From the Acting Principal

Margaret Lowe – Deputy Principal

What is the loudest voice in our School?

Our students are involved in a number of activities in support of charities, causes or their interest areas. We often have students initiate activities of this nature and in doing so, we ‘hear’ their voice. Over the year we have had these ‘voices’ represented in our student-led events/activities K-12:

• Environment / Sustainability (Water charity, Earth Hour, Composting, Clean Up Australia Day, Bush Fire Appeal, Tongan Collections, Flood Relief)
• Financial Sustainability (Investment Club)
• Medical (World’s Greatest Shave Leukaemia, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Pizza Pyjama Party Black Dog Institute)
• Social Action (Reconciliation Week Primary SRC, Oz Harvest Food Collection, Night of Dangerous Conversations, LGBTIQA+ Wear it Purple Day)
• Jewish Community organisations (JCA and Friendship Circle)

Our student voice is heard but so are other voices, especially our Jewish Life voices. I casually surveyed our Jewish Life staff this week and asked, “What have the three loudest messages been in your Jewish Studies classes or Jewish Life activities this year?”. Across K-12 staff, these were some of the responses:

• Jewish leadership is about values first – influence rather than power.
• The most important tool a madrich (leader) has is Dugma Ishit – (setting a strong personal example because you understand the values you wish to live by and then acting on those values).
• Humans were responsible for the Holocaust and we must therefore learn human lessons from it. We need to know what humanity is capable of (good and evil) in order to constantly strive to make the world a better place.
• Treat others the way you want to be treated. Elementary, self-explanatory and powerful. This message has a lot of implications: respect others, help others etc.
• “One who is wise learns from all people.”
• There is always more than one way to understand, interpret and apply a Jewish text or source.
• Judaism values knowledge but primarily it is about actions – what you say and do matters. Put values into action.
• Learning about past events and their history can help us to interpret current events so that we understand why they are happening. It also helps us when we are doing Jewish things as we can understand the reasons why we are doing those things.
• You should always try your best. Try to remember that everyone’s best is different. Notice and react when people are kind.

Our students also hear messages from our leadership team on the School’s voice. This week Adam Majsay spoke at High School assembly about our graduate attributes. He spoke about being:

• a curious, resilient learner
• an open-minded thinker
• an adaptable innovator
• a tenacious problem solver
• a compassionate advocate
• a daring doer.

There are many voices in our School and many messages. Strong links can be seen between the messages from various parts of our School including our students’ voice. Sometimes we feel one voice is louder than others. I ask you why that voice stands out to you? For some students they are excited when their passion is at the forefront with a fundraising day and for others, they have been looking for a place to feel safe and accepted despite feeling so different. Our students have a huge attachment to Tikkun Olam, as you can see.

I would hope the range of charities, causes and interest areas that are highlighted during a school year is broad and encompasses many important issues.

Welcome back 

Welcome back Jennifer Selinger, Head of Science

Our Head of Science, Jennifer Selinger, has returned part time in the online space after being given the ‘all clear’ from her doctor. We are so pleased to hear this good news and look forward to her on campus return in Term 4.

A very happy 40th

Next year marks the 40^th birthday of Emanuel School. From humble beginnings, Emanuel School has grown and thrived over the years. We are seeking stories from across our 40 years to publish in Ma Nishma next year. Were you an Emanuel student? What was it like in your day? What are your favourite school memories? Do you have photos to share? Who do you remember as being a positive influence in your school life? Do you know what they are doing now? Were your parents involved in the School back then?If your answer is “yes”, please contact Sonia Newell, who will be delighted to take a trip down memory lane with you.

Ezekiel Cup 

The awarding of the Ezekiel Cup is always a highlight of the year. The Cup has a long history – Adam Ezekiel, Director of Students 7-12, alumnus (Class of 2007) and dad to Freddy (Kornmehl), shared that 20 years ago, his family donated the Ezekiel Cup to the School when the House system changed to its current form.

Throughout the year, each House has the opportunity to score points from participation in the three major High School events – the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals and House Music. Involvement in Cross Country, the Alexi Bader Futsal Cup, Science Trivia, Maths Competition, Hebrew Challenge, Chaggim Challenge, Visual Arts Competition (the Emanuel Archies), Sustainability Challenge and Madrachim Challenge all provide additional chances for winning valuable points.

Mazal tov to Rashi, the winners of the 2021/22 Ezekiel Cup, proudly awarded at assembly to Rashi House Captains, Jesse Herdan and Jayda Sacks.

Night of Instrumental Music

I attended the Night of Instrumental Music on Wednesday – the first in three years due to COVID! It was a spectacular evening showcasing the wide-ranging talents of our students. It takes many months of hard work to create an evening of such a high calibre and I commend the students and staff who were involved in its success. Thank you to Head of Music, Diana Springford, Music teachers Danny Burley and Sarit Spira, Jo De Araujo, the music tutors and conductors as well as the many staff who were involved in supporting roles. A very special mention to Remi Owen, not only for conducting so many ensembles, but for stepping up at a moment’s notice to organise this massive event and run all the rehearsals. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated and talented team. Thank you to our parent photographer, Ofer Levy, who was on hand, as usual, to capture these special moments. 

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Book Week

Thanks to Samantha Rogut, Head of Library and Information Services K-6 and Grace Condon, Library Assistant K-6, for organising a spectacular Book Week filled with author talks, stories and the much-loved annual Book Week Parade. If you visited school on Wednesday you may have been surprised to encounter a number of characters who are usually found in our Primary library, dancing around the Basketball Courts. Visit the Primary news page for many more photographs of this special event.

Tikkun Olam

The High School and Primary School SRCs held a successful BBQ Day and High School Plain Clothes Day this week, raising much needed funds for Save the Children and Sydney Children’s Hospital, respectively. 

SRC members collecting money for Save the Children

Amelie Trope, SRC 2022/23 shared the reasoning behind this choice. “For our first fundraiser as the new SRC, we had the important role of selecting a charity as recipient of the money that we raised. After much deliberation, the SRC chose Save The Children. We chose this charity to raise awareness and support for the Yemen Crisis. Yemen is facing a severe famine due to a civil war.

“According to The Times of Israel, 130 children in Yemen are dying each day due to the effects of this civil war. In addition, a UNICEF report shows 11 million children need support in Yemen and some say the war has given rise to one of the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Save The Children delivers food, medicine and humanitarian support to help alleviate this crisis. All donations do indeed make a difference to the children in Yemen. 73 cents of each dollar is dedicated to the charity’s crisis and aid programs, while the rest of it is used for investing and fundraising. If you would like to donate to help the children in Yemen, please click here.” 

Kol ha’kavod

Year 12 students, Jack Smagarinsky and Gabriel Tracton, co-founders of the Investment Club, invited Guzman y Gomez’s CEO and co-founder, Steve Marks, to share his life journey and advice with High School students. The event was attended by over 100 students – a record turnout for a lunchtime speaker. 

Quote of the week

“Never compromise on your values. If you do that, you’ll win.” ~ Steve Marks, CEO and co-founder, Guzman y Gomez

How bagels can reveal a universal Jewish truth 

Asher Klein – Jewish Life Madrich

How bagels can reveal a universal Jewish truth 

Hey, do you want a bagel?

Of course you do. Bagels are objectively delicious.

But let’s just imagine for a second that you were an insane person and that you didn’t want a bagel. Firstly, I feel bad for you. You’re missing out. But I’m not going to actively punish you for not taking that scrumptious bagel. It is your (poor) choice to make and you lose nothing by refusing the bagel. You’re exactly where you started.

In this week’s parshah, Parashat Re’eh, Moshe tells the Israelites the following:

See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of your God […] and curse, if you do not. (Devarim, 11:26-28)

רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה׃
אֶת־הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם׃
וְהַקְּלָלָה אִם־לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ

The rest of the parshah is Moshe giving us a recap of several other rules surrounding sacrifice, kashrut, idol worship, charity, shmita and pilgrimage festivals. But I really want to focus on this first line about blessing or curse.

Seems like a bit of a no-brainer choice, right? God essentially tells us that it’s our choice whether or not to follow Jewish law but that if we don’t, we’ll be cursed and die a probably horrible biblical death. Not exactly a hard choice.

But is it even really a choice? If we’re enticed with rewards for one choice and threatened with death for another, I don’t think there’s a single person who will choose the latter option.

Bagel or death? Bagel please.

In Midrash Rabbah, Rabbi Levi goes one step further and compares the “choice” to a master offering a servant a gold necklace to obey, or iron chains if they do not (Devarim, 4:2). In other words, enslavement with a necklace or enslavement with chains.

Does this mean that the choice to actively be Jewish and to lead a Jewish life defined by Jewish practices and values is a somewhat hollow one? We’ve been forced into it! Here’s my take. It’s not God who will punish us for choosing to live an immoral, lawless life. I’m sure almost everybody reading this would not expect to contract leprosy for not stringently following every Jewish law.

But, once a person knows the moral path towards a meaningful and fulfilling life, they will inevitably feel the pull towards it even if they choose a different path.

I’ll give you an example. My grandmother was a pack-a-day smoker. Most campfires produced less smog. On longer road-trips, my mother used to lie on the floor of the family sedan (ah, the 70s) so that her head wouldn’t be constantly in a thick cloud. But the more information that my grandmother was exposed to surrounding the risks of smoking and how closely linked with cancer it was, the more she started to take quitting seriously. She still talks about how it was one of the most difficult things she ever did. However, knowing the harm it was causing, she was able to pull herself through that struggle in order to reach the path she knew she truly wanted. The choice was easy, but the process was hard.

Knowing what single-use plastics do to the environment, we don’t like to buy bagels wrapped in glad-wrap even if it means they come in arguably less secure paper bags. The choice is easy, but the process is hard.

Sorry, couldn’t resist bringing back the bagels.

To actively reject the moral codes and ways of thought put before us as part of our rich culture is, in effect, to curse oneself. You will be in a worse position than where you were beforehand as you can no longer claim ignorance. You know what is on the other path. And you’ll likely feel guilty or empty for neglecting it. That is what we might interpret the curse to be referring to here. It is the curse of the knowledge of a more fulfilling life.

There’s a saying in Pirkei Avot that, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” (2:21) and I think that applies here really neatly. A moral life is set before us. Laws for how to treat our fellow humans, our lives, our children, our animals, and our environment are all made clear.

When our lives present us with the opportunity to do good, to refrain is, in essence, to do the opposite. Not choosing to do is a choice and the net result is the same as to actively reject. So, yes, it is truly a choice. But, even if the process is difficult, it’s a very easy one to make.

So, take the bagel we’ve been offered. We know the curse of a bagel-less existence.

Shabbat Shalom.

Primary news

Samantha Rogut, Head of Library and Information Services K-6

Book Week 2022

The CBCA Book Week 2022 Dreaming with eyes open… was a week filled with interesting musical performances, fabulous guest authors, delicious cupcakes and of course, fabulous book character costumes.

Years K-2 were entertained by Perform Education Musical who sang and danced their way into our hearts. The performers read books from the CBCA Picture Book Shortlist which were woven into an engaging and interactive performance.

Years 3 and Year 4 enjoyed listening to guest author Mick Elliott tell his fabulous jokes and watching him create one of his Squidge Dibley characters. Mick’s Squidge Dibley books are available for purchase here.

Australian children’s author Belinda Murrell visited and spoke with Years 5 and 6 about her writing process. She explained how her characters are formed from influences in her own childhood and family life. Belinda spoke about the amount of time and research it takes to create her historical fiction novels giving students an insight into the writing process. She explained that her first drafts ‘need polishing’ and it is the third and final ‘polished’ draft of the novel which is published.

Belinda’s books are available for purchase here.

The Primary Library played host to Harry Potter Trivia and Book Week Trivia every lunchtime, with students enthusiastically competing for book prizes. Winners of the Book in a Bottle Competition will be announced next week so stay tuned.

The highlight of the week was the Book Week Parade. It was wonderful to welcome parents to the campus and for the students to celebrate by dressing up and eating cupcakes for recess.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

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Teaching Hebrew in the 21st century

Hagit Bar-On – Head of Hebrew K-6, Jewish Studies Co-ordinator K-2

The Hebrew staff attended an extra day of learning on Tuesday 16 August 2022 at the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre in Melbourne.

There were 55 Primary Hebrew teachers from different Jewish Day Schools who came together to study innovative ways of teaching Hebrew in the 21st century.

I presented two sessions:

• Session 1: “Learning from our successes, Positive Psychology”. How do we look at our students’ successes and implement them in their learning of Hebrew?
• Session 2: “Differentiation” teaching Hebrew in differentiation using practical methods such as group work, rotations, and multiple levels of work.

Dr. Yona Gilead from Sydney University presented an amazing session of fun and creative Hebrew games that can help enhance Hebrew speaking in the classroom.

There was an amazing atmosphere and energy in the room, with the teachers working in pairs and groups and engaged in productive conversations.

At the end of the day, teachers expressed their interest in coming together for a Hebrew conference every year, due to the limited opportunities for Hebrew teachers to receive professional development in their field of expertise.

Hopefully, we can have another Hebrew conference in 2023 in Sydney!

Years 3-5 Sport and Recreation Camp

Carrie-Anne Thomas – Acting Deputy Head of Primary

Next week, students in Years 3, 4 and 5 will be heading to Point Wolstoncroft for Sport and Recreation Camp. This is always an excellent opportunity to develop skills and relationships while enjoying the outdoors and exploring new activities. We are excited to spend a few days with the students and look forward to sharing our adventures with you upon our return. Our staff love spending time on camp but it is an additional commitment away from their families and lives.

I thank them in advance for their care, enthusiasm and dedication.

Just a reminder that students need to be at school by 7.15 am on Wednesday morning. Please remember to say goodbye at the gate.

Students can then take their belongings and meet in their designated areas:

• Year 3 – Waxman Drive
• Year 4 – Pizem Courtyard
• Year 5 – PAC

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

Celebrating Shabbat

This term parents in Years K, 1 and 2 have been invited to experience the joy and ruach (spirit) of our Friday morning K-2 Shabbat celebrations. This week marked our finale, with Year 2 parents invited to join us after the Father’s Day breakfast. Led by our enthusiastic and energetic teachers, Morah Bar-On and Morah Spira, parents and grandparents had a chance to experience a unique weekly Emanuel School experience – celebrating Shabbat through song, blessings and ruach. We all got to learn from Rabbi Ninio through her wonderful story telling. Each week our students conclude the story in unison by saying all the characters will live ‘happily ever after’. Families left with a gift of challah to celebrate Shabbat at home, uplifted with feelings of nachas and Emanuel School spirit.

Our Primary Informal Jewish Life team, Joshua New and Mia Shapiro, along with an enthusiastic group of Year 10 leaders, continue to provide a variety of Shabbat experiences for Year 5.

Last week Year 5 plaited their own challah loaves that were baked ready to take home in the afternoon for Shabbat. Before making their own challah, students learnt of the symbolism of the two loaves that are part of a traditional Shabbat table, reminding us of the double portion of manna the Israelites collected in the wilderness before Shabbat. Students learnt the origin and original meaning of the term challah, which refers to the portion of dough that was set aside for the kohanim (priests) during Temple times. Following the destruction of the Second Temple, our ancient rabbis determined that prayers should replace sacrifices and the dinner table would replace the sacrificial altar. The custom of setting aside challah – a portion of dough, continues to this day. Before making their own challah loaves, students recited the blessing and performed the mitzvah of setting aside the challah, an olive portion of dough that is burnt separately in the oven. 

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Slime time!

Slime time!

Last week the K-2 Play Leaders (Year 6 students who help the K-2 play together and have fun) started Play Pals with a bang!

We got to make slime with the Year 1 students. We got our hands sticky and our minds thinking. We enjoyed showing the kids how to make slime. We ran into an issue when we didn’t have enough activators. However we problem solved and managed with what we had.

It was such an adorable and cute experience, all week whenever the students saw us they were shouting “SLIME TIME” and giggling. We spent the whole week making posters and speeches.

We hope we can continue doing Play Pals throughout the year and look forward to new games and activities planned in Term 4. 

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By Annaleise Rodney, Jake Vitek, Leah Sebel, Mia Berkovic, Mikah Abraham, Noa Goodstone, Olivia Byrne, Rose Greenberg, Sienna Kantor and Heidi Martin
Year 6 K-2 Play Leaders

Primary Holiday Program

Emma Hill – Primary Teacher and Coordinator of Extra-Curricular Programs

Primary Holiday Program

We have two new exciting holiday programs on offer for the upcoming September-October holidays. 

For further information, including enrolment links, please see the ‘Upcoming Holiday Programs’ tab which can be found on the Extra-Curricular Parent Portal page.

Kornmehl

Terry Aizen – Director of Kornmehl

Healthy food and nutrition

The teachers noticed that the Seashell children were very interested in cooking and eating. They decided to combine these two interests and thus create an awareness of healthy eating as well as encourage them to try new foods. The group embarked on a project this term: learning all about nutrition and healthy eating.

Our goals for this project included:

• Encouraging children to develop an awareness of colours.
• Developing an awareness of measurement. 
• Learning the application of the written word in achieving everyday tasks such as cooking.
• Creating a link between home and school, contributing to the children’s sense of belonging.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between what they eat and the functioning of their bodies.

The Seashells have been cooking up healthy and delicious dishes each Wednesday, inspired by recipes sent in by the Seashell families. To date, we have made chocolate zucchini muffins, banana smoothies, apple and banana muffins, pesto pasta, quesadilla and vegetable pasta and tomato soup.

Through these cooking activities, children have the opportunity to explore and learn about different foods in an engaging way. It also encourages the children to try new foods they may not have tasted previously and to learn about the food pyramid and which food groups different foods belong to. These cooking activities are wonderful opportunities for the children to have practical, first-hand experiences of exploring the wonderful world of food and nutrition. Not only are they learning about how food is prepared, but they are also developing fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills through chopping and mixing, maths through counting, measuring and following a sequence, as well as science as they observe how the ingredients change colour and texture during the process.

They have been engaged in role playing chefs, using the vegetables and fruit to make healthy cakes and pancakes and have been able to share their creativity in their inventive recipes they pretend to make through their play. Paper and textas were provided for the children to write and draw their own recipes.

The group has discussed the concept of healthy and sometimes food, and what this means (treats). We explained that healthy food helps them grow, sleep and think well with their brains. It also helps them feel good inside and make the right choices. 

Raphael: You get a healthy tummy. Our hands will get strong and healthy if we eat healthy food.

The children have been involved in creative art experiences, including drawing different healthy foods from close observation, such as green apples, melon, capsicum and mint. Each time that they approach the activity, they see something new. This act of slowing down and really paying attention is something novel in our action-packed world where the children are constantly bombarded by stimuli.

The Seashells drew with such concentration, being present and focussing their attention on the different fruits and vegetables, noticing the shapes, patterns, and details:

Ethan: I made a sandwich. It has chicken in it. It is a protein. And fish. 
Raphael: I made a dinner. I put pitta and ice cream and also some egg and cheese.
Teya: The cheese is protein. And now I need some salad. I have a feast for dinner.
Drew: I am making a carbohydrate. I put in bread and spinach. Now I am going to serve everyone.

We spent time exploring different herbs – a sensory experience focusing on smell and taste. The children were blindfolded and asked to guess which herbs they are smelling. Dried herbs were presented, and the children needed to match the names on the bottled herbs to the names of the fresh herbs on the table.

After the guessing game, they drew the different herbs. The children concentrated on observing the shapes of the leaves. 

The theme of healthy eating and cooking has even extended to the outdoors in the mud kitchen:

Drew: I am making tortillas and rice. They are healthy because rice is healthy. They have no spices in them. 
Teya: I was making lemon-lemon. It is something to drink. It is good for you because it has pips in it.

We are looking forward to further explorations around healthy eating and good nutrition as the term progresses.

Kornmehl social event – Dance Party

On Sunday, Kornmehl is holding its first social event in three years – an exciting dance party in the Lehrer Family Building (MPH).

We are expecting 170 families for an afternoon of fun, disco dancing, bubble blowing, photo booth dress-ups and a delicious sausage sizzle.

We are looking forward to families being able to connect with each other, socialise and have fun. 

Happy Birthday

We wish a very happy birthday to our special educator Marlene. We hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration.

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K-12 Sport

Kristy Genc – Director of Sports K-12

Term 4 Sport registrations

The Term 4, K-12 weekly sport program is now available on the Primary and High School Weekly Sport Pages on the Parent Portal. 

Registrations will open next week and all information, including the booking link, can be accessed on the Parent Portal. 

All students are encouraged to take part in the School Sport Program, and it is compulsory for Years 7 and 8 students to commit to at least one weekly sport option each term.

Registrations will close on Wednesday 14 September 2022 and late registrations cannot be accepted as team entries, staffing and venues will be finalised. Any enquiries can be sent through to the Sports Office.

Basketball news

Indi Faithfull – Head of Basketball

Basketball news

This term, over 100 Emanuel students from Years 3-12 have been participating in the Winter Basketball 3 v 3 and Skills Program. From Learn to Play, all the way to our elite squad, there has been significant improvement. 

As the summer program kicks off in Term 4, we will be entering teams into a variety of weekly competitions:

• Years 5-11: Students will have the opportunity to play in Emanuel teams in the Sunday Easts Basketball League weekly competition. Registrations will are required through the Term 4 Sport Program on the Parent Portal and trials for this will take place during the following times:
• Year 5-6 (12s division) 
  Teams will be picked and organised, based off registrations, by Emanuel coaching staff.
  
• Years 7-8 (14s Division) 
  Tuesday 20 September 2022 (Week 10)
  3.30 pm – 5.00 pm at school

• Years 9-11 (16s and 18s division) 
  Thursday 22 September 2022 (Week 10)
  3.30 pm – 5.00 pm at school

Emanuel will also be hosting the Year 7-8 Sydney Schools Cup Girls Basketball Competition on Tuesday afternoons. Registrations for this team will be available via the Term 4 Sport registrations.  

Emanuel Girls Firsts

Trials for the Emanuel Girls Firsts have commenced this week and will continue over the next few weeks. If your child is interested in trialling for this team, please be in touch. The team will compete in the CDSSA Opens Basketball Competition during Term 4 on a Wednesday afternoon. The next trial will be held at the following time: 

• Years 8-12
  Thursday 8 September 2022
  7.00 am – 8.00 am at school 

Emanuel Boys Firsts

Preparation is also commencing for the Emanuel Boys Firsts. This team will take part in a variety of games throughout Term, 4, and in the weekly CDSSA competition in Term 1. Trials for this team will take place at the following times: 

• Trial 1
  Monday 29 August 2022
  6.45 am – 8.00 am at school

• Trial 2
  Monday 5 September 2022
  6.45 am – 8.00 am at school

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Indi Faithfull.

Important dates

Calendar

Did you know that you can access the weekly and term calendars by visiting the Parent Portal?

Simply log on to the Parent Portal and you’ll find the Calendar block (first block, left hand side, on the second row). Click on the block which will take you to the calendar page which is full of dates, times and venues. This is the most reliable and up to date list of what’s happening at school. 

If you have forgotten your password, please contact IT on 8383 7324.

What’s happening next week

High School

Monday 29 August 

• Year 9 Ski Camp
• Year 11 Examinations

Tuesday 30 August

• Year 8 HSIE Excursion to Warrangamba Dam
• Year 9 Ski Camp
• Year 10 Machane Ayekah
• Year 11 Examinations
• HSC Music Showcase (Theatre – 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm)

Wednesday 31 August 

• Year 7 Interfaith Program
• Year 9 Ski Camp
• Year 10 Machane Ayekah
• Year 11 Examinations 

Thursday 1 September

• Year 9 Ski Camp
• Year 10 Machane Ayekah
• Year 11 Examinations 

Friday 2 September 

• Year 9 Ski Camp
• Year 10 Machane Ayekah
• Year 11 Examinations 

Saturday 3 September

• Year 10 Machane Ayekah

Sunday 4 September

• Year 10 Machane Ayekah

Primary School

Wednesday 31 August 

• Year 3-5 Sport & Recreation Camp

Thursday 1 September

• Year 3-5 Sport & Recreation Camp

Friday 2 September

• Year 3-5 Sport & Recreation Camp

Kornmehl

Sunday 28 August

• Parent Club Social Event (MPH – 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm)

Save the Date

High School

Monday 5 September

• Year 10 Machane Ayekah Rest Day 

Tuesday 6 September 

• Sports Photo Day 

Wednesday 7 September

• Year 8 Machane Krembo
• Year 11 Drama Showcase (Theatre – 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm)
• Year 12 Geography to the Hunter Valley 

Thursday 8 September

• Year 8 Machane Krembo
• Night of Dangerous Debate (Theatre – 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm)

Friday 9 September

• Year 8 Machane Krembo

Monday 12 September

• Year 10 Examinations

Tuesday 13 September

• Year 10 Examinations

Wednesday 14 September

• Year 10 Examinations 

Tuesday 20 September

• CIS Athletics
• Year 12 House Breakfast Farewells

Wednesday 21 September

• Year 12 Graduation Assembly
• Year 12 Graduation Dinner

Friday 23 September

• Last Day of Term 3 

Primary School

Tuesday 6 September

• Sports Photo Day 

Thursday 8 September

• Parent/Teacher Night (MPH – 4.00 pm to 8.00pm)

Monday 12 September

• Parent/Teacher Night (Zoom – 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm)

Thursday 15 September

• Year 5 Knowing you Changes Me

Friday 16 September

• Grandparents and Friends’ Day (MPH – 9.00 am – 12.30 pm)

Monday 19 September

• Year 4 Excursion to Muru Mittigar Centre 

Tuesday 20 September

• CIS Athletics

Wednesday 21 September

• Under 12s Football Gala Day

Thursday 22 September

• Year 5 Machane Bisli (Hebrew Camp)

Friday 23 September

• Project Heritage 
• Last Day of Term 3

Kornmehl

Monday 5 September 

• Family Day Breakfast

Tuesday 6 September

• Bee workshop incursion 

Friday 23 September

• Rosh Hashanah celebrations 
• Last Day of Term 3 

International Dog Day

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Law Revue 2022: Pulp Jurisdiction 

“Everyone knows that lawyers have the best sense of humour, that’s just a fact. It’s also a fact that everyone loves comedy, so there’s literally no excuse to not come and see us in our awesome show.” This is the advertising for the Law Revue, on now.

Tickets may be sold out by the time you read this, but here is a message from alumnus Beau Glass (Class of 2020), which he’d love you to pass on to your own children: “It’s been amazing to continue the love of performing that I developed at school into my university studies. Nothing makes me happier than being on stage and the School played a great role in fostering this passion. I encourage all students to seize any opportunity they have to perform whether at school or once they get to university – there really is nothing else quite like it. Please come support me in my first law revue! The best seats go fast! Bring all your family and friends”.

When: Friday 26 August 2022 at 7.00 pm and Saturday 27 August 2022 at 7.00 pm
Where: Seymour Centre
Tickets here   

Beau Glass

Advice to senior students from a wise alumna

Lauren Ulmer (Head Madricha, Class of 2010) was one of the presenters at our Careers Space event for Years 11 and 12 students in May this year. This is her recent LinkedIn post.  It is long, but it is very insightful. I encourage you to read it and to pass it on to your High School children:

A few months ago I was invited to my High School – Emanuel School – to chat about my career with Years 11 and 12. The chat included mentioning all the unsexy parts, like the uncertainty of utilising a non-vocational degree and having several career crises along the way.

“Wasting time” is a phrase often used to dismiss things you consider to be enjoyable. Wasting time is considered to have no positive impact on your future. Yet, I made it clear that the hours spent messing around on myspace, playing with cameras, experimenting with short videos on iMovie, creating silly images on MS Paint, watching YouTube, reading, listening to podcasts and browsing blogs and forums was in fact, integral to where I was heading. But that wouldn’t become apparent to me for over 10 years!

The significance of an Arts degree is that your career path is not clearly defined. Being non-vocational tends to discourage young people from pursuing them, which was mentioned by several students. Governments recently disproportionately increased the cost of non-vocational degrees reinforcing the societal belief that they are less valuable than vocational degrees.

However, diminishing the value of creativity means everyone loses. “Welcome to Night Vale” was a podcast I reviewed and critiqued as part of my English Honours thesis. From this podcast’s initial success, it would never have been able to successfully produce global tours, release books and offshoot podcasts if it weren’t for the writers’ backgrounds in improv and community writing. By extension, any and all creative industries would suffer from diminishing the value of creativity. The entertainment industry doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Merging my love of storytelling with the digital world helped me land a role as Social Media and Online Community Manager at the largest Independent Book Publisher in Australia, Allen & Unwin, but it was certainly not smooth sailing to get there. Many unpaid hours in internships, establishing my work ethic, and building my knowledge base was critically important. Having foundational interests in photography, reading and writing, internet culture, and editing software was integral to developing additional skills.

Most people don’t know what they want to do at 17 or 18. And that’s ok.

Several students asked what my career looked like in the future and my answer was that through building skills in copywriting, data analysis, photo, video and sound editing, examining internet trends, content creation and community management the possibilities are endless. The everyday work involved in Social Media roles is wide-ranging, fast-paced and oftentimes requires wearing a few hats at once. 

In retrospect, I am thankful for the skills and knowledge that “wasting time” has given me. It’s also provided choices to change my career should at any time should I wish to do so.

So my final advice to the students? Waste your time on hobbies and interests that seem useless, and explore them with vigour and passion. 

YOM LIMMUD 2022 
Sunday 11 September 2022 – Roundhouse UNSW

Check out some of the many presenters from with our own Emanuel community at this one-day event on Sunday 11 September 2022 for an immersive, in person festival of Jewish ideas and culture. A quote from alumnus, Donny Janks (Class of 2012): Limmud does something no other event does in our community – it brings people together from different religious, political and cultural backgrounds and makes them talk. It’s truly a celebration of everything Jewish. Purchase tickets online.

Yom Limmud 2022 – Steven Durbach

Yom Limmud 2022 – Sam Weiss

Yom Limmud 2022 – Orna Triguboff

Yom Limmud 2022 – Mitch Burnie

Yom Limmud 2022 – Julia Sussman

Yom Limmud 2022 – Estelle Rozinski

Yom Limmud 2022 – David Asher Brook

Yom Limmud 2022 – Ben Adler

Friendship Circle (FC) Walk
Sunday 27 August 2022

The forecast for Sunday is fine and sunny, which is perfect weather for the 2022 FC walk. I know some of our readers are taking part in this event which raises much needed funds so the FC can provide activities and camps for children and young adults with disabilities, whilst at the same time, allowing some of our own children to volunteer for these programs. If you and your children walk on Sunday, we’d love to see photos of you all in your purple t-shirts – please send to Sonia Newell.    

2022 Primary Grandparents Day 
Thursday 16 September 2022

Our Primary students and staff are all getting very excited about this upcoming event, the first one in three years. More than 250 grandparents have already sent their RSVP. If you know of grandparents who are also planning to join us for an amazing morning of fun and activities with our students, your children/grandchildren, please RSVP as soon as possible for seating and catering purposes.

Parents, if your children’s grandparents do not subscribe to Ma Nishma or are not on email, please let them know about this wonderful opportunity to come to School to share precious time with their grandchild(ren) on Friday 16 September 2022. If you have any questions about this event, please get in touch.

Remember September

September is less than a week away. Alumnus Ben Wilheim and many of his peers from the Class of 2008 are participating in this month-long challenge, along with hundreds of other people all around Australia. As a challenge-based fundraising initiative, Remember September aims to educate the public about pancreatic cancer as well as hopefully find a cure. Choose Give It Up and give up a ‘vice’ of your choosing like caffeine, alcohol, sugar or chocolate, or choose Move It and walk 63km over the month of September for the 63 Australians who die from pancreatic cancer every week. You can sign up as an individual or as a team. Entry is free – sign up now.    

Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF)
Returns on Tuesday 25 October 2022

Ella Blumenthal, aged 101 with great grandsons Miles and Jesse Borovik

The full program will be released on 18 September 2022, with screening across nine venues in seven cities around Australia. For the first time, JIFF will screen at the iconic State Cinema in Hobart and the new Dendy Cinema site in Southport (Gold Coast). Most of our readers will see the films at The Randwick Ritz, whilst some might do so at Roseville Cinemas and for grandparents living interstate, you have cinemas in Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth too. Early bird passes are on sale now.

Speaking of JIFF, some of you saw the delightful film I am Here at the film festival earlier this year, featuring Holocaust survivor and Emanuel great grandmother Ella Blumenthal, the then 99 year-old subject of that film. Ella has just celebrated her 101^st birthday – happy birthday Ella! Here is a delightful photo of Ella and two of her eight great grandchildren, Emanuel students Miles Borovik (Year 1) and his brother Jesse (Year K) who travelled with their mum Kim Borovik to South Africa for this special occasion. Kim says: “My grandmother was living on her own in Sea Point until the start of COVID, and then she moved in with my aunt (and will stay there indefinitely). Her mobility has reduced significantly as she had to stay home during lockdown and stopped getting out as much. 

“For her birthday which fell on Shabbat Nachamu (she doesn’t know the exact English date, just that it was on that particular shabbat), all her family gathered to spend Shabbat with her on Friday evening and Saturday. It was quite overwhelming for her. She walks with a walker and someone next to her to assist, so going out for a party wasn’t on the cards! 

“Miles and Jesse are her legacy – something to be celebrated. When we were visiting for her birthday, my grandmother looked at me and said, ‘Ani Po’, ‘I am here’, and I said, ‘Anachnu Po’, ‘We are here’. And I think that says it all”.

Changemaker Awards 2022 
Honouring young people making a difference in our community

A Changemaker is someone who demonstrates commitment and The B’nai B’rith Alfred Dreyfus Anti-Defamation Unit and JNF Australia are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference and, in the process, inspire others to get involved. This year, the Awards program has streamlined the nominating process and there are now only three nomination categories with prize money as shown:

• Youth Volunteers for under 18’s: $1,500
• Young Adult Volunteers 18 to 36 years of age: $3,000
• Joshua Levi Professional Award 18 to 36 years of age: $5,000

Nominations close on 30 September 2022.

You can check out Emanuel student and alumni past winners since 2017 on the same link as for 2022 nominations.

International Dog Day

There is a day for anything and everything. I wonder how many of our readers know that yesterday was National Banana Split Day?

Today is International Dog Day which was established in 2004 to raise awareness about dogs in need of rescue. It is also a day to celebrate just how special dogs are to us and our everyday lives: from family dogs to canines who put their lives on the line as service or protection dogs.

In the last week of winter, I’m sure together with our readers, we are all looking forward to Spring with warmer weather and more sunshine. 

We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos and/or news you would like to share with us, please send to Sonia Newell.    

Shabbat shalom, stay safe, stay warm and have a great weekend.

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

The Year 11 students will sit their end of year exams next week. These exams can have significant importance (if students want them to) for early entry options next year. The increase in these schemes has risen from about 4-5 early offer schemes at institutions 10 years ago, to almost 70 across Australia.

Students can now use their Year 11 grades and/or their ATAR to enter institutions. This takes a lot of pressure off their ATAR, increases  opportunities and allows students to rely on grades when they are in a less-pressurised year of Year 11.

I encourage students to take advantage of this, put your head down, work hard and make the most of it.

For more information: visit UAC and  Art of Smart.

Open Day season 

As I have mentioned in previous articles, Open Day Season is very much here. This weekend we have a variety of institutions opening their doors including University of Sydney, Notre Dame University, University of Technology Sydney, Newcastle University and Charles Sturt University.

Please register for these events at each university’s website and check out their programs including talks, Q&A sessions, tours and more. More information can be found here.

Resources, dates, webinars and more 

August Webinars at Sydney University 

Engineering – Industry Engagement | Wednesday 31 August 2022, 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm
This webinar will introduce you to our award-winning Professional Engagement Program (PEP), embedded within all our professional engineering degrees, and our Engineering Sydney Industry Placement Scholarships (ESIPS), a 24-week hands-on industry placement allowing students to work on a real-world research project.

Life of a Mathematician | Wednesday 31 August 2022, 5.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Have you wondered what a day in the life of a mathematician is like? And what jobs are available in this growing sector? Join award-winning mathematician, Professor Mary Myerscough, to find out what an average day of work might be like in the field of mathematics.

Here are some interesting Study Work Grow articles:

• What are my future options? – Study Work Grow
• Why you need Science – for people who don’t like Science – Study Work Grow
• 4 tips to help get smart about money – Study Work Grow
• Thinking of taking a language in Year 11 and 12? – Study Work Grow
• Applying to University in the US from Australia – Study Work Grow
• Seven jobs where you could use your language skills – Study Work Grow

UAC date reminders

Monday 19 September 2022
Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) applications close.

Friday 30 September 2022
Early bird fee deadline – significant increase to application processing charge after this date from $73 – $200.

Tuesday 22 November 2022 
Educational Access Scheme application and document deadline to have them considered in December Round 2 (Main Round).

Thursday 15 December 2022
NSW ATARs released on the UAC website.

Thursday 22 December 2022
First offers made to Year 12 students based on ATARs. For more information click here.

Have a back-up plan
Pathways to university 

UAC always recommends that, when you choose your course preferences, you include a ‘back-up’ course; that is, a course you are confident you’ll be offered a place in and will be happy to study if you miss out on offers for your higher preferences. For example, you could include a diploma course in a similar area of study as your preferred degree course. You could then use your diploma studies as a stepping-stone to the degree: you may even be able to move straight into second year. More information can be found here.

UAC deferring a university course
What you need to do now that our early offers 

When you receive an offer to enrol in a course, information included with your offer will explain how to apply for deferment. You may have to accept the offer before you can defer.

Most institutions will ask you to provide a statement to explain why you wish to defer and what you’ll be doing during this period. Once your deferment has been granted, you’ll receive written confirmation of your deferment from the institution concerned. This will also give instructions on how to take up your deferred course.

If, at the end of the deferment period, you decide you’d like to be considered for other courses, you can complete a new UAC application and include these course preferences. If you receive an offer to one of the new courses, you can then decide whether to accept the offer or take up your deferred course.

Can my offer lapse? Yes. If you undertake degree studies or certain levels of TAFE study other than NSW HSC courses during your deferment period, your offer at many institutions will lapse. You’ll need to re-apply through UAC and declare all of your studies. Check with each institution for specific policies and more information here.

HSC Drama

Samantha Bauer – Head of Drama

Congratulations Year 12 Drama!

NESA markers arrived on Wednesday to assess the HSC Drama Practical Examination.

A core component of the Drama course is the Group Devised Performance. Drama students are tasked with creating, writing and directing their own scripts/plays which they perform to external Markers as part of the exam. This is followed by the performances of the monologues – based on plays, novels and musicals of their choice.

A HUGE congratulations to all the HSC Drama students on creating extremely provocative, engaging, and highly entertaining works.

I am so proud of the incredible dedication and hard work shown by these wonderful HSC Drama students. The high standards of work and compelling pieces performed is something to be extremely proud of.

Well done (in alphabetical order) to: Lori Allen, Jasmine Barea, Lily Berger, Myles Cohn, Bella Filipczyk and Sasha Goldman.

A special mention of thanks goes to Year 11 students Ruby Miller and Scott Reuveny for their brilliant efforts as stand in performers for two unwell HSC students. Your commitment to learning lines and stepping up to help the HSC class was incredible.

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Fathers Day Fun

Justine Hofman – Head of P&F

P&F Father’s Day fun

What a morning! Over 260+ dads, special friends and students joined us for our first Father’s Day morning on campus in almost three years.

The Lehrer Family Building (MPH) was transformed into an idyllic playground of backyard games and fun. We enjoyed 3-legged races, a mock-campfire set-up with marshmallows and old-school games. The feast of Grandma Moses bagels, pastries, coco-pops and coffee didn’t go down too badly either.

Once parents went home, our Primary students enjoyed selecting gifts at our Father’s Day Stall.

Keep a look out for some very cool gifts in their bags this afternoon and for some photographs in next week’s Ma Nishma!

Charity gift matched dollar-for-dollar

As with Mother’s Day, we included a charity gift option for Years 5 and 6 students. This time it is in support of Top Blokes Foundation who help young men that haven’t had a positive start to build resilience, empathy, and respect for self and others.

We are thrilled to announce that an Emanuel family will kindly match dollar-for-dollar the proceeds of this charity gift. We will have details of the total donation in next week’s Ma Nishma. We thank this family for your heartful gesture!  

Thank you again to our event sponsors and supporters: Biller Property, Mugg Shot Coffee, Grandma Moses, Ofer Levy Photography and 1st Street Financial.

Thank you to our committee and volunteers

It’s a big undertaking to get events like Father’s Day off the ground. I want to thank our Father’s Day Breaky committee heads, Keren Rockman and Sally Greenberg, for pulling off an incredible event. They created something that was a salute to Father’s Day mornings of old but with a new twist that brought everyone together. I know how much careful thought and time you put in and we all appreciate your hard work, creativity and attention to detail.

Keren and Sal were supported by an awesome committee of Tali Fisher, Amy Friedlander, Ben Opit and Lisa Greenberg who also were on deck to ensure this event was a success securing sponsors, developing flyers and everything in between. Well done and biggest thanks to this wonderful team.

Setting up the Father’s Day Camp fire

Also a big thanks to our Father’s Day stall organisers: Lynn Ross and Carli Rothman. You are a dream team and we appreciate your hard work, jokes and positivity. Shout out to Ruby Berkovic and Jen Opit who selected the gifts. I’m sure you’ll agree they nailed it.  

We also want to thank the parent volunteers, High School students and school staff who also helped to make this event a success but showing up early or late and giving us their time.

Thank you to all the parents: Alla Melman, Anita Clark, Zoe Boothman, Naomi Hersh, Nicola Berkovic, Tania Wajsman, Babette Sandler, Karen Martin, Neil Shilbury, Melanie Shilbury Tanya Leibovitch, Mia Kalinko, Tali Weiner, Lisa Pillemer, Yury Glikin, Andrea Aschner, Andy Aronstan, Ilana Wechsler, Kawai Yeung, Ilan Bloom, Ilana Zar Maisel, Zhuliang Long, Cordell Scaife, Shai Simhi, Brett Churnin, Lisa Shalem, Anna Tabachnik, Ash Rockman and Vanessa Churnin, Odin Kay, Michelle Levitt, Kirsty Greenfield, Mel Drinkwater, Sharon Mille and Vanina Vaisman-Levy.

Thank you to the Emanuel school team: Adam Ezikiel, Andrew Delany, Colin Newport, Michelle Favero, Belinda Levin, Security Team and Tany Milner.

Events to diarise

4 November 2022 – 6 November 2022: Emanuel Family Spring Camping

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PSG

PSG training session

On Sunday 22 August 2022 the Emanuel School Security Committee hosted a PSG training session and annual BBQ at Emanuel School. This was the first time in three years that we were able to run a face-to-face session like this for all our PSG volunteers.

The Community Security Group (CSG) ran a fun, engaging and interactive scenario planning session and the Community Health Support (CHS) provided basic first aid training.

Thank you to our volunteers for last week

Peter Goldberg, Josh Nassi, David Nathanson, Craig Forman, Antony Selby, Peter Nothman, Simon Revelman, Steven New, Jacob Kaplan, Avner Silberman, Judi Berman, Alexandra Hillman, Darryl Sacks, Raphael Mueller, Don Robertson, Tom Kertesz, Adam Pozniak, Guy Olian, Darren Isenberg, Melissa Kery, John Salamon, David Marishel, Daniel Novy, Ryan Melman and Deborah Zolot.

For those that would like to join PSG and help to protect our School and community, please send an email. 

Community events