I hope this latest newsletter finds you and your family well and safe. 2021 has certainly been a year of doing things differently and week by week, sometimes even day by day, we had to make further changes as we were guided by NSW Health regulations. COVID-19 has impacted everyone no matter where in the world we live. We hope you enjoy reading about our wonderful School and some of the events we organised during the year, albeit most of them online.
We look forward to the day when you can return to our beautiful campus and share in face-to-face activities with your grandchildren.
For the second year in a row, we were not been able to hold our annual Primary Grandparents and Friends Day but we are hopeful that 2022 will see this and the many other wonderful School events take place again. So, whilst onsite events have not been possible during the months of lockdown and the rest of the year, we have been quite innovative to ensure the whole Emanuel Community could stay connected. Thank goodness for technology like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp and the other digital communications, which have allowed us to stay connected to loved ones who do not live with us, as well as others in our extended community. Our regular Friday afternoon online Kabbalat Shabbat allowed grandparents and others in our community to share in this very special weekly event, led by alumni along with our students. Our weekly publication, Ma Nishma, remains one of the best ways to stay connected with our School and our community no matter where in the world you live. It should arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings. Living interstate and/or overseas, means some grandparents don’t have an opportunity to come to school, so connecting electronically can be really meaningful and a great way to see what their grandchildren are doing in spite of the distance apart. For now, Ma Nishma and our Community Facebook (FB) page are the best ways to stay connected with us. If not already a member of our FB page, join here. You can also see past issues of this newsletter online here.
Tevet 5782
S.H. Ervin Gallery Tour
S.H. Ervin Gallery Tour Pickle making with Adamama
From the Development Office (continued)
Toda Raba – thank you to our 2021 Gesher Committee
Gesher is the Hebrew word for “bridge” and some years ago, it was chosen as the name for the committee that brings the whole School community together in a friend-building capacity. The committee members represent the many parts of our extended community and although this year was spent mostly in lockdown, we were still able to find ways to stay connected. Our private art gallery tour was the only “real-life” event we managed to squeeze in between lockdown periods. This year’s committee comprised parent Daniela Freed, chairperson (and Board member) with members Andrew Watt, School Principal; Bettina Muscnik, past parent; grandparents Kathy Passman and Tammy Keller; current parents Carli Rothman and Samantha Butt (also an alumna) plus alumni Joshua Moses and Asha Friedman; Michelle Favero, our Marketing and Communications Manager, and me. All our meetings this year were held on Zoom so we eagerly look forward to meeting again in person and organising some exciting events for 2022, so watch this space!
The alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize selection – Salon des Refusés
Whether you call it good luck or good fortune is not important, but at the end of May, we were fortunate to be able to hold an in-person event. The excitement was palpable as 32 members of our School community attended the first face-to-face Gesher event in more than 18 months. A huge thank you to grandparent and Gesher committee member Kathy Passman for organising this event. Parents, grandparents and friends joined our private tour to the S.H. Ervin Gallery at The Rocks, where our very knowledgeable tour-guide Angela Alcock, herself a passionate artist, shared numerous interesting facts about the paintings on display. The Salon des Refusés was initiated by the Gallery in 1992 in response to the large number of works entered into the Archibald Prize which were not selected for display in the official exhibition. The S.H. Ervin Gallery’s ‘alternative’ selection has become a much-anticipated feature of the Sydney art scene.
Each year their panel is invited to go behind the scenes of the judging process for the annual Archibald Prize for Portraiture, and Wynne Prize for Landscape Painting and Figure Sculpture at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. There they select an exhibition from the many hundreds of works entered but not chosen for the official award exhibition. The Salon des Refusés exhibition has established an excellent reputation that rivals the selections in the ‘official’ exhibition, with works selected for quality, diversity, humour and experimentation, and which examine contemporary art practices, different approaches to portraiture and responses to the landscape.
Gotta love a pickle or two
Seventy-six families from across our School community – parents, grandparents, alumni and staff – joined us for our online Gesher pickling/preserving workshop with Mitch Burnie, Manager of Adamama Urban Farm. Mitch, who is an alumnus of the School, taught us the secrets about pickling and preserving. We were inundated with photos from our workshop participants’ creations, plus lots of really positive feedback about how much everyone enjoyed themselves. Mitch said: “I’m always happy to work with the community and teach about fermentation. It’s so easy and can really connect us to the past and traditions. It was wonderful to see so many members of my old school online for this session and I hope you are all eager to continue the pickling and preserving skills I taught you. Now that lockdown is over, I’d love you to come visit us at the farm”
Daniela Freed, parent, Board member and Gesher Committee Chair: “Having never been a pickling household before there was much excitement and curiosity about the workshop. My eldest daughter and I had so much fun learning something new and creative in the kitchen. It was so wonderful that we were able to bring so many people together from our Emanuel family, participating and enjoying themselves. It certainly was a welcome activity during lockdown. A huge thank you to Mitch Burnie from Adamama for running the workshop and we can’t wait to try our pickled vegetables.”
Ann Newman, grandparent: “It is so special to be part of the amazing Emanuel community. Thank you Emanuel and Mitch from Adamama for providing this session. Who would have thought we’d be learning how to pickle and preserve online during lockdown, but we are so grateful for this opportunity.”
Alan Crown, grandparent: “It was lots of fun, very informative and so easy. Now all I need is to find more glass jars so I can continue with these newly acquired skills.”
S.H. Ervin Gallery Tour
Kornmehl Pre-school children enjoying a day of exploration at Adamama
Pickle making with Adamama
S.H. Ervin Gallery Tour
S.H. Ervin Gallery Tour
From the Development Office (continued)
Zachor
As 2021 comes to a close, we remember loved ones in our Emanuel community we have lost during the year – we wish their families “Long Life” and may their memory be for a blessing. One person we all fondly remember is Eddie Jaku OAM, The Happiest Man on Earth. There have been many moving tributes to this great man, a Holocaust survivor and crusader, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who embodied goodness, kindness and humility. Our students had the privilege to interview Eddie for Project Heritage in 2016. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. We are all about connecting our wonderful Emanuel Community, so please be in touch if you have news and photos to share by emailing me at snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au. Don’t forget to keep us updated if you have moved and/or changed your email. We know there are many of our grandparents for whom we do not have any contact details at all, so if they are friends of yours, please ask them to get in touch too, as I’m sure they would also like to know about what is happening at their grandchildren’s school, whether they live locally, interstate or overseas.
Until we can meet up with you all again here at school, please stay safe and enjoy time with your loved ones be that in person or via digital technology, and we hope you have a relaxing summer break.
Sonia Newell, Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
From the Principal’s Desk
What a year it has been! Despite the challenges of switching between oncampus learning and remote learning, there is still much about the year that we can celebrate. Operating successfully under the shadow of COVID restrictions has required patience, innovation, flexibility and resilience. We have learned much about ourselves and about each other. Our use of technology in our teaching and learning has expanded and improved, and our wellbeing programs have adapted to embrace the online world in addition to our inschool programs and activities.
Our focus on project-based learning (PBL) emerged in Term 4, with the launch of a Year 7 to 10 program, culminating in an exhibition of projects. Thoughout our 2021 educational journey, we did not lose sight of what is important to us and we forged ahead to deliver an engaging academic program and to support the wellbeing of every student.
In addition to operating under COVID restrictions, several major initiatives have converged over the past 12 months:
1. We designed a capacious, light-filled, state-of-the-art, threestory building, with large collaborative break-out spaces and featuring an Imaginarium, or Maker Space. Construction is due to commence this month.
2. Due to the generosity of our community, our Capital Appeal has been exceptionally successful, reaching our target of $10 million on the very last day of the school year! Whilst we were constrained by NSW Health restrictions, our sole online fundraising event, Emanuel B’Yahchad, was a special event that brought our community together, to celebrate all that is exceptional about Emanuel.
3. Our Strategic Plan for 2022-2024 is nearing completion, with key commitments including:
a. Future focused thinking
b. Inspired Jewish Learning and Living
c. Sustainable Practices
d. Wellbeing Culture
e. Learning Beyond the Curriculum
We are currently working collaboratively with our staff teams, to develop action plans under each of these commitments. Exciting times ahead!
The emergence of project-based learning
We are committed to future-focused learning at Emanuel, which prepares our students with the skills they will need as they proceed through their schooling and on into their professional futures. The skills of collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem solving and communication are key attributes that are increasingly highlighted as essential for school graduates. We are seeing such competencies as a key factor in our students accessing tertiary study, surpassing the ATAR as the single access point to university. Project-based learning is a recent innovation for Emanuel students. In Term 4 this year, our Years 7 to 10 students worked, with teacher guidance, on a range of projects based on areas of deep, personal interest, working over four full days to find solutions to issues that matter. Project-based learning is different from simply doing a project. In PBL, our students are learning as they participate; they are taking ownership of the process of what and how they learn, and the ways in which they show that learning. This level of ownership means that students take their learning to a deeper level. It requires greater levels of responsibility as a learner.
Emanuel’s PBL initiative has been entirely teacher-driven, with
Eddie Jaku OAM at Project Heritage in 2016
Emanuel B’yachad – Emanuel Together
From the Principal’s Desk (continued)
eight bespoke projects developed by our High School teachers, designed with our students in mind.
We’ve been thrilled with the engagement and enthusiasm of staff and students alike, as our students embarked on learning that helps them show empathy; manage their time, adapt to change, work through different iterations of their ideas; create something from scratch; ask deep questions, and to persevere when the going gets tough. Project-based learning is deep and authentic learning in action, with our students get involved in learning that means something significant to them.
Emanuel champions on their way to the US.
Emanuel School students, Ruby Brody and Eden Levit (Year 10), were awarded first place in the National Finals of the Future Problem Solving (FPS) Program’s Community Problem Solving Competition (Senior Division). FPS is an interdisciplinary program that encourages young adults to develop problem solving strategies through collaboration, and critical and creative thinking. As a result of their win, they have been invited to attend the prestigious 2022 FPS Program International Conference in America.
The FPS’s Community Problem Solving Program sees students identify and develop a workable solution to a contemporary issue. Ruby and Eden, who had been developing their project since May, teamed up to select a real-world problem, identify a solution, and then actively implement an action plan to address the matter. Their subject of interest saw them critically evaluate the normalisation of sexual assault, posing the question: “How might we change the culture of peer-on-peer sexual assault in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs, so that teenagers not only recognise the dangers of ‘rape culture,’ but lead the conversation about sexual assault and consent, so that the mentality towards sexual activity changes and enthusiastic consent is made the priority…”.
In response to the identified problem, Ruby and Eden developed a social media plan targeting Sydney’s eastern suburbs adolescents, “with the intent to rewrite the culture of peer-on-peer sexual assault so that the mentality towards sexual activity changes to become respectful of another’s body, and where consent is always asked”. The Instagram account that the students developed showed immediate results and traction beyond their initial expectations.
Social Media @ Emanuel
Join our Principal’s Instagram page –watt.s_up_at_emanuel, where the latest news around our campus is shared. Principal Watt is constantly on the lookout for breaking news, interesting activities, personal interest stories and special moments, across our Kornmehl Pre-school, Primary School and High School. Please join the page for access to regular highlights of life at Emanuel School. We request that for safety reasons, please ensure that your Instagram page is ‘private’.
Ruby reported: “I really enjoyed how we were able to have input from other teenagers and seeing their interactions with the account... the issue that Eden and I were addressing resonated with so many teenagers, so much so that people contacted us, offering any support with the account and reposted our content to their own accounts to spread the word.”
Whilst their win has tangible benefits for both students, it was the results of their actions that were particularly impactful, with Eden commenting that being able to empower others and receive positive feedback was extremely rewarding.
Engaging our Gifted and Talented students beyond the curriculum
Whilst the problem solving and critical and creative thinking aspects of the FPS competitions engage, challenge and extend our high potential and gifted students, our extension and enrichment programs go far beyond this single event. The opportunities within our K-12 Gifted and Talented program are many and varied, ranging from highly visible externally delivered programs to the more subtly embedded, classroom practice of our teachers. High quality differentiated teaching practice delivered by each of our teachers that is the most important for student learning yet is likely the least visible beyond the classroom. We will soon be in the enviable position of being a school at which every single teacher has undertaken formal certification in gifted education, through UNSW’s Mini-COGE (Certificate of Gifted Education) program. This is a unique step for a school, and a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that our students are the recipients of learning programs that specifically cater for gifted learners, delivered by expert teachers.
The most visible, and perhaps the most memorable, aspect of our gifted programs are the out of class opportunities and extracurricular programs we offer. These competitions, clubs, and opportunities to work with like-minded students, both at Emanuel and from other schools, are an outstanding adjunct to the quality teaching programs delivered by our teachers. Beyond the FPS, Emanuel students can engage with an extensive suite of similar programs which build our gifted students’ capacity to apply their unique interests, skills, and subject-specific content knowledge to new and challenging contexts, including, but not limited to, the da Vinci Decathlon, United Nations’ Youth competitions and National Challenges in History, Geography, Science and Philosophy. These are exciting learning opportunities for our students, but they also have relevance and resonance in regular classroom learning and make a considerable contribution to students’ overall academic achievement, right through to Year 12.
Andrew Watt, Principal
Community page Join our Facebook Community Page for regular updates on what’s happening around the School. Photos, ancedotes and quirky news can be found here.
Emanuel Shuk This is the place to swap, sell, buy and advertise pre-loved and new items, holiday homes and cars…in fact anything that is of value (actual or perceived) can be advertised here. If you have a business, you are welcome to tell us what you do, but please make it interesting and a special offer for the Emanuel community is always a bonus! There are rules to posting – please check out the pinned post for these. Here is the link to join.
Emanuel School students online at the FPS Finals
Creating our Bright Future
Emanuel School’s future has never been brighter – the increased demand for pluralist education, combined with an impressive track record has led to enrolments peaking at an all-time high. With all 920 students on one campus, space is at a premium. Cleverly repurposing existing structures, Emanuel School will soon begin the redevelopment of an existing building to deliver an additional centre for educational excellence and innovation.
Emanuel School launched its Capital Appeal in October with a substantial target of $10 million.
At High School Speech Day on 9 December 2021, David New, Board President, announced the Capital Appeal’s resounding success, confirming that the $10 million target had been reached and vindicating the community’s deep commitment to and support of the School and its future.
Our main community event, Emanuel B’yachad – Emanuel Together – was attended by over 1000 people – families spanning multiple generations, alumni, staff and members of the wider Jewish community tuned in for an evening that celebrated all that is so special about the ‘School on the Hill’.
Skillfully hosted by the School’s four Head Madrichim, the evening was a resounding success. A 3D tour of the planned new building took the audience on a journey into the three-story learning centre, featuring capacious classrooms, a substantial Imaginarium, a Kindergarten library, smaller breakout rooms, larger collaboration spaces and impressive outdoor play spaces.
David New, President of the School Board shared an important message with the community: “This Capital Appeal campaign is an opportunity for all of us to leave a legacy for our children and our children’s children – to further build their connection to Israel, their Jewish heritage and identity. Emanuel has emerged after almost 40 years to become an indispensable asset in the NSW Jewish education landscape. The continuity of our community is now in our hands.”
School Principal, Andrew Watt, paid tribute to the School’s many graduates who have benefitted from previous Capital Appeals and gone on to give back to the community: “Our graduates are the best advert for our School. They step out into the world as contributing, thoughtful and expressive young adults, many of whom have made a significant impact on communities, both locally and abroad.”
Myles Cohn, High School Head Madrich, complemented Mr Watt’s words with his own experience: “I know that when I leave Emanuel School I will be equipped with the tools and skills needed to be an engaged citizen who will be able to contribute in a meaningful way to society.”
On 20 December we will start the building process. This is a very exciting time in the School’s history and we thank all those families and grandparents who have helped to create our bright future.
Michelle Favero, Co-Director Capital Appeal and Manager, Marketing and Communications
Artist’s impression of the redeveloped building
Kindy Library
From the Jewish Studies Department
In the lead-up to Rosh Hashanah this year, Primary School classes explored themes, names, rituals and customs associated with the Jewish New Year. In learning about the shofar the students explored the connection between רפוש and the word רפשל – which means ‘to improve’. Making this connection, they reflected on how the shofar serves as a call for us to improve ourselves, our relationships and our world. They also learnt the word הנש has connections to the words הנשמ – meaning ‘repeat’ and יוניש – meaning ‘change’. Reflecting on these meanings we discussed how this time of year is one that promotes positive change and growth in our lives. With the traditional greeting of הקותמו
– they learnt we are not
Project Heritage
Year 6 launched the Project Heritage website as a culmination and celebration of their journey learning about the lives of nine special living Historians.
only wishing that person a good and sweet year ahead, but also wishing them changes that will bring goodness and sweetness in their lives and our world.
As we all know, Rosh Hashanah 2021/5782 in lockdown was like no other. We were separated from family who did not live with us, and from friends, unlike previous years when we could all celebrate together. In many instances, grandparents were home alone for Yom Tov but through Zoom, they were able to connect with their children and grandchildren – they may have been alone in the physical sense but they were together in spirit and on-screen.
This year our Historians were: Robert Magid OAM, Emanuel grandparent Miriam Sonnenshein and Year 6 grandparents Michael Besser OAM, Vera Faludi, Naomi Goldrei, Ron Hirsch, Kari Schaefer, Anne Slade and Susan Sweller.
During Term 3 lockdown, students conducted three interviews via Zoom to learn about the lives, history, heritage and values of their Historian. With information from the interviews and photographs and artefacts provided by the Historian, students began to create various pieces of work inspired by their Historian including a biography, poem, creative writing and art work. These works were collated onto a website and shared with the Historians and Year 6 families.
A huge mazal tov, kol hakavod and toda raba to our very special Historians, the Year 6 students and all the teachers involved in Project Heritage this year.
The following words were shared by our students during our presentation launch:
Jordan Arnott: “Each of our Historians has lived a full and interesting life. Through the challenging times and happy times, they shared with us the importance of family, friendship, values and persistence in life.”
Noa Grojnowski: “It’s not every day that children and adults have the opportunity to learn about history and heritage through the personal lives and experiences of a different generation.”
Aviv Farhy: Thank you so much to all our amazing Historians… to Michael, Vera, Naomi, Ron, Robert, Kari, Anne, Miriam and Susan. You each gave so generously of your time to share your heritage, history, life and family with us. Your special qualities, values and outlook on life have been inspirational for us all.”
Adam Carpenter, Head of Primary Jewish Life
Mordechai Joseph, AKA Popsie, sharing his life story with Year 6 via video recording from England
From the Jewish Studies Department (continued)
From the Jewish Studies Department (continued)
Parents & Friends Association
Hello Everyone,
Who knew that when we wrote our last article for you last December about how crazy 2020 was, that it would be followed by the mayhem that is 2021?
It has been challenging at times, but once again we were reminded that we are part of the strong, supportive, and loving Emanuel Community.
Like last year, this was a restrictive one in terms of our activities. We were able to go ahead with a few events such as the March Camping Trip (and we had record numbers) and our Staff Welcome Lunch at the beginning of the year. Our Mother’s Day Stalls –accompanied by a Meditation Session for Mums, rather than the standard breakfast, was led by Emanuel parent Jodie Gien. Jodie also led a free online weekly Mindfulness Course in Term 3 that we sponsored, which had an incredible subscription rate. Community togetherness was the key, and we created a Teacher Appreciation Video in Term 3 with the Primary Students displaying homemade signs of gratitude to let the staff know how grateful we all are for their outstanding efforts. We also created an interactive Father’s Day event online since we could not be together in person.
This year, we also introduced a Sukkot initiative, managed by a wonderful Emanuel parent, Justine Hofman, where people dropped off pantry items at one of three locations and added to a paper chain. The food was donated to AddiRoad Food Pantry and the three paper chains were connected and hung at the School as a representation of how we can all be together even while apart.
For the first time, we held an Emanuel Scavenger Hunt where the map and clues were accessed on each team’s mobile phones. There were tasks to complete and quizzes to answer. It was a huge success and lots of fun.
We were also heavily involved in the Capital Appeal and found that the Emanuel Community is as strong and connected as ever.
It has not been smooth sailing, and we want to acknowledge the amazing core members of our P&F committee, involved parents and grandparents and Emanuel School staff members.
The way the School has handled the lockdown has been phenomenal and we are so proud to be a part of this wonderful community. We look forward to 2022 and hope for a better year for us all.
Jen Opit and Ruby Berkovic Co-Presidents of the P&F
Parent
A huge “thank you” to the grandparents who are already members of our vital PSG. We encourage more of our able-bodied grandparents and friends to join up too. Please contact esadmin@sydpsg.com for more information on what is involved and how to be part of this very important team which helps to keep our campus and students safe.
Paper Chain
Emanuel Scavenger Hunt
Mums Meditation
March Camping Trip
Emanuel Scavenger Hunt
March Camping Trip
Message from Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school
Sadly, this year has been very tricky in terms of our usual close interactions with Kornmehl Grandparents. We always value the opportunity to invite grandparents into the Pre-school classrooms and to be a part of our program. Research has shown that the presence of grandparents in young children’s lives has mutual benefits for both parties and is integral to the wellbeing of both children and grandparents.
Grandparents play a vital role in many families, being an important source of support to parents and enriching children’s lives through a wider family network. This has been highlighted in research on grandparenting and intergenerational relationships for families in Australia.*
We are hopeful that 2022 will be a better year, where we can invite grandparents back into our spaces in the Pre-school. We look forward to the day we can get back to “normal” and to have the daily interactions that we miss so much.
We wish all the Kornmehl grandparents a lovely end to the year and hope you can all spend quality time with your families over the summer holidays and that we can see you back in the Pre-school in 2022.
Terry Aizen, Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school Director
Stay in touch with the Emanuel School Grandparents & Friends Club
Do you want to add or update your details on our Grandparents and Friends mailing list?
Please send an email to Sonia Newell at snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
We thank our Grandparents and Friends for their time and support in helping make Emanuel School such a special place and we look forward to your continuing assistance. Thank you to our staff and other members of our Emanuel School community for your invaluable contributions to this newsletter. We believe the information included is correct at the time of printing. Any errors are regretted.
