Volume 26 Issue 8 24 Mar 2017 26 Adar 5777

From the Principal

From the Principal

By now most of you will know that I have indicated to the Emanuel School Board that I will retire at the end of 2017. I want to make sure that you know of my reasons for leaving this great school.

The last 8 years at Emanuel School have been the most fulfilling of my career – leading our school which has such a positive culture of support and focus on learning has been a great highlight. Getting to know each staff member, our students and so many parents has been a real privilege.

This year 2017 marks my 41st year in education in a career that has included government, Catholic, Anglican and Jewish Schools; girls only, boys only and co-educational schools; and positions ranging from Teacher of Mathematics, Head of Department, Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching, and Principal; as well as Year Patron, Sports Organiser and Mathematics Inspector for the then NSW Board of Studies.

Being Principal has been fulfilling and also all-consuming – for the past eight years, even when walking in Nepal, I have not stopped thinking about Emanuel School and its so many facets. It is time now to give more time to my family – to my husband John who retired eight years ago, to my mum who at 92 has just moved into an aged care facility, and to my boys. There’s much to do and I get the sense that I will still be involved in education in some way in the future, but in a less intensive capacity.

In the meantime, I remain devoted to our school and every person who is part of it. I will do my utmost to assist with a smooth transition for the next Principal of Emanuel School and continue to give 110% until I finally walk out of Waxman Gate at the end of the year. I know that I will be extremely sad to leave when the time comes, and that Emanuel School will always take up a large place in my heart.

It has been an amazing week with so many good wishes expressed by the staff, students and many parents. I really appreciate all of these.

Jazz on the Hill

This event has become a wonderful inclusion in our annual calendar – our very own afternoon of good music and good company on the lawns in front of our beautiful sandstone Saunders building, with the children being entertained elsewhere on site at the same time. Make sure that you book in for this afternoon very soon, as time is running out!

It’s this Sunday 26 March here at school from 2 – 5pm and the booking link is http://tinyurl.com/JOTH2017

 A tip

If you really liked the old version of Ma Nishma where the newsletter was a pdf document, you can achieve the same outcome with the online version, by beginning the process of printing it (without actually pressing the final print button).

Mentoring program

Are you working in IT/Medicine/Engineering/Business/Digital Media/Science etc? We are working on setting up a pilot mentoring program this year for some of our students and are looking for people within our community who might be able to assist (please read the page called ‘Pilot Mentoring Program’ in this bulletin).

Special wedding this weekend

Michael Bartels, our Avoca Street Crossing person, is getting married tomorrow to Sharon. The P&F have led a collection for a community wedding present to Michael and raised over $3000, with 117 donations! This is another indication of the amazing community that Emanuel School is and makes me proud to be a part of. We wish Michael and Sharon all the very best for their future together.

Student success

Mazal tov to:

  • The SRC (Student Representative Council) for their Fete on Monday, which raised $1315 for their charity
  • The winning girls’ Years 9/10 Touch team: Tasha Lapidge, Tia Mallinick, Sienna Meyer, Zoe Miller, Alexa Narunsky, Ashlee Orleow, Chelsea Rutstein, Danielle Rutstein, Lara Rutstein, Mia Shapiro and Sarah Sharwood (see the page ‘Touch Football’
  • All of the students involved in Shave for a Cure this week

Coming up

  • Jazz on the Hill, 26 March, 2:30 – 5:00 pm (book via link on Gesher page)
  • Year 11 Three-way learning conversations (previously Parent/Student/Teacher meetings) 30 March, 4:00 – 8:00 pm
  • Year 10 Three-way learning conversations (previously Parent/Student/Teacher meetings) 3 April, 4:00 – 8:00 pm

Quote of the week

‘When it comes to innovation (and other things) brilliance is overrated, and detmination and hard work are underrated.’ [James O’Loghlin]

Best wishes for a restful and reinvigorating weekend.

Shabbat Shalom