Great success at HICES Debating!

Just yesterday afternoon we had two teams in the Grand Final of the HICES Debating competition. HICES schools are independent and co-educational, from across NSW, and these were the culminating debates of all the rounds. The Middle (Years 7 & 8) team, comprised of Beau Glass, Rebekah Goldsworthy, Elijah Grynberg and Lara Fosberry, argued the affirmative for the topic ‘That countries with poor human rights records should not be allowed to compete in the Olympics’. They discussed the benefits of allowing athletes from countries with poor human rights to compete under the Olympic banner, but not under their own country’s banner and did an extremely good job at arguing and explaining their case – so much so that they won the debate and are the Middle Division champions. The other students in the team who had debated during the preliminary and final rounds, thus helping them get to the Grand Final, were Isaac Grove, India Sacks, Ruby Hurwitz and Chloe Miller.

Then the Senior team (Years 9 & 10) debated the negative for the topic ‘Australia does not give everyone a fair go’, arguing strongly that a fair go meant equal opportunities, rather than equal outcomes. They too impressed the adjudicators and won their debate! The students who debated in the Grand Final were Sienna Amoils, Liahm Simon, Lara Joffe and Noah Solomon, with Natasha Gering, Isabella Flax and Joshua Amoils also part of the team who had debated in the previous rounds.

Both teams were coached by ex-student Anthony Small, of the class of 2011. The teachers who had supported the teams throughout the competition were Jemma Lenn-Lopis, Helen Philp and Suzanne Plume. We are very proud of the team’s success and congratulate them on this outstanding achievement. We are very grateful to Anthony, Jemma, Helen and Suzanne for their great stewardship of debating this year and also acknowledge their significant role in the School’s success in this area.  

P&F Trivia

Congratulations to the P&F on their fantastic night of Trivia last Saturday evening. This involved a huge amount of organisation by their committee and helpers, and was a great night out for those present as well as an excellent fund-raiser for the School. They have reported in more detail elsewhere in this week’s Ma Nishma. Congratulations and thanks go to Susie Rosen and Sharon Schulz, the co-chairs of the P & F, as well as the other members of their committee, on running this outstanding initiative so effectively, and to Andrew Klein for his superb role as MC for the evening, which added so much to its success.

Year 12 final reports

These were sent by email during the week, and are available through Edumate as well. Please ensure that Year 12 parents and students have received them and read them closely, since they provide much advice for our students in the lead up to their HSC Examinations that are only a few weeks away.

Our new portal

Congratulations also go to our IT team, and in particular Zoran Taleski, for our new portal for parents, students and staff, which was launched this week. This provides much improved access to communication and information for members of our community and much more seamless navigation between the various items. We hope you enjoy using it, along with our new look Ma Nishma. These represent giant steps towards improving our communication systems and we are very grateful to Zoran and his team for guiding this project towards fruition.

Evening of Song

Come along to what will be a beautiful hour and a half of song this Sunday evening at 5 pm. Adam Majsay is leading a choral spectacular, assisted by our Senior Chamber Choir and a group of alumni as well. It will be a lovely time to relax and enjoy the power of song.

Mazal tov to:

• Our AICES competitors who represented CDSSA at the recent championships, and particularly Danielle Rutstein and Oskar Beck, who will go on to CIS for High Jump and Javelin respectively
• Rebecca Waalkens and Dana Rutner (Year 12) who, as their last act of Tikkun Olam at Emanuel School, will run the Biggest Morning Tea for students next Thursday 14 September
• Our new SRC team who will host a barbeque for all HS students on Monday.

Coming up

• Senior Chamber Choir and Alumni Concert, Sunday 11 September, 5 pm
• Parent Information evening, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, Dani Klein, Monday 12 September, 7 pm
• Year 11 Drama Showcase, Tuesday 13 September, 7 pm
• Madrichim Event, Thursday 15 September 7 pm
• Year 12 Farewell Assembly and Graduation Dinner, Tuesday 20 September
• Grandparents Day and Rosh Hashanah celebration, Friday 23 September.

Quote of the week

‘Things do not change; we change.’ [Henry David Thoreau]

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend.