YNJ granted accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  In the Spring of 2006, the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey was granted accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The Middle States Association is a non-governmental, nonprofit, peer-administered organization of diverse educational institutions committed to the highest quality education for students.  Its purpose is to ensure the continuous improvement of its member schools.  YNJ is the first Orthodox regular elementary school in our area to be accredited.  Accreditation by Middle States is recognized around the world as an indication of trustworthiness, educational quality, and a commitment to on-going school improvement.  Dr. F. Laird Evans, Executive Director at the Middle States Commission of Elementary Schools offered his congratulations, adding: “MSCES accreditation is a recognition of both prior achievements and a commitment to greater future accomplishments.”  Our accreditation process involved a rigorous self-study, involving the active participation of the administration, faculty, lay leadership, and parents, let by Steering Committee Chairman Rabbi Dovid Kaminestky.  The self-study followed a protocol developed by the National Study of School Evaluation, which required YNJ to (1) develop a school profile, (2) define the school’s beliefs and mission, (3) define our desired results for student learning, (4) analyze our instructional and organizational effectiveness, and (5) develop an action plan for continued school improvement.  The implementation of the action plan is an ongoing process.  The Visiting Team of the Middle School Association and the Accreditation Committee carefully evaluated the self-study and confirmed that YNJ adheres to the Middle States Accreditation Standards.  The objective evaluation concluded that YNJ can confidently state that it meets all twelve required standards.  Click here for letter from Rabbi Goldstein. YNJ is named Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of Education.  In September of 2004, we received a letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, awarding us the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for 2004. The award designates YNJ as a "national model of excellence". The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate gains in students' achievement. Our award was based on our documented performance of superior success on standardized tests and the successful completion of an application process chaired by Arlene Libman and Ann Robbins. The process included a detailed description of YNJ's educational philosophy, use of assessment tools, methods of communication, the school's skills and knowledge-based curriculum, methods for encouraging academic success for all students and our professional development program. The award reflects the high level of professionalism, concern, expertise and efforts of YNJ's teachers. We are one of only eight New Jersey schools to be honored this year and the only private school in the state to be recognized. In fact, only two private Jewish schools in the nation received the 2004 award. We were nominated for this award by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).  See list of Blue Ribbon Schools at http://www.ed.gov .  Click here for a copy of the letter from Secretary Paige. Click here for article in Bergen Record regarding Senator Lautenberg's recognition of Blue Ribbon Award. Torah Umesorah School of the Year. YNJ was the recipient of the fourth annual "School of the Year" award presented by the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools (Torah Umesorah) for 5760/2000. Torah Umesorah is the largest national organization of private Jewish schools in the United States with a membership of 650 institutions.  "Through an unusual vision and partnership of professional and lay leadership, the Yeshiva of North Jersey has established itself as a model institution for Torah education in America. The Yeshiva's high-quality programs of Torah scholarship and academic achievement are fostered within a framework of middos, character development and sensitivity to the individual needs of the child. Optimal class size, qualifications and idealism of faculty and administration, challenging curricula, well-rounded professional staff for special services, and aesthetically pleasing physical plant combine to produce a stimulating, creative and wholesome educational environment."  Torah Umesorah YNJ Girls' Torah Bowl Team Champions for Three Years in a Row. Under the Guidance of Morah Zucker, the YNJ Girls' Torah Bowl Team won the Torah Bowl Championship again in 2005, as they did in 2004 and 2003!  They competed against 15 schools in the New York Metropolitan area. The girls' team members worked hard all year to master Sefer Devarim with all the commentaries of Rashi. 2005 YNJ Girls Basketball Team Champions.  As one of six schools in the newly formed Yeshiva Girls Middle School Basketball League this year, YNJ enjoyed a very exciting and competitive season. Highlights included a head to head semi-final game that tied three times until YNJ gained a significant lead in overtime, winning 45-34. Sportsmanship, teamwork and individual achievement brought the team to the championship which resulted in a thrilling 28-25 victory. Spelling Bees. In 2006, a YNJ 5th grade boy won first place in the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs State Spelling Bee.  In 2003, two YNJ boys won first place and third place at the Tri-Community Spelling Bee. NJ Chess Championships. The YNJ seventh-grade chess team won first place in the N.J. Grade School Championship in the Fall of 2003, and the YNJ team came in second place at the First Annual New Jersey Yeshiva Chess Championship in June of 2005. Outstanding Standardized Test Scores for YNJ Students. YNJ students receive consistently very high scores on standardized achievement tests. In the Spring of 2003, 28% of our students scored among the top 10% of the national average in reading comprehension and 33% in the top 10% in mathematics on the Stanford Achievement Tests. Particularly noteworthy, a very large majority of the students performed in the top half of the national average. On the Board of Jewish Education High School Entrance Examination, which tests a population composed exclusively of Metropolitan Area eighth grade Jewish day school students, 20% of YNJ graduates from 2001 to 2003 scored in the 90th percentile or above in general and/or Judaic studies.  Sixty three percent of YNJ's overall general and Judaic scores were in the top half of the test -- statistically, a significant accomplishment. Metropolitan Yeshiva Math Olympiad. In the Spring of 2004, the YNJ eighth grade boys and sixth grade girls finished in second place in the Metropolitan Yeshiva Math Olympiad, and the seventh grade girls celebrated a third place ranking.  In the Spring of 2003, the YNJ sixth-grade girls' math team won first place in the Math Olympiad.  In the Spring of 2002, YNJ's eighth grade girls' and sixth grade boys' teams captured first place in the Math Olympiad. News Coverage: -- Morah Zupnik's First Grade girls featured in Bergen Record.  Go to Classroom Notes or click here. -- Morah Honey's First Grade, Morah Kayla's 2nd Grade and Rabbi Kohn's 6th Grade in Bergen Record.  Go to Classroom Notes or click here. -- Morah Honny's First Grade boys featured in N.J. Jewish Standard.  Go to Classroom Notes or click here. Letter from YNJ President - June 20, 2006 e in the Math Olympiad.