News a time to learn & develop 1732 Opens 2012 celebrates 280 years Volume 3 - Issue 8 Iyar 5772 -April 2012 Yom Ha atzmaut Celebrations at
a time for opportunity 1842 Moses Angel appointed Headteacher Dear parents The start of term has given us the opportunity to commemorate Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut while Yom Yerushalayim will also soon be celebrated. We are grateful to all those who have assisted us in marking these important occasions for Israel and the wider Jewish community. We look forward to many students visiting Israel in the coming months. Over 140 Year 9 students will attend our A Taste of Israel programme, the preparation sessions for which will commence shortly and a large number of Year 11 students are looking forward to visiting Israel as part of a youth movement tour after their GCSE examinations. A number of Year 13 students are also planning for Gap Years in Israel. We are proud as a School that so many of our students will be engaging with Israel in this way. I would like to bring to parents attention the annual Sports Awards Evening that will be held in the School Theatre on Thursday 31 May. The Sports Awards Evening is an opportunity to recognise the outstanding sporting achievements of our students and is always an impressive and highly entertaining event. As we count down to the London Olympics, I hope that many parents, students and staff will take the opportunity to attend and support those nominated for awards. In the coming weeks we will bid farewell to our most senior students as those in Years 11, 12 and 13 commence their study leave. I hope that all students maximise their final weeks of teaching time and achieve to their full potential in the forthcoming exams. Yours sincerely Jonathan Miller Headteacher 2
1870 Relocates to Bell Lane 1893 School roll up to 3500 a time to excel Yom Hashoah event at was proud to host the Chief Rabbi s Central commemoration for Yom Hashaoh. This annual communal event was held to honour and pay tribute to the six million who perished during the Holocaust and was preceded by a special question and answer session with the Chief Rabbi and over a hundred students from a variety of Jewish secondary schools. This was followed by the main event, attended by well over 700 people, in the School s Levy Altbach Hall. Entitled From Grief to Hope: Handing the Memory On it featured an interactive presentation including both music, film and live presentation. As well as addresses by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and the Israeli Ambassador Daniel Taub, there were powerful contributions from Head of Theatre Studies Ms Sloane and Sixth Form students, David Miron and Kayla Cohen. Musical performances included a stirring rendition by students Sasha Sarankin on the Piano and Georgina Smith on the Cello as well as the Shabbaton Choir. Most importantly the event was well attended by survivors who, together with their grandchildren, lit the memorial candles at this most meaningful event. (Photos courtesy of Blake-Ezra Photography) 3
a time for opportunity 1883 extended to become largest school in England Yom Hazikaron In commemoration of Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day), students stood together with Jews across the world in marking the memory of fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror. In a day of reflection, students took the opportunity to contemplate on this sombre day. Each Year Group participated in a ceremony where students explored how the death of Israeli soldiers impacts upon Israeli society. They were each given a photo and brief description of a fallen Israeli soldier to remember and watched a play depicting a grandparent s loss of his soldier grandson today and his reminiscences of his own participation in the battle for the State of Israel in 1948 and contemplation of the many wars and losses since then. The ceremonies proved to be immensely powerful and inspiring. Students left with an appreciation for the work of the Israel Defence Forces and a heightened awareness of the issues facing Israel. In other areas of the School, students saw displays to remember fallen soldiers as well as victims of terror around the world. In one area students added their light to a large flame (see pictures) to symbolise our unity as one people across the world. 4
1939 evacuated from Bell Lane to Ely 1958 relocates to Camden a time to excel Cycling Proficiency Course Year 7 students were offered the opportunity to take part in a cycle proficiency course. The course began at 9:30 am, when we met our instructors. After a short briefing, we then went outside to start warming up. We did a little bit of cycling in the playground so that the instructors could see what level we were at and then, after that, we were allowed out on the road. During our road training, we learned a step by step guide to cycling on a road and what to do if there is a car in the way. For example, we learned that after we have made our signal to turn we should do something called a lifesaver look. It is called this because a lot of the time people just turn without doing a lifesaver look and can therefore get run over by a vehicle. Just before you make a turn you should look back to the direction that you are about to turn into. After this session we returned to school for lunch and did activities the rest of that afternoon. The next day was our testing day. We started the day with lesson 1 at school. After that we got changed and went out to get our bikes. We had a warm up in the playground and then we were off again. For our test we were asked to do certain things individually. One of the things we were asked to do was cycle through minor and major roads and to turn corners one at a time so the instructors could assess us. The test finished at 2:45 pm and we cycled back to school where we were given information about cycling clubs throughout London. We would like to thank Miss Quarrell for organising this fantastic experience. Zac Abrahams 7A2 Asher Renton 7A1 5
a time for opportunity 1961 First Israel Study Tour Yom Ha atzmaut Celebrations Everyone joined in with the spirit to dance, even Headteacher Mr. Miller in his immaculate blue suit. When you wanted to stop, the adrenaline kept you going. When you had finished you were worn out with pride; for you had danced for Israel, the land of the Jews. Yom Ha atzmaut, the day following Yom Ha zikaron, transforms all the negatives into positives and is a time for enjoyment and appreciation for what we have. All communities join in with the spirit, and is no exception. would not let a Jewish festival go by without enjoying it, one of the many reasons why we are proud to be students at the School. The day started with a breakfast in the lunch hall provided by Sixth Form students and JiEP in which students feasted on doughnuts, juice, cereal, chocolate pastries and danced their hearts out to traditional Israeli music. The fun continued at lunch in the Main Hall where students could purchase popcorn or ice lollies and yet again dance to music from an ex- student, Jewish singer, Elie Tamir. Waving Israeli flags and learning Israeli dance moves, students enjoyed a fruitful lunchtime. Overall, celebrated Yom Ha atzmaut in grand style and celebrated Israel s Independence Day. Proud to be at, I, on behalf of the entire student and teacher body, thank all the Sixth Formers and the JiEP Department for putting on such a great day. Yom Ha Atzmaut Sameach. Jordan Freud 9A3 Student Journalist 6
1974 Start of Givat Washington Israel Scheme 2002 relocates to Kenton a time to excel 7
a time for every student 2011 Eleven students accepted to Oxbridge 2012 Celebrates 10 years in Kenton Primary Paralympic Festival Over 100 Year 4 students from Michael Sobell Sinai School, North West London Jewish Day School and Rosh Pinah Primary School attended a Year 12 student led Paralympic Festival at. Students were given the chance to compete in a number of activities, including Goal Ball, Sitting Volleyball and Boccia. They learnt about the Paralympic values and gained an awareness and respect for the sporting abilities relating to precision and skill required by Paralympic athletes. The Sports Leaders received excellent feedback from the primary school staff in the way in which they demonstrated their ability to plan and lead such an event and also in the positive and professional way they presented themselves and ran the events. Above all, the primary school students thoroughly enjoyed the new and exciting activities. Year 13 visit to The Daily Telegraph Year 13 Sociology students had the privilege of spending the day at The Daily Telegraph in Victoria to further our understanding of how abstract sociological concepts are applied in the real world. The trip gave a useful insight into the world of Media. We were first taken up several floors from where we were able to look down over a hub of media activity where hundreds of journalists were busy at work. This involved researching and writing up news stories on a diverse range of topics, editing websites and blogs and even updating apps for ipads and Smartphones. We were lucky enough to speak to a host of important individuals within The Daily Telegraph. Our main guide was ex- student Adam Cannon, Head of the Legal Department, who had to rush off after our visit to the Leveson Inquiry. Other speakers included Holly Watt, a key member of the team who broke the MPs expenses scandal as an undercover journalist. Prior to this, Ian McGregor, the editor of The Sunday Telegraph, discussed his role, routines and decision making processes when deciding what stories to include in the Sunday newspaper. Overall it was a stimulating and engaging experience which we would highly recommend to future Sociology students. Lotte Carlebach 13ZB Joshua Cinna 13ZW School The Mall Kenton Harrow HA3 9TE Telephone: 020 8206 3100 Fax: 020 8206 3101 For the latest news and up to date information, visit our School website (www.jfs.brent.sch uk) www.facebook.com/school @School