The Jewish Studies staff at Masada College had the incredible opportunity to attend the Zionist Federation Australia's Jewish Studies Conference in Melbourne, where educators from across the globe gathered to share their knowledge and passion.

The conference was a truly inspiring experience, with speakers delving into topics such as how to talk about God with students, teaching the rich beauty of Jewish history and culture, innovative approaches to tefilla, and even the role of AI in
Jewish education.

We are especially proud that three of our own teachers, Shoshana Gottlieb, Viva Hammer, and Shterny Dadon, presented at the conference. By all accounts, their sessions were outstanding, and they proudly represented Masada College to the wider Jewish education community of Australia.

The last few weeks have also seen our Pathways camps and Shabbatons take place, providing staff and students with a chance to bond with both Israeli and local madrichim while exploring their own identities, ethical dilemmas, and difficult scenarios. The newly revamped programs allowed participants to think deeply, and time away from home gave them wonderful opportunities to enjoy their friends. I had the privilege of attending the Year 10/11 Shabbaton, and I can honestly say it was the most wonderful Shabbat of my life. The ruach was beyond measure, the Tish was deeply touching, and I felt enormous waves of pride in our Masada community. It was a truly transformative experience that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

As we look forward, next weekend will be Year 12’s final Shabbaton. We are confident it will be another unforgettable experience, filled with meaning, connection, and growth before they graduate Masada College.


Warm regards,

Raquel Charet
College Principal

Term 3 is always filled with so much to celebrate and enjoy across the College.

In the Senior School, it has been wonderful to see our students engage and reconnect with one another and the Masada values at the Pathways Camps. Our team continues to give their all to the students, to engage them, mentor them and shape them into the best young people they can be.

Thank you to everyone who made the first two camps happen. We are looking forward to our Year 12 students enjoying their final experience at their Shabbaton this weekend.

If this wasn’t enough, we were dazzled by our Artists, Musicians, Designers, Creative Writers, Scientists and Chefs at the incredible Masada Exhibition and HSC Showcase. Always a highlight on the calendar, our Masada students continue to shine!

Soon we will mark RU OK Day?, celebrate Rosh Hashanah and say our fond farewells to our Year 12 graduates of 2024 in our Valedictory Ceremony, with a special induction ceremony for our newly elected student leaders of 2025. Please join us for these events. To RSVP please click here.

Year 11 and 12

We are very proud of our Year 11 and 12 students as they have been focused on achieving their personal best in their studies. In our Review and Reflect meetings their desire to challenge themselves has been clear. Mazel Tov to you all and for setting an example to our younger learners on what it takes to be successful.

Kol Hakavod to all of our Masada students. We are proud of you!

With Rosh Hashanah almost upon us, I take this opportunity to wish our community a Shana Tova with a sweet new year ahead.

If I can be of assistance at any time, please reach out to me by email: rgill@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or by phone: 02 9449 3744

Mr Ryan Gill
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

Renowned author Kate Forsyth once wrote, “The whole reason for telling the fairy tales is to awaken the heart. To help people believe that misfortune can be overcome and evil conquered.” This sentiment set the tone for the Book Week 2024.The children’s hearts were about to be awoken! It was time for the Book Week 2024 Fairy Tale Fest.

Students arrived at school dressed as beloved characters from classic fairy tales. Teachers arrived at school as ‘fractured fairy tale princesses and princes’. The children and the staff looked amazing.

Following a parade showcasing their creative efforts, the students gathered in the library to meet author Angie Schiavone. Angie spoke to the children about the writing process and how to accept feedback to enhance their writing skills. Armed with new insights into the creative journey, the students were eager to apply their learning.

After recess, the children were divided into 28 multi-aged groups, each assigned a different Fairy Tale to read. They then participated in a STEM activity that demanded teamwork, creativity, and a deep understanding of their respective tales.To conclude, each group performed their fairy tale using their creations, adhering to a strict 4-minute time limit and limited performance space. Observing our students collaborate so effectively and with such enthusiasm made it clear that fairy tales not only spark imagination but also teach valuable life lessons, inspire hope, and bring joy. Their performances were truly exceptional.

This year Book Week provided the opportunity to take a fresh look at old texts, and discover the joy of collaborating to tell a story. Hopefully, the tales stay with them, guiding their hearts as they journey through the complexities of life and maybe their hearts were awoken.

That Bird has Arms

On Wednesday the 14th August, Years K to 6 watched a performance based on the book;“That Bird Has Arms.” by Jol and Kate Temple. The book is about a bird called Roy who has arms. Unfortunately he is picked on by the other birds for being different. Eventually the other birds realise that having arms can be useful and they say sorry to Roy.

My favourite part of the show was that it entertained all the different ages from 5 years old to the teachers. Another good thing about the performance was the engagement with the students and staff. We liked the different ways they used different types of equipment for the props,costumes and music. The performance was very funny and entertaining. I give this performance 5 stars.

Written by Ariel in year 5.

Today, we welcomed our newest students with a special "New Student Lunch"! Students had the chance to sit down with Mrs Charet, Mr Gill and Mrs Gunasekara together with their new teachers and schoolmates, chatting about anything and everything, while enjoying a delicious meal together. Everyone left with full bellies, new connections, and some fun take-home goodies!

Kindy, Year One, and Year Two students engaged in a series of mixed-age rotations, fostering cooperation and skill-sharing. Buddies paired up for reading, taking turns to practise their literacy skills. The room buzzed with excitement as children challenged each other in games of Uno, Speed and Dots in Boxes, building strategic thinking and social skills. Collaborative problem-solving was evident as they worked together to complete intricate puzzles, encouraging communication and teamwork. These rotations provided a rich learning environment where students of different ages could support and inspire one another.

Recently, our language students have been actively engaged in preparing their movie submissions for the NSW Linguafest competition, a foreign language film production organised by the NSW Modern Languages Association. This project-based task involved writing scripts, directing, acting, filming, and editing, all with the support of their language teachers. Judging by the photo, everyone agrees that the engagement and enthusiasm were clearly evident.

Adi Halevi

Our Year Six class had the incredible privilege of hearing from three Living Historians who shared their remarkable stories of escape, survival, and new beginnings in Australia after enduring persecution during the Holocaust. It was a profoundly moving experience for everyone involved, and we are deeply grateful to Roland, Lucy, and Mimi for generously giving their time to share their journeys with us.

Congratulations to the exceptional individuals who have been recognised as recipients of the Week 4 Merit Awards!

On Friday, 16th of August Friendship Circle visited the Junior School during assembly. Our visitors explained to our students the importance of inclusivity and helping others. Students have been giving tzedakah during tefillah time and the collection was donated to Mr Friendship by the students. Students and Mr Friendship danced along to ‘Just Dance’ to acknowledge the upcoming event. The preorder of cookies from the Friendship Bakery were a big hit!

During the last term Masada Hebrew students were among students from 16 different countries who created posters to be shown in the National Library of Israel. The students were required to design a poster that expressed an emotional and personal connection to Israel, as well as reflections and insights of Israel's role in the Jewish world. Some of the students chose to highlight the current situation in Israel and the ongoing challenges we face as a people, together with messages of hope and resilience that strengthen and unite us all in times like this. Congratulations to Avigail, Maya, Noam, Romi, Hayden and Sonya whose pictures were chosen to be displayed on the National Library web site. Click here to see their posters.

Mazal tov to Tiger Lin (Year 7) who recently competed in the World Hip Hop Championships in the USA as part of the Australian Team. Australia received an incredible 6th place overall!

The World Hip Hop Championships is a premier event hosted by the renowned organization, Hip Hop International. It brings together top dancers from over 55 countries to compete. It is a celebration of hip-hop dance and culture, where dancers have the opportunity to make their mark on the international hip-hop dance scene.