Andrew Watt – Principal

Save the Date: JCA’s Evening of Dangerous Ideas

Impact Strategist and Futurist, Phill Nosworthy, will be the facilitator at the JCA’s upcoming Evening of Dangerous Ideas which promises to be an insightful and inspiring event. The evening will take the form of Ted-style talks delivered by 4 visionaries in their field. This short video featuring Phill Nosworthy, will encourage you to book your seats soon! 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea7CJFltd9A

For bookings and more information on what promises to be an inspiring evening, visit www.jca.org.au/ideas

“Our Jewish Community faces a critical moment in history; social media and online communities are replacing real connection; our unique identity is being challenged from many directions; Holocaust memory is under threat; and being fully inclusive remains elusive.” JCA

Thank You for the Music

In addition to being an ABBA song in the late 1970s, it is also an apt acknowledgement of the significant contribution that David Gwilliam has made to our Music Program over the past 5 years. Mr Gwilliam will commence an exciting new role as Head of Music Performance at St Aloysius College on 21 May. Mr Gwilliam’s legacy includes an outstanding musical performance program and a very successful, comprehensive academic program. Mr Gwilliam will be sadly missed and we will advertise for his replacement later in the year. As an interim measure, I am pleased to announce that Ms Diana Springford has been appointed as Acting Head of Music Performance and K-6 Curriculum, with Mr Daniel Burley as Acting Head of 7-12 Music Curriculum. Another long serving member of our Music staff, Ms Susan Longney, has let us know that she has accepted a teaching position in a school in Canberra, where her family have relocated. Mr Alex Hone, her current temporary replacement, has accepted a permanent position at Emanuel. Mr Hone will be a valuable addition to our teaching team.

Temporary Replacement for Joseph Peacock

Unfortunately, over the term break, Mr Joseph Peacock was injured in a motorbike accident, requiring him to wear a neck brace, with restricted movements. He will need time to recover before returning to us later this term. If everything goes well, we will welcome Mr Peacock back to School in Week 7 of this term. We have employed Ms Cara Norman to take over from Mr Peacock in his absence. Ms Norman comes to us with 9 years’ experience as a Mathematics and Science teacher and has been described by her referees as both adaptable and competent. She has strong experience teaching Senior Chemistry, Stage 4 & 5 Science and has delivered both the British National Curriculum and International Baccalaureate Curriculum. Under observation by peers and governing bodies, her lessons have been rated ‘Outstanding’, indicative of her ability to individualise her lessons to each of her students’ learning needs. Ms Norman’s class results have been consistently impressive. She has extensive experience designing and developing schemes of work, has mentored other teachers, and has been a Form Tutor.

Strategic Review of ICT

The School Board and Executive team have embarked on a journey to complete an ICT Review with a focus on communication effectiveness, school applications, risk and data integrity. This is an excellent opportunity to build on our position of strength to ensure that our investment in technology supports the needs of our students, staff and community. The ICT Strategic Review and Plan forms the foundation for any technology initiatives and identifies the ICT vision, priorities for the School, supporting strategies and guiding principles to meet current and future pedagogy and business needs. We have engaged with the AIS (Association of Independent Schools) and CMC to progress on the ICT Strategic Review. The aim of the review is to provide unbiased perspective-based outcomes and a way forward for improving the effectiveness of the ICT environment. As part of this process, the consultants interview diverse groups of staff, students and parents throughout the School. The views of our parents are one really important part of this process and interviews will be held on Tuesday 15 May. All parents will be invited to provide feedback via email.

Reducing our carbon footprint

In 2017, as part of the Solar my School program, we received a report that included a proposal for the installation for a 92kW solar system to the campus’ LINC and MPH buildings. Investing in solar power was estimated to save approximately $18,000 a year, which would cover the cost of installing solar in around 6 years. Over the break, we installed the 92kW system that was added to our already existing 8kW of solar, remaining under the threshold for the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The solar system is set to use 83% of the energy produced on site, with only around 17% exported to the grid, placing Emanuel School as one the 1^st Eastern Suburb school to install this size system.

 Kornmehl Car Park

We have noticed several parents from Emanuel School (who are not Kornmehl parents) using the Kornmehl car park to drop off and pick up their children in the mornings and afternoons. Some Emanuel School parents are also parking their car in the Kornmehl car park while they walk their children up to Emanuel School. As you would appreciate, this has generated some issues, in terms of our Kornmehl drop off queue.

We ask that all Emanuel School parents use our Go with the flow system, or park in the surrounding streets, if you need to walk into Emanuel School with their children. Your ongoing support in managing our traffic flow at drop off and collection times is sincerely appreciated.

Mazal Tov

• Aaron Eisenberg in Year 1 who was part of a team of 22 Kids Giving Back volunteers who prepared and served scones and spent time interacting with a group of elderly people during the term break.
• Karen Davids, Year 12 2017, for her recent nomination for the Young Writers Showcase, a book published each year that includes the best English Extension 2 Major Works. 

Quote of the Week

Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school, every boy and girl should know how much they do not know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it.

William Haley