Student leadership

Last week I wrote about the student leadership processes across K-12. This week we held the Induction Ceremony for our High School Student Representative Council members and our Madrichim for 20222-2023. I thanked the students who were elected to their positions for the work they had already done as leaders in the School which has led to other students choosing them for a leadership role. I talked about the serious commitment one makes when taking on leadership – the time needed, the variety of jobs one might have to do (some very mundane like packing up after an event) and the standards one has to uphold. Students were encouraged to consider two things on their leadership journey which answer the question, “How can I be the best leader?”.

1. Do you use your strengths and harness your interests as you participate in various teams. Together we accomplish so much more than when operating in silos. “The sum of our parts is greater than our whole.”
2. Put your best foot forward. Regardless of whether you feel tired, frustrated, or any other perfectly human emotion, turn up with your best self. Be open, listen, co-operate, care.

Parents of our new Madrichim enjoyed a morning tea with the students and key staff after the ceremony. Much naches!

Mazal tov to our new Student Representative Council:

Year 7

• Sofia Berkovic
• Lily Foltyn
• Benjamin Freed
• Summer Glass
• Zara Gorelik
• Rebecca Salamon

Year 8

• Johnny Menczel
• Hannah Rembach
• Elke Selinger

Year 9

• Ariel Solomon
• Daliah Smargarinsky

Year 10

• Kian Hamburger
• Lani Israel
• Elise Kitchener
• Alice Milner
• Amelia Trope

 

The Emanuel School Big Band and the Senior Choir entertained parents, staff and students at the Madrichim Induction. Click on the image below to hear the Choir’s rendition of Radioactive. It was one of many highlights of the morning.

 

Trial HSC examinations

Students in Year 12 are halfway through their Trial HSC examinations. It has been smooth sailing, considering we are talking about siting examinations! Our students work hard and deserve the results they achieve. I look forward to seeing some relieved faces after their last examinations next week and hopefully MANY excited faces when they receive their results.

Project Baruch

Last term students were encouraged to share their wishes, dreams and blessings for the new building. Tany Milner and Marla Bozic (Foundation Board President) had the honour of scattering these blessings into the foundation of the building prior to the concrete pour.

The students’ thoughts and prayers were carefully crafted, showing a deep connection to and excitement for the space that will be a part of the School’s landscape for generations to come. We collected over 400 blessings in total. Please take a moment to read a selection of these below. 

 

 

Special guest

This week I met Anna Kislanski, the CEO of The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. Ms Kislanski is visiting Australia to see what Jewish schools and organisations look like here. A number of staff members were involved in discussions with Ms Kislanski around engagement with Israel in the classroom and beyond. Ms Kislanski was impressed with our School and our new Head Madrichim.

Community Connections – we want you!

We are developing a registry of Emanuel School parents and community members willing to share their career and industry experience and insight, to assist students/alumni who are interested in specific career paths. Your input would be invaluable to our young adults as they venture into the next stage of their lives. You can register here and our Careers Advisor, Claire Pech, will be in touch.

Tikkun olam

So many of our students are involved in projects to raise funds and awareness for a number of charities both in Australia and abroad. Our students embody the characteristics of a mensch – they are upstanders and compassionate advocates for those who don’t have a voice. This week I focus specifically on two students (and their supporters) who have made a very tangible impact.

“It is important to raise money and awareness for charities … because these things (mostly) have solutions that are within reach. We are incredibly lucky to be living in Australia, but many others around the world experience hardships of all sorts, and we are all human – every life is equal – thus, we should do all that is in our power to help those who aren’t able to help themselves”. ~ Sarah Manoy, Year 9

Against Malaria bike ride

Sarah Manoy, Year 9, and her peers watched a documentary about children in Africa and the prevalence of the entirely preventable disease of malaria. Sarah was deeply affected by the statistics, which inspired her to raise money for the charity, Against Malaria, by organising a sponsored bike ride around Centennial Park. Sarah and her Emanuel friends (Kaila Nabarro, Niek Nathan, Max Salamon, Jordan Pal, Sam Salamon, Arielle Sharp, Julia Manoy and Maya Balkin) rode multiple laps of Centennial Park, raising over $1,590 for the charity. This money will be used to purchase 439 anti-malaria nets – enough to protect an entire village! To support Sarah and her team to fund the aim of 450 nets, you can donate here.

World’s Greatest Shave

Daniel Langman, Ethan Zines (both Year 11) and Joseph Peacock shaved their heads on Wednesday to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. This was no easy feat, taking almost 40 minutes to go from a full head of hair to bald as an eagle! Team Emanuel has raised $1483 via sponsorship and $323 from students’ gold coin donations on the day. They’re only $200 away from raising enough money to aid future breakthroughs by funding a major blood cancer research project for one week. To support Team Emanuel click here.

 

Grandparents and Friends – please join us

A reminder to remind all grandparents of our upcoming Grandparents and Friends Day on Friday 16 September. As we had to cancel this special Rosh Hashanah-themed event for the past two years due to COVID, this will be the first time some Primary children and their grandparents will experience what is always a special morning for all. 

Mazal tov

A massive mazal tov to Romy McCorquodale, Year 10, who has been selected for the full NSW U16 Soccer State Squad representing NSW in the National Championships in September 2022. She has also been invited to train with Sydney FC Women’s Team next year. 

Abigail Romain, Year 2, won the Sun-Herald colouring-in competition  Her prize was the book Boss Ladies of Science which explores science innovations and discoveries from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Quote of the week

“One part of Judaism (is) called tikkum olam. It says that the world has been broken into pieces. All this chaos, all this discord. And our job – everyone’s job – is to try to put the pieces back together. To make things whole again … Maybe we’re the pieces. Maybe what we’re supposed to do is come together. That’s how we stop the breaking.” ~ Rachel Cohn, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist