Student Life

CLUBS	Clubs let students pursue a long-held interest or try something new as extra-curricular activity. Clubs include: A capella, Book Club, Drama, Jazz Band, Chamber Singers, Beaux Arts, Newspaper, Chess, Film, Law Fellowship, Mock Trial, Science and Math, Photography, Chesed, Current Events, Investment, and Creative Writing.
SHABBATONIM	Shabbatonim are a prominent feature of experiential Jewish life in the high school that affords the student community the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat together.
CHESED OPPORTUNITIES	Students participate in a variety of school-sponsored projects throughout the year, among them: food, cllothing, and toy drives. On our pre-Thanksgiving chesed day, we cook a meal that we deliver to a church soup kitchen. On our pre-Purim chesed day, we bake sweets that are distributed to the elderly and poor. Va'ad Chesed, a branch of student government, directs students to worthy projects and causes.
"RESPONSES"	As a school community, we try to be responsive when the world calls out in need. Our students have responded to calls from the world and American communities through our interaction with representatives of the Ugandan Jewish community, our participation in tsunami relief efforts and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
ROSH HODESH VISITORS	The Ronald Summer Rosh Hodesh Program brings noteworthy speakers to the student community. Programs have included Danny Siegel, founder of the Ziv Tzedaka Foundation; Ruth Messenger, President and Executive Director of the American Jewish World Service; Pizmon Jewish, the Jewish a capella group of Columbia University; Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Eskesta, the Ethiopian-Israeli dance troupe, and Israeli musicians and performers.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING	Students work with faculty to design and implement programs to celebrate Jewish and American holidays and to commemorate historical and cultural events. From a Succot party to our observance of Yom HaShoah, from our Hanukkah and Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations to our celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, we mark out calendar to celebrate and remember.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT	Students elect officers and grade representatives who join faculty and administration to discuss issues pertaining to student life. Student Senate meets weekly and runs Town Meeting, and is also creating a constitution and honor code that governs how we live in a "just community." Va'ad Tzedek deals with problems of fairness that arise within the community.
PUBLICATIONS	HELIOS(Student Newspaper) Students publish four issues a year. Helios includes student journalism and original student artwork, both illustrations, and photography. We cover some national and international issues, as well as issues internal to Heschel. e•pit'•o•me (Literary Magazine) The school literary and arts magazine represents the creative work of the entire student body and includes poetry, short stories, essays, photography and art work. The Torch (Yearbook)
COMPETITIONS and MEETS	Debate The debate team consists of students from all grades. Students compete in debates and also in Extemporaneous Speaking competitions which are held concurrently. Students work with partners and prepare assiduously for each competition. Mandelbrot Competition The goal of the contest is to introduce high school students of all ability levels to accessible new topics in mathematics while providing stimulating, challenging problems to stretch the best students in the country. Model U.N. Mock Trial