Andrew Watt – Principal

COVID-19 changes

In light of the cluster of COVID-19 infections, involving both staff and students at Tangara School for Girls, the NSW Chief Health Officer proposed a range of public health recommendations that primarily impact our sport, music and social activities involving parents/families (e.g. graduation dinners). The School’s Strategic Advisory Team has considered these changes and we have released our modified program. The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students remains of paramount importance to us. We appreciate both your patience and support of our new versions of sport and music.

Recognising Academic Achievement and Effort

Our 15-minute mini assembly on Tuesday acknowledged and celebrated those students who received a Principal’s Award for their Semester 1 Academic Report. At the culmination of the reporting process, a member of our Executive team reads each set of Year Group reports and makes a summative comment on each student. We try to capture key progress points and we try to provide broad advice on how each student can improve. I read and commented on all Year 7 and Year 12 reports and was pleased to note that the vast majority of student reports indicated positive progress and significant gains over the semester, despite the remote learning period. 

I was delighted to congratulate the 143 students who received a Principal’s Award for their Semester 1 Report. Sixty-six of these awards were received by our Year 10 and 11 students, which augurs well for the future. A small number of students received a Principal’s Award that recognised ‘perfect’ effort and achievement; receiving a report with every single ‘tick’ in the top grade.

Mazal tov to:
Year 8: Gabriella Freed
Year 9: Tess Endrey and Arielle Melamed
Year 10: Mathew Lowy
Year 11: Ruby Hurwitz, Tara Linker, Jessica Lowy, Ruben Mihalovich, Chloe Miller and Jordan Stein
Year 12: Beau Glass and Jonathan Sebban

Welcoming a new Board Director

I am pleased to announce that Bassina Farbenblum has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Emanuel School Board. Bassina has two children (Rafi and Miri) in our Primary School and is a passionate advocate of the School. A member of our Jewish Life Board Committee and a human rights lawyer and academic by profession, Bassina is well equipped to contribute to the governance of the School.

Traffic management around the School – fines for a crowd of over 20

Firstly, a huge thank you to those parents (and grandparents) who have been so patient and polite amidst the congested traffic conditions. Your support in putting the safety of our children before your personal convenience is sincerely appreciated. I am pleased to report that the move to a staged finish time in the Primary School and the exit of siblings of Kornmehl students via the Kornmehl gate has reduced congestion.

Our current challenge is our need to comply with government COVID-19 regulations around adults not gathering in groups of more than 20. In addition to the need to reduce crowding for safety reasons, if a group of over 20 parents gather outside our gates, you are vulnerable to significant individual fines and the School can also be fined. With this in mind, wherever possible, please collect your children by car, via GWTF, or organise to meet your child (if over 10 years of age) at a location that is a long distance from the School.

Mazal tov

Our High School Debating teams won their debates against Moriah College. See the Debating page – Speechless – for more information. 

Quote of the week

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