Volume 29 Issue 32 - 23 Oct 2020

From the Principal

From the Principal – Andrew Watt

MMG review – results

Thank you to the Year 6, 9 and 12 parents and students who completed the 2020 MMG Review last term. Your feedback is valued highly. This regular source of information forms an important part of the data we collect, to inform our decisions in relation to our strategic direction and to allow us to recalibrate operational decisions when required. In addition to the set questions, many parents availed themselves of the opportunity offered to add confidential commentary. I have reviewed and summarised this feedback, which has proved to be both useful and insightful. A summary of the findings are outlined below:

Areas covered                                                             Parent Review       Student Review

Satisfaction with experience of the school                     Very High               Very High

Satisfaction with remote learning                                   Very High               High

Satisfaction with COVID-19 control measures               Very High                –

Satisfaction with communication re: remote learning     Very High                 –      

 

Areas covered cont.                                                    Parent Review            Student Review

Transition back to school-based learning                      Very High                     High

Effectiveness of initiatives, policies and processes       High-Very High            –

Satisfaction with academic program                             Very High                     High

Emphasis placed on academic achievement                High                             Very High

Satisfaction with quality of Jewish Life Program           High                             Moderate

Satisfaction with student wellbeing program.                Very High                     High

Providing a caring and safe environment.                     Very High                     Very High

Leadership and management of the School                 Very High                    –

Satisfaction with communication from the School         Very High                   –

Engagement with the school community                       Very High                  –

 

Over the remainder of Term 4, our Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) and our Executive will be reviewing the findings of the surveys and seeking to drive further improvements within our academic, wellbeing, extra-curricular and Jewish Life programs. 

Lexi’s tree

Lexi Bader

It has been a year since we lost Alexi Bader in a tragic accident. Lexi’s Yahrzeit was commemorated on Thursday, both in the Principal’s Office and by the memorial olive tree. Prayers were led by Rabbi Danny Siegel, in the presence of the Principal, Deputy Principal, counselling team and Teoh/Lexi’s tutors. The Yizkor candle was lit by Teoh and taken to our Reception. On Monday week, we will organise a commemoration that will involve a group of students and staff. At this time, we reflect fondly on Lexi’s life and his memory, and wish his family continued strength as they navigate what must be inconsolable grief.

Lifting our expectations

In light of the stress and strain brought on by restrictions related to COVID-19, we have maintained a more relaxed approach across a number of areas, over the past three terms. However, as we gradually return to our normal operations, we are encouraging our students to return to a more rigorous and consistent standard of dress, punctuality and support of our school rules. Our student wellbeing team has adopted an acronym (inspired by Margaret Lowe) – ‘PLUG,’ that will serve to remind our students of our key focus areas:

P – Phones

As per our mobile phone policy, students in High School should not be on their phones at all in class and only for a brief moment, if absolutely necessary, at lunchtime. Primary School students should not be on their phones at all during school hours. 

L – Lateness

Our students need to ensure that they arrive at school by 8.15 am and to class by 8.20 am. Any students who arrive after 8.20 am must go back to reception to sign in for High School and to Nicolle Rubin in the Primary office for Primary School. They also need to move to their classroom promptly after recess and lunch.

U – Uniform 

In High School, parents should continue to email uniform@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au when a student is out of uniform for a good reason. Students breaching uniform rules will be required to attend lunch detention. In Primary School, parents should email the class teacher and Meghan Carroll. Examples include wearing sport uniform on the wrong day, incorrect footwear or apparel, excessively short skirts, wearing nail polish and excess jewellery. 

G – Gum

In High School, chewing gum is becoming an increasing issue and is often found under desks and other surfaces. Chewing gum must not be brought to school.

We request that parents support our drive towards a more orderly and ‘back-to-normal’ approach to school life.

Mazal tov

  • Aidan Sheps (Year 9) and Mirabelle Mirvis (Year 10) won the 2020 Book Week Challenge and Book Review prizes.

Quote of the week

“Be a reflection of what you’d like to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want truth, be truthful. What you give out will always return.”
By Kristen Butle

 

 

From the Head of Jewish Life

Rabbi Daniel Siegel – Head of Jewish Life

Noach – What’s in a name?

This week’s parashah, Noach, is replete with word associations of its namesake. As soon as Noach is born, as recorded in the previous parashah, the narrator provides us with a wordplay on his name: “And, he (his father) called his name Noach/נח, saying: ‘This one will provide us comfort (yinachamen/uינחמנו) in our work and toil of our hands (responding to humanity’s punishment of ceaselessly working the ground due to Adam’s sin)’”.

While the name Noach/נח is here associated with the similarly sounding word nacham/ נחם (to comfort), etymologically it derives from the root word nuach/נוח, to rest. (A cognate to the Babylonian nuchu-to rest). Accordingly, we read, as Noach/נח approaches the end of his mission, va-tanach ha-teivah/ ותנח התיבה-“The ark came to rest”. And, velo mats’ah ha-yonah manoach/ולא מצאה היונה מנוח-Noach’s “dove could not find a resting place”.

Shabbat is called Yom Menuchah/יום מנוחה- a day of rest, because va-ynach ba-yom ha-shevi’i/וינח ביום השביעי-God “rested on the seventh day”. Noach’s ark rested on the seventh month and with the incoming of Shabbat, seeking rest from the anxiety and stress of the workweek, we traditionally sing Yonah Mats’ah Manoach/ יונה מצא מנוח-Noach’s “dove has found rest”. There clearly is an association between the words nechamah/נחמה-comfort and  menuchah/ מנוחה-rest, with both, in turn, being related to Noach/נח.

Following the sturm und drang of the flood, we read that Noach made a sacrificial offering to God and va-yarach Adonai et reiach ha-nichoach/וירח ה׳ את ריח הניחוח-“The Lord smelled the settling scent”. Noach was appeasing God through the nichoah. We read immediately thereafter: “And, the Lord said: ‘I will never again destroy all living beings, as I have done”.

We are left with a question. Is Noach not a bit late?

When God is about to destroy Israel, for the people’s betrayal in the incident of the Golden Calf, He says but two words to Moshe: Hanichah li/הניחה לי – “Let Me be”.

Seeing the word Noach/נח in God’s request, our tradition sees God asking Moshe to be like Noach and not intervene. When God says, “I will blot out the human race”, He goes unchallenged by Noach, so that we soon read “He blotted out all existence”.  

Moshe, however, does intercede on behalf of his people with the result that God “regrets/ repents of (va-yinachem/ וינחם the evil he proposed against His people”, and their destruction is averted. (Indeed, God then says to Moshe נחה/necheh et ha-am ha-zeh-“Lead this people”).

When God “repents/regrets (va-yinachem/ וינחם) that He created humans”, Noach/נח does not contest but, as the root word of his name connotes, he remains at rest (Nuach/נוח) with His impending plan. In his silence, Noach/נח lets God be and the world is destroyed.

One might say that in over-prizing his nachat/ נחת-restfulness and peace of mind, Noach/נח did not afford much nachas (Yiddish for nachat) for his father or nechamah/נחמה – comfort to the world.

Word of the Week – Satan/שטן (and Beyond)

Rabbi Daniel Siegel – Head of Jewish Life

The Devil made me do it

We concluded our last Ma Nishma ‘Word of the week’ entry noting that it might best that we say no more regarding Satan, heeding the warning of our Rabbis: “Do not provide an opening (of the mouth) for Satan/שטן”. But, as you can see, I was compelled to say a bit more. “The Devil made me do it”.

The most significant biblical appearance of Satan, as an independently existing being, occurs in the book of Iyov/Job. With Satan appearing among/being of the “sons of God”, we find that it is the Lord himself who provides an opening for/invitation to him. “And the Lord said to Satan: ‘Have you considered my servant Iyov, for there is none like him in the earth, a faithful and upright man, fearing God and shunning evil’”.

As we know, Satan, with God’s permission/encouragement, goes on to severely test Iyov’s faithfulness. Not wanting Iyov to surpass the faithfulness of Avraham, the progenitor of our people, the Rabbis, present Satan as instigating God’s call to Avraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Here, as in the case of Iyov, Satan is depicted as conjuring up all means available, though with unsuccessful results, for Avraham to fail his test of fidelity.

This leads the commentator Rashi to read God’s words: “now I know that you revere God”, in not seeking to spare Isaac as an offering to Him, as “Now it is I who have an opening (of the mouth to Satan), a justification/reason to Satan for my love for you (Avraham)”. God only tries the just/gives an opening to Satan for His own over-riding purpose of shutting him up/out.

The Talmud relates that the great Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Akiva are almost led astray by Satan. While Satan does not meet with success, in seeking to allure them to transgress, he could be construed as delivering God’s message in the closing words of this tale: Satan said, “Had they not announced in heaven, ‘Be careful of Rabbi Meir/Rabbi Akiva and his Torah’, I would have made your life worth two ma’ahs” (equivalent to our “two cents”).

While a Torah-led life is presented as keeping Satan at bay, it is the opening words of this story that are most instructive: “Rabbi Meir/Rabbi Akiva used to scoff at transgressors”. Perhaps, it is being pointed out that these Rabbis underestimate the potency of Satan and/or need to be wary lest their own self-righteousness gets the better of them as it seems to have already done in blinding them to their responsibility of leadership. We later find the “maverick” Hasidic Rebbe, Rav Nachman of Bratslav, criticising the recognised Rabbinic authorities of his day, with the following words: “It was difficult for Satan alone to mislead the entire world, so he appointed rabbis in various communities.”

The Tale of these Rabbis might be suggesting that it is we, ourselves, who invite Satan in, by our words and/or actions. It, furthermore, might be asking us to consider wherein Satan truly resides.

Maimonides, the great Medieval philosopher and Rabbi, argued that the story of Iyov is not to be taken literally, even as “satan”, which, as previously noted, means “lead astray”, does not refer to an independently existing being. Citing the Talmudic sage, Reish Lakish, Maimonides in his Guide for the Perplexed, explains that satan represents the yester ha-ra, the evil inclination which inheres in each of us.

No embodiment of evil outside/independent of ourselves is to be held accountable for our being led astray. Responsibility and redemption lie with us. We must look to ourselves rather than declare “The Devil made me do it”.

(The word Devil derives from the Greek word diabolos, which was used as an equivalent for the Hebrew Satan, as we see in the Septuagint version/Greek translation of Sefer Iyov/The Book of Job).

 

“It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil.
If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men,
the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui.”
Helen Keller

 

 

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

Conversing in Hebrew 

In Year 5 students have been conversing in Hebrew utilising a variety of commonly used language conventions and greetings, such as:

  • Safe journey – נסיעה טובה
  • A full recovery to health if unwell – רפואה שלמה
  • Congratulations – מזל טוב
  • Good luck – בהצלחה
  • Happy birthday – יום הולדת שמח

In Morah Miri’s class, students filmed their conversations and in Morah Erika’s class, students honed their SMS conversations skills. 

 

 

 

Parashat Noach

Parashat Nocah

The main message of Parashat Nocah is that of putting good before evil. At the very start of the parashah, we read “Noah was a just man, and blameless in his age”. However, “The earth became corrupt before God, the earth was filled with lawlessness”. I think that one of the core beliefs of the Torah is the looking for the good. It is very interesting how the Torah praises Noach before it criticises the rest of humanity. The message it gives is to look for the good. Even when you may be upset or angry at someone, take a moment to look for the good. Be calm, and try to put the good in front of the bad. 

Another important aspect of this parshah is the idea of gratitude. The first thing Noach did when he set foot on dry land, after a year on the Ark, was to sacrifice to God some of the animals he took with, as a thank you for saving him and his family. God responds by saying that He will never again “destroy every living being”. Good comes from looking for the good and showing our appreciation, and being thankful for the good in our life. 

By Jake Newfield, Year 9                        

 

 

From the desk of Mr Majsay

Adam Majsay, Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning)

More than…

Our job is never just teaching our subject. It is always more than that.

It can often be the unplanned digression from the planned lesson that provides the most memorable teaching moments for both the teacher and the learners. 

During a recent professional learning course on how teachers should best cater for the needs of gifted students, participants discussed the idea of framing learning through a conceptual lens, rather than through a singular focus on the content knowledge of the discipline. The concept-based curriculum considers student learning at an abstract level, exploring universal themes and generalisations around those themes. I recently experienced the richness of such abstraction in my teaching practice.

In my Year 8 Music class, early on in a unit on the traditional music of Torres Strait Islander and Australian Aboriginal people, students were learning a folk song, watching a range of video performances of the song. Our viewing of performances of Taba Naba erupted into an energised (and unsolicited) debate amongst students on cultural appropriation, and the ways in which we understand others’ cultures. As the teacher, I took a step back and allowed the student voices to drive the conversation. Passionate views were voiced on what it is to cause someone offence and on the responsibility we assume when we realise that our words or actions have offended someone.

I extended a challenge to the three most vocal advocates for cultural sensitivity, incensed by the unwillingness of their peers to hear their viewpoint, to find an online resource they think would be the most effective in convincing someone of the need to reconsider their position on the appropriation of another’s culture.

Sharing the advice that it is easier to change someone’s mind with soft, woollen gloves than with a sledgehammer, they agreed, but remarked that the sledgehammer would be more fun…

Our unplanned deviation from the lesson plan highlighted how rich the learning opportunities can be when we allow the digression to guide the learning. 

The lesson about a simple folk song became a much richer learning experience for the students, and for the teacher. A straightforward lesson about the interplay between rhythm and pitch, and between text and movement became a lesson on culture, recognition and respect. A lesson in which students were enthusiastically engaged in learning about and through music, evolved into a lesson in which students engaged in discourse as passionate advocates for firmly held views.

It became a better lesson than the one I had planned. And that is a great thing.

As a Music teacher, my job is much more than teaching music.

 

Primary

Meghan Carroll – Deputy Head of Primary

Tips for talking to your children about social media 

I recently came across a blog post on The eSafety Commissioner website that has some excellent tips for parents/carers on how to be actively involved and more aware of the connections between your child and various social media platforms. Whilst many parents are very aware of their child’s online presence and activity some of you may find the online world overwhelming and are unsure of where to begin. It is vital that you take a proactive approach in helping your child be safe and aware online. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Being aware of what apps, websites, platforms, etc that your child accesses or has profiles on
  • Understanding how they are using technology to communicate to others
  • Setting up restrictions and putting boundaries in areas of the online world that are not age appropriate and around those you are unable to monitor
  • Speaking regularly with your child about his/her online activity

I strongly encourage you all to have a read through this short but informative blog to learn what you can do to keep your child safe online. 

Summer uniform 

Please ensure your child is wearing the correct clothing items including a school hat each day. Uniform requirements can be found on the Emanuel Portal for your reference. 

Healthy Harold – starting in Week 3

In Week 3, Years K – 3 will participate in Healthy Harold as presented by Life Education, an organisation that empowers children to live a safe and healthy life. As part of the Personal Development and Health curriculum students will be involved in the following programs this year:

  • My Body Matters – Kindy
    • Focus on personal hygiene, choosing healthy foods, physical activity and sleep, ways to keep safe
  • Ready, Steady, Go – Year 1
    • Focus on physical activity, keeping safe in different environments, body reactions to new situations, fueling our body with the right foods, water and sleep
  • All Systems Go – Year 2
    • Focus on factors that influence functions of different body systems, managing peer pressure, effects of second hand smoke, making healthy food choices
  • Mind You Medicine – Year 3
    • Focus on factors that influence someone’s sense of self-worth, effective communication, factors that impact health and wellbeing, managing stressful situations, medicines and drugs and the consequences of their misuse

World Teachers’ Day

Next week we will celebrate the amazing teaching team that we have within our School. Friday 30 October 2020 is Word Teachers’ Day. This is a great opportunity to express gratitude to your child’s teachers. Feel free to reach out at some point next week.

Years 4 – 6 sport has begun

This week the Years 4 – 6 students began their final term of sport for 2020. Thank you to Stuart Taylor and his team of coaches and staff for organising this opportunity for the students. 

Kindy empathy classes with Tammy Viterbo

From Weeks 2 – 8 Kindergarten students and teachers will welcome Tammy Viterbo to the School. Tammy will work with both classes on developing an understanding of empathy, social connectedness and respecting others. We are grateful for this opportunity and thank Tammy for her time and for being part of our learning community.  

Shhhh! On-campus noise after school 

Parents and students are reminded that if they are collecting children or being collected from school (especially OOSH) to be aware that HSC exams are happening throughout the campus and a quiet learning and thinking environment is ideal. Thank you for your co-operation in helping to keep the campus a quiet one for the High School students from Weeks 2 – 5.

 

Primary Extra-curricular

Emma Hill – Primary Teacher and Co-ordinator of Extra-curricular Programs

We are pleased to offer a range of Extra-Curricular and EActive activities for all Year Groups in Term 4. We are following regulations set by the Association of Independent Schools which require stage groups to be separated at present. These regulations will be reviewed at the end of this term.

We will advise you in Ma Nishma if there are changes which allow us to offer Extra-Curricular and EActive classes to more Year Groups.

Club information, including enrolment and booking details, are now online on the Parent Portal. Please note clubs have minimum enrolment numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mondays

EActive Tennis
(Sharon Fairfax)

Stage 2
Yrs 3 – 4

3:30 – 5:15 pm

Moore Park Tennis Courts

19/10/20 – 30/11/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

EActive Dancing
(Amy Kapalinksi)

Stage 1
Yrs 1 – 2

1:10 – 2:00 pm

Millie Phillips Theatre

19/10/20 – 30/11/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

EActive Basketball Skills training program
(Indi Faithfull)

Stage 5
Yrs 5 – 6

3:45 – 4:45 pm

Basketball Courts
Lehrer Family Building (MPH)

 

19/10/20 – 30/11/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

EActive Basketball Skills
(Jake Sharwoord)

CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLMENT NUMBERS

NA

 

 

 

Primary Improvisation and Theatre Sports
(Brooke Oldfield)

Stage 2
Yrs 3 – 4

3:30 – 5:00 pm

Aron Kleinlehrer Performing Arts Centre (PAC)

19/10/20 – 7/12/20
(Week 2 – Week 9)

 

Tuesdays

EActive Dancing

Stage 2
Yrs 1 – 2

1:10 – 2:00 pm

Millie Phillips Theatre

20/10/20 – 1/12/20

(Week 2 – Week 8)

EActive Tennis (NEW!)
(Mat Rabenda)

Stage 1
Yrs 1 – 2

3:30 – 4:40 pm

Emanuel School Basketball Courts

20/10/20 – 1/12/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

Cooking Club
(Lara Ephron)

 

Stage 3
Yrs 5 – 6

3:30 – 4:45 pm

High School Cooking Class
(Innovation Centre)

28/7/20 – 22/9/20
(Week 2 – Week 10)

 

 

Wednesdays

EActive Gymnastics
(Sharon Fairfax)

Expression of interest

Please email Emma Hill ehill@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au if you would like to enrol your child in Gymnastics.

Once minimum enrolments have been reached a booking link will be emailed to you.

Stage 2
Yrs 3 – 4

6:50 – 8:00 am

Bunnerong Gymnasium

28/10/20 – 2/12/20
(Week 3 – Week 8)

Theatre Ensemble Group
(Brooke Oldfield)

Stage 1
Yrs K – 2

3:30 – 5:00 pm

Aron Kleinlehrer Performing Arts Centre (PAC)

14/10/20 – 2/12/20
(Week 1 – Week 8)

Sewing Club
(Lisa Starkey)

CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLMENT NUMBERS

NA

 

 

 

 

Thursdays

EActive Zumba Fitness
(Renee Segal)

Year K

1:20 – 2:00 pm

Aron Kleinlehrer
Performing Arts Centre (PAC)

12/11/20 – 3/12/20
(Week 4 – 8)

EActive Netball (NEW!)

Stage 2
Yrs 3 – 4

3:30 – 4:40 pm

Emanuel School
Basketball Courts

29/10/20 – 3/12/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

JeSTAR (Split into 2 groups)
(Anna Maylis)

Stage 1 & 2
Yrs K – 4

3:30 – 5:00 pm

Millie Phillips Theatre and Angles Family Leadership and Learning Centre

15/10/20 – 3/12/20
(Week 1 – Week 8)

 

Fridays

EActive Fitness
(Jake Sharwood)

Stage 3
Yrs 5 – 6 only

7:00 – 8:00 am

Meet at Basketball Courts
(wet weather location: MPH)

23/10/20 – 4/12/20
(Week 2 – Week 8)

 

 

Giving back

The Polished Man Charity

In Term 3, we were lucky enough to be back on campus so we could run and support some very worthwhile charities. On 24 September 2020 we organised a charity event to support the Polished Man. The Polished Man helps to keep all children happy and safe. For this charity, we were encouraged to wear nail polish and bring in a gold coin. We raised $191.35! Thank you to Chloe Opit in Year 4 for bringing this cause to our attention. 

The Friendship Circle

Another Term 3 event that we ran was an activity to support the Friendship Circle. This charity is all about educating people about the inclusion of all, and runs activities for disabled children. We organised a task where everyone had to write a message on a purple piece of paper about acts of kindness and then their pieces of paper were hung up in their classroom in one paper chain. Students wrote lovely things about how everyone should include everyone and that everyone is special in different ways.

We look forward to planning another charity event in Term 4 so stay tuned!

By Madi Narunsky, Jemma Drutman, and Kayla Parks

 

Primary staff changes

Natanya Milner – Head of Primary

At the end of this year, the Primary School will be farewelling three special members of staff.

Ginnette Cameron-Gardner finishes her 17th year at Emanuel this year and is retiring after decades of commitment to Emanuel’s library services. Ginnette’s extensive knowledge of literature has benefitted hundreds of Emanuel students as she has guided and nurtured them to become avid readers. Her commitment to the Premier’s Reading Challenge has also assisted many students to be engaged with this program and increase their reading levels. We wish Ginnette a well-deserved retirement filled with relaxation, hobbies and reading! I would like to thank Ginnette for her dedication to Emanuel.

Emma Clemens began working at Emanuel in 2014. As Deputy Head of Primary, Emma was instrumental in expanding The Leader in Me program and developing our Digital Citizenship programs. She was an organised, insightful and committed Deputy. Since returning from her first maternity leave, Emma has been an ICT teacher and has worked closely with each class to teach ICT skills in a way that links closely to the class programs. In 2020, Emma has been on maternity leave with her second child and has decided to resign from Emanuel in order to focus on leading children’s programs with her church as the Director of Next Gen. We wish Emma all the very best and will miss her at Emanuel. She will remain a close friend of the school’s.

Chelsea Trotter began at Emanuel in the middle of last year. She has supported Meghan Carroll and myself as our Personal Assistant, as well as being involved in co-ordinating many Emanuel trips and events. Our calendars can be close to impossible to manage and I thank Chelsea for her patience and positivity at all times. We wish her all the very best as she moves to Coffs Harbour and begins her life with her fiancé up north.

We will farewell these special people at the end of term.

Kornmehl

Terry Aizen – Director of Kornmehl

Beautiful Stuff project

This Term, we will be celebrating National Recycling week from Monday 9 November 2020 to Sunday 15 November 2020, a time to bring a national focus to the environmental benefits of recycling. The theme this year is ‘Recovery – A future beyond the bin’. The children from all three groups will be engaging in a project called Beautiful Stuff. 

In the holidays families and children were invited to look at home for interesting objects that were no longer needed and could be recycled for our project. This could include objects from nature or be man-made. Brown paper bags were sent home to fill with each child’s collections. The idea was to look for potentially useful materials and find interesting stuff to bring to Pre-school to share with their group and enrich our classrooms. The aim is to explore the materials in each room. The children will be involved in sorting, counting, grouping, touching, making and discovering together.

So, at the start of the term, little brown paper bags were brought back to Pre-school filled with lots of exciting treasures!

The bags were placed on a table in the room, waiting to be opened at morning meeting with the whole group. The idea was to create a sense of excitement and anticipation to see what was inside the bags.

Following on from this, is the opportunity for each child to share at morning meeting what they have found. The objects are then sorted into categories using recycled containers in the classroom. Once all the contents of the bags have been viewed and sorted across all three groups, the children will then engage in making art installations using all the recycled bits and pieces.

We are excited to get busy MAKING…SORTING…CLASSIFYING…and using our IMAGINATIONS to create wonderful installations and works of art.

Adamama Community Urban Farm

Adamama is a Jewish community farm connected to Shalom College, that runs working bees, where families can help out on a Sunday morning with weeding, mulching, digging, planting, sowing and watering the vegetables. They also run a number of other initiatives such as: the compost collective, pickling project, bee project, birthday parties, school excursions and team building sessions.

On Friday, the children from all three groups enjoyed an excursion to Adamama Urban Farm in Paddington. Each group visited the farm for one and a half hours.

During this time, they got to learn about the farm – its purpose and what grows on the farm. The children got to play in the mud kitchen and mud patch, and each child planted some seeds in a small pot. The children all had morning tea or lunch at the farm. It was a lovely way to connect our young children to a community farm. Mitch Burnie, an Emanuel School alumnus, is the Farm’s Manager and was recently interviewed as part of Emanuel School’s Speaker Series. 

Parent engagement

On Wednesday night, parents were invited to attend a webinar on School Readiness: A parent’s guide to pre-reading, writing and numeracy skills. This was run by Merryn Develyn from Teaching Tools for Tots. The webinar covered:

  • Play-based learning – why is it so important and what is it teaching? 
  • The Vestibular system 
  • Speech and language development 
  • Modelling reading books, vocabulary and comprehension 
  • Teaching emotions/feelings through picture books 
  • Pre-reading and numeracy skills – what are they and why are they so important?
  • Fine motor development and writing 
  • Developing numeracy concepts incidentally 
  • Hands on, practical, simple games and strategies to develop numeracy and mathematical skills and vocabulary.

We hope that parents found the workshop informative and learnt some lovely practical strategies to do at home to encourage pre-literacy and numeracy skills.

Parents have also been invited to video themselves reading their child’s favourite story book. Parents can be creative during this time, dressing up or using props to share the story. This week we began sharing the stories as a surprise to the children at story time. The delight on the child’s face when they realised their mum or dad was reading the story was just priceless. We look forward to receiving lots more stories over the coming weeks.

 

Inspirational women

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Volunteering and giving back

Les White AM and his family

Past parent, Emeritus Professor Les White AM, was appointed as the inaugural NSW Chief Paediatrician in September 2010, a position he held until his retirement in 2016. He was Executive Director of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick for 15 years prior to that and was awarded an Order of Australia in 2007 for service to medicine, medical administration and the community in the field of paediatrics. Les has also been a Starlight Board member since 1999 and in 2016 he was appointed as Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation’s inaugural Patron after having been a Board member for over 20 years. He just completed a charity run in outback NSW as part of the fundraising efforts for Ronald McDonald House, Randwick of which he is Joint Patron. The flies and heat did not discourage him or his family who joined him on this trip as his support team.

As you may have read previously, Friendship Circle (FC) and Emanuel School have many connections, both as students and alumni volunteering for this amazing organisation and also as families with children and young adults with special needs. Here now is a wonderful video from their October Camp featuring alumna Sophie Lew (Class of 2017) and friends.  

Inspirational Women’s Awards (IRAW) 2020

Bianca Manuel

Alumna and part-time staff member, Bianca Manuel (Class of 2014), has been named as a finalist in these prestigious awards (IRAW) hosted by Rotary, in the category ‘Young URBAN’. This award was won last year by Emanuel alumna, Hannah Beder (Class of 2012). Last week the NSW Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women, The Honorable Bronnie Taylor MLC, announced Bianca as one of the 24 women who have been named as finalists in this year’s awards, set up to shine a light on the enormous contribution of women in both urban and rural communities across NSW. Bianca has a long history in surf lifesaving and was a Patrol Captain by the age of 19, looking after Clovelly and Gordons Bay Beaches. She has helped countless people including in the Giant Steps for Nippers program. Well done Bianca!

The winners of each category will be announced at an Awards ceremony to be held in Sydney on 15 November, with voting done by members of the wider community. We will let you know the link to vote once it has been announced, and we hope the power of our community can help Bianca get the votes needed to win.

Big Brother Big Sister

Alumna Dayna Myers (Class of 2008), is a Social Worker in Youth Services at Jewish Care where they run the amazing Big Brother Big Sister and the Young Adult Mentoring Programs. They are currently seeking male mentors and have now widened the age range from 18 to 50 years. If you or someone you know would like to get involved and/or would like more information about these programs please contact Kira Brandt on 9302 8023 or k.brandt@jewishcare.com.au

Art for Everybody – on til 25 October

Painting by David Asher Brook

More than 60 Jewish community artists, including Year 11 student Saya Oshlack and alumnus David Asher Brook (Class of 1998) are featured in this year’s ABC Community Exhibition which has been organised by B’nai B’rith NSW in partnership with COA Sydney. This year’s event also sees judging of the inaugural Wallenberg Portrait Competition. As only 20 people will be allowed in the B’nai B’rith Centre at any one time bookings are essential. 

Live theatre treat

Ponydog Productions founded by alumnus David Friedman (Class of 2011), is a Sydney-based production company making theatre that blends science fiction, dark comedy and politics. Their latest production, Hotel Bella Luna, opened yesterday and is on til 7 November at Flight Path Theatre. David directs this production whilst his brother Matthew (Matt) Friedman (Class of 2015) is Production Assistant and Leahan Shimon (Class of 2011) is Marketing Manager. Book your tickets here.  

Gesher online Speaker Series – next session is 11 November @ 7.30 pm

Our guest speaker will be Ben Wilheim (Class of 2008), founder of Remember September  Invitation and booking details out soon, so watch this space.

B’nai B’rith and JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards 2020

Don’t forget to nominate someone for the prestigious Changemaker Awards 2020. All nominations are done online.  

In the spirit of giving, Emanuel students both past and present, often spend weekends and holidays volunteering their time to an array of worthy causes/organisations.  This competition is divided into two age groups: youth (age 14 – 18) or young adults (18 – 35) so if you know someone in our community who is making the world a better place through volunteering, please nominate them for these awards. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to recognise such wonderful volunteering efforts. Anyone can nominate – parents, staff and even the nominees themselves. It would be amazing to see some of our students and alumni nominated again this year. Nominations must be received no later than Monday 16 November. This short video highlights last year’s presentation evening. 

Stay safe and Shabbat Shalom.

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

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

One of the good things to come out of the COVID-19 times for a lot of people is the new ability for people to engage via Zoom, MS Teams and other conferencing software that has brought people and information together, in a way that did not happen before.

Careers has also benefitted through this time. Whereas before universities and tertiary institutions were hoping to get students to walk through their gates (now a tricky feat), they have moved to providing so many webinars, live Q & As, talks, student sessions and more. I encourage everyone to engage with this, register with some of the big places in Sydney if that is where you want to study now or beyond.

Universities

ACU

Webinars for the following:

 

 Sydney University

  • Scholarships for entry into Engineering worth $10,000 here
  • Electrical and Information Engineering and Diversity here
  • Scholarships in Sustainability (Science) here
  • Physics and Maths scholarships here
  • Equity scholarships here
  • A new major in Disability and Participation and Health here
  • A new major in Biological Design here 
  • 10 reasons to study Engineering at Sydney University here

 UTS

TAFE

Some great videos and links to professions that start at TAFE. Click here for more information on video links. 
For creative c
areers – click here for more information. 

Events

For anyone who is interested in the world of events, here is a link that may interest you. 

Nursing

For people who want to help in the Allied Health field, without having one of these roles, there is the option of becoming an assistant. For instance, there are Allied Health Courses which people can take in order to qualify for a role in assistance. Allied health assistants provide assistance to health practitioners including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists and dietitians. Another option in health is to become an Assistant in Nursing. More information can be found here.

How to apply for a job at Woolies

This is a helpful for link for many students looking for part time work. There is a questions and answers page and other information here

 

High School Shabbat Va’ad

Our HS Shabbat Va’ad

The purpose our וועד שבת/Shabbat Va’ad is to engage our peers from all year levels in planning and running our Kabbalat Shabbat. However, due to COVID restrictions on “mixing”, our Year 11 students have been central in co-ordinating and running Kabbalat Shabbat each week for the High School students. We try to bring something new and engaging for our fellow students each week, focusing on a specific topic or theme to enhance the meaning of Shabbat, we call it Shabbat Chinuch. It’s been really tough to celebrate shabbat as a community, as we are used to doing, due to COVID – singing songs like Hineh Ma Tov and Gesher Tzar Me’od, dancing to our favourite Ruach songs and having face-to-face discussions about important issues in the world. But, we have worked hard to come up with ideas for us all to be engaged and enthusiastic. In Term 3, we focused on creating videos each week through a series called ‘The Shabbatchelorette’. Each contestant of the series was an aspect of Shabbat (the נרות/candles, חלה/challah, יין/wine) and during each video High School would learn about why these aspects are so important for Shabbat. These videos allowed us to connect with High School and we hope that we were able to put smiles on their faces during this time of uncertainty.

This term, we hope to create weekly pe’ulot engaging ourselves and peers in different values of Shabbat. We will meet in our Tutor Groups sharing ideas and feelings towards Shabbat and our diverse insights. Each week they will focus on a specific lesson which will be linked to a different teaching of Shabbat. Additionally, every week, each Tutor Group will collect a ‘token’ of Shabbat so that in Week 7 they all will be able to plan and run their own Shabbat expanding upon what they have learnt throughout this term.

On Friday of Week 1 this term, the שבת וועד/Shabbat Va’ad along with the Year 11 Shabbat volunteers ran a program with the theme of
צדק, צדק תרדוף/Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – “Justice, Justice shall you pursue”, a biblical commandment. We connected this theme to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the righteous Jewish leader and former U.S Supreme Court Justice who fought passionately for women’s rights, the LGBT community, undocumented people, disabled people, the expansion of voting rights and much more. We think it is important for us to learn more about the notorious RBG and the incredible changes she made not only in the U.S, but the entire world.

By Jade Berson, Tara Linker and Jessica Turtledove – Year 11 

 

High School Drama

Samantha Bauer – Head of Drama

Laban workshop

Year 9 and 10 Elective Drama students have the opportunity to participate in a physical theatre workshop aimed at improving their ability to develop characters on stage. The workshops focus on developing the students understanding of the Laban method of acting. A physical and practical way to expose characters on stage.

The session will  be run by Tina Mitchell, an international theatre maker and teaching artist. Tina is a certified Laban teacher and is currently teaching acting at Columbia University in New York. We are so excited and lucky to have her running this amazing Drama workshop via Zoom all the way from the USA.

Great Cycle Challenge

Great Cycle Challenge

This October I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids’ cancer!

I decided to take part in this challenge for a number of reasons and am riding in memory of my best friend Liz’s mum – Rhonda Keogh – who died from cancer a few years ago. She was a very inspiring teacher and was influential in why I became a teacher myself.

Right now, cancer is the largest single killer of children from disease in Australia – over 600 children are diagnosed with cancer every year and, sadly, three die every week.

Kids should be living life, not fighting for it. 

I’ve been a Madricha at Camp Quality and I have seen first-hand some of the sweet kids who have had traumatic experiences due to cancer. I also had a former student that had cancer (Rikki Stern – she made an amazing support group called – Cancer Chicks Australia). 

It is probably the last thing that you would want to hear has happened to one of your students, kids, family or friends but it does happen and I think we need to learn more about it and have treatments that are more tailored to the individual types of cancers and needs of the specific person, not a generic treatment plan. 

So I am riding and raising funds to support the Children’s Medical Research Institute to continue their work into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and finding a cure for childhood cancer.

If you can, please support my challenge by making a donation through my fundraising page to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/BecGaida

Together, we can save little lives.

Thanks for your support.

 

HSC Disability Provisions

Eliah Dean – Specialist Learning Centre Teacher

Important notice for all Year 12 students, Year 11 accelerants and their parents

2020/2021 HSC Disability Provisions application process

As detailed at the Year 12 Information Evening, some students might be eligible to apply for Disability Provisions (DPs) for their HSC examinations, on the basis of a medical, social, emotional, academic or physical issue that places a student at a disadvantage relative to the cohort of all HSC students in NSW. This information is submitted to an external panel of experts, nominated by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA), who determine whether there are grounds for such provisions to be applied.

The application process is detailed and often lengthy and requires commitment and adherence to the information requirements, evidence and time parameters outlined by the School and by NESA.

As part of the process, literacy, other testing and essay writing are likely to be required, as results of these are part of NESA’s application requirements. Sessions will be timetabled for these and all students are expected to attend at the allocated times. Early leave or other meetings are not considered grounds for missing such sessions.

As is appropriate, teachers also play an important role in providing information about applicants. It is in students’ interests to ensure that all their teachers are aware of any issues that are likely to impact school performance; in the classroom, in the School as a whole and in examination and assessment settings.

The application process and related matters are managed by the Specialist Learning Centre (SLC) staff. Any student who believes that she/he has grounds to submit an application must make an appointment to speak with Mr Dean or Dr Joffe, by Friday 23 October 2020. Delays in making appointments and providing essential information will lead to delays in processing applications.

If you think you/your child/your ward is eligible to apply for Disability Provisions and you have not already done so, please contact Mr Dean or Dr Joffe by Friday 23 October 2020 to discuss the grounds on which you feel an application is warranted.

 

Important Information – School Opal Cards

Expiring School Opal Cards 

From January 2021 onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring, as the physical card has reached its lifespan.

These are cards for students who will be in Years 8 to 12 in 2021, and only those Opal cards that haven’t been replaced in the last five years.

Impacted students and/or their parent/guardian will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post. They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.

If you are not contacted by Transport for NSW, your details should be submitted online by 1 December 2020. Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address we currently have on file.

Parents and Friends

Ruby Berkovic & Jen Opit

Hi Everyone,

Last weekend we held our first ever Family Online Disco.

Over 50 Emanuel families signed up and boogied with the always entertaining DJ Dudu Guru. It was amazing to see the quick costume changes and introduction of stuffed toys and pets galore!

Thanks to Justine Hofman for all her help with organising the event. It was so much fun. We hope you and your families enjoyed it as much as we did.

Parents & Friends meetings

Our next meeting on 3 November 2020 is approaching. It will be held on Zoom at 7.00 pm. Everyone is welcome. Please let us know if you would like to attend: rubykb@gmail.com

Entertainment Books

In case you want to order an Entertainment Book you can do so here         

Have a great weekend,

Jen & Ruby

 

Recipe of the Week

Each week we’ll bring you a tasty recipe passed down by Emanuel families, from the Emanuel School Community Cookbook, The Family Meal. 

From the kitchen of Melissa Goldman

Baked Fish Thai Style

Ingredients

8 stalks lemongrass, halved lengthways
15 kaffir lime leaves
1kg fillet firm white fish, skin on
1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
2 tbsp shredded ginger
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 long red chillies, seeds removed and chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup coriander leaves
1 cup mint leaves
1 cup Thai basil leaves
Rice and lime wedges to serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 2000C.
Line a tray with baking paper and place the lemongrass and lime leaves on the baking paper, then top with the fish, skin-side down.
Spread the curry paste over the flesh of the fish.
Combine the ginger, garlic, chilli and oil in a bowl.
Spread the mixture over the fish and bake for 20 – 30 minutes.
Top the fish with coriander, mint and Thai basil leaves.  Serve with rice and lime wedges.

Serves 4 

 

You can order the Emanuel School Community Cookbook, The Family Meal by contacting rubykb@gmail.com 

Kristallnacht Community Commemoration

Community notices