Anne Hastings – Principal

This week at Emanuel School

In a short week our students had opportunities to be involved in a wide range of activities, along with their usual subject lessons. On Tuesday our basketballers played in the CDSSA Basketball Gala Day at Bankstown and the HICES Debating teams travelled to Thomas Hassall High School for their Round 4 debates. On Wednesday Year 11 Studies of Religion students participated in Interfaith at St Paul’s Manly, Year 10 Art students were engaged by Ellie Faktor, Guest Artist, Year 12 students had their usual morning careers talk and our students in the cast of ‘Legally Blonde’ had a full dress rehearsal.

On Thursday ‘Legally Blonde’ students had a second day of dress rehearsals and are ready for their opening night next week, for which we are eagerly awaiting. Samara Trenaman competed in the CIS Cross Country Carnival at Eastern Creek Raceway, Years 9 and 11 Jewish Studies students had the privilege to hear from Rabbi Greenberg, an amazing speaker who had presented at Limmud Oz, and students had a non-uniform day to raise funds for Brain Cancer.

Today saw the students at school ablaze in their House colours to compete in the annual Athletics Carnival and a few students competed in the UNSW Programming Comp in the afternoon.

Some might ask “When do they do their academic learning with so many other opportunities?” While these days seem like they are packed with events and activities, the opportunities relate to specific groups in the School and so do not often impact the same students. Many of the events are incorporated into the curriculum and happen during class time. All of the events present wonderful learning opportunities and reinforce for the students that they are learning all their lives, both within and outside the classroom.

The next two weeks will continue to be busy, with the Opening night of our High School Production, ‘Legally Blonde’ on Wednesday 21 June and a further 3 performances in the following days. We will also introduce at Assembly all of the Year 11 students who are putting themselves forward for a leadership role for the next year. Voting opens for student leadership positions next Tuesday and we hope to be able to announce the new team before the end of the term.

Reports

Teachers have been working on formal academic reports for each student. We will be sending emails with links to the reports in the next two weeks, beginning with Year 11 reports, which were sent today. Please read the reports carefully with your son/daughter and help them take careful note of their teachers’ suggestions for improvement so they can develop an action plan for Terms 3 and 4.

Staff news

Lior Misrachi

Our much-appreciated Lior (teacher of Hebrew in Primary and High School) will move with her family to Israel at the end of this term. We will be very sorry to see her leave us, but are also excited for her and her family that they are realising their dream of living in Israel.

We are very pleased to announce that we have secured an excellent teacher to replace Lior. Oren Thaler is an experienced and well-qualified teacher who has been teaching Hebrew at Moriah recently, having moved out from Israel 18 months ago. He will begin teaching Hebrew here at the beginning of Term 3, having had time for a handover from Lior to assist a smooth transition of Hebrew teacher for the students.

Mazal Tov to

• The Junior Boys Basketball Team 1, Ariel Odes, Matthew Bozic, Ethan De Melo, Zac Greenberg, Aaron Lemberg, Jonathan Sebban, Ben Shapiro and Jesse Waller, who won their Grand Final at the CDSSA Gala Day 
• The Junior Girls Basketball team who also qualified through to the final, going down to Galstaun College 8-18. Best and Fairest were Gabriella Goodridge and Isabella Shulz.
• The Seniors, Opens and both Middles HICES Debating teams who won their Round 4 debates this week.

Coming up

• Year 7 2018 Showcase, Monday 19 June, 7 pm
• High School Leadership (2017 – 2018) Assembly, Tuesday 20 June
• Leadership (Madrichim, House Captains, SRC representatives) voting opens
• ‘Legally Blonde’, our High School production, 21, 22, 24, 25 June
• Years 7 – 8 Art Exhibition, 21 June 4 – 5:30 pm, Angles Leadership and Learning Centre
• Years 9 – 11 Art Camp, 26 – 27 June
• East Timor Film night, Thursday 29 June, 6:30 pm, Millie Phillips Theatre
• Last day of Term 2, Friday 30 June
• First day of Term 3 for students, 18 July

Quote of the week
‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’. [John Quincy Adams]

 
Best wishes for a relaxing weekend.

Shabbat Shalom