Term 2 is a significant time for remembrance here at Masada College. Throughout these weeks, we come together as a school community to honour those who have fallen and celebrate moments of hope and resilience.

Our term began with the commemoration of ANZAC Day. This national day of remembrance honours the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought for our freedom during World War I. We held a special assembly where students learned about the sacrifices made by soldiers on the beaches of Gallipoli and beyond. Mrs Seftel’s personal slide show of photos from Gallipoli made the experience more personal, deeper and more powerful.

This week, we observed Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. This somber occasion honours the memory of the six million Jews systematically murdered by the Nazi regime during World War II. Our school ceremony paid particular tribute to the 80th anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust of 1944, a period of immense suffering for the Jewish community in Hungary. Through readings, prayers and silence, we reflected on the horrors of the Holocaust and focused on remembering to always fight against all forms of hatred and intolerance.

Next week, our focus shifts to Israel. We will commemorate the fallen Israeli soldiers on Yom HaZikaron, a day of national mourning. This will be followed by the joyous celebrations of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. By acknowledging both the sacrifices and the triumphs, we gain a deeper understanding of Israeli history and culture.

Later in the term, we will celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, which marks the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. This day holds significant meaning for Jews around the world, symbolizing the historical and spiritual importance of Jerusalem.

As Elie Weisel stated, “I marvel at the resilience of the Jewish people. Their best characteristic is their desire to remember. No other people has such an obsession with memory.” Here at Masada College, we embrace this concept. By remembering the past, we honour those who came before us, learn from their experiences, and strive for a better future. Through these commemorations, we cultivate empathy, understanding, and a commitment to building a world free from hatred and prejudice.

On another note, congratulations to Gaby Gerson on receipt of the prestigious Bernard and Radia Ferster Prize at the University of Sydney for Academic Merit in Advanced Modern Hebrew. Mazal tov! We are so proud of you!

Mrs Raquel Charet
College Principal

A balanced approach to education is one that not only focuses on academic success but also on nurturing well-rounded individuals capable of navigating life's complexities. Our Junior School teachers understand the importance of resilience, emotional regulation, and perspective when fostering social, academic, and physical wellbeing in our children.

We are proud of the Grow Your Mind program introduced to the Junior School this year. By using animal metaphors representing different brain functions, such as the Guard Dog for the amygdala and the Wise Owl for the prefrontal cortex, we aim to make social and emotional learning engaging and accessible for our students.

From Kindergarten to Year 6, our students begin their day with activities aimed at nurturing their mental wellbeing. They learn to manage their emotions, enhance their cognitive skills, and practice mindfulness. These activities are tailored to meet the needs of our students and are designed to promote positive mental health and facilitate healthy relationships.

In line with our commitment to fostering a collaborative partnership between school and home, we would like to actively involve parents in our wellbeing initiative. As such, we have organised a workshop to familiarise parents with the Grow Your Mind program. This workshop provides parents with practical strategies and resources to integrate positive mental health into daily routines, ensuring continuity between school and home. Please diarise the evening of Tuesday 18th June. We encourage as many parents as possible to attend the parent workshop which will be held on-site. I will share specific details closer to the date.

Mrs Des Maltz
Head of Academic Care YK-6

The children in the ELC have enjoyed the past few weeks preparing for Pesach. We started by creating a personalised Haggadah for each child. They cut, pasted and painted different scenes on each page, to depict the story. They added photographs of themselves to ensure that each child's Haggadah was special and unique.

During Hebrew, they have been learning the story of Pesach and during music they have learnt all the traditional songs. To create a backdrop for our Seder, the children collaged a 3 dimensional backdrop, showcasing the scene of Baby Moses in the River Nile.

All our families were invited to the special Seder where they got to enjoy hearing the Passover story, accompanied by their singing of the children. To conclude all these wonderful events, the children participated in the Matza bake incursion.Together they made a huge bowl of dough and then each child rolled out their piece of matza. They got dressed up in baker's hats and aprons and enthusiastically made their very own piece of matza. The joy on their faces as they took the first bite out of their crunchy matza was boundless.

We were so excited to have the Matza Factory visit on Wednesday, 10th of April. This was an immersive incursion that gave students an opportunity to explore through the five senses, the story of Pesach and the making of their own Matza.

Congratulations to the exceptional individuals who have been recognised as recipients of the Term 1 Week 10 Merit Awards!

The Masada Music Department kicked off the year with a bang and hosted the first Junior Twilight Concert of 2024 on Thursday, April 4th. The evening was filled with incredible talent and students were proud to display their skills and share their musical journey with parents and staff.

The concert featured a diverse range of abilities and instruments. From classical violin to rock guitar, there was a fantastic variety of music on display. Adding to the excitement, the Masada College Community Choir made their debut performance.

The Music Department is tremendously proud of the musical achievements of our students and eagerly looked forward to future performances.

In the final week of Term 1, we increased our focus on nurturing the holistic wellbeing of our students and staff. Throughout Wellbeing Week, our school community engaged in a variety of activities and initiatives designed to promote mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. From mindfulness craft, dance and music, to comfy clothing days and college-wide events like the Masada Puppy Park and the petting zoo, each activity was carefully crafted to foster a sense of connection, belonging, and positivity.

Wellbeing Week also served as a platform to celebrate the achievements and efforts of our students and staff. It's a time to acknowledge and appreciate the collective commitment to fostering a culture of positivity, resilience, and compassion within our school. As we came together to celebrate Wellbeing Week, we reaffirmed our dedication to prioritising wellbeing as a pillar of academic success and overall flourishing.

This year our Pesach experience took on a new way and highlighting the theme of - לדור ודור from generation to generation. Immersing students and parents in a learning session where parents experienced and were welcomed into their children’s learning space. There was a strong feel for community, curiosity and strong ties to our Jewish culture and history. Giving to those in need and playing a role in charity within the community saw Masada families actively give to organisations giving to those who need during an important time in the Jewish calendar.

Congratulations to the following years 3-6 students who received a Swimming Medal for their participation in numerous events at the School Swimming Carnival during Term 1.

Gold Medal Recipients: Iosif Korchemnyi, Rebecca Jaches, Mo Zeng, Maya Gazi, Ives Xue, Ilana Kaufman-Rollett, Felix Wang, Candy Lu

Silver Medal Recipients: Aiden Lee, Alexandra Barbanel, Kaleb Cohen, Ella Schneider, Moshe Goldenthal, Karah Bernstein-Beck, Kian Sood, Yiyi Wang

Congratulations to the students who went on to compete at the ASSISA Swimming Carnival on the 11th of March.

Well done to the following students who received a PSSA certificate for their sportsmanship and participation during Term 1 Sport:

• Ethan Bao

• Mikayla Cohen

• Max Lin

• Jason Ren

• Ben Tang

• Jesse Wienburg

This year's annual wellbeing week was a great way to conclude Term 1. 2024 saw the College's 3rd annual wellbeing week. Over the week, students were engaged in activities, workshops and sessions aligned with different aspects of their wellbeing. Across the college, students had the opportunity to connect with each other, try something new, participate in activities that promote wellness and mindfulness and just switch off. Highlights of the week included the petting zoo, the whole school movie screening, the Masada dog park, bubble soccer, inter house sports competition and lots of yummy food and opportunities to connect and spend time with one another. The wellbeing and mental health of our young people continues to be the priority of the Academic Care teams across the college not only during wellbeing week but everyday.

Mrs Natalie Street
Head of Academic Care, Y7-12

In the lead up to this trip, I was very nervous. I expected pure hunger, heat, and exhaustion that would push me beyond my physical capabilities. Fortunately, my assumptions were very wrong. The Gold Duke of Edinburgh experience has been nothing short of extraordinary. While everyday was a different challenge that proved more demanding than the last, every day was also a reward.

From tracing the great base of Uluru, to carving through the breathtaking valleys of Kata-Tjuta. From melting beneath the hot Sun of the desert, to conquering the world on the Larapinta Trail. With every step we took, we were reminded of our place; confronted by gorgeous scenery, and yearning to see more. But that is not to say it was without challenge. Rising before the sun every day, skimming cliff faces, and wanting nothing more than to be at home proved very difficult — but together we pulled through, sung songs, made jokes, played games, and made sure that no one felt left behind. With a positive attitude and willingness to better ourselves, we were victorious.

I will never forget the memories that this has hike blessed us with: lying beneath the sea of a million stars striped by the sash of the milky way, screaming ‘echo’ at the top of our lungs in the most cavernous of ravines, swimming through spectacular waterholes, our cups overflowing with new-found cultural knowledge, playing mind-numbing games around well-deserved campfires, and most importantly, remembering: “Always be bothered”.

Gold Duke of Edinburgh has truly been the trip of a lifetime and I am extremely grateful to all of those who made this experience possible.

Chase Feldman
Year 11 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Student