Women of worth
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
I hope you have all had a great week. As we celebrate 40 years of Emanuel School this year, there is so much history and so many stories about how we have grown from such humble beginnings in 1983 to the great School we are now.
Did you know that the building we know now as the Lynette Sandra Phillips Kindergarten was originally the laundry facilities for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the 1930s? In the early 1990s, the then Head of the Art Department, Lauren Ehrlich, together with her staff, literally stripped out the inside of the laundry to create the School’s first dedicated Art Department. Once the new Kleinlehrer Family LINC Building was opened in 2015, the High School Art Department moved to the top floor of that new building to the amazing space now known as The Sherman Art Precinct, and the old site was then transformed into our wonderful Year K classrooms and play space, which was officially opened in 2016 to provide the children with light and airy, colourful learning spaces, with custom-made and themed furniture and décor.
Sydney WorldPride
Friday 17 February to Sunday 5 March 2023
The theme for this fabulous festival is GATHER, DREAM, AMPLIFY and it officially starts with the Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday night. As the biggest event of the Sydney WorldPride festival, there will be 12,500 marchers as 200+ floats adorn Oxford Street for the first time since 2020. If you are heading off to the parade as a participant or as a supporter, on the side-lines, we hope you have a great night. Check out all the events for the month of celebrations.
Kornmehl
Last week I featured some of our new Year K students whose parents are Emanuel alumni. This week I would like to introduce a few of our new Kornmehl Pre-School students. Did you know that the Pre-School has three classes and a very active group of mums who are class parents helping the dedicated staff in so many ways? Alumna Sarah Robuck (nee Krigstein, Class of 2005) is one of two class parents for the middle group “Starfish”, whilst alumna Lisa Greenberg (nee Shapiro) is class parent for the Seashells. Lisa was Head Madricha, Class of 2001 and married her class-mate David Greenberg. Samara, their youngest child loves that she is now at the same school as her two big brothers Isaac and Ariel. Lisa says, “It feels so special to have all three of our children at Emanuel. We love that they get to experience the same warmth and unique school spirit that we too experienced at Emanuel all those years ago.”
Another new starter at Kornmehl is Neave Lukins who not only has a parent who is an alum – her mother Carly Mooney who was Head Madricha, Class of 2006 but her father, Eamon Lukins, is one of our Year 6 teachers. Past student Adam Chimes (Primary Head Madrich 1996) now has all three children at Emanuel School with the youngest, Milo Brookman Chimes starting at Kornmehl this year. Milo is very excited to now be at the same school as his sister Stella in Year 5 and brother Griffin in Year 4. Adam says, “It’s really special for me watching my three kids playing and learning in the same atmosphere that shaped many of the values of my early childhood. Emanuel’s ethos hasn’t changed much in 30 years which is pretty remarkable. Talya and I couldn’t imagine a better school life for our children”.
Back to school
A recent message from past student Joanna Vasileva (nee Podgoetsky) who was visiting family here in Sydney from Seattle where she lives with her husband and two young children, was followed up with a wonderful hour-long tour around the campus last week. From the Class of 1999, Joanna had not been back at School since she left after HSC and so she not only wanted to see how school had changed over the past 24 years, she also wanted to show her husband where she grew up. Joanna says, “I work as a Principal Director of Product at Microsoft so the tech investments were exciting for me to see. I was so impressed with all the advancements in the School and particularly the investments in high tech such as the VR and robotics kits as well as the Drama theatre. The School felt like home and I hope to send my children there in the future”. During the visit Joanna also met up with some of her teachers who are still on staff including her Science teacher, Tina Greenhill, and Garry Case, now Director of Digital Learning Technologies K-12 and Acting Head of Jewish Studies.
Art Show
Sunday 19 February 2023 – 2.00 pm to 6.00pm
If you’re looking for something to do this Sunday afternoon, you might like to wander down to the Nefesh Art Show, at 54 Roscoe Street Bondi Beach, where you will see artwork by current Emanuel parent Martine Springer and staff member Janice Eliovson as well as other local artists.
University life beyond study
We love to hear what past students do after leaving School. Alumna Liat Granot (Class of 2021) is now at ANU in Canberra where she is studying a double degree in Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature. Although study keeps her very busy, she still finds time for her passion of Drama. Some of our readers will remember Liat from her role as The Nurse in the School production of Romeo and Juliet a few years ago. She is now going to be directing a play for the National University Theatre Society (NUTS) – The Lieutenant of Inishmore, a play Samantha Bauer, Head of Drama at Emanuel, taught Liat in Year 12. We are hoping for an interview with Liat and Ms Bauer for Ma Nishma, so watch this space.
WOMEN OF WORTH (WOW) at The Great!
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Brave Talks 2023
If you want to be part of the movement tearing down the stigma of mental health and inspiring our community to reach out for help, then now is your chance!
Talya Rabinovitz, Chief Mental Health Development Officer at Jewish Care, is looking for speakers and volunteers to be involved with a series of Brave Talks events in 2023. This follows the sell-out evening last November which was organised by Jewish Care and The Choice Foundation whose Manager is Emanuel alumna Danielle Wakerman (nee Lewis). At the event, the audience heard from Emanuel alumnus Jake Biggs (Class of 2012) and five other amazing human beings. Email Talya direct if you would like to know more.
GET READY SURFERS with Maccabi NSW, LET’S GO SURFING and JCA
Join Maccabi All Abilities, a program for community members with a disability, who want to learn to surf, gain ocean awareness and socialise with like-minded people. Class space is limited. Contact Maccabi for more details and reserve your spot by emailing: allabilities.nsw@maccabi.com.au
Friendship Circle (FC)
Volunteer and mentor opportunities
If your children are interested in volunteering for one or some of the many programs offered by FC for younger members of our community with a disability, the best place to start is to check out their website or contact jaimiknep@sydneyfc.org.au for more information
FC Walks 2023
Every year on the last Sunday in August, the streets of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs are swarming with people young and old wearing purple T-shirts as they participate in the FC Walk to raise funds for this amazing organisation. This year’s walk will be held on Sunday 27 August. Please contact Chana Kavka direct if you can help with sponsorship and/or would like more information.
Calling swimmers of all ages
Don’t forget to register for the 2023 NSW Maccabi Swimming Championships
There is still time to register for this event on Sunday 5 March 2023.
We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos and/or news you would like to share with us, please send to Sonia Newell.
Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.