From the Principal

Term 3 promises to be another busy and action-packed learning journey. As always, there is much for our students to look forward to.

Some highlights of the term will include a trip to Jilkminggan, Twilight Concerts, Year 10 Machaneh Ayekah Camp, HICES Music Festival, Drama and Visual Arts Showcases, Year 9 Ski Camp and Years 8-10 Machaneh Krembo Hebrew Camp, to name but a few.

We will shortly be selecting and inducting our new Madrichim team and farewelling our current, outstanding student leaders. Towards the end of term, we will farewell our special and genuinely talented Year 12 cohort, who have served us well and have almost reached the end of their journey. 

Principal’s Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Effort

I am very proud of the large numbers of students in each Year Group who received a Principal’s Award. These awards are based on data extracted from the Semester 1 Academic Reports and are intended to recognise and celebrate outstanding individual achievements and effort. Our Academic Reports typically include a mixture of positive feedback and strategies to improve academic performance. The value of the report feedback is not simply to reflect on past achievements, but to also reflect on actions that can be taken in the future. Our students have been encouraged to set goals for Semester 2 and develop the concrete actions that will be required, to meet those goals.

The Principal’s Awards for those students who achieved recognition for both Outstanding Academic Achievement and Effort were presented at our High School Assembly. A very few students were recognised with a Gold Principal’s Award, highlighting a perfect run of both effort and achievement grades, across every subject – an impressive feat! Principal’s Awards for either Outstanding Academic Achievement or Effort will be presented at our House Assemblies.

Parent Speaker Series

Our Parent Speaker Series launches on 2 August 2023 and features a line-up of dynamic experts in their fields. We are particularly pleased to have secured Grace Tame – Australian of the Year, advocate, activist and survivor. Grace is dedicated to eradicating child sexual abuse in Australia, and supporting the survivors of child sexual abuse. We encourage all parents to attend this talk which is on Monday 21 August 2023. For further information on the impressive presenters and to book your place in our Speaker Series, please click here. For more about Grace Tame’s talk and the issue of Consent and Respect, please click here.

Important news from the Parents and Friends Association (P&F)

For many years, our Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee has supported and enhanced the relationship between the School and key stakeholders such as families and the wider school community, for the benefit of the students’ overall development and learning. 

Our P&F have recently conducted an extensive review, involving our Executive and our School Board. As a result of the review findings, the P&F will now operate under the School’s administration. Under this structure, the P&F will be governed by a Charter. It will maintain its purpose to engage, connect and represent the views for parents and carers while also contributing to some fundraising for facilities and other initiatives. The intention is to see the P&F working more cohesively with our administrative team and more closely aligned with our strategic goals. It will also mean that the School will provide support to the P&F in financial management, marketing, and administrative capacities. For more information on the Charter, and for the opportunity to provide feedback, please refer to the Parents and Friends Association article in this edition.

Welcome to our new staff

• Ryan Oakes will cover Ray Francis’ PDHPE lessons across Semester 2. Ryan has a Bachelor of Science (Sport Science) and has taught for many years in the UK. He has spent the past two years as the Head Coach and Education Program Lead for the North Walsham Rugby Club in Norfolk, England.
• Ofira Walker is joining our Hebrew team from Masada College. Ofira is an experienced Hebrew teacher and a qualified Early Childhood teacher. She recently completed a Certificate 4 in Education Support.

We hope that they will both enjoy and contribute to our Emanuel School education experience.

Canteen closed for Tisha B’Av

The canteen will be closed on Thursday 27 July 2023 due to the Fast Day, Tisha B’Av. Please note that students will need to bring in any food they would like for the day.

Mazal tov

• The Emanuel High School Chess A team participated over the holidays in the NSW Under 18 Junior Chess championship. This is a very intense five-day tournament and the boys did spectacularly well – Joshua Barnett came 2nd place, Oscar Salek – 12th and Max Tsipris – 16th.
• I received a heartfelt letter from Giant Steps, thanking Gia Jocum, Year 11, for her ongoing volunteer work with the organisation. During the past school holidays she assisted an artist to create a beautiful mural at the Giant Steps Campus in Gladesville and helped with the Giant Steps volunteers morning tea. I was delighted to read the conclusion of the letter which stated: “it is wonderful to see young people who embrace a culture of giving”. Kol Ha’kavod Gia.

Quote of the week

“Evil thrives in silence.” ~ Grace Tame, The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner

From the Head of Jewish Life

Moshe’s Bat Mitzvah Moment

On my recent trip back to South Africa, I had the good fortune to run a Bat Mitzvah ceremony for a young girl. In the lead-up to the event, she often said to me: “I am so scared to speak in front of everybody”.  While I heard her, I couldn’t save her from her angst; part of her rite of passage required facing that fear. We all have moments of ‘speak fright.’ It might involve speaking in front of a crowd or even saying something courageous to a smaller group of people or even that one vulnerable thing to one person.

This Shabbat, we start to read the fifth book of the Torah. In it, Moshe prepares the Israelites to become a self-sufficient people in the land of Israel after his passing. This final book of the Torah is called Devarim, meaning “words”. Words, articulation and voice are intimately linked to this growing up moment.

The opening lines of the parsha read:  

These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan (Ch. 1, v 1.)

In the book of Exodus when God first asked Moses to lead the Jewish people, Moshe resists saying: “I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue”. Essentially, like my Bat Mitzvah student, Moshe was terrified to speak in front of everyone. The ancient Midrash Tanchuma suggests a powerful shift from the Exodus Moses to Moshe here in Devarim. Citing Isaiah, they say: “Then the disabled shall leap like a hart and the tongue of the mute shall shout for joy” (Chapter 35). Moses, who once feared to speak is now the ‘words man’, taking centre-stage in the fifth book of the Torah.

The question is how did Moshe transform from a resistant leader to  the master of spoken word. One might say that he overcame his fear by simply doing it. This is something I have noticed with nervous B’nei Mitzvah time and again. After months of practise and then weeks of being nervous in the build-up to their ceremony, they find themselves on the podium and they somehow, rise to the occasion. However, beyond ‘just do it’, what is it that somehow ensures their success? An answer is offered by the 19^th Century Hasidic Rebbe known as the Sefat Emet. He says that Moshe was scared to speak because the Israelites were not ready to listen. As they matured, they became better listeners. Their openness to listening in turn allowed Moses to develop the confidence to speak. This makes me reflect that students who perform so well at a B’nai Mitzvah have the advantage of a loving community witnessing them, receiving them, and listening to them. A ready and open audience allows the speaker to better shine!

According to this reading, Moshe’s speech defect might not have been intrinsic. Rather, it was related to the flow of relationship between him and the Israelites. As their relationship grew and strengthened, as trust increased, he could speak and they could hear. Simon and Garfunkel implored a generation “Hear my words that I may teach you/Take my arms that I might reach you”.

Next week, we shall commemorate Tisha B’av, the saddest day in the Jewish year on which we remember the destruction of our first and second Temples and many other atrocities that befell the Jewish people. The Rabbis of our tradition are emphatic that our Temples were destroyed because of baseless hatred, an inability to hear or see the other. With this significant date coming up on the Jewish calendar and the Voice referendum approaching in Australia, this week’s parsha is well-timed, inviting us not just to find the courage to say the things we want to say, but to become better listeners, creating the right atmosphere for people to overcome their silence.  

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

Ma Koreh

On the last day of Term 2, new students in Year 5, Year 4 students and their families gathered to learn, create and celebrate together around the presentation of Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. 

In the lead up to the ceremony, parents and grandparents were busy customising and personalising their child’s Tanakh with special messages, family photos and family stories. Following the formal presentation of the Tanakh and after receiving the Birkat Banim (Blessing of the Children), families sat together to share these beautiful additions.

There was a wonderful atmosphere and buzz as families explored the Tanakh, learnt together and created a cover for the Tanakh.

The ceremony also included songs, prayers and words from Farryl Roth, a new member of the Emanuel School community, who shared family stories from South Africa and reflected on the importance of family, heritage and education. 

Mazal tov, Kol HaKavod and todah rabah to all the students, families and staff involved in creating this special day and for the collaborative creation of the beautiful Tanakhim the children were so proud to receive. 

Primary News

Welcome back to school. I hope you managed to enjoy a lovely break with the children. It has been wonderful to see students back at school and it sounds like the holidays were filled with many exciting and interesting adventures!

I wanted to let you know that I will be on medical leave for most of Week 2 and Week 3 of this term. It is possible that I will need another period of time later in the year. Each time I am on leave, I will appoint one of the Primary School Directors into the Acting Head of Primary position. For this upcoming leave, Katie Brody will be in this role – please feel free to contact her for anything you would usually bring to me.

Outstanding Speaker Series for Parents

It can be so challenging to find good advice about parenting and supporting students as they move through the different stages of development. Sometimes there is just so much information to access that it can be overwhelming and sometimes it can be hard to know what is the most reliable information. In order to support our community, we have developed a package with a selection of outstanding speakers who we believe are well placed to guide us. Each is highly respected in their field and all are engaging presenters. The topics cover everything from online safety through to parenting and, having heard many of these presenters before, I highly recommend that you prioritise attending. These will all take place in the evenings. We have tried to choose different days of the week and different methods of delivery (some on Zoom and some in-person) in order to accommodate as many people as possible.

We are very excited to bring you this opportunity and look forward to hearing your feedback.

I have included links below so you are able to find out more about each presenter and the areas being explored:

Wednesday 2 August 2023: 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm (on Zoom)
Leonie Smith will be presenting online about being ‘Happy and Safe Online’

Monday 21 August 2023: 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Grace Tame will be presenting as a part of an evening about Consent and Respect. Please see the article in this edition for more details.

Tuesday 7 November 2023: 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Judith Locke (author of Bonsai Child) will be presenting on campus about ‘Confident and Capable’. Judith works with families and schools to provide proven solutions to cope with the ups and downs of life.

Thursday 16 November 2023: 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm (On Zoom)
Karen Young will be presenting online about ‘Building Emotional Regulation and Self-Control in Children’. 

I look forward to seeing you at these events! Bookings can be made by clicking here.

Canteen closed for Tisha B’Av

The canteen will be closed on Thursday 27 July 2023 due to the Fast Day, Tisha B’Av. Please note that students will need to bring in any food they would like for the day.

 

From the Deputy Principal

SAVE THE DATE 
Monday 21 August 2023

The adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ carries great weight when we speak about the importance of maintaining consensual and respectful relationships. Across our School community, our children and young people need to feel and to be safe. As parents and teachers, we have a crucial role to play in ensuring the safety of every child.

On Monday 21 August 2023, Emanuel School will host an evening to showcase to parents the programs in place to educate our students about Consent and Respect. We will also be seeking parent feedback as a means of furthering our programs in this area.

Grace Tame will be our keynote speaker for the evening. Please see her biography below.

The focus of the evening is on bringing parents and staff together to build our capacity as a community to ensure all children are safe at all times.

 

 

Grace Tame (exclusively represented by Saxton)

After being groomed and raped by her maths teacher when she was just 15 years old, Grace Tame has turned her traumatic experience into advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse and she has been a leader of positive change for over a decade.

Recognising the injustice of Tasmania’s gag order that prevented survivors from self-identifying publicly, Grace offered her story to the #LetHerSpeak campaign, created by Nina Funnell, along with the stories of 16 other brave survivors. In 2019, she finally won a court order to speak out under her own name, making her the state’s first female child sexual abuse survivor to do so.

Current work: 
Now, 26 and based in Hobart, Grace is dedicated to eradicating child sexual abuse in Australia, and supporting the survivors of child sexual abuse. Her focus is around enabling survivors to tell their stories without shame, educating the public around the process and lasting effects of grooming and working with policy and decision-makers to ensure we have a federal legal system that supports the survivors, not just the perpetrators. She is also a passionate yoga teacher, visual artist, and champion long-distance runner, having won the 2020 Ross Marathon in a female course record time of 2:59:31.

An open book about her experience, but even more passionate about preventing this from happening to other children, Grace speaks from the heart and will have her audience simultaneously inspired and in tears. She is a regular keynote speaker, media guest and advocacy commentator.

Grace is the 2021 Australian of the Year.

Bookings can be made for this event and others in the Speaker Series by clicking here.

 

The Speaker Series

Book Now – 40th anniversary Kabbalat Shabbat and Challah Make

HSC Showcases

How to Reduce your Child’s Meltdowns

Join Us and Play Music

Extra-Curricular Music Ensembles and Choirs – auditions for new members

Join us and play music – we have lots of inclusive ensembles!

• You will find the rehearsal schedule here for all our ensembles and choirs, which we will continue to update as necessary. On the second tab of the spreadsheet, you will find ensemble descriptions and the level expected to join.
• Most ensembles started rehearsing this week.
• If you are already in an ensemble or choir you don’t need to audition again, just turn up. 

 

 

 

 

 

For new members, please read the instructions below and check the table here for how you can join. Be aware that some ensembles require auditions. These auditions are in Week 3 and have already been scheduled.

• Those keen to be new members of core ensembles (those in green on the table) should email Ms Springford or turn up (depending upon the ensemble/choir)
  Applications for new members of core ensembles will be taken in Week 2. Interested High School musicians should write to Ms Springford to express interest in joining a core ensemble. For those who would like to audition for a more senior core ensemble, they too should email Ms Springford to express interest. Parents of interested Primary musicians should email Ms Springford to express their child’s interest in joining a core ensemble or auditioning for a more senior core ensemble.
• Current members of core ensembles who would like to join an extension ensemble/choir or small ensemble should add their name to the sign on sheets on the glass wall of M18.
• Only committed core ensemble/choir members are eligible to audition for small/extension ensembles and choirs.
  • Auditions for new members of the extension and small ensembles will be held in Week 3. Those keen to join should personally sign up on the sheets on the glass wall of M18 by 27 July 2023. Auditions are held at the same time that the ensemble/choir rehearses, with the exception of Rock Band auditions, which will be on Friday at lunch (though their bands don’t rehearse then).
  • There is limited availability in all cases and acceptance into an extension/small ensemble/choir will be based not only on the level of playing/singing shown in the audition but also on the level of commitment shown in the core ensemble/choir, and the required balance of instruments/voices in an ensemble/choir of that genre.

 

 

Night of Song Auditions

Auditions for Night of Song solo vocal items

Night of Song (NOS) will be held on Monday 28 August 2023 at 6.00 pm at Emanuel School in the Lehrer Family Building (MPH). As usual, in addition to our choir performances, there will be a number of solo vocal items from Years K – 6 and High School students.

We will be holding auditions in Week 3. There are a limited number of solo items in the concert so please ensure that your child is very well prepared for the audition and, also, that they properly understand that auditioning does not ensure a solo item in the concert.

Please read the audition criteria and procedures below carefully:

 

 

 

 

Audition criteria

To have the opportunity to audition, students must demonstrate their commitment to singing in at least ONE of the following ways:

• Current membership of an Emanuel School Choir (minimum one term).
• Current private singing lessons for at least one term at Emanuel or with an external singing teacher.
• Song lyrics should be appropriate for a K-12 audience.

 Audition procedures

• Auditions will take place during Week 3 at the following times:
  • Monday 31 July 2023 at lunch.
  • Tuesday 1 August 2023 at lunch and after school.
  • Wednesday 2 August 2023 after school.
• Students must audition with the song they intend to sing in the concert.
• Piano sheet music must be given or emailed as a PDF to Mr Burley before the audition (please write the student’s name on sheet music) or you can email a YouTube link or mp3 file of the backing track to Mr Burley.
• Audition sign-up sheets can be found on the notice board in the Music corridor.
• All students wishing to audition need to put their details in one of the time slots. Any names written outside the slots will be ignored.

Selection criteria include:

• Quality and preparedness of the audition performance.
• Balance of High School and Primary performers.
• Balance of moods in selected performances (happy/sad/upbeat/slower) for a balanced overall concert program.

No negotiation or correspondence will be entered into about the selection of performers. However, if auditionees would like feedback about their audition they should come, in person, to the Music Office and ask for Mr Burley.

Light on the Library

A few announcements from the Senior Library to kick off the term.

Library Space

We have some lovely new beanbags for you to use at recess or lunch. Read a magazine or book, chat with a friend or just relax on them. Be gentle with our new purchases.

Help needed

We are looking for some volunteers to help in the library if you are interested. You can volunteer to:

• Write book reviews that we can post in Ma Nishma in Light on the Library
• Help us to find lost books (there may be rewards!)
• Regularly look after a section in the library to keep the books in order.
• Assist with the games set up and pack down during lunchtimes.

Please email Ms Lee if you would like to put yourself forward or if you have other ideas.

 

Best book you have never heard of

Read Beartown (Senior students)

Author Fredrik Backman investigates the ripple effects of a sexual assault, committed by a star athlete, on a small hockey town in rural Sweden. Primary themes of interest to High School students: justice, trauma, power and conformity.

Word of the fortnight

Try and use this word in your class discussions (or with your parents) over the next two weeks – homily

A homily is a usually short talk on a religious or moral topic. Homily may also refer to an inspirational catchphrase, or to a trite or stale remark. (Merriam-Webster)

Until next time, the Senior Library Team.

 

 

School TV – Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety

Special Report 

The use of mobile phones and technology in schools has been a highly debated topic internationally, including in Australia. Almost all states and territories in Australia have implemented full bans on mobile phones during class, recess, and lunch times, while allowing students to carry their phones during travel to and from school.

Critics argue that there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of such bans, but this is a mischaracterisation. Studies have shown the positive impacts of mobile phone bans in schools. One study conducted in 2016, found that banning mobile phones led to an increase in student performance, with test scores improving by 6.4% of a standard deviation. Similar studies from Spain and Norway also supported these findings.

For parents concerned about mobile phone separation anxiety in their children, it is important to acknowledge it as a real issue and discuss the negative effects of phone addiction, such as sleep problems and mental health issues. Gradually introducing phone-free periods at home, setting clear expectations and boundaries and modelling healthy behaviours can help your child cope. It is also crucial to establish a support network and seek professional help if needed. Implementing mobile phone bans in schools allows for better focus on teaching and learning, minimising distractions and interruptions. 

This Special Report helps address mobile phone separation anxiety and provides guidance on supporting your child’s wellbeing during this transition period. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Click here to read the full report.

By Adam Ezekiel, Director of Students 7-12

Can’t Stay Away from School

We hope you all had a great term break and we welcome everyone back for Term 3 which promises to be a very busy one.

Private Tour to the Art Gallery of NSW 

Our private tour of the 2023 Archibald, Wynne and Suliman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW is less than two weeks away, with almost 40 tickets already sold. Please note bookings close TODAY so if you would also like to join us on 2 August 2023, please book your tickets NOW.  If you have any questions before booking, please email me. 

Can’t stay away from School

Alumna Romy Berson (Class of 2018) returned to School on Tuesday to start her final student practicum for her degree to become a Primary teacher.

She says: “After having spent 13 years at Emanuel School (Years K-12), it is a privilege for me to be back at the School for my final year.  This term, I will be a student Teacher in a Year 1 Class. When I think about my early school life, I think of all my past teachers who instilled in me a love of learning, as well as inspired me to enter this wonderful profession. I have heard people in the broader community using terms such as “community” or “belonging” when describing Emanuel School, and this is something that is truly unique to the School. I think it is a credit to Emanuel that so many ex-students come back to offer their skills in various capacities after they have graduated. I believe that this is a true testament to the ‘community’ feeling that co-exists within the School.

“As I embark on my journey into this amazing profession, I look forward to learning from all the Educators at Emanuel and I thank them for this opportunity and privilege.”

Volunteering opportunities

Our Big Kitchen (OBK)

Parent, Jerry Frenkel, is Director of Engagement and Change at the University of NSW (UNSW) IT Department. She says: “Team building events for many of the UNSW departments are held during the year, with each team deciding what they do – could be bowling, or axe throwing, or Pinot and Picasso painting session etc. For my team, we decided to find an activity that would be great to do as a team that would align to the UNSW ethos of driving social impact. I heard about Our Big Kitchen (OBK) – they now run volunteering programs for corporates. Anyone can book a three hour spot where OBK run a MasterChef-style cooking competition for your team.

“Under supervision from the OBK team, the food that you make gets distributed to a multitude of charities around Sydney – from Salvos soup kitchens, to domestic abuse survivors’ shelters, to Indigenous youth centres. We had our session at OBK recently and it was amazing. We were split into four teams and had a blast cooking and competing with each other. Most importantly, the 100+ meals we cooked and packed were immediately picked up by volunteer drivers and taken to feed people. The stories that we heard and the way the place is run is beyond inspiring, and it’s all been created by Rabbi Doctor Dovid Slavin and his wife Laya Slavin. It’s a wonderful way to connect with your colleagues in a fun environment and make a huge difference to someone’s life at the same time.” 

Friendship Circle (FC)

There are numerous volunteering opportunities with FC for your High School children and older children, as a one-off or on a regular basis including Day Camps, Sunday Circle, Weekend Getaways and Sports Clubs.  They also have a Parent Support Group for parents of children with disabilities. Check it all out here.

Friendship Circle Walk 2023 – save the date
Sunday 27 August 2023

Friendship Circle is very excited to announce this year’s Walk theme: Friendship – represented by its AUSLAN sign. They say: “Friendship is at the root of everything we do, and truly what Friendship Circle is all about. We provide opportunities for friendship and connections among children and young people with and without disabilities. And often, parents become friends too after getting to know each other as they drop off their child at a program or meet up at one of our Parent Nights. Over the years, we have been able to create our own inclusive community where everyone feels welcome.”

Maccabi Life Winter Senior Walkie Talkie event
Tuesday 25 July 2023

For readers aged 60 plus, this event might be of interest to you. Join the group for an informative talk by Katherine Boothby, Physiotherapist at Montefiore Home, Randwick plus a walk and morning tea. Book here.

Sydney Jewish Writers Festival  (SJWF) 2023
23 August 2023 – 27 August 2023

This year’s festival has three streams of exceptional writers, poets, musicians, playwrights, comedians and thinkers who promise to challenge us to explore the theme of identity from every angle. Presenters include members of our Emanuel School community – parent Kerri Sackville, author, columnist and social commentator; parent Lee-Anne Whitten, Senior Educator at Sydney Jewish Museum; Kim Slender, past Emanuel parent and was also our School Counsellor for many years, now Psychology and Education Consultant at The Sydney Jewish Museum and past parent Joanne Fedler, an internationally best-selling author. This event is powered by Shalom. 

Cancer Chicks

Following alumna Rikki Stern (Class of 2016) being diagnosed with and recovering from cancer, she founded and is a Director of this amazing group called “Cancer Chicks” that assists and supports young girls aged 18 to 35, to navigate the world of cancer.

A number of other alum are also involved with this group including Medical Oncologist at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital Dr Michael Krasovitsky (Class of 2005), Aimee Radomsky (Class of 2018) who is their Social Media Content Creator and Chloe Ben Mayor (Class of 2019) who works part-time as Operations Assistant along with past parent, Wendy Jocum, who is a Wellbeing Coach. A message from Rikki: “If you are planning to run or walk this year’s City to Surf and would like to join our Cancer Chicks team or make a donation to help us raise money to launch the Cancer Chicks Navigational Carer Program and Re-Employment Initiative, I would be so grateful. Please click here.”

Primary Grandparents and Friends Day
Friday 8 September 2023

Please make sure grandparents of students in Years K – 6 have this date in their diaries – it is an event not to be missed. Details to follow soon.

Remember September 2023

Founded by alumnus Ben Wilheim (Class of 2008), Remember September is leading the charge to find a cure to pancreatic cancer. Join one of their challenges during the month of September to help raise awareness of this dreaded cancer and funds for research that will hopefully help find a cure.

 

Do you love to sing?

Some of our readers may have signed up for our School Community Pop Up Choir – if you are part of this wonderful initiative, we look forward to hearing you all sing at the Night of Song in August. A new communal choir is being formed through B’nai B’rith with choir master and voice coach Andrea Catzel, whom many of our readers will know is one of our Music Tutors here at School. Check out details on this poster and register your interest here.  

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: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.

Spotlight on… K-2 Athletics Carnival

The K-2 Athletics Carnival at the end of last term was captured in these action photographs by Ofer Levy:

 

Celi Malki Program

Cely Malki After-School Program re-commences
Term 3, Week 2 on Monday 24 July 2023

This successful program is open to any students from Years 5-12 who would like a structured environment in which to receive additional help with their learning and/or to complete homework, projects and Performances of Understanding (PoUs).

Students should bring a book/information to read in case they finish their work early. Students should not attend if they do not have work to do. This is an academic program not a behavioural one; compliance, courtesy and good behaviour are expected. Students register at the beginning and end of each session and detail work being completed/ completed. A biscuit and fruit break is included.

Students in the same grades are encouraged to work together if appropriate. Computer games are not permitted, nor is Minecraft or similar, even if required for an in-school activities in other classes.

 

 

Sessions:                     Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3.40 pm – 5.30 pm 
Who can attend:          Students in Years 5-12 are welcome to attend either or both sessions
Venue:                          i32 and adjacent classrooms, on the top floor of the Innovation Centre
Essential:                     Bring school work to complete, a book to read, a laptop AND a charger. Chargers are NOT supplied.
Suggestion:                 Students should bring food and a drink with them to eat before the session. 

Please note that computer games and phones are not allowed during sessions (the latter only can be viewed during a break).

We look forward to you joining us!

 

 

 

PSG

Thank you to our volunteers for the last week of Term 2 
(Monday 26 June 2023 – Thursday 29 June 2023

Saul Berkowtiz, Eli Wine, Rob Davis, Shirley Goldrei, Tal Harpaz, Yossi Bitton, Naomi Hersh, Doron Kalinko, Karla Orozco Loza, Simon Revelman, Richard Fine, Adam Symonds, Jessica Sikar, Harley McKenzie, Glenn Eisenberg, Candy Mervis and Matti Gild

Help keep our kids and community safe: sign up to PSG here.

P&F

Exciting changes for the Emanuel School P&F!

Since COVID we’ve been rebuilding the Emanuel School P&F with the aim of engaging our parent community more meaningfully with our School. Over the past year-and-a-half, our committee-based structure has enabled parents and carers more opportunities to contribute and connect with other families through fun, community-minded initiatives.

We’ve had many parents and carers let us know where they are interested in getting involved and worked to match volunteers with particular events. It has been great to channel this enthusiasm from our School community! So far this year, over 40 volunteers have joined committees and more than 150 volunteers have contributed to running our events.

There have also been challenges facing the P&F. Getting volunteers to step up to look after the more time-intensive, ongoing demands of the P&F like financial reporting, communication and administrative tasks has not been easy. We are also working with a constitution that needs to be updated to reflect our School’s current and future requirements.

So, together with the School Executive Team and the School Board, the P&F formed a Structural Review Committee to look at ways the School and the P&F could collaborate more efficiently and for ways the School could provide greater support to the P&F. The Committee consisted of some parents within our community who have experience with Parents & Friends Associations, have legal and accounting expertise, or who are active on the School Board.

We consulted with the Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW), Presidents of P&F Associations and Principals at other independent and Jewish schools in Melbourne and Sydney to learn about how their P&F’s were governed and the challenges and opportunities they faced. We learnt that many of our experiences were shared by other P&F Associations and Schools.

Some common themes emerged:

• Parents and Friends Associations are facing a decline in volunteerism, particularly in key executive roles due to time-poor and stretched families where both parents work.
• Many schools are providing administrative support and other resources to scaffold their Parents & Friends Associations by taking care of their administrative and financial functions.
• There is a trend towards bringing Parents & Friends Associations under school structures, partly for better collaboration in terms of utilising school resources and school property to run events, and partly due to governance requirements (particularly in maintaining and auditing financial records and for insurance purposes). This approach is particularly common in circumstances where the Parents & Friends Association does not run the canteen or the Out-Of-School-Care (OOSH) program, does not hire staff and is not required to enter into legal agreements with third parties. This structure is recommended as the most appropriate following a review of best practice governance of Parents and Friends operations with AISNSW.

After bringing these findings together, the Structural Review Committee, alongside our School Board and School Executive, determined the best way forward is for the Emanuel School P&F to come under the School’s administration.

Under this structure, the P&F wIll be governed by a Charter setting out its scope and function. It will maintain its purpose to engage, connect and represent the views for parents and carers of the school while also contributing to some fundraising for facilities and initiatives for the School. The intention is to see the P&F working more cohesively with the schools administrative team and more closely aligned with the School’s strategic goals. It will also mean the School will provide support to the P&F in financial management, marketing and administrative capacities.

We would like to invite the broader School community to consider the proposed P&F Charter P&F Charter and provide any feedback to the P&F Structural Review Committee for consideration. Please email any comments/concerns to pandf@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au by the 11 August 2023.

The P&F would like to notify the community of the following upcoming meetings:

• The P&F Termly meeting to be held on School premises at 7.00 pm on 19 September 2023 (i11 in the Innovation Centre). The P&F intends to present the proposed new structure and Charter as an agenda item at this meeting.
• A P&F Special Resolution Meeting to be held in the same location as the P&F Termly meeting, immediately following the P&F Termly meeting, at 8.00 pm on 19 September 2023. At this meeting the P&F will hold a vote to officially rescind the P&F Constitution, via special resolution.

We look forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming some new faces at the upcoming P&F meetings.

Primary School 40^th Shabbat Celebration 
RSVPs close soon 

Don’t forget to register to join our Primary School 40th Kabbalat Shabbat and Challah Make celebration on Friday 4 August 2023. For planning purposes we need final numbers by next Friday so please RSVP here.

 

Dates for the diary

• Friday 4 August 2023: Primary School 40^th Birthday Celebration (8.15 am – 10.10 am)
• Friday 25 August 2023: Father’s Day morning (7.00 am – 8.20 am)
• Friday 25 August 2023: Father’s Day Gift Stall (children shop during school)
• Tuesday 19 September 2023: P&F Termly Meeting at 7.00 pm 
• Pre-loved Uniform Shuk collection week: 18 September 2023 – 22 September 2023
• Monday 9 October 2023: Pre-loved Uniform Shuk Sale 
• Friday 3 November 2023 – Monday 5 November 2023: Spring Family Camping Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Dates

What’s happening next week 

High School 

Monday 24 July 2023

• Jilkminggan Trip, Northern Territory

Tuesday 25 July 2023

• Year 7-8 da Vinci Decathlon – Knox Grammar 
• Jilkminggan Trip, Northern Territory
• Madrichim Induction Assembly
• Year 11 Jewish Studies Guest Speaker Series

Wednesday 26 July 2023

• Year 9-11 da Vinci Decathlon – Knox Grammar
• Jilkminggan Trip, Northern Territory

Thursday 27 July 2023

• Jilkminggan Trip, Northern Territory
• Tish B’Av Program
• Year 11 History Debating 
• Canteen closed – Tisha B’Av 

Friday 28 July 2023

• Jilkminggan Trip, Northern Territory
• Metropolitan Schools Chess Competition – Quarter Final Round

Primary School 

Monday 24 July 2023

• Year K – 6 Music Viva

Tuesday 25 July 2023

• Camp – Parent Information Session (online)
• Camp – Anxiety talk with Belinda Gold (online)

Wednesday 26 July 2023

• 100 Day of Kindergarten

Thursday 27 July 2023

• Years 5-6 de Vinci Decathlon
• Year 2 Light and Sound Kaleidoscope
• Canteen closed – Tisha B’Av 

Friday 28 July 2023

• Project Heritage Interview #3
• K-2 Assembly
• NSW JCL NSW Chess Competition 

Kornmehl

Monday 24 July 2023

• Playball commences for Dolphins, Seashells and Starfish

Tuesday 25 July 2023

• Starfish to Bush School

Wednesday 26 July 2023

• Seashells to Bush School

Thursday 27 July 2023

• Dolphins to Bush School 

 

 

Community Notices