Hagit Bar-On – Head of Hebrew K – 6 & Jewish Studies Co-ordinator K – 2

Term 4 has started and there is an excited buzz in the air.  

Last week we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. We feel so lucky and privileged to have such amazing teachers at Emanuel School. Each teacher is dedicated to every student and puts in so much effort to cater for their needs. 

The Primary Hebrew Department started assessments in Years 2, 3 and 4 this term. These assessments provide the Hebrew teachers with an indication of how their students are doing in the skills of reading fluency, reading comprehension and listening comprehension.

In addition, in Year 2, students are assessed individually by a teacher on their phonetic and fluent reading. The teachers then evaluate the results, gaining a deeper understanding of each student’s strengths, challenges and needs. The Year 2 individual assessment is an iTaLAM program initiative. It has been developed in Israel by a panel of specialists in linguistics and assessments. The assessment is formative and summative and the results guide teachers about how to develop their teaching programs for the future in order to achieve the best outcomes for individual students.

In Years 3 and 4 students do an online assessment. We are lucky to have a sophisticated Learning Management System which calculates students’ responses and gives us a clear indication of their strengths and weaknesses across different language skills. 

In Year 6, students are being assessed in order to place them in different Hebrew groups in Year 7. 

The Hebrew Department is very lucky that Sarit Spira returned to us this term. Sarit is teaching Hebrew music to Years K – 2. The Hebrew teachers, together with Sarit, are now working on Years K – 6 Presentation Hebrew songs. Students are super excited as they love the songs and the actions associated with them. Sarit has also joined K – 2 Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations on Fridays. It has been such a joy for the children to be able to sing again and it is even more special to have Sarit accompany them with her keyboard and singing. 

With all that is happening this term, I can only hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be eased and that we will be able to resume even more of our exciting initiatives and school activities in the very near future.

Shabbat Shalom