Living on the Line
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
I hope you and your family are all well and staying safe in lockdown. We are certainly very privileged to be part of a school with such strong leadership and amazing teaching and support staff. A huge thank you to Andrew Watt, Principal, the School Board and all staff, along with a huge shout-out to all our parents and students now that remote learning and working from home has begun again so successfully. 2020 gave teachers, students and parents much practise and experience with remote learning on Zoom and other online communications applications, so most of you are probably true experts this time. A huge “thank you” also goes to members of our School community who are essential workers and must go to work.
I hope you enjoy reading this page which features good-feel news about some members of our School and extended community.
When triplets have a special birthday
7 July 2021 was a very special day for alumni triplets, Sienna, Ashne and Joshua Amoils
(Class of 2018) when they celebrated their 21st birthday and were featured on 7News that evening – a total surprise to them, organised by their mum. When they turned seven on 7 July 2000, they featured on the news at the time and made a wish to do so again when they turned 21 – some wishes do come true!
Lisa Emanuel – The Covered Wife
Author extraordinaire
Emanuel parent, Lisa Emanuel – yes, that is her surname (how cool is it to have the same surname as the school your children attend), recently published her first novel The Covered Wife. Lockdown prevented a live session with her at Gertrude and Alice Bookstore at Bondi Beach scheduled for this month but LIMMUD came to the rescue and, on Wednesday evening this week, around 150 people watched and listened on Zoom, to an interview with Lisa and Shirli Kirschner, also an Emanuel parent. Another School connection on the night was Limmud’s technical advisor, Emanuel alumnus Itai Ktalav (Class of 2013). Lisa has received numerous accolades for her book. Here is a link to an in-depth interview she did recently with Scott Whitmont.
On the big screen
Alumna Sara Ehrlich (Class of 2016) recently produced and directed a short documentary Living on the Line which has already been selected for over ten film festivals. It is being screened at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival at Cinema Nova on 24 July 2021 and at the Breckenridge Film Festival in Colorado this September. Sara’s brother Joel (Class of 2019) composed all the music for the film. Living on the Line follows the journey of a group of inspiring women as they take part in one of Australia’s first big ‘all women’ highline gatherings (walking on rope suspended between cliffs!). Sara says: “I started the sport a few years ago and fell in love with challenging myself in nature and being around the kind and supportive community. The film gives an insight into the unique world of highlining – exploring the close Sydney community, physical and psychological components and misconceptions of the sport. It delves into how the world of outdoor adventure sport has transformed for women over the years and the deeper and more personal motivations for chasing this adventurous ‘life on the line’.” To see behind the scenes, updates and where to watch it, follow her on Instagram.
Sara graduated a few months ago with a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Media Arts and Production at UTS and Joel is in the first year of his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. At the moment, she is an independent film maker and currently in pre-production on a feature length documentary that she hopes to be working on for the next two years or so. Joel will be composing for this one too. She says: “It’s been very convenient to have a brother with whom I can collaborate!”
We wish both Sara and Joel all the best for this exciting new venture.
Sara and Joel Ehrlich
Friendship Circle Bakery now open
Shoshi Blackman and friend
The bakery, located at Mark Moran Vaucluse on Laguna Street Vaucluse, officially opened its doors the first week of the school holidays. Run by young adults with a disability and Chana Kavka, founder of Friendship Circle, plus volunteers including alumni Shoshi Blackman (Class of 2017) and Gabriel Wolf (Head Madrich, Class of 2018), it is currently open for retail every Friday from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. They offer delicious challah, coffee, chocolate brioche, fruit muffins and more. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to learn about occasion pop-ups and be first to know when they can extend their opening hours.
Due to the current restrictions, they have been required to temporarily reduce the number of in-person participants at their skills development program but they are engaging via Zoom, including an interactive Challah baking workshop with Sarah Younger every week. If you would like to join their Challah workshop, please keep an eye on their Facebook page for the link to purchase your Challah kit and tickets each week.
The rest of their team are still working in the bakery, bringing cheer and delicious tastes to the local neighbourhood.
Gabriel Wolf
The bakery understands that many of you are interested in contactless ordering and pick-up so they have prepared an online order form for Friday pick-ups. Orders must be placed before 3.00 pm on Wednesdays.
They are looking to brighten your day, so if you have any suggestions until things go back to “normal”, please email them to let them know or SMS 0430 093 670.
Shabbat Shalom. Stay safe and have a great lockdown weekend. We look forward to sharing more news with you next week.
If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to Sonia Newell.