeshiva
Peer tutorials for WITS students
Tikun IIaYeshiva - student involvement in maintaining an organized and functioning physical facility
Lending Gemachs for fellow students

+ Out Shabbosim

Once every three weeks there is an out Shabbos, enabling boys within traveling distance to spend time at home. Students who live far from home can spend Shabbos with families in Milwaukee and Chicago or can remain in the Yeshiva. WITS helps to arrange comfortable accommodations for each student. The Jewish community of Milwaukee has distinguished itself, not only for its hospitality, but also for its obvious enjoyment at welcoming the WITS boys into their homes.

+ Participation in the Community

The Yeshiva views itself and its student body as integral parts of the entire Jewish community. Students are encouraged to reach out to the community in a variety of ways and are afforded the opportunity to do so.

They visit with the elderly at the Milwaukee Jewish Home and Care Center, bringing them not only companionship but also the invigorating vitality of youth. In addition, the visits infuse within the boys a respect for the elderly.

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