With a wonderful Jubilee Year behind us now, 2013 marks the beginning of the next step in our exciting Yavneh story.

Transcription

1 24 January Shevat 5773 Dear Secondary Parents and Students, With a wonderful Jubilee Year behind us now, 2013 marks the beginning of the next step in our exciting Yavneh story. We look forward to a busy year with many exciting initiatives, facilities and programs. We also welcome to our College some dynamic, passionate and experienced members of staff who will, I am sure, contribute enormously to the vibrancy and warmth that is Leibler Yavneh College. I know you will join me in making them feel welcome and part of the team : Renee Dabscheck Renee joins us from Yesodei HaTorah, where she was VCE & Curriculum Co-ordinator. At Yavneh, she will take over the portfolio of Deputy Principal Academic Curriculum. Renee has had many years experience teaching and in curriculum administration. She was previously at Bialik College, where she led different faculties and served as VCE Co-ordinator, Careers counsellor, and Head of Chemistry and Academic Curriculum. Elisheva Balkany Sheva Balkany recently relocated to Melbourne from New York. She has a Bachelor of Nutrition and Health from Brooklyn College. She has taught Jewish culture, texts and Hebrew language to Primary students, most recently at the Jewish Centre in Newtown, Pennsylvania. In 2013 will be teaching Food Technology to our Secondary School students. Rabbi Chaim Cowen Rabbi Chaim Cowen, who is currently the part-time Rabbi at Elsternwick Jewish Community will be joining the College in July 2013 on a full-time basis. Rabbi Cowen is no stranger to the classroom, having already taught at Yesodei Hatorah on a part-time basis for the last two years. He is a charismatic, enthusiastic and personable young man with a very big future ahead of him in the area of education

2 Frank Curigliano Frank Curigliano is an experienced VCE Psychology and English teacher and is a VCAA Assessor for Year 12 Psychology. He has taught at Balwyn High School from 2004 until the present, holding positions including Senior School Co-ordinator and Head of English. Frank will join our Secondary School in 2013 as a Psychology teacher. Eytan Epstein Eytan has a Bachelor of Arts degree with specific training in IT. His Diploma of Education has focused on pedagogy and curriculum issues. Eytan is well known as a Barmitzvah teacher and has had many years in Hadracha, teaching Informal Jewish Education. He is a serious Jewish Studies scholar and will no doubt make a significant contribution to formal classroom teaching in the Secondary School, which he will be delivering from the beginning of Carly Jaku Carly has a B.Ed in Special Education and a Masters specialising in Literacy Studies. She joins us from Moriah College in Sydney where she has worked since 2005 with roles as Education Support Teacher and also Acting Co-ordinator of Studies in High School. Carly joins Yavneh in 2013 as a Secondary Special Education Teacher. Charles Ranson Charlie comes to us with broad experience in teaching French and English in France, the UK and New Zealand. His Politics and French degree also gave him the opportunity to run the office of an MP in the House of Commons! In 2013, Charlie will be teaching French in the Secondary School. Yoni Swerdlin Born in Israel but raised in England, Yoni Swerdlin has been teaching Physics and Mathematics at Mt Scopus as part of a dynamic team. He joins the Yavneh Science Department in He is a dynamic, passionate and knowledgeable Physics and Maths teacher and we look forward to his contribution to our Science Team.

3 We also welcome back Shoshi Vorchheimer, who returns to Yavneh from maternity leave in the newly created position of Head of English, Middle Years (Years 6-8). Nami Mehra, our Co-ordinator of Education Support, Secondary School, also returns from maternity leave. We are also completing a number of significant projects which promise to enhance the learning environment for all our students: (a) Our old hall will be renovated with a beautiful, sprung wooden floor; the removal of the iconic metal pole in the centre of the hall; acoustic treatments; sound and lighting renovations. It will become an attractive and professional venue for Drama, Tefillah, Informal activities, Assemblies and special events for both Primary and Secondary Schools. (b) A purpose-designed Informal Jewish Education and Zionist Centre has been created as a result of the Jubilee Sefer Torah fund-raising project. (c) A new Secondary School Education Support Centre has also been constructed to better meet the needs of all students requiring curriculum and learning support. (d) Our Primary School Reception area has also been renovated and is now a smart, professional reception area for students, staff and parents. (e) We have commenced the installation of Wifi in the College. (f) We have continued to install Smartboards throughout the College. Most of our classrooms are now fully equipped with Smartboards and Data Projectors. In addition to these exciting physical innovations, 2013 will see the expansion of our Interschools Sporting Competition; expanded Debating Program, Musical Performance Program and our new Primary School Jewish Studies Curriculum, as well as the further expansion of our Secondary School Jewish Studies Formal and Informal Programs. We also look forward to the introduction of the new National Curriculum which commences in 2013 in English, Maths, History and Science. Dates to remember Please see the attached list of Forthcoming dates for events scheduled during Term 1. I do, however, draw your attention specifically to a number of important events that take place early in Term 1 and deserve special focus: New Parent Evening All parents who are new to the Yavneh Family are invited to a Special Introduction and Welcome to the College on 4 February at 7:30pm in the Foyer of the College Hall. Light refreshments will be served. We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to senior staff and members of our Executive, Council and Yavneh Parents Organisation. Purim Under the auspices of our YPO, we are hosting a special Purim Morning on Sunday 24 February. The morning s activities, to which the entire community is invited, will feature Megillah readings; food stalls; rides and special games. The campus will be transformed into a magical carnival fun for the entire family. Shacharit: 9:00am; 9:30am: special interactive children s Megillah reading; 10:00am: activities begin; 10:30am: Express Megillah reading. We will also have our traditional Taste of Purim day on Friday 22 February when we will welcome our Year 12 Purim Pageant on campus and everyone will dress up in Purim costumes.

4 Year 7/8 Camp Information Evening (optional) On Tuesday 5 February we will be holding an optional evening which will provide students and parents with information about the Year 7/8 outdoor camp which takes place from 26 February to 1 March. John Lindros, the CEO of Auscamp, our service providers, will be there to answer questions and provide an outline of the camp. Whilst the camp is a combined Year 7 and 8 camp, students and parents should note that activities take place in discrete year levels and areas. Please note the following times: 6:30pm: optional briefing for Year 8 parents and students (MPR) 7:30pm: optional briefing for Year 7 parents and students (MPR) We will also introduce our new Deputy Principal Curriculum, Renee Dabscheck, who will share a few thoughts on curriculum matters. Year 11/12 VCE Information Evening On 11 February we will be holding a special Information Evening (students and parents) which will focus on the VCE system, some of the changes that will affect our students and some important school-based procedures which will impact on our students journey through the VCE. Please join us at 7.30pm in the MPR. Please diarise: Slezak Scholarships (Sunday 17 March, 8.20am) Examinations will take place for students entering Years 6, 8 and 10 in Parents will need to register their children on line for the examinations. More detailed information will be sent out closer to the time. First day back for students (31 January) 7:30am: 8:15am: 8:30am: Early Minyan open to all students from Years 7-12 (Shule) Brief Welcome Assembly for all Secondary students (College Hall) Late Minyan/breakfast for Early Minyan attendees Please note davening details: Year 7 boys: Late Minyan in Shule Year 7 girls: separate Tefillah Group Room 14 (regular attendees from other year groups may join the Tefillah Group) Year 8-12 boys & girls: either Late Minyan in Shule or Rabbi Sendor s Meditation Group in Drama Room 9:15am: Full Assembly for all students and staff in College Hall 9:45am: Year 7 students go to the MPR Year 8-12 students go to their Home Rooms to receive timetables and other information 10:10am: Period 2 Note: Secondary School students are invited to bring their books to school on Wednesday 30 January when their lockers will have been allocated. Who to see for what: please see flow chart attached to the covering entitled Who To See For What: Parents and Students. Parking and traffic We remind parents and students of the need to adhere to the parking and traffic requirements in dropping off and picking up students from school each day:

5 (i) Vehicle parking For vehicle parking external to the College grounds, please note that parking restrictions exist in the immediate vicinity of the College. Fines may be incurred if parking restriction signage is not observed. Nagle Avenue southern (residential) side No standing am & pm Mondays-Thursdays Permit Zone 6.00pm-Midnight Nagle Avenue northern (College side) 2 spots only outside staff car park - ¼ hour parking am & pm Mondays-Thursdays Remainder of Nagle Avenue No parking am & pm Mondays-Thursdays (ii) Traffic flow Nagle Avenue Please note that Nagle Avenue is designated one way by law from west to east between the following hours: am & pm Mondays - Thursdays am & pm Fridays ie only enter Nagle Avenue from St James Parade, not Gough Street during these times. Brentani Avenue Although not designated a one-way street by law, parents are requested to consider it as one way from east to west, entering from the Clarence Street end, during the same hours as Nagle Avenue above. (iii) Consideration of neighbours Parents are urged to be considerate of neighbours, in particular by not parking in front of driveways, as well as observing all parking sign requirements, as detailed above. (iv) Early Learning Centre For those attending The Abeles Liberman Early Learning Centre at the Balaclava Road Campus, parking parking is available in adjacent side streets. Fines may be incurred if No Standing signage is not observed. Once again, I welcome you all back and look forward to a productive, innovative and successful year. B virkat shalom, Roy Steinman College Principal