Andrew Watt – Principal

Welcoming our Madrichim 2023-2024 

The recent Madrichim election process invited staff and students in Years 7-12 to vote for our formal student leadership roles. I am pleased to announce our Madrichim for 2023-2024:

As the 2022-2023 Madrichim team complete their leadership responsibilities to focus on their HSC studies, we acknowledge their outstanding role in leading and motivating our student body for the past 12 months. Trying to balance their leadership and academic commitments has been challenging, and their dedication has been both admired and appreciated. As highlighted in my Principal’s Address:

 “You have encouraged our students to engage strongly in a range of activities – and to be proud to be an Emanuel student. Thank you for reinforcing our culture of care and inclusion. Your efforts to promote our Jewish connections, our commitment to sustainability and our commitment to community service have strengthened our school culture. You have been gracious, kind, and caring leaders…. and perhaps most importantly, you have never lost your sense of perspective or humour.”

L to R: Kian Hamburger (Head Madrich 2023-24), Amelie Trope (Head Madricha 2023-24), Kobi New (Head Madrich 2022-23) and Ruby Brody (Head Madricha 2022-23)

A huge thank you to Head Madrich, Coby New and Head Madricha, Ruby Brody, for their competent, consistent and selfless service to our School.

The Madrichim 2023-2024 Induction Assembly 

This special event was held on Tuesday, and enjoyed by an audience of High School students, staff and proud families. The Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite, Federal Member for Kingsford-Smith, addressed the Madrichim before they took the pledge to serve and lead within our School. The Induction Assembly seeks to acknowledge and celebrate with those students who have committed to take on the office of our highest student leadership positions, to act as ambassadors of Emanuel and as a role model to our students. I am confident that they will be well supported by their Year 11/12 cohort, who will contribute to the Va’adot and lead strongly, regardless of whether they wear a badge.

The key challenge for our Madrichim will be how they can influence our student culture, so that our students connect deeply with our key events, our House competitions and our School. Our hope is that each student making a pledge to lead is willing to take on the challenge to be an inspirational role model and a mensch. Before each of the Madrichim made their public pledge, they were reminded that they were committing to maintain a student culture that aligns with the values of Emanuel. That is:

• To seek to include and accept everybody, to look after those who need care and support, and significantly, to listen to the voice of every student, and accord them due respect.
• To act with integrity, both inside and outside school, so that their behaviour at parties, or on the way home, matches with their behaviour at school, and that they remain above reproach in their dealings with others.
• To intervene and report any incidents of bullying, harassment or other inappropriate behaviour, even if it occurs amongst their peers.
• To serve their fellow students as best they can, by running activities, supporting events, supporting those who run events; and
• To plan their time wisely, so that their duties do not interfere with their academic and extra-curricular commitments.

Our Madrichim for 2023-2024 will commence their responsibilities this week with my support and my sincere best wishes for a productive, stretching, and enjoyable journey.

IMG_1935

IMG_1948

IMG_1946

IMG_1963

IMG_1957

IMG_1953

IMG_1913

IMG_1902

Introducing our new High School Student Representative Council (SRC)

Our high-functioning SRC has provided a strong voice for our students across the past year, as various aspects of our uniform have been under review, and a range of other issues have been addressed. It also serves as a forum for discussion, when students across the Year Groups raise a concern. The SRC is, however, best known for its fund raising efforts, through themed mufti days and barbeques. Thank you to those student who served on the SRC, and to Lara Ephron, for her oversight and support of our SRC.

Mazal tov to the recently appointed Student Representative Council for 2023-2024, who were also inducted at our Assembly on Tuesday:

Re-scheduled POU/Assessment Tasks

On any given day, a number of students are away from class due to participation in co-curricular activities, or excursion/activity, or for personal reasons. Should a student be absent on the day of a POU/assessment, in order to support the make-up of the task, supervision has been organised for Tuesday afternoons each Week A, commencing at 3.40 pm. If your son/daughter misses a POU, they will be scheduled to complete it on the next available Tuesday afternoon (Week A). Students will be expected to attend at the scheduled time.

Mazal Tov

Mazal tov to our Years 5-10 da Vinci Decathlon teams who competed against 70 other schools from all round NSW. A special mention to the teams below for their superb results. The competition was fierce and we are exceptionally proud of all our students who represented the School.

Year 5 – 1^st Legacy
Year 7 – 1^st Art & Poetry and 2^nd Creative Producers
Year 9 – 1^st Creative Producers
Year 10 – 2^nd Legacy
Year 11 – 3^rd Creative Producers

Emanuel School’s Year 7 da Vinci Decathlon team

Quote of the Week

“The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.” ~ Lewis B. Ergen, actor (1938 – 2018)