Natanya Milner – Head of Primary School

Reconciliation Week

It has been a very special week at Emanuel as we have celebrated Reconciliation Week. The week began with a dress up day and BBQ as a fundraiser for Children’s Ground. We all wore colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch.

All students were taught about reconciliation in their classes by their teachers and we were privileged to also be taught by our Year 5 students who have spent considerable time learning about reconciliation and preparing lessons for the rest of the students. We have an incredibly lucky group of students who have spent the week in the Northern Territory – both exploring magnificent sites and learning with our friends at Jilkminggan School.

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A few special thank yous for the events of this week:

Thank you to the amazing staff who are spending 8 nights with our community in the Northern Territory. Gabi Wynhausen is leading the trip and is being so well supported by Talia Hynek and Carrie Thomas. My EA, Gena Yeomans, has been an incredible support in organising the details for the trip. I would also like to thank the parents and students who are supporting our program with a spirit of connection, learning and adventure. The activities on campus were also organised by a wonderful team including Gabi Wynhausen and our Year 5 teachers; Felicity Cox, Tanya Jeckeln and James Longo. I would also like to thank Stevie Levenston, Nicolle Rubin and Gena Yeomans for organising the BBQ and our amazing group of P&F volunteers for cooking, assembling, saucing and serving to make it all possible.

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Communication

I wanted to reassure you that we are hearing that there are issues with our current communication channels and systems. As Mr Watt mentioned in a previous Ma Nishma, we are bringing in a new student management system (SMS) across the school next year and this will help to streamline so many of these issues. In the meantime, we are looking into possible steps that we can take, sooner rather than later, to address as many areas as we can. I would like to thank Stevie Levenston, who will be leading the charge with these changes.

Belinda Gold – Discipline Presentation 
Why saying no is so hard but so worth it!

It was wonderful to welcome Belinda Gold to Emanuel on Tuesday night to present to parents about ‘discipline’. She defines discipline using its Latin form meaning ‘learner’ and represents instruction and knowledge. Discipline creates boundaries, expectations and restrictions that lead to:

• Resilient kids
• Kids that can manage disappointment
• Kids that can experience delayed gratification

Two words that really resonated with me are the need to parent with “firmness” and “kindness”. We are looking to achieve healthy and respectful discipline.

Belinda offered 3 important points for consideration:

1. PAUSE – when the situation is heightened, it is helpful to pause in order to help parents to choose a reaction calmly.
2. THE HAPPINESS TRAP – being driven by wanting our child to be happy, won’t help us to parent our children well. Making a decision that doesn’t make a child ‘happy’ (eg. turning off the TV), does help children to experience and learn to manage the full range of emotions that are healthy and normal.
3. GET ON THE SAME TEAM – SAY NO AS POSITIVELY AS POSSIBLE – It’s helpful to offer a quick framing that doesn’t feel terribly harsh eg. “I want chocolate before dinner”. Possible answers:
   1. “I would be doing a bad job as your parent if I let you have chocolate before dinner”
   2. “I would like chocolate before dinner too but the rule is there to keep us all healthy”
   3. “If you eat your dinner, we will be able to have some chocolate after dinner”

Just a word from Belinda on screens that I really loved: they are invented to be addictive…just like alcohol and drugs. Saying no to too much screen time, is as healthy as putting limitations and boundaries around other addictive things.

Thank you so much to Belinda for spending her evening presenting to us. I would also like to thank Terry Aizen from Kornmehl for organising this event and including our Emanuel families.

Hagit Bar-On, Head of Primary Jewish Studies

Shavuot and the Commandment of Respect
Celebrating Family and Tradition!

Last week, we embarked on a joyous celebration at Emanuel School to honour Shavuot, a special festival for the Jewish community. 

Shavuot is a time when we commemorate the awe-inspiring moment when the People of Israel received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. But that’s not all! 

It’s also a time of harvest festivities in Israel, where our ancestors brought their first harvest to the priest at Beit Hamikdash, the Temple in Jerusalem.

Let’s not forget the enchanting highlight of our Shavuot celebration – the little stars of Emanuel School! 

Dressed in bright white and crowned with beautiful flower decorations, our Year K-2 students paraded into the hall with their delightful baskets. And what were those baskets filled with? Bikurim! 

These were fruit and food donations lovingly brought by our young ones for those in need. Picture their innocent faces beaming with joy as they sang Shavuot songs – it truly touched our hearts.

Now, as we reflect on the significance of Shavuot, we are reminded of the Ten Commandments that were given to our ancestors. Among these commandments, there’s one that stands out – commandment number five: “Respect your mother and father.”

Why is this commandment so important? Well, in ancient times, respecting parents was a fundamental value in Hebrew society. Our ancestors deeply valued the family structure and recognised the crucial role parents played in raising and guiding children. So, it’s no surprise that this commandment found its place in the first half of the Ten Commandments, highlighting its vital role in creating a righteous and harmonious society.

But let’s bring it to the present – how does this commandment relate to our lives today? Turns out, it’s still immensely relevant!

Here’s why:

Family values: Respecting and honouring our parents extends beyond just valuing our family. It acknowledges the significant roles our parents play in nurturing and shaping us. Strong family bonds and mutual respect contribute to our personal well-being and create harmony in society.

Intergenerational wisdom: Our parents carry a treasure of life experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. Respecting them means appreciating their insights, guidance, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned. This exchange of wisdom fosters our personal growth and equips us to make informed decisions.

Emotional well-being: Maintaining a respectful and healthy relationship with our parents has a positive impact on our emotional well-being. It provides stability, support, and a sense of connection, leading to overall happiness and psychological health.

Cultural and moral values: Respecting parents aligns with various cultural and moral values across societies. It reflects gratitude, humility, and recognition of the sacrifices parents make for their children. Upholding these values fosters compassion and consideration, creating a kinder world.

Parental care in later stages of life: As our parents age, they may require our care and support. The commandment to honour parents reminds us of our responsibility to provide assistance and show compassion to our aging parents. It’s an opportunity to repay the love and care they once provided us.

In essence, the commandment to respect our parents, placed prominently among the Ten Commandments, highlights the importance of family relationships and their deep connection to our spiritual bond with God. By honouring and respecting our parents, we not only fulfill God’s commandments but also embrace timeless principles that bring joy and meaning to our lives.

As we wrap up our Shavuot celebrations, let’s allow the lessons we’ve learnt and the commandment of respect to guide us in creating a compassionate and harmonious community.

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