Volume 31 Issue 22 29 Jul 2022 1 Av 5782

From the Acting Principal

 

Margaret Lowe – Acting Principal

Student leadership

Outstanding student leadership is a key facet of any successful school. Emanuel School has a long history of strong student leadership with opportunities available to students in Primary and High School via the Student Representative Councils (SRC), Madrichim bodies and individual student initiatives. Student leadership can also be seen in teams or groups that have ‘captains’ or leaders across a number of other areas of the School such as sport, music etc

In the High School, Madrichim and SRC students are elected mid-year and take on their roles for 12 months. This timeframe allows our Year 12 students to complete their roles a term before HSC, thus providing them time to focus on final preparations in each subject. This week we elected our new Madrichim for 2023. The group of students (in alphabetical order) includes:

Ruby Brody
Tess Endrey
Maayan Granot
Ruby Grynberg
Daniel Langman
Eden Levit
Arielle Melamed
Ruby Miller
Coby New
Jake Newfield
Scott Reuveny
Brooke Rosen
Adam Rothschild
Jamie Schneider
Jake Sharp

 

Students will learn of their specific roles next week and will be Inducted as student leaders for 2022-2023 on Tuesday.

Our Year 11 students participated in an exciting two-day Nitzavim seminar with Adam Ezekiel, Kobi Bloom and Christian Bell. Students explored values and language that will be built on during the student leadership experiences over the coming year. All senior students are considered nitzavim (those who stand) and have a place in guiding younger students.

Principal’s Awards

Students whose effort ratings on their reports are excellent, or who achieve at a very high level or both, receive a Principal’s Award. These Awards were presented at Assemblies (whole school or House) this week. Mr Abelson spoke to the whole school assembly about how they can step up, take on challenges and do their best at school. He quoted Dr Judith Locke, author of the Bonsai Child, a registered clinical psychologist, former teacher, school counsellor and workplace trainer. She states that the Bonsai Child is created when care and support are given to excess to ensure a child is happy. Whilst being happy is a good thing, the underlying characteristics of this may be impeding a child’s success”.

Characteristics of this would be:

  1. The parents continually step in for their children such that children do not learn to solve their own problems
  2. Low demands on the children, with excessive praise to try to ensure a constant happy mood for the child
  3. Parents trying to change the outcome of an event to avoid hardship or disappointment for the child
  4. Children expecting others to create the perfect lives for them.

Mr Abelson warned that schools can be guilty of this ‘over care’ too and that we all need to encourage students to develop into strong, capable and independent young people. He asked students to consider the following:

  1. Challenge is good. Don’t ask people to clear the road of challenges. Face the challenges so that you will have the skills and resilience to navigate the challenges ahead.
  2. Working hard leads to a positive self-regard. You do not need to feel good in order to work/study. Take action! Completing tasks helps you to feel good about yourself.
  3. Do not ask others to do things that you can do for yourself.

Mr Abelson congratulated our students and stated, “As we celebrate the hard work and achievement of our recipients today, it is worth noting the Iceberg Illusion. An iceberg is known for having 10% of its mass visible, with most of it hidden beneath the surface of the water. Similarly, with our high achieving students, you will see a brief glimpse of the work they do in class, as they diligently approach tasks. What you won’t see is the organisation, discipline, sacrifice, persistence and hard work, and yes, also failure, that goes on at other times, beneath the surface. And this is what we are here to celebrate today”. 

The brainy bunch

On Wednesday night I sat down to watch Emanuel Year 11 students Alix Cane, Jake Fleischer, Ma’ayan Granot and Jake Newfield represent the School on Channel 10’s Shaun Micallef’s Brain Eisteddfod. The quiz questions ranged from the “I know that”, to the “Let’s Google that”, to the “What were they thinking?”. There was no ‘phone a friend’ option and the pace was fast, almost frenetic at times, so much so that I was glad that I was on the other end of the remote!  After what seemed like at least 1000 questions, our quizz whizzes continued to do us (and their teachers) proud, winning the round against a very brainy Balwyn High School. Mazal tov team! Onwards and upwards to the next round. 

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

Mischa Spielman, Sienna Powell and Eden Levit placed 5th in the Under 18 Girls Soccer with Eden scoring the top three most goals.

We will soon welcome back our athletes who represented Australia at the Maccabiah Games. Hard work, perseverance and dedication are only three of the many qualities needed to reach this level of expertise and we are proud of every student, parent and alumnus who did their very best at every stage of the game. 

My not-so-direct line to Maccabiah Central confirms there were many exceptional results. Some athletes did not place in medal position. This in no way diminishes their exceptional achievements. We are proud of each and every person who represented their country and their school.

Please feel free to contact me with any updates! 

Adam Forman
Silver: Junior Cricket

Tess Endrey, Sienna Michaelson and Brooke Rosen
Silver: Under 18s Netball  

Zac Urbach
Bronze: Junior 100m
Bronze: Junior 200m
Bronze: Junior 100m relay

The full Emanuel School team:

Tess Endrey: Netball 
Siena Michaelson: Netball 
Brooke RosenNetball 
Adam Forman: Cricket 
Zac Urbach:  Athletics 
Ethan Hirst: Football 
Aiden Kanevsky: Gymnastics 
Eden Levit: Football 
Coby New: Futsal 
Sienna Poswell: Football 
Mischa Spielman: Football 
Jake Sharwood (Sports Coach): Basketball 
Ethan De Melo (Sports Coach): Futsal

We’re always proud to hear of our past students and alumni successes.
Mazal tov to:

  • Alumni (and past Emanuel Sport Coaches) Lara Joffe and Lara Rutstein, and past student Isabella Schulz, who brought home Gold in the Open Women’s Futsal and
  • Past student Brodie Elbourne brought home Bronze in the 800m and 4x 400m relay.

Mazal tov

  • On Thursday, Emanuel competed against Moriah in the annual and hotly contested David Horowitz Cup. Our boys played a valiant game and although didn’t win, showed impressive teamwork and style. Thank you to all the students, parents and staff who cheered the team on from the sidelines.
  • Our Primary 10 Years boys and 13 Years girls competed at the State Futsal Championships this week. The boys team reached the quarter finals and girls made the semi finals. This was the first time our Primary teams have qualified for the State Championships and the first time Emanuel has made the semi-finals at the State Championships, setting an Emanuel record.

Quote of the Week

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
~ John F. Kennedy – 35th US President