This year’s Shabbaton brought our high school community together for a weekend filled with bonding, learning, and fun–but for many, the highlight of the experience was the lineup of senior-led masterclasses. After the tradition’s absence in January 2024, the class of 2025 brought it back, adding depth and personality to the weekend by sharing new skills. Each masterclass offered something unique, whether it was learning how to throw a punch in Martial Arts, practicing babysitting basics, exploring Portuguese, or perfecting the cake pop.
The preparation of these masterclasses were integral to their execution and successful results. Senior Amia Kaplun, who led Music Tags–which gave a fun introduction to singing barbershop-style harmonies–shared a bit about her experience preparing and executing: “I needed to make sure that I knew the different parts of the song I was teaching and also that I could adapt my plan to be Shabbat-friendly. Those who came seemed to really enjoy it!” Senior Ayelet Spevack, who participated in the class, said, “It was so fun to sing in harmony with students in different grades. Learning catchy tags together was a bonding experience; I got to connect with people I’d normally never sing with.” Amia’s attention to detail and adaptability reflected the dedication of the seniors, who worked hard to create engaging and accessible experiences for their peers.
The masterclasses weren’t without their quirks, though. Senior Yotam Sabo, who co-led Making Chocolate Treats, admitted, “It was a little chaotic at first, but soon enough, everything started coming together, and the results were great.” Sabo’s words reflect the creative and spirited energy that made the weekend feel so special.
Other masterclasses combined practical skills with engaging hands-on experiences. In Fun With Kids, students picked up the essentials of working with young children. Junior Millie Harris, who participated in this class, reflected, “I learned many valuable lessons about babysitting that I will definitely be using in the future!”