On May 23rd, the students of our Service Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) celebrated their final Friday of the year at Miami Jewish Health. They celebrated this with a joyful and heartwarming goodbye party for the residents. The afternoon was full of color and creativity: from crazy hats and silly glasses, to a big cake topped with cheerful rainbow sprinkles to one meaningful word written in Hebrew: “להתראות” (see you later). This wasn’t just a goodbye, it was a promise to return.

Throughout the year, 9th graders visited Miami Jewish Health every Friday, connecting with the residents through games, conversations, and laughter. For the final celebration, the 7th and 9th grade irls came together to perform dances, take photos and spend meaningful time with the residents. Morah Vered, our Hebrew teacher and the choreographer for the event, lit up the room with her joyful energy. Her dances brought smiles to so many faces. One resident, Arlene, shared with me, “I love it.” Arlene used to do ballet as a child and said it was “terrific” to see dancing again, especially performed by the kids.

Ms. N, who organized the entire SEP initiative alongside Dr. Morton, reflected, “It really sparked something in me, because I’ve always had a passion for baking, and they’ve even invited me back once a month next year to bake!” From small activities, to long-term connections, Ms. N has helped build something truly meaningful.

We are so grateful to everyone who made this special day possible: Ms. N, Morah Vered, Dr. Morton, Ms. Melendez, Chelsea Werde, Gisela Ades, and the entire kitchen staff team! Thank you for helping to create something inspiring and beautiful, not just for the residents, but for us students as well.