From the Principal
Welcome to Term 2! I hope that you have enjoyed the extra time with your children over the holiday period. It was lovely to see their smiling faces back at School yesterday and to feel their energy and enthusiasm as they begin their new term of learning.
Over the break our High School Library has been moved to the top of the Brender-Moss Building in preparation for the demolition of the old Library building which will hopefully begin in the next few months. In addition, you will notice that Reception has been renovated when next you’re there. Holidays are always busy times for upgrading facilities in Schools.
James O’Loghlin at Emanuel School
Our staff returned on Wednesday to a Staff Development Day focusing on Innovation. As part of our strategic plan to build innovative thinking and develop our School further so as to provide the best possible preparation for our students beyond School, all staff members were involved in a day of thinking about being innovative in our work.
James is a TV presenter and comedian and was the presenter of the ABC series ‘The Inventors’ for eight years. He has recently written the book: ‘Innovation is a State of Mind’. As our keynote speaker on Wednesday, he emphasised that innovation is not confined to those people who seem especially creative, but to each of us. He defines innovation as “thinking of, and then implementing, a better way of doing things”. He sees that the biggest step towards being innovative is thinking – finding a small amount of time each day to think about the things around us that need improving, focusing on one and coming up with ideas to make it better. He also sees habitual thinking as the enemy of innovation and provided us with some strategies for breaking out of habitual thinking. He also talked about valuing ideas, refining them and developing strategies for using the best of them.
Staff then spent time focusing on an area related to the School that could be improved and coming up with innovative ideas for making it better. Seventeen different topics were considered and pitches were made for the best ideas in each area. I will write more about James’ presentation and the outcomes of the innovation sessions in my next few Ma Nishma articles.
Staff changes
We are very pleased to welcome the following new staff members to Emanuel School:
Meghan Carroll
Meghan has taught in Primary Schools in Quebec, Canada, and Australia. She comes to us most recently from Meadowbank Education Trust School Oatlands, where she had been Primary Team Co-ordinator and Teacher, and most recently has been teaching Stage 2. She is replacing Tracey Walker and teaching Year 4.
Michael Helm
Michael has extensive experience teaching Mathematics and IST/IPT (Computing Studies) to both HSC and IB students in schools in the Sydney area such as De La Salle Senior College Cronulla, Mount St Joseph Milperra and most recently at Al Zahra College Arncliffe. In addition to teaching, Michael has had experience as Administration Co-ordinator, e-Learning Co-ordinator and Assistant Head of Senior School. Michael will join our Mathematics staff.
Jennifer McLean
Jennie has wide-ranging and varied experiences in learning support. She has been a Learning Support Teacher at the Benedict Community School with a focus on Years 9 and 10, a consultant with the Catholic Education Office, Learning Support Co-ordinator at St Catherine’s Waverley and most recently at Kambala, where she was Head of Learning Enrichment T-12. Jennie will be Years 7-12 Specialist Learning Centre Co-ordinator and begins with us on Monday 1 May.
Lior Misrachi
It is with very mixed emotions that I let you know that Lior Misrachi will be leaving Emanuel at the end of Term 2. We are thrilled for Lior and her family that they will be making Aliyah to Israel in July but will be very sad to see her leave us.
Lior has been teaching Hebrew at Emanuel for almost four years and is an outstanding teacher. She has made significant contributions to Hebrew teaching and learning as well as more generally across the School. Lior is a valued member of the Emanuel team and will be missed by both the children and the staff.
We will say farewell to Lior towards the end of term and are currently beginning our search for a new Hebrew Teacher.
Anzac Day commemoration
We began the term yesterday with a moving Anzac Day commemoration for Years 3-12, lead by our Years 6 and 12 students. I congratulate the students involved and thank, in particular, Christian Bell for his role in organising the Assembly. Robert Feher (Year 12) played the Last Post and Reverie on his trumpet and we thank him and acknowledge his great contribution in this role over the years.
Over the next few school days we will be having ceremonies to commemorate Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron, and to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
New website!
We have a bright new and shiny website that is dynamic and up-to-date. I invite you to go and take a look and I’m sure you’ll be impressed with its new look. A huge thank you to Isabelle Anne, our Assistant Marketing and Communications person, for all her work in putting this together, as well as Shira Sebban for her assistance in editing the text for the website and Zoran Taleski for help with the technology side of things.
Coming up
- Yom HaZikaron, 1 May
- Yom Ha’Atzmaut, 2 May
- Year 12 Half-Yearly Examinations, 3-10 May
- Breakfast with Emanuel, Wednesday 17 May, 7:30 am the Little Space at Bondi Junction
- Year 7 Study Skills Parents and Students evening, Tuesday 23 May, 6 pm
- Breakfast with Emanuel, Wednesday 24 May, 7:30 am, PwC Barangaroo
Quote of the week
“Every innovator is on an adventure. The adventure of ideas. They start with a thought, and then they take that idea out of their head and into the world to see how big they can grow it. It is a challenge and a test. It’s not easy, but it is exciting, and rarely dull. It’s good for us.” [James O’Loghlin]
Best wishes for a happy weekend!
Shabbat Shalom
Student absences
Arriving late?
Email absence@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au by 8:00 am on the day your child will be late
Need to leave early?
Email absence@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au by 8:00 am on the day your child needs to leave early
Not coming to school?
Email absence@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au by 8:00 am on the day your child will be absent
Taking more than five days’ leave?
Email dbourke@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au at least two weeks prior to your requested leave dates. You will be sent a form to fill in and return before approval is granted (or otherwise) by the Principal.