Andrew Watt – Principal

Celebrating our outstanding academic achievers

Our Annual Academic Honours Assembly, held on Tuesday, recognised our top achievers in the 2023 HSC and those students across Years 7-11 who achieved both outstanding academic achievement and effort grades in their Semester 2 report. No less than thirteen of our high performing students in the class of 2023 returned, to receive a medal and to enjoy a morning tea with our Executive and their Year 12 teachers. Arielle Melamed (Dux) and Joshua Leslie (Proxime Accessit to Dux) shared their advice and experience with our students, which was well received. You can read their speech in this edition of Ma Nishma by clicking here.

Julian Abelson, our Director of Studies, spoke to our students on the impact of sleep on learning and memory. For many students, staying awake all night to study is common practice. In recent surveys, 20% of students reported pulling all-nighters at least once a month, and 35% reported staying up past 3.00 am once or more a week. According to recent research, however, staying up all night to study is one of the worst things you can do for your grades. Sleep has a significant impact on learning and memory; sleeping before studying can help our students learn information, and sleeping after studying can help our students remember what they learned. Mr Abelson also talked about how different sleep stages like REM sleep, light Non-REM, and deep Non-REM play a role in our ability to learn and remember.

Mazal tov to Benjamin Bergheim, Year 8, on his Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Effort and Achievement

The Academic mentors for each Year 12 student promote the value of both a balanced lifestyle and adequate sleep, in the lead up to the HSC examinations. Mr Abelson is currently exploring how he can meet with each student, applying the Year 12 data to provide individual guidance on their study plans, based on their units, performance to date and scaling. Students will be offered the opportunity to meet with Mr Abelson, to commence this new initiative.

With each set of semester reports, our students have the opportunity to receive a Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and/or Outstanding Academic Effort. The much-coveted, Gold Principal’s Award requires an ‘A’ grade across every academic outcome and effort grade on their report.

Congratulations to the following Gold Award recipients:

• Tamar Granot
• Leah Zipser
• Gil Banna
• Hannah Fekete
• Leah Joshua
• Noah Revelman
• Emily Seemann
• Akeisha Kantor
• Chloe Csavas
• Liberty Waldner
• Tamarah Aaron
• Willow Gelin

The academic performance of our students remains a top priority. The focus of our current strategic plan is to unleash the potential of every student. This encompasses developing each student’s mindset, skillset, knowledge and values. Our aim is for every student to achieve the best academic outcomes of which they are capable.

“Choose life”

This week we were privileged to host three Israelis, each with an important message and story to tell. Haviv Retig Gur, a veteran Israeli journalist and senior analyst for The Times of Israel, shared his views on the war in Gaza and increasing attacks from Lebanon. He delved into the terrorist mindset and provided the students with a detailed description of the vast tunnel system underneath Gaza. Despite the topics covered, Haviv’s overall message shone light on the one positive outcome of this terrible war – the strength and unity of the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora. 

Itay (left) and Yuval (right) take a selfie with the Year 11 students.

Yuval Fatiev, aged 20, a Staff Sergeant in the Golani Brigade and Itay Sagy, 25, a reservist in the Maglan Unit, are in Australia sharing their harrowing experiences in Gaza with our community – some of you may have heard their stories at the ZDVO event on Tuesday night at Central Synagogue. Both young men spoke to our Year 11 students sharing their experiences of being severely injured in Gaza – Yuval by a bomb placed under his tank during fierce fighting on October 7, which seriously wounded his leg, and Itay, who was hit in the neck by the shrapnel of a grenade on October 11.

Both men spent months in recovery, meeting by sharing a hospital room, and with the help of the ZDVO Beit Halochem, are recovering physically and emotionally. What struck me most was their positive outlook and resilience. Their message – which they repeated time after time, struck a deep chord – “Choose life”. Our students asked insightful and interesting questions, with the answers leaving them with much to think about regarding their outlook on life and the power that each of us have to choose our attitude to any given situation. 

Thanks to Adina Roth, Director of Jewish Life, for arranging for these inspiring individuals to share their experiences and uplifting messages with us during this dark time. 

Our Primary Library is now open! 

With the recent move into our much loved and highly functional B’Yachad Building, the vacated Kindergarten space has been renovated to accommodate our beautiful new Primary Library. We are delighted with the colourful design, comfortable furniture and functionality of this important learning space. Moving, sorting and re-shelving an entire library of books is no small feat. Our thanks to our Head of Library and Information Services K-6, Samantha Rogut, and Library Assistant, Lynda Savanis. Parents are invited to have a ‘sneak peek’!

Swimming Carnival

Last week our Years 3-6 students took part in their annual Swimming Carnival at Des Renford Leisure Centre. The excited swimmers gave their very best and I was thoroughly impressed with their determination and House spirit. Thank you to Stuart Taylor, Primary Sport Coordinator and all staff who helped make the day the resounding success it was. We have prepared a gallery of a selection of these photos in this edition. Click here to enjoy a selection of the gorgeous photos that Ofer Levy, our parent photographer, took on the day.

Mazal tov

• The Open Girls Oztag Team won the Easts Oztag Competition Finals, with Amelie Trope scoring five tries, leading the team to victory.

Quote of the week

“My perspective on life and what’s important to me has changed. Life is more simple than you think. Before October 7 I was focused on what was good for me. Now I look outside myself more. I want to do good things for the world, not just for myself.” ~ Itay Sagy, IDF reservist, survivor of terrorist attack in Gaza