Volume 30 Issue 33 05 Nov 2021 1 Kislev 5782

From the Principal

Andrew Watt – Principal

Changing the culture around traffic and parking

A heartfelt thank you to those families who have supported our revised parking, drop off and collection procedures. Those staff, parents and grandparents who were unaware of the new requirements have been gracious in their response to our traffic supervisors and have joined our GWTP and parking arrangements. In the light of the compliance required to gain a construction certificate for our new building, we have invested significantly in meeting our (legal and ethical) obligations. Our protocols were reviewed and enhanced by our traffic consultant, and we now employ a traffic warden for both our GWTF sites. We have also employed traffic supervisors, who roam the adjacent streets each morning and afternoon. If approached, our hope is that you will continue to be respectful and compliant. The Traffic and Parking Policy (TPP), with enhanced maps, is available in our parent portal and can be accessed here.

The good news is that, on the understanding that our Year 12 drivers will not park in the ‘restricted streets’ (see Traffic and Parking Policy), Randwick City Council has agreed to drop the requirement that no Year 12 student drive to school. Our Year 12 (2022) students will therefore be permitted to drive to school from Term 1. They have been briefed in relation to the parking restrictions and we will remind them next year.

Higher School Certificate Examinations 2021

The time had finally arrived! After a lengthy lead-up, where students across NSW struggled to remain motivated and focussed, the (first) English examination will commence in the coming week. Our practice examination, held at the Emanuel Synagogue, was a great success, and helped both our students and invigilators to become accustomed to the space and the examination conditions. We are very grateful to the Emanuel Synagogue for so generously accommodating us.

I was able to chat with many of our Year 12 students prior to the practice examination and they reported that they felt well prepared and relieved that the HSC had finally arrived. The vast majority have received early entry offers, which has decreased stress levels significantly. They will carry with them our sincere best wishes for success, both in their examinations and for the future.

A snapshot of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Day

Our second PBL day for the term kicked off on Wednesday this week with a whirlwind of energy and a range of new learning experiences and challenges. All eight of our bespoke Year 8-10 projects were guided by our passionate staff via Zoom, allowing students a broader scope for engaging with and initiating their own learning throughout the day. Most students connected with their projects from home, a few chose to team up together (some even worked together at their local park for a portion of the day), and a small group of students came into school. This flexibility offers a new dynamic for our students to tailor their learning for the day. It is also important to note that some students are yet to fully engage with the PBL program, and I strongly urge those students to give this unique opportunity a go! To echo Adam Majsay’s presentation from this week’s Assembly, “…manage your time, adapt to change, work through different iterations of your ideas, create something from scratch, ask deep questions and persevere with it, even when the going gets tough.”

Year 7 students using QR codes to access quizzes

Flagship PBL – Tikkun Olam

Our Year 7 students enjoyed a very different take on their PBL Day 2. Our “flagship” PBL course, the Year 7 Tikkun Olam project, offered a lively day of student-led learning at school. Students started the day with a campus-wide activity accessing quizzes via QR codes and documenting their learning through photographs. This was followed by intensive targeted workshops about the UN Global Goals guided by our expert Jewish Studies and HSIE teachers and was capped off with a delicious and ethical lunch provided by our canteen.

Combining Maths and Art

Maths and Art joined forces, showing how the two subjects can be combined to produce thought-provoking work. Students used vertical and horizontal lines to create perspective in drawings; used equations and inequations to write names and create pictures and drew pictures using the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence. The resulting work is very impressive and shows an advanced level of Year 7 students  understanding the concepts and their applications.

Overall, we are enjoying the wide smiles on our students’ faces, as well as the impressive quality and quantity of the work they are producing. Many thanks to Eytan Messiah, our architect of PBL, the Heads of Department and those staff who are leading other projects. I cannot wait to see what PBL Day 3 has in store for us!

Help us complete the puzzle

I can’t believe that Emanuel B’yachad was almost three weeks ago! It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to celebrate all that is wonderful about our School and we are grateful to the families who have already pledged their support either online or by posting their completed pledge cards. However, we are still a fair way off our target of $10 million. 

Every dollar counts – whether you are able to donate $100, $1,000 or $10,000, every single cent takes us a step closer to reaching our goal. We have, to date, raised a very credible $7.5 million. But we have another $2.5 million to go.

Think of it as a 10,000 piece puzzle that’s missing 2,500 pieces. You can see the picture forming, but it can’t be hang on the wall until it’s complete. Each piece you add helps to create the whole. 

Many of you have mentioned that you’re going to donate but just haven’t yet had a chance to make your pledge. Please take two minutes to click here and make your donation today.

Mazal tov

Leah Joshua

“One thing that I would like to say is: This Climate Crisis is urgent. As Greta Thunberg said, ‘Our house is on fire’. Our house is on fire, and we are sitting in the burning flames, discussing how to put it out. But soon enough, the flames will reach us, and there will be no time. We need to act now.”

Leah Joshua, Year 6, was asked to appear live on BBC World News to ask a question of the world leaders at the Global Climate Summit in Glasgow. 

Leah’s question related to the issue of coal and what world leaders are doing to stop mining and production. “Because of the time difference of Sydney and Glasgow, the filming began at 3.00 am, and I had to be at the Harbour by 2.30 am. It was a thrilling experience for me – I got to put pressure on the World Leaders to follow through with their promises, and speak on behalf of all climate activists in Australia. Through this experience, I learned lots more about coal mining and promises by the government, and also about carbon captures and climate investments.

Quote of the week

“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” ~ Greta Thunberg (@gretathunberg) – Swedish Climate Change Activist