From the Principal

Andrew Watt planting a tree with Nadja Avshalom

One of the highlights of the week was the Tu BiShevat tree planting ceremonies that took place across the campus on Wednesday. Our House leaders organised a special presentation that explained how the Jewish leader that each House is named after relates, in personal characteristics and legacy, to trees and education. This was followed by a tree planting ceremony. Tu BiShevat in the Primary School was held in each classroom and Kornmehl planted a tree in their garden. This annual event in the Jewish calendar reminds us about the need to be active in valuing and protecting our environment.

We are delighted to welcome a number of new students and their families to the School this year. As you will discover, the Emanuel community is warm and inclusive and there will be a number of events during this term that will bring our parents together, in addition to the upcoming series of parent and student information evenings. There are also opportunities for our parents to serve within the community, such as through our Parent Security Group (PSG). This community safety group provides additional eyes and ears around the School’s perimeter during drop-off and pick-up. All our families benefit from the vigilance of this volunteer parent group, as the presence of adults patrolling the perimeter during these busy times acts as a deterrent against a potential threat. The PSG commitment is only 2 shifts per term. No specific skills are required and training will be provided. Please email esadmin@sydpsg.com for more information.

Our Year 7 students enjoyed having the School to themselves for their Orientation Day on Tuesday. The program, involving a number of key information sessions and bonding activities, a House assembly and a lunch, was led by their Tutors, Year 11 Peer Support leaders and of course, our Year 7 Co-ordinator, Miranda Minton. By Wednesday, when Years 1 to 12 joined them, they were already feeling comfortable finding their way around the School, as well as navigating their laptops and the School’s systems. We wish them a successful and rewarding year.

We also welcome our small group of new staff members, who have also enjoyed an induction program, followed by two professional development days. Information about our new staff, with photos, is located in the New Staff Introduction section.

Congratulations

In the 2018 Australia Day Honours List, Mr Aron Kleinlehrer was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), in recognition of his service to the community through a range of organisations, particularly his long-serving and generous contribution to our School. Mr Kleinlehrer, who was born in Poland before immigrating to Australia from Germany in 1949, said he was “overwhelmed” to receive the honour. More information and images can be located in this edition under the heading of ‘Letters after your name’.

Two other members of the Emanuel community also received recognition on the Honours list.

Professor Anthony Weiss was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia, (AM) for his significant service to Science, in the field of biotechnology. Tony’s 3 children are all Emanuel alumni – Michael (2004), Jessica (2006) and Robbie, who is married to an alumna from his year Charlotte (2009). See the Gesher article for more information.

Alex Abulafia, School Board Member from 1999 and President from 2003 – 2006 received an OAM for his service to the Jewish Community and to Business.

Ma Nishma

A link to our informative weekly online newsletter will continue to be sent to all parents, students and staff on Friday afternoons. Ma Nishma is packed with information and commentary on the varied activities our students and teachers undertake, and provides a wonderful snapshot of life at Emanuel School. It also showcases students who have achieved special things both within and out of School.

P & F staff luncheon

Members of our very active P & F hosted a beautiful luncheon for all staff members on the first Staff Day on Friday of last week. A wonderful group of parents produced a lovely occasion that all staff members enjoyed. On behalf of all staff I give my sincere thanks to Jen Opit, Ruby Berkovic, Nikki Michel, Michelle Stockley, Jo Rose, Lena Fridgant, Rahel Wise and the canteen ladies, Gayle Beinart and Miriam Belnick for their efforts in preparing this lunch and helping welcome back our staff for the year.

After-school care

Emanuel OOSH has had a successful beginning this week with us, looking after Emanuel children from P – 6 after school from 3.30 to 6 pm Mondays to Thursdays and 3.30 to 5.00 pm on Fridays. They are set up in the ground floor of the X block. More information and a link to their website and registration form can be found at www.emanueloosh.net.au/

Communication

We welcome you to contact members of staff if you have questions or concerns to raise. Often people are unsure of which person is most connected with the relevant issue. In the page ‘Who to contact?’ in this newsletter you will find a helpful guide to the specific member of staff you would contact for various queries.

Student absences

Please email absence@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au for any absence notification including illness on the day, early leave or late arrival and longer leave requests. Please DO NOT use individual staff members’ email addresses in case the staff member you email is not present on the day you make a request for early leave or notification of late arrival. For leave requests for absences of over 5 school days, please email my PA, Darryl Bourke at dbourke@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Parents can also call:

High School and Primary School Absentee and Late Line – 8383 7311

Mazal tov to

• Brianna Gadeley Year 12, 2017, for her inclusion in ARTEXPRESS in 2018 for her artwork The Beholder’s Eye

We love to recognise special and notable achievements of our students, both within and beyond our School. Parents are welcome to email me with the details, at principal@emmanuelschool.nsw.edu.au, for inclusion in Ma Nishma.

Reminder

• Monday 5 February 
  • Year 11 Parent Information night and presentation of Year 10 (2017) Speech Night prizes – MPH 6.30 pm
  • ACER Scholarship registrations close 
  • Year 5 and Years 7-11 late enrolments Allwell test 8.45 am – 12.30pm
• Tuesday 6 February – P&F Committee meeting in the Boardroom 7 pm
• Wednesday 7 February – School photo day
• Thursday 8 February
  • Year 12 students and parents breakfast with Principal in Angles Leadership and Learning Centre 7.30 am – 8.30 am
  • Sunday 11 February – JNF Green Sunday volunteer telethon – offsite
• Monday 12 February 
  • High School Swimming Carnival 
  • Meet the Teacher in MPH 6.00 pm
• Thursday 15 February
  • ACER Scholarship testing in MPH 8.20 am and parent information session in the Angles Leadership and Learning Centre 9.00 – 10.00 am
  • Year 11 Paul Dillon parent information night in the Millie Phillips Theatre 7.00 – 8.00 pm
• Friday 16 February –
  • Absentee photo day 

Quote of the week

 “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”

Plutarch

New staff for 2018

Emma Buzo

We welcome the return of Emma Buzo to Emanuel School. Emma is very experienced in both Primary classroom teaching and also as a Head of Department in Secondary Drama. Emma has previously taught for a number of years in our Primary School, including classroom and Drama teaching and directing school productions. She is absolutely delighted to have returned to Emanuel School and will be teaching Year 1 in 2018.

Lara Kepitis

Lara will be teaching Year 5 OC. She is experienced in Gifted and Talented teaching and comes to us most recently from St Ives North Public School, where she has taught the Gifted and Talented class for the past 8 years. In addition to her classroom teaching, Lara has been a member of the Wellbeing Excellence and Technology Teams and has presented at conferences such as the ‘Ignite Conference – Creating 21^st century emotionally intelligent leaders’.

Lisa Inberg

Lisa Inberg is joining both the HSIE and Jewish Studies Departments. Last year Lisa did some teaching at Emanuel School and is well known to many of our students. For the previous 5 years, Lisa had been teaching in New York; her most recent experience was teaching Social Studies at The Abraham Joshua Heschel High School. Lisa has also been extensively involved in student exchange and volunteer programs in countries such as Israel, Austria and Nepal.

Hilary de Joux

Hilary de Joux is returning to Emanuel School, as French Teacher for Years 8 – 12, having previously taught here in Term 3 2017. Hilary came to us from New Zealand where she had been Head of Department in Languages, including 16 years at Nelson College for Girls and most recently Co-educational Waimea College. Hilary has presented at NZALT Conferences on Technology and Language Learning and had been awarded a Language Immersion Scholarship by the NZ Ministry of Education.

Alex Hone

Alex is joining the Music Department and will be teaching Music across Pre-school, Primary and High School. He comes to us from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has had experience in a number of schools in Sydney. Whilst Alex’s background is as a jazz guitarist, classical pianist and flautist, he is skilled in the use of contemporary music technology. Alex’s passion for music has also been evident in his work as Music Director in community groups outside of school.

Iain Robertson

Iain is replacing Danny Burley whilst he is on Long Service Leave in Term 1. Iain is from the UK and his most recent positions were Teacher in charge of Performance and Head of Music at Hurtsmere School and Sedgehill School. As well as his involvement with choirs and wind bands, Iain has been a professional drummer and was signed with EMI publishing and London records.

Natasha Avenoso

Natasha is the part-time Design and Technology (D&T) Assistant and she has taught D&T in schools in the Eastern Suburbs. During her teacher training, Natasha was a ‘Prac’ student at Emanuel and also attended Emanuel School as a Primary student.

From the Head of Jewish Life

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

Happy New Years

This week we began our new school year and celebrated our New Year for Trees (Rosh HaShanah LaIlanot), Tu BiShevat.

Each House in our High School created and engaged in a unique Tu BiShevat program, expressive of the values and vision of its namesake and our Emanuel ethos.

Our entire staff joined in a tree planting ceremony, conducted by our High School House Captains and Jewish Life Madrichim, honouring and welcoming our new Principal, Andrew Watt.

Our Primary students, likewise, engaged in a variety of Tu BiShevat celebrations and planted tomato and strawberry seeds which they will tend and nurture making for their own development as young caregivers.

In this week of New Years, our Emanuel community began anew in sowing the seeds of growth and hope.

Our Jewish tradition teaches: “If you are holding a sapling and you are told the Messiah has arrived, first plant the sapling and only after greet the Messiah”.

For the flourishing of our children and the future of our world, we must never stop planting.

Front row: Alexandra Levy, Terry Aizen, Renee Schneider. Middle row: Michelle Favero, Deborah Beder, Isabelle Anne, Holly Dillon, Linda Bloch, Maxine Chopard. Back row: Charlie McCaskill , Joseph Peacock, Sarah Jenkins and Justine Robertson

Planting a tree for Emanuel are 13 of our staff members who recently returned from Israel where they were participants in the Inaugural JNF Australian Educators Tour.

In our upcoming Ma Nishma we will post their reflections, memories and experiences. In addition, we will share pictures and hear from our Year 11 students on their Israel, Chavayah, trip. Photos of this week’s Tu BiShevat plantings and celebrations will be featured in next week’s Ma Nishma, as well. 

May we all experience a year of joyous learning and growth.

Primary news

Welcome back to school. I hope that 2018 has started well for you and that you managed to have a relaxing and rejuvenating break with your children.

I had a wonderful holiday and was thrilled to have the opportunity to reflect on so many aspects of learning. I managed to find myself on a skiing holiday with a group of skiers. In fact, at times, I felt like I was on a holiday with a group of professional skiers. I realised that being the ‘weakest’ at something is really quite a challenge. I would start each day afresh, ready for adventure. I listened to my instructor with intense concentration and I attempted to follow instructions wholeheartedly. Even with all this positive intention, I didn’t always get it right. I found myself backwards, I found myself wrestling with a t-bar and I found myself on the ground. At times though, I found myself flying (very slowly and tentatively) down a magnificent mountain and it was absolutely amazing.

I couldn’t help but giggle at the situation. It seems that it is one thing to talk about learning dispositions such as perseverance, learning from mistakes and being proud of one’s own achievements without comparing to others and yet there I was, on a mountain in the cold and having to see if I could actually practise what I preach!

I started channeling all the best advice that I could give myself. I thanked Angela Duckworth for ringing in my ears and reminding me about the importance of ‘grit’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1uijt3Ydqs and I tried to maintain a positive mindset that would even impress Carol Dweck www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU. (I recommend that you watch both of these short clips – they are excellent). Over the 2 weeks, I experienced moments of frustration and moments of elation but all in all, I finished with the following messages firmly in my mind to guide me through 2018:

• Embrace challenge as the basis for all learning … and keep trying. Be gritty!
• The more you put into something, the more you are likely to get out of it. Effort counts!
• There is great joy that comes from improving and using new skills. Enjoy learning!
• Learning with others and focusing on the positives is so much fun. Enjoy others!

2018 begins

It has been wonderful to welcome the children to the 2018 school year. The new students have settled in well and the Kindy children are off to a fabulous start. The teachers have all be working hard to set up their rooms and to create engaging and interesting learning programs. I trust we will all have a great year together and we look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Staffing news

I welcome back our returning staff and acknowledge the new teachers for 2018. Lara Kepitis joins our team and is teaching Year 5 Yavneh this year. She most recently joins us from the St Ives North OC program and it has been a pleasure to hear her ideas and welcome her to Emanuel. We are also so lucky to welcome Emma Buzo and Roslynn Pardy back as full-time class teachers at Emanuel. Emma is teaching Year 1 and Roslynn is teaching Year 4. This year, Meghan Carroll has begun as Acting Deputy Head of Primary for 2018 and Sophie Poisel has begun a new role as Innovation Leader. I would also like to welcome Alex Hone who is teaching music whilst Susan Longney is on maternity leave and Iain Robertson who is teaching Danny Burley’s classes whilst he takes long service leave for Term 1. I am sure you join me in welcoming these teachers to their new positions and wishing them every success for 2018.

Wonderful News

We are thrilled to announce that Emma and Tim Clemens had a beautiful baby girl, Brooke Evangeline Clemens on 8 January 2017. Everyone is happy, healthy and doing well. We send the entire Clemens family our best wishes at this very special time.

Meet the Teacher

Please diarise 12 February and join us for our Meet the Teacher evening. Here is the schedule for the evening:

• 6.00 – 6.45 pm: Years K-2 parents to meet their teachers in the classrooms
• 6.45 – 7.30 pm: Years K-6 parents to hear about plans and directions for the Primary School in the MPH
• 7.30 – 8.15 pm: Years 3-6 parents to meet their teachers in the classrooms
• 8.15 – 8.45 pm: Year 6 parents are welcome to attend an optional Northern Territory information evening in the Year 6 classrooms

School photos

Individual and class group photos will take place in Week 2 (Wednesday 7 February) and absentee and sibling photos will take place on Friday 16 February. Students from Years K-4 should please wear their summer uniforms and students in Years 5 and 6 should wear their summer uniforms with ties and blazers. All students are expected to be neatly dressed with hair tied back and shoes polished. Boys are reminded to wear their kippot for school photographs. If there is PE or sport on the day, students should bring their PE uniform (or at least sneakers) and change for the lesson.

School photographs are taken by advancedlife Photography. Orders for sibling photographs can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our school’s unique 9 digit Online Order Code: TPM ETQ DKZ. Should you wish to purchase a sibling photograph online, the order must be placed no later than the day before photography day. Sibling photographs will only be taken if an order has been placed.

Go With The Flow (GWTF) car tags

If you would like to collect your child/ren using the GWTF system along Avoca Street in the afternoons, you will need name tags for your car. In order to generate these, please click on this link GWTF Tag and complete your details by 9 February. The tags will be handed out in class in the following week.

Thank you, Gideon

Gideon (Gidi) Pozniak took initiative with his class last year to raise money and support people in need in an African community, Abayudaya. I thank Gidi for his commitment to helping others and for his proactive approach.Thanks also to Sophie Poisel and the five Yavneh students (2017) for supporting this project. Please see Gideon’s article in this week’s Ma Nishma for more information.

Calendar dates

Please refer to the calendar on the Parent Portal for all upcoming dates and events.

https://myportal.emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au/calendars/

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2018. I am looking forward to sharing it with you.

Letters after your name

Aron Kleinlehrer is one of the Emanuel’s founders and has been a close friend and benefactor for most of the School’s 35 years. His love for our School and commitment to our students’ learning and development has resulted in many celebrations in his honour.

Receiving a blessing on his 90th Birthday

Our students have sung songs for him and enjoyed delicious slices of chocolate cake with him on many auspicious occasions including his many birthdays! Without Mr Kleinlehrer’s generosity, both financially and in spirit, our School would be a very different place.

While we honour Mr Kleinlehrer for his unwavering support of our School, his contribution to the School and the Arts was officially recognised in the Australia Day Honours and was awarded a much-deserved OAM.

Aron Kleinlehrer OAM, we are so proud of your achievement in this, your 96^th year.

Michelle Favero, Manager Marketing and Communications

Whom to contact

Whom to contact if you have a query or issue

K-6 parents

Step 1

For a welfare or academic issue one approaches the class teacher.

Step 2

If the issue is not resolved with the class teacher one approaches the Deputy Head of Primary (Meghan Carroll) or the Director of Studies if an academic matter (Helen Maynard).

Step 3 –  (Unresolved problems)

Head of Primary (Natanya Milner)

Step 4

If the problem is still unresolved after Step 3, one approaches the Principal (Andrew Watt). If the matter that you wish to discuss is particularly sensitive or an emergency of some sort, you may wish to contact a senior person in the first instance.

Years 7-12 parents

Step 1

For a welfare issue one approaches the House Tutor.

For a classroom/subject issue one approaches the subject teacher.

Step 2

If the subject issue is not resolved with the teacher, one approaches the Head of Department. If the welfare situation is not resolved with the House Tutor, one approaches the Head of House.

Step 3 – (Unresolved problems)

Years 7-12: Deputy Principal (Margaret Lowe)

Years 7-12: Director of Studies – Subject/curriculum matters (Adam Majsay)

Step 4

If the problem is still unresolved after Step 3, one approaches the Principal (Andrew Watt). If the matter that you wish to discuss is particularly sensitive or an emergency of some sort, you may wish to contact a senior person in the first instance.

Jewish Life queries

For answers to questions about Emanuel’s Jewish life, one approaches the Head of Jewish Life (Rabbi Danny Siegel) or Adam Carpenter (K-6).

 IT issues

Step 1

Approach the IT staff

Step 2

If the issue is not resolved with the IT staff, one approach the ICT Manager (Zoran Taleski) for technical issues or Director of eLearning (Garry Case) for educational issues.

Step 3

If the issue is not resolved, approach the Business Manager (Jillian McCormick).

Step 4

If the problem is still unresolved after Step 3, one approaches the Principal (Andrew Watt). If the matter that you wish to discuss is particularly sensitive or an emergency of some sort, you may wish to contact a senior person in the first instance.

Board issues

Any general matters relating to Board issues can be addressed directly to the President of the Board in writing. The School Board is the governing body of the School, responsible for strategic planning and broad directions.

Matters to do with fees or other financial matters should be referred to the Business Manager.

School photos and student general information

Maxine Chopard – Assistant to Deputy Principal

General information for the start of 2018

• Reception sign-in: High School students must sign in at Reception if they arrive after 8.50 am. Primary students to sign in with Nicolle Rubin in Primary Office. If a student leaves the School for an appointment and returns, the same process is required. Late arrival, early leave, leave and absence information is to be sent to: absence@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
• Opal cards: Applications are completed online: transportnsw.info/school-students

All online applications sent to the online school portal have been endorsed and are in the process of being checked for entitlement by Transport NSW. Students can travel on buses, without a card, for the first two weeks during this processing period. If the Opal card does not arrive after the second week of school, please contact me.

• Sun safety: All students are required to wear hats during lunch. Sunscreen is available at both the Waxman Drive and the basketball areas of the School.
• Labelling of items: Remember to clearly label all personal items especially uniforms, lunch boxes and water bottles. It is important to label all camp and event items belonging to your child.
• Lost and found: Lost and found uniform items should be placed in the red bin outside the PAC which is cleared every Friday. Students must immediately report a lost computer, phone or any other expensive item.
• Uniform standards and safety standards: Please click on this link https://myportal.emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au/parent/uniform/ for uniform requirements and standards (including safety standards). All students are expected to adhere to these.

School photographs are scheduled to be taken by Advancedlife Photography on 7 February 2018

Uniform requirements for Years 5-12

• Formal winter uniform: Blazers, ties, no stockings for girls, the regular white school summer uniform socks and no jumpers
• All students are expected to be neatly dressed, hair tied back, shoes polished, wear no extraneous jewellery and be clean shaven (High School boys).
• Boys are reminded to wear their kippot for school photographs.
• Wednesday is usually the regular Sport uniform day for High School students but this will be waived.
• Years K-4 students should be dressed in their summer uniforms.

Absentee photo day

• If a student is absent on 7 February, I will inform him or her of their schedule of attendance on the absentee day photo shoot which is on 16 February .

Sibling photos

Every year we have a great celebration of family through sibling photos.

Some sibling photos will be taken on 7 February but the bulk will be taken on 16 February. I will advise you of which date these will be taken.

Orders

Orders for sibling photographs can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our School’s unique 9-digit online order code: TPM ETQ DKZ. Online orders must be placed no later than 6 February.

Sibling photographs will only be taken if an order has been placed.

Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please contact enquiries@advancedlife.com.au

Please contact mchopard@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au for any school-based enquiries.

We look forward to celebrating Emanuel students through these photographic memories.

Invitation from The Great Synagogue

Year 7, 2017 Interfaith

Natahalie Freed – Year 7, 2017

Year 7 Interfaith 

Last year, a group of Year 7 students (including myself), were lucky enough to be able to participate in the Interfaith program. This gives us the opportunity to meet and interact with students from many different backgrounds to ours, including Christian and Muslim students.

We met 3 times, the last time being in Term 4. Whenever we met, we learnt more and more about each other, our similarities and our differences. Each time we met, more and more barriers were broken down.

When we were first introduced to the other girls and boys participating in Interfaith we were strangers to each other. We had never talked to each other before, our understanding of the group was skin deep and only based on how we all looked.

Before Interfaith I would have walked past these girls and boys that I saw standing in front of me if I saw them on the street because I would be too shy or nervous that they would judge me based on my religion. Now that I have finished the Interfaith program, I feel much more confident approaching other children because although they are different on the outside, I know that on the inside we are all the same.

When the first Interfaith program commenced, everyone was shy and there was not much conversation amongst the different groups.  However, it didn’t take long before we all realised that there are so many similarities between us and the room was filled with laughter and chatter.

At our final Interfaith Day, what really surprised me was how impressed the other students were when they saw our School. They gave us many compliments about so many things at Emanuel that I take for granted. It has made me appreciate Emanuel even more than I already do and helped me to realise that we are so much more privileged than we believe.

One activity we participated in was telling the story of our life in 90 seconds to a group of students from the other schools. Hearing some of the traumatic experiences children my age had experienced was really eye opening and after learning their stories I appreciate more than ever how fortunate my life is.

All of the problems my friends and I share, such as losing our Opal card or not getting the newest phone, seem so unimportant after hearing what a struggle life is for so many kids out there in Sydney.

Although the activities we played during the program were very enjoyable, my absolute favourite thing was getting to know the other kids during recess and lunch. That is because when everyone is sitting together having a conversation, laughing with each other and just being kids, you really get to know one another.

Before we entered this program, we were told that this would be an amazing opportunity. A chance to see that whilst all religions are different, difference is what brings the world together. From Interfaith I learnt this and so much more.

From the Head of Music

David Gwilliam – Head of Music

Instrumental Ensemble auditions and Chamber Choir auditions

Instrumental Ensemble auditions will be held in Week 3 at various times. Students who are interested should sign on to an audition time on the appropriate sheet posted outside the Music office from Monday of Week 2. Ensembles open to audition are:

• Bernstein Concert Band
• Copland Concert Band
• Intermediate String Ensemble
• Emanuel String Orchestra
• Junior Jazz Ensemble
• Junior Stage Band
• Senior Stage Band
• Flute Ensemble
• Clarinet Ensemble
• Junior Chamber Choir
• Senior Chamber Choir.

Entry to the Jazz Ensembles and Rock Bands is by arrangement and invitation only, and according to the instrumentation requirements of each particular ensemble. However, if you would like to join one of these special ensembles, please email Ms Springford on dspringford@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au  to register your interest.

Instrumental Ensemble audition requirements

• Play 1 piece, or a large section of a piece, that shows you at your best (a solo piece is best)
• Choose your own major and minor scale and a chromatic scale (choose your best and most interesting scales, and the widest pitch range you can manage smoothly)
• You will be given sight reading, which means you will be asked to play an unknown piece that is of the level of the ensemble for which you are auditioning.
• Success depends upon a) availability of positions in the ensemble, audition performance and ensemble citizenship of current ensemble (punctuality, behaviour, preparedness, practice of parts).

Chamber Choir audition requirements

• To be eligible to audition for Junior Chamber Choir you need to be a committed member of Junior Choir.
• To be eligible to audition for Senior Chamber Choir, your need to be a committed member of Senior Choir.
• Sing a song of your own choice solo or with backing track

Success depends upon availability of positions in the ensemble, audition performance an ensemble citizenship of current ensemble (punctuality, behaviour, preparedness, practice of parts).

Kol Szenes

Welcome back to 2018

We hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday. Over the break Year 10 Class of 2017 attended the Chavayah program in Israel and by all accounts the participants had a wonderful time. We also welcome back from their exchange programs to France, Miriam Itzkowitz (10) and Natasha Gering (11) and look forward to hearing about their experience. We also warmly welcome the incoming Year 7 students and their Tutors, Sarah Clark and Oren Thaler; our Year 8 cohort, Samantha Kagan and Saul Colombas; in Year 9, Maximillian Friend and Year 11, Jesse Harrington and William Stevenson. All new students were given a Szenes Cap as a welcome gift.

We also welcome the return of Hannah Chedzey (Tutor of Year 12 Szenes, 2017) who is replacing Lara Ephron as Tutor of 8.1 Szenes.

Upcoming events:

• Year 11 information evening –  Monday 5 February
• Photograph day – Wednesday 7 February
• Swimming Carnival – Monday 12 February (compulsory for all High School students)

From our House Captains

Szenes House has accomplished many things last semester and our consistent participation, enthusiasm and House Spirit have allowed us to raise the bar. A big win for Szenes was achieving 1^st place in House Music last term, in which many of the Szenes House Year 11 Leaders put an immense amount of effort in order to produce and showcase the amazing talents within our House. Our Rock Band, small House Choir and Xfactor performances showed the incredible passions of many of the individuals. Our big House performance, enabled everyone to be involved. This semester there are various House events including the Swimming Carnival which will take place on Monday 12 February. This upcoming carnival with hopefully get our House excited to participate and generate some friendly rivalry between the Houses. We are extremely excited to see how Szenes House is able to connect and grow together throughout the year ahead.   

House Captains with the results of the Commitment activity

Szenes House
Tu Bishvat ceremony

Our committed House Captains, Allegra Goldman and Michal Wolstein, organised a special House Assembly to mark Tu Bishvat and commemorate our namesake Hannah Szenes. Thank you to our speakers including Sonia Redman, Gabriel Wolf, Gabriel Sebban and Jade Reuveny. Gabriel Wolf sang a beautiful rendition of Eli Eli accompanied by Gabriel Sebban on piano.

An excerpt of the presentation:

“The Jewish festival of Tu BiShvat marks the new year for trees and marks the new blooming season for the fruits of these trees. Its purpose is to mark the time when people can begin to eat the fruit of their trees.

In Leviticus, it was stated that fruit from the trees may not be eaten during the first three years, the fourth year is for God, and after that the fruit may be eaten. Judaism sees many similarities between trees and a spiritual person, through their roots, body and leaves.

The roots and body of a tree act similar to those of a human – they keep us grounded and connect us to our past while helping develop our future. The faith that Jews have in our religion connects us to it, showing our commitment to upholding the traditions and beliefs of our ancestors.

The leaves, and the fruit that comes with it, are similar to the act of sharing our tradition. Having others see the leave and fruit of a tree is like us having an impact on others, through showing our faith and acting through and for our beliefs. Hannah Szenes did this, and her actions showed her commitment to the Jewish people and to the religion itself. Although she did not survive the war, her memory lives on and we stay committed to keeping her memory alive, just as we keep committed to growing fruit trees. Trees are steadfast, even when buffeted by strong winds, standing up to challenges that threaten its existence, committed to remaining strong and enduring, just like Hannah Szenes’.

Quotation of the week

“The goal is not to be better than the other person, but your previous self.” – Dalai Lama

 Enjoy the weekend

Shabbat Shalom

Szenes House

Primary Music

Diana Springford – Music Teacher

IP and Music students

Instrument Care seminar Tuesday 6 February 2018 – MPH – 6.00 pm – 7.15 pm

Students new to IP in 2018, and who are borrowing a school instrument, will receive their instrument at the Instrument Care seminar in Week 2. A parent must attend this evening with the student so that both know how to care for these precious instruments. The evening is also a perfect opportunity to meet our Tutors.

New students who own their own instrument or have prior experience in looking after it are welcome to come and meet their Tutor, but it is not compulsory for them to attend this event.

First days of IP and Instrumental Ensembles are in Week 3 in 2018

Years 3 and 6: The 1^st day of IP is Tuesday 13 February

Years 4 and 5: The 1^st day of IP is Wednesday 14 February

Join an Ensemble!

If you enjoy the ensemble days in IP then you will love playing in one of our instrumental ensembles. The first taste of ensemble membership is often the Junior String Ensemble for string players (Wednesdays 8.00 am – 8.50 am) and Gershwin Concert Band for wind and percussion players (Tuesdays 7.10 am – 8.00 am). Please contact Diana Springford on dspringford@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au  if your child is interested.

Auditions for other ensembles including Junior Chamber Choir will take place in Week 3. Information about auditions will be on the “From the Head of Music” page in Ma Nishma.

Emanuel Writing Competition

Emanuel’s 100 Word Story Competition

Think you can write an entertaining 100-word story?

The challenge is on for Years 3-6 students, parents and staff.

Write a story consisting of exactly 100 words (not including the title) and submit it to the Primary G&T Department by Friday 16 February either in hard copy or via email to celkins@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

The competition will have three categories: Years 3 and 4; Years 5 and 6; parents/grandparents/staff.

Rules:

• The theme is your choice
• All work is to be original
• Adults should not help children
• Children should not help adults
• Stories should be your own work 
• Care should be taken with grammar and proofreading
• One entry per person
• At the bottom of your story please add the following sentence: I declare that this is my own work.

The top entries will be shortlisted by the judges and published in an anthology, along with the winning entries.

The winner in each student category will receive a small monetary prize and the adult will receive a small prize. Each student participant will receive a certificate.

Please ensure that each entry has a name, class or contact details and the category entered.

Adults may use a pseudonym if desired, but should then include a phone number.

Final winners will be published in Ma Nishma on Friday 2 March.

Go on – take up the challenge!

Primary extra-curricular activities

From the Primary Library

Ginnette Cameron-Gardner – Primary Teacher/Librarian

Welcome to the Primary Library Term 1 2018

We are eagerly looking forward to seeing you all again and hearing about what you have been doing over the holidays.

Some students have already been in contact telling us of what they have been reading over the vacation. We have ordered the latest in those series we already hold and lots of new titles.

Just one of the new purchases now on order is an exciting interactive series for middle grade readers — Spy on History, where the reader gets to experience history in a whole new way.

Combining the interests of so many of our eager readers – a love of Mystery and of History – this series has in each book an envelope that contains spy-craft materials that enable the sharp-witted reader to discover and unravel clues embedded in the text and illustrations, and solve the book’s ultimate mystery. In Book 1 the mystery is, ‘Where did Mary hide her secret diary?’ In Book 2 it is, ‘Where is Victor Dowd’s missing sketchbook?’.

In the first of the series ‘Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy’ you will meet Mary Bowser, an African American spy who was able to infiltrate the Confederate leadership at the highest level. Enigma Alberti dramatizes Mary Bowser’s suspenseful story — how she pretended to be illiterate, how she masterfully evaded detection, how she used her photographic memory to “copy” critical documents.

Also on order is the Second in the Spy on History series, ‘Spy on History: Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army’. It’s a compelling story of a little-known chapter from the war—and a mystery to solve.

Your mission: Find Victor Dowd’s missing sketchbook. And discover one of the most unusual stories of World War II.

Meet the 603rd Camouflage Engineers, better known as the Ghost Army. This group of artists and sound engineers were trained to deceive the Germans in World War II with everything from fake tanks to loudspeakers broadcasting the sound of marching troops. And meet Victor Dowd, a real-life sergeant who with his fellow Ghost Army troops fought his way from Normandy, through France, and eventually across the Rhine.

Readers are invited to submit reviews of these and any other books we hold.

We welcome feedback as it is a valuable part of the students’ contribution to the Book Selection process. 

We have ordered many of the books that were student requests and the requester will be emailed when the book arrives as they have first option to borrow the book they recommend. 

Primary fundraiser for Uganda

Gideon Pozniak – Year 6 Hertzlia

Abayudaya fundraiser saved lives in Uganda

Last year my aunt, Zara Sarzin, started a fundraiser to help the Namutumba community in Uganda who were literally starving to death due to a massive drought that caused crop failure and famine. My aunt knew the community well because for many years she worked for the World Bank, specialising in Africa, and she has grown to love this rural community.  The community comprises Jews, Christians and Muslims. When the community faced this terrible ordeal, they turned to my aunt for help.

When I heard about the plight of the community I told my class and my teacher Ms Poisel. Our Year 5 class raised $36 in a few days, everyone bringing in their own money to help. The money was enough to feed a whole family for almost 2 weeks. My auntie’s appeal attracted donations large and small, and in total raised the significant amount of $17,519. The community told my aunt how grateful they were, and that they were particularly touched by the efforts of students at Emanuel School.

The essential funds enabled the community to:

• Purchase 8,000 kilograms of posho, which fed 469 people (77 families) in the Namutumba Community for 28 days
• Purchase an additional 600 kilograms of posho, which assisted a further 211 people (23 families) in Aparc for 5 days.

A community member visited the people who were affected and documented some of the stories. One lady had this to say: “Thank you for coming to visit me, and see where I live. Famine was killing us and the food came at the time we were about to disappear. Oh God is great. I used to have sleepless nights. My grandchildren used to ask me if we will eat that day and instead of answering, I could just move to the back of my house and shed some tears. The food you gave us answered many questions that I could not answer. Tell whoever gave this food that one old woman has thanked you very much! They should live longer. Send our blessing to them, let them continue with that spirit. Many thanks many thanks.”

You can see more stories and photos at this link:
www.dropbox.com/sh/jdz3hgmvdu1twzm/AACbjumSeQMK5GSk8rGvVU3ua?dl=0

While the appeal provided life-saving support to get these families through the famine, they continue to battle extreme poverty. Therefore, my aunt is keen to continue to support them in sustainable ways. If you are interested in helping, please feel free to get in touch with me.

Scholarships 2019

Community Connections – Gesher

Happy 35th anniversary

Welcome to the start of the new school year. I hope you have all had a relaxing and safe holiday and I look forward to sharing school community news with you throughout 2018.

Did you know, 53 students enrolled at the School when it first opened its doors at Temple Emanuel Woollahra (now Emanuel Synagogue) in February 1983?  From then until 1999, the School was known as The Emanuel School (TES) and since 2000 we have been known as the condensed version – Emanuel School. 

Below is the first official school photograph. By the time it was taken towards the end of 1983, enrollments had grown to 74, with the students in Years K to 6 only at that stage. Three of these students, David Hirst, Nadine Ben-Mayor (Weinberger) and Ronnie Aron, have been current Emanuel parents for some years and this year we welcome back 2 more past students who appear in this 1983 Emanuel School Family photograph, Jacob Kaplan and Jonathan Hirst, whose children have just started at the school. We also have many more past students join us this year as new parents, and I look forward to highlighting these new second generation Emanuel students in coming issues of Ma Nishma.

Mazal tov on Australia Day Awards

Professor Anthony (Tony) Weiss AM

No doubt you have already heard the wonderful news about Aron Kleinlehrer’s Australia Day Award of an OAM – we wish him all the best for his well-deserved award, and likewise to past parent and past Board President Alex Abulafia who was also awarded an OAM. A third member of our Community, past parent Professor Anthony (Tony) Weiss, was recognised as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to Science in the field of Biotechnology, as an academic, researcher, author and mentor, and through executive roles with scientific institutions.  He has been McCaughey Professor in Biochemistry at University of Sydney since 2015 and that same year he received a grant of $1 million as the Wellcome Trust Translation Fund Award for his research work in synthetic skin. Tony’s 3 children are all Emanuel alumni – Michael (2004) who now lives in London and works in Finance and Strategy at BT, the largest telco in the UK, Jessica Segail (2006), a primary teacher at Mount Sinai College and Robbie (2009) who together with his wife, alumna Charlotte (nee Lewis), recently moved to Boston, Massachusetts.

On tour with the Grandparents Committee  

Jjoin our Emanuel School Grandparent Committee for their guided tour of the newly refurbished Sydney Jewish Museum on Monday 5 March, followed by lunch (optional). Please note, RSVP is required by 19 February.  See booking details on the poster below. For more information about this event, please email: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

This page provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight achievements and other activities of members of our extended Emanuel School Community, so if  you have some news you would like to share, please get in touch: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

From the Parents and Friends

Ruby Berkovic and Jennifer Opit

Welcome to 2018 and a warm welcome to all the new families joining the Emanuel community

For those of you that don’t know us, we  are Jen Opit and Ruby Berkovic, and this is our 2^nd year as the P&F Co-Presidents. Between us, we have kids in Years 2, 3, 5 and 7. 

We love being a part of the Emanuel School community and are looking forward to the year ahead.

We started off 2018 by hosting the annual welcome lunch for the staff. Thank you so much to the fabulous parent volunteers who helped out: Nikki Michel, Michelle Stockley, Jo Rose, Lena Fridgant and Rahel Wise. And a special thank you to our fabulous canteen who provided the delicious food.

We would like to invite any of you who want to join our Parents and Friends committee to come to our first meeting on Tuesday 6 February in the Board Room (above Reception) at 7 pm. Our meetings are the 1^st Tuesday of every month. Everyone is welcome and the more the merrier.

We will provide you with event dates and details over the weeks to come, but for now please diarise the first P&F Camping Trip for the year which will happen over the weekend of 16 March. 

If you want to contact us, feel free to so at rubykb@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing and meeting you all over the following weeks.

 

Shabbat shalom

Jen and Ruby

For the cooks amongst us