to view our Mid-Year Issue - Masada College

A message from the College President“ With three young childrencurrently in the CollegeI see first-hand the qualityof Jewish life, educationand the happiness on theirfaces when they comehome from school. ”Having spent a short few eventful months in this role, it’s incredible to see howfast the year is passing. Very soon our current group of leaders will be completingtheir school education and embarking on the next phase of their life journey.At the same time we will be welcoming in a new group of young students to thebeginning of their Masada education; a journey rich in Judaism, education and allthe values that will make for the future leaders of our community. It’s always great tosee the increasing number of former Masada students now making the North Shoretheir home and enrolling their children in our Preschool and Kindergarten to give tothem the same experiences that they were able to receive, providing them with solidfoundations for life. This is what makes our community so special and is reflectedin this year’s theme of Unity in CommUnity. The family-like atmosphere wherechildren in all grades mix and greet each other is an enviable aspect of ourday school.Taking on the role as President of the Board of Management is a real privilege.As such I have been asked, “What do I see as my vision for the school?” Theanswer to the question is quite simple. It is to serve our community and continuethe hard work and success of Trevor Lorge and previous Boards of Management.No one can dismiss that there are challenges ahead for the College but I know thatI have the energy, passion and commitment to help drive towards our goals andensure the College continues its reputation for success into the future by providingour students with the best possible educational product and sense of Jewish values.This aim is one that is shared by Mrs Wendy Barel, the College Staff, Board ofManagement and everyone else that’s involved in what is the heart of the NorthShore Jewish Community.With three young children currently in the College I see first-hand the quality ofJewish life, education and the happiness on their faces when they come homefrom school. At the end of the day this is what it is all about; our children and beingable to provide the best for them.The fast approaching month of Elul is the penultimate time before we welcomein a New Year and reflect on the past. It is a time of personal and communalintrospection where one can ask, “Did I give it my best this year? Can I do more formyself, my family and my community? What do I want for next year?” To this end Iwould encourage everyone to become involved in the College and its community asthere are many ways to do so and by all working together we can exceed our goals.There are many wonderful and insightful events on during the year that our studentsand staff create and want to share with you. Whether it be Shabbat Experiences,Science Evenings, Twilight Concerts or practical courses for the parent body, I amsure that there is something for everyone.Remember, YOU are a big part of our creating Unity in our commUnity.David GuthPresident, Masada College Board of Management

Ex-MasadaStudent ScoresTop InternshipThis summer has been a busy onefor Adam Zwi, an ex-Masada student,interning at a major government office, releasingan album and planning his travels for exchange.Adam is one of three interns who have beenworking at the Hong Kong Economic and TradeOffice (HKETO) in Sydney over the past twomonths, assisting with promotional activities.The highly-sought-after internships are open to Australian andNew Zealand university students each year.Adam (pictured middle) is researching and writing briefs forthe office on Australian political issues, which have providedhim a great learning experience about the relations betweenHong Kong and Australia.“The wine trade relationship is really interesting. I onlyrecently learned that Hong Kong has become a major winedistribution centre… From Hong Kong, Australian wine issent all around Asia where experts match them to Asiancuisines,” he said.This year, Adam and two other interns are working on ayouth strategy to encourage more young people to discover,travel, work and study in Hong Kong.“I think young people are aware that Hong Kong has abooming economy and is a great place to work in thefinancial services industry. But it’s also a world leading place toexperience design, architecture, and other creative industries.”While interning, Adam has also spent the summer dragonboat racing and released an EP album this month with hisband Megastick Fanfare of which he is the drummer. Afterthis internship, Adam will travel to Berlin to complete asix-month exchange.About HKETOThe HKETO is the representative office of the Governmentof the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, establishedin 1995 to strengthen economic ties and provide a betterunderstanding between Hong Kong, Australia andNew Zealand.

Alumnus in focus…Gary Perlstein Class of 1987“I started at Masada in 1979 (Year 4) having immigrated toAustralia from Pretoria, South Africa. I graduated from Masadain 1987.After completing my Bachelor of Business degree from UTSin 1990, I spent a few years gaining experience in the ladies’fashion retail industry. In 1993 together with Ian Miller (formerparent of Masada) I started a business in ladies fashion retailingthat today operates five retail brands across Australia and NewZealand.I married a very special person from Melbourne whose maidenname was Rubenstein. We decided we would be ‘Perls’ not‘Rubies’ – it was a flip of the coin. We have been blessed withtwo special boys; Bailey, 8 years old and Toby, 5 years old.Since leaving school I have dedicated my spare time to charity,involving myself with the United Israel Appeal.”CareersExploration DayAt Masada’s Careers Exploration Day students fromYears 10-12 were exposed to over 40 speakersfrom a range of professions. From construction toanimation, students heard about all types of careerpaths. They also had the opportunity to speakwith representatives from UNSW, UTS, MacquarieUniversity and the Hebrew University among otherlearning institutions.Describe your years at Masada...They were exciting and pioneering as I was in the first year to graduatefrom the Senior School. It was like a small family starting life withdreams, aspirations and a whole lot of positive energy.What is your worst and best memory from school?My best memory was going on IST with four other class mates.We had an experience that was life changing and further instilled mylove for Israel and being Jewish. My worst experience was having toendure the many anti-Semitic comments made to me and others as wetravelled on train to and from school.Did the school contribute at all to who you are now?100%. It shaped my love for Judaism. I think particularly because wehad such a small class and we were the first year to graduate we allhad to participate in every aspect of Jewish, secular and sporting life.Essentially we had to make up the numbers for every sporting teamand shul service and participate in every cultural activity.What are you doing when you are not working?Riding bikes with my kids, playing tennis, training for half marathonsand UIA work.Complete this sentence: In ten years time I’ll be…bald but happy!Students gained invaluable access to ask questionsand learnt about how these professionals builttheir career paths. Many of the professionals wereMasada alumni.Pictured (above): Representatives from UNSWexhibited on the day.

Survey responses show Masadacontinues to move forward!Each year we survey Year 6 and Year 12 parentsand students about their Masada Collegeexperience. This is invaluable feedback regardingwhat our community values most about ourCollege and just as importantly, highlights areaswhere we can improve. The feedback thereforecan and does drive changes as we constantlystrive to improve our College.In short, we value this feedback tremendously and takethe results seriously. We also ensure that individual surveyresults are kept strictly confidential.We recently received and collated the results from the2012 surveys. We were pleased to see that the resultsreflected a greater degree of satisfaction than a year ago.This applied both to the Junior School and Senior Schooland, similarly, to parents and students. More areas rated‘Excellent’ while there were fewer ‘Room For Improvement’responses than in 2011. In fact, very few aspects of theCollege were rated ‘Room For Improvement’.So, if our students and parents are telling us they’repleased, what have they highlighted as being areas ofexcellence?• The quality of Masada’s teaching• The extent to which students are encouraged to reachtheir full potential• Care for student welfare• The provision of leadership opportunities“ These aspects are a focus but simultaneouslywe are intent on providing our studentswith solid Jewish foundations. In fact, thisis an area where the survey responses haveshown clear progress over recent years.”Meanwhile, as mentioned above, there were very few areasfor improvement identified. Amongst items raised werethe Junior school playground and the range of sportingopportunities in the Senior school. This area has alreadybeen addressed as we have introduced Zumba, tai kwondo and fitness in addition to expanding teams in our afterschool sports program. As we aim to make the Collegeeven greater, we will do what we can in these areas –while, of course, taking account of budget realities.Finally, we’d like to thank the parents and students forcompleting the surveys. For those who have yet to reachYear 6 or Year 12, we ask that you thoughtfully completethem when the time comes. The feedback is important andhelps to make the school the great place that it is.

“ Through MargaretGutman’s generositythis scholarshiprecognises the needof arts in ourcommunity asvaluable, enrichingand a vital force inthe lives of youth”Daphne Flax,Head of Creative ArtsThe Margaret Gutman Jewish Arts and Culture Council Scholarship was launched toencourage students of Jewish Day schools to pursue a career in the arts. In conjunction withMargaret, Masada College has decided that this year’s recipients would be in the area of Visual Arts.Three selected Visual Arts students will be able to extend their studies through mentorship.The students chosen were Paige Kodesh, Abigail Marcus and Raphael Ben-Menashe.Pictured (L-R): Mrs Wendy Barel (College Principal), Daphne Flax (Head of Creative Arts), AbigailMarcus, Paige Kodesh and Margaret Gutman.Our School Counsellor, Barry Zworestine often finds he has company at lunch time! Here, Year 7students chat and share with him all the while enjoying his massage chairs.IT’S LUNCH O’CLOCK

As a build up to Shavuot, the festival which celebrates the wisdom of Torah, we were joined by approximately70 parents and their Year 7 and 8 children for our Generation Inspired project. Parent and child debated thechallenging and sometimes confronting ideas about honouring our parents. Great ideas were developed andbarriers were broken down. This concept of parent/child learning is a core value in Judaism and we are alreadyplanning a similar event for Year 9 and 10 parents this term.GENERATIONINSPIREDLIVING HISTORIANSMasada College ensures their Year 6 and Year 10 students engage with Holocaust survivors through Living Historiansevery year. Most of our historians have a personal connection to the Year 10 students making the project a ‘family’event. Students have all written letters of gratitude to their historians describing the impact they have had on thestudents’ lives.“This is a vital link in keeping the story of these people and their families alive so that our students will remember theatrocities of the Holocaust when others may forget.” Lisa Cohen, Head of Jewish Life.

PRESCHOOL IS COOL!3 year old classPictured: (Left) Josh Sandler at the Kotel for Yom Yerushalayim.All the children made a wish and placed it on the wall.Above: The three year old Preschoolers joined Senior School studentsat their assembly and sang Shavuot songs4 year old classPictured (Clockwise from above, L-R): Making pyramids as part ofour learning about Pesach – Jessica Shelton, Ben Krebs, Glynnis, JadaWinderbaum, Maya Keinan and Talia Rubin; Happy chappies –Asher Cohen, Archie McBurney, Doron Evian and Amitai Leshem;Group time on the mat; Gross motor play – Jason Berger,Beatrice Cuss, Tara Foster and Owen Hurst; Shabbatwith parents proudly looking on.

01 Sofia Parker (Year 12) was placed runner up in the Young Womenin Public Affairs Zonta competition. Her win was based on herextra-cuirricular activities, community involvement and value toher community in the future.010203040502 Year 8 students helped prepare food at Our Big Kitchen.“Through the act of cooking for the needy, students are broughttogether in a very unique way and have an incredible opportunityto bond with one another and focus on a common goal ofbettering the world around us”, says Rabbi Evan Widmonte,Jewish Life. Pictured(L-R): Talia Ben-Menashe andAlex Oosthuizen.03 Masada Year 12 student Daniel Coppel (back right) was honouredat the Lions Youth of the Year recently. Daniel was selected for hisheavy involvement in the Masada community as well as thewider community. The prefect was interviewed by a panel ofLions Club judges which included general knowledge questions.He was also required to perform two impromptu and oneprepared speech.“The experience was very enriching as I met fellow candidatesand shared experiences and ideas. It inspired me to pursue otheravenues both inside and outside our community,” said Daniel.04 For six years, Masada College has been leading the way ineducation with its innovative approach to teaching and learning,‘A Culture of Thinking’. Based on work at Harvard University, thisapproach to education is designed to help students develop adeeper understanding of content and greater motivation to learn.Mark Church, a member of the Harvard Visible Thinking Teamkept our parents engaged with their child’s learning at a recentevening. He was joined by teachers from across the College whoshared their inspirational research and experiences from theclassroom.05 Year 11 students Joshua Inbari and Michali Aizen donate excessfood items to Oz Harvest for distribution to people in need.The excess food comes from the Masada College FoodTechnology class.06 Four Studies of Religion students from Masada College won theopportunity to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak at theSydney Peace Foundation discussion on Ethics for a Whole Worldat the New South Wales Parliament House on June 18. At theend of his presentation the Dalai Lama saw the boys’ kippot andwalked up to them saying, ‘shalom, shalom’. He embraced themand shook the students’ hands, consenting to a photograph withthe group. The students included Colby Wigoder, Robert Lee,Anthony Joffe and Jade Bresler. Teacher Mr Darren Stein is in thebackground.060707 David Guth was announced President of the Board ofManagement at the AGM in May. Mr Guth replaced Trevor Lorgewho stepped down after three years.“Taking on the role of President I feel is a real privilege to servethe community and continue the hard work of Trevor andprevious Boards of Management. Whilst there are challengesahead I feel that I have energy, passion and commitment to helpdrive towards our goals and ensure the School continues itsmany successes in the future. I am looking forward to workingwith Mrs Wendy Barel, the new Board of Management and allothers involved in what is the heart of the North Shore JewishCommunity. With three young children currently in the schoolI see first-hand the quality of Jewish life, education and thehappiness on their faces when they come home from school.At the end of the day this is what it is all about; our children andbeing able to provide the best for them,” said Mr Guth.