From the Principal
Andrew Watt – Principal
Where are we heading?
Every three years, we revisit our vision and mission, to ensure that we remain focused, relevant, and true to our values. It is from this strong foundation that our strategic planning emerges. The value of developing and implementing a strategic plan should not be underestimated, as it impacts every student and teacher across Pre-school to High School.
Recent research from the Harvard Business School reveals that 48% of leaders spend less than one day a month discussing strategy. With significant operational pressures, it is difficult to “get off the dance floor” and up to the “balcony view” (or aerial view) of our School. Our Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) was formed, in recognition of the value of creating and following a well-defined strategic plan. Our SAT discuss our strategic direction on a regular basic.
The benefits include:
- Providing a consistent and compelling direction for the School
- Prioritizing and aligning our action plans (and our spending!)
- Enhancing communication and commitment
- Providing a framework for ongoing decision making
As most parents will be aware, we are now entering the second year of our Strategic Plan, which seeks to build upon our strong foundation, culture and history of achievements. We have established five Key Commitments, aimed towards unleashing the potential of every student, so that they can make a difference in our world:
- Future-focused learning
- Wellbeing culture
- Inspired Jewish living and learning
- Learning beyond the curriculum
- Sustainable practices
Where do we go from here?
Our SAT has reviewed the progress made towards achieving the 2022 priorities under each Key Commitment. Strategy meetings have been held with staff teams across P-12. New initiatives have been developed and added to our ongoing action plan, to form our Priorities for 2023. These can be located in our Strategic Plan 2022-2024. The SAT will provide a progress report to the Board and to our parents midway through the year and at the end of the year.
Year 12 Leadership team
Our Year 12 students crossed the stage to receive their ties at assembly on Tuesday. The ties serve as a distinctive reminder that, as our most senior students, they are expected – and indeed encouraged – to make a positive and lasting impact on our culture. In their respective messages to our Year 12 students, both Mr Majsay and our Year 12 Co-ordinator, Dr Julie Duncan, highlighted the impact of their role model (actions and values), both inside and outside school. This significant influence extends well beyond our formal student leadership teams, as all of our students observe their relationships, their level of involvement in the life of the School, their commitment to learning and their alignment to the School’s values. Thankfully, the role model of our Year 12 students has been overwhelmingly positive, and they are respectful and engaged ambassadors of our School.
VET Hospitality Work Placement in Queensland
Our Year 11 Hospitality students have participated in a week-long immersive experience in the Hotel School on the Gold Coast this week. In order to gain a practical understanding of what would be involved in a career in hospitality, nothing beats the real thing! Our students have experienced working on the concierge desk, in the kitchen and across both food and beverage spaces. They have cleaned, washed up and served, in addition to setting up for events at the major theme parks and packing up at the conclusion. Hopefully, this may transfer to completing more chores at home!
Shalom’s Sydney Jewish Writers Festival – RBG
Australian actor, Heather Mitchell, with playwright, Suzie Miller, in conversation. Photo: Kathy Luu
On what would have been Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 90th birthday, 200 people gathered in the Millie Phillips Theatre to celebrate a legend, whose life as a trailblazer in the American judiciary and a fierce advocate for gender equality and reproductive rights, has influenced so many. RBG has been described by The New York Times as “an obsessive” opera lover, “the kind of aficionado who goes to dress rehearsals, and then opening nights, and then closing nights, too, for good measure”. It was therefore fitting that the evening began with a magnificent performance by Sydney-based opera singer, Elizabeth Cooper, who shared four incredible pieces from some of RBG’s favourite works.
With one spectacular treat following another, Suzie Miller, award-winning Australian playwright of RBG: Of Many, One, and actor, Heather Mitchell, took the audience on a journey, sharing RBG’s life from teenage years to her death in 2020. It was a night to remember with probing questions from interviewer, Michaela Kalowski, and the odd slip into character from Mitchell, who played RBG – one of the most iconic women of our times – in the play.
Thank you to the Marketing Team for striking up this partnership with Shalom’s Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, to bring an evening of exceptional entertainment to our School.
Mazal tov
Fantastic achievements, worthwhile of a mazal tov, this week:
- The Emanuel Firsts Basketball Squad competed against the SHORE 2nds at their home court on Tuesday. Despite going down 13 at one point, the Emanuel team fought back to win the game 75-71.
- Siblings, Ryan and Sierra Miller, were awarded Age Champion medals at the ASISSA Swimming Carnival after an outstanding day in the pool.
- I was pleased to hear that a significant number of Emanuel students and parents competed in the recent 73rd Jewish Championships, which included the Peter Michaelson Memorial Swim. Mazal tov to all those who took part. Please visit the article, Family rootsin this edition of Ma Nishma, for a list of medal winners.
Quote of the week
“Most of the time, even when I go to sleep, I’m thinking about legal problems. But when I go to the opera, I’m just lost in it.” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg z”l