From the Principal

Andrew Watt

Building resilience

One of our key priorities at Emanuel is to work with our parents to produce resilient young people who will impact our world as ethical, caring and responsible citizens. Resilience will however only be achieved through resisting the temptation to jump in and help, rather than encouraging our students to solve their problems independently. Difficult as it is to stand by and support from the sidelines, our students need to experience discomfort, so that they can learn to work through it and develop their own set of coping skills. Without these skills, our young ones will experience anxiety and may shut down in face of adversity. So, what could this look like in Emanuel?

• Not ‘rescuing’ our children when they forget PE uniform or lunch. Let them learn;
• Not intervening when our children miss out on a team selection, or an award, or receive a ‘consequence’;
• Not displaying anxiety or worry over a minor social interaction or friendship issue.

Michael Grose, Founder of Parenting Ideas, advises us to say, “Oh well,” which translates as: that ‘stuff happens’; don’t look to blame; maintain your perspective; and pick yourself up and continue what you were doing. Clearly, interventions would be required for experiences such as bullying, but the narrative to the child can always remain calm and solutions-focused. 

School Harmony Day

Emanuel partnered with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies on Wednesday, to host this special interfaith program. The event was attended by Year 9 students from Killara High, Pymble Ladies College, Emanuel, Strathfield High and Al Faisal College, with a theme of respect, understanding and acceptance. I have included a small part of my welcome address below:

It may be useful to think about Australia, with its rich diversity of races, cultures and religions, as a fruit salad, rather than a jam. What do I mean by that? I mean that it would be great to be part of a nation where each different group was like a piece of fruit, retaining their individual flavour and value, yet part of a bigger thing…rather than as a jam, where all fruits are mixed up, boiled together, to make just the one flavour. A nation of ‘fruit salad’ would only thrive through respect, understanding and acceptance. As you see the news unfold each day, it is not difficult to see that we live in troubled times, with tensions within and between countries. We are all very blessed to live in Australia, where we enjoy our multiculturalism, without the toxic, deep-seated hatred and clashes we see elsewhere in the world. We are, however, far from a perfect society – and it is conversations such as today that will help us to better understand each other, and to enjoy and appreciate each other’s company. For in 10-15 years’ time, you will be our new leaders, and your voice will be increasingly powerful.

 Derech Eretz: Dropping off our children

The Emanuel WhatsApp groups have been running hot for some time now, in relation to the behaviour of a number of our parents (or grandparents), as they drop off or collect their loved ones on Stanley Street. Commonly described as “a nightmare,” parents are getting out of their car or remaining in the drop off lane for extended periods. They have been observed doing their children’s hair, helping them out the car, texting on the phone – and even applying sunscreen. So far, no names passed on to the Principal! It would be great however, if, in the interests of the entire Emanuel community, we could stick with a swift stopover and move on, which would reduce traffic jams and endear us to our neighbours.

Mazal tov

• Eden Levit (Year 8) won gold and three titles at the NSW SLSC State Championships last week-end 
• Jared Kleviansky (Year 12) received the Best and Fairest award at the Esport touch football match on Wednesday
• Alexandra Machlin (Year 7) has qualified for the Equestrian NSW Interschool State Championships, and will be competing on behalf of Emanuel School in a five-day event at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park, from today.
• Ezra Hertz (Year 10) was one of the composers selected last year for his Year 9 elective music composition and attended the launch of the national Artology Fanfare competition in Brisbane on Monday. Ezra’s composition was also played at the Art Gallery of NSW in the Resonate series of concerts on February 17.
• Amelie Mueller (Year 5) has been highly commended in the Young Writers Award for 2018. No small feat, given the number of participants! 

Eden Levit

Jared Kleviansky with Andrew Watt

Alexandra Machlin – Photo: Ofer Levy

Ezra Hersch ( Year 10) with fellow composers at QPAC (Brisbane) for the launch of Artology Fanfare

Quote of the week

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher … is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’”

Maria Montessori

Primary News

Meghan Carroll – Deputy Head of Primary

New Parent Welcome Evening

Thank you to all new parents for joining us for this special event. We are thrilled to welcome you to Emanuel School and appreciate you sharing your experiences so far. We look forward to working with you and your children this year and beyond. Thank you to Michelle Favero and  Belinda Levin for organising this event and the Primary and the High School Madrichim for helping out and sharing their stories about our amazing school and community.

Year 6 Canberra trip

On Friday we welcomed Year 6 back from an exciting camp in Canberra. The children were able to participate in a range of exciting visits to the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House and Questacon. This is a very busy and worthwhile camp and I thank the teachers, Hugo Adrian, Diane Clennar, Karon Rom, Kim Haddix, Hagit Bar-On and Genna Radnan for the enthusiasm and commitment they offered in order to make the camp such a success. Thank you to Holly Dillon for helping to organise this camp for our students.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributes funding of $20 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program. The rebate is paid directly to the School upon completion of the excursion. We have factored this into the costing for the excursion.

Year 5 Bathurst trip

This week Year 5 had an adventurous trip to the Bathurst Goldfields. The students participated in a number of tours and activities to learn about life in Colonial Australia. At Hill End Ranch they explored the Bald Hill Underground Mine, participated in a village treasure hunt and experienced gold panning. In the evening the children engaged in line dancing and colonial music activities. The trip was a meaningful and interesting learning experience as well as a great opportunity to build and strengthen friendships. The students represented Emanuel School proudly. Thank you to Holly Dillon for helping to organise this camp for our students as well as the teachers who attended the camp this year: Tanya Jeckeln, Gabriella Wynhausen, Lara Kepitis, Stuart Taylor and Adam Carpenter.

BBQ Day

Thank you to the following parents who assisted in the smooth running of the JNF BBQ fundraiser on Monday: Ruby Berkovic, Samantha Butt, Amanda Fraser, Amanda Isenberg, Simone Joffe, Evelyn Marczak, Nikki Michel, Tonja Nachman, Jennifer Opit, Joanne Rose, Carli Rothman, Monika Silver, Valerie Smaller, Lisa Strous and Rahel Wise. We are very grateful for your support!

Colleen Elkins – Gifted and Talented Co-Ordinator K-6

K-6 Gifted and Talented news

More and more teachers sign up for G&T courses at UNSW!

We are thrilled that last year, many teachers nominated Gifted Education as one of their areas of interest and attended professional learning at UNSW. This year, we have several new teachers initiating studies in Gifted Education at UNSW and a number of others continuing theirs.

These staff members add to our already extensive number of gifted-trained staff within the School, who are acting in a supportive, mentoring role to these newly trained teachers – working together to plan learning that will inspire and extend students who are in the gifted range. The excitement shown by staff inspired about sharing ideas and implementing additional strategies within their classes is palpable and a credit to all teachers involved.

To assist class teachers in supporting the needs of our gifted students, we have G&T staff members assigned to each grade in the School, to work in close partnership with one another.

Another strategy employed by Emanuel to cater for highly able students, is participation in an extensive number of competitions and external challenges such as The Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians (Years 3-6), Maths Olympiad, ICAS, the da Vinci Decathlon and the Young Writers Award to name but a few. Individualised programming for children with a particular strength allows for competitions or the pursuit of an area of passion to complement learning within the classroom.

Also, our mentoring program, matching a student with an older student for support and sharing of a passion, continues to be a valuable strategy to cater for the social/emotional or intellectual asynchrony that gifted students may experience.

Several parents have asked for ideas of what their child could pursue at home. Reading is still the ultimate wish of each teacher for their students. Extending this activity further could be: writing a screenplay for the novel (and possibly producing it), writing a new ending to a story, imagining what would happen if one thing in the story had been different and writing about it.

Click here for some helpful websites for parents and children.

 If your child loves writing, have them write their ideas, story beginnings etc in their own writer’s journal. Ask them to share this with you or a teacher. There are several writing competitions throughout the year and these musings would provide good fodder. A similar journal could be kept by a child who loves to ask questions and discover, or a reflection journal, recording feelings.

Thank you to the parents who attended our Parent Training Courses in 2018. Aside from the theory learnt, parents met a number of others with highly able children and were able to share rich experiences with one another.

Parent Workshops this year will be held on:

• Tuesday 21 May
• Tuesday 25 June
• Tuesday 13 August
• Wednesday 30 October
• Wednesday 20 November – guest speaker

The content covered will be differentiated for 2018 attendees and attendees new in 2019.

From the Head of Jewish Life

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

If You Build It

The documentary, If You Build It, tells the story of a group of High School students who, by means of a “full-scale design and build project”, transformed themselves and their community. In the process, they reinvented “their own sense of what’s possible”.

Our parashah, Pekudei, concludes the building of the Mishkan/Tabernacle (The space for the divine “indwelling”) with the following words: “All the work of the Tabernacle…was completed…(by) the Israelites. Moshe inspected the work …and blessed them”.

The Rabbis present the following as being the words of this blessing: “May it be the will that the Divine indwelling manifests itself through your hands”.

The builders of the Divine Tabernacle, who a short while ago were the makers of the Golden Calf, are learning that the divine presence (or absence) is only wrought through their actions.  If “you” build it.

Significantly, unlike most blessings, which begin “May it Be God’s will”, here “the will” suggests it must be the human will that brings God into our world. 

The biblical narrative of the building of the Mishkan is purposely parallel and reflective, in many respects, to that of Creation story. If God calls the world into being, we craft its continuous becoming.

The documentary If You Build It derives its title from the film Field of Dreams. Realising our dreams, by making the possible present, brings divine blessings upon us.

“A great building must begin with the unmeasurable,

must go through measurable means when it is being designed

and in the end must be unmeasurable.”

Louis Kahn

Student Devar Torah

Holy Space

As the parashah, for the past couple of weeks, has been discussing the building of the Mishkan, the space in which the Israelites would experience the Divine presence, our students shared some reflections about “holiness in space” at our Kabbalat Shabbat celebration. Rabbi Daniel Siegel

This week’s theme of Shabbat is about holiness in space. It sounds pretty weird, right? What does that actually mean? Holiness in space is about creating an environment that is holy for you personally. It doesn’t need to be at shul or a religious space. For some people, their holy space can be with their friends or family, or when they are in nature. We want to make Emanuel a holy space for everyone and we are going to do it by creating an inclusive culture. To celebrate our peers who are helping make this happen, we’re going to ask the You Can Sit With Me volunteers to come up and do the berakhah/blessing over the wine. We’ll also give you guys your ‘sit with me’ bracelets. This marks our continuing efforts at making Emanuel a sacred space. Isabella Flax -Year 12

Year 8 Camp was a really great opportunity to bond with the people in my House. We went through a lot together, we struggled through the heat of a six-hour hike, climbing up and down hills and rocks while our feet were aching as we were carrying a massive 11kg bag. But, that didn’t stop us from laughing, chatting and singing throughout the whole journey. I admire how everyone was so helpful towards each other and we knew how to care for each other if someone wasn’t feeling 100%. These were the experiences on Camp where I felt a strong emotional connection amongst my friends and peers. We created a sense of specialness through the ‘space’ of Camp. Georgia Meyerowitz -Year 8

Ski Camp was a time when I felt really connected with my friends. When we were sitting, chatting and roasting marshmallows under the stars after a long day of fun in the snow, I felt really grateful to have developed such a close bond with my friends. This was one of those times where nothing else mattered apart from what was going on right then and there.

For me, spirituality and holiness is about appreciating the situation that you are in right now.

Now one might not normally associate skiing with holiness or Judaism (and to be honest, neither did I). But for me, Ski Camp taught me that I can be grateful for the people around me and the opportunities presented to me.

A lot of our prayers, such a birkat hamazon, are about being appreciative and grateful for what we have. The way that Judaism views holiness is that we make things holy. Things are not innately holy. By seeing the good in things and doing mitzvot, we are making the world a holier place. On Ski Camp, everyone was kind to one another and took care of each other, and that in itself is a mitzvah.

Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller said” “One question is always relevant: How can I use this to move forward?” Whatever we are experiencing in life, ask: “How can I use what I have to grow? How can the gratitude for the things we already have help us to be more content in our lives. Whatever your relationship with Judaism, holiness is about what you make it.” Liat Granot – Year 10

Sharing refugee and asylum seeker stories

North Sudanese asylum seeker, Alaa Elneil, spoke with a group of Year 12 students recently. Mr Elneil, 28, fled his country in 2012 as a business studies student, after he and friends were thrown out of university and their campus burned down for daring to criticise the government. 

“It was an amazing experience to hear Alaa’s story,” one student commented. “I was incredibly grateful that he shared with us, despite how difficult it might have been for him. Thank you, you taught us a lot.”

Another student agreed: “Having Alaa come in and speak to us was extremely powerful. Listening to his experience as a young man and the journey he undertook really opened my eyes and made me realise how prevalent this issue still is.

“I think it is important for everyone to experience what I am privileged to see every week as it changes general perceptions surrounding refugees. The only time I’ve ever come into contact with this issue before is in the media.”

Mr Elneil said he was happy to be invited to address the students. “It made me feel there are many people who still care about refugees and want to know our stories. The students were so respectful and well behaved and I appreciated that rather than focusing on why I came to Australia, they preferred to ask me what I hoped to contribute to society in the future.” 

The elective called Refugees: An Understanding of the Crisis: What is being done and might be done? is one of five Year 12 Tefillah options offered to students on Monday mornings under the direction of Head of Jewish Life Rabbi Danny Siegel. It is facilitated by Emanuel School parent Shira Sebban, supported by former parent Anna Buch, who invite a range of speakers, including advocates and refugees themselves, to address the students.

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

Blessings of gratitude

In Year 5 students have been exploring the meaning, purpose and significance of ברכות – blessings.  In thinking about when we say blessings and what purpose they may serve, students also raised interesting questions for the class to consider, including:

• Are blessings for our benefit or for God?
• Does God hear our blessings?
• Do you have to say blessings out loud for them to count?

To learn more about prayers and brachot, through engaging and thoughtful animations, try the website BimBam: www.bimbam.com/judaism-101/prayers-blessings/

Gratitude, or הכרת הטוב– hakarat hatov (recognising the good) is an important concept in Judaism. Students realised that ברכות– blessings can help us be mindful and present in the moment and increase appreciation in our lives. Saying ברכות– blessings allows us to grow our mind and nurture the disposition of gratitude.

Student have composed and created their own ברכת הכרת הטוב– blessing of gratitude

From the Primary Library

Ginnette Cameron-Gardner – Primary Teacher Librarian

Term 1 is well underway and there has been lots of Primary Library use for research and recreational reading as well as the Board Games Club and Reading Clubs.

We have lots of new books in the Primary Library, here are details of just a few.

Lost and Found by Jean Little. A short read of 82 pages but an interesting story about Lucy who has moved to a new town and is feeling lonely until she meets a friendly little dog which may – or may not – be a stray.  Her parents allow her to keep him until they find his owner but she has mixed feelings about whether she wants to find them. She wonders what would be best for the little dog whom she has grown to love. Should she really seek the owners or not? Read the book and find out.

Rudyard Kipling’s Just so stories in a Puffin Classic paperback. The stories are unique and inspired and whether you are reading The elephant’s child, The cat who walked by himself, How the camel got his hump or How the alphabet was made for the first time or refreshing your memory of them you will be enchanted by the original illustrations by Rudyard Kipling in this 172-page paperback book located in the Primary Library at JF CLA KIP.

Wagstaffe, the wind-up boy by Jan Needle. This is an amusing quirky story about Wagstaffe, a boy with a mechanical middle powered by a spring. At 165 pages this is not a quick read as the text is dense. JF NEE

The second book in the Underworlds series,  When monsters escape by Tony Abbott, is now in the Library for those keen readers who so enjoyed book one The battle begins. It is located on shelves at JF ABB, and continues the same theme in this fictional battle against creatures from Greek, Icelandic and Norse mythology.

Book 1 of a new series by Andy Briggs. The Inventory: Iron Fist.

Hidden under a small suburban town, the Inventory is a collection of the most incredible technology the world has NEVER seen: invisible camouflage, HoverBoots, indestructible metals, and the deadly war robot Iron Fist. When the collector breaks into The Inventory to steal the iron fist technology, Dev, Lot and Mason are trapped inside, becoming The Inventory’s only defence. What can they do to stop these dangerous weapons from falling into evil hands? JF BRI

You are sure to find a great book to read in the wide selection housed in the Primary Library.

 Please come and borrow soon, we are looking forward to helping you find that perfect book to read.

World of Maths

Katie Narunsky – Primary Maths Support

Celebrating World Maths Day 2019

On Wednesday 6 March we celebrated World Maths Day 2019 by welcoming The World of Maths to our School.

World of Maths is a unique traveling maths show that provides fun, colourful, hands-on, mathematical problem-solving activities for student participation. Students in Years 1-4 took part and worked together to solve numerous problems.

We saw students using the dispositions of curiosity, perseverance, enthusiasm and collaboration.  

It was a great learning experience in so many ways!

Joke corner   

Q: Why did the maths textbook have a headache?

A: It had so many problems!

Click on Image to view Gallery

Lily Smaller, Jake Shilbury, Asher Levin, Nava Weiss jpg

Tabi Masnick, Claudia Hochrothjpg

Lily Foltyn, Misha Grynberg, Becky Salamon, Issy Nurick

Cooper Adler, Zach Brown

example of a problem

From the Head of Music

Diana Springford – Head of Music

Private Music Tuition and Infant Strings Program

Thank you to those who have already advised us of changes to private tuition and Infant Strings Program enrolments for next term. The deadline for new enrolments, notification of changes or intention to discontinue for Term 2 is the end of Week 7 (Friday 15 March). All students currently receiving private music tuition and ISP will be automatically re-enrolled into tutor schedules for next term along with students commencing lessons for the first time and liable for fees. Please contact Matilda Grieve if you have any questions: music@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

The schedules for Term 2, 2019 will be created during the term break and emailed prior to lessons resuming.

Links to online forms

New enrolment requests for private tuition: http://tinyurl.com/NewPrivateTuitionEnrolment

To discontinue private tuition for next term: http://tinyurl.com/PrivateTuitionDiscontinuation

To enrol into the Infant Strings Program: http://tinyurl.com/InfantStringsEnrolment

To discontinue Infant Strings Program for next term: http://tinyurl.com/InfantStringsDiscontinuations

Guitar ensemble

Mr Hone is starting up a guitar ensemble for High School students in Years 7 and 8. Some previous experience is beneficial (eg private guitar lessons), but all students are welcome to join. Rehearsals will take place on Friday lunch. The first rehearsal is Friday 15 March (Week 7) in M13 in the Music Department. Students don’t need to bring their own guitars. If you are interested in joining, please email  ahone@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au or speak to one of the music teachers.

Touch Football

Kristy Genc – Head of Sport | PDHPE Teacher

ESport Touch Football

Each year Emanuel School takes part in the Easts Touch Football School Competition as part of the Emanuel ESport program. The season runs through the summer months, starting in Term 4. Emanuel entered five teams into the competition this season and all teams made significant improvements under the guidance of coaching staff Heath Morley, Jarred Osbourne and Amy Altman.

Four Emanuel teams progressed to the semi-finals, with two progressing to the highly anticipated grand-finals, which were held earlier this week at Queens Park.

The junior girls team had a very successful season, finishing in 1^st place on the ladder and undefeated for the season. They played St Andrew’s College in the grand-final and were victorious, winning 3-0. This team was definitely the most improved Emanuel team this season and deserved the win. Romi Lapidge scored impressive tries in the match, and Talia Klevianksy and Georgia Kahane dominated play. Congratulations to Maya Armstrong, Georgia Kahane, Talia Kleviansky, Romi Lapidge, Charlotte Lyons, Noam Meretz, Victoria Miller, Rebecca Nebenzahl, Emily Rubin, Jessica Rubin and Tori Shapiro.

The senior boys team also had a successful season finishing 2^nd on the ladder. Many of these boys have developed into excellent touch football players, having been part of the program since Year 8. For some students in the team this was their last opportunity to play touch football for the School before finishing their Year 12 studies. The team played a highly skilled and well-organised Marist College team, who proved to be too good. Congratulations to Jared Kleviansky who received the Best and Fairest award and to Ariel Berger, Matthew Bozic, Alan Drannikov, Jared Elbourne, Elijah Grynberg, Benjamin Horwitz, Ari Karjalainen, Adam Riesel, Nathaniel Spielman and Adam Winter on an excellent season.

Congratulations to all of the students who played in the Emanuel ESport Touch Football program and also thank you to all of the students, staff and parents who have shown their support throughout the season.

Kol Szenes

Some reflections from Szenes Year 8 campers

Well done to this wonderful tutor group for their positive mindset, care and kindness towards each other, and willingness to challenge themselves! Lisa Starkey – Year 8 Tutor and HSIE and Design and Technology Teacher

Here are 9 different reflections from Year 8 students.

1. One of my highlights was that Mr Peacock had these bracelets that would be given to the people that stood out in being particularly helpful in some way and I had set up nine tents with Mr Peacock, so I received one on the 3^rd night. Another highlight was canoeing as I love canoeing. I went canoeing with three different people. I had an amazing dinner that was wood fire pizza and it was delicious.
2. Camp was quite an enjoyable experience for me. It was challenging for most of the time, like when we hiked uphill and canoed against the current. But there were many parts which I enjoyed as well. I loved most of the hiking and when we went rock climbing on real rocks. I really enjoyed free time, when I was playing cards and other games with my Tutor Group. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone when I was hiking with my heavy rucksack and I was very proud of this. This camp taught me many things including resilience, because I was very anxious about the long hike and the canoeing and I was very proud of myself and the rest of my Tutor Group for completing these activities. Overall, camp was an incredible experience which including many challenges, adventures and fun times. 
3. On camp I learnt so much and I experienced so many different and challenging experiences, such as canoeing, hiking and rock climbing. One of my favourite bits of camp was the food. The food was amazing and it had so much flavour in it. I especially loved the wood fire pizzas. Mitch was a really good leader. He joked, laughed and made our camp experience the best it could have been. The rock climbing was really fun too. My challenge for rock climbing was to get to the top and have as much fun as possible and I fulfilled my goal. I laughed and talked the whole way up. Ava and I were doing it together so she was on the other rock climbing station and we both made it to the top which was so incredible. Ava and I both abseiled down and did a victory squat at the end. I loved how everyone put in effort to make the camp so successful and enjoyable.
4. I found camp a very good experience for me. There was a lot of challenges, but I overcame them and I built up a lot of resilience. One of my favourite experiences was the long hike because it was a challenging experience, but I was extremely proud of myself that I did it
5. Camp was an enjoyable experience because I enjoyed the food that was given to us. I also enjoyed the canoeing. I liked the tent buddies because it was (mostly) people I got along with. In general, I enjoyed the camp itself and was brave to do anything (except the 17km hike). 
6. My favourite part of camp was either the long hike or the canoeing. The long hike as it was a very peaceful easy walk and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also like canoeing in general and just find it fun.
7. I kind of overcame my fear of heights when I climbed to the top when we did the rock climbing.
8. I went to camp with negative thoughts about it. On the first day I was already over it, but when we got to know our camp leader it got better. When we swam in the river camp turned around and I started changing my view on it. I wasn’t excited for the 17km hike but when the hill was over and I realised it’s very beautiful and I’m glad I went on it. I learnt I shouldn’t judge things too soon.
9. Camp was an experience. Some highlights include: Bonding with my camp mates, learning things about nature and how to set up camp, going outside my comfort zone and doing things that I wouldn’t usually do.

Rashi Years 7 and 8 Camp reflections

Year 7 Camp

On Monday morning we were super excited to go to our first High School camp. We said our goodbyes to our parents, then off we went to Camp Somerset. The bus was very loud, because everyone was telling their friends rumours about camp – the wombat hole, base seven and sleeping in tents. When we arrived at camp, we met our guide, Josh, who would lead us through the week. Every night we pitched our tents and waited impatiently to find out our tent buddy for the night. We were lucky to have the peer support leaders to help us with things like putting up our tents, since most people had never done it before. They also helped us when we were hiking, kayaking, doing the obstacle course, and they definitely helped us with homesickness.

Every morning, Josh announced the word of the day, but the most important word, was the word of the week, “respect”. Something that we looked forward to nearly every single day was swimming in the river to cool off and clean ourselves, since we were deprived of showers. We found a log when we were swimming – great for jumping off. When we were swimming, we also collaboratively tackled our Peer Support Leaders and Josh in the water (they were ok with it, and we always won!).

After five long, exhausting, hot or rainy days it was time to say goodbye to Josh. We were all challenged at some point on camp. Whether it was the high ropes course, the wombat hole or hike, we all faced our fears, and persisted. Even though we were excited to go home to our parents, our pets, our own beds, showers, our friends from other Houses, and of course, chocolate – we were sad to leave. We all had so much fun on camp. We all enjoyed Year 7 camp, but Year 8 will be a whole other adventure.

Talia Tsipris and Willow Gelin

Year 7 Camp comments

My favourite parts are when Aiden, Jesse and I got lost. I also liked making damper, high ropes, not having showers for a whole week and spending time with the Peer Support Leaders. Jake

Coming into camp I did not know what to expect, but as soon as I stepped off that bus and was told we were not allowed showers, I knew life was going to be tough for the next four days. Camp really was the best experience because it allowed you to spend quality time with your friends and do fun activities. My favourite activity was the hike because the view was so beautiful and it was just a fun walk overall. Although it sounds like all sunshine and rainbows, there are a couple of things that I didn’t enjoy. I ended up coming back with an ant bite, a strained shoulder, a virus and absolutely dying for a shower. But that didn’t change the fact that camp was so fun and it pushed me to my limits, so for future Year 7s… goodluck! Kenya

My favourite part of camp was the tea sessions (talking about the gossip, mostly in Year 7) that me and the girls had many times on camp. We even named a rock (Mt TeaRock) after our sessions. Willow

Year 8 Camp Somerset

Year 8 Camp Somerset was definitely one of the best and most unique experiences of our school life. On camp, we participated in a wide range of activities. On the first day, Rashi went on a 9km canoe trip. This was a nice time to relax since the tide was with us. Midway, we stopped at a lovely beach and went for a nice swim in the river.

The next day proved our strength and resilience. We paddled a 12km canoe against a king tide. This was definitely one of the toughest parts of camp however we managed to complete the canoe trip in the given time. We were then taken back to Base Camp and built our rafts where we had a very fair competition (boys vs girls). In the end, after some inspiration the boys won.

For the next two days, we went on a 4km and 11km hike. This part was by far the most challenging activity of all. Although we were having trouble with keeping up, hiking let us bond with our group and learn about the nature and history of the Colo Reserve.

Our goal was to have fun and it was definitely achieved. From jumping off the canoe and swimming for hours to hiking up steep hills and eating at the top of a mountain, camp was a truly unique and amazing experience.

Camp was very fun but still got us to work hard and challenge ourselves. We not only challenged ourselves physically in the hikes and canoeing but also our mental strength when we rock climbed a cliff face.

Our friendships grew stronger throughout the entire camp, and we now feel very open talking with each other. In conclusion, camp was an awesome experience and we all enjoyed taking a break from school and city life and into nature.

Oxford Masterclass: Gifted and Talented Study Day

Suzanne Plume – Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator 7-12 | Debating and Public Speaking 7-12

Oxford Masterclass: Gifted and Talented Study Day for Highly Able and Ambitious Senior Students 2019

www.academyconferences.com/index.php/gifted-and-talented-students/au-nz-programme

This is a day for bright ambitious senior students who are interested in ideas. This year the focus will be on the capacity of gifted and talented students to more readily manipulate abstract ideas and make connections across school subject areas.

Using the Australian curriculum to meet the needs of highly-able students, pupils will spend the day with like-minded youngsters all keen to reach the ceiling of their ability and share ideas.

The day, which the presenters describe as a day filled with world-class extension activities, will consist of a series of lectures and culminate in a debate.

If you are interested in attending, please email Ms Plume (Co-ordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes 7-12) setting out your reasons for wanting to attend, by Friday 5 April.

These will form part of the criteria for selection, which will also include in-class achievement levels, school evaluation measures and teacher recommendations.

Attendees will be chosen by a committee of teachers trained in Gifted Education and Mr Majsay. Their decision will be final. Successful attendees will be notified by email in Week 1 Term 2.

Session one: Knowing What you Know and What you Don’t Know – Julie Arliss

Knowledge is not the same as belief. What things can we know, beyond reasonable doubt? This is the task for a jury sitting in a court room and is the opening question of this session. A range of ideas will be presented from across the curriculum to explore the difference between that which can rationally be said to be proved and what it is reasonable to believe. This session will give academically-able students, thinking tools with which to test factual claims. In addition there will be an evaluation of the claim that there are some areas of human experience, such as claims to religious experience, which require different tests.

Session two: The Psychology of Outstanding Achievement: It’s not all about IQ! – Dr. Chris O’Neill

Contrary to popular belief, outstanding achievement in everything and anything, from maths to marathons, classics to clarinet, from football to physics, does not ultimately depend upon innate intelligence or ability. There are a number of important factors leading to outstanding achievement, which, unlike your genetic profile or the school you attend, are entirely under your control. This session will examine the hard evidence of what really produces a life of outstanding achievement. A fascinating interactive examination of what really makes a difference.

Session three: The Politics of Tolerance and Freedom – Jeffrey Hodges

Freedom of speech and the sharing of ideas are at the heart of tolerance, but is a free society obliged to tolerate everything? Tolerance is considered the maximal virtue of many western political systems but many people have not examined precisely what this means. This lecture will examine the intellectual heritage of tolerance as a virtue and consider whether in its modern form it should be thought of as a virtue or a vice. Drawing on his own practical experience of working in politics, Jeffrey Hodges will argue that tolerance isn’t enough and that new ways forward must be found if pluralist societies are to flourish in the future.

Session four: The BIG Debate: This house believes that students should not be allowed mobile phones in school
Cell phones carry multiple benefits, and it’s difficult to imagine life without them. Some research indicates a link between mobile phones and poor mental health, low sense of well-being and even poor physical health. Some even suggest that they may have an addictive quality! Are the health risks worth the price of being connected to our friends? What do you think? There’s no doubt that society has come to a point where the idea of living without cell phones seems ludicrous, but is it time to put our phones away? Come and share your views on mobile phones and persuade the room to vote with you in what promises to be a cutting edge debate with all the latest research to add to your thoughts.

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

This week we hosted Carolyn Chandler from the Australian College of Applied Psychology who came out to speak to our Year 12s.

Students were taught about the variety of courses on offer in:

1. Psychology
2. Social Work
3. Counselling
4. Coaching
5. Criminology and Justice.

It was also a good opportunity to hear about the private college experience as opposed to the big university experience. For some students a smaller, more tailored environment can be a good stepping stone out of the intimate and caring nature of Emanuel School. For more information about courses click on: www.acap.edu.au/courses/

Other courses in Psychology can be found below. Students can qualify in a variety of ways in order to progress to Honours, and then Masters programs if they are wanting to become a qualified clinical psychologist. About 30-40% of Psychology students at UNSW will go on to become practicing psychologists.

ACAP Information night will be held on Wednesday 1 May at 6 pm. You can register at www.acap.edu.au/home/info-sessions/.

UNSW – Bachelor of Psychology (ATAR 98) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/unsw/429850.shtml

UNSW – Bachelor of Psychological Science (ATAR 85) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/unsw/429800.shtml

Sydney University – Bachelor of Psychology (ATAR 97-98) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/usyd/513905.shtml

Sydney University – Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology) (guaranteed ATAR 80) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/usyd/513200.shtml

Macquarie University – Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)  (ATAR 94-95) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/mq/300126.shtml

Macquarie University – Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology) (ATAR 83.35) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/mq/300127.shtml

ACU (Australian Catholic University) – Bachelor of Psychology (new course) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/acu/103721.shtml

ACU (Australian Catholic University) – Bachelor of Psychological Science (ATAR 63) www.uac.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/acu/103313.shtml

Careers, notices, events

Comparing universities? This is something I get asked a lot and comparisons can be done through QILT looking at student satisfaction rates, graduate employment rates and other indicators  www.qilt.edu.au/.

UNSW degrees and scholarships information evening

11 June, 13 June, 20 June

https://www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/unsw-degrees-and-scholarships-info-evening

UNSW Art and Design information evening

25 June, Paddington Campus

https://www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/art-design-degrees-info-evening

(Source: MHSCareers, March 2019)

Kornmehl

Terry Wizen – Director Kornmehl

Purim

The children will start next week learning about the festival of Purim with all its traditions, stories and fun. We will be telling the story of Purim with all its lively characters – Haman, Mordechai, King Achashverosh and Queen Esther. Parents are invited to join us for our festive and colourful Purim Parade at 9.30 am on Thursday 21 March. This will be followed by a magician show. The children will also be making their own Hamentashen and will perform the mitzvah of swapping Mishloach Manot with a friend. This is a good time to start thinking and discussing with your child what they would like to wear for Purim – please no Super Heroes. Please keep costumes simple and not too overwhelming for your child. Parents are invited to dress up too for the parade.

Open Day

The Pre-school looked fabulous on Wednesday for our Open Day. We had about 50 families through the centre and many of them commented how beautiful the rooms looked, as well as how calm and engaged the children all were.

Many thanks to Gail Mackenzie for all her hard work in co-ordinating this event. It is always a pleasure working together.

Thank you to the maintenance team and Ben Marshall for their help and expertise too.

Thank you to the amazing Kornmehl team for always going above and beyond and for the incredible job they do each and every day. The happy, engaged and confident children are testament to how you are able to foster their love for learning and curiosity.

Let your children be bored … how to handle a bored child

Parents often feel guilty if children complain of boredom. But it’s actually more constructive to see boredom as an opportunity rather than a deficit. Children need the adults around them to understand that creating their own pastimes requires space, time and the possibility of making a mess (within limits – and to be cleared up afterwards by the children themselves).

They will need some materials too, but these need not be sophisticated – simple things are often more versatile. We’ve all heard of the toddler ignoring the expensive present and playing with the box it came in instead.

But to get the most benefit from times of potential boredom, indeed from life in general, children also need inner resources as well as material ones. Qualities such as curiosity, perseverance, playfulness, interest and confidence allow them to explore, create and develop powers of inventiveness, observation and concentration. These also help them to learn not to be deterred if something doesn’t work the first time and try again. By encouraging the development of such capacities, parents offer children lifelong values.

If a child has run out of ideas, giving them some kind of challenge can prompt them to continue to amuse themselves imaginatively. This could range from asking them to find out what kind of food their toy dinosaurs enjoy in the garden to going off and looking for bugs. Of course, it’s not really the boredom itself that’s important – it’s what we do with it. When you reach your breaking point, boredom teaches you to respond constructively, to make something happen for yourself. But unless we are faced with a steady diet of stultifying boredom, we never learn how.

It’s especially important that kids get bored – and be allowed to stay bored – when they’re young. That it not be considered a problem to be avoided or eradicated, but instead something kids grapple with on their own.

Most parents would agree that they want to raise self-reliant individuals who can take initiative and think for themselves. But filling a child’s time for them teaches nothing but dependence on external stimulus, whether material possessions or entertainment. Providing nurturing conditions and trusting children’s natural inclination to engage their minds is far more likely to produce independent, competent children, full of ideas.

Children need time to themselves – to switch off from the bombardment of the outside world, to daydream, pursue their own thoughts and occupations, and discover personal interests and gifts.

Just letting the mind wander from time to time is important… for everybody’s mental wellbeing and functioning. 

A study has even shown that, if we can engage in some low-key, undemanding activity… the wandering mind is more likely to come up with imaginative ideas and solutions to problems.

A creative imagination and problem-solving ability are important life skills, so it’s good for children to have these moments of boredom and having to find ways to entertain themselves.

And it will also encourage the ability to be quiet and mindful as an adult, without the constant need to be on-the-go or entertained. In fact, there’s a lesson here for all of us. Switching off, doing nothing and letting the mind wander can be great for adults too – we should all try to do more of it.

“Boredom teaches us that life isn’t a parade of amusements. More important, it spawns creativity and self-sufficiency.” Pamela Paul

“Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough that they can hear themselves.” Dr Vanessa Lapointe

Below are some links to videos and information about boredom in young children.

https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/videos/10153855961346479/

https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/videos/10154288988566479/

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/opinion/sunday/children-bored.html

https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-boredom/

http://theconversation.com/how-kids-can-benefit-from-boredom-65596

From the Parents and Friends

Ruby Berkovic and Jennifer Opit

It’s almost time for our annual Purim Disco which is always a highlight of the year for the kids and it’s a great way for the kids (and parents) to socialise and have fun. 

There will be a sausage sizzle and other yummy treats, music, games, activities and prizes for the best costume.

There will also be second-hand school uniforms on sale (cash only).

The date is Sunday March 24 from 4-6pm.

Book now:  www.trybooking.com/BARBB 

P&F theatre fundraiser: School of Rock the Musical

Join us for the Emanuel P&F theatre outing to see School of Rock the Musical at 6 pm on Sunday, 17 November at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets are selling fast so don’t miss out.

There are limited tickets to this performance. Get the best priced A-reserve tickets available for $94.90 and a free program per booking donated by Playbill, plus a chance to win 2x $100 merchandise packs.

This works as a group booking, so individual tickets will be allocated after the sale period is completed and the P&F receives the tickets. Tickets are allocated based on date of purchase. If you have a large group and you want to sit together you need to purchase all the tickets in one booking.

Book now: www.trybooking.com/BBAKH 

Entertainment Books

Emanuel School is fundraising with entertainment!

Your support really helps our fundraising, so we’re thrilled to let you know about special bonus early bird Entertainment membership offers for loyal supporters.

Pre-order the NEW 2019 | 2020 Entertainment embership and receive bonus offers you can use right away.

Order now: www.entbook.com.au/200508p

Have a great weekend,

Jen and Ruby

Connecting our Community – Gesher

Sonia Newell – Development Officer

Please note, our Family Barefoot Bowls event scheduled for this coming Sunday 10 March has been cancelled.

Former NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President Jeremy Spinak (Emanuel alumnus, Class of 2000), who passed away last year aged 36 from cancer, was inducted into the Honour Roll at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner last Thursday night in front of 1500 people. Jeremy’s wife Rhiannon Spinak received the award from Premier Gladys Berejiklian: 

www.jewishnews.net.au/another-example-of-the-legacy-he-leaves/87166

www.facebook.com/NSWJBD/videos/376756666241288/

We love to hear about achievements of members of our School community and so it was great to read that Emanuel parent and artist Talya Brookman, mother of Griffin, Year K and Stella Chimes, Year 1, has been selected to exhibit at the upcoming The Other Art Fair presented by Saatchi Art, Australia’s leading art fair from 14 to 17 March, where Talya is one of the 100 very best emerging artists: http://sydney.theotherartfair.com/ 

Talya (Brookman) Chimes

So many of our students are involved in volunteering for a variety of organisations and causes, and they would be most worthy candidates to be nominated for this year’s Jewish Changemaker Awards. See categories for Youth (under 18) and please nominate your child/children accordingly. Nominations can be made online: www.jnf.org.au/changemaker

The World’s Greatest Shave is coming up soon and our Emanuel team would love your support: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/emanuelschool

Please keep those grandparent contact details coming through for our database update. Send to snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au to ensure they receive invitations to various events throughout the year, and also so they receive our bi-annual Grandparents and Friends newsletters which are a great way to read about what’s happening at school no matter if you live around the corner from our campus or on the other side of the world.

NSW Friendship Circle will be hosting a private screening of the award-winning documentary My Hero Brother at 7 pm on 4 April at Events Cinema, Bondi Junction. The movie follows a group of young people with Down Syndrome who embark on a demanding trek through the Himalayas with their brothers and sisters. Spaces are limited so head to their website to secure your tickets: My Hero Brother Movie Tickets

If you have photos and/or news to share, please send it to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

New Parents Welcome Evening

Uluru Statement from the Heart

David Whitcombe – HSIE Teacher / Outreach Coordinator

Last Sunday, several Emanuel staff members joined over 200 people at a very special event at Emanuel Synagogue. Guest speaker Thomas Mayor was in conversation with Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins on the topic of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Thomas was a humble yet forceful advocate for the Uluru Statement which was adopted almost two years ago. Thomas informed us about the lead up to the Uluru Statement then read it out in full which ended with an emotional standing ovation. He displayed the original statement on canvas and explained the significance of the painting and the 250 signatures that surround the statement. Thomas then patiently and respectfully answered questions for over 30 minutes to ensure we all understood the statement. A video of the event will soon be available on the Emanuel Synagogue website.

We urge you to read the whole statement at https://www.1voiceuluru.org/ which is only one page. Here is an extract, “Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands, and possessed it under our own laws and customs. This our ancestors did, according to the reckoning of our culture, from the Creation, according to the common law from ‘time immemorial’, and according to science more than 60,000 years ago. This sovereignty is a spiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or ‘mother nature’, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were born therefrom, remain attached thereto, and must one day return thither to be united with our ancestors. This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty. It has never been ceded or extinguished, and co-exists with the sovereignty of the Crown. How could it be otherwise? That peoples possessed a land for sixty millennia and this sacred link disappears from world history in merely the last two hundred years?”

The statement ends with the words, “In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.” 

Rabbi Kamins committed to spreading the Uluru Statement from the Heart and made mention of the Emanuel staff in the room. He said we have a special duty to spread the truth about what happened to Aboriginal people, and explain to others the aim of the statement which is to establish a Voice for Aboriginal people, a representative body to sit alongside Parliament to have a say in laws that impact their lives before they are passed (not as a 3^rd chamber with veto power). There is also a call for a Makarrata Commission (a Truth and Reconciliation commission) to let the Truth be told.

As this movement builds please educate yourself and others about what these 250 Aboriginal elders and leaders called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. When this finally comes to a referendum we owe it to the First Australians to finally do right by them and give them their Voice, a Treaty and a chance for the whole Truth to be known.

Voice. Treaty. Truth.

Parent Safety Group

Thank you to our volunteers last week:

Gennarosity Abroad’s Giving for Giggles comedy gala

Gennarosity Abroad’s Giving for Giggles comedy gala is back again! 

Hosted by the Comedy Store it will feature Sydney’s finest stand up acts who will raise the roof as well as funds for the women and children in Kenya.

The night supports the work of Gennarosity Abroad, a charity run by the Emanuel School Nurse, Genevieve Radnan, that enriches the lives of Kenyan women and children by providing free access to education, vocational skills and clean water.

Book your tickets today and come be a stand-up guy! https://emarketing.totalenterprisecrm.com/campaigns/reports/viewCampaign.aspx?d=r&c=BE276F52E02F976F&ID=C337336ACF2E88E52540EF23F30FEDED&temp=False&tx=0

If you can’t make the event but would like to donate the price of your ticket instead, visit www.gennarosityabroad.org/donate

And, if you would like to support the raffle prize by providing a gift that anyone would love to win, contact genna@gennarosityabroad.org

Where: The Comedy Store, 207/122 Lang Rd, Moore Park

When: Wednesday 13 March 2019

Time: 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start

Cost: $45

This is only suitable for adults