Emma Clemens, Deputy Head of Primary and Natanya Milner, Head of Primary

Anti-Bullying Day

Friday 17 March was the seventh National Day of Action Against Bullying and violence. In the Primary School we celebrated Anti-Bullying Day on Friday 12 March as Year 5 and 6 were on camp the previous week. This annual day encourages all students to stand together against bullying and violence within schools and beyond. More than 1810 schools from across Australia took part in the event this year. It is so exciting that so many students have united together to communicate the powerful message that bullying and violence is never okay.

Bullying is the ongoing misuse of power in a relationship. This can be displayed verbally, physically or socially and can cause physical or psychological harm. Bullying can happen in person or online (cyberbullying). Conflict between two individuals where the balance of power is equal is not defined as bullying. However, it is still important that all conflicts between students are addressed and resolved. 

1. Explicit Teaching

Teachers all spent time with their students explicitly teaching about bullying and how students can take action. A number of video resources were used to assist with delivering the lesson content. Students then applied their learning by creating posters, mindmaps and comic strips to consolidate the key ideas. Some of the fundamental concepts included:

1. Be a buddy, not a bully (Be A Buddy Video and What Is Bullying Video)
2. Your words can make a positive or negative impact (The Meanest Girl Video)
3. Stop, walk, talk: Ask the bully to stop, walk away, talk to a teacher (Stop Walk Talk Video)
4. Build a friendship army to support you (Four Step Approach Video)

2. Assemblies

The Year 6 Madrichim took an active role in promoting Anti-Bullying Day across the school. This student-led initiative was incredibly powerful in conveying a proactive anti-bullying message from within the student body. The Madrichim planned an assembly for Years K-2 and Years 3-6. Both assemblies included a game show, videos created by Years 3-6 students and a performance of Hopeful by the Madrichim. The videos presented in the assembly were the winners of the Anti-Bullying Day Short Film Competition. We had over 70 students enter the competition. The winners were:

• First Place: Jesse Barel
• Second Place: Zarah Gorelik and Isaac Gorelik
• Third Place: Daniel Zipser and Gabriel Pozniak

We thank the Madrichim for their creativity, hard work and commitment. They did a fantastic job!

Debating

Mazal tov to our Year 5 and 6 debating teams who debated at Moriah last Thursday. The topic was ‘All Australian Households Should Compost’. We had one team who was affirmative against George’s River Grammar and another team who debated the negative side against Inaburra. Both teams won their debates! Thank you to Lauren Wigan and Nehama Werner as well as all of our enthusiastic debaters for their fantastic efforts!

Futsal

This week we entered five teams into the Regional Futsal Schools Cup. Please see the sports report for full details. We would like to thank the children for their wonderful representation of Emanuel and for their fantastic results on the day. Our senior girls’ team made the semi-finals and our senior boys made it through to the grand final. Mazal tov to all of the children involved. We would like to thank Adam Ezekiel and Stuart Taylor for organising our participation in this event.

Years 1-2 Swimming Carnival

This Friday Years 1-2 students attended their swimming carnival at Des Renford Leisure Centre. The students participated in a range of swimming 25m races including freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke. There was also a number of races across the pool including kickboard, dog paddle, duck diving and cork scramble. It was lovely to have parents involved in the parent-student races and relays. The Year 6 House Captains did a wonderful job running the events and supporting the younger students. Thank you to Stuart Taylor and Sharon Fairfax for planning and facilitating such a fantastic carnival and a big thank you to Ofer Levy for taking so many beautiful photos.

Parent Teacher Nights

Thank you to those of you who came and met with the teachers this week at the Parent Teacher Nights on Monday and Wednesday. We value the opportunity to partner with our parents and share our insights into the children’s learning journeys. Thank you to Garry Case, Helen Maynard and Shelly Ezekiel for their efforts in organising the nights.

Upcoming Dates

• 3 April: Y6 Seder (students only)
• 4 April: Y5 Seder 8:50am Millie Phillips Theatre, Y3 Seder 11:10am Angles Leadership and Learning Centre, Y4 Seder 2:00pm Y4 classrooms
• 5 April: Y2 Seder 8:50am Angles Leadership and Learning Centre
• 5 April: Y6 Gratitude Day
• 6 April: YK Seder 9:30am Angles Leadership and Learning Centre, Y1 Seder 2:00pm Angles Leadership and Learning Centre
• 6 April: Y3-6 Cross Country, 10:00am-1:00pm Queens Park
• 7 April: 2Y Mrs Esra Assembly Item, 2:00pm Millie Phillips Theatre
• 7 April: Last Day Term 1
• 27 April: First Day Term 2, Primary Lice Check
• 1 May: Y3-6 Yom HaZikaron
• 2 May: YK-6 Yom HaAtzmaut Celebrations
• 4 May: YK for 2018 Showcase, 8:45-9:45am Angles Leadership and Learning Centre
• 4 May: Y5 for 2018 Information Night, 7:00-8:30pm Millie Phillips Theatre
• 5 May: Monash Commemorative Service – House Captains attending, 11:00-12:25pm St Catherine’s School
• 9 May-11 May: Y3 and Y5 NAPLAN

Term 2 K-2 Assembly 2:00-2:50pm Millie Phillips Theatre

• 5 May (Week 2): EActive Dance Group
• 19 May (Week 4): Y2 Hebrew
• 2 June (Week 6): Shavuot, school closed
• 16 June (Week 8): 2T Mrs Strub
• 30 June (Week 10): Music Assembly