As I reflect on my journey here at Masada College over the past nine months, I am continually amazed by the profound impact our school has on its students, past and present. I recently had a heartwarming experience that truly encapsulates the spirit of our beloved College.

Walking along Old South Head Road in North Bondi, I passed the Mizrachi Synagogue and was greeted by the sight of our enormous Masada signs outside the building. It was there that I met a man, 48 years old, who proudly introduced himself as a Masada College graduate. He shared with me his journey from Masada Cottage to Year 12, expressing his deep love and appreciation for the College and his time there. In a moment that filled me with immense pride, he stood before the signs, placed his hand on his heart, and sang the Masada College School song with fervour.

This encounter is just one of many stories that highlight the enduring connection our alumni have with Masada College. I recently heard about a remarkable young graduate from Korea who was so inspired by his time at our school that upon returning to Korea, he established Masada Academy. Named after his cherished alma mater on Sydney's North Shore, this new institution is a testament to the lasting influence of a Masada College education.

Moreover, I had the pleasure of meeting two members of Masada College's very first year group from 1966. Their pride in being part of our inaugural class remains a significant part of their identity even decades later. Such stories of dedication and love for Masada College are incredibly inspiring.

At the Junior School Shavuot Assembly, some of our Cultural Studies students presented the following beautiful poem. Some of our parents asked to see a copy of the poem, so here it is for you!

We Are One
On Shavuot, we stand with pride,
Together, side by side.
Different faces, different names,
But inside, we're all the same.

From Sinai’s peak, the words were told,
The Ten Commandments, truths of old.
We speak in different tongues, it’s true,
With stories ancient, always new.

Yet, when we laugh or when we cry,
We're all the same beneath the sky.
Our skin may come in many hues,
Black and brown and white and blues.

But colours mix and colours blend,
To show we all can be a friend.
When someone falls, we lend a hand,
Together, we can always stand.

Through every difference, we find,
A bond that joins us, heart and mind.
Acceptance starts with you and me,
The Torah is our unity.

For in this world, beneath the sun,
We are different, yet we're one.
On Shavuot, let’s celebrate,
This unity that’s truly great.

So let us spread this truth today,
In every act, in every way.
With open hearts and open minds,
The Ten Commandments, love, we’ll find.

Our school is not just a place of learning; it is a nurturing environment that offers safety, security, and comfort. We set high expectations for menschlichkeit and academic performance, striving to cultivate young people of quality and excellence. It is no wonder that our graduates hold such pride in their association with Masada College, and we, in turn, are immensely proud of them.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we continue to uphold the values and traditions that make Masada College a beacon of excellence.

Mrs Raquel Charet
College Principal

What a full and diverse term we continue to have! Thank you to our teaching and patron teams who are ensuring that our school continues to be a safe and nurturing environment as we wholeheartedly support the progression and success of each student so proudly.

We are so lucky to witness so many of the dispositions of the Masadian Portrait flourishing in our young people. It is important for us to see that the Masadian Portrait dispositions are being developed in many ways in the experiences we create here at Masada. So much of what we do here is sometimes so hard to encapsulate in words and this portrait is an attempt to do exactly that.

The portrait is an ideal projection of the young adults that we wish to see graduate from Masada College as they move as learners into our demanding, ever evolving and complex world. The culmination of a successful student, Masada will argue, is a wise student, a student who strives to develop these attributes through a union of knowledge and lived experience.

There has been a range of experiences that we have seen so far across the Senior School, and each brings a smile as we see the strengths of our students on display. Enjoy the short summaries below of some highlights.

Subject Expo
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Subject Expo last month. It was wonderful to welcome students and parents to enjoy learning about the subjects we have on offer at Masada and to spend some time together.

Masada’s Chess competitions - William Hu, Year 11
At Masada College, students are offered a vast range of co-curricular opportunities and everyone is guaranteed to find something they love doing through the phenomenal co curricular options the school has to offer. I am William Hu, the team captain of our school's chess team. This is my third year serving as the team captain and I am delighted and honoured to show you what chess is like at our school.

Every Wednesday Period 6, students in Year 7-10 get to choose a wide range of co-curricular activities and do something they love and are passionate about for the last period on a Wednesday afternoon. In the library, students are given the opportunity to learn with a master from Sydney Academy of Chess, Peter Howard. Students also have the opportunity to play with each other and challenge the coach if they wish to. This one hour allows students to strengthen their knowledge through puzzles and game analysis. Not only are students given the opportunity to play and learn within school, as of 2022, Masada College has taken place in the inter schools chess challenge where students are given the opportunity to compete against other schools.

I personally enjoyed playing in these competitions and watching my team thrive when I am not on the field. I have also enjoyed winning tournaments with my amazing team and winning prizes for both myself and the school. I have also enjoyed working with my entire team and seeing each and everyone of them achieve their potential in tournaments. As the team captain, it makes me extremely proud to have such a supportive and encouraging team by my side when playing tournaments. The mateship and camaraderie in our team has definitely helped motivate me to be a better leader and lead our school to more success than our team has ever achieved.

Some of the challenges that came my way were facing extremely tough rivals over the board and handling the loss of our entire team after a tough tournament. It was extremely difficult and unpleasant when I had to face top level national juniors and even titled players from other schools as most of those games ended with me losing. Handling the defeat from an entire tournament has also been a major challenge as not only do I need to take it all in myself, I also have to give the bad news to the whole school.

Despite challenges coming my way, there were also lots to learn from them as well. Throughout these years of playing chess for the school, I was able to develop leadership skills, strengthen my knowledge in chess, build on my psychological stamina, learn to be more humble and become a stronger version of myself.

For this experience, I would like to extend my appreciation to Ms Bresler and Mr Gill both of who allowed me to create the chess team as I would have not had the opportunity for this phenomenal experience if it wasn’t for them allowing me to do so. I would also like to extend credit to my amazing teammates for always being supportive of each other and always giving their best and not giving up in each and every tournament our school plays.

Living Historians Program - Erin Shuan, Year 10
Every year the Masada Year 10’s have the privilege of having a Living Historians program, where a group of Holocaust survivors come talk to the students about their experience during the war. The Year 10’s then come together in small groups to create a dramatic presentation and accompanying artwork showcasing their survivors story. This year we were fortunate enough to have three Holocaust survivors and one son of a survivor share their stories with us. It was an extremely eye-opening experience transferring what we learn in the classroom to the first hand experiences of these individuals.

My group listened to Agnes Matrai as she shared the harrowing experience of being transported to a factory at the age of 3, her family escaping by foot to Budapest and her time in the displaced persons camp. It saddened us to picture the traumatising sights and we tried to empathise with how she would have felt through all those soul crushing moments. In contrast, her liberation and resilience in her postwar life was extremely inspirational to my group and we enjoyed hearing about her careers.

Throughout Living Historians, I strengthened my collaborative learning and ethical and inclusive collaboration, through putting together a play that utilised everyone's skills.

I would like to thank the survivors for trusting us with their stories. I would also like to thank the teachers that guided us through this project, especially Ms Seftel who has been the organiser of this program for many years, and without whom this project would not be possible.

Da Vinci Decathlon - Lola Broers, Year 10
I was fortunate to attend the Da Vinci Decathlon, an academic competition held at Knox Grammar School. This event brings together students from various NSW schools to challenge their minds across 10 different subject areas, celebrating the diverse talents and areas of intellectual expertise among many students. Participating in the competition was an incredible experience.

I enjoyed the versatile nature of the event as it gave each student the opportunity to showcase their own strengths, and encouraged us to work together as a team to conquer each challenge. I particularly enjoyed the code-breaking sector, as it allowed us to think outside the box and use our problem-solving skills creatively. One of the most challenging parts was completing each task within the time limit, as we were given multiple subjects at a time with only 8 of us to work through them.

I think that the experience helped us develop many valuable skills that align with the Masadian Portrait. We enhanced our critical and creative thinking by approaching problems with innovative solutions. Our communication skills were vital as we discussed our strategies and ideas. The competition encouraged us to be ethical and inclusive, respect each other's points and ideas, and work together effectively. We improved our independent thinking skills as each person worked on tasks specific to their expertise, reinforcing our collaborative skills by contributing to the group efforts.

I would like to thank Miss Zeman and Ms McEwen for their guidance and encouragement throughout the preparation and participation of the event, providing us with such an enriching opportunity, and giving us the ability to represent our school.

Results:
Year 8 – 3rd in Cartography
Year 9 -13th in Science; 12th in Legacy
Year 10- 14th in Science
Year 11 – 9th in Cartography; 3rd in Science; 8th in Legacy

Geography Excursion - Arin Ginsberg, Year 12
On the 31st of May, the Year 12 Geography class along with Mrs Easterbrook, travelled down to Cronulla to conduct fieldwork on the sand dunes. This was exciting as it is one of our selected topics, in one of the three Year 12 modules, ecosystems at risk. Throughout the day, we furthered our knowledge on dune ecosystems, looking at their conditions, the impacts of humans, and the management responses put in place by the council to try and reverse these impacts. I particularly enjoyed the teamwork involved, as we each used different measurement instruments, and collaborated to measure and document the dune ecosystem. Observing the dunes from this perspective enabled us to appreciate the diverse nature of the dune ecosystem, something that is often overlooked.

I found that the bad weather was quite challenging. As we walked along the beach, there was a constant uncertainty about when the rain was going to start. The strong wind made it difficult to stay focused on our task. Although, despite unfavourable beach conditions, we were successful in collecting our data. This geography excursion enabled us to develop skills which I would say are transferable to our life beyond the Masada College gates. Through the tasks at hand, we enhanced our collaboration, teamwork and communication skills. By analysing management strategies and creating our own in the sand, we engaged in critical and creative thinking, a skill valuable in all aspects of life. I would like to thank Mrs Easterbrook for providing us with such a meaningful excursion, where we strengthened our skills, and deepened our understanding of ecosystems at risk.

Year 9 Theatre Excursion - Tiana Macdonald Fleischmann, Year 9
Our Year 9 cohort was taken to the Seymour Theatre to watch the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet performed live. The play was filled with vibrant and emotional acting, and gave me an insightful perspective into the characters' personalities and the storyline. A component of the play that I found particularly challenging was at the very start of the play when I had to figure out who the characters were, as there were many actors on the set. I believe this experience reflected the value of creative thinking, with the nature of expression and creativity in the making of the play. I would like to thank all the amazing teachers for organizing and making it possible for Year 9 to have such a memorable experience and an amazing day out in the city.

Year 11 Biology Excursion - Emily Hillel, Year 11
For our Year 11 Bio excursion we visited the rock platforms in Narrabeen. It was undoubtedly an incredible and unique experience. From exploring the types of species such as the spiny-sea star, smooth shore crab, zebra snails, the list could go on! To learning about the biodiversity and abundance of the rock platform and identifying the trophic levels of more than a dozen organisms was a great experience.

The part I most enjoyed would be the last activity we did which involved us splitting up into small groups and using a transect technique to investigate how the abiotic factors of temperature, depth, and salinity affect the distribution of species in 6 quadrants that were placed along the rock platform. This involved using a ruler, thermometer, and salinity meter to help us unpack this. Even though our shoes may have gotten a bit soaked, it was a real adventure to be able to have the opportunity to walk with my friends through the rock pools to gain a real sense of life and to compare the species' richness and habitat. A major highlight was formed on the way back as we headed back from the rock pools to our home base, when Miss Mills spotted a cool species. It sparked excitement and curiosity in everyone! With the suspicion it was a blue ring octopus we found out it was a sea hare! We were able to use the skills we learned to detect its physiological adaptation as purple ink oozed out from its body as our guide gently and safely tried picking it up. Additionally, I gained much new knowledge from understanding the complexities of ecological relationships and identifying the various species and fun memories from trying not to get splashed by waves to exploring new species along the way. Thank you Miss Mills for this fantastic opportunity.

Year 7 Visual Art Incursion - Romi Klein, Year 7
I had a great time at the Art incursion. Animals were brought in from the zoo and we were able to draw them with the animals right in front of us! I enjoyed hearing about the animals as I drew their amazing skin textures, feathers, colours and their unique features. This activity let me get into the creative flow and extend my drawing skills. Thank you to the zoo for coming to share with us their cute animals!

Science Evening - Isabelle Henkin, Year 10
Every year, the Year 8 and 10 students complete the Science Research Project (SRP). This task allows students to explore any topic, conducting an experiment and recording the results over the course of Term 1. For my SRP, I chose to research the way in which temperature change affects microbial growth. Although this proved to be very challenging, involving lots of commitment and regular monitoring of my experiment, I thoroughly enjoyed researching a topic that I thought to be of great relevance to society. In May, the annual Science Evening took place, where the Year 8 and 10 students shared their work with parents, staff and community members. I was asked to present my SRP on the Science Evening, which taught me various transferable skills that I believe I will be able to use beyond my school life. Although presenting to a large audience was definitely a learning curve, I developed my skills as a communicative learner. As a whole, I feel very grateful to have been invited to present at the Science Evening, and would like to thank my teacher, Dr Yau, for his guidance and for offering me this opportunity.

Science Evening - Isabella McHugh, Year 8
For the Science Evening, I had the opportunity to get up and give a presentation about my SRP and of course that was a challenge as there were many people listening but I overcame the challenge with the help and support of my peers. I really enjoyed being able to show my family what I had been working on for the past term. Showcasing our work to everyone definitely taught us great communication skills and personally, making and presenting my project gave me a skill of public speaking that I will need as I grow up. I want to thank Ms Mills for giving us endless support throughout the process of creating our SRP’s and Dr Yau for organising an amazing evening for us to showcase our work.

Year 12 Visual Arts - Rain Qiu, Year 12
Year 12 Visual Arts is the final stage of the visual art course at Masada College. In this stage, we focus on discovering ourselves through the construction of our main body of work. We as students develop intention in artmaking practice by exploring the thesis "Who am I"? Each student in our class creates a unique body of work that reflects ourselves and our connections with the world.
I enjoy the Year 12 visual arts course as I finally get to represent myself through my artwork. I also enjoy the overall making of my artwork as I get to truly master some of the skills that I have built up from previous years of learning visual arts at the school, including working with various mediums, as well as constructing a unique composition that effectively communicates my intentions and ideas.
During this course, I find it challenging to effectively communicate my ideas and plans surrounding my artwork and intentions through only words. It is difficult sometimes to try to describe a composition or an abstract idea without some sketches as visual guides.
I have developed my communication skills throughout the course of Year 12 Visual Art. This pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and attempt to use different ways to communicate such as presentations, sketches and planning. Not only does this help me communicate my ideas, but also shapes my skills in effectively conveying the thesis to my audiences.
Throughout my journey in Year 12 Visual Art, I am extremely thankful for Ms Rosen and the rest of the arts staffroom members. They provide me with an extremely wide range of materials for my work as well as constantly giving me ideas and suggestions. I also thank every single member of the class for being so respectful when listening to my speeches, as well as being supportive along the way.

Thank you to everyone who has made this first term so enjoyable thus far! We look forward to more vibrant learning experiences to come.

Mrs Jennifer Grace
Head of Learning & Teaching, Y7-12

Here at the ELC, we love introducing the little ones to their first Jewish celebrations, embedding the Jewish traditions and culture in their hearts and minds. Every day Morah Belinda Levy visited each classroom teaching them about Shavuot. She showed them fruit and taught them the Hebrew word “Ets” she also taught them the word “Adamah” for vegetables. Sharing the amazing story of Moses and how he received the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. The little ones listened in amazement and eagerly learnt each new song she taught them.

Each child received a piece of cardboard, to make a flower garland with their family. These garlands were worn when the children visited the Shul. The families and children made wonderful creations, and the teachers were very excited to see unique garlands which represented each child’s individuality.

In a special experience for Shavuot, Francesca Street made ice cream with each classroom. The children each had a turn to help her mix the milk, cream, castor sugar and a bit of salt. When everything was thoroughly mixed, they put it into the ice cream maker. After an hour the ice cream was ready. The children loved seeing how ice cream was made.

In the rainbow room Jessica Zatz made the ten commandments with the children. She showed them the Hebrew numbers and letters and what each one meant. The children then had the opportunity to make their own room rules, which they promised to follow. Beautiful displays were made for the walls and with the help of the children were put up.

On Tuesday the 11th of June, all the children from the ELC visited the Shul to celebrate Zman Matan Torah, the time we received the Torah on Mount Sinai. Very excited about the special experience, the children chose their seats and listened to Morah Belinda. She showed the children the Torah and the very special holy cupboard, it is kept in the Aron Kodesh. Together the children sang all the songs that they had learnt, while wearing their garlands.

Our Shavuot charity drive was incredibly successful. Students from the Early Learning Centre to Year 6 eagerly contributed as many tins as they could, hoping their class would win. In total, we collected an impressive 595 tins to donate to OzHarvest. A special shout out to Year 2, who collected 148 tins, and Year 3, a close second with 138 tins. As Kobi in Kindergarten beautifully put it, “We are all winners because we’ve done a mitzvah.” Thank you all for your generosity!

Students were lucky to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim with a special assembly with guest speaker Rabbi Lieder, a master educator of 40+ years. Our students listened intently to his firsthand accounts of the Six-Day War, as a child singing and praying in bomb shelters, and standing, for the first time, at the Kotel on Shavuot in 1967. Together we sang ‘Hiney ma Tov ‘ one of the exact same songs the children had sung many years prior as they prayed for a miracle during the six day war.

Year 2/3 Chinese students were busy making traditional crafts for the Dragon Boat Festival. They learnt about the origin of the festival and its associated customs. The students discovered the story of Qu Yuan, the poet whose legacy is celebrated during this festival. They also explored various customs, such as making and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), participating in dragon boat races, and wearing perfumed sachets to ward off evil spirits. The students enjoyed engaging in these cultural activities, gaining a deeper understanding of the rich traditions behind the Dragon Boat Festival.

Students who take private instrumental lessons at Masada College participated in the inaugural Studio Concert. Parents and tutors joined us for this relaxed and informal event, celebrating the dedication and talent of our young musicians. The concert featured a variety of instruments and skill levels, from polished pieces to segments of new repertoire, each receiving resounding applause from the audience. It was truly special to witness our musicians proudly showcasing their hard work, and we are incredibly proud of the commitment demonstrated by them and our team of amazing tutors. We look forward to witnessing their continued growth and success.

Shavuot was joyously celebrated as students welcomed parents and grandparents to partake in a special assembly. The students' voices and enthusiasm filled the air as they shared their deepened understanding of the holiday through songs, poems, and Divrei Torah. To culminate the morning’s theme of community and unity, students and their guests enjoyed a challah bake, preparing challot to share at their Friday night Shabbat table.

To strengthen and enrich our students sense of community, students created beautiful baskets of fruit and cards sent to residents of the Montefiore Home. They also contributed greatly to an SRC Shavuot initiative of bringing in tinned foods which were then given to OzHarvest.

Year 9 Hebrew students learned about the concept of community volunteering. They explored the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah, societal expectations of individual responsibility, and laws related to the obligation to help those in need. We were delighted to invite Ms Wong, an SES volunteer, who shared aspects of her important role and some interesting stories from her past experiences. Thank you, Ms Wong, and Kol Hakavod!