Good Beginnings
At last year’s Back to School Service I spoke to our students about what makes a good beginning. I discussed classic movies, literature and of course took the opportunity to encourage our students and staff to make the most of the start to the new school year.
I am thrilled to report that we have had a wonderful start to 2022 at The King David School. While the first three weeks have presented some pandemic-related challenges with larger than usual absence levels, and some limited postponements and shifts to online events, we have largely managed to launch with positivity, energy and purpose.
We began our year with traditional Boonwurrung smoke ceremonies that reminded our students of the ongoing connection the First Nations custodians have to the land and allowed our students to participate in a meaningful ritual that asked them to move forward with care for the environment and one another.
Our kindergartens have already established great routines and are learning through guided play and fun. Every time I visit, I am overwhelmed by the gentle care of our educators who are so expert at making our students feel valued.
Across the Junior school the year has also begun with a flurry of activity. Whether it is through Jewish Life with the joyous presentation of the Parsha play in tefillah, the early morning swimming groups or the learning rotations in different classes, our students seem to be settled, happy and well supported for their new classes and experiences.
A number of years ago, we recognised that the significant influx of new students across Years 6-8 necessitated a new approach to the initiation of the school year. We established Launch Week with a view that if we prioritised social integration and familiarising our students with a new campus, teachers, facilities, opportunities and expectations, we would best enable them to thrive when their classes begin. The model has been improved each year and this time the feedback from participating students has been wonderful. Through acknowledging that transition can be difficult and taking steps to usher in our students with care and compassion, we set them up for success.
Our school year has already begun with a number of highly successful camps. We had our VCE Physical Education camp that enabled our students to anchor their theoretical learning in practical applications such as surfing and the exploration of diet on energy levels. Our inaugural Shir day camp allowed those involved in our Years 9-12 Musical, Legally Blonde, to fast track their progress and come together as a cast. Our Year 10 Hadracha Shabbaton played an important part in launching our students’ leadership experience and opened their eyes to the many ways that leadership can be manifested both at school and in the community.
The launch of Kinor David – King David’s Harp – our new model for recording and rewarding involvement in co-curricular experiences, passion areas and social justice initiatives, is already working to encourage our students to expand their horizons and make the most of the plentiful opportunities available to them within and outside of the classroom.
The positive momentum that has been generated across our school through our staff’s dedication, creativity and deep understanding of what our students need at this stage has allowed 2022 to begin in the most wonderful manner. While I am sure that the year will continue to throw forward complexities, I am so buoyed and gratified that we have been able to afford our students such a wonderful platform to extend upon this year.
I am thrilled to report that we have had a wonderful start to 2022 at The King David School. While the first three weeks have presented some pandemic-related challenges with larger than usual absence levels, and some limited postponements and shifts to online events, we have largely managed to launch with positivity, energy and purpose.
We began our year with traditional Boonwurrung smoke ceremonies that reminded our students of the ongoing connection the First Nations custodians have to the land and allowed our students to participate in a meaningful ritual that asked them to move forward with care for the environment and one another.
Our kindergartens have already established great routines and are learning through guided play and fun. Every time I visit, I am overwhelmed by the gentle care of our educators who are so expert at making our students feel valued.
Across the Junior school the year has also begun with a flurry of activity. Whether it is through Jewish Life with the joyous presentation of the Parsha play in tefillah, the early morning swimming groups or the learning rotations in different classes, our students seem to be settled, happy and well supported for their new classes and experiences.
A number of years ago, we recognised that the significant influx of new students across Years 6-8 necessitated a new approach to the initiation of the school year. We established Launch Week with a view that if we prioritised social integration and familiarising our students with a new campus, teachers, facilities, opportunities and expectations, we would best enable them to thrive when their classes begin. The model has been improved each year and this time the feedback from participating students has been wonderful. Through acknowledging that transition can be difficult and taking steps to usher in our students with care and compassion, we set them up for success.
Our school year has already begun with a number of highly successful camps. We had our VCE Physical Education camp that enabled our students to anchor their theoretical learning in practical applications such as surfing and the exploration of diet on energy levels. Our inaugural Shir day camp allowed those involved in our Years 9-12 Musical, Legally Blonde, to fast track their progress and come together as a cast. Our Year 10 Hadracha Shabbaton played an important part in launching our students’ leadership experience and opened their eyes to the many ways that leadership can be manifested both at school and in the community.
The launch of Kinor David – King David’s Harp – our new model for recording and rewarding involvement in co-curricular experiences, passion areas and social justice initiatives, is already working to encourage our students to expand their horizons and make the most of the plentiful opportunities available to them within and outside of the classroom.
The positive momentum that has been generated across our school through our staff’s dedication, creativity and deep understanding of what our students need at this stage has allowed 2022 to begin in the most wonderful manner. While I am sure that the year will continue to throw forward complexities, I am so buoyed and gratified that we have been able to afford our students such a wonderful platform to extend upon this year.
Shabbat Shalom,
Marc
Marc