From the Principal

Andrew Watt – Principal

Farewelling our Year 12 (2023)

With their Trial HSC Examinations and course revision sessions completed, our Year 12 students are looking ahead to (hopefully) maintaining a disciplined home study routine as they prepare for their final examinations. Planning for post-HSC celebrations and the following break could also be on their collective agendas! On Tuesday, our Year 12 cohort were farewelled with a breakfast event, hosted by each of our four Houses. The following day, our High School staff and students joined with the families of our Year 12 students, to enjoy a memorable Graduation Ceremony, followed in the evening by a formal Graduation Dinner.

The Graduation Ceremony

Each of the speeches placed a strong focus on the adventures, achievements and unique nature of the Year 12 (2023) cohort. Much was spoken about the legacy they will leave: a culture of care, inclusivity and enthusiastic engagement in the life of the School. As each student walked across the stage to receive a gift from the School, a commentary, capturing special moments and key achievements, was read by Year 12 Co-ordinator, Dr Julie Duncan. Farewell messages from our Year 12 teachers were captured on video and shared throughout the ceremony. A short excerpt of my speech is shared below:

To our Year 12 students – today marks the formal end of your schooling, and I hope that you will look back on your Emanuel journey with warmth and pride. As one famous author reminds us: “That last page turned is a perfect excuse to write a whole new book.” Simple but true. Importantly, I want to acknowledge the impact of the covid pandemic, across two years of your learning, and pay tribute to your resilience, and determination to overcome all the hurdles you faced. In the words of the Greek philosopher, Pericles – What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. For me, this graduation assembly is the most bitter-sweet of moments each year, as whist I am excited for you, as you embark upon your next adventure. I am also sad to farewell a group of young adults I have come to know, to like, and to share the highs and lows with.

The Year 12 choir singing The Good Old Days was a touching moment, as was watching our Year 12 students (and some of their parents!) depart through a student guard of honour that stretched from the basketball courts to the Waxman Gates – a fitting send off for a great group of students.

The Graduation Dinner

The graduation dinner was held at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf, where families and staff enjoyed a great view of the Harbour. Both the venue and the meal were very good, as was the joyous, celebratory atmosphere. In addition to the witty and heartfelt toasts to our staff and our parents, we were treated to an energetic and entertaining musical performances and ruach by many of our parents. This has become a much-anticipated Emanuel tradition, and it was very well received. Kol Hakavod and thank you to Dr Julie Duncan and our Year 12 Graduation Dinner Parent Committee, led by Ruby Berkovic, who overcame many hurdles, to deliver what was a first class event.

Update on B’Yachad Building

As one would hope, significant progress has been made since the last update. The courtyard has been paved and the playground space is also nearing completion. Furniture will shortly be placed in Level 2 of the building, which now only requires an AV fit out. Acoustic ceiling panels and major joinery have now been completed on both Level 1 and the Ground floor. However, the more intricate joinery work is still underway. The Star of David ceiling detailing in Level 1 also nears completion and capping for the balustrade has commenced, with the timber risers to follow in the near future. The next steps will include the paving of the link bridge, the installation of building signage and glass awning, and the fit out of the Imaginarium. At this stage we anticipate that we will receive our Occupancy Certificate on 29 September. The design and appearance of each level of the B’Yachad Building are both attractive and functional. We are looking forward to moving in!

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

For Rosh Hashanah this year, the High School explored the theme of sleep and waking. This is a theme close to any teenager’s heart. However, we were exploring that every Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to ‘wake-up’ a little more to ourselves and the work of the world around us, through the actions of introspection, prayer, and social justice, spurred on by our Jewish alarm clock, the shofar. Students sang songs and prayers of this time, including a Sephardi poem which starts: “Human, why do you sleep? ” Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth offered a traditional and beautiful singing of the U’netaneh Tokef prayer and personal interpretations of this prayer were shared. After the singing, students reflected quietly in journals on their past year, their gains, and disappointments, setting the tone for the Teshuvah process of this time. Many thanks to Kobi Bloom, Sidney Melamdowitz, and the Informal Jewish Life team for bringing it all together. After the events, students enjoyed a piece of honey cake in anticipation of a sweet new year for 5784.

Machane Bissli

On Wednesday, our Year 5 students attended Machane Bissli, learning about Israel, enjoying fun and educational games, creating crafty Bissli-themed art and concluding with an extremely energetic afternoon of ruach.

Thanks to Hagit Bar-On, the Hebrew teachers, Israeli Madrichim and Informal Jewish Life educators for creating a day of experiential Jewish Learning.

Ruach at Machane Bissli

It’s a Mitzvah!

We are so grateful to the P&F, and particularly Carli Rothman, for organising the year’s third Mitzvah Meals cook-up with parents. The Food Lab looked like a food market with piles of fresh veggies, chocolate chips, lasagne sheets and other ingredients, too many to mention. The meals, which will be kept in a new chest freezer generously donated by the P&F, will help those in our school community who are going through hard times due to illness or a bereavement in the family. We do hope that you will never have the need to receive a Mitzvah Meal, but if you do, please know that they were made by our parents with love and good wishes.

Mazal tov

Mazal tov to the Emanuel Super 6 Netball team (Nava Weiss, Frankie Paez, Tali Gellert, Shayna Abitz, Kiki Aronstan, Lily Smaller, Amelie Lipman, Zoe Laurence and Evie Brodovcky), who won the Super 6 Netball Championships competition this term. The girls were a formidable force throughout the round-robin section, before sealing the deal against IGS in the final.
A big congratulations to the Emanuel U10 boys futsal team for making the semi-finals of the state futsal championships – this is an incredible achievement!

Thank you

Thank you to Poppy Berkovic, Year 5, for her beautiful illustrations which adorn our Community Rosh Hashanah Recipe Book and greetings. You would have received a copy this morning as a special Rosh Hashanah gift. If you missed it, you can download it by clicking on our card below.

Quote of the week

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Shanah Tovah

From the Head of Jewish Life

Adina Roth – Head of Jewish Life

Tekiah

This week was a week of Emanuel riches and sweetness. At the Year 12 Graduation Assembly, Mr Watt and Dr Duncan spoke to each and every Year 12, seeing them and honouring their uniqueness. At this same assembly I gave a d’var torah where I sang a little excerpt from Somewhere Over the Rainbow. A few hours later, a mother told me that she had cried when I sang. The reason she cried, she explained, is because it is not always common to hear women singing in Jewish public spaces. Of course, at Emanuel, we encourage the full expression of all our voices (and as was mentioned this week, we even accommodate some chutzpah)! However, I have been in Jewish spaces in my life where women are not allowed to sing in public and so I understood keenly why this mum was so moved.

This prohibiting and allowing of voices led me to thinking about the sounds of this season, specifically the heart-stirring, evocative sounds of the Shofar. We listen to the shofar throughout Elul and again on Rosh Hashanah. We are supposed to hear 100 blasts. There are many different reasons given for the blowing of the shofar. A lesser-known reason is linked to the voice of women, one woman in particular! On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, we read the story of the sacrifice of Isaac (from the book of Bereshit). In it, we trace the disturbing story where God asks Avraham to bring up his son as a sacrifice and Avraham obeys God’s command only to be thwarted at the last minute by an angel of God. Our tradition generally praises Avraham, citing his obedience as an illustration of his obedience and faith. Immediately after the Akeidah, we read that Sarah died. The Rabbis in our tradition powerfully link the two events, saying that Sarah had not been informed about the sacrifice of her son. It seems her discovery about her son’s possible sacrifice leads to her dying of shock. In the Midrash, in Vayikra Rabba, we are told on Sarah hearing what had been asked of her son, she cried six cries, corresponding to the Tekiot of the Shofar and died.

Sarah’s cry feels like a very important voice in the story of the Akeidah. As the mother of Isaac, Sarah disapproves of this test and we can speculate that had she been asked this by God, she may well have refused. Thus, Sarah becomes an important part of the Akeidah story. Although Sarah’s protest is not explicitly present in the story, we find her voice in the commentaries. Her voice is a strong voice of counter-commentary. And she is wailing like the shofar.

If Sarah’s cry is compared to the shofar, then the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is an invitation to remember Sarah’s voice, and all voices which are not always empowered. This is also personal! As we listen to the Shofar, we have a chance to introspect and consider how we utilise our voice in the world. Do we speak too much or do we sell ourselves short and not value our voice enough? On a societal level, we need to consider who is empowered in our world with a voice and look for the quieter voices that are not as prominent in the ‘main story’. As we listen to the shofar this year (take a look at a list of shules and their Rosh Hashanah programs in this Ma Nishmah), let us consider ways in which we can articulate our own authentic voices and also make the world a place where those with less power can be heard.

Shanah tovah, u’metukah, Ketivah ve’chatimah Tovah, כתיבה וחתימה טובה שנה טובה ומתוקה,

Blessings for a Sweet and Good New Year and May we all be written and sealed in the Book of Life.

Primary News

Hagit Bar-On, Head of Primary Jewish Studies

New beginnings start with grandparents

On Friday, our school was filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished memories as we celebrated Grandparents’ Day. It was a day dedicated to honouring the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren and sharing in the richness of our Jewish traditions.

The day commenced with a heart-warming assembly that brought tears of joy to our eyes. Students showcased their love for Shabbat through songs and Rosh Hashanah prayers. Year 2 students dazzled us with a Rosh Hashanah dance, and K-6 students shared anecdotes about why they hold their grandparents in such high regard. You may wish to hear their thoughts here.

We were fortunate to have Morah Adina, our Head of Jewish Life, and Rabbi Ninio tell stories that ended with the magical words, “and they lived happily ever after”. To conclude the assembly, students and their grandparents joined in an enthusiastic singing of the prayer “Avinu Malkeinu,” accompanied by our talented pianist, Novak.

The excitement continued with a series of engaging workshops tailored to different year levels, each offering a unique experience:

Year K: Our youngest learners explored the significance of the word “Shofar” and its Hebrew meaning, “Leshaper” (to improve). Through thoughtful discussions, they, along with their grandparents, discovered ways to enhance themselves and make the world a better place.
Year 1: Students and grandparents joined forces to create clay plates with apple and honey bowls. The artistic process of moulding and painting these vibrant plates added a colourful touch to the day.
Year 2: Creative spirits soared as students crafted 3D Shanah Tova Cards decorated with sparkling papers and heartfelt blessings in English and Hebrew, spreading joy to family and friends.
Year 3: Year 3 students crafted elegant Challah Covers from velvet fabric, decorated with Rosh Hashanah symbols and the Hebrew words “לכבוד שבת ויום טוב” (in honour of Shabbat and Festivals). They also received beautiful apple candles, thoughtfully made by Venetia Kalinko, a grandmother from Year 3 and Year 5.
Year 4: In a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, students crafted artistic apples from book scrap papers, promising a stunning addition to their Rosh Hashanah tables.
Year 5: Year 5 students and their grandparents participated in a meaningful Rosh Hashanah Seder, embracing Sephardi traditions and the symbolism of various foods, such as dates, pomegranates, carrots, and beetroot.
Year 6: Students delved into the tale of Jonah and the Whale, creating a Jonah Paper Midrash with different coloured papers and shapes, each with profound meaning.

The day concluded with a delightful morning tea, accompanied by the melodies of our Jazz Band. As we shared delicious treats and engaging conversations, the sense of togetherness and tradition continued to flourish.

Until we gather again next year, I extend my warmest wishes for a Shanah Tovah U’Metukah to all grandparents, parents, friends, students, and colleagues.

Thank you to Sharon Arnott for taking photographs and capturing this special morning – you can see a selection of these amazing photographs in “Spotlight on…”

May your dreams be painted with the brightest of colours and may the bonds between generations continue to strengthen.

I Can Sing a Rainbow

Adina Roth – Head of Jewish Life

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of sharing a few words with the Year 12 students at Graduation Assembly…

Boker tov Emanuel and a special greeting to Year 12s,

I am sure there are so many feelings, now, ALL THE FEELS, as you prepare to say goodbye to many years of schooling, you have your graduating dinner tonight, then exams on the horizon, and then your whole lives ahead of you.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we read the story in Bereshit when Sarah our first matriarch and wife of Avraham, finally has a child Yitzchak, after waiting her entire life. Because of some family tensions, shortly after this, she asks her maidservant Hagar and Hagar’s son Ishmael to leave the home. Avram is disturbed by this as Hagar is also his wife and Ishmael is his son, but he follows Sarah’s wish and giving Hagar only some bread and water, sends them both away. This is the Ancient Near East and so Hagar and Ishmael go out into the desert and very soon, the water and bread are finished and they both become weak.

Eventually Hagar is so distraught that she places her weak son a bow’s shot away from her saying, “I can’t see the death of my child”. Into this bleak scene, we are given a tiny spark of hope: A bow’s shot away, kimtachaveri Keshet, is a curious way to measure distance. At this point, Hagar lifts up her voice and cries to God, she prays.

A short while later, an angel appears and advises Hagar to open her eyes. Right where the is, there is a ma’ayan, a wellspring of water and she and her son drink and survive. Ishmael grows up to become, wait for it…. an archer, a man of the bow.

It is interesting that the text tells us that Hagar placed Ishmael a bow’s distance away. Interesting because a few lines later, he becomes the bow, or a bow man of sorts. A bow or Keshet is the exact same word used in the Torah for a rainbow. Drawing on this link, Rabbi David Ingber points out that even when things are hard in the story, by measuring the distance between Hagar and Yishmael using the image of a bow, we are reminded of the first Keshet, the rainbow after Noah and the flood. Into this scene of despair, we are told that sometimes hope is just beyond the bow… or to quote Rabbi Ingber again, ‘somewhere over the rainbow.’

A few months ago, I was on the Basketball Court on a rainy afternoon when a beautiful rainbow arched over the Year 12s favourite tree and the Brender Moss building, shining a halo around our school, this ultimate symbol of hope.

Year 12s, as you leave and embark on new lives, there may be moments where you feel out at sea, or in the desert, alone and wondering what next. But even at those harder moments, remember the Keshet, the bow, that’s in this week’s Rosh Hashanah Parsha, your graduating portion. Somewhere over the rainbow, whatever is tough will pass, you will get through it and whatever experiences you have in life, they will form you and move you to your next step. Gradually, it won’t be about getting to the end of the rainbow but about living your own hope and optimism, like Ishmael actually becoming the bow, feeling hopeful wherever you are. Hold onto the image of the rainbow, to this idea of goodness in the world and you will create a life of goodness for yourselves and ultimately for your loved ones and the wider world. The special riches that you have experienced at Emanuel, you will replicate everywhere. Because Somewhere over the rainbow way up high

There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Year 12: L’chu B’shalom U’bo’u B’shalom, Go in peace and come in peace

Shana Tovah U’metukah

Please find below information on upcoming synagogue services for Rosh Hashanah.

Emanuel Synagogue, including the Progressive, Masorti and Renewal Services

Erev and first day Rosh Hashanah – membership is required. Second day programming – all welcome.

Emanuel Synagogue High Holy Days

The Great Synagogue

Tickets for non-members are $150, but no one will be turned away.

https://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/hhservices

Kadimah (Old South Head Road)

Maariv, 6.00 pm
Shacharit, 7.55 am to finish by 12.30 pm

Mizrachi Bondi

https://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/hhservices

Or Chadash

Seats are available even if people have not purchased membership.

Or Chadash High Holy Days

Ayelet Hashachar

Ayelet Hashachar High Holy Days

JEMS

JEMS High Holy Days

Kornmehl

Terry Aizen – Director of Kornmehl

Jewish identity

The children in the Pre-school are exposed to Jewish art and creativity every Friday. They look forward to being inspired by different Jewish provocations and extending their thinking and understanding through many different languages and mediums.

Over the last few weeks, the children have been inspired by three pieces of unusual and beautiful Kabbalah art by Tzfat artist David Friedman. When the teachers visited Tzfat on the JNF Educators Study tour, we got to meet this artist in his studio and learn about the meaning and symbolism in his artwork. We were inspired and decided to purchase some of his posters to bring back to the Pre-school. Inspiring children with such artworks, assist them to see possibilities, adding depth and detail to their already beautiful work but also adding colour and richness to their growing Jewish identity. Each week as they revisit the artworks and look more closely, we discuss and unpack what we can see, new details emerge, and the children are excited to represent their ideas visually. Their artwork has blown us away and we are excited to share some of these below.

Zach: That writing looks like it’s in Hebrew. I see branches
Alma: I think it looks like Hebrew. I see two people holding hands, religion people. It looks like a tree and the water. I like how he added the detail on the tree. How did he make that?
Renee: I wonder why the artist made the tree look like a Chanukah/Menorah.
Alma: Because he wanted to include how the people got light.
Renee: Did you notice that city over there? It’s an old city – Jerusalem.
Alma: My cousin lives in Jerusalem! I saw some tiny houses with people in the houses.
Renee: What do you think this piece of art is about?
Alma: About people connecting with other people. All the people’s hearts are connecting.
Zach: This big tree is so big! Ginormous! It looks like something about Shabbat. It looks like it’s a candle.
Teya: I also see a tree and some flowers on the tree, an Aboriginal picture.
Ella: I can see leaves like candles. I can see a tree, it’s a giving tree. I can tell by the picture.
Josh: I see a fire and people, Aboriginal people, and a tree on fire.
Lulu: I can see Hebrew letters. What does this say?
Renee: Ein Sof, there is no end. I wonder what that means.
Alma: If there’s no end, then why is there an end in the middle of the line?
Ziggy: Because they’re circles and maybe there’s an invisible line, so there’s no start and it’s just going forever.
Tamar: Well, all the circles are big, but the little purple one is actually littler than all the others.
Zach: He (the artist) must have spent a long time drawing it. He must have spent like an hour. Remember when I just started this drawing? And look how much I’ve done!

Rosh Hashanah, bees and beekeeper visit

This week we have continued learning about this beautiful Chag. We spent time decorating gift bags and making delicious honey biscuits to take home to our families to wish them a Shanah Tovah.

The children have engaged in an exploration about bees. We watched a fascinating video about bees gathering pollen. We learnt that bees are covered in millions of hairs and that they have baskets on their legs, which they use to carry the pollen. The children have been creating their own bee art installations. It has been interesting to observe how their work has evolved as their understanding of bees and their behaviour has increased.

Extending on our learning for Rosh Hashanah, we invited a beekeeper to come to Kornmehl on Tuesday. Gavin Smith is clearly passionate about bees but more than that he was able to share his passion and knowledge with us in a way that was fun and interactive. Gavin came in his beekeeper suit and explained to us the differences between European bees and native bees. He taught us how bees gather nectar, make wax and form it into cells into which they lay their eggs. We learnt about how he uses a smoker to distract the bees when he gathers the honey from the hives. He explained how you can tell the difference between a male and female bee; the male has huge eyes which he uses to search for the Queen bee.

On Friday, we celebrated Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah. We ate apples dipped in honey, delicious honey cake, round challot, sang many songs and heard Rabbi Kamins blow the Shofar. A big thank you to Daniella Alhadeff for coming in to bake the honey cake for us.

Happy Birthday

We wish a very happy birthday to Amelie Gavshon (5), Ethan Lewis (5), Oscar Lewis (3) and to our special educators – Janice Eliovson and Renee Schneider who both celebrate their birthdays in the holidays.

We wish all our Kornmehl families a Shanah Tovah U Metukah – a sweet, healthy, and happy New Year.

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

As we farewell our Year 12s this week and see them leaving our gates officially for the last time, I would like to share an article I wrote “To the Class of 2023”, published last week in StudyWorkGrow.

Another year comes around and I find myself reflecting on our Year 12 group, about to rush out through the school gates.

Here are a few things that I would like to send them off with:

Do lots

As we know, we spend the majority of our lifetime at work. That’s why getting it right (not perfect) is so important. But it takes time to refine. I find the more experiences (not just jobs) we have throughout our lives, the more informed career decisions can be. This is something that every career advisor talks about to their students, particularly in application forms, resume creation, interview practice and thinking about the future. Experiences can be valuable lessons in teaching us what we like, what we are good at, and importantly what we don’t like.

Kathryn Taylor, from Turning Point Consulting (and my Careers hero) says: “Take a chance by stepping out of your comfort zone, reaching for new opportunities and meeting new people. Whether it be a conversation, a casual or volunteer opportunity or a work experience, gain real insight into different workplaces, their people and positions without judgement or assumptions”.

What works?

An important part of career-navigating can be to find out what you are good at – what works well for you – and link this to your values/interests. I wish I was told this as I left my school gates. Very often what we are good at is what we enjoy – what feels natural, where we can flourish and also grow. I know a lot of people in roles that don’t excite them, and their days are not filled with much joy. When you can tap into the skills that you feel come naturally to you – that can be a great path to travel down. But it takes time, and feeds back into point number one – the more jobs, experiences, opportunities and industries we get exposed to – the more likely we are to find them.

The ‘passion’ paradox

“Do what you love and you will never work another day in your life.” I am not a big fan of this phrase. Firstly, I don’t think it’s always true. I have personal experience of the opposite. Secondly, it can sometimes be a difficult path, especially if there are issues with job prospects, job instability or a saturated market. Thirdly, other traits may be needed alongside that passion – such as tenacity, grit, determination, a thick skin, good old luck, timing and connections. You can be the most talented person, with buckets of passion, but without determination, that passion may not get you where you want to go. Lucy Sattler, Career Practitioner, from Study Work Grow – prefers the question “What problem would you like to solve?” – that can show us where we want to put our energy into.

A more balanced approach could be to ensure that passion remains present throughout life. Keeping that passion alive is important. Whether it’s performing, music, drama, art, sports, academic pursuits, a hobby…the importance is to hold on to that passion. It could be as a hobby, a sideline, a potential future side-hustle, a future club to join, or something you will want to be involved in. If you do pursue it and turn it into your future career – then good on you! Just don’t feel under pressure to do so. Jim Bright, from Bright and Associates, creator of the Chaos Theory of Careers, talks about the ramifications of following your passion. You can read his article on the 12 things to consider when you weighing up career options.

Sydney, oh Sydney

Studying and working in Sydney is an expensive pursuit. We know house prices are out of control, rents are rising and inflation is squeezing us all at every level. Over the last few years, I have heard more and more students not choosing teaching, nursing, social work and community services, due to the salaries. In short, and I can fully empathise with this, these salaries will not be able to sustain mortgages in one of the world’s most expensive cities. To be honest, there are not many professions nowadays that will. This is a very real concern for a lot of our young people – and I appreciate where they are coming from, as I am stunned each week with my growing grocery bill. But, we have to remember that what we study can stay with us for a long time into the future (particularly if we are professionally bound and it provides accreditation to an industry). Our jobs may move us around. Job mobility is high. People transfer, travel and globe trot. There are other cities in Australia, not to mention international opportunities. Keeping a wider lens can help when we consider the longer game.

Use your personality

Our personalities tend to remain a constant over time. Yes, people can change and I have no doubt that everyone leaving their school gates is going to grow immeasurably. But our personalities – our core traits – tend to remain the same. The extroverts at school tend to be extroverts as adults. Those really organised students. tend to make organised adults. The same for those that are funny, kind, bossy, empathetic, talkative, musical, creative, annoying (!)….those traits tend to stay with us throughout our lifetime. How can we harness those traits – the positive ones – to aid our career? For me, when I was at school, I liked connecting and talking with others. And I loved being organised. I now use these traits every day in my job. Reflect on your own personality and think how can you use them to your advantage?

If school wasn’t for you….

What if you found school a bit confusing, a bit annoying, a bit tiring or a bit stressful? What if you felt like you didn’t really excel at anything or you never found your great strengths – like some of your friends did? You are not alone. Or what if you are one of the 20% of people who are neurodiverse and you felt that your learning profile did not blend well with the school system? School is not for everyone. But more so, the school system tends to test and appraise only a certain skillset. Your HSC and your ATAR only measures a small set of future skills you are going to use in your job – a very small set. Not to mention the fact that the HSC and ATAR are a measure at a point in time, they are not a future prediction. I know lots of students with ATARs in the high 90s, who are not in particularly enjoying or fulfilling careers. And I know people in the exact opposite situation too, people who didn’t do very well at school who are now thriving in their careers. So it’s worth keeping it all in perspective.

Exams at the end of school in a lot of countries do not measure abilities such as people skills, being a good team-player, being co-operative, being entrepreneurial, energetic, positive. This is important. If you felt school was a place where you did not excel or find what you were good at – there is a whole testing ground out there waiting for you. When future-you finds those great skills – and you will – use them to make strides in your career and use them in industries that really values them.

Keep on learning

Sue Ellson, careers development practitioner and careers expert, cites the most important thing you can do for your career is to ‘keep on learning’. I think no matter which direction your path takes, we can all learn from every success, failure, venture or new opportunity. We know that Artificial Intelligence is here to stay with unknowing possibilities. In a post-COVID world, the nature of employment has also changed. Workers need to stay fresh, current and up to date with our changing environments. Learning new skills and knowledge has never been so easy. It can also be a great way to test an industry or academic area, without having to sign up for a whole degree. This is why I am a fan of doing a Diploma to test out a Bachelor degree. Micro credentialing can be cheap and accessible. Not to mention the knock-on effect this has on recruitment software which can now bring the job opportunity directly to the candidate.

Notices
As we farewell the Class of 2023, and watch them head out of the school gates – we wish them all the best. Good luck. Have fun. Learn lots. Make lots of mistakes, learn from them, change directions often, meet a tonne of new people, have some adventures and enjoy all that is ahead. And best wishes.

Open Day season is almost over, trial results are in, and now the Early Offers are starting to pop in to students’ email boxes. Many of these offers will not be taken up. Some are simply there as a nice re-assuring safety net. Some are a way of boosting some egos. But whatever the reason, early offers can take away pressure and stress, and open up more options.

We have now completed presentations on pre-ferencing, early offers, the rounds and what to do next. We have covered the UAC EAS processes and all dates that go hand in hand with that. The slides have all been sent to students and can also be accessed here.

Here are the dates from UAC for this next time period. Some points to note:

Talk to UAC if you have any specific questions about your application on 1300 ASK UAC
Talk to the Uni/College if you have any specific questions about their processes – as each one may be different
Book in with my Term 4 replacement, Kerry Gilmour, here, at the usual booking place for an appointment if needed and parents/students can zoom in or come in face-to-face. Keep your Tertiary Action Plan updated for these appointments, so she can access your information.

Wishing all Year 12s the best of luck as they finish up at school, complete exams, and look forward to the myriad of adventures along the road ahead. I look forward to hearing all about the adventures ahead.

Music Matters

Diana Springford – Director of Music P-12

Recent student performances

Mazal tov to all students whose musical contributions enhanced this week’s Year 12 Graduation Assembly: The Year 12 combined band and choir, Coby New for his solo performance and the Senior Jazz Ensemble – with thanks to George Nikolopoulos and to Ben Marshall.

Dates and events

Copland Concert Band One-Day Band Tour – Thursday 21 September 2023
NEW DATE! Night of Winds and Percussion – Wednesday 1 November 2023 (TBC)
NEW DATE! Night of Strings – Wednesday 8 November 2023 (TBC)
Twilight Concerts (tutor-nominated performances) – Wednesday 22 November 2023

Everything music-related will resume at the normal times from the first day of Week 1 in Term 4. This is especially important to remember for those whose weekly rehearsals are on a Tuesday, including Gershwin and Bernstein Concert Bands and Senior Choir which resume bright and early at 7.10 am on Tuesday 10 October 2023. The only exceptions to this are lunchtime and after-school rehearsals on Thursday 12 October 2023 (Brass Ensemble, Klezmer Ensemble and Copland Concert Band) when the HSC Music Exams will be taking place and we can’t accommodate your rehearsals.

Instrument Program (IP) classes and Private Music Tuition resume from the first day of Term 4. Please remember to bring your instrument and music on your normal day. We are preparing for two very special concerts, which will showcase the skills of hundreds of young instrumentalists performing in a range of ensembles as well as all students from Years 3-6 performing with their Primary School Instrument Program cohort. Our K-2 students who are members of the Infant Strings Program will also feature in the strings concert. More information will follow next term.

Private Music Tuition and Infant Strings Program

Thank you to those who have already advised us of changes to private tuition and Infant Strings Program (ISP) enrolments for next term. The deadline for new enrolments, notification of changes or intention to discontinue for Term 4, has now passed. All students currently receiving private music tuition and students in Years K-2 who are currently participating in the ISP will be automatically re-enrolled into tutor schedules along with students commencing for the first time. Please contact music@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions.

The schedules for Term 4 will be created at the end of term and emailed during October term break.

Please visit our Music Portal Page for information about:

Private Music Tuition (beginning and discontinuing)
Ensemble and Choir membership for K-12 students
Infant Strings Program (ISP) for K-2
Performance opportunities
Borrowing an orchestral instrument.

Light on the Library

Allison Lee – Head of Library & Information Services (7-12) | HSIE Teacher

Book reviews

This week, we are clearing the column for our two library book reviewers, Leah and Emily, who have taken the time to write thoughtful and informative reflections on two books to share with you. If you are interested in writing a review, please email Ms Lee.

Review #1
The Astonishing Colour of After

The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R Pan is a beautifully tragic story about heritage, love and loss. Published in 2018, this book is perfect for fans of young adult paranormal fiction and magic realism. Trigger warnings include suicide and depression.

The Astonishing Colour of After uses a dual timeline to follow our main character, Leigh, through her time in both Taiwan and America. With the help of her friend Axel, Leigh deals with her mother’s depression throughout her High School years, conveying her emotions through artistry and colours. In a second timeline, we see Leigh handle her mother’s passing, viewing her mother as a red bird who tells her to discover her heritage. Intrigued, Leigh travels to Taiwan to learn who she is and where she comes from. A powerful female character, Leigh shows that female protagonists can feel sadness and still be strong, instilling hope into the lives of many young women.

Dealing with mature themes in a responsible way, The Astonishing Colour of After is a 5-star read. Not afraid to avoid challenging topics, it delves into the inexplicable logic of emotion in a way that is both raw and deeply moving. Recommended for ages 14+.

How to find it?

You can request this by calling into the library or using the library catalogue

By Leah Joshua

Review #2
The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins and published in 2008, is an engaging and gripping young adult fantasy novel about the importance of equality, the harsh road to justice and the strength of friendships.

The novel follows a teenage girl named Katniss Everdeen, who experiences the harsh reality of the Hunger Games, a tournament that brings a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts outside the capital of the country Panem to fight to the death. Katniss, a girl from District 12, a district which specialises in making coal, and is the poorest of the districts, volunteers as tribute when her younger sister is selected at random. She fights to live through the games for both her and her family. Throughout the novel, the reader is exposed to the injustices that face the districts, where people are forced to live without the benefits of modern technology, contrasted with the privileges the people in the capital receive in terms of clothing, materials, and resources as they benefit from the struggle of the districts.

The Hunger Games is an inspiring novel that provides unique views about the world of Panem which can be applied to our world today as people experience discrimination, prejudice, harsh circumstances, and inequality. The Hunger Games is a remarkable novel and should be given a rating of 4 stars.

How to find it?

You can look for this and other books in the series under C for Collins in the Fiction section of the library and/or reserve it on the library catalogue

By Emily Seeman

Word worth knowing
Podsnappery

Our word worth knowing this week is podsnappery, defined as “an attitude toward life marked by complacency and a refusal to recognise unpleasant facts.”

Source: Merriam Webster – Word of the Week

K-12 Sport

Stuart Taylor – PDHPE Teacher

ASISSA Thursday Inter School Sport
Super 6 Netball Champions 2023

A huge congratulations to the Emanuel Super 6 Netball team, who won the coveted competition this term. The girls were a formidable force throughout the round robin section, before sealing the deal against IGS in the final.

Well done to: Nava Weiss, Frankie Paez, Tali Gellert, Shayna Abitz, Kiki Aronstan, Lily Smaller, Amelie Lipman, Zoe Laurence and Evie Brodovcky.

Results

Emanuel 18 defeated by Moriah 20
Emanuel 50 def St Spyridon 0
Emanuel 44 def Mt Sinai 0
Emanuel 42 def Redeemer 0
Emanuel 22 def SACS 8
Emanuel 31 def IGS 17

ASISSA Athletics Carnival

Emanuel was represented by 55 students at the ASISSA Athletics Carnival at ES Marks Stadium on Thursday 7 September 2023. Our students performed extremely well, with some outstanding performances on a perfect day for competition.

Well done to the following athletes who were selected to represent ASISSA at the NSWCIS carnival at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday 19 September 2023:

Sophia Kirievskaya – Discus
Annabelle Krusin – Discus
Amelia Levin – Discus
Sierra Miller – 100m
Dylan Pal – Shot Put
Aviv Smily – Relay
Brody Reid – Relay
Joshua Kawalsky – Relay
Tom Shilbury – Relay

A special thank you to Mr Rabenda, Mr Lukins, and Mrs Fairfax, who managed the team on the day, and to the Emanuel Year 6 Leaders who fulfilled many official roles and received glowing feedback from carnival officials.

Heath Morley, Head of Sport

Emanuel Primary School State Futsal Championship Teams

The Emanuel U10 boys made the semi finals and had a very successful day winning all their pool matches, facing schools with impressive football talent, like St Spriydon and Central Coast Sports School, along with winning the quarter finals against Norwest Primary School. We were unlucky to lose by a golden point in extra time in the semi-final against Mamre Primary School.

A big congratulations to the Emanuel U10 boys futsal team for making the semi-finals of the state futsal championships – this is an incredible achievement!

The Emanuel U12 Boys Team had a productive day at the championships, drawing their first match to Newington College, but they lost narrowly to a very competitive opposition in Central Coast Sports College. As a result, they did not make it out of the group stage and lost closely to a strong Kings Park Primary School futsal team in their final round match.

Well done to both teams who represented themselves and Emanuel School very proudly – they should be extremely proud of their efforts. Both teams displayed spirit, determination and resilience, helping them overcome some very strong futsal teams to make it to the state finals.

Machane Krembo 2023

Natali Tchelet- Head of Hebrew 7-12

Machane Krembo 2023

Machane Krembo is always a highlight for Year 8 Hebrew students and this year’s camp didn’t disappoint! Year 8 students had an enriching experience over three days, where they delved into the world of Israeli sporting events like the Maccabiah Games, explored Israeli achievements, and participated in many activities exploring modern Hebrew (and a bit of classical Hebrew too!). These experiences not only expanded the students’ vocabulary but also deepened their appreciation for Israel and the Hebrew language system. One of the best-loved activities was the preparation of the local version of the legendary Israeli Krembo dessert, made from a biscuit topped with meringue and drizzled with melted chocolate.

Throughout their time at the camp, students were fully immersed in Hebrew language, picking up new words and phrases and trying them out on the Hebrew speakers around them. The camp was facilitated by the visiting Israeli madrichim מדריכים (leaders) and the מדריכים צעירים madrichim tzeirim (young leaders from Years 9 and 10), together with teachers Natali Tchelet, Ofira Walker, Jacqui Cohen and Eli Hajun.

We were blown away by the רוח RUACH (team spirit) that truly transformed the experience and brought everyone together. This synergy between language immersion and the camp’s vibrant spirit created an unforgettable and unifying atmosphere for all participants.

Pre-loved Uniform Shuk

Justine Hofman – Head of P&F

Your pre-loved uniform donations make a difference
Collections start on Monday 18 September 2023

As we gear up for the uniform change over next term, we invite you join us in giving back to our community by donating your preloved school uniforms.

Why donate preloved school uniforms?

Promote sustainability: Donating uniforms extends the lifecycle of clothing, reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing new items.
Foster a stronger community: Acts of kindness like this help strengthen the bonds within our community and create a culture of support and solidarity.
Raise funds for our P&F: To provide additional resources that our kids will all use and benefit from. Past funds have provided a bus and play equipment.

How can you contribute?

Gather your uniforms: Check your closets and drawers for gently used school uniforms that your children have outgrown or no longer need. Ensure the uniforms are clean and in good condition.
Drop-off locations: We have designated drop-off locations at Waxman and Avoca Street Gates from 7.30 am – 8.30 am every morning next week: Monday 18 September 2023 – Friday 22 September 2023.
Come to the sale: Held on campus in the PAC from 7.30 am – 2.00 pm on Monday 9 October 2023

Thank you for your generosity and for being a part of this important effort.

Term 4 challah orders now open

It’s time again to place orders for Term 4 challah. Thanks to our superstar team of P&F volunteers you can collect challah every Friday from school near the Basketball Courts. There’s nothing better than taking home freshly baked Jesse’s challah and knowing there’s one less thing to do on a Friday afternoon. It’s a seven week subscription so the total cost is $42 with deliveries starting in Week 2. Due to price rises, our challah is now $6 per week which we are please to say, is still cheaper than buying it from the supermarket. Order here by Monday 16 October 2023.

Dates for the diary

Monday 18 September 2023 – Friday 22 September 2023: Pre-loved Uniform Shuk collection week from 7.30 am – 8.30 am
Tuesday 19 September 2023: P&F Termly Meeting (7.00 pm)
Monday 9 October 2023: Pre-loved Uniform Shuk Sale 7.30 am – 2.00 pm
Friday 3 November 2023 – Monday 5 November 2023: Spring Family Camping Weekend

Spotlight on… Primary Grandparents Day

Thank you to Sharon Arnott for capturing this special morning. Enjoy this selection of photographs:

Holiday Trading Hours

Holiday trading hours

Emanuel School Uniform Shop will close for the school holidays on Thursday 21 September 2023 at 5.00 pm and will re-open on Monday 9 October 2023 at 8.00 am

Throughout the school term our opening hours are:

Monday: 8.00 am – 11.00 am
Tuesday: 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Thursday: 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm

You are welcome to purchase from the online uniform shop, passphrase ES1983.
All orders will be completed when the store re-opens.

Contact details

Phone: 9326 5445
Email: emanuel@midford.com.au

PSG

Thank you to our volunteers for last week
(Monday 4 September 2023 – Friday 8 September 2023)

Gary Gordon, Elizabeth Ben Gida, Ian Doust, Paul Berkovic, Matti Gild, Florette Ickowicz, Avner Silberman, Elan Miller, Yaron Allul, Jen Nathan, Don Robertson, Sarah Vasin, Daniel Tintner, Zoltan Waldner, Hila Haskelberg, Sol Caganoff, Melissa Kery, David Eliovson, Daniel Stein, Jackie Elias, Karen Drutman, Leon Kantor and Deborah Zolot.

Help keep our kids and community safe: sign up to PSG here.

Important Dates

What’s happening next week

High School

Monday 18 September 2023

Canteen closed – Fast of Gedaliah

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Year 9 JST Be the Change – Thread Together
NSW CIS Athletics Championships

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Year 8 Tiyul Sukkat Shalom
Year 9-12 Drama to Importance of Being Earnest

Thursday 21 September 2023

Copland Concert Band tour to local schools
ANVDC Middles Debating
Year 11 JA Thompson History Debating – Quarter Final
Year 7 Shorashim

Friday 22 September 2023

HS Yom Kippur Program
Year 12 (2024) Introduction

Primary

Monday 18 September 2023

Canteen closed – Fast of Gedaliah

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Project Heritage Presentation Rehearsal
NSWCIS Athletics Championships

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Project Heritage Presentation
Parent Teacher Night

Thursday 21 September 2023

K-2 Gala Day

Friday 22 September 2023

Last day of Term 3

Kornmehl

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Starfish to Bush School

Thursday 21 September 2023

Dolphins to Bush School

Friday 22 September 2023

Last day of Term 3

Ma Nishma

From the Principal

Farewelling our Year 12 (2023)

The Graduation Ceremony

The Graduation Dinner

Update on B’Yachad Building

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

Machane Bissli

It’s a Mitzvah!

Mazal tov

Thank you

Quote of the week

Shanah Tovah

From the Head of Jewish Life

Tekiah

Primary News

New beginnings start with grandparents

The excitement continued with a series of engaging workshops tailored to different year levels, each offering a unique experience:

I Can Sing a Rainbow

Shana Tovah U’metukah

Emanuel Synagogue, including the Progressive, Masorti and Renewal Services

The Great Synagogue

Kadimah (Old South Head Road)

Mizrachi Bondi

Or Chadash

Ayelet Hashachar

JEMS

Kornmehl

Jewish identity

Rosh Hashanah, bees and beekeeper visit

Happy Birthday

Careers

Do lots

What works?

The ‘passion’ paradox

Sydney, oh Sydney

Use your personality

If school wasn’t for you….

Keep on learning

Music Matters

Recent student performances

Dates and events

Private Music Tuition and Infant Strings Program

Light on the Library

Book reviews

Review #1 The Astonishing Colour of After

How to find it?

Review #2 The Hunger Games

How to find it?

Word worth knowing Podsnappery

K-12 Sport

ASISSA Thursday Inter School Sport Super 6 Netball Champions 2023

Results

ASISSA Athletics Carnival

Emanuel Primary School State Futsal Championship Teams

Machane Krembo 2023

Machane Krembo 2023

Pre-loved Uniform Shuk

Your pre-loved uniform donations make a difference Collections start on Monday 18 September 2023

Why donate preloved school uniforms?

How can you contribute?

Term 4 challah orders now open

Dates for the diary

Spotlight on… Primary Grandparents Day

Thank you to Sharon Arnott for capturing this special morning. Enjoy this selection of photographs:

Holiday Trading Hours

Holiday trading hours

Contact details

PSG

Important Dates

What’s happening next week

High School

Primary

Kornmehl

Review #1
The Astonishing Colour of After

Review #2
The Hunger Games

Word worth knowing
Podsnappery

ASISSA Thursday Inter School Sport
Super 6 Netball Champions 2023

Your pre-loved uniform donations make a difference
Collections start on Monday 18 September 2023