From the Principal
Andrew Watt – Principal
Voting for our 2022-2023 Madrichim
Our Primary School and High School student leadership teams make a significant contribution to shaping our culture and promoting genuine student voice and agency. Voting for the High School leadership positions will take place early in Term 3, and for the Primary School, late in Term 4. Our K-12 student committee and team structures spread the leadership responsibilities beyond the Madrichim. Current student led Ve’adim (committees) in the High School include:
- Student Representative Council (SRC)
- Social Action Va’ad
- Sustainability Va’ad
- Jewish Life Va’ad
In the Primary School, every Year 6 student has the opportunity to contribute to a leadership team across several key areas. Our Year 11 students have participated in a leadership preparation program (Nitzavim), conducted by Mr Bloom, Mr Ezekiel, Mr Bell, and the Year 11 House Tutors. Our aim is to promote a spirit of collective responsibility in the senior leadership year. We are grateful to Ms Lowe, Mr Ezekiel, and Mr Bloom, for mentoring our current Madrichim.
We will be addressing the importance of voting wisely, to appoint leaders with integrity, wisdom, and humility in our High School assemblies, in the lead up to the vote. This would be a good topic for a conversation with your children!
Strong performances in athletics
The standard of competition was consistently high at our High School Athletics Carnival, with a range of personal best performances across both track and field events. The sunny but cool conditions and the dry track at Hensley Athletics Stadium were perfect for our athletes. Our staff and students enjoyed a day of fierce but friendly Inter-House rivalry and close competition. Mazal tov to the many record breakers
- Zac Urbach: 17 boys 100m new record time 11.29
- Eli Jocum: 13 boys 800m new record 2:39.70
- Jonah Trope: 17 boys 800m new record 2:17.90
- Remy Waller: 18 boys High Jump new record 1.75m
- Tammy Kurlanski: 18 girls High Jump new record 1.26m
- Shai Farhy: 16 boys High Jump new record 1.71m
- Ellie Morris: 18 girls Shot Put new record 7.51m
- Szenes House: Intermediate girls 4x100m relay new record 1:00.86
- Rabin House: Senior Boys 4x100m relay new record 47.57
A big thank you to Mr Francis and his efficient staff team, for an enjoyable and productive carnival, and to Ofer Levy for capturing the spirit of the day (and some amazing action shots) in photographs.
Bringing out the winter woollies
The recent cold snap, with 4-degree Celsius mornings, has seen many students enter our gates wearing puffer jackets and hoodies. The motley mix of brands and colours is not a good look and does not meet our uniform standards. Your support is appreciated in sending your children to school in appropriate winter uniform. On very cold days, it may be wise for students to wear a warm, white thermal undergarment, in addition to their shirt, jumper and blazer. Thick black tights may also be worn to keep warm while long trousers are also good barriers against the morning chill. We will require students to hand in inappropriate uniform which will be handed back at the end of the day.
Queen’s Birthday Honours list
This year we celebrate Emanuel School parent, Andy Kuper OA, and past-parent and Vice-President of the Board, Shira Sebban OAM, who were both recognised on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for their contributions to society. The comments of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) were spot on: “Recipients share some common traits – including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service. They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways. This diversity is a strength and each has impacted their community and made it better.
“For that, we thank them and, today, we celebrate them. Collectively the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the very best of Australia.”
Quote of the week
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead, American Cultural Anthropologist