From the Principal
Andrew Watt – Principal
Magical moments
Our Annual High School House Music Competition never fails to amaze and bring joy to the audience of parents, staff and students. Whilst the friendly rivalry between Houses is a feature of this competition, it is the talent, energy and enjoyment that shines from the stage that makes this event so special. Not every student gets the choreography right or sings in tune – but the impact of each House dancing and singing on stage, in costume, is spectacular.
Mazal tov to Meir House, who have won this event three times over the past four years!
A huge thank you to Adam Ezekiel, Heads of House and House Tutors, for supporting the House Madrichim and Year 12 students, as they planned and rehearsed each of the three items. Thank you to Ben Marshall and his student AV team, who managed the complexity of sound and lighting with panache.
Emanuel recognised as an Employer of Choice
I am delighted to share that Emanuel School has been officially recognised as a 5-Star Employer of Choice by The Educator magazine. From numerous submissions, The Educator handpicked only 20 schools that have demonstrated “supportive, inclusive, and aspirational environments for their staff”* and I am proud that Emanuel School is among those distinguished 20 schools, nationwide.
This remarkable achievement is testament to our focus on creating a nurturing atmosphere for our staff. It reflects the tireless efforts and unwavering commitment that each and every one of our staff members bring to our school community. We are grateful for their invaluable contributions and the profound positive impact they have on the lives of our students.
Our strong sense of community, dedication to the success and wellbeing of our students, and steadfast commitment to our core values, have played an important role in establishing a warm and inclusive environment for both our students and staff.
I was recently interviewed by The Educator, along with other Principals of 5-Star Employer of Choice schools. I encourage you to take a few moments to read this article that delves into what sets Emanuel and other award recipients apart.
*The Educator, Revealed: Australia’s 5-Star Employer of Choice 2023 awardees, 22 May 2023
The ‘flu season
As we move towards a chilly winter, we are encouraged to recall and put into practice the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The following basic principles will reduce the levels of both covid and influenza in our community, thus protecting our vulnerable students, staff and parents:
- COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations are a key protective factor and are highly recommended.
- Students with any symptoms should remain at home until asymptomatic.
- Testing for COVID-19 (RAHT) will identify cases early, thus minimising potential to spread.
- Wearing a mask as the numbers of infections grow is encouraged.
These measures will protect our community from a significant outbreak and allow us to engage fully in our education and enjoy our breaks.
Shavuot
Thank you to Adina Roth, Head of Jewish Life, for updating us on the Shavuot ceremony that took place this morning.
For Shavuot this year, the Primary and High School created a giant Emanuel artwork Torah scroll, where every single student coloured in a calligraphy-style Hebrew letter, which we assembled into a parchment scroll. The idea behind this is that every letter in the Torah represents a person and that as we learn and interpret the Torah we become a part of it. Today, the School engaged in a Shavuot ceremony with the overarching question: “What really happened on Mount Sinai”. The students watched a student-made movie on the topic, performed plays about it, sang songs and watched a dramatic reveal of the Emanuel students’ handmade Torah scroll alongside an actual Torah. The High School turned the Lehrer Family Building (MPH) into a giant ‘house of study’ and learned texts in partnership, called Chevruta, in loud, animated voices. On completing the learning, they received a clue which became their password to a scoop of delicious gelato at recess to honour the tradition of eating dairy on Shavuot.
Chag Shavuot Sameach
Canteen closures
The canteen will be closed on Monday 29 May 2023 due to the school wide BBQ Day.
See you on Sunday
A reminder that JCA will be holding their major Community Event on Sunday where all 25 JCA members organisations will be present. We have a dedicated Emanuel School stand, with Dr Lynn Joffe (Director of the Wolanski Family Specialist Learning Centre) and Adina Roth (Head of Jewish Life) available to respond to questions about Special Needs Education and the Jewish Life of our School. Our talented musicians will be welcoming guests and I will be part of a panel of Principals of Jewish Schools, discussing the challenges and celebrations of Special Needs Education.
Our Year 10 Food Technology class baked and iced a massive 500 Emanuel School cookies, which will be available at our stand should you feel the urge for a quick and delicious snack. You’ll also be able to see the cookie stamps that were 3D printed in our Design Lab.
So many people have been involved in bringing this project to life. I am particularly grateful to the Marketing team (Michelle Favero, Belinda Levin and Isabelle Anne), Lynn Joffe and Adina Roth, Diana Springford and the Music Department, along with Lisa Starkey, Crystal Rimmer and Claudia Bloom for their time, energy and commitment.
Mazal tov
Nathan Shammay was awarded an A+ in his AMEB 6th Grade Saxophone examination. This is a significant achievement for anyone, but especially for Nathan who is only in Year 5, has only been playing since 2021, and who already devotes a significant amount of his time and attention to piano playing. Well done!
Jake Rosenfeld, Jacob Davis, Noah Dusheiko, Dean Skalrud, Noah Kessel, Eli Jocum, Noah Sherman, Rohan Britton, Aimee Danieli, Lexi Butt, Yasmine Fisher, Heidi Martin, Becky Salamon, Aviv Farhy, Sanne Nathan, Eva Nabarro, Hannah Rembach and Violet Nathanson who are our Emanuel student CDSSA Representatives who will be running at the AICES Cross Country next Thursday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
From these representatives, Aimee Danieli ranked 2nd in the U12 girls race and Violet Nathanson ranked 2nd in the U16 girls race at the CDSSA Cross Country last Thursday at the Sydney Olympic Park Cross Country course.
Coby New and Reece Carr have been selected to compete at the CIS Football Championships next week on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 May at Valentine Park.
Mariah Lewy has been selected to represent CDSSA Opens Girls Team to compete at the AICES Netball Championships at Netball Central at Sydney Olympic Park.
Quote of the week
“Live your life, sing your song. Not full of expectations. Not for the ovations. But for the joy of it.” ~ Rasheed Ogunlaru, life and leadership coach, motivational speaker and author
Wishing our Emanuel community a Chag Shavuot Sameach