Grade 8 Information Booklet 2023

KING DAVID HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 8 INFORMATION BOOKLET 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER As the Head of King David High School, Victory Park, it is both an honour and privilege to welcome all of our new students and their parents to the School. I believe that the five-year journey of High School represents the most exciting and significant phase of development of young people during their school careers.

King David aims to deliver an excellent general education together with the study of Hebrew and Jewish Studies and to produce graduates who are menschen, confident and equipped to pursue any opportunity they wish to, who are proud of their Jewish heritage and its traditions, who have a love for learning, and a determination to contribute to their society.

The holistic educational offering that is available on our Campus translates into a vast array of openings that present themselves to our students. I encourage every child to make full use of these opportunities during their five-year journey with us. Being a relatively small school, we are able to rediscover and nurture the strengths and talents of each one of our students.

At the same time we are large enough to offer our students the advantages of an all-encompassing education that provides them with a wide subject choice, as well as a diverse range of sporting and cultural opportunities.

In short, the School provides an environment in which the students can truly embrace their Jewish identity within an environment that offers a progressive educational process which is broad and innovative, making it possible for our students to deal with rapidly changing circumstances intellectually, spiritually, morally and emotionally. Our dedicated members of staff represent our human intellectual capital and ensure the success and wellbeing of each individual student.

Andrew Baker HEADMASTER

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MESSAGE FROM THE CAMPUS RABBI

I would like to welcome you to King David High School Victory Park. I hope that the years you spend at our school are happy and that you grow in your appreciation and understanding of our Jewish heritage.

As Campus Rabbi, I will work closely with Mr Baker and Mr Botes, the Grade 8 Supervisor in all areas to ensure that your first year in high school will truly be a memorable one.

A core value of our school is our commitment to teaching Judaism and Zionism in a stimulating and enjoyable manner. It is important that the boys remember to bring Siddurim and Kippot to school every day. Girls are expected to have Siddurim every day.

Everyday, time is set aside for Davening. Depending on DIJE (Division of Informal Jewish Education) availability, on some days students will have the option of attending a traditional Schacharit Service, or a Learning Minyan. At the Learning Minyan, students have a shortened service combined with a shiur.

Those attending the traditional service are required to bring Teffilin to school.

I look forward to a long and happy association with you and your child.

Rabbi M Rabinowitz CAMPUS RABBI

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MESSAGE FROM THE GRADE 8 HEAD I would like to wish a warm welcome to all grade 8 students coming to King David High School Victory Park. I will be your grade head next year. I will endeavour to bridge the gap from primary school to high school. My hope is that this transition will be as easy and as smooth as possible. I understand that at first you may find high school confusing and overwhelming with the new timetable, the strange buildings and the crazy teachers but in no time at all I am sure that you will settle down into a comfortable routine and you will embrace your new surroundings.

TIPS for surviving high school: 1. Make sure that you have the correct equipment for the school day: Siddur, kippah and tefillin for shul The correct equipment and uniform for the sports field The correct books and stationery, according to your timetable, for the academic day.

2. Try to complete your home work as you get it. If you put it off, it will pile up and you won’t manage to complete your work in time for the deadline.

3. Remember that your attitude determines your altitude.

4. Make an effort to become involved in school activities and participate whenever you are able to.

5. Make sure your uniform is correct.

6. Ensure that you are respectful to everyone at all times: students and staff.

At King David High School Victory Park our aim is to provide a holistic education for our students. We aim to nurture our students so that their growth occurs in an academic, emotional, social and extra-curricular way. To extend our students we co-ordinate outings and visits to enrich and enhance the classroom studies.

Should you experience any problems or if you just need to talk to someone, I am here for you.

Don’t wait too long or think that your problem is too small to approach me.

Your parents should feel free to contact me should the need arise.

I look forward to our year together and I wish you and your parents a happy and successful relationship with me and with King David High School Victory Park.

Mr D. Botes GRADE 8 HEAD

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MESSAGE FROM THE COUNSELLING & EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENT

Our passion is to empower the students with knowledge about their social, emotional and academic world. We aim to build their self-confidence through support and resources.

Our department provides support to the Grade 8s on two levels. Firstly, on a social and emotional level. Life is suddenly filled with choices and responsibilities as the children move towards greater independence. Making and keeping friends; resolving conflict; dealing with bullying, social media and body image; learning about substances and their effects; handling loss and trauma.

Secondly, and in addition to all that, we understand that the workload can take some getting used to. We offer support to students who struggle with learning, or who find it difficult to organise and plan their work effectively. Students are assisted with practical skills and breaking complicated tasks down into bite-sized chunks. The focus is on task completion.

We meet with teachers from the primary schools in advance so we have an in-depth understanding of each child before they enter our school. Children with learning barriers are noted and teachers are given strategies for assisting each child depending on their learning profile. Support is there to assist students with study skills and exam preparation. Accommodations can be applied for if a student has a specific barrier to learning, and we support those students qualifying for scribes, readers, extra time and separate venues.

King David Victory Park is a small, nurturing school which provides the ideal environment for a soft landing perfect for all students entering high school.

MRS Gita Lipschitz School Counsellor

Gita Lipschitz School Counsellor

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Jolene MacIntosh Educational Psychologist

Elise Levin Speech and Language Therapist

Carla MacDonald Occupational Therapist

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF HEBREW SHALOM GRADE 8’s OF 2021 Hebrew is taught at our school at different levels. After your level of Hebrew has been assessed you will be placed in a group that is suitable for your level of Hebrew and your progress will be monitored continuously. We have excellent and experienced Hebrew teachers who make the subject exciting with both formal and informal activities. We use the new version of ‘Bishvil Haivrit’ programme which is the latest method of learning Hebrew. Our main aim is to keep our Hebrew language alive by encouraging our students how to learn to communicate in Hebrew. It is the language of our Forefathers which binds us together as a nation. It opens the window to a rich and full experience of the Land of Israel. During Hebrew lessons Israel is brought ‘close to the heart’ and current affairs are discussed on a regular basis.

We celebrate Chagim such as TuBi’Shvat, Purim, Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim and we commemorate memorial days such as Yom Ha’Shoa and Yom Ha’Zikaron. We encourage students to participate and contribute to these ceremonies and presentations.

We participate in the Israel Quiz with great success and we are extremely proud of our achievements. We have won the Quiz over 10 years which includes having the highest number of participants and finalists out of all the schools.

We organize different activities such as Oneg Shabbat which includes singing Shabbat songs on Fridays during break. The purpose being to strengthen the Zionism and the Judaic life at the school. We also participate in acts of Chesed such as visiting Our Parents Home and collecting Matzah and wine for Chevrah Kadisha to distribute on Pesach. The school also engages with the organisation “Stand With Us” to promote advocacy for Israel.

On Friday assemblies, we have a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony and the school enjoys eating the Challah. We have a weekly report on Israel current affairs, as well as an explanation of the weekly Parashah.

During your five years at the school you will be introduced to different programmes and tours, such as Shabbatonim (Grade8-10), Encounter and Diller Teen Fellow Program in Grade 11 and the tours to Israel organised by Bnei Akiva (Hadracha)and Habonim (Shorashim) for our Grade 10 students.

You will also be informed about various gap year programmes in Israel, in which you may want to partake. We look forward to seeing you next year. Le'hitraot

MRS HANNA BEN MOSHE Head of Hebrew Department

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ORGANOGRAM

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GRADE 8 CURRICULUM AND SUBJECT CHOICE Last year, we launched our reimagined and revised new curriculum offering for our Grade 8 & 9 students.

For further information on our Seven Core Subjects, our Six Semesterised courses, our Arts & Culture Major and Minor Electives and our Subject Focus Days (ProjectBased Learning) click on the following link: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ancop/kztk/ You must please complete the Microsoft Form using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/LJYtUpspNh/ Deadline to submit the form: FRIDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2022 BY 12NOON Each Grade 8 student is required to choose One Major Elective for the year and Two Minor Electives (one per semester) Arts & Culture:

MAJOR elective

Select ONE CHOICE from the list of: Dramatic Arts Visual Arts Beginner French Music Note that Dance Studies is by private arrangement and additional payment to our Dance teacher. It is taught outside the timetable two afternoons per week at school.

You will write formal assessments in your Major elective (tests and examinations) and the course will have both a theory and practical component.

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GRADE 8 CURRICULUM AND SUBJECT CHOICE

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SPORTS PROGRAMME King David High School Victory Park has a proud sporting tradition where we focus on providing a variety of sports that appeal and cater for all of our students. We believe that sport plays an integral part of school life and promotes communication, enhances self–confidence and most of all, it teaches us how to face the ups and downs of life.

We place great emphasis on each individual student getting involved in one or more sporting activity per term. We also place much attention on overall competitiveness, professional image, a high standard of discipline and guarantee that the correct platforms will be set out to ensure our teams have the best coaches and infrastructure to achieve individual and team objectives.

Victory Park is a school that takes great pride in the way in which we present ourselves, from the way we dress, to our manners, both on and off the sports field/courts/pool. These are just as important as our overall results.

It is important to note that once a student commits to a particular sport they are committed for the full duration of that sport through the term. They are not permitted to drop out in the middle of the season.

Pre-season training is a vital component of all sport throughout the year.

Students will be advised timeously as to when and where pre-season training will start.

We welcome and encourage all of our students to get involved in the KDVP Sports Programme. Come on and join in the fun!

Mr Thulani Ndlovu Head of Sport

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SPORT

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SPORTS COMPULSORY ELECTIVE CHOICE

Please note: All students have to attend at least 80%ofpractices/matches to ensure that the Life Orientation requirement is met.

If a student is unable to participate in a sport as a result of chronic ill-health or injury, a report from a medical practitioner is required as proof. You will be required to participate in chess, scoring, first aid or to manage a sporting team. Grade 10 and 11 students may participate in our Outreach Programme.

It is recommended and encouraged that you participate in at least one sport per term.

Your Primary Elective Sport takes precedence over all other activitiesincluding your secondary choice. Once your Primary Sport has been chosen, you are expected to attend all practices.

You are also expected to attend all pre-season training and practices.

It is expected that you wear the correct clothes and use the correct equipment.

Participating in more than 1 sport will make you eligible for Service to Sport Awards in Grade 11 and Grade 12..

If you are unable to attend a practice, a doctor’s letter explaining the reason why, must be presented to the Head of Sport, on return to practice.

**We encourage all of our students to participate in at least one activity per term

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UNIFORM POLICY The school uniform is important in conveying the image of the school. When worn correctly the King David uniform is extremely smart and demonstrates the pride we should all have in our school. We know you as parents share this pride and we therefore expect your full cooperation in ensuring that your children arrive at school correctly dressed.

Please take note of the following: In the hot summer months, the blazer need not be worn, except for formal occasions and assemblies.

Boys have to wear black leather lace-up school shoes, and girls have a choice of black leather lace-up school shoes or school shoes with a bar. No other shoes are acceptable. Boys must wear grey socks, and girls white socks or black tights. Students with severe orthopaedic problems who cannot wear traditional school shoes must at all times carry a letter to this effect from a medical practitioner. The shoes or trainers worn in these special cases must be plain black.

Hairstyles must be neat and appropriate. For boys, neither long or spiky hair nor shaven heads are acceptable. Girls with long hair must tie their hair back neatly.s must be clean shaven.

Make-up and nail polish aree not allowed. No rings may be worn. Jewellery is limited to one sleeper or plains tud in the lobe of each ear for girls. Boys may not wear earrings. No rings or studs in eyebrows, noses, tongues etc. are permitted. Students may wear one small chai or magen david inside their shirts. No bracelets, other than medic-alert bracelets may be worn. An exception will be made for specific charity bracelets on occasion.

Shirts must be tucked in for formal occasions and assemblies. Boys must wear black belts.

Only plain white T-shirts may be worn under the shirt, and girls are not permitted to wear black or coloured underwear which is visible through the school shirt. Long sleeved T-shirts may not be worn under short sleeved shirts.

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LOCKERS Lockers are available for use for the entire year and are subject to the following The cost will be R200 for a medium size locker.

The rental amount of a locker is non-refundable Padlocks must be supplied by the students The assigned locker is not transferable KDHSVP is not responsible for any loss or theft of property Payment maybe made via EFT to: King David High School. ABSA Cresta branch 632005, Account number 9084307710.

Please can proof of payment be emailed to our financial administrator, Mrs Jean Burkimsher on burkimsherj@sabje.co.za by Friday 11th November 2022

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MEDICAL FORM Please print, complete and return to kattana@sabje.co.za by 11 November 2022.

Name of Student: ____________________________

I parent/guardian give consent to the school to administer basic First Aid to my child if /when required.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER: _________________________ DATE: _______________________________________ SIGNATURE: _________________________________

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STAFF INFORMATION

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