From the Principal

Andrew Watt

Principal’s reflection

The conclusion of our annual High School Speech Night will mark the official end of the 2018 school year for our students. I look forward to Friday’s Staff Development Day, and of course, the release of our Year 12, 2018 HSC results. We will prepare an information package once the HSC results data has been analysed. The School will remain open until 20 December and will re-open on 14 January. As is the case with many others, I have found that the year has sped by, and I remain very grateful for the privilege of leading a school with a strong vision, a strong connection to the Jewish community, an outstanding executive and committed staff team – and a community of students who are both happy and engaged in all aspects of school life. In short, despite the challenges of the breadth and complexity of the principal’s role, I have enjoyed myself immensely! And I thank you for your forbearance and support.

It is appropriate that I end my first year in this role by expressing my sincere thanks for the work of our Emanuel Board, whose wisdom, energy and strong engagement behind the scenes this year, has contributed much to our financial stability, strong enrolments and our clear strategy for the future.

I hope that the non-term break will provide our families with an opportunity to rest, relax and to spend quality time together. At the end of a busy and productive year, having extended time to sleep in, watch a movie, read a book, go for a walk or enjoy a coffee is a precious gift! I am looking forward to our students returning in 2019, rested, rejuvenated, with many stories to share!

First in Course – HSC Drama

I am delighted to announce that Genevieve Goldman, Class of 2018, (pictured opposite) has be awarded First in Course for HSC Drama. This is an incredible achievement and testament to her hard work and passion for the subject. Genevieve was also nominated for ONStage for both her Monologue and Group Devised performance. 

Genevieve played the leading role in many of our School productions, most recently as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. 

I also congratulate Samantha Bauer, Head of Drama, for her exceptional guidance and ability to bring out the best in her students. 

Genevieve said: “I am overwhelmed with happiness. I am so grateful to Ms Bauer, my Drama teacher, who inspired me, guided me and believed in me. I love Drama and Musical Theatre and am honoured to have received this award.” Mazal tov Genevieve!

Mazal tov 

• Allegra Goldman’s HSC major work has been selected for Art Express
• Jake Langman’s HSC work has been nominated for Intech Exhibition
• Ashne Amoils has been nominated for HSC Encore (Exemplary Musicology Essay category)
• Tia Mallinick in Year 12 was selected to be part of the Young Belvoir Theatre Club. She was one of only 30 successful applicants from around NSW

Quote of the week

“The key thing to remember about me is that I am still a student. I am still in boot camp.”

Steve Jobs

From Primary School

Meghan Carroll – Deputy Head of Primary

Make a Difference (MAD) Projects

In our Primary Wellbeing program students work collaboratively across the grade to plan and implement a Make A Difference (MAD) Project. The purpose is to use the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleas part of The Leader In Meto develop a project that will bring about a positive impact in the lives of others. We hope that over the holiday you have many opportunities to use the 7 Habits and make a difference in your life and the lives around you. Below are some examples of how students use 7 Habits to plan for their MAD Projects:

Habit 1: Be Proactive

• Proactive language: I can, choose to, I am going to, I will.
• Transition person: Having a positive impact on others.

Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind

• Mental and physical creation: Picturing how to make a difference.
• Mission statement: What are you hoping to achieve?

Habit 3: Put First Things First

• Big rocks: What are the important first priorities?
• Roles and responsibilities: What roles will members of the class take on?

Habit 4: Think Win Win

• Win win agreement: What will be the win for you and those in need?
• Mutual benefit diagram: What will be the benefits for you and those in need?

Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood

• Empathetic listening: Consider the perspective or viewpoint of your charity or organisation.
• Circle of viewpoints: Talk to someone from the organisation or charity to hear about their needs.

Habit 6: Synergise

• Celebrating differences: What skills do your class members have to help?
• TEAM: How can you achieve more as a team (Together, Everyone Achieves More).

Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw

• Reflect: How has this project helped you to sharpen the saw?
• Think about how this has renewed your body, heart, brain or soul.

 Each year group has had a different focus for their MAD Projects. Below is a summary of each project

On behalf of the Primary Team we thank you for an incredible year and wish you a restful holiday See you in 2019!

Scholarships – academic and music 2020

Photo day

Maxine Chopard – Assistant to the Deputy Principal

Main day and sibling photo day 2019

School photographs are scheduled to be taken by Advancedlife Photography on 6 February 2019. 

Uniform requirements for Years 5-12

• Formal Winter uniform: blazers, ties, no stockings for girls, regular white school summer uniform socks and no jumpers
• All students are expected to be neatly dressed, hair tied back, shoes polished, no extraneous jewellery and 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 on 6 February.
• Years K-4 students will be dressed in their summer uniforms.

Absentee photo day

If a student is absent on 6 February 2019 they will be scheduled on the absentee day photo shoot on  15 February 2019 

Sibling photos

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

We have some sibling photos taken on 6 February 2019 but the bulk will be taken on 15 February 2019.

You will be advised if your child’s photo will be taken on 6 February as per data sent from photographer’s online bookings or on 15 February 2019.

Escape room boxes

Year 9 Elective History – escape room boxes

During Term 4 the Elective History class has been focused on matching two of their loves – that of History and puzzles. In groups of 5-6, the students developed historically-themed escape room boxes. Each escape box is locked with a number of locks, which the students can unlock by solving a range of puzzles.

Each group decided on a historical topic on which to base their box, as an interesting historical scenario is key to making an engaging escape room box. After learning more about their topic through reading and research, each group of students began brainstorming ways to put this information into a puzzle, riddle or code. Once the puzzles were solved and the box was opened the players were able to solve a mystery related to their scenario, such as the identity of President Kennedy’s assassin.

The groups made challenging and creative puzzles, that could be completed within an hour.

The scenarios included working as a FBI agent trying to track down Present John F. Kennedy’s assassin. Another group attempted to identify the infamous English serial killer, Jack the Ripper. One group focused on assisting whistle-blower Edward Snowden in uploading secret documents and files. The last group involved Allied soldiers deciphering German codes during WWI to ensure victory in the Battle of Amiens.

In the final lessons of the term, once their escape room boxes were complete, the groups swapped boxes and attempted to solve their peers’ puzzles in under an hour. All the group members worked in a collaborative manner, with lots of energy and enthusiasm invested in solving each of the puzzles.  

The overall experience of making and then solving escape boxes was fun and creative, yet also a challenging learning experience. Each group learnt about another interesting historical period and deepened their knowledge and understanding of these diverse periods in History.

The students of Year 9 Elective History thoroughly enjoyed creating these boxes and are excited about what is in store for them next year.

By Jacob Rose and Arin Miller

Year 4 makes a difference

Year 4 goes MAD

Year 4 have been hard at work on their Make a Difference Projects. This term students have had the opportunity to interview and listen to a variety of ‘changemakers’ from in and around Emanuel School.  Students were then asked to look around them to identify problems, empathise and find out what they could do to help bring about positive change in our community. We have had a variety of projects happening in our classrooms, everything from how to encourage healthy eating, to picking up rubbish and putting an end to animal cruelty.

Here is a selection of projects that students have been working on: 

Problem: Looking at the unfair treatment of refugees

Hello my name is Elke Selinger, I would like to share with you a little bit about my Year 4 Make a Difference (MAD) project. Each year in Primary School, we work on a MAD project where we choose any problem in the world to try and change. The problem that I am currently working on is the unequal treatment of refugees. I have learned through all my research the unjust way refugees are being treated. I even interviewed a refugee and learned about detention centres. This made me mad! 

You cannot give refugees money or jobs either, there are a ton of restrictions when you live in detention.

You may not realise it, but 80% percent of refugees who have joined a new community miss their old life. Often they do not just lose their old life, they might even lose their family as well. My hope is that you take the time to research what these people go through and spread awareness of what is really happening.

I have decided to make a change by donating and giving support to refugees who need help. The money that we raise will be used for schools and some will go to refugee families. I held a bake sale to raise money. We baked cupcakes, cookies and brownies. I also made lemonade. We held the bake sale at Maroubra beach. We chose this location because it was close to home, and it was a hot day so lots of people would be at the beach. We also had a donation stall right next to it where people could give resources such as old books, clothes and school supplies.

I am not only passionate about refugees, but also asylum seekers and people that need support. I want to impact education so that kids and adults have an understanding. Also, I want all refugee children to have the opportunity to have an education and then be able to get jobs in Australia. I feel honoured that my teachers are giving me the chance to do this project. This project has given me the opportunity to try to help people who are less fortunate than me. 

If you would like to help too, you can gain more information about what needs to be done at https://asylumseekerscentre.org.au 

Problem: Too much rubbish is produced from lunch order bags

Hi, our names are Alex Gellert, Josh Barnett, Jack Kessell and David Miller. For our Make a Difference project this year we learned that there are so many lunch orders left around on the playground with absolutely no care.

Did you know that Emanuel produces a lot of waste from lunch orders compared to other schools. There are even some schools that are waste free!  We know being waste free is hard, however, we think it is important for Emanuel to produce less waste and have students be accountable for their own rubbish and lunch containers. 

We have decided to help make a difference with this cause by explaining what rubbish goes in what bin, by making a commercial and presenting to Year 2 and 3. 

If you feel passionate about this cause you can help by trying to use as little waste as possible when packing your lunch or you can help by always recycling your lunch order bags. Please consider the environment and take what we have said into action.

Problem: Animal cruelty

Hi, my name is Lara Yakubson and my Make a Difference project is about Trophy Hunting. Did you know that in some countries people hunt for sport and kill animals just for fun? I have decided to try and raise awareness about this issue by researching and learning about how to be an animal advocate. If you feel interested in this topic, you can make a difference too by reading about and educating others about why we should treat all animals with respect. 

Problem: Animal racing

Hi, my name is Kira Levin-Kahn and for my Make a Difference project I have been researching animal racing.  I have learned a little bit more about horse racing, dog-sled racing and greyhound racing. I feel very passionate about how animals should be treated. You can help make a difference in this cause by learning a little bit about the races you attend to ensure that all the animals are being treated humanely. You can also raise awareness and teach others the importance of treating all living things with respect. 

Music in 2019

Music information for 2019

Thank you for your support of music at Emanuel this year. Here is some important information for Term 1 2019.

Farewell and thanks to Michael Brewer

We are very sad to lose our beloved violin teacher Michael Brewer who has built a wonderful program for his violin students, for our Infant Strings Program students in Years K-12 and nurtured a very special ensemble in the Mendelssohn Chamber Strings.  Michael has decided to move to Vietnam with his wife in order to be closer to her family and he hopes to devote more time to professional performance. 

Instrument Care seminar

Tuesday 5 February 2019
in the Lehrer Family Building (MPH)
6.00 pm – 7.15 pm

Students new to the Instrumental Program (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 parent and student know how to care for these precious instruments. The evening is also a nice chance 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 necessary for them to attend this event.

First days of IP and Instrumental ensembles are in Week 3 in 2019

Year 3 and Year 6: The first day of IP in 2019 will be on Tuesday 12 February

Year 4 and Year 5: The first day of IP in 2019 will be on Wednesday 13 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 and Gershwin Concert Band for wind and percussion players. 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 Weeks 3 or 4. Information about auditions will be on the From the Head of Music page in Ma Nishma.

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

This week I have been delighted to see so many Year 12 (Class of 2018) faces who are looking relaxed, happy and unstressed as they walk through the campus to get their final sign offs. Some have had interviews which have been fascinating to track and to see how they have grown through the process.

Most are looking for part time and full-time temporary work, so I thought it may be helpful to jot down some tips on how to secure work. Don’t forget the whole of the Year 12 cohort (in Sydney) is also currently doing the same, and so employers are being inundated with resume’s and drop ins.

How can you be different? How can you stand out?

• Timing is important. You may be popping into a shop when someone has just been fired or just quit, and this can be the break you need.
• Connection is even more important! Try and ask for the manager, be friendly, be polite, show your good side and engage.
• Tell them what you can do on the spot – a resume, at this stage, is only a follow up. Tell them you are keen, available, around the corner, a hard worker, whatever it takes to secure employment.
• Have tenacity. Looking for work can be soul destroying, so you need to be ready for lots of rejections and “thanks, we may call you”, and this is all part of the process.
• If you are fussy, you may have to wait longer. I recently heard a student saying they were only looking for work in retail sports shops and that may mean they will be waiting much longer if sports shops are not hiring.
• Go back again and again. Call back, pop in again, be prepared to hassle them (politely!). If you feel you made a good connection and they sounded promising, follow it up quickly and remind them who you are. Don’t rely on them to follow you up.

  

Careers notices, events, and articles

MedView: Uncovering the UCAT

If you are unsure about changes in medical school admissions testing you can attend a session to decipher the shift from UMAT to UCAT for Australian medical school admissions. This is being held in January in Sydney.

Find out more – www.facebook.com/pg/MedView/events/?ref=page_internal

A day in the life of a Harvard student

Who actually gets into a university like Harvard? Check out this Day In The Life video of Harvard sophomore, Calvin Duran, who is also taking advantage of Harvard’s generous financial aid program which is also available to Australian students.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQfZ3gpV-2I

TAFE NSW Environmental Studies courses

Students who are interested in studying at TAFE and want to learn more about the environment should click here: www.tafensw.edu.au/courses/environmental-studies-courses

Macquarie University– Academic Entry program

Macquarie’s Academic Entry program assesses a student’s HSC results in individual subjects. They match their related subject performances against their Macquarie course preferences to make an offer for one of these degrees. There’s no need to apply separately for this entry program, just have an eligible Macquarie course listed as your first preference in UAC by midnight 16 December. Find out more: www.mq.edu.au/study/high-school-students/getting-intouniversity/macquarie-entry/academic-entry-program

Let’s support Michael, our Lollipop Man