SAR Academy

Infobox Secondary school
name = Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy (SAR Academy)
native_name = ישיבת סער

established = 1938
type = Private coeducational primary, middle, and secondary
city = Riverdale
state = New York
country = USA
accreditation =
founder =
principal = Rabbi Binyamin Krauss
students = approx. 1,100
grades = PreK-12
mascot = The SAR Spirit
colors = Blue and White
website = [http://www.saracademy.org/ www.saracademy.org]

SAR Academy is a coeducational, private Modern Orthodox Jewish day school. The school is located in the Riverdale section of the New York City borough of the Bronx.

Its name derives from the three schools which merged to form it, Salanter (named after Rabbi Yisrael Salanter), Akiba, and the Riverdale Academy, all Orthodox Yeshiva day schools. The schools merged in 1968 and adopted the current name.

The founding Principal was Rabbi Sheldon Chwat, who was followed by former Assistant Principal Rabbi Yonah Fuld, who was then succeeded by then assistant principal Rabbi Joel Cohn; all of whom subsequently moved to Israel. The Principal since the 2005-06 academic year has been Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, who is helped by associate principals Sharon Richter, Milly Rosner, Rabbi Menachem Linzer (who transferred from the Ramaz School in 2005), and Rabbi Moshe Drelich. [ [http://saracademy.org/contact.php SAR | Contact and Administration ] ]

The school is closely affiliated with SAR High School, which is headed by the former assistant principal of the Academy, Rabbi Naphtali Harcsztark, and is made up mostly of students from the elementary school.

The SAR Academy building has no walls and features an ultra modern floorplan that has received many awards for architecture, design and programming.Fact|date=November 2007

SAR requires students to take a dual curriculum, taking both general studies courses as well as Judaic studies. General Studies classes include math, science, English and social studies. The Judaic Studies courses are Hebrew language, Mishna, Talmud (Gemara) and Bible Studies (Tanach).

Awards and recognition

During the 1991-92 school year, Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.] , the highest award an American school can receive. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department] , "Journal Inquirer", November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."] [Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; "The Washington Post". September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."]

Notable alumni

*Regina Spektor, singer-songwriter
*Achinoam Nini, singer-songwriter
*Ari Gold, singer-songwriter

References

External links

* [http://saracademy.org SAR Home Page]
* [http://saracademy.org/contact.php SAR Contact and Administration]