Anne Hastings – Principal

Our new leaders

We held our Induction Assembly for our new student leaders this week. Here is an excerpt from my speech on leadership in general.

“Leaders need to be good people, who strive towards excellence, who enact values that will benefit the community. They need to be able to manage themselves. ‘Greatness on the outside begins within’, says Robin Sharma – ‘it’s just not possible to unlock the best in your teammates without first being connected with the best in you … lead yourself first. Only then will you get to a place as a person where you can lead other people.’ 

The phrase ‘walk the talk’ is what is meant here – leaders need to be true to what they value and to act authentically, doing what they promise they will do, to build that all-important trust. As Albert Einstein said: ‘Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.’ I challenge our new student leaders to think deeply about how they will engender and maintain trust in them, as individuals and as a group, for all of our School community – students, staff and parents.

Head Madrichim Gabriel Wolf and Genevieve Goldman giving their first speech in their new roles

Another aspect of leadership is courage. All of the students who put themselves forward for a position showed courage. They showed they are willing to step out of their comfort zone and take a risk in nominating for the election. They indicated their willingness to serve our School and the students in it. As the elected students settle into their roles and reality hits, they will see that enacting their roles also requires courage.

They will need to speak at Assemblies and meetings, organise events, be proactive in encouraging students to get involved, and to stand out in ways they have not previously. Sometimes they may need to take a stand that is not necessarily popular. For students who have been more comfortable hiding than shining their light, these things take courage. Our student leaders will find strengths they did not realise they had, and we need to provide for them the safe, non-judgemental environment that will support this growth.

Above all, leadership is a choice. Every day each of us has a choice to take a leaders’ view of the way we run our lives. There are many opportunities – we just need to open our minds and hearts and make the opportunities work, whether we have a leadership title or not.”

P&F

The P&F’s major fundraising event for the year has opened for bookings. This is the Comedy for a Cause Night, at the School on Saturday 19 August. It promises to be a very entertaining evening, and also brings the opportunity to connect with friends, make new ones and partake of some of our canteen’s delicious food.

Please consider supporting their initiative and the School. You can book at comedyforacause.net/ES

Breakfasts with Emanuel

Have you ever wondered how the teaching and learning of English has changed over the years and how to best help your son/daughter to build their written and oral skills? David Camp, our Head of English, will be discussing these and other aspects of English at the upcoming Breakfasts with Emanuel. We’ll also hear from our newly appointed Head Madrichim, Genevieve Goldman and Gabriel Wolf, and catch up with the latest around the School. Please make your booking urgently to ensure you can join us for one of two sessions:

• The Little Space in Bondi Junction next Wednesday 2 August from 7.30 am to 9.00 am.
• KPMG, Barangaroo, Wednesday 9 August from 7.30 am to 9am

See the invitation here in Community Connections for more details and RSVP now to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Mazal tov to:

• Sonia Redman (Year 11), for moving forward to the final rounds of the Mikolot Public Speaking competition
• All the students who have been awarded the title of ‘Best Debaters’ in the South Sydney region for the first 4 rounds of debates: Jake Newfield, Ethan Zines, Eden Levit, Miriam Stubbs-Goulston (Year 6), Eden Glass (Year 7), Lara Fosbery (Year 8), Isabella Flax (Year 10), Lara Joffe, Liahm Simon (Year 11) – see the page on Debating in this newsletter for more information

Coming up

• East Timor Trip: 30 July – 9 August
• HSC Trial Examinations: 31 July – 11 August
• Year 8 Subject Selections meeting for Year 9 2018: Tuesday 1 August, 7 pm
• Breakfast with Emanuel, The Little Space Bondi Junction: Wednesday 2 August, 7:30 – 9:00 am
• Breakfast with Emanuel, KPMG in the city: Wednesday 9 August, 7:30 – 9:00 am

Quote of the week
‘There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.’ [Nelson Mandela]

Best wishes for an enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

Shabbat Shalom

Our new Madrichim