Heller High Successfully Achieves Re-Accreditation

Quotes from committee:

  • we have found the Heller HS to be an exemplary educational family, community, and facility
  • The high level of continuity in staffing and leadership results in a high standard for planning and executing classes and activities, including half and full-day field trips, daily classes and the journey to Poland.  The commitment and passion of the faculty, counselors, and staff that the VT met were exemplary.  During our visit, we heard many remarks from students about their positive interaction with the counselors and other staff who often accompany them on field trips and spend time with them at all hours of the day which gives them an additional level of support.
  • Classes are designed to reinforce and strengthen students’ critical thinking skills and their Jewish identity. Through class discussion, essay-based assessments, and projects, students are challenged not to accept things at face value but to investigate, challenge and formulate additional possible ideas and explanations.  In addition, students develop life skills such as time management, self-advocacy, leadership skills, and independent problem solving.  These skills will be of great value in their personal and professional lives.

Announcing a New Heller High Partnership

By Rabbi Rick Jacobs, URJ President We are writing to share the exciting news that the URJ Heller High school has entered into a partnership with Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss). Beginning this fall, URJ Heller High will take...

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English Class With Barry

Not every class at Heller High is oriented around Judaism. Students continue their general studies from back in the United States as well. I was most interested to see how an English course functioned in this unique environment, since I was a teacher of literature...

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“Why don’t you try NFTY?”

Growing up in South Africa, from the time I was about eight years old, I was a member of Habonim; a Zionist youth movement. This was the time of Apartheid, and as my awareness grew, I found that I identified less and less with the country in which I was living. With...

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Masada: Then and Now

By Yael Lewis, Jewish History Teacher We have just officially completed the third full week of classes at Heller High! Last week ended with a bang for me. Right before another jam-packed week ended and the fun weekend started for the group in Eilat, we had a tiyul, a...

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19 Years and Counting…

In January I began my nineteenth year in Israel. I made Aliyah in order to stop being part of a minority in a multicultural, yet Christian-rooted, Australia. I wanted to live in my state, with all the trappings of statehood – anthem, flag and state symbol. I wanted to...

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