Andrew Watt – Principal

The new normal

The gradual relaxation of the COVID-safe measures over the term has brought us to a point where we are cautiously mixing across Year Groups and many students have chosen not to wear masks on campus. The availability of sport and co-curricular activities has increased significantly, and we can now sing, pray, and enjoy Shabbat together. However, hand sanitising, cough etiquette and ventilation measures continue, and we are keeping a close eye on the daily case numbers. Some students and staff have chosen to maintain the mask wearing and physical distancing indoors. As a community, we are aware of the need to remain home if symptomatic and to test, to protect those around us.

Our commitment to future-focused learning (P-12) 

How can we prepare our students for a life of learning and to thrive the future workplace? How do we best create authentic, relevant learning experiences which encourage our students to build their knowledge and skills? How do we develop their capacity for important life skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication? These are questions that are constantly on the minds of educators and leaders.

Ari Merten sharing his sage advice with High School students

In a nutshell, our School seeks to provide our students with agency in their learning and opportunities to connect with their passions. We adopt an innovative approach to our teaching and learning, to provide our students with opportunities to develop an inquiry mindset, and to engage with real-world contexts, through which problem-solving and adaptability are fostered. We encourage our students to be reflective in their learning, seeking, and acting on feedback, with a commitment to personal growth, as lifelong learners.

Our Academic Honours Assembly, featuring some of our high achievers in the 2021 HSC, was held this week. This annual event, broadcasted online to parents, serves to recognise, and honour those Year 12 students who achieved outstanding HSC results, through the award of a special medal. Each year, our students get to hear from a high achieving graduate, who describes their journey and provides sage advice. Ari Merten did not disappoint! You can read a transcript of his speech here. This assembly seeks to motivate and inspire our students to value the diligence, perseverance and organisation required to perform consistently at the top level. The Academic Honours Assembly also recognised the efforts and achievements of our High School students, across Semester 2, 2021. The Principal Awards for (combined) Academic Effort and Achievement are awarded, across each Year Group. This is followed by the presentation of the coveted Principal’s Gold Awards, which recognise those students who scored perfect (A) grades in every subject, across both effort and achievement.

Year 12 Wellbeing and Careers 

Year 12 students enjoyed a Wellbeing and Careers session on Tuesday morning with a panel of 2021 alumni (Georgia Kahane, Romi Lapidge and Ari Merten). The Q&A focused on all aspects of managing the excitement, stresses and responsibilities of Year 12 and the students asked a number of pertinent questions. The panelists shared their insights on how to manage stress, organise their schedules, manage a range of other commitments such as student leadership, extra-curricular activities and part time jobs. Thanks to Claire Pech and Christian Bell for organising this valuable event.

An evening to connect – in person!

Last years New Parents Welcome event, held fortuitously between lockdowns

Every year we welcome new parents to the School as well as existing parents who may have a child starting at Emanuel. I am delighted that on Monday 21 March  we will be finally be hosting our first face-to-face event – our New Parents Welcome Evening. This is a very exciting milestone and I look forward to meeting the new and ‘not-so-new’ members of our wonderful parent body. 

Making a difference in our community – Tikkun Tonga

In late January, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai undersea volcano violently erupted, disrupting the lives of many Tongan families. The resultant tsunami caused widespread devastation, with communication lines between parts of Tonga and the rest of the world cut off. This has made it nearly impossible for families to remain connected and for proper assistance to be provided. The disaster also directly impacted an Emanuel family, as their relatives’ village was destroyed during the tsunami, resulting in a lack shelter, food, and water. Emanuel families can make a difference, by contributing to an essential item collection, planned for Week 6.

The High School SRC is asking that Year 7 and 8 bring in tinned vegetables and fruit, Year 9 and 10, toiletries and Year 11 and 12, cutlery and kitchen utensils, this coming Monday to the MPH upon arrival to school.

Primary students are invited to bring two of the following items to school next week: flour, sugar, rice, tinned fish, tinned vegetables, cooking oil, washing powder, dishwashing liquid, tea towels, shampoo, soap, sanitary pads, baby wipes, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Primary parents, please read Ma Koreh in this edition of Ma Nishma for further information. 

We are grateful for the way our community practises Tikkun Olam, providing support and care for those in need.

Making a difference in our community – Kids Giving Back

A group of our students and their families were involved in programs run by Kids Giving Back that provided opportunities to assist vulnerable people in the community. Their dedication to helping others during tough times truly illustrates the generous nature of our younger generations, and their desire to be part of changing their community, and the world, for good. During the recent COVID wave and the December /January school holiday period, our students contributed to over preparing and distributing over 5000 meals, care packs and new backpacks of school supplies for those in need.

Our students participated in their leisure time and the program facilitators were unanimous in their praise for the enthusiasm and engagement of all our young participants. Mazal tov to Sammy and Josh Ipp, Nadav Pollak, Liam, Alessia and Nava Frankham, Remi Moses, Levi Wasserman, Hugo Scaife, Louis Berg, Sam McKenzie, Miles Borovik, Yoni and Ariel Efrat, Nathan Joshua, Tabitha Masnick, Aaron Eisenberg, Toby Allen, and Orlando van der Starre.

Making a difference – Ukraine

The past weeks have seen the situation the Ukrainian people dramatically escalating. We pray for a swift peaceful solution and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been and will be affected by this senseless war and the destruction that it leaves in its wake. 

There are many ways to show support for the Ukranian people and a number of charitable organisations are raising much needed funds to help with the daily needs of the Ukrainian communities.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism has launched the Ukraine Crisis Fund to provide assistance to the Jewish community in Ukraine as has JewishKharkiv.org, run by Rabbi Moshe and Miriam Moskowitz who live in Kharkov, Ukraine. There are many other non-denomination organisations raising funds too, including, but certainly not limited to Voices for Children, Ukraine Crisis Appeal, Save the Children, UN Women and Choose Love.

Mazal tov

• Zac Urbach recently set a new regional record in the 200m with a personal best of 22.45s and placed 3rd in the 100m and 200m at the Junior State Championships, now qualifying for nationals.
• Eden Levit showed great speed, placing 6th in the state in the 100m and 7th in the 200m.
• Alex Kirievsky competed in the hammer throw, shot put, and javelin throws at the State Championships. With an outstanding throw of 33.34m, Alex won the event and placed 4th and 8th in shot put and javelin respectively. 

Quote of the week

“…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” – Isaiah 2:3–4