Posted on 01/14/25
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 10, 2025 - For the fourth consecutive year, Bais Yaakov Middle School’s 8th-grade students have secured their spot at the top in the CIJE Girls Middle School Robotics Tournament!!
This year’s competition, hosted at Bnos Aliyah in Manhattan, brought together fierce competition, featuring 9 schools and 43 robots. Yet, even with new team members and fresh challenges, our talented students dominated the event, winning both first and second place.
Traveling by Amtrak and bus to the competition, our students arrived ready to compete with creativity, determination, and teamwork. While the competition was tough, the Bais Yaakov teams proved they were up to the challenge. Guided by our incredible coaches, Mrs. Rochelle Goldberg and Miss Chana Grier, high school assistant coaches Shana Gross and Aidee Moss, and under the supervision of Mrs. Gitti Horowitz, the teams worked tirelessly to perfect their robots and strategies. Thank you to Mrs. Sossie Ansbacher, middle school faculty, for chaperoning the trip.
CIJE, or the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing education in Jewish day schools across the United States. It focuses on promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education by providing cutting-edge programs, professional development for teachers, and access to advanced technology and resources. Both Bais Yaakov High School and Middle School work closely with CIJE in their respective Stem programs. CIJE Robotics has a profound impact on middle school girls, empowering them to develop critical STEM skills while building confidence and resilience. Through hands-on learning, the program challenges students to design, build, and program robots, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. It introduces girls to real-world engineering concepts and ignites a passion for technology, often inspiring them to pursue STEM fields in the future. CIJE also creates a supportive environment where girls can tackle challenges, learn from setbacks, and celebrate their successes, helping them realize their potential in areas traditionally underrepresented by women. By participating in CIJE Robotics, these young girls gain not only technical skills but also the belief that they can excel in any career they choose. Bais Yaakov is particularly grateful to our CIJE liaison, Dr. Joey Saltzman who advises and works closely with the coaches and teams.
This year’s victorious teams included:
First Place: Shani Rothschild, Leah Shnaidman, and Chaya Yasyni
Second Place: Aviva Golburgh, Esther Luxenberg, and Kayla Zuckerbrod
Their hard work, innovation, and collaborative spirit were on full display, earning them the admiration of judges and competitors alike.
This year’s victory continues the proud tradition of Bais Yaakov excellence in robotics. The students’ achievements are a testament to their dedication, the support of their families, and the guidance of their devoted coaches and mentors.
Mazel tov to our winning teams—you’ve made us all proud!
Our 8th Grade Robotics Girls:
Miriam Ansbacher
Esterli Bushwick
Ahuva Feldman
Emuna Felps
Aviva Golburgh
Shira Haber
Miki Herman
Perri Klein
Tehilla Levin
Malkie Lipnitsky
Esther Luxenberg
Huvie Passe
Hila Roth
Shani Rothschild
Shira Safren
Leah Shnaidman
Chaya Yasnyi
Huvie Zalesch
Kayla Zuckerbrod