Dear Alumni,
On Sunday, I was privileged to "attend" my first Leffell School graduation ceremony (virtually, of course). Upon reflection, I'm struck by the historic events of the past few months, and I am grateful for the ways in which our community has responded to these challenges by listening to one another and taking steps toward creating change together. In the weeks preceding graduation, I watched as several seniors posted photos as they received their diplomas. In each picture, their relatives are beaming, so proud of the accomplishments of their graduates, members of the Class of 2020 who were forced to reimagine their final year as students on our campus. While this year’s seniors were also the first students to graduate from The Leffell School, they felt pride in carrying the traditions of Schechter Westchester into the next chapter of this community. In fact, the Class of 2020 wanted their diplomas to include both Solomon Schechter School of Westchester and The Leffell School, representing this transition and the responsibility they feel as they become alumni themselves.
When I started in my role as community engagement and education associate last summer, I had heard a lot about this community but was not sure how an outsider would fit in. My goal was to expand the alumni network, but I was not a member myself and needed to learn and understand what you wanted. Twelve months later, I just want to say thank you. You have made my work so easy and enjoyable. Over the last year, I have met many of you for coffee, spoken to you on the phone, seen you during ShavRuach Week events, bumped into you on the Upper West Side, and learned from you and with you in person or online.
I wanted to hear what you wanted from our Alumni Association — and you told me: a virtual directory, a network for alumni living in Israel, a learning series geared toward your interests and taught by your former teachers, a mentoring program, the opportunity to host current Leffell School students on your college campuses and tell them about your college experiences, involvement in senior WISE projects, and a social media presence where you could learn about and celebrate your classmates’ simchas.
It has been such a pleasure building this community together with you, and I am grateful to now feel like I am an honorary member. I can’t wait to hear the rest of your ideas! My favorite part of my job is connecting with you, and I am excited to meet more alumni in the coming year. Please feel free to reach out as I would love to speak with all of you to hear what you would like to see from the Alumni Association.
Orlea Miller
Community Engagement and Education Associate
Back
I wanted to hear what you wanted from our Alumni Association — and you told me: a virtual directory, a network for alumni living in Israel, a learning series geared toward your interests and taught by your former teachers, a mentoring program, the opportunity to host current Leffell School students on your college campuses and tell them about your college experiences, involvement in senior WISE projects, and a social media presence where you could learn about and celebrate your classmates’ simchas.
It has been such a pleasure building this community together with you, and I am grateful to now feel like I am an honorary member. I can’t wait to hear the rest of your ideas! My favorite part of my job is connecting with you, and I am excited to meet more alumni in the coming year. Please feel free to reach out as I would love to speak with all of you to hear what you would like to see from the Alumni Association.
Orlea Miller
Community Engagement and Education Associate
©2026 The Leffell School. All Rights Reserved.