Hero Show Takes Center Stage at Solomon Schechter

On Thursday, first graders at slipped into of one the biggest roles of their lives as they presented their heroes during the annual “Hero Show” produced by first grade teacher Joyce Ben-Kiki.

The show was the culmination of several month of research and stage preparation during which they learned the importance of respecting differences and identifying the qualities that make a hero.

This year, 12 students presented an exceptional line-up of heroes and demonstrated how these people have impacted our world and made it a better place to live. Among them were Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Dr. Seuss, Steve Jobs,  Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Penny Chenery Tweedy, Barak Obama, Neil Armstrong, Oskar Schindler. Dr. Jonas Salk was presented by student Alyssa Temkin.

“I chose Dr. Salk because he discovered a cure for a disease and I am hoping that my doctor will discover a cure for mine,” said Alyssa Temkin. Alyssa was born with a rare genetic disease called Glycogen Storage Disease type 1a. Her doctor, Dr. David Weinstein, who is on the verge of finding a cure, attended the show.

“I’ve doing this show for 20 years said teacher Joyce Ben-Kiki. “Every year is like the first time and I am amazed at how talented these kids are and how much they learn, grow and understand the values we are trying to communicate.”

Release submitted by Sandrine Sebag, Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford.