Sonia Newell – Development Officer

School connections and beyond

How wonderful to see so many very special visitors here at School on Tuesday morning for our 2018 Primary Grandparents and Friends Day. The MPH was ‘chock a block’ full – I don’t think there was one empty seat in the hall. It is always a pleasure to be on the organising committee for this amazing event – I just love to see how we can showcase our special school, giving grandparents the opportunity to be involved in one of the many aspects of Emanuel.

During the formalities, as we do every year, a few families who have a ‘history’ with the School and/or a connection in the wider Jewish Community are invited to say the various brachot. 

The four families this year were:

Nitza Lowenstein, husband Arthur and granddaughter, Claudia Kaplan (Year K). Nitza was on staff at the School from 1984 to 1987, as the Jewish Studies Coordinator in the “Infants School” as it was known in those days. Her son-in-law, Claudia’s father, Jacob Kaplan, was a student here for six years, starting in 1983, the year the School opened.

Associate Professor Bob Kummerfeld and Professor Judy Kay (new grandparents this term) have a very long history with Emanuel School and have great supporters since the beginning. They are on the Founders Board in the Administration Building and there’s also a plaque in their name outside The Kleinleher Performing Arts Centre (PAC). All thereof their children are Emanuel alumni. Their older daughter, Sarah Kummerfeld (Head Madricha, Class of 1997), and husband Matthew Pellow, have just returned from the US and their children started here this term – Benjamin, Year 1 and Hannah, Kornmehl. Bob and Judy’s younger daughter Rebecca (Class of 2003) is Head of Education at the Sydney Jewish Museum – she took over this role from another alum, Yotam Wiener, Class of 1998 when he left for Canada, whilst their son Jonathan (Dux, Class of 2007) has been living/studying in the USA for some years.

Albert and Sandra Malki also have a very long association with the School, and they too are on the Founders Board.  All three of their children, Jack (Class of 1993), Silvia (Class of 1995) and Daniel (Class of 2002) were students here – their grandson (Silvia’s son), Max Robertson, is now in Year 6.

Peter and Elaine Smaller, grandparents of Ari Smaller (Year 4) and his sister Lily (Year 1). Peter is President of  JNF Australia and Elaine has been very involved with Maccabi for many the years, both here and in South Africa before immigrating to Sydney.  Last year she received life membership of Maccabi NSW for her exceptional record as both an athlete and administrator.

We also had grandparent Kathy Passman, co-president of our Grandparents Committee, on piano to accompany the choirs as they sang the most beautiful songs.

We hope to see you at our Breakfast with Emanuel on Wednesday 26 September – see details on the invitation and RSVP to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Many of our alumni achieve great things beyond the gates of our School and it is always an honour for me to be able to share some of their achievements with our current parents. The Class of 2012 was indeed a special Year Group and here now are just a few of their achievements to date:

• Isabel Hartstein graduated in June from UNSW with a Bachelor of Economics BEc (Hons) – 1^st Class Honours and The University Medal Economics;
• Mimi Greenbaum was featured recently in the UNSW Science Mathematics and Statistics brochure;
• Sam Weiss was featured in the Australian Jewish News regarding his nomination at the recent Amsterdam International Filmmakers’ Festival, for his scoring of Indigo Lake, an Australian film.  
• Dan Altman (Dux, 2012) is on his way to Oxford University where he will commence his PhD in Mathematics.

If you have news you wish to share with us, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Wishing you and your family Shana Tova and well over the Fast.