Welcome back to what we hope will be a more settled term of on-campus learning, with restrictions gradually reducing. However, we are well prepared to pivot, if the situation changes!

Student leadership in the High School 

We enjoyed our first (albeit brief) assembly since mid-March, to welcome back our High School students and to impart some advice prior to the student leadership voting process. Students voted online, for up to eight leaders within our Madrichim team for 2020-2021. My single piece of advice was “to be careful what you wish for and think before you vote”. Students were encouraged not to base their vote solely on whether the candidate was popular; or a good public speaker; or confident; or extroverted; or good at sport; or a friend of their brother or sister; or whether they put together a funny video. Based on the above criteria, many quiet, ‘non-sporty’ people, who would be outstanding leaders, hard workers and who live their values, would miss out. Students were encouraged to reflect on what sort of a leader they want:

• If you want a kind and caring culture – vote for someone who has displayed kindness and care;
• If you want to feel more connected to your house – vote for someone who has been deeply involved in house activities and is proud of their House
• If you want our student voice to be strong – vote for someone who listens to you, and is willing to work hard to bring your issues to the table; and
• If you want to reduce bullying – vote for an upstander, who intervenes and supports you – and who calls out poor behaviour

Our students were also encouraged to vote for students with integrity; those who ‘walk the talk’ and ‘live’ their values, which are closely aligned to the School’s values. In small ways, integrity is shown when a student consistently:

• Arrives to class on time
• Wears our uniform neatly
• Behaves respectfully in class
• Doesn’t drop or walk by litter
• Behaves appropriately on the way to and from school
• Doesn’t join in when their peers are unkind or disrespectful.

In bigger ways, integrity is shown when a student

• Sees someone doing something wrong and has the courage to intervene; or
• Does not act inappropriately at parties; or
• Responds respectfully on the sports field when the referee makes a controversial call; and
• Does not backstab or gossip about people, but rather remains loyal, caring and respectful.

Student votes carry a great deal of weight in our leadership selection process. We therefore place a significant amount of trust in the ability of our students to choose effective leaders.

 Student leadership training program 

A group of over 40 Year 11 students, some who have nominated for a Madrich/a position and others who have not, volunteered to attend an intensive leadership training program on the Sunday and Monday prior to the start of Term 3. Whilst a much smaller number will be elected as our Madrichim team, the group worked closely together to reflect on how they would like to impact the culture and reinforce the values of our School, as part of a broader team.

Students spoke about their common history as a Year Group and the ways in which they can give back to the School that has given them so much. They discussed how to build community, how Jewish values are at the core of our School and how to continue to build Emanuel as an open and inclusive family with a culture of leadership. Finally, the students built their aims for the year and how to put their passions into action through Va’adot (student-run committees). Our sincere thanks to Mr Bloom, Mr Samowitz and Mr Bell, for their commitment to preparing and delivering an outstanding and engaging program.

Looking back and looking forward

Our Staff Development Day on Monday was themed Building Back Better. We commenced with a reflection on our wellbeing, teaching and learning programs throughout remote learning and moved on to explore what we must do to avoid experiencing a ‘snapback’ – a return to our ‘defaults’ and ingrained habits of practice. Our reflections covered the following areas: teaching and learning, assessment and feedback; student wellbeing and management; ICT and digital learning technologies; team planning and collaboration; parent and family engagement; and leadership structures and organisational design. The reflection was guided by the following questions:

• Do not let back in:
  • What have we discovered to be essential?
  • What things that we lived without can we avoid letting back in?
• Deepen the new:
  • What have we recently gained that we don’t want to lose?
  • What new ways of working do we want to keep and deepen?
• Restart from the old:
  • What have we deeply missed?
  • What things should we bring back in?
  • What have we lost that was valuable?

The outcomes of this session will be added to the MMG survey feedback we hope to receive from parents in Years 6, 9 and 12 later in the term.

Dropping off and collecting your children

Over the break we invited a Road Safety Officer to visit us and review our Go With The Flow procedures. In accordance with the advice received, we have made adjustments to our procedures, with the primary aim of enhancing safety. We are aware that changes to systems take time to gain traction and your patience is appreciated, as we review and tweak, if required. We hope that, over time, there may be additional benefits in reducing both congestion and time. With less students currently opting for public transport, there may be some value in parents of older children organising to pick up closer to 4.00 pm, thus reducing congestion.

Mazal tov

At Milsons Point, after five long and rainy days

• Year 11 students, Jayda Abrahams, Cayla Miller and Sophie Sawicki completed their Gold Duke of Ed Urban Challenge in the holidays, impressively hiking over 41km from Berowra Waters to Milsons Point over five rainy days. 
• Four students received awards for their participation in the French ImmerseMe Games for their proficiency in the language. Mazal tov to Luca Calderon-Havas (Gold award) and Ethan Berman, Teoh Bader & Tara Linker (Bronze award). Their teacher, Madame de Joux, was recognised for her excellence in teaching, receiving an Innovative Educator Award. 
• The Primary Clean Team who keep their eyes out for litter after recess and lunch everyday
• Seventeen students have completed the Premier of NSW Reading Challenge as at 22 July 2020:

Kindergarten    Jared Stein and Hannah Pellow
Year 1              Abbie Schnapp
Year 2              Toby Stein
Year 3              Benjamin Pellow
Year 4              Samantha Lyons and Jasper Shraibman
Year 5              Gil Banna, Sammi Epstein, Elise Goldberg and Isaac Shammay
Year 6              Ezra Glover-Sanders, Josephine Miron and Noa Rosenzveig
Year 8              Willow Gelin and Sophie Masnick
Year 9              Aidan Sheps

Quote of the week

“It’s fun to do the impossible.”
Walt Disney