Volume 26 Issue 29 - 20 Oct 2017

From the Principal

Finally, I get a chance to say welcome back to Term 4! It feels like an age since our last Ma Nishma – I hope you’ve missed it over the past four weeks. Now that all of the High Holy days are over and the school holidays finished it’s full steam ahead for the next eight weeks of the year. There’s so much to do for us all, with examinations, assessments, reports, planning for 2018 and much more.

Staff Development Day

All of our staff members were very privileged to be able to hear Dr Jordan Nguyen as our guest speaker for our Staff Development day on 9 October. The day focused on using ICT to enhance learning. Jordan has been on ABC Catalyst, showing how he has helped a 13-year-old boy with severe cerebral palsy fulfil his lifelong dream of driving a car. Jordan led a team who developed the technology whereby the boy could steer the car with movements of his eyes. Jordan also showed us some of the advances in virtual reality, which are having great success with helping quadriplegics bear their weight and learn to walk again. It was an inspiring morning, seeing Jordan’s passion, enthusiasm and never-give-up approach to finding technological solutions for helping people with disabilities. He had many thought-provoking quotes, such as: ‘Today we are seeing the fastest rate of change that has ever existed … and the slowest rate of change that will ever exist in the future’.

After the keynote there was a range of workshops and presentations on all sorts of technology and education-related initiatives and programs. These were presented by a mix of external experts and staff members, and included sessions on Reshet, Google docs and forms, iMovie, edQuire laptop monitoring software, Clickview, online subscription resources, SeeSaw and Virtual and Augmented Reality. A huge thank you goes to Garry Case, Zoran Taleski and the IT department for their organisation and management of this very successful learning day for our staff.

 HSC Examinations

Our Year 12 class of 2017 has been preparing for these for some time and the exams finally began this week. Each week over the exam period, I will give you a brief comment on the papers, brought to you by our Heads of Department or teachers of the subject.

English

Here are some thoughts on the English Advanced and Standard Papers:

Paper 1:

In general, this was an accessible and straightforward paper. The students felt confident with their responses. The questions were drawn from the syllabus information and so the concepts were quite familiar to the students. The Section 1 comprehension texts were good, though one poem was a little challenging and lacking in obvious techniques so students had to think hard for that question. 

Paper 2:

Both Advanced and Standard Paper 2 were more challenging than Paper 1, with the Module B questions for each being particularly challenging and requiring a lot from the students. The Module A and Module C questions were more straightforward, though not without challenge. Students felt confident about Module A and C but less so about Module B. 


PDHPE

The Year 12 PDHPE students were very happy with the paper, with all of the group describing it as “very fair”. The multiple-choice section (20 marks) was very good. The Core 1 and 2 section (40 marks) was good but as is often the case in such a broad subject, there are many parts of the course that were not assessed (eg. Ottawa Charter, health promotion initiatives etc), which is always a little disappointing having spent so much time learning them. The final option section of the paper (40 marks) was very good for us, as I know the students had covered the content tested in detail. So overall it was a positive examination experience for the 2017 Year 12 PDHPE class.

Acknowledgement of staff

On our Staff Day we also honoured those staff members who have attained 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years of service to Emanuel School. We congratulate and sincerely thank the following teachers and support staff members for their commitment to our School and students over the years:

5 years: Kobi Bloom, Holly Dillon, David Gwilliam, Simon Hamilton, Alice Henry, Sarah Jenkins, Heather Marshall, Jillian McCormick, Claire Pech, Genevieve Radnan, Diana Springford, Kim Woolf

10 years: Santiago Alfaro, Daniel Burley, Andrew Delany, Tany Milner

15 years: David Bartlett, Peter Cummins, Marlene Einfeld, Lynn Joffe, Allison Lee, Alexandra Levy, Christine Rogers, Kim Slender, Lisa Starkey

20 years: Tina Greenhill

25 years: Sandy Lipworth 

Mazal Tov to

  • Aaron Ellis-Bloor (Year 11), who was recently awarded a Distinction for his performance in the LMusA Examinations on the saxophone. To achieve a result like this is remarkable at any age, but particularly for a 16 year old. The National pass rate is typically only 10% at this level of examination, and in NSW a maximum of one or two candidates for LMusA on saxophone each year will get a Distinction or Pass. This is an amazing achievement and a credit to Aaron’s hard work over the year in preparation for this very rigorous examination.

    Aaron Ellis-Bloor – Year 11 -2017

  • Sonia Redman (Year 11), who was in the Grand Final of the Mikolot Public Speaking competition at the end of last term and came a very creditable second.
  • Daniel Melamed, (Year 7) who won Sydney Spring One-Day Tournament in Chess
  • Jonathan Schach (Year 8) who was promoted to a Patrol Leader of his Clovelly Scout Troop, leading a troupe of 6
  • Brody Elbourne (Year 7) for his achievement in the Blackmores 3.5 km run, coming 5th overall and second in his age group
  • BJ Shapiro (Year 7), for his part in the success of his basketball team, the Sydney comets, who came second in the national competition
  • Oskar Beck (Year 10) for his third place in Javelin at the CIS Athletics
  • Danielle Rutstein (Year 9) for her 7th place in the high jump at the CIS Athletics
  • All the ICAS and AMT winners (see the pages in this bulletin detailing the winners)
  • Rabbi Siegel and all the students who participated in the Sukkah Dinner with the refugees last week (I commend this article to you in this bulletin – it contains some beautiful words from the refugees and our students, parents and teachers who took part).

Coming up

  • King David School Exchange, Sunday 22 October – Monday 23 October
  • KDS Exchange Concert, Monday 23 October, 4:10 pm, MPH
  • Year 6 Testing for Year 7 2018, 25 October
  • The Shabbat Project, 27 October
  • World Teachers’ Day, 27 October (say thanks to a teacher on this day!)
  • High School Jilkminggan trip, Sunday 29 October – Friday 3 November
  • High School Parent Wellbeing evening, Monday 30 October, 6pm
  • P & F Camping Trip, 3 – 5 November

 Quote of the week 

From C K Prahalad, on leadership:

‘Let me use a metaphor. I look at good leaders as sheepdogs. Good sheepdogs have to follow three rules. Number one, you can bark a lot, but you don’t bite. Number two, you have to be behind: you cannot be ahead of the sheep. Number three, you must know where to go, and you mustn’t lose the sheep.’

Best wishes for an enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

Shabbat Shalom

From the Primary School

Emma Clemens – Deputy Head of Primary

Parent Wellbeing Conference

On Monday we hosted the Primary School Wellbeing Conference. In previous years we have had a series of parent information evenings during Term 3. This year we are trialling a new structure where we are hosting three parent conferences. At the end of Term 3, we had the K-12 Curriculum Conference, then in Term 4 we have the Primary and High School Wellbeing Conferences. The new approach of conference style enables us to have a number of speakers present on the same evening so that parents can hear from different experts and delve into a range of topics in the one night. On Monday we had two presenters. Below is a summary of their presentations and links to additional resources.

Michele Chevalley Hedge: Healthy body and brain in your child – It’s all in their food

Michele is a qualified nutritionist, international author and founder of ‘A Healthy View’. Michele has appeared on Sunrise, 2UE and has published hundreds of articles though MINDFOOD, Vogue, Prevention and Good Health. Below is some of the eye-opening research and key tips Michele gave during her presentation.

  • Across the world obesity rates are soaring. One out of four people are overweight, obese or have Type 2 Diabetes. Obesity and being overweight can lead to a range of other health concerns including infertility, cholesterol difficulties, poor energy, digestion issues and a multitude of diseases. In addition, being overweight due to poor food choices can link to brain burnout such as brain fog, poor memory and cognitive dysfunction.
  • What we eat has a significant impact on so many aspects of our body and its functioning. Some of these include hair, teeth, sleep, skin, heart, thyroid, physical shape, memory, mood and self esteem.
  • There are so many diets available on the market so it can be difficult to know what to follow. However, the best guiding principles are to eat real whole food, and to try to eat slow-burning, fresh, seasonal and organic foods (where possible). We should eat a combination of good fats, quality protein and smart carbohydrates. Good fats help our brain function, balance hormone levels and turn off sugar cravings. Quality protein assists with immunity, healthy nails, stops hunger and balances blood sugar. Smart carbohydrates are slow burning and give fuel for the brain and body.
  • Many carbohydrates have very high sugar levels. The World Health Organisation recommends that we eat no more than 6-9 teaspoons of sugar a day. But many children eat about 40 teaspoons of sugar a day.
  • Sugar can cause a range of health concerns. Some of these include gut issues, suppressed immune system, exhaustion, hyperactivity, concentration difficulties, acne, inflammation, changed hormones, raised cholesterol and Diabetes.
  • We should focus on eating slow-burning food as these release energy slower. These foods help you feel full for longer and therefore eat less. Some examples include quality protein and fats, whole grain pasta and breads, fruit smoothies with yoghurt, almonds, seeds, fruits and vegetables, beans, lentils, chickpeas, hummus and grain crackers.

Michele has three tips for assessing the sugar levels and recommends you share these with your child:

  1. Read the label: Look at the ingredients. If you recognise the names of the ingredients and there aren’t too many chemicals and additives, then this is a good start.
  2. Look at the serving size. If the serving size is very small, then this may be a good sign that there is a lot of sugar.
  3. Look at the sugar: Multiply the grams of sugar by the serving size per package or the number of servings you are about to eat. Then divide by 4. This gives you a rough estimate of the amount of sugar in teaspoons. For children dividing by 4, encourage them to halve and halve again.

If you would like a copy of Michele’s presentation please email her at michele@ahealthyview.com. In the subject of the email write Emanuel Wellbeing Presentation. Click here to register for 50% off A Healthy View Low Sugar Lifestyle program with A Healthy View and enter the code: school50%off.

Kristy Goodwin: Healthy Digital Habits

Dr Kristy Goodwin is one of Australia’s leading digital parenting experts. She’s the author of ‘Raising Your Child in a Digital World’, speaker and researcher. Kristy is regularly called upon by the media to translate the latest research about kids and screens into practical and relevant information for worried parents and professionals. Below is some of the most current research and recommendations that Kristy presented about healthy digital habits for families.

  • Children average 32 hours per week of screen time at home. This is not only 32 hours spent on digital devices, but it is a 32-hour opportunity cost for other activities. Boys are predominantly gaming and girls are predominantly on social media. Both boys and girls also spend many hours watching YouTube videos.
  • The current Australian Department of Health guidelines recommend 1-2 hours of screen time per day. However, these guidelines are currently under review as they are unrealistic. The American Academy of Paediatrics have removed an hour limit for children 6 years and above. The focus is not on the number of hours, but what is happening during screen time. It is important to ask whether screen time is active or passive, leisure or educational, whether it has a physical impact (vision and hearing) and if it influences sleep.
  • Children are so attached to their devices because it gives them a sense of connection and belonging, they feel competent and have a sense of control. This is why parents observe techno-tantrums where their children have a significant melt down when a device is taken away from them.
  • Cognitively prime your child for when their screen time will end, for example ‘after the next add break’ or ‘when you reach Level 7 of the game’ or ‘once you’ve sent three more messages’. The child should then turn the device off themselves, so they have a sense of control. A positive transition activity such as jumping on the trampoline or having afternoon tea can also assist with stopping screen time.
  • There are many implications for a child’s physical health if they have excessive screen time. Some impacts include decline in focus and attention, delayed and impaired physical skills (fine and gross motor), lack of impulse control and increased aggression. To compensate the sedentary state of screen time consider how to increase scheduled or incidental exercise for your child.
  • Screen time also impacts on amount and quality of sleep. Blue light emission impacts melatonin levels, which delays the onset of sleep. Also if the activity on a device is very active, such as group messaging or a game, it can put children into a hyperactive state. It is important to keep digital devices out of bedrooms and limit screen time one hour before bedtime. On iOS devices you can use the night shift function in the display settings to limit the blue light. Baxter Blue non-prescription glasses can also assist with absorbing blue light.
  • It is very important to have internet filtering at home. Family Zone is a great product that travels with the child wherever they go, regardless of what wireless network they are using. It helps to track and manage screen time. You can also set restrictions for different times of the day, such as blocking social media during homework time.
  • Vision and hearing are two key health concerns that are also associated with increased screen time. Use the 20-20-20-20 rule when children are using screens. Every 20 minutes your child is on a screen they must take a 20 second break to look 20 feet away and blink 20 times. For hearing, encourage your child to wear noise cancelling headphones rather than earbuds and limit headphone use to 1 hour per day. In the device settings, limit the maximum volume and headphones should be out of ears when crossing the road.
  • Children should also be aware of the digital DNA associated with all their online posts. This is taught at school in Upper Primary as part of our Digital Citizenship Program. In addition, monitor your child’s use of social media. It’s very important to know what digital playground your child is playing in.
  • Consider how you and your family can engage in more outdoor and unstructured play. It’s okay for children to say that they are bored. Opportunities for creativity and daydreaming are important for neurological development.

If you would like a copy of Kristy’s presentation or free eBook for parents click here.

Fred Hollows Humanity Award

Congratulations to Coby New who will be attending the Fred Hollows Humanity Award ceremony next Monday at Parliament House. Coby was selected for this award based on his ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ project about Fred Hollows and his ‘Boots for All’ initiative. Coby collected second hand soccer boots from Emanuel students which he then took to Jilkminggan School. What a wonderful achievement, well done Coby!

National History Challenge

Congratulations to Alice Milner who is the recipient of the NSW state award in the National History Challenge. Alice prepared a museum exhibit which showcased research about a family member who was a soldier in the Australian Army and sadly died in Afghanistan. It is an incredible accomplishment and Alice has the honour to represent Emanuel at the award ceremony on Thursday.

National Tennis Tournament

We wish Jesse Gothelf all the best for his participation in the National Tennis Tournament this week. Jesse has been selected for the NSW team to compete at the national level. So far this week the team has won against Victoria and the Northern Territory. It is an incredible honour to compete at such a high level competition.

Write For Fun Competition

This week we received the exciting news that Aden Kanevsky, Sophie Masnick, Alice Milner, and Willow Gelin have been selected as finalists for the Write for Fun Competition. These students entered a piece of creative writing based on their own choice of genre and theme. We eagerly await the finalist results which we will receive on 25 October.

Mathletics Awards

Congratulations to Aidan Sheps, Tobias Topolinsky and Zack Gerber who were awarded Mathletics certificates for outstanding performance in Mathletics this year. This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates great commitment and expertise in Mathematics. 

Northern Territory Trip

This week Year 6 students have travelled to the Northern Territory for our second trip to Jilkminggan School. The students have had an excellent time in Litchfield National Park, Katherine and Mataranka. They have also spent time in Jilkminggan School, furthering the special connection that exists between Emanuel and Jilkminggan. We look forward to their safe return on Monday night. Thank you to Tany Milner and Holly Dillon for all their incredible organisation and planning for the trip. Thank you also to Tany Milner and Adam Ezekiel for accompanying the students and parents on the trip.

BBQ Day

When: Monday 23 October

Why: Raising money for WIZO

Cost: $3.50 for sausage sizzle

Uniform: Plain clothes day

Booking: On the day, students need to bring a sealed envelope with the correct money inside (no change will be given). On the front, please write the child’s name and the order. The options are listed below:

Canteen: The canteen will be closed and it is requested that students do not bring dairy to school.

  1. Sausage sizzle $3.50
  2. Gluten free sausage sizzle $3.50
  3. Vegetarian sausage sizzle $3.50

Calendar Links

Next Week’s Calendar Link

2017 Calendar Link

 Term 3-4 K-2 Assembly Items

  • 20 October (Week 2): Music Assembly
  • 3 November (Week 4): 1T Mrs Silver’s class
  • 17 November (Week 6): KE Ms Grieve’s class
  • 1 December (Week 8): Year 1 Hebrew

 

From the Head of Jewish Life

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

Sukkot

 Living Within When Living Without

בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים:

כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

Seven days you shall live in Sukkot

For I caused the children of Israel to dwell in Sukkot when taking them out of Egypt (Mitsrayim)

Commenting upon this Biblical verse, the Talmudic sage Rava says: “All seven days go out of your permanent dwelling and live in a temporary dwelling”.

The holiday of Sukkot heightens our awareness of competing needs and concerns, conflicts and contradictions in our lives. We are brought in by being brought out. We find strength within vulnerability and fragility in what we once thought secure. Living in the temporary we find the enduring and, viewing what we once deemed permanent, we now see it passing before our eyes.

Of all our Jewish holidays, regarding Sukkot alone we are told, “You shall be utterly joyous (sameach). Yet, the Biblical book which the Rabbis selected for our reading on this holiday is Ecclesiastes, perhaps best known for its opening words: “Hevel havalim ha-kol hevel”- “Utter Impermanence, all is but temporal”.

It is with this very recognition of life’s impermanence, our Rabbis suggest, that we most fully experience joy. For, in seeking to secure life, which is but fleeting, we miss living it.

 A Story 

 An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fish. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.” The investment banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The fisherman responded, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend time with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and enjoy the company of my friends. 

I have a full and busy life.”

The banker offered, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a large city and then yet a larger one, eventually you will relocate to the country’s business capital where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

To which the investment banker replied, “15 – 20 years.”

“But what then?” Asked the fisherman.

The banker laughed and said, “That’s the best part.  When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions – then what?”  The banker said, “Then you would retire.  Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take time with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and spend time with your friends.”

On Sukkot, as we move from our place of permanence to one of a temporal nature, we remind ourselves to enjoy a life being lived rather than one only being planned. Our tradition teaches: “You can take the people out of Mitsrayim (Egypt/The Narrow Places) but you cannot take Mitsrayim out of the people”. Each of us needs to free ourselves of our trusted confines. As we observe the commandment of dwelling in the Sukkah, in commemoration of our being taken out of Mitsrayim, may we also cause the Sukkah to dwell within us, so life in our homes, year round, may be secure but also of great joy.

 

 

Devar Torah

Sonia Redman – Year 11 2017

Sukkot

The following Devar Torah was shared by Sonia with her peers during our High School Assembly on Chol haMoed Sukkot.

Imagine that all people suddenly disappeared from our planet. Several hours after we vanish, lights all around the world would start to shut down. Roadways would become rivers, subways would flood, weeds and vines would cover dilapidated structures. Metal objects would rust away and wood constructions would be downed by termites or fires. But despite the loss of our man-made structures, our footprint on the natural earth would remain for a long time.

As we celebrate Sukkot, I urge you all to think about the impact of humanity on our planet. Why? Sukkot is traditionally known as the holiday when Jews are mandated to dwell in temporary structures, an imitation of the Israelites’ homes during their 40 years wandering the desert. In modern times, this festival has become a perfect vehicle for Jews concerned with human impact on the environment. Sukkot forces us to experience what most of humanity historically already has – the elements, the outdoors. It reminds us that our man-made structures are temporary.

I personally am struck by the value of this holiday of exposure, and how attuned one can be to the world by leaving the safety of a house for a fragile structure, rendered kosher only when it is able to be blown down. It is a constant reminder of our environment and its fragility. Considering all the scientific advances of the last millennia, we still understand relatively little about the origins of life on Earth, and how and why natural phenomena occur. But there are some things we do know. The Torah teaches that all life is sacred and, knowing that, we are charged with tending to the Earth’s wellbeing. Bal tashchit, or “do not destroy,” a key Jewish principle, compels us to serve as protectors of the land.

However, there is an imminent sense of futility that still exists. While Sukkot is a chance to revisit our environmental footprint and think of what we wish to incorporate from our temporary dwellings into our daily lives (think of our energy-draining homes and vehicles), the sad part for humans in the industrialised world is that even when we attempt to live lower-impact lives, our huge global warming and environmental problems still remain. These realities are alarming, particularly on Sukkot, a holiday where we stand in awe and gratitude of nature. We build a sukkah to remember the importance of the environment which humanity has corrupted. We remind ourselves of the ecological integrity of our land and water that is fundamental to our own perspectives as humans and as Jews, and the quality of our air which, of course, is vital to our existence. We cannot exploit the Earth for short-term gains at our long-term expense.

Life is fleeting, as is our time spent in the sukkah. Thankfully, we are able to rebuild this structure each year, so that we may celebrate the joy of the holiday once again. The environment, however, cannot be disassembled like a sukkah nor reconstructed in the same way. We have seen what humans are capable of doing to our planet, standing by while species become extinct, while drinking water is contaminated and while we pollute the air with chemicals. Let’s take this Sukkot to think about how we can coexist with our earth, how we as individuals can be the tenders of our planet.

I want to leave you with one last thought. The sukkah is a frail shelter that can easily be buffeted by rain and wind, but the liturgy specifically instructs us to “sit there.” Why should we be enjoined to sit in an inadequate shelter? The answer is because true shelter resides not in stronger walls, not in more square metres, but in being in harmony with what is, in feeling connected to life, and its inevitable processes. We “sit there” as well to understand nature — and to understand our duty to our planet.

Diveri Torah

Tomer Belkin – Year 11 2017

Parashah

In this week’s parashah we focus on what many call the second story of creation. In it we find Noach and his family, tasked with the laborious mission of building a giant ark which will serve as a sanctuary for his family and specimens of the animals of earth (as known to him). “Why do they need refuge?” Since humanity had become violent and corrupt, God came to the decision to flood the earth until mountains were no longer seen and all life on the lands of earth had been purged. The ark and all those who took refuge on it were spared.

I’m sure we all know the full story, including the part where Noach sends out a raven, then a dove and the part where the dove comes back with the olive branch which is now seen as an international symbol of peace. Once the flood cleared, God made a covenant with Noach, promising never to destroy the human race again. 

Despite this, in the very same parashah we see the story of the tower of Bavel, pretty famous but not as well known. In this story, the descendants of Noach, despite being previously instructed to spread out and be fruitful amongst the land, settled in one location, and built a city. This symbolises a defiance of god and, to some, as a metaphorical salt in the wound. Now the motives behind building a tower, reaching into the heavens “to make a name for ourselves” and not be “scattered throughout the world” is debatable. But what is known is that God “confounded their speech” so that humanity developed a bunch of different languages and scattered throughout the world. 

Even though it wasn’t a giant flood that killed literally everybody, we see God punishing all of humanity, almost immediately after promising not to unleash so much wrath (granted in different context). This got me thinking… throughout my life I’ve been pretty angry at a handful of people, and I know Yom Kippur has come and gone, but I don’t think that should be the only time to forgive people. I see God’s actions in this segment as being blind and wrathful, and from that I think to myself, who can I forgive? So I encourage you to reflect on those who have wronged you, and to not just look at them as being annoying, but as people who might be going through something. I mean High School can be a time of stress. Try to see the people you dislike and the people who have wronged you as a person with feelings, and try, and I know it might not be easy, but try to maybe… give them another chance.

Gabriel Sebban – Year 11 2017

Jade Reuveny – Year 11 2017

Noach

We all know the story of Noach, right? A guy that turns out to be the only righteous man left on earth, and so God tells him to build an ark and everyone but he and some animals die, right? Well, if for some reason you have no idea what we’re talking about, here’s a summary of this week’s parashah, Noach.

Noach is introduced to us as a righteous man, in stark contrast to a generation that “has perverted its ways”. God says to Noach, “Because the earth is filled with wrongdoing and corruption…I am going to destroy it.  Make yourself an ark…for animals and gather food for all aboard.  I shall flood the earth and destroy all life… It is with you, your wives and sons, I will maintain My Covenant.  It is you who have been righteous before Me in this corrupt age.  In seven days, I will blot out everything in existence that I have made.”

Before we go into what happens next, here is an interesting side note, did you know that the flood is said to have begun on October 27, 2106 B.C.E? That’s a pretty long time ago…

Anyway, the flood happens: for 40 days and nights the waters increased, destroying all living things. The water raged upon the surface of the earth for 150 days, and then diminished for the next 150. The Ark finally rested upon Mt. Ararat. After 40 days Noach opened a window and sent out a raven but it returned for lack of a place to land. After seven more days Noach sent out a dove, but it too returned from flying over the waters. After seven more days Noach sent out another dove. This time the dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. Noach waited seven more days before sending the dove out again. This time the dove did not return and Noach knew that the waters had subsided and the land had dried.

Now knowing that it is safe to exit the ark, Noach and his family offer sacrifices to God, before being presented with a rainbow, as a covenant to show that God will never again destroy the world. Noach lived after the flood for 350 years and died when he was 950 years and he had many descendants. Pretty crazy, huh? 

Okay but what now? 

The Kabbalists explain that “taiva,” the Hebrew word for “ark,” also means “word.” For there are two sides of the same coin. Each of us wants to build an ARK ― the best life possible for ourselves and our family to carry ourselves through the “flood”. Yet at the same time we are obligated to use the power of WORDS to reach out and influence others in the best possible way. Noach was given 120 years to build his “taiva,” his ark, (now, living in a realistic 21st century where average life expectancy is 82 – meaning we have a short amount of time in comparison to Noach). Or, to reach out and influence others. 

“BUT HOW?” you ask, 

WELL… we, as Noach should have done, can speak out against inequalities or injustices in our day to day lives. We can understand clearly why humanity must refuse to tolerate gossip and strife between individuals. Noah’s failure to try and influence his generation is why the Flood is called “the waters of Noach” (Isaiah 54:9). Don’t think the problem isn’t affecting you. Because it is.

Let’s commit to taking responsibility ― for ourselves, our family, our community, our world.

An Eventful Holiday – opinion piece

Miriam Itzkowitz, Year 9

I think it’s fair to say that these past few weeks, while we were on holidays, were quite eventful. We had the High Holy Days and various other fun and exciting activities. Unfortunately, there were some quite traumatic and upsetting events as well. Hurricanes and tornadoes hit American territory and in Las Vegas an enormous massacre took place. I would like to shed some light on this massacre.

Being an American citizen, I feel obligated to express my concerns with the American government wherever I can, including at school. The Las Vegas Massacre has resulted in over 50 deaths and over 500 innocent civilians injured. The person responsible for all this damage was a man who had in his possession more than 10 guns, which he smuggled into his hotel. Of course, this raised some concerns regarding the American gun laws, which obviously after an incident like this, are in question. As many people know, the main reason any American has permission to carry a gun, is purely based on the Second Amendment, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” While this may have made sense in the 17th Century, does it make sense to follow and observe now?

One thing that’s really nice, after all these terrible incidents, people instantaneously gather on social media to express their love and support for the victims of these tragic incidents. I hate to play devil’s advocate, but what does this achieve? While people sharing love and support is touching, there is no way that spreading love on social media is actually going to help or benefit these victims, and even if it makes their day to see this ongoing support, it won’t change what happened and it certainly won’t change these darkened memories of what was supposed to have been an enjoyable evening. I’m not saying that these intentions aren’t admirable, but hashtag-ing about it is utterly futile. Once gathered online, why not try to find a solution? Look at statistics, write to politicians. It does not matter whether you are American. This affects everyone because it affects humanity.

This incident could theoretically have been avoided. I believe that if America had the correct people in power, who understood the depths to which these innocent lives are suffering, they would be a bit more empathetic. The current American power is Republican, and many of these people regard the Constitution as though it is the Bible. Many Republicans believe that they should have the “right to bear arms”. After the Orlando incident last year, senators were given the opportunity, a few days later, to vote for a bill that would have enabled more difficulty in purchasing guns, i.e. background checks and the preventing of people with a severe mental disorder the ability to purchase a gun, however, 56 senators decided against it, even after the worst massacre in America history, at the time. This says something about the American congressional system, and reflects the many flaws that this country attempts to push under the rug.

Many, if not most Americans, especially Republicans, are “Pro-Life”. This entails being against abortion and euthanasia. Those 56 Republican senators are saying that we need to pray and that their thoughts and prayers are with those affected. But to those people who are allegedly “pro-life”, why are you more willing to protect a foetus or someone who wants to die, over people who were trying to enjoy life and ended up losing theirs? Because these alleged “representatives” decided that following a piece of paper signed over 200 years ago, is more important than the public’s safety, for which they are responsible. They are supposed to represent the public, but most Americans believe that there should be restrictions on who obtains a gun and who does not. Yes, that includes both Democrats and Republicans. The senators’ one job is to represent the states, yet they’ve even failed at that, being well aware the stances that most Americans hold.

We’ve established that some people are pro-life, while others are pro-choice. I am proposing a new idea. We should all be pro-active. No person should have to fear for their life everyday just because someone could shoot them. When my father moved here from America, he and my mother were watching the news that was recounting the number of murders in Australia that year. My father was astounded because that was the number of murders in any given day in America. While living in America, my father was held up four times before he was 30, twice by a gun, twice by a knife, the first time being when he was only eight. Evidently, there has been this problem in the States for a while, but no child, or any person for that matter, should ever have to experience this. Now, there are many reasons for this. America is a bigger country, and therefore, in numbers, more people are likely to die. However, every country has deaths via age, health, vehicle accidents, suicide, drugs etc., but no developed country has anywhere near as many murders as America does. Additionally, each state has its own gun laws, and unfortunately in the State of Nevada (where Las Vegas is) there is no requirement for a gun license or background checks, so this very example makes massacres such as these much more confronting, knowing that there are multiple ways to prevent these horrible events, but at the same time, showing that no one is doing anything about it.

So yes, we’ve congregated on social media, but now, regardless of political belief, let’s work together to stop gun violence. In my lifetime, there have so far been two records set of the worst massacre in American history. That’s nothing to be proud of, in fact, it should be something that Americans should be greatly ashamed of. The Second Amendment needs to be reinterpreted or even changed so inhumane events such as this don’t occur as often as they already do. American citizens need to realise that whether or not they have the right to a gun, does not mean that they can abuse that right and shoot people left, right and centre and they should start acting like civilised citizens of the most powerful nation. People’s lives are more important than a piece of paper signed hundreds of years ago. Which takes precedence over the other: someone’s right to live or wanting to preserve a historical document?

Lastly, after incidents such as these, there are many American politicians who say that it’s not the right time to talk about the gun laws. I’m sorry, but when is there a right time? It seems that whenever this happens, the topic is censured for just long enough for people to move onto other news. This isn’t right. As global citizens, it is all of our responsibilities to create a safer world to prevent incidents, such as this, to ever occur again. Gun violence is never OK. We live in such a challenging world already, with terrible things happening everyday. And while we can’t control natural disasters, we can offer support for each other. But if we work together, we can prevent massacres. America needs cheaper medical care, so they can care for people with mental disorders, they need better gun control and most importantly, less abuse over the Second Amendment.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday otherwise, and I hope this article provides some insight, as well as potentially provoking discussion about the ethical issues presented in America and what we, as Australians and global citizens, can do.

A Sukkah Dinner

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

A Sukkah Dinner

“Being Embraced”

On Chol HaMoed Sukkot, our students, parents and teachers enjoyed a wonderful welcoming of refugees as guests in our Emanuel sukkah.

Traditionally, the sukkah has been a place of refuge and a means of providing a sense of belonging for those who might feel marginal to our community. Through planned activities and in reflecting upon the import and meaning of sukkot, we reached out to our guests who soon felt at home. Our students were warm and inviting and with a dinner that facilitated the sharing of personal stories, challenges and journeys, with our students, they appreciated the fragility of life as represented by the sukkah in which they were sitting. Joining together in singing and the playing of instruments, led by Philip Feinstein of the Music for Refugees Project, we all fulfilled the mitsvah, distinct to Sukkot, of being “utterly happy”. Our teachers, parents, students and our new friends experienced a sense of fulfilment which is integral to this holiday of “Ingathering” (another name for Sukkot). In embracing others within our sukkah we felt embraced, as well.

Our Sukkah was truly representative of a global community with our participants coming from: Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Chad, Chile, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Romania, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, United States.

There were many languages represented as well: Arabic, Croation, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Hazaragi, Hebrew, Italian, Sinhala, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Thai, Urdu.

Please find below Tomer’s welcoming words, as well as excerpts of comments and reflections from our participants.

Tomer (Year 11 2017)

Let me start off by saying… happy Sukkot, chag sameach. For a quick little tid bit, Sukkot is one of the 3 pilgrimage festivals. Sitting in the sukkah, according to the biblical explanation, commemorates the 40 years the Israelites lived in sukkot in the desert (for the most part, during their travels, they probably lived in tents, but at oases, a sukkah would be a welcome resting place). It also signifies the end of the harvest season during which time Jews would live out in their fields, in booths/sukkot, to better harvest their field and reap its bounty.

One of the ideas behind Sukkot is the idea of impermanence. Staying in a sukkah for a week reminds us of the impermanence our ancestors felt in their desert wanderings. But it also reminds us of the moving we are constantly doing, physically and spiritually. This holiday serves to remind us of the importance of experiences, positive and negative, in our ultimate journeys. It reminds us that our material possessions, whilst to some extent important and necessary, are temporary.

We should take solace in the relationships we make, and the things we feel, because there will come a time when we may no longer have what we do now. I may, for example, never see this chair again, but I know that there will be another time when I will be happy, or sad, or scared, or confused. Throughout our lives, our physical placement in the world will change, so let’s enjoy the now, let’s enjoy this wonderful dinner, each other’s presence. Let’s laugh, think, connect and feel not as two groups of strangers, but as one, collective, group of people.

Hadi A. (Iranian)

It was great pleasure to be at Emanuel-Friendship, unity, multiculturalism, sharing and caring. Multi-faith sharing, hope and love was felt in a meaningful way. Being human as we are, we are different in many ways. I believe we can make the world a better place and live in peace and harmony with all our differences. Look forward to seeing you and the students, again. I wish you and all the kids the best. 

Sara Bortz (Year 11 2017)

Last week’s Refugee Sukkah Dinner was a huge success, and a very meaningful evening. We began welcoming our guests and getting to know each other by saying our names, where we are from, how long we have been in Australia, and why we felt it was important for us to participate in occasions like this. It was wonderful to hear that we all agreed that no matter where a person may come from, or what they believe in, we are all humans, and for this reason we are alike. And because of this common humanity that we share, there is nothing stopping us from learning more about each other, and befriending and embracing those who are new to our community. Last week’s Refugee Sukkah Dinner has broadened my awareness that difference is not something to be feared, but is rather something to be embraced.

Asif H.(Afgahne)

 It was absolutely wonderful to share the sukkah dinner with you, your amazing students, your school staffs and friends.  Also it was very good to learn something new about your religion and culture. You defined sukkah as a place of refuge and protection and it was indeed a kind and beautiful gesture. We laughed, we sang and we shared your food under the sukkah. To see people from different cultural and religious background under one roof sharing such a beautiful moment is not something we see everyday, in a lot of countries, but we can make it possible. I wish one day all humankind will come together and live in peace. When I move to my new place and once we are settled, I will invite you and some of your students to come over to my place for dinner. Thank you very much for everything and also I would like to thank you on behalf of my partner Nui and baby Daniel, for welcoming them, as well.

Anna Buch (Supporting Asylum Seekers Sydney and former Emanuel parent)

Thank you for including all of us in the lovely Sukkot dinner under the sukkah at Emanuel School.

It was such a lovely opportunity to all be together from all walks of life and different cultural backgrounds. It is because of this diversity that I found the evening so warm and inclusive. I was particularly struck by the notion that the majority of our friends come from Muslim backgrounds and that for most of them the thought of being in a Jewish school surrounded by Jewish people is quite confronting and, according to their upbringings, frightening. However, as the night progressed, the babies were passed around, the singing continued along with such talented instrumentalists so that the differences between us just melted away and we were left with an interesting and genuine group of people happy to share stories and enjoying each other’s company.  It was an incredible accomplishment on the part of the school, the wonderful students and the outstanding teaching staff.  A special thanks to Emanuel which remains steadfast in its beliefs and consistent efforts to encourage diversity and the human element.  Well done everyone and may the Emanuel School continue on this path with their open minds and hearts.

Aziz Ali (Chadian) and Adriana Martinovic (Australian )

We had a really great night. We enjoyed meeting everyone and felt very welcomed. We felt like we were all a family and enjoyed learning about the Jewish culture and would like to learn more. We enjoyed watching how people from other cultures and religions were able to sit at the same table and get along well, respect and love each other. We would like to thank everyone who organised this lovely night and we hope to see everyone again soon.

Shira Sebban (Emanuel Parent)

How wonderful it was to be able to welcome refugees and asylum seekers from so many cultures and faiths to our School and to share our celebration of Sukkot with them. It certainly added great meaning and underlined the wisdom behind this Jewish festival, highlighting the fragility of life and the peace and joy that we all can share. As I entered the sukkah, so beautifully decorated by our students, I felt such pride in our Emanuel ethos as an inclusive, diverse community open to all and respectful of difference. It was very special to be able to share this with students, staff, parents and our special guests.

Hadi P. (Iranian)

It was a special night for me and my sister (Sareh)… we left our country because we wanted to live free with peace. It’s been around seven years since I left my country and I lost part of my family. But, I’m grateful because I have met so many great people from different countries and backgrounds. Last evening was special for me, meeting people after 30 years of hearing stories about how bad they are and that we are big enemies. Now we know the truth and it’s all about political reasons for our governments – to make us stay away from each other. We are all brothers and sisters and can live in peaceful places like here or anywhere in this world. I wish one day I can visit Israel and its people. I hope to see you all again and thanks again to all of you. Love you all ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Tomer Belkin (Year 11 2017)

The Sukkot Dinner to me was an incredibly fun and thought-provoking experience. Of course, it was a bit awkward at first, as both parties were hesitant to so much as interact with each other, but as the night wore on, I found myself surprised by how quickly conversations began taking place. I sat across from a man named Aziz and we discussed a range of subjects, from politics to just life in general. He was such an interesting person and his attitude was so friendly and inviting that I didn’t want to stand up to get food because I was scared of ending the conversation. We also played some music together, music being defined by a riot of sticks banging and tambourines clinging to the background of a piano. I really enjoyed that because there was no communication needed, we just bonded over our abilities to elicit music from a diet-coke can and a spoon. I thought the experience was truly incredible and I hope even more refugees can come join us next time.

Maria Knudson (Somalian)

Thank you so much for organising the dinner and having me. I enjoyed hanging out with the girls and everyone’s lovely company! Indeed, it was a great night, I came not knowing what to expect but what we have in common made us close beyond what my words can explain. I felt like I was home, so thank you again and may God bless you.

Erika Ktalav and Becky Goldberg (Emanuel Teachers)

As the festival of Sukkot approached, we worked with our students in learning about the chag and in preparing with them sukkah decorations. On Tuesday afternoon we started to get the sukkah ready for our ‘Ushpezin’ (guests), a group of interesting refugees and their families. Both of us got really excited and a bit nervous. We were wondering how we might get to know them, listen to their stories and learn from their experiences.

As they started to arrive we mingled with them. Some were as young as 4 months old. Once we sat at the table we introduced each other and then ate delicious food. Together, we sang songs accompanied by piano and drums. The refugees shared their stories with us. Some of the stories made us shed some tears and some were just amazing. One Afghane refugee, shared with us that since he was a child, he had been taught, “that the Jews are our enemies and they are cruel”. They taught him to hate us. He was so overwhelmed to feel so welcome, with warmth, honesty and happiness. He was so surprised to be sitting amongst us and seeing how interested our students were in hearing the stories he and his fellow refugees had to tell. We shared with them our own stories, singing together, eating together, laughing together. He finally realised and shared with us “if we can sit together like this in the night of Sukkot, why not around the world? There is still hope for peace and our learning to respect and understand each other, and one day…to love each other”……..We are looking forward to next year, hoping to witness more incredible experience like this one in our school sukkah.

Philip Feinstein (www.musicforrefugees.org)  

Thank you again for inviting me to be a part such a fabulous sukkah evening. For me it was an extra special night as I was able to catch up with many people I have not seen since their release from Villawood Detention Centre. The atmosphere of the event really evoked a special feeling of togetherness which is really what it is all about. Meanwhile, the singing was great too!

Sonia Redman (Year 11 2017)

The sukkah dinner that I and fellow students, and staff, shared with refugees last week, was one of the most eye-opening experiences I feel so privileged to have participated in. From sharing our stories, eating good food, laughing and singing with voices raised in unison, the atmosphere within the sukkah was one of unconditional love and respect. One of the refugees, Hadi, spoke about the concept of enemies. How his country, Iran, posed the Jewish people as the enemies. He then went on to say how foolish he thought this was, because we are all humans, and this was a beautiful revelation. I was born and have lived in Australia my whole life, and have only recently begun to truly respect the plight of those who have not grown up so fortunately. But to see the constantly smiling faces of those who have experienced what many of us will never understand, was inspiring. I will forever cherish the conversations I had, the friendships I made, the embraces of those who opened themselves up so bravely to me. Thank you to everyone who made the night possible, I am truly grateful. 

Emma Fredman (Former Emanuel Parent)

Thank you for a wonderful evening in the sukkah with so many beautiful people. Such a lovely feeling sharing the evening with so many different people. I do cherish my time with many of the refugees as they have started making families of their own and that is so special to be part of. A wonderful and fun night. Thank you.

Hannah Shteinman (Year 11 2017)

Meeting and talking with such interesting people (and very cute babies) from literally all around the world, was an opportunity I’m so grateful to have had. Hearing the stories of people who have left their homes, and how they were then treated in coming to our country, was powerful and deeply moving. Sitting under the sukkah we were able to share our Jewish tradition and spiritual meaning of Sukkot and, in turn, our own Jewish history and experience of being refugees. So often in our sheltered eastern suburbs community, there seems to be this gap or even fear between our culture and the cultures of others, and that is why a night like this, where we all could learn about each other and enjoy food together is so important. 

Gabriel Sebban (Year 11 2017)

My experience last Tuesday evening far surpassed every other Sukkot meal in which I have taken part. Sitting down for a meal in the safety of the sukkah, with people who had come from all around the world, was amazing for me. It was extremely enriching and fulfilling to be able to celebrate the festival of Sukkot with these refugees, due to the symbolism that this festival holds to us, the Jewish people. Just as the sukkah represents shelter, safety and peace, so did my interactions with our guests. Furthermore, just as we invite our ancestors as guests (ushpizin), into the sukkah, it was very special to also invite refugees from across the globe to find shelter and safety in our midst. This merging of cultures and religions was summed up by a man from Iran, Hadi, who discussed the way in which his government told his people of the horrible nature of Jews and Israel, and how we should be his ‘enemies’. He went on to say that though he sat with the “enemies” of his country, he was in fact, seated amongst friends.

 

ICAS 2017

Michelle Lyons-Zwarenstein – Head of Mathematics

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are independent skills-based assessments with a competition element. Commonly referred to as the UNSW tests, ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments and school tests for Primary and Secondary School students.

Congratulations to the following students:

Year 7:

High Distinction: Samuel Moliver

Distinction: Luca Calderon-Havas, Myles Cohn, Anna Davis, Eden Glass, Jesse Herdan, Matthew Lowy, Isabel Sarraf, Zac Sidley, Amadeus Tjanaria, Remy Waller, Debbie Winter

Credit: Maya Barnett, Jordan Baskin, Olivia Beinart, Lily Berger, Anton Blair, Isabella Filipczyk, Aaron Glass, Rachel Joseph, Jesse Keyser, Ben Rozen, Gabrielle Utian

Merit: Benjamin Cohen, Noah Dawson Kelly, Casey Flior, Nathalie Freed, Lilly Goldberg, Ellie Morris, Jayda Sacks, Jack Smagarinsky, Benjamin Zwarenstein

Year 8:

High Distinction: Zachary Gothelf

Distinction: Kai Biton, Aaron Goldberg, Eleanor Labi, Zac Levenson, Jessica Lowy, Chloe Miller, Jacob Rose, Jonathan Schach

Credit: Shane Doust, Liam Engler, Jordan Fleisher, Lara Fosbery, Ruby Hurwitz, Ethan Moliver, Aiden Poswell, Harry Schulz

Year 9:

Distinction: Matthew Bozic, Ethan De Melo, Jonathan Sebban, Mimi Silberstein, Jacob Wolf

Credit: Sasha Baskin, Mia Gold, Jamie Orleow, Jemma Salamon, Samara Trenaman

Year 10:

Joshua New wrote the competition when he was on the HICES Music festival.

Distinction: Joshua New

AUSTRALIAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) was introduced in Australia in 1978 as the first Australia-wide mathematics competition for students. It has since spread internationally, with students in more than 30 countries attempting the same problems.

The AMC is for students of all standards. Students are asked to solve 30 problems in 75 minutes (Years 7–12). The problems are designed to test mathematical thinking and questions are designed so that they can be answered just as quickly without a calculator as with one. The problems get more difficult through the competition, so that at the end they are challenging to the most gifted students. Students of all standards will make progress through the problems, and be challenged along the way.

This year we trialled writing the AMC using the online format.

Congratulations to the following students:

Year 7: (names are in order of percentile rank achieved)

High Distinction: Samuel Moliver, Eden Glass

Distinction: Matthew Lowy, Isabel Sarraf, Jesse Herdan, Jesse Gothelf (Year 6 accelerant), Remy Waller, Samuel Garvin (Year 6 accelerant), Zac Sidley

Credit: Luca Calderon-Havas, Debbie Winter, Anton Blair, Talia Kleviansky, Amadeus Tjanaria, Rachel Joseph, Anna Davis, Ethan Trenaman, Jake Narunsky, Jayda Sacks, Lily Berger, Jesse Keyser, Nathalie Freed, Noah Dawson Kelly, Ben Rozen, Benjamin Zwarenstein

Year 8: (names are in order of percentile rank achieved)

Distinction: Shane Doust, Zachary Gothelf, Eleanor Labi, Zac Levenson

Credit: Ruby Hurwitz, Jacob Rose, Harry Schultz, Aaron Goldberg, Kai Biton, Chloe Miller, Ethan Moliver, Aiden Poswell, Jordan Fleischer, Jonathan Schach, Liam Engler

Year 9: were on Ski Camp

Year 10: (names are in order of percentile rank achieved)

Distinction: Joshua New

Credit: Dylan Herdan, Rachel Jammy, Mia Port, Adena Sheps, Tia Mallinick

Year 11: (names are in order of percentile rank achieved)

Credit: Aaron Ellis-Bloor, Dheanna Eller, Joel Epshteyn, Joshua Amoils

Proficiency: Erin Baskin, Gabriel Bogomolets, Aron Jaffe, Sienna Amoils

 

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)

Helen Maynard – Director of Studies K-6

Some students in Years 3 to 6 have elected to undertake some or all of the 2017 ICAS Competitions.  These international competitions are administered to provide students an opportunity to compete at a high level in their chosen field. 

Results are rewarded according to the following scale:

High Distinction Certificate         the top 1% of participants

Distinction Certificate                  the next 10% of participants

Credit Certificate                         the next 25% of participants

Merit Certificate                           the next 10% of participants

Participation Certificate               or all remaining participants

We have received the results for Mathematics and the English Competitions.

Congratulations all those students who participated for their wonderful efforts. Certificates will be distributed when they arrive.

We especially commend the following students for their outstanding efforts:

Mathematics

High Distinction – Samuel Garvin (Year 6) and Jesse Gothelf (Year 6)

Distinction –  Avalon Leah Gold (Year 3), Jake Isenberg (Year 3), Noa Rosenzveig (Year 3), Oren Levin-Kahn (Year 5), Alice Milner (Year 5), Miriam Stubbs-Goulston (Year 5), Dan Blecher (Year 6), Aron Harpaz (Year 6), Joshua Leslie (Year 6), Arielle Melamed (Year 6), Jake Newfield (Year 6), Jamie Schneider (Year 6), Jake Sharp (Year 6)

Credit –  Daniel Zipser (Year 3), Sophia Garvin (Year 3), Madison Narunsky (Year 3), Gideon Owen (Year 3), Gabriel Pozniak (Year 3), Ashley Cohn (Year 4), Elias Davis (Year 4), Leah Grunseit (Year 4), Raphael Harpaz (Year 4), Violet Nathanson (Year 4), Daliah Smagarinsky (Year 4), Joel Allen (Year 5), Jesse Barel (Year 5), Willow Gelin (Year 5), Aiden Kanevsky (Year 5), Charlie Kerlander (Year 5), Yael Rembach (Year 5), Julian Baruch (Year 6), Alix Cane (Year 6). Noah Klisser (Year 6), Ruby Miller (Year 6), Aiden Sheps (Year 6)

Merit –  Declan Christie (Year 3), Zack Berkowitz (Year 5), Jack Goldberg (Year 5), Joshua Gordon (Year 5), Toby Danon (Year 6), Lachlan Hoenig (Year 6)

English

High Distinction – Ashley Cohn (Year 4), Elias Davis (Year 4), Raphael Harpaz (Year 4), Miriam Stubbs-Goulston (Year 5), Alix Cane (Year 6), Samuel Garvin (Year 6), Jamie Schneider (Year 6)

Distinction – Sophia Garvin (Year 3), Avalon Gold (Year 3), Jake Isenberg (Year 3), Noa Rosenzveig (Year 3), Violet Nathanson (Year 4), Joshua Leslie (Year 6), Eden Levit (Year 6), Jake Newfield (Year 6)

Credit – Declan Christie (Year 3), Kira Levin-Kahn (Year 3), Gideon Owen (Year 3), Eliora Glass (Year 4), Leah Grunseit (Year 4), Gabriella Freed (Year 5), Aiden Kanevsky (Year 5), Alice Milner (Year 5), Gideon Pozniak (Year 5), Dan Blecher (Year 6), Jake Fleischer (Year 6), Jesse Gothelf (Year 6), Ella Kirschner (Year 6), Jake Sharp (Year 6), Leah Wolf (Year 6)

Merit – Jemma Adler (Year 3), Madison Narunsky (Year 3), Daniel Zipser (Year 3), Daliah Smagarinsky(Year 4), Jesse Barel (Year 5), Willow Gelin (Year 5), Yael Rembach (Year 5), Isaac Gorelik (Year 6), Noah Klisser (Year 6), Aidan Sheps (Year 6)

 

High School Musical for 2018

Adam Majsay and Samantha Bauer

We are extremely excited to announce the High School Production for 2018 is Into The Woods.

For information about the production and an audition pack please access the following website.

https://sites.google.com/emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au/itw2018

The audition pack contains details related to the upcoming auditions being held on Sunday 5 November.

In the pack, students will find information about the musical, the characters, the songs they should prepare as well as dates and times for sessions they can attend to learn the songs prior to the auditions. They will also have access to recordings and guide backing tracks.

All students interested in auditioning will need to complete the google form (in the audition pack) by the 27 October.

Samantha Bauer and Adam Majsay

Kol Szenes

Miriam Itzkowitz – Year 9

Word of the Week

PALLIATE to reduce the violence of a disease

Welcome

Jesse Koslowski to Year 8 Szenes.

 Exchange Program

We will soon farewell Natasha Gering (10), who will be spending three months in France on an exchange program. We wish her a rewarding time and look forward to hearing about her experience.

 HSC Examination update

  • HSC examinations are on for the next few weeks. We wish the class of 2017 lots of luck in anticipation of their amazing results!
  • Reminder: Don’t use the printer or normal entrance in or to the Millie Phillips Theatre. HSC exams are taking place and noise can be a distraction. There are other printers around the school too, so not all hope is lost!

Welcome back everyone! Hopefully you all had an amazing break! We recently celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur among other Jewish festivals. Yom Kippur is a time of repentance and forgiving for our sins and wrong-doings. This is also our chance to forgive people for their misbehaviour.

This got me thinking. We had some tragic events over the holidays. There was a mass shooting in Las Vegas. Dozens of people were murdered. Who do we blame? Who do we forgive? Can we forgive them? While that is the idea of Yom Kippur, can we really forgive someone for such terrible actions?

Some would argue, of course not! The person responsible for these people’s deaths can never be forgiven. However, what if I told you it wasn’t entirely his fault or that there are other people to blame who are at fault? Playing devil’s advocate, strictly speaking, we could say that the people who wrote the Second Amendment or whoever invented guns are responsible. While the man did buy the guns and kill the civilians, he was enabled to do so by the examples given. So, who do we blame? And can we forgive them?

See, this is where I’m puzzled because on one hand this wasn’t necessarily their intention in mind, but on the other hand, they could have foreseen something like this happening and make rules around guns’ uses. While this is open to discussion and entirely subjective, I think the main thing we need to think about is intention. If someone intentionally goes out of their way to hurt someone for no good reason, then we can’t forgive them. But if someone makes an honest mistake, then we can. As I said, this is completely open-ended, however, I think that it is important to think about world issues during this time and think about how we can relate it to our Jewish lives and think about our actions.

Have a great term everyone!

Mazel Tov

  • Ms McMahon (now Mrs Minton) on her wedding late last term.
  • Ms Philp on her wedding in the holidays
  • Mr Bloom who will be getting married this weekend

Reminders

  • No hat no play. Yes! It is that time of year again. The brightly shining sun is here! Please wear a hat at recess and lunch if you’re going to be sitting/eating out in the sun!

Quote of the Week

Let no man pull you low enough to hate them.

Martin Luther King, Jr

Puzzles

Try to make as many words as you can out of this word!:

FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION

Floccinaucinihilipilification is the act of regarding something as useless.

E-mail me your answers at itzkowitz.miriam@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au.

Whoever comes up with the most will get a prize.

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Shabbat Shalom

 

Rashi Times

Hey Rashi, Eden and Liv here!

Welcome back Rashi, we are so excited to be back for Term 4 and while it is our last term of this year it is just as busy and jampacked with fun filled events as any other.

Over the holidays Year 7 Rashi student, BJ Shapiro, who plays for the Sydney Comets Basketball team competed in a basketball competition where they came second in their grand final, placing his team as the second-best in all of Australia! The competition consisted of two games a day against the best teams from around Australia and his grand final game attracted a crowd of 2000 people. We are very proud of BJ, if you see him around school make sure to congratulate him on this amazing achievement!

Brody Elbourne – Year 7

Another amazing achievement from one of our Year 7 students comes from Brody Elbourne who competed in the Blackmore’s 3.5km family fun run on Sunday 17 September at the end of last term. There were a total of 6084 runners in the race and Brody came fifth overall and out of the 150 12-15 year olds in his age category, he placed second with an impressive time of 11 minutes and 54 seconds!  

The newly graduated Year 12s started their HSC examinations this week. After a grueling two years of preparation the next month has been a long time coming and we wish everyone doing their examinations a huge good luck, we know you will all do your very best!

Also, coming up in just over a month is the annual House Music Concert which Rashi is going to win this year! We’ve had some seriously impressive auditions for the X-factor peice and the other pieces are really coming along. With a lot of House spirit and enthusiasm Liv and I know we’ll smash it, so everyone get involved! Good singer or not, you have a voice and that’s enough. Can’t wait to see everyone having a ball up on stage.  

That’s it from us this week, have a great weekend.

Olyvea (Liv) Akres and Eden Sadra signing off

 

High School Sport

Kristy Reed -Sports Co-ordinator & PDHPE Teacher

High School Sporting Events Next Week 

Monday

Morning

14s boys basketball training

Years 7/8 basketball development squad

Years 7-12 girls touch football training

Afternoon

Beach volleyball

Pilates

Tuesday

Morning

Years 7-9 boys touch football training

Afternoon

Sydney Schools Cup interschool girls futsal competition

Sydney Schools Cup interschool boys cricket competition

Years 7-12 boys and girls Easts touch football competition

Wednesday

Morning

Boys fitness

14s boys basketball training

Gymnastics

Netball training

Afternoon

Cricket training

Thursday

Morning

Girls fitness

Years 10-12 boys touch football training

Lunch

Opens firsts basketball boys trials

Afternoon

Rock climbing

Years 7-9 girls netball competition

 

Friday

Morning

16s boys basketball training

Surfing

Lunch

Years 7/8 Sydney Schools Cup futsal training

Sunday

14s boys basketball competition

16s boys basketball competition

 

 

Athletics

Athletics Achievements

Congratulations to Oskar Beck and Danielle Rutstein who represented the Association of Independent Coeducational Schools (AICES), competing at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Athletics Championships in the last week of Term 3. This carnival is the highest progression level of competition for independent schools in New South Wales and the standard is always very high. This year was no exception and both Oskar and Danielle competed as part of an elite group.

Oscar Beck – Year 10

Danielle Rutstein – Year 9

Oskar competed in the javelin event of which he has competed in now for several years in a row. He placed third in the event, receiving the bronze medal, with a very impressive throw of 43.47m.

Danielle competed in the high jump event for which she has been training for and competing in at a high level on a regular basis over the last few years. She placed seventh in the event, jumping 1.50m.

Congratulations to both of these athletes for their successes.

Last week Danielle along with Greg Allen and Brody Elbourne competed at the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships.

Congratulations to these athletes on their performances at this prestigious event.

Kristy Reed

Sports Co-ordinator & PDHPE Teacher

 

 

Maccabi MS National Swimathon

This week at assembly Gabriella Goodridge in Year 9 spoke to the High School about the upcoming Maccabi MS National Swimathon. Emanuel School will once again be entering a team into this annual event. The swimathon aims to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis and to also support the Maccabi sporting association, of which many Emanuel students are part. This team is open to all members of the School community and there is no minimum amount of time or distance that each person is required to swim. Each participant is able to nominate a block of time throughout the day in which they will swim for the Emanuel team and you do not have to commit to the whole day. Each registration requires a donation of $30 for a student or $40 for an adult. Once registered, each participant can start to raise funds for a great cause. Our goal is to raise $3000 in 2017.

When: Sunday November 19, 7am to 7pm

Where: Moriah College

All registrations and enquiries may be directed to Kristy Reed (High School Sports Co-ordinator) kreed@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

 

Extra-curricular Visual Arts

K-2 Play Leaders Colour Day

Aiden Merten – Year 6

At the end of Term 3, the K-2 Play Leaders ran Colour Day. The K-2 students were given a colour to come dressed in and found their peers of the same colour to make a team. We then ran activities for them. We made banners in our colour and we also made chants. Then we had a colour war. In the colour war we did our chants and showed off our banners. All the K-2’s enjoyed colour day loved making chants. We are looking forward to what’s in store for Term 4. 

Aiden Merten (Year 6)

 

K-2 Play Leader Mentors: Ms Hynek and Mrs Narunsky

Community Connections – Gesher

Sonia Newell – Development Officer

Community connections extend well beyond the School

I doubt too many of you are racing car enthusiasts, but I hope this bit of trivia, with thanks to Margaret Lowe, Deputy Principal for the video link, will interest some of you now.  The winning team, Erebus Motorsports V8 Supercars at the recent Bathurst 1000, is owned by Betty Klimenko, the adopted daughter of the late John Saunders. She is the first ever female winner of this prestigious motor race. Our Administration building, The John Saunders Building, was rededicated in his memory by his three children.  

Watch this interesting clip about Betty and her dedication of the win to her late father.

www.facebook.com/aussiespirits/videos/1940023819570125/

Music and alumnus Adam Harpaz (Class of 2013)

The ‘Lost Tour’ brings Adam Harpaz to a secret location near you! With five intimate shows planned in a variety of spaces from backyards, to living rooms, to warehouses, to cricket pitches, these warm evenings of honest music will be something you won’t want to miss.

These shows are for ALL AGES, so feel free to bring the whole family along. From toddlers to the grandparents, music is inclusive and everybody is welcome to enjoy it. 

After spending the winter on his first international tour playing across America, Canada and New Zealand, Adam has a collection of new songs and stories to share from his travels abroad. Adam will also be performing his latest single ‘Lost’ live at these shows.
Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc2N8uW-us0

Ticket link: www.adamharpaz.com/tickets/bondi-secret-show-lost-tour
 

Friendship Circle Toy Drive – benefiting children with disabilities

Our School community is always very supportive of this amazing organisation.  Please help them again now, in any way you can:

www.sydneyfc.org/toydrive

More information about the Toy Drive can be found on the poster on Communities page. They would love you and your primary-age children to join them at the Wrapping Party on Sunday 5 November from 3pm to 5pm, at Friendship Circle, 339 Old South Head Road, North Bondi (entrance at the back).

If you have some news you would like to share with us, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

 

High School and Primary School Prize Presentations

The awarding of prizes to students at the annual Prize Presentations is a highlight of our calendar.  

As has been the custom at Emanuel, we invite parents and community members to contribute to the life of Emanuel School by becoming a donor or continuing as a donor.  

If you would like to donate a prize for this year’s High School Speech Night on Wednesday 13 December please contact Darryl Bourke on 8383 7313 or email dbourke@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

You may wish to donate a ten-year prize ($650.00), a five year prize ($325) or an annual prize ($65.00). All donations can be made to Emanuel School Library Fund and are then tax deductible.

For this year’s Primary School Presentation evening on Tuesday 12 December please contact Holly Dillon on 8383 7323 or email hdillon@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Parent Wellbeing Night 30 October

Wellbeing evening is for parents with students in Years 5 – 12.

An evening of Refugee Voices

From the Parents and Friends

Ruby Berkovic and Jennifer Opit

Hi Everyone
 
We hope you had a lovely break and wish you all Shanah Tovah Umetukah!
We’re already at the end of Week 2 of Term 4 and the end of the year approaches, but we still have a couple of things happening over the next two months.
 
Auction 
The P&F auction is live with some amazing items donated by Emanuel families! Be sure to check it out:

P&F Auction – active now until 19 November 2017
www.32auctions.com/EmanuelSchool2017


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camping Trip

Booking is open for our Camping Trip November 3-5 2017.
This is always a wonderful experience and chance for families to relax and bond. www.trybooking.com/RYCN 
 
Our second “Mums at the Movies” event has been postponed until next year.
 
Enjoy your weekend
Jen and Ruby