Andrew Watt – Principal

Be COVID safe 

With recent distressing news coming through from Melbourne of the growing number of COVID-19 cases, it is important that we remain vigilant and follow the important procedures that we have in place to protect our community.

Please make sure to sanitise your hands and follow the Health NSW QR code check in process before you enter the campus. This system has been designed to support NSW Health’s contact-tracing efforts in the event of a confirmed case. The QR signs can be found at each school entry point.

I appreciate your help in keeping us all safe. 

Amazing alumni

I was delighted to receive my copy of JCA’s annual Source magazine featuring Mitch Burnie on the front cover. Mitch, who graduated from Emanuel in 2011, tells of his journey from school student to Manager of Adamama Urban Farm in Paddington. Mitch has inspired many of our students who have had the opportunity of hearing his story and his passion for sustainability (and pickles).

You can read Mitch’s full interview, as well as that of Emanuel alumna, Julia Sussman here.

To learn more about JCA’s campaign and the wonderful support they provide to 22 other Jewish organisations, visit their website.

Supporting National Reconciliation Week 

Our students are provided with many opportunities each year to explore and respond to issues of social injustice and inequality; the homeless, refugees, or those experiencing gender or racial discrimination. This call to social action aligns closely with Tikkun Olam; the call to repair our broken world. The National Reconciliation Week message asked us to collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

2021 is the 20th anniversary of Reconciliation Australia being established, and marks almost three decades of a formal reconciliation process in Australia. This year’s theme is that reconciliation is more than just a word; that it will require action from all of us who aspire to be reconciled with our First Nations families. One of the 10 key challenges this year is to overturn the cult of disremembering and the great Australian silence when it comes to the true history.

Our High School assembly message was all about closing the gap of inequality, telling the human story of the Stolen Generations, and recognising that there will be different views and accounts of the colonisation of Australia and the ensuing treatment of the First Nations people. Hearing their voices can generate both an empathy for their plight and a fresh appreciation of the impact of our actions over generations. The key message was delivered by Gamilaraay singer/songwriter Mitch Tambo, who was recorded on Q & A. When asked “How will Australia find its heart?” his response was: By sitting with us and hearing our truths. We can’t turn our head away any more to the truth of what happened here. It’s not to point fingers and I don’t come from that position because I want to bring us all together so we can heal. I’m crying out for healing for my people. We hear the term all the time that you’re resilient. It doesn’t mean we want to be resilient. We want to be free; we want to be trauma-free. The alignment of messages from our Head Madrich and Madricha, Principal and Rabbi Kamins made for a special assembly.

As part of National Reconciliation Week our Primary School students were involved in lessons related to reconciliation. All staff and students wore yellow, to raise funds for an indigenous charity, Children’s Ground, and our bells were changed to the unique sound of the didgeridoo.

Our K-12 staff participated in a staff meeting which explored strategies to promote the reconciliation message within our School. Led by Thomas Mayor, indigenous author and advocate of the Uluru Statement From The Heart, and Roz Thomas, AISNSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Consultant, our staff engaged deeply in both the problems and solutions. Our Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, consisting of Adam Majsay, Tany Milner, Eytan Messiah and Gabriella Wynhausen is currently completing the first draft of our School’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

High School Athletics Carnival

Our Annual Athletics Carnival was held today, at Hensley Athletics Stadium, Pagewood. As always, the carnival was a mixture of very competitive and (occasionally) casual races, with vocal, enthusiastic support from our House audiences. Our students enjoyed the break from their academic studies and engaged strongly across all events. A more detailed report on age champions, record breakers and our 2021 Athletics Champion House will follow in next week’s Ma Nishma. A huge thank you to Ray Francis and his dedicated staff team, who ran a well-oiled, efficient, and enjoyable carnival.

Mazal tov

It was a Representative sporting week:

• Jonah Trope, Year 11, was selected for the Metropolitan NSW U17 Squad for cricket.
• Coby New, Year 10, played at the CIS Football Championships this week in the 16 years AICES Football team.

Quote of the week

“In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process, which requires more than just a legal framework. It has to happen in the hearts and minds of people.” – Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 – 1999