Emanuel School Prospectus 2024

We acknowledge the Gadigal and Bidjigal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of Country and the land on which we learn, play and grow.

We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters. We pay our deep respect to Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all First Nations people.

It is on this land that we become young adults who step out into the world as caring Australian and global citizens. It is on this land that our mind spirit and being combine, looking forward to a time of unity and equality amongst all.

WELCOME!

Welcome to our thriving Emanuel community. You have taken the first important step towards providing your child with the best possible opportunity to learn, grow and flourish.

Many people ask me what sets an Emanuel education apart.

• Is it that we guide your child towards being the best that they can be with a love of life-long learning?

• Is it because we value your child’s individuality and will encourage them to develop their special interests and talents?

• Is it that we are a pluralist school that recognises and values the diversity of Jewish belief, practices and tradition in our ever changing world? That there is no single way of being Jewish and that we will guide your child with a broad and inclusive understanding of Judaism, sharing multiple perspectives and voices?

• Perhaps it’s because we create an environment where all students and their families feel welcomed, valued, and respected, regardless of their individual beliefs and practices?

• And perhaps it could be that we do so within an environment of mutual respect and commitment to Jewish tradition, learning, heritage, ethical living, the Hebrew language and the State of Israel?

I believe that it is all this and more.

I hope that by visiting our School and meeting our staff and students you’ll experience first-hand what it truly means to be an Emanuel student and graduate. You will understand the importance of connectedness and community and know that you have made the right choice in choosing our School, our staff and our teachers to walk hand-in-hand with you, on what is the most important and precious time of your child’s life.

Andrew Watt Principal

WHAT WE VALUE

Choosing the right school and community for your child and family is one of the most important decisions you will make. What we value reflects how we will help your child to develop their own values, how they will see and approach the world and how ultimately their decisions will inform the young adult they will become.

We value respectful relationships

Respect matters.

Your child will be encouraged to value their relationships by including others appropriately. We place a high value on acknowledging the views and needs of others, and acting with empathy and compassion. This includes advocating for and acting with integrity and with consent in relationships.

“The world rests on three principles: on justice, on truth and on peace. And all three are intertwined – when justice is done, truth is served, and peace ensues.”

Teachings of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel: Talmud Yerushalmi Ta’anit 4:2

We value growth

Your child’s learning journey involves intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual growth.

We will encourage them to pursue and create opportunities to grow themselves and others. They will challenge them to explore their abilities and passions and achieve to their potential. We value lifelong learning and a mindset that challenges assumptions and the status quo.

You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your vigour.

Second verse of Shema

We value discernment

Making decisions, weighing up different options and forming a position on various issues are important life skills, requiring keen insight and good judgement. We will encourage your child to listen carefully, to research diligently and to think critically. This forms the basis of making evidence-based, informed, and ethical decisions and provides sensitive and considered feedback.

“You graciously endow mortals with intelligence, teaching humans understanding. Grace us with knowledge, wisdom, and discernment.”

From the Amida, the first petitionary blessing

We value sustainability

Your child will face the challenge of meeting their own needs without compromising the ability of others to meet their own needs in the future. We will encourage them to make decisions to protect our natural resources as well as our social and economic resources. They will also learn that sustainability is also about investing in self-care and reflective practice.

“When the Blessed Holy One created the first human, God took them and led them around all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to them: ‘Look at My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are! And all that I have created, it was for you that I created it. Pay attention that you do not corrupt and destroy My world: if you corrupt it, there is no one to repair it after you’ “.

Midrash (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13)

OUR GRADUATES

You may be asking why you are reading about our graduates when you child hasn’t even started their Emanuel journey.

We initially wanted to tell you about our state-of-the-art facilities; our Gifted and Talented program; the support we provide to all students to help them achieve their potential; our leadership development opportunities for all; the extensive extra-curricular activities they could enjoy and how we deeply value your child’s wellbeing.

We initially wanted to tell you about our deep commitment to Judaism, to Israel and to Tikkun Olam and how our staff not only teach, but are continuous learners. How we will provide the knowledge, skills and opportunity for your child to be the very best version of themselves that they can imagine and dream of.

We felt that most, if not all the schools that you are considering, offer many of these facilities and opportunities.

That’s not the only reason why you are considering Emanuel.

You are considering Emanuel as your child’s school and your family’s community because of the young adult that you dream your child will become. The young adult who steps into the wider world who has experienced, lived and embodies our School’s culture, our School’s values and our School’s commitment to the Jewish and wider communities.

A quarter of our staff are Emanuel alumni. That’s 25% of our staff who have made a concerted decision to return to the School that helped shape them as adults, as educators and as contributing members of our community. They’ve returned to share their passions, hopes and dreams with your child, happy in the knowledge that they are helping to develop and grow the next generation of learners, doers, upstanders, innovators, advocates and deep thinkers.

We thought you’d like to know more…

Emanuel graduates are curious, resilient learners

They embrace each opportunity to dive into their learning – they are deep thinkers, question seekers and problem solvers. They are ready to challenge assumptions and communicate with confidence and authority. Many will pursue academic pathways beyond school and make a valued contribution to their field of expertise.

Our students’ voices

Emanuel graduates are open-minded thinkers

They can clearly communicate their views, yet are considerate of the viewpoints of others, approaching their world with empathy. They are emotionally intelligent and recognise the value of engaging with diverse perspectives and doing so without judgement, gaining wisdom from all. They gain wisdom and values from many schools of thought, and engage with all forms of Judaism to inform and enhance their own Jewish identity. They embrace challenge and are equipped to find solutions that may not be initially obvious

Emanuel graduates are adaptable innovators

They are flexible and creative and recognise that progress is not linear. They possess an entrepreneurial and inquiry mindset and are inspired to question and challenge the world around them. They look for new ways of thinking and doing and possess the skills to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing world.

We’re taking innovation to new heights

Emanuel graduates are tenacious problem solvers

They approach the world with an inquisitive mind and remain steadfast in the face of challenges. They do not give up. They pursue solutions with determination and draw on their ability to think critically and creatively to understand their circumstances.

Emanuel graduates are compassionate advocates

They are active citizens of good character, committed to social justice. They walk their talk, living out the value of Tikkun Olam, driven to improve the world around them. They are guided by their Jewish values and are committed to fostering inclusivity and diversity. They are upstanders and seek to be a voice for those without a voice. They are willing to confront tough issues, even when it might be unpopular to do so.

Emanuel graduates are daring doers

They are optimistic changemakers who have the courage to act. They are collaborators and build community with like-minded people. They face risks with confidence, learn from their experiences, and are prepared to stand firm for their beliefs. Inquisitive and self-assured, they follow their own paths and are not limited by others’ definitions of success. They walk forth with purpose, inspired by the many changemakers before them, including those Jewish trailblazers who lived out their Judaism as a religion of action, enhanced by thought and beliefs.

Our graduates are capable, proactive, responsible and articulate individuals, who move into a rapidly changing world as young adults with energy and enthusiasm and are committed to Tikkun Olam.

We are continually enhancing our learning and recreational facilities, providing students with outstanding opportunities to grow by providing and continuously improving our state-of-the-art facilities.

CONNECTING VALUES

The Emanuel School values have been integral to my educational experience and have significantly shaped my personal growth both as a student and now as a graduate. The School’s commitment to nurturing each student’s uniqueness creates an atmosphere where I have felt supported and encouraged. The countless hours spent in this environment is what makes Emanuel School truly exceptional.

The love for and strength of community is deeply ingrained in the culture of Emanuel School. Be it the roaring energy of Friday morning ruach or the enthusiasm and spirit of House events, the Emanuel community is a special one. This became particularly clear to me when my cohort was given the opportunity to go on the Chavayah program at the end of Year 11, after having missed out due to COVID in Year 10. As we all stood in a circle outside our hotel in Jerusalem, holding hands and singing our favourite Havdallah tunes, I knew that the friendships we had built over our years together was unique.

However, school can also be a challenging experience and having been through a slew of ups and downs throughout my nine years at Emanuel, the enduring support of my teachers and peers, in particular, my Tutor

The HSC presents a challenge that can come as quite a shock to many students, but the warmth and support of everyone at school allowed this difficult year to be a highlight of my school journey. I was constantly reassured that my experience, be it a high-or-lowlight, was OK, and beyond that I was encouraged to embrace and learn from them. It is with this support that I am able to leave school with a deeper appreciation of the perseverance and resilience which is required to succeed in life.

Ultimately, these formative years of my life, which taught me the power of compassion, integrity and community, have allowed me to feel ready to embark on my journey into adulthood. I am truly grateful to have attended a school which genuinely embodies such important values.

By Ashley Goldman, Class of 2023

LET US PRAY, SING AND DANCE LIKE NO ONE’S WATCHING

As a school and community, Emanuel would not be Emanuel without its incredible tefillah experiences which are strengthened through song, dance and ruach (meaning ‘spirit’). The way in which we pray is something that will always remain at the heart of Emanuel.

As an egalitarian, pluralist Jewish school, Emanuel faces a challenge in its practice of Judaism through prayer. How can a school maintain its Jewish identity while fostering growth and individual acceptance? And yet, it is this very struggle that creates such a powerful Jewish education, allowing students to form their very own connection to their expression of Judaism and prayer.

For years, Emanuel leaders have been asking the same question: “Why can’t students bring the same enthusiasm and ruach to Monday tefillah as they do to Shabbat?”. As two passionate musicians, we felt strongly that music was the key to being able to engage students at Monday morning tefillah. So, we took action.

We began by discussing our ideas with the Head of Jewish Life, Morah Adina. Lucky for us, she was all for a musical tefillah service! After brainstorming ideas, we decided to take tunes to modern songs such as Happy by Pharrell Williams, and Wake Me Up by Avicci, and put the words of our usual Monday morning prayers to these tunes. Bringing music to our services also brought familiarity, which led to even greater participation.

There is something about music that brings together groups of people. Whether they know the meaning of the words or not, the communal feeling of singing together in unison (or harmony), with a large group of people, creates an enthusiastic and radiant atmosphere, much like our vision of replicating the vibe of Friday morning Shabbat services.

By Coby New and Adam Rothschild, Class of 2023

My time at Emanuel began in Year 7, which also marked the beginning of my exploration into individual Jewish prayer. My first experience of Emanuel prayer through ruach was Friday morning Kabbalat Shabbat, led by the Year 12s. This opened my eyes and my mind, showing me how I can connect to prayer through collective song and dance. Being able to sing Shabbat songs of love, peace and harmony, such as Hinei Matov, or Olam Chesed Yibaneh, with the whole of High School, created a deep sense of belonging and happiness. This is exactly how I would explain the experience of ruach through prayer: a sense of belonging and happiness being brought into one’s heart. Indeed, Emanuel’s Shabbatot allow students of all backgrounds, genders and ideologies to come together and celebrate our individual and rich Jewish identities.

The new-found enthusiasm in Monday morning prayers, along with the everlasting vibrancy of ruach, helps students explore and discover their connection to Judaism and provides an exciting and inviting start to the day. Without this, Emanuel wouldn’t be the inclusive and positive space it is today.

By Ruby Grynberg, Class of 2023

“WE DON’T OWN PLANET EARTH WE BELONG TO IT...”

As human beings, we rely on our planet for life, for survival. The land and sea provide us with the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the resources we use to build and sustain our societies. The intricate web of ecosystems on land and in the oceans play a fundamental role in supporting life on Earth.

These natural environments provide a multitude of resources that shape our daily lives, fostering environments for human beings to form connections with one another. For this reason, the notion of living sustainably is so important for me, as well as Emanuel as a school and community. As our earth continues to degrade due to the dire effects of human-induced climate change, living sustainably has ultimately become more important than ever.

As I approached the senior years of my time at Emanuel, I had the privilege of being part of the Sustainability Va’ad. I strongly value and connect to the land and sea and was thrilled I was able to create sustainable changes and actions within my School and Community, alongside my Year 12 peers. This opportunity has allowed me to explore and develop my passion for sustainability and particularly climate change by taking action in the school environment.

The Sustainability Va’ad, with help from Ms Starkey, made a substantial impact on sustainability at our School. We introduced Randwick Council’s Food Organics and Garden Organics compost bin, aiming to reduce our waste production, as well as raised awareness of the positive impacts of composting food. Our Va’ad also ran a hugely successful second-hand clothing drive, collecting clothing donations from students, donating excess clothing to various pre-loved clothing stores, and raising awareness of the effects of fast fashion on the earth.

Our School and Community’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in the unwavering support and encouragement provided by our teachers at Emanuel. They consistently nurture and encourage students’ passion for sustainability through innovative educational initiatives and eco-friendly practices.

Throughout my final year at school, being a member of the Sustainability Va’ad has been incredibly rewarding. I am thankful for the chance to nurture my passion and eagerly anticipate witnessing the School’s ongoing positive engagement with climate initiatives. Wishing the next Sustainability Va’ad a future filled with green accomplishments. Just as Steve Irwin once said: “We don’t own the planet Earth; we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife”.

By Ruby Grynberg, Class of 2023

“See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.”

MIDRASH ECCLESIASTES RABBAH (7:13)

The only way to know if Emanuel is right for your child is to visit our School, speak with our teachers, our staff and our students. Meet up with our graduates, follow their careers and their passions –and then consider if you can afford not to apply.

In the following pages we’ve included the thoughts of some of our Year 12 students who graduated last year. We know that you’ll be as impressed (and proud) as we are.

LEADERSHIP IS A JOURNEY

Our leadership journey has been greatly influenced by the student leaders we’ve encountered in our formative years. They’ve been important role models for us, embodying the values and skills required to be effective leaders. We have learned what leadership means now that we have participated in Emanuel’s many programs including Hadracha, Peer Support, the Va’ad system and attending events that facilitate youth-leadership discussions.

We used to always think that school leadership meant creating one big life-changing event, that will affect the entire school, but upon actually being in the position, we’ve found that having small, achievable goals have made more difference than we anticipated. Some of these goals have included building connections between Year levels, encouraging students to use their voices to express their passions, and bringing enthusiasm to events, all working towards the ‘big goal’ of amplifying the school atmosphere to be a positive and inclusive environment for all.

It is one thing to lead up the front, but to us, what is most fulfilling, is leadership from behind and within the scenes – something our School emphasises through its extensive leadership system.

The Emanuel student body has been a clear example of a community coming together to create change as seen through all of the student-driven initiatives – a truly unique and special part of leadership at Emanuel. There have been initiatives that focus on social justice and broadening community awareness such as the Night of Dangerous Discourse, White Ribbon Day, RUOK? Day, SRC fundraisers and action from Community Problem Solving Groups. Along with these have been events planned and run by students with the intent to create an atmosphere of “Emanuel magic” and ruach that everyone knows so well. These include High School Shabbatot, the Cabaret, Inter-House sporting, musical and visual arts competitions and more.

As Head Madrichim, we have learned skills and have had to overcome many obstacles, as leaders often

The culmination of our leadership experience has taught us that whether you have a titled leadership position or not, you should realise that you are a leader to someone else. You could be the person a younger student looks up to because your passions align with theirs (as we did with our leaders) and that is what we believe is the most important form of leadership – knowing that in a way, everyone should focus on leading from within, as a collective and by example.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Starting any major work was extremely daunting. Between the two of us, we were studying and producing Major Works for Visual Arts, English Extension 2, Music and Drama. We had gone from creating works and performances with structured guidelines and rules, to an ‘empty canvas’ with endless possibilities.

The first two terms were filled with experimentation, brainstorms and research, whilst continuously confining our actions in the creative process, to gain the marks we desired. However, this came at an expense. We would limit ourselves, attempting to force the creative process into a linear one. We questioned: “If I sculpted my clay in this shape, would I get more marks? If I sang a classical song, would I be graded higher?”. For a moment, we lost perspective for why we chose these creative subjects in the first place. As the courses grew, our passion for creative thinking and the major works we were creating burgeoned.

Now, what they don’t tell you about any great artwork, piece of literature, or performance, is the gruelling creative process – what really goes on behind the curtains. Beginning our Major Works took a whole other range of skills and creative thinking to grab the ideas from our heads and form them into existence – come up with an art idea, research and write extensively about it in your A3 art diary, realise you cannot properly articulate it, or it’s probably impossible to execute, restart and come up with a new idea… repeat. And it was like this with all our Major Works: tonnes of short story drafts, monologue scripts, song ideas, guitar riffs… as tiresome as this cycle was, and although we may not have viewed it positively at the time, it was absolutely vital that we explored everything we could, to maximise the creative process.

We collectively recognised that the creative process is a cruel, ambitious, beautiful paradox. It is an amalgamation of exploring your fascinations and curiosities, whilst dealing with the burdening pressures you set on your self-conscious teenage self. There were many discussions with teachers, friends and family about the progress of our Works. Discussing changes to make to the original plan was quite difficult to put into practice initially.

The few weeks before all the Major Works were due were extremely draining. We had finished what we thought at the time would be the completed work, but it did not feel finished yet. The guitar had to be slightly tweaked, or the scene where the character shape-shifts didn’t make sense. This resulted in a lack of motivation and energy, and we struggled to keep pushing through and make our Major Works be the best that they could be. However, along with the motivation from our teachers, our innate ambition and passion for creativity pushed us to keep going, and we are genuinely so glad we did. Neither of us will forget the fulfilling feeling when we figured out the final touches to our Works, and it all came together.

We are so incredibly grateful to undertake the creative process, completing our Major Works as part of our HSC. We were able to escape from the overwhelming pressures of exams, to an alternative mode of learning and thinking where we could express our thoughts and our own creativity. Although there were many roadblocks and at times it was difficult to balance everything, our HSC would not have been the same without it.

By Scott Reuveny and Lotus van der Starre, Class of 2023

One panel of a series of five paintings that make up Ella Hart’s HSC Visual Arts Body of Work, Internal Worlds.

SUPPORT FOR SPORT

Sport at Emanuel has been a definite highlight of my High School career. Gala Days included beach touch football, netball, Inter-House lunchtime competitions, bench-ball and dodgeball. It seemed that every week a new email would appear detailing a fun way to get active with friends.

I consider sport to be an outlet to refresh my mind. During my HSC year, morning futsal training or afternoons at the track were fundamental in maintaining a balance. Some of my favourite memories of High School were the Futsal Gala Days where, filled by team spirit, we always seemed to do significantly better than expected. As our coach Aytek Genc would say: “Emanuel always seems to punch above its weight.” I don’t think any of us realised how significant our wins against regional sports schools really were.

As a female athlete, I also believe it is important to note the encouragement of female inclusion in sport. It appeared that no matter the distance, bus driver Bruce would traverse any distance to find a suitable competition for our teams to enter. This attitude towards sport extended to Inter-House competitions where female students of all ages were encouraged to lace up their boots or pick up a bib. I have fond memories of my futsal team training with Emanuel’s male counterparts and maybe even skilling Coby New once or twice.

Throughout Year 12, I was also a member of the Sport Va’ad. The group organised several initiatives including an Inter-House Capture the Flag competition and the Lexi Bader Futsal Cup. The Lexi Bader Futsal Cup was an extremely significant event for our Year group as we were able to celebrate our peer and the sport he loved so dearly. Our aim for the Cup was to ensure longevity of the event so that it can continue in years to come despite new students never having met Lexi personally. We introduced a minute of silence before the event and also spoke about our Year group’s connection to Lexi at assembly. It was incredible to watch every event we organised come to fruition and the willingness of High School students to get involved. Similarly, the Sports department supported all of our endeavours. Leaving Emanuel I am sure that we will miss the structured opportunities that the School offered us and will remain empowered to continue to sign up, put ourselves out there and even try something new.

By Eden Levit

Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school

Our Pre-school provides a supportive and inclusive environment where your child can thrive and develop a love of learning and their Jewish heritage.

Primary School

Our young students continue their journey of discovery in a supportive and nurturing environment that recognises their individual needs and learning styles.

High School

Our senior students are creative and innovative thinkers with a commitment to Tikkun Olam. They are guided by their Jewish values and are strong role models for younger students.

Our HSC results

The Class of 2023’s outstanding academic achievements are underpinned by a strong work ethic, resilience and support of each other.

Jewish Life

As a pluralist school, we recognise and value diversity of Jewish belief, practices and tradition in our ever-changing world.

School Life

Students explore their passions, talents and interests with an extensive program that meets the needs of a diverse community of learners.

Every blade of grass has an angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.”

Talmud