This Ma Nishma showcases an amazing array of activities the students have undertaken in the last couple of weeks. Events such as the Academic Assembly, HICES Debating, the workshops yesterday featuring opportunities to build study skills, knowledge of cyberbullying and mental health, the World of Maths, the Parent and Student Information evenings and the Swimming Carnival today, have contributed to the rich and varied learning environments our students enjoy. Having a range of experts come in to the School on occasions to run workshops and share their wisdom and expertise adds to the depth and breadth of our students’ growth and development across mind, spirit and being. 

On Monday we welcomed back to our School campus all of Years 7 & 8 who had been on camp last week. You can read their accounts of their camp experiences in each of the House pages elsewhere in this bulletin. It’s clear that students learn a great deal about themselves, how to manage away from home, how to get on with and support their friends as they undertake the challenge of camping and the activities that represent, for many, large steps out of their comfort zone. They grow in independence and also learn to appreciate the outdoor environment.

A quote from new student Liat Granot (Year 8) about camp says it all (from the Szenes page):

Some challenges for me were that I had never actually been camping before and just generally prefer the great indoors to the great outdoors, I have more fears than elements on the periodic table, I get homesick and that I had only been at Emanuel School a bit less than a month. Nevertheless, I went and I am so glad I did, between outdoor rock climbing on real, actual rocks to hiking 17 kms in six hours, to canoeing 14 kms in two days, I barely had time to think about home … All in all, Camp Somerset was a really amazing and unforgettable experience. I found out that I was the kind of human being that can surprise myself and can have fun on camp.

New Parents’ and Year 7 Parents Welcome evening

All new parents, parents of new students and Year 7 parents have been invited to this event on Monday 6 March, which is always a very special social occasion. It is a lovely opportunity to meet members of the Emanuel Community and some of the staff in a relaxed atmosphere, hopefully on our deck if the rain stays away. Year 7 Parents are invited to attend the Meet the Teacher afternoon from 5 pm on the same day, and then stay on to join the celebrations, which start at 7 pm. I look forward to meeting and welcoming new members of our community then.

International Women’s Day

This day is celebrated on 8 March and we have organised for a special speaker to come to the School at lunchtime on that day to speak to our senior students and any parents who would like to join us. Please see the information about this event under International Women’s Day, in this bulletin.

Student success

Mazal tov to:

• Amy Altman, Aidan Zlotnick, Blake Nixon, Gabriella Goodridge, Claudia Burman, Zac Greenberg and Ariel Odes, for their selections in the CDSSA Basketball team
• Sage Zimen (Year 12) for her initiative and compassion in collecting resources to support one of the refugees she met at Villawood
• Alex Burman (Year 11) for instigating and organising the blood donation event
• The Junior and Senior debating teams who won their first round debates in the HICES competition

Coming up

• New Parents Welcome (7 pm) and Year 7 Parents Meet the Teacher (5 pm), Monday 6 March
• Diversity Assembly, Tuesday 7 March, 8:20 am
• Emanuel Short Film Festival, Tuesday 7 March, 7 pm
• International Women’s Day – guest speaker Wednesday 8 March, 1:10 – 2:00 pm (more information in IWD page), as well as SRC fund-raising day in the High School
• Ta’anit Esther, Canteen Closed, Thursday 9 March
• Purim celebrations, Friday 10 March
• Purim Disco for K – 6, Sunday 12 March, 4 – 6 pm (book via link on P & F page)
• Jazz on the Hill, 26 March, 2:30 – 5:00 pm (book via link on Gesher page)

Quote of the week

‘To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.’ [Benjamin Franklin]

Best wishes for a restful and reinvigorating weekend.

Shabbat Shalom