As we prepare to celebrate Shavuot next week, our thoughts naturally turn to the delicious dairy dishes that we get to eat. Shavuot, marking the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, is a time for us to come together and enjoy an array of delicious cheese products that highlight the bounty and joy of this special occasion. Shavuot is synonymous with a variety of sumptuous dairy foods that are as rich in tradition as they are in flavour. Looking forward to the week ahead, we can expect cheese cakes of all varieties, cheese boards, cheese blintzes, pizza and any other dairy delicacies that your heart desires.

You might wonder why dairy products feature so prominently in our Shavuot celebrations. The tradition is rooted in our history and religious practice. When the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, the Jewish people did not yet know the laws of kashrut, particularly those concerning the preparation of meat. As a result, they opted for dairy meals, which were simpler to prepare under the new dietary laws they had just received. This practical choice has since evolved into a beloved tradition.

As the Talmud teaches us, Mount Sinai was chosen for the giving of the Torah not because of its grandeur but because of its modesty. This lesson in humility is one we carry forward, appreciating the simple and sincere over the ostentatious. The humble nature of dairy foods mirrors the humility of Mount Sinai. Rabbi Yosef Caro, the author of the Shulchan Aruch, notes, “Just as the mountain was humble, so too must we receive the Torah with humility.” This sentiment is echoed by Rabbi Moshe Isserles, who adds, “The custom of eating dairy on Shavuot reminds us of the purity and simplicity with which we should approach the Torah.”

As we celebrate Shavuot, enjoy the delightful dairy dishes, reflect on the significance of the Torah, and remember the values of humility and purity that this holiday embodies. May your Shavuot be filled with learning, laughter, and, of course, lots of delicious cheese!

As a special Shavuot gift, I share below the recipe for my favourite cheesecake in the world.

Mrs Charet’s husband’s baked cheesecake

100g butter, melted
1 pack of crushed biscuits (shortbread or other sweet crumbly biscuit)
4 egg whites
500g cream cheese
600ml sour cream
175g (1 cup) sugar
1½ tsp vanilla extract

Combine butter and crushed biscuits, line cake mould with mix, and refrigerate until firm (at least 20 minutes).
Beat egg whites until white peaks form.
Beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract until combined and smooth (emphasis on smooth – absolutely no lumps). Fold egg whites into cheese mix until amalgamated, then spoon into prepared crust.
Bake at 175°C (fan-forced) for approximately 50 minutes, with baking tray underneath to catch any overflow / melted butter. Cake is ready when brown on top.

Chag Sameach and enjoy!

Mrs Raquel Charet
College Principal

Reconciliation Week: 'Now More Than Ever'

National Reconciliation Week, May 27th to June 3rd, is a time to reflect on Australia's history and the relationships between First Nations peoples and other Australians. The theme for #NRW2024, ‘Now More Than Ever,’ underscores the urgency for action and change. It challenges us to connect the rich histories, perspectives, and cultures of First Nations peoples with the visions of our future leaders.

Masada College is dedicated to creating an environment of understanding, respect, and reconciliation. We aim to educate and engage our students and staff on the importance of this week and its broader context. In line with the theme ‘Now More Than Ever,’ we encouraged students to ponder questions such as: How does it feel to be included with friends? What actions can we take when we see someone being left out?

Throughout the week, our classes and assembly focused on the theme of reconciliation. Students in different year groups participated in various activities, including creating art works, watching informative videos, engaging in meaningful discussions, and listening to impactful stories. These activities highlighted the significance of collaboration and the principles of fairness and equality for all.

Reconciliation is about fostering better relationships and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. It’s a time to reflect on our past and work collaboratively towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

Karen Gunasekara
Head of Junior School

This month we have been lucky to host 3 teaching students from Macquarie University on the 2nd and 3rd year practical placements. In their weeks here they have planned some wonderful teaching and learning experiences for the children to enjoy which we wanted to share here.

Victoria, who has done her placement in the Green Room with Caitie supervising, planned a wonderful string of lessons all inspired by the Aboriginal symbols used to represent animal tracks. She has taught the Green Room children which animals these tracks belong to, had the children go on a “treasure hunt” to find these in our playground, incorporated them into an art experience and used them in a movement game to act out each of these native animals.

Kayleigh, who has done her placement in the Yellow Room with Fran supervising, did an activity about sorting transport. She created a fun, interactive resource on the screen where the children had to sort the different types of transport into engine powered or man powered, linking to the children's prior knowledge and interests that she had observed in her time with the class.

Bianca, who has done her placement in the Blue Room with Glynnis supervising, created an experience based on the incursion they all participated in; a visit from Healthy Harold. Bianca explained the habitats of giraffes through an interactive slide show on the iPad. After this the children created their own diorama creating a habitat for a model giraffe. They were each given a box, giraffe and different materials to create this.

We have enjoyed seeing all the new and creative ideas these Macquarie University students have bought into the room. We know they will go on to graduate and become wonderful Early Childhood Teachers.

Congratulations to the exceptional individuals who have been recognised as recipients of the Week 6 Merit Awards!

We would like to congratulate the efforts of the Year 5 & 6 debaters and the victory of the affirmative team during the second round of debating against St. Pius X. We are proud of our young debaters for growing their confidence in public speaking and experience in rebuttals.

Junior school celebrated Lag B’Omer on Thursday, 23rd May. Students sat in the sunshine singing morning prayers together and then listened to a special story told by Rabbi Lewin around a bonfire. Students were then immersed in the traditions of the chag such and enjoyed marshmallows and chocolate milk.

The ASISSA Cross Country Carnival was held at Queen’s Park where our best endurance athletes competed against the top performers from a range of schools including Mt Sinai, Kesser Torah, Moriah College, Emanuel School and St Andrew’s Cathedral School in their age groups. We are proud of the whole team. Mazal Tov to Felix Wang for qualifying for the CIS carnival!

The Year 6 class have just started out on their mission to Mars, with the assistance of Young Engineers and Lego Mindstorm Robots that they built and programmed themselves. They successfully deployed a satellite dish to facilitate communications. This term, the students will participate in the Young Engineers STEM program, which not only explores the possibilities of interplanetary travel but also enhances their problem-solving and programming skills.

In Week 4 Masada College had the privilege of having Life Education visit students from ELC all the way to Year Six. Year One had a fantastic experience and the students learnt about healthy foods and making good food choices. This tied in well to our PDH unit this term, as Year One is exploring our food environment. All the students were engaged and learnt new information. Thank you healthy Harold for visiting us again.

Eventful…Relentless…Adventurous. Year 9 commenced their Bronze Qualifier hike, hiking through the rocky terrains of the Royal Australian National Park. Within the two days, we had the time of our lives.

From hiking through the rugged tracks of the Karloo trail, to dipping into the cold depths of the glistening lakes, everywhere we walked we’d stumble upon enchanting scenery. The every so often steep and outlandish tracks called for perseverance, with our guides (Jack and Maive) indenting the ideology of resilience. Together we chanted songs, played mind games and pushed each other through.

At night we settled down, sitting side-by-side, enjoying a deserving meal, making s’mores and embracing the time. With the stars shining above our heads, we lived in the moment.

With our trip wrapped up and eyes set towards our future hikes, Duke of Edinburgh has proved a once in a lifetime experience, truly one to remember.

Taylor Henshall
Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Student

Our Year 7 students had the exciting opportunity to learn about flying drones and building solar boats during the recent Y7 STEM Day. In the Flying Drones activity, they demonstrated their coding skills by programming the drones to navigate through various challenges, showcasing their understanding of aerodynamics and coding principles. This hands-on experience allowed them to apply their logical thinking in a fun and interactive environment.

In the Solar Boat Building activity, students worked in teams to design and construct boats powered by solar panels. This task required creativity and problem-solving skills as they experimented with different designs and materials to optimize their boats for a race. Through this process, they learned about renewable energy, basic electrical circuits, and sustainable technologies. These activities not only highlighted their growing proficiency in STEM but also emphasized teamwork, innovation, and the practical application of their theoretical knowledge.

Special thanks to Ms Steel and her team in organising this amazing event.

Mr Kevin Yau
HOLA - Science & Technologies