The end of the School year is approaching fast:

• Year 12, 2018 have completed their HSC Examinations and appear quite relaxed.
• Year 12, 2019 have commenced their HSC Assessments
• Year 10, accompanied by their Tutor Ms Kristy Reed, are having an amazing time on Chavayah according to their siblings
• This week, some Year 9 students have completed their Duke of Edinburgh qualifying camp, Bronze level.
• We fondly temporarily farewell Ms Miranda Minton and Ms Sarah Clark who are taking leave next year. You will be missed by Szenes House.

From our House Captains – Mia Port and Erin Nabarro

During Term 4, Szenes spent several weeks preparing for the House Music concert, dancing and singing to songs from the 2000s. Although we did not win, we are extremely proud of the participation of our Szenesians. Additionally, Szenes has played benchball against the other Houses, coming in second place overall! In House Assemblies, we focused on ‘getting to know you’ activities; we played Cluedo, a Kahoot on facts about our Szenesians and a scavenger hunt in competition with Meir to celebrate Hanukkah. Well done to Year 8 Szenes and Ms Minton who came first overall. 

High School Speech Night

Our annual Speech Night will take place next Thursday, 13 December in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW (Gate 9 High Street).

Student attendance is compulsory; an absence due to illness requires a Doctor’s Certificate.

Students are required to attend in full formal uniform, including a blazer and tie.

Students are expected to arrive by 6.30pm and will need to see their Tutor for roll call.

 School Strike for Climate Change Inaction

On Friday 30 November, around 10,000 students, including 35 Emanuel School students, gathered at Martin Place to protest against the Morrison government’s lack of action on climate change. The strike for climate action was inspired by a 15 year old Swedish girl who skipped class and protested outside the Swedish Parliament until their September election. However, this issue isn’t just being discussed by students. David Attenborough, world famous nature broadcaster (who is 92 years old and won’t even be affected by climate change), has told world leaders at G20 that climate change could lead to the collapse of civilisations and much of the natural world. He states that it is “Our greatest threat in thousands of years.”

The response of Australian students to climate change inaction was phenomenal, and last week thousands across the country walked out of school to protest climate change inaction. The Australian Resources Minister Matt Canavan responded to the protests by saying “The best thing you’ll learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue. Because that’s what your future life will look like, up in a line asking for a handout, not actually taking charge for your life and getting a real job.” What Canavan has refused to acknowledge is that students can think for themselves and while we may not be able to vote, we are extremely informed on the current climate change situation and will use our voices to stand up for what is right – if the only way for our voices to be heard is to skip school, then so be it. As well as this, his statement is inaccurate because we ARE taking charge, by attempting to fix something that the government is doing little to acknowledge. As one poster cleverly stated “You will die of old age, we will die of climate change.” It was exciting to be a part of this historic event that will hopefully make a difference in the way climate change is being handled by political leaders. So, if we continue to discuss this pertinent issue and make sure that our voice is heard and our message is getting across, the government might just take action, starting with the banning of the Adani Coal project!

Report by Tara Linker (Year 9)

Mazal Tov

On Wednesday night at the Lionel Bowen Young Writers’ Award ceremony, Natasha Gering, came third in her division (Years 10 to 12) and will have her work published. This year’s theme was “plastics – choose to re-use and reduce”.

Quotation of the week

‘Rest and be thankful’

William Wadsworth

Wishing our Szenes families a safe and enjoyable summer break.

Hanukkah Sameach

Szenes House