It gives students the opportunity to share a topic they are passionate about with the entire community. The program builds confidence, poise, and communication skills in an authentic setting.
Students prepare their talks over several weeks with coaching from teachers and professional direction from Applause NY. They learn to research, organize their ideas, and present them clearly to an audience on film. The event showcases SAM’s emphasis on experiential learning and the belief that every child has a voice worth hearing. Families, peers, and faculty gather to celebrate the students’ growth and courage. It all culminates in a premiere night on the big screen, where students walk the red carpet, sign autographs, and are celebrated like stars. Most importantly, SAM Talks empowers students to see themselves as thinkers, leaders, and changemakers.

SAM Talks is our school’s public speaking initiative inspired by TED Talks.

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Three children dressed in formal outfits, with two boys in black suits and sunglasses, and a girl in a pink princess dress and boots, standing on a red rug in front of a backdrop with repeating blue logo designs.
A large group of people attending a celebration event, possibly in a school or community hall, with flags of Israel and the United States hanging on the wall.
A man and woman posing together at an event, standing on a red carpet with a backdrop featuring a repeating logo.
Audience watching performance or presentation in a dimly lit room, with a girl in a pink dress and a man in a beige blazer seated in front, both looking attentively.
Child wearing blue sunglasses and navy shirt smiling with arms raised in front of backdrop with recurring blue logo.
A young boy wearing star-shaped sunglasses, a jacket with colorful stars, and dark pants, standing on a red rug, holding striped popcorn in one hand, and smiling. Background features a white backdrop with blue 'shh' repeated in a pattern.
A boy in a black leather jacket signing a paper at an event, with a woman holding the paper and other children in line behind him.
Decorated staircase landing with numerous paper stars in red, yellow, and black, each with a handwritten name, and three black and white clapboard-style film slate cutouts in the corner.
A young girl wearing a pink tutu dress and a crown, standing on a red carpet in front of a backdrop with blue text that reads 'SH'.
A young boy wearing yellow sunglasses, a black jacket, and black pants holding a plate of cookies in one hand and waiting to receive popcorn in a red and white striped box in a hallway.
Children at an event, with one girl signing a book for another girl, while a boy smiles nearby.
Man and boy wearing yellow star-shaped glasses and pink feather boa, posing together in front of a backdrop with repeating blue text and symbols, on a red circular rug.
A woman and a young girl posing together on a red circular rug in front of a white backdrop with blue logos. The girl is wearing a navy dress and glasses, and the woman is wearing a brown shiny jacket with fringe. The woman is holding a smartphone wi
Two young girls dressed as princesses in pink gowns standing on a red carpet in front of a white backdrop with blue logos. The girl on the left is smiling and holding a pink clutch purse, while the girl on the right is wearing a tiara and smiling.
Two smiling young girls standing on a red carpet in front of a backdrop with a repeating blue logo. One girl wears a white dress and the other wears a pink jacket, a floral dress, and a tiara, holding a gift bag.
Interior of an elegant building with a red carpet leading to a doorway, colorful feather boas on a table, and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Large crowd gathered in a brightly lit room with dark wooden walls and American and Israeli flags hanging on the wall. The audience includes children and adults, some dressed in formal attire, attentive to a speaker or performer at the front of the r
Two young boys wearing black jackets, white shirts, black pants, black shoes, sunglasses, and hats stand together on a red carpet in front of a step-and-repeat backdrop with a repeating logo. The older boy has his arm around the younger boy.
A young girl with long, curly brown hair and a blue star-shaped glasses on her head, smiling and holding a golden star trophy in one hand and a small colorful toy in the other, wearing a pink dress and a pink cardigan, standing on a black stage with
Two women standing together on a red carpet in front of a branded backdrop. One woman is wearing a black top with eye patterns, black pants, and black boots, holding a black purse. The other woman, a young girl, is wearing a white jacket with a feath
A young girl dressed in a pink ball gown, holding a pink purse, standing on a red carpet in front of a backdrop with blue and white gesture symbols.
Children sitting on the floor watching a projection screen, with a large American flag hanging on the wooden-paneled wall behind them.
Seven event programs titled 'SASAM TALKS' with a microphone image, dated February 26th, 2025, for season 2, presented by The SAM Elementary School, laid out on a white surface, with two black-and-white clapperboards in the background.
A young girl wearing star-shaped red sunglasses, a white cardigan, a pink checkered dress, white tights, and silver shoes stands on a red rug in front of a white backdrop decorated with blue logos.
A young girl in a pink princess dress, wearing pink sunglasses and a multicolored jacket, standing on a red rug in front of a white background with blue letters spelling 'Sh'.
A woman in a beige blazer and black skirt standing on a stage, holding a microphone and reading from a paper, with children sitting in front of her, some reaching for snacks, in front of a large screen with faint text.
A young boy in a blue suit and white shirt smiling and holding a gold star-shaped trophy in one hand and a canned beverage in the other, at an indoor event.
A young boy with blond hair is holding a gold star trophy and looking at the camera.
A woman with dark hair receiving a gold award trophy from a young boy wearing a kippah at an event. The woman is smiling and holding a microphone, while the boy looks happy. In the background, another woman is clapping. The floor is scattered with co
A woman with long dark hair, wearing a brown leather jacket, is smiling and interacting with a young boy who is holding a paintbrush. The boy has dark hair and is wearing a black leather jacket. In the background, there are children and adults, and a
A young boy holding a small golden trophy shaped like a star, smiling at the camera.
Young boy in a suit holding a gold star trophy and smiling.
Young boy with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a white collared shirt and navy blue sweater, holding a gold star-shaped award trophy, smiling at the camera.