Andrew Watt – Principal

Success depends upon previous preparation…

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.“ (Confucius). This should be a common refrain, as the HSC Examinations approach! A rigorous and systematic program of home revision will lay a solid foundation for a personal best performance. High level organisational skills are needed, to extract the most value from time spent studying. Tried and proven methods of consolidating knowledge and skills exist and can be leveraged to enhance academic performance. Best practice methods of compiling study notes, time management, developing draft responses, seeking and applying feedback form just part of the recent study skills program, Ace your Exams, presented by Elevate. Our Director of Studies, Mr Abelson, provides a fuller picture of this program, and other ways that we are supporting our Year 12 students (and indeed, all our students) in this edition – a must read for Year 12 parents and a measure of reassurance for all parents.

Wearing our uniform with pride

Whilst we all agree that it is “what is in the inside us” (character, values) that is most important, we would be wise not to underestimate the weight that the appearance of our student has on the public’s view of our school. Our students are encouraged regularly to take pride in their uniform and appearance, and to remind themselves of the privilege they enjoy being part of the Emanuel School community. Our messages at assembly focus on each student being part of something bigger, something special – and that sometimes this calls for a unified compliance with our uniform standards and our rules relating to jewellery and make-up. As partners in the educational journey, our parents are encouraged to ensure that their child(ren) walk out the front door with tidy uniform and without excess jewellery, as per our Uniform Guidelines.

Shevet Achim Ve’achayot – our exciting music video project  

We are in the process of creating a music video that celebrates the Emanuel community, from Kornmehl to Year 12 and includes our staff, parents, grandparents and alumni. Each Year group and our adult choir will be singing different verses, and we will join together as a community for the chorus. In singing this song, Shevet Achim Ve’achayot, we are saying: “We are here for each other, and we are here for Israel”.

As our Director of Jewish Life, Adina Roth, explained at our High School Assembly: “We say in our prayers Hinay mah tov uh mah na’im shevet achim gam yachad – how good and how pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to sit together. That is us, the Emanuel community. This same music video is also an expression of unity and empathy with our brothers and sisters in Israel who need our support now, more than ever: Shevet Achim Ve’achayot, a tribe of brothers and sisters”. 

Parent Lounge: Your Gateway to Streamlined School Communication!

Last week I introduced you to the Parent Lounge, your gateway to streamlined school communication. If you would like to refer back to my article to brush up on what I shared, please click here.

FAQs for this week:

When will I start using the Parent Lounge?

The Parent Lounge will be available from 2 May 2024 – the start of Term 2.

How will I access it?

On 2 May 2024, all you’ll need to do is go to the existing Parent Portal and click on the new button called ‘Parent Lounge’. You’ll then be asked to enter your log in details. Please don’t worry if you’ve forgot them. There is a ‘forgot password’ link that will help you to set up a new one. It may even save you time to go to the Parent Portal now if you have forgotten your sign in details so that you are ready to go on 2 May 2024.

What will I need to do in the Parent Lounge on 2 May 2024?

On 2 May 2024 we will ask you to log in and navigate to your child’s record. You will notice that all your children who are enrolled will be listed, along with their key contact details, as well as yours and other parents/main carers. All we will ask is for you to check the information and tell if there are any changes. It is essential that we have your correct details as this affects all our communications with you.

Besides contact details, what else will be available on 2 May 2024?

As there is so much data to transfer and many new features, it will take some time for all the functions of the Parent Lounge to become available.

From 2 May 2024, in addition to your contact details, you’ll be able to see and update your child’s medical information. While this may not seem to be a terribly exciting ‘first contact’ with the Parent Lounge, the success of the project lies in having the correct data. Additional features will follow, including the ability to receive communications from the School in one place without clogging your inbox and the launch of an exciting new app, giving you the power of the Parent Lounge, on the go.

The move from one student management system to another is a massive task and our staff have been working above and beyond on this project for over a year now. I am so grateful for their dedication and enthusiastic response to what is the biggest Emanuel IT challenge for decades.

Next week, we’ll share more the many exciting new features that you will find in the Parent Lounge and how they will help streamline all school communication!

Mazal tov

Mazal tov to the following students on their success:

• Ryan Miller (12 Years Boys) and Sierra Miller (Junior Girls) who achieved Age Champion awards for the second year in a row at ASISSA Swimming Carnival.  
• Alessia Frankham (Junior Girls), Zella Benko (11 Years Girls) and Layla Kahn (12 Years Girls) who finished in third place in the Age Champion placings at ASISSA Swimming Carnival.
• Sierra Miller, who broke three 9-year old girls’ records that had stood since the 1990s and won the award for 12-and-under Swimmer of the Meet at the Maccabi NSW Jewish Swimming Championships; Jack Kessel, who won silver and Aviv Farhy, who set a new 50m backstroke record for her age, having won silver in the Open Women’s 100m freestyle race earlier. Aviv also won the 13-and-under Swimmer of the Meet award.
• Levi Abitz, Zella Benko, Bowie Berger, Alessia Frankham, Dan Garfinkel, Max Hart, Layla Kahn, Samara Kahn, Ravi Keller, Ryan Miller, Sierra Miller, Dylan Pal, Bianca Ross and Jay Teeger who will compete at the CIS Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 27 March at Homebush.
• Jake Rosenfeld and Aviv Farhy for taking out the age champion for their age groups at CDSSA Swimming Championships.
• Jack Kessell, Jake Rosenfeld, Mia Goodridge, Aviv Farhy, Nathan Niek, Tali Same, Javer Cohen and Arnott Jordan who all qualified for CDSSA Swim Team and will now compete at the AICES Swimming Championships at SOPAC on Friday 5 April 2024. 

Quote of the week

“When you’re all singing together, it brings things together. I know the songs that my grandfather and my father sang.” ~ Terry Pratchett, author