Andrew Watt – Principal

Knowing when to seek professional support?

Speaking from firsthand experience, parenting can be taxing, complicated… and sometimes, a genuine joy! As our children travel through the various stages of growth and development towards adulthood, we often encounter a range of challenges – around friendships, social media, gaming and self-esteem – not to mention completing homework, maintaining a tidy bedroom and encouraging responses beyond monosyllabic grunts. The passage towards greater independence can often be two steps forward, one step back! If a student reaches the end of their High School journey without encountering some significant stumbling blocks along the way, they can count themselves fortunate.

Our teachers and wellbeing team provide instruction, care and support, seeking to establish high expectations and maintain a steady rhythm of daily routines. Despite embedding a strong wellbeing culture, conditions emerge that may result in limited emotional regulation, inattentiveness, significant mood swings, learning difficulties or anti-social behaviour. Behavioural issues that require no diagnosis can also become entrenched issues. As parents, how do you know what your child’s behaviour is telling you? When do you seek a professional assessment? When do you talk to the School about how we can best support your child? When do you take some extra time to be with your child to reassure them and comfort them? When (and how) do you make it clear the behaviour is unacceptable?

The answer to these questions can be boiled down to… “as soon as possible”. If a condition is detected and diagnosed early on, the chances of a successful intervention increase significantly. A knowledge of the condition or issue helps us to put in place specific interventions. If a diagnosis is not found, external professionals still provide both young people and their parents with a range of insights and strategies to assist in managing the challenges that they are facing. Each year, many of our students are supported through individual plans that involve a team of external professionals working with our wellbeing team. There is no blame, no ‘pigeon holing’ – just a plan to support our young people and parents to navigate through difficult times.

The joy of Purim

A procession of students and staff dressed in a variety of colourful costumes entered the Waxman Gates on Monday morning, with lively music playing in the background. Purim Parades across Kornmehl to Year 12 showcased the creative themed costumes and dancing talent. Students in Years 2 to 6 enjoyed a Purim Picnic, and a range of Purim activities. It was a special moment when our High School students (with a small group of staff and parents) read the entire Megillah, complete with booing, cheering and ’meh’ at the appropriate times. Another special moment was when Orlando Van Der Starre shared the reading, as part of his Bar Mitzvah. Gifts of food and drink were donated to those in need and the High School students enjoyed a Purim-style festive meal of pizza for lunch – with fairy floss  and snow-cones, sponsored by the Office of the Principal, also known as ‘Ken.’ Our students also engaged in Purim-themed games like mask-making, trying to make Mr Messiah laugh and tea-tasting inspired by the characters of the Megillah! Purim 2024 was a day to remember. A huge thank you to our Director of Jewish Life, Adina Roth; Head of Primary Jewish Life, Adam Carpenter; Head of Informal Jewish Life, Kobi Bloom and Coordinator of Jewish Life (K-2) Hagit Bar-On and their wonderful teams. Enjoy the many photos that appear in this week’s edition of Ma Nishma.

Parent Lounge 

With only two more weeks until the end of the term, our staff are busy putting the final plans into place for our new student management system which will launch on 2 May 2024. I have shared a number of the features of this new system, and the parent interface called Parent Lounge, in previous editions of Ma Nishma. If you haven’t read these updates yet, you can access past copies by clicking here. 

You’ve Never Mattered More

I look forward to seeing you at JCA’s Annual Event on 7 April 2024 at the Sydney Opera House. Our students will be representing the School in the choir, with students from other Jewish Day Schools and members of the community who hold a tune better than I! Students will also be greeting guests and collecting pledge cards. I believe that there are only 50 tickets left for this important event. Book now by clicking here.

Mazal tovs 

Mazal tov to the following students on their success:

• Sierra Miller who will compete in the 200m Individual Medley at the NSWPSSA Swimming Championships on Saturday 11 May 2024.
• Siena Kery who has been selected to represent ASISSA at the Primary CIS Netball Championships and Selection Trials on Friday 17 May 2024.
• Daniel Millner who was awarded the winner of his heat in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition and is through to the Regional Finals.
• The U15 Girls Netball Team remained undefeated at the CDSSA Netball Championships ultimately winning the Grand Final against a strong Moriah team. 
• The Open Girls Netball Team who secured 3rd place overall at the CDSSA Netball Championships.
• Hayley Kanevsky, Indigo Trope, and Layla Aronstan for being selected into the CDSSA Netball Team.
• Year 4 students who were excellent representatives of the School. Gary Starr from Starr’s Planetarium visited the students and sent me this wonderful feedback. “I just wanted to say that it is always a pleasure visiting your school. Your students were great. They were engaged, respectful, and well-behaved. They asked some excellent questions, and I hope I have inspired them to learn more about our universe. You and your staff should be very proud of them.” 

Quote of the week

“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” ~ Leonard Cohen