My farewell message
I was both surprised and delighted with the beautiful send-off gifted to me by our student community, from Kornmehl to Year 12. The time and thought that our students put into capturing what has been important to me, not without some elements of humour, was touching and sincerely appreciated. At the conclusion of the assembly, I shared my one deep regret – that I will not be present to see this cohort of students grow, thrive and ultimately, graduate as mensches. Joining in the celebratory Hora on the basketball courts and being hoisted up on a chair were also a great highlight for me!
In this, the final edition of Ma Nishma for 2024, I wanted to record my sincere gratitude for the learning and joys that the Emanuel School community have so generously provided. Thank you to the families, Board members and staff who have supported and encouraged me throughout my tenure. I will depart much wiser, with deep connections to both Judaism and to Israel. My message to our students at a recent High School Assembly included the following reflections:
I wanted to express my gratitude to you, the staff and students at this magnificent school. There are many things that make Emanuel my favourite school over the 5 other schools I have served in, and I am going to finish my last assembly address with my top 4:
Firstly – I love that when I walk around the campus or drop in to an activity, that you engage with me. You approach me, share a joke with me, chat with me and ask me questions - and that does not happen at every school! Thank you for your respectful engagement.
Secondly – I love the way that you are serious about the values around community service, or Tikkun Olam. It has been encouraging to watch the way that you throw yourselves into every good cause, whether it be fund-raising or awareness-raising. Many of you have become a voice for those without a voice – and I hope that you never lose your passion.
Thirdly – I love the way that many of you engage deeply with your Jewish identity and explore your connections to Israel. Your desire to be well informed, and to be equipped to debate and argue against some of the misinformation or misunderstanding out there will make you respectful and knowledgeable ambassadors for Emanuel and the broader Jewish community.
And finally – I love the amazing care and encouragement that you receive from the staff at Emanuel. It is easy to take for granted the time, thought and effort that your teachers put into preparing engaging and interactive lessons. It is easy to believe that the level of care that you receive from our staff is ‘normal’ in every school. I have to tell you that it is not! You have been blessed with a teaching team who seek to know you, who are always there for you and who reflect the values of this school so well. I am talking about role modelling respect, commitment to excellence, wanting the best for you, acting against bullying, encouraging curiosity….or walking alongside you when you are going through a tough time. If I had to sum all this up in one sentence, I would say that I love this special school and will take with me many special memories of its staff and students.
I look forward to thanking and farewelling you in person, at the Primary School and High School Annual Presentation of Prizes events.
Our final concert of the year
The inaugural Night of Rock and Jazz was a great success, showcasing amazing talent across 15 items, performed by six bands, two ensembles, one combo and an emerging, popular rock group! The highlight was watching our students relax and enjoy performing before an appreciative audience. No one would have objected if another hour was added to the night! A highlight for me was to observe the growth in performance skills and confidence across the years, with new talent starting to emerge. Thank you to Lisa McCowage for organising this special event, to the peripatetic staff, who look after our musicians so well and to Ofer Levy for the photographs.
A worthy cause
At a time when so much repair is needed, Nova Peris (OAM) has shown exceptional clarity, commitment and advocacy for Israel, and has drawn attention to the longstanding ties between Australia’s Jewish and Indigenous communities. We invite you to join us in supporting the Nova Peris Foundation (NPF) by purchasing and proudly wearing NPF clothing featuring original Tikkun Olam artwork, combining indigenous and Jewish iconography created by Nova Peris herself. NPF Tikkun Olam merchandise can be purchased at npfmerchshop.com.au. More information can be found on the Community Events page.
Finishing well
With just under a week to go, our hope is to continue to provide meaningful and engaging lessons right up to the end, not wasting any opportunity for our students to learn. Our High School students have been reminded to attend our Annual Speech Night and Presentation of Prizes immaculately attired, in full uniform. We aim to make our K-2, our Years 3-6 and our High School final events memorable and enjoyable!
Mazal tov
- We are thrilled to announce that Yasha Galperin (Year 3) has been cast in the role of Kate in next year’s upcoming production of Annie! The production is already underway, and we couldn't be prouder. We can't wait to see you shine on stage!
- Naomi Mirvis (Year 6) is a part of Majestic Ice Australia Synchronised Club - Basic Novice Team. Their team won Gold for NSW about five weeks ago, and last weekend Naomi along with the team travelled to Melbourne for the National Synchronised competition. The team was competing against six teams from different states and won. Naomi’s team are current Australian champions in Basic Novice Synchronised category. What an exceptional achievement.
- Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for various roles in next year’s Musical Production of Midnight: Ella Bortz, Leo Masnick, Micah Esra, Amaya Wainer, Becky Salamon, Summer Glass, Taya Starkey, Ben Freed, Noah Vexler, Jett Fiddler, Mirabella Marshall, Lily Fotlyn, Charli Grynberg, Hannah Rembach, Maya Balkin, Sofia Berkovic, Hannah Feteke, Lila Freidman, Reuben Durbach, Avalon Gold, Elise Goldberg, Jasmine Goodman, Jemima Hockley, Allie Joseph, Leah Joshua, Kira Levin-Kahn, Julia Manoy, Leah Mervis, Noa Rosenzveig, Leah Sebel and Jessica Smith.
After two days of competition, our Open Boys 1st V Basketball team remains undefeated at the National Basketball Championships on the Gold Coast. We look forward to hearing about their experiences.
- Mazal tov to the Emanuel students excelled in the Preliminary Round of The Quest, a premier academic competition that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. This year's theme, DISTRIBUTION, spanned Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities.
1st Place - Ethan Ickowicz, William Yu and Alexander Yu placed 1st overall, placing 1st in Maths and 1st Humanities.
3rd Place - Tal Wajsman, Jessica Lopis and Mia Selby came 3rd overall, placing 2nd in Humanities and 2nd Science.
Both teams qualify for the National Final.
An additional mazal tov to Gideon Cohen, Kian Ottaviano and Tomer Simhi who placed 3rd in Mathematics.
- Our School had over 10 entries in the the Statistical Society of Australia's 2024 National Schools Poster Competition from students in Years 5 and 6. Two of these teams were joint winners in the Years 5/6 Division. Congratulations to:
Nathan Shammay, Yasha Weinstein, Judah Olian, and Harry Wine: "When shaken and opened, which popular carbonated drink loses the most liquid?"
Toby Stein, Ryan Miller, Joa Israelstam, and Isaac Struggles: "What flavour of ice cream melts the quickest?"
I never lose, either I win or I learn.
