NOVEMBER 10 • 2022 | 15

O

ct. 12 was an 
exciting day at Hillel 
Day School as the 
boys’ soccer team enjoyed its 
first home game of the season 
on the new Sue and Alan J. 
Kaufman Field. The beautiful 
day saw many parents, fans 
and supporters celebrating 
the state-of-the-art synthetic 
field. The field is multi-use, 
enhances competitiveness, 
improves safety and allows 
consistent access for all 
students regardless of 
inclement weather. 
After playing in the first 
home game on the new field, 
eighth-grade player Kobi 
Schmeltz shared, “It was 
great being able to play on a 

field without having to worry 
about holes. It also drains 
quickly, so we were able to 
play right after it rained 
without it being wet, and we 
won’t have to worry about 
the field being torn up at the 
end of the season.”
The running track also 
had a “soft opening” for the 
school’s cross-country team 
on Oct. 12. 
As for the remainder of the 
$3 million athletic complex 
enhancements, asphalt has 
been poured on the Pogoda 
Family Sport Courts and will 
soon be lined with acrylic 
to mark them for basketball, 
pickleball, volleyball, floor 
hockey, four-square and 
other gross-motor sports. 
The complex also will 
include the Steven R. 
Weisberg Courtyard that will 
feature communal gathering 
spaces, outdoor chess tables 
and more, the Goldhaber 
and Glass Gaga Pit, and the 
Linden and Schostak Storage 
Barn. 
The school will celebrate 
the new space with a ribbon-
cutting event this spring to 
show gratitude that Hillel 
students of all ages will 
enjoy more time outdoors 
for physical education, 
outdoor learning activities, 
recess, intramurals and 
interscholastic play. 

Hillel Day School soccer team breaks in new field, 
part of $3 million athletic complex enhancements.
Field of Dreams

AMY SAPEIKA SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

COURTESY OF HILLEL DAY SCHOOL

Hillel alumni came to cheer at the first soccer game 
on the new field with Head of School Dr. Darin Katz.

Hillel Day School’s 
new Sue and Alan 
J. Kaufman Field.

The state-of-the-art 
synthetic field allows 
access, regardless of 
inclement weather.

Hillel’s 
soccer team

