On Monday I attended the memorial service for Mark Fisher z'’l, a stalwart of the North Shore Jewish community, who passed away over Shabbat. It was a somber and moving service for a man who had contributed so greatly to our community, volunteering years of his life for our children and our College, and doing so, with the greatest humility.

Born in Palestine, and raised in Sydney, Mark followed in the footsteps of his brothers, who were both dedicated to serving the community. In 1979, Mark was elected as the Masada College Board President, a pivotal moment in our school's history. It was under his visionary leadership that months of behind-the-scenes planning and negotiations resulted in the laying of the foundation stone for the St Ives campus.

Mark Fisher z"l was a dedicated leader, a volunteer, giving tirelessly to the community, while raising his family and pursuing his career. His unwavering devotion to our school was a testament to his belief in the power of Jewish education and Jewish community, and he consistently worked towards nurturing the growth and success of our institution.

At Monday’s service, Rabbi David Rogut, who served previously as the spiritual Dean of Masada College, spoke from the heart about Mark z’’l. He repeated more than a handful of times that Mark z’’l had an unwavering love for Masada and that the College held a special place in his heart.

In the concluding portions of the Torah reading this month, before his passing, Moshe gives the Jewish people their final instructions before they enter the Land of Israel. Although he does not get to enter the land himself, he is able to talk to the people about the journey ahead. In his selfless way, he continues to care for the Jewish people with all the passion and power at his disposal, until his last day on this earth.

We learn that at the age of a hundred and twenty, ‘his eyes had not grown dim, nor his vitality fled’. 'Even in his final days', Lord Rabbi Sacks z’’l writes, ‘Moshe never lost his idealism of youth’.

We were blessed just a few weeks ago to have our College Rabbi, Rabbi Lewin, record a video interview with Mark Fisher z'’l, where Mark spoke about the early days of the College, those that volunteered their time, the establishment of the St Ives campus, the community at large and the burning need to provide a Jewish education for the families that had settled in the North at the time.

Mark’s passion for Masada College remains the same in this final recording as it had when he was a young man. He never lost his love for Jewish community or for the power of Jewish education. He continued to care about the children and the community with the passion of his youth. He chased this with vigor, all the days of his life and even in his final weeks, his eyes were undimmed.

The board, staff, students and community of Masada College offer our deepest condolences to the extended Fisher Family.

May the memory of Mark Fisher, Mordechai Reuven ben Israel, zichrono livrachah, be a blessing.

Term 3 is always filled with so much to celebrate and enjoy! It’s been wonderful to see our students engage and reconnect with one another and the Masada values at the Pathways Camps, which is followed by the Reunion Shabbaton for Year 8-11. In addition, excursions and incursions in Hebrew, Chinese, Geography, English, Debating and Performing Arts are just a few of the enriching opportunities our students have to enjoy!

If this wasn’t enough, we were dazzled by our Artists, Musicians, Designers, Sociologists, Historians, Creative Writers, Scientists, Linguists and Chefs at the incredible Visual Arts and Design and Technology 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 2023 in our Valedictory Ceremony. To RSVP for the Valedictory Assembly, 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 Trial and Preliminary Exams this term. 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!

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

Parent Teacher Interviews
It is time for parent teacher interviews in the Junior School. These meetings offer a unique opportunity for parents and educators to meet, share insights, and celebrate the progress that each child has made since the beginning of the academic year.

Celebrating Progress
One of the most heartwarming aspects of these meetings is the chance to celebrate the progress of each student. We often hear about the milestones achieved, whether it is a struggling reader who has now discovered the joy of books, a math enthusiast who has mastered complex concepts, or a quiet student who has found their voice in class discussions. These stories of growth and development are a testament to the dedication and hard work of both our students and our teachers.

A Holistic View
Parent teacher interviews also allow for a more holistic view of a child's education. It is not just about grades but about the individual journey of each student. Teachers can discuss the child's social and emotional development, their participation in extracurricular activities, and their overall engagement in the school community. This comprehensive perspective helps parents understand that education is not solely about academic achievement but also about the growth of well-rounded individuals.

Open Communication
Effective communication between parents and teachers is the cornerstone of a child's success in school. Parent teacher interviews provide a structured space for this dialogue. It is a time to ask questions and explore strategies to support a child's learning journey. By fostering open and honest conversations, we can collectively work towards the best outcomes for our students.

Here are a few tips to make the most of parent teacher interviews:
Come Prepared: Review your child's progress and consider any questions or concerns you have before the meeting.
Listen Actively: Remember that teachers are partners in your child's education. Be open to their insights and suggestions.
Celebrate the Positive: Celebrate the achievements and progress your child has made, no matter how big or small.
Plan for the Future: Discuss ways to support your child's ongoing development, both academically and socially.
Stay Connected: Keep the lines of communication open beyond parent teacher interviews. Regular communication between home and school is key to a child's success.

Together, we can continue to celebrate the remarkable progress of each child and work towards a brighter future for our students.

A jam packed Term 3 for sure! A vibrant month filled to the brim with loving life and learning whilst cementing some special memories to hold dear for a lifetime.

Thank you to all of the staff for creating these exceptional learning experiences for our students. Thank you to all of our students who embraced the learning offered to them and made the best of their opportunities.

Thank you to students who have shared some words of appreciation and thanks for their experiences that have taken place over the past month.

VA/DAT Exhibition & HSC Showcase

I had the pleasure of being able to perform one of my HSC music pieces at the HSC showcase. It was amazing to see the major works my peers have been working towards the entire year, whether it was Extension 2 English, Society and Culture, Science Extension, Hebrew, Visual Arts, Design and Tech and performances from my fellow Music class. It is always a challenge to sing in front of a large audience but I have managed to gain my confidence and perform to the best of my ability. This confidence I hope will stay with me as I leave Masada. I would like to thank Ms Peisley for helping me prepare for my performance and being so supportive of my musical journey throughout my time at Masada. Yoni Lewin

As an art student in Year 12, I was very pleased to see my final collection of works displayed in the hall. After spending 9 months working on my pieces, I was happy to show my family and fellow students the final results. I loved seeing the art hung up the day before the exhibition as it allowed me to develop skills in curating a gallery and considering the space around the artwork, and how they will be displayed so they can be appreciated in the best way possible. I would like to thank Miss Rosen for guiding me through creating my major work, and supporting us all along the journey. Talya Bassin

I recently had the opportunity to attend the DAT/Visual Arts Showcase, and it was a genuinely great experience. The range of talent on display was fantastic. From paintings and sculptures to installations, it was clear that everyone did their best. To see my own work on display felt terrific! I was especially proud of the light that I made as it lit up the exhibition. I left the night feeling inspired by seeing others' work. Thank you to all the teachers for making it possible, especially Mrs Steel and Tom for helping me make my light that I can keep forever as a reminder of my great contribution to the exhibition. Asher Cohen

Year 8 and 9 Pathways Camp

Pathways is a school camp that allows Jewish students to feel closer to our religion and experience a technology free Shabbat. Pathways is an incredible camp and I can't wait to go again next year. Camp was full of fun and happy memories but my favourite part was getting ready and taking photos for Shabbat on the Friday. This was really enjoyable because it allowed us to all feel closer and get to know other people in the school better. During Pathways we had some serious activities which allowed us to reflect on our lives and view things we wanted to change, this reflection skill is one I will take with me throughout my life. For this amazing experience I would like to thank the Jewish Life department for organizing the event and the amazing madrachims who ran the activities. Jessica Shelton

Pathways came again, and as the saying goes "Look at the world as it is, not that you wish it would be." That's what I thought about the code-breaking activities that the madrichim had set up that were deeply engaging and exciting. I enJoyed the challenge of trying to code break without actually codE-breaking, by guessing every lock combination, and completely disregarding the code-breaking aspect of it. Of course, it was challenging at times and I had to Work together as a team to get to my favourite part and hoping that I'd get it right randomly while my team worked out the combination, but I learned in the end that Sometimes cutting corners doesn't make a circle! I would like to tHank the organisers and planners of this code-breaking, and on the topic of it, figure out the hidden word in my message! Andrew Liu

Year 10 and 11 Pathways Camp

Year 10 and 11 pathways camp this year was a great opportunity to bond with all of my classmates and get involved in all of the activities. I was able to develop skills on pathways by talking to people I don’t really know and speak to often, which was really special and important for everyone. Shabbat was a great experience as the Shul service was energetic and filled with spirit. By not having any technology the whole of Shabbat, everyone had more opportunities to talk to each other which was really special. Massive thanks to all of the teachers as well as all of the madrich’s involved in the preparation of this camp. It was a great experience and I can’t wait for the year 12 Shabbaton next year. Daniel Silverstone

Pathways is always the highlight of my year and this year's camp was an experience of a lifetime. The campsite was beautiful, the activities were incredible and the vibes were through the roof! This camp gave us all the opportunity to learn more about ourselves as well as learning about the world around us and what it means to be a proactive jew in the diaspora. The programs were truly insightful and educated us on the jewish world around us, the Jewish world of the past as well as our own internal ‘world’, which helped us start to shape our own individual identities as jews and as people. When shabbos came around we were all extremely excited as it is always the highlight of camp, and this year was no different. The shabbat dinner on the Friday night was so much fun, the tisch was beautiful, the Saturday shul service was engaging and the down time in the afternoon was well needed. This camp was truly incredible and it will be one we will all never forget. Zoe Budai

Chess Competition

At Masada College, our school goes above and beyond to support students through their co-curricular activities and hobbies as well. For those of you that don’t know me, I am William Hu and I am the Chess Captain of our school and today, it brings me great pleasure to talk to you guys about our co curricular option “Chess”. At Masada, we offer students the opportunity to partake in our school's chess club which enables students of any skill level to have fun and to learn from our school’s phenomenal coach Peter Howard.

Unlike a common chess club, Masada College also offers students who absolutely love chess the opportunity to compete for our school in the Inter Schools Chess Challenge. As the captain of our team, regardless of your skill level, I love to give every single one of our students a warm invitation to come along with me to the competition and to just have fun and do their best.

In the Local Heats Competition, every student was given the opportunity to compete for the school regardless of their skill level. This was an opportunity to wind down from school for a day, relieve stress from school work and a way to foster new friendships with those around you. The essence of the tournament is that it is a 7 round swiss tournament meaning that no players are knocked out of the competition even after losing a game. After the local heat competition, the NSW school semi finals tournament takes place where Masada College invites the best 5-10 players to compete for our school in a relatively tougher tournament that took place and we developed further chess experience giving our gifted and talented chess students the opportunity to further develop and build on their chess skills and improve.

I honestly need to admit that my 2 years of playing for our school has been a phenomenal experience and one that I will never forget. I enjoyed gaining valuable chess experience and improving my playing through this experience. I was able to lead a team and demonstrate and develop leadership, perseverance, calculation, humility, calming strategies, overcoming fear and my chess skills at the same time.

Throughout the 2 years of team chess, one of my biggest challenges was facing tough opponents who would be either my level or higher and this was a really big challenge as I knew that I had to take everything slowly and calm down in order to get a win or a draw. Secondly calculating moves in time pressure was another challenge as I was low on time in some games and I had to try and find the best continuation possible. This was tough as my body was tensing up and I was in panic making it really difficult to remain calm during those circumstances. Another challenge I had to face was helping my teammates get back on their feet again. This was really tough as some of my teammates began feeling bad after defeats while I was there telling them to throw the defeats aside and keep fighting.

First of all, I would like to extend my biggest thanks to Mr Gill and Ms Bresler who have been instrumental in helping me establish the Masada College chess team and helping me get onboard with my dream to compete for our school. Second of all, I would like to extend my thanks to one of my best friends Alan Li for helping me communicate to Ms Bresler and Mr Gill and being such a loyal vice captain to me for 2 years despite the fact that he did beat me in Masada’s very first chess tournament.

Throughout the 2 years, he was always there to support me, give me advice and be by my side when I had lost games to opponents in the semi finals tournaments last year. This year, he took a big step forward and led our school’s second division to Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College and achieved a remarkable second place achievement. I would also like to congratulate him for all of his accolades and friendship he has shown towards everyone.

Last but not least, I would like to thank another best friend of mine Alexander Wu who has served as the chess vice captain’s assistant for one year, jumping in and helping Alan and I when we needed him and displaying friendship and encouragement to our team members. William Hu

The HICES Music Festival

The HICES music festival is a program that involves independent schools from across NSW. The experience offered was quite surreal and we were able to interact with like minded people from a myriad of other schools in the state. The pieces we received as part of our finishing performance at Town Hall were quite challenging, but through diligent practice were able to be rehearsed to an acceptable standard. A skill I took away from this experience would definitely be the ability to converse with other people and be more comfortable working with people from different schools and backgrounds in music. I would like to extend my thanks for this unique opportunity to Ms Lyons of Masada’s music department, who was largely responsible for arranging our enrolment into the program and was a supporting staff throughout our time there. A great memory to cherish.
Austin Fan

Masada Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

This Hike was a huge learning experience bringing all of the Masada Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students together. On the walk I learnt to keep on persevering, even when you think you can’t walk any further. I acquired a new love for nature and saw some new plants I haven't seen before such as the Pine Heath. I really enjoyed playing riddles with my walking group to take our minds off our pain and tiredness. It felt so rewarding to get to the campsite knowing I had had a strong hike and remained calm and collected even in times of struggle. It was the jokes and laughter that gave me the power to keep on walking to the end. It was confusing to have a group of students guiding our way at the front of our walking group. It took a lot of teamwork to navigate our way through the bush and know what way to go when we came to a two way path. I found it hard to orient a map on such a large scale, and to know that our guidance would have an effect on where our group would end up was confronting. I took it in my stride and was open to learning more about my surroundings. I now know a lot more about how to tell which direction you are faced, and what map features and landforms look like. I would like to thank the amazing Black Diamond team that ran both our practice and qualifying hike, and to Ms Kirkpatrick, Mr Pellett and Mr Yau for their support. Without Ms K’s support and encouragement and the Black Diamonds hiking expertise Year 9 Bronze Duke of Ed 2023 would have not been possible. Erin Shaun

At the end of this July I got the opportunity to complete my Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh qualifying hike along with many other of my peers. I really enjoyed this journey as we got to complete it together as a team and we helped each other out throughout the hike. I also really enjoyed the beautiful views especially during the coastal walk that we completed on the second day. Some sections of the hike were more challenging than other parts like the inclined hills and steep rocks but we conquered them together as a team. Some skills that I feel as I have developed from this experience are:

1. Navigation: Being able to learn to interpret maps and compasses to make our way through unfamiliar locations.
2. Physical Endurance: Hiking long distances requires a lot of stamina and I feel like during this experience I developed endurance.
Finally I would like to thank Ms Kirkpatrick and the Black Diamond who made this adventure possible for us. Thank you for guiding us along the way and supporting us throughout this journey.

Romeo and Juliet

Our Year 9 class went on an English excursion to Seymour Centre to see Romeo and Juliet. The play was about the tale of Romeo and Juliet, but with a few modern modifications to make it more entertaining to us students. I enjoyed the chaotic nature of the play. It was very interesting to watch because even though we knew the story, we never knew what to expect next in this ‘unexpected form’ of the play. I enjoyed the fighting scenes that were very entertaining and realistic. (even fake blood!!) But I also enjoyed the sweet scenes of Romeo and Juliet alone with one another, and the stillness of the theatre. Knowing about the past is such an important concept. Even if the story wasn’t true, it represented the time frame and the type of people who lived back then. Despite this, I also learnt that in life there is no ‘right or wrong way’ to do something. These actors expressed the story in a way that I will definitely always remember. I would like to thank our English teachers, Mrs McEwen and Ms Cameron for letting us see this incredible play, as well as all the staff who organised the experience. I know I will never forget it, and I also speak on behalf of my classmates. Zara Duder-Forrai

The Year 9 cohort were lucky enough to go to see the play Romeo and Juliet at the Seymour Centre this term. After watching the production we were to capture our understanding of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in a visual form. We had full creative direction whereby we could choose to construct a collage of images/words/quotations to represent the whole play or make a 3D model representation. I enjoyed the amount of independent thought, and the creative process of the whole task. Initially conceiving an idea that embodied a specific scene within the play presented a challenge, and then, transforming that idea into a tangible representation proved to be an even more of an undertaking. (But) the assignment presented me with many skills like: problem solving, creativity and patience. Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs. McEwen for her guidance, support, and assistance throughout this assignment. Talia Kohn

Debating Workshop

On the 22nd of August, myself and many other students from the Senior School participated in a Debating Workshop. A coach from the University of Sydney joined us for sessions held throughout the day, teaching us valuable skills that we aim to carry into future debates. We took notes on general debating skills and held a practice debate between different grades towards the end of the final session. I specifically enjoyed listening to a presentation delivered by the coach as I feel that myself and my team gained invaluable skills from this that are beneficial to both general public speaking and structured debates in particular. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I found it challenging to work with the team in producing a structured argument within a short timeframe as we didn’t have much prior experience in doing this. I would like to thank Ms Zeman for organising this amazing workshop for us and our coach from the University of Sydney for giving us the opportunity to develop transferable skills that we will take beyond our school years. Isabelle Henkin

Hebrew Day

We had the opportunity to participate in Hebrew day, which is a day where Year 7 and Year 8 go to Chabad and do different Hebrew activities. What we truly enjoyed about it was that we enjoyed the chance to collaborate in diverse groups comprising both Year 7s and Year 8s, an experience that not only solidified our bonds but also enabled us to partake in a wide range of enjoyable activities. We found great satisfaction in the dual experience of learning Hebrew while having a blast during our activities! It was equally fulfilling to acquire valuable leadership and teamwork skills and ensure that everyone in our group had an opportunity to contribute. After lunch, we received an envelope containing a list of challenges in Hebrew. We found this particularly demanding because it required us to carefully consider our actions and decisions. Additionally, having to adapt to new situations and collaborate with individuals we don't typically work with was a rewarding experience. It opened up numerous opportunities for personal growth and development to be quite challenging.

Engaging in these activities allowed us to develop several transferable skills, including what we believe that among the valuable skills we gained, leadership and teamwork were particularly prominent. These skills resonated with us because maintaining a balance between them is crucial; placing too much emphasis on one can lead to deficiencies in the other. Through our experiences, we learned the significance of balancing leadership and teamwork for effective problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, self-confidence, and adaptability. These skills will undoubtedly be beneficial as we continue to grow and pursue various experiences beyond our school life. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Mads, the Hebrew teachers and Ari and Jessica in Year 10 who made this experience possible and helped us grow through it.

Atara Hasofer and Eli Goldberg

The right question is usually more important than the right answer.
Plato

A few years ago, I was part of a professional learning group who were focusing on questions in the classroom. Our common goal was to create a learning environment which encouraged our students to ask rich questions. As part of our study, we decided to invite a colleague into one of our lessons to focus on the questions that we asked during the lesson. As the observer, our job was to keep a record of the questions we heard being asked.

When we came together to receive our lists and see the types of questions we had asked in our observation lesson, there was silence in the room. No one could believe the number of questions on each list – some of us had asked up to 45 questions in one lesson! When we stopped to reflect on the list, many of these questions were related to admin-related tasks…Do you have a pencil? Where is your book? Do you need more time? If we wanted our students to be curious and to ask generative questions, we needed to model asking these types of questions as well as giving our learners time and space to think.

I was reminded of this experience when I came across a book called, Big Questions from Little People: And Simple Answers from Great Minds. A collection of children’s questions have been gathered and experts in the various fields have offered their own personal responses. A reflection from the writer particularly resonated with me…

When my son asked his question about the moon that evening, I was busy making a mental list of what we had in the fridge for dinner. Lying back in his buggy, he was taking in the beauty of the night sky. There above, he saw a pale and ghostly globe shining in the darkness for the very first time. His question ‘What dat?’ demanded I see the full moon too. So we stopped and stared, and how strange and new it seemed to us both.

Next time one of our learners asks a big question, let’s give them space and time to ponder and even wonder with them.

Masada College Early Learning Centre 2024 and 2025 - Enrolling Now
Masada College offers classes for two, three and four year olds.
SUMMER Monday through Friday - 7:30am to 6:00pm
WINTER Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - 7:30am to 6pm and Friday - 7:30am to 4:15pm
All food is included. If you have a child this age or know someone that does, please contact the Enrolments office to begin the process to secure a place in our beautiful purpose built facility.Please encourage anyone you know not currently at Masada to contact the enrolments office at enrolments@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or register for a Centre Tour via our website as we would love for them to join us.

Kindy 2024 and 2025 - Enrolling Now
Please encourage anyone you know not currently at Masada to contact the enrolments office at enrolments@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or register for a School Tour via our website as we would love for them to join us.

Year 7, 2024 and 2025 - Enrolling Now
Please encourage anyone you know not currently at Masada to contact the enrolments office at enrolments@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or register for a School Tour via our website as we would love for them to join us.

In Hebrew we are preparing for Rosh Hashana. The children have learnt about all the customs and traditions of this Chag to have an understanding of the significance of eating apple and honey. They have explored the functions of bees and have enjoyed hearing the shofar being blown by Rabbi everyday. This teaches the children about our key values of kindness and respect and reminds them to improve a little bit every day.

In the Rainbow Room, our 2 year olds are taking their first steps into understanding different countries and cultures that make up our Masada and global community.

Through engaging activities and playful interactions, these curious toddlers are embarking on a journey that transcends borders. From beautiful plum blossoms and learning the language in China, to the historic landmarks of Israel and incorporating our Jewish heritage and chagims, from the vibrant rhythms and incredible animals of South Africa, to the wild landscapes of Australia and New Zealand and learning about the traditional owners of the land - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Māori People. These toddlers are immersing themselves in a world of diversity.

Through picture books, music, and simple crafts, the children are introduced to the sights, sounds, and flavors of different nations. By fostering an environment of exploration and respect, we're sowing the seeds of cultural understanding that will hopefully bloom into empathy and open-mindedness in the years to come. The children loved sharing their own culture and learning more about their peers, parents, and teachers.

What an exceptional experience it was to welcome fathers into our centre to commemorate Father's Day. Our classrooms were thoughtfully arranged with captivating activities, designed for fathers or cherished individuals to relish alongside their children. It remains uncertain who derived greater joy from this occasion—the children or the adults themselves. Heartwarming handmade gifts from the children were exchanged with radiating smiles.

It was an absolute joy to guide prospective families through the enchanting Masada Cottage Early Learning Centre. Meeting new faces and engaging with families while addressing their inquiries about our offerings was truly heartwarming. With our commitment to nurturing children aged 2 to 5 years old, this establishment serves as an exceptional stepping stone for their educational voyage. With excitement, we anticipate extending a warm welcome to fresh faces and families as we embark on the journey of 2024.

A palpable sense of excitement fills the Year 5 classroom whenever the term ‘lunch buddies’ is mentioned. The Year 5 students brim with eagerness as they anticipate meeting with their ELC buddies once again. This term was no different, and fortunately the weather cooperated, granting our students the chance to engage in playtime at the ELC playground.

Their activities included rounds of soccer, imaginative Lego block constructions, shared reading sessions and spirited escapades on the playground equipment.

Throughout the year an extraordinary bond has blossomed between these two groups of children and is sure to continue when the Year 5s transition into Year 6 and their ELC counterparts progress into Kindergarten.

The recent new student lunch at Masada was a delightful gathering where new students had the chance to connect with the school's leadership team and other new students across the College. It provided an invaluable opportunity to gauge how well our newcomers have settled into their academic journey and to discover what aspects of their Masada experience they are truly enjoying. Sitting together around a shared table, fostered a sense of community that will undoubtedly continue to thrive throughout their time at Masada.

The P&F held its first ever cake pop day during book week. Students were treated to a juice popper and delicious funfetti cake pops smothered in various flavors of chocolate and icing. The P&F also ensured that students could spoil their fathers and grandfathers by selling beautiful fathers day gifts. The gift consisted of a labelled mug filled with lollies and chocolates and a cute toolset keyring.

The Kindergarten children participated in a Science Marble Run incursion facilitated by Fizzics Education to assist in consolidating their understanding of the concept of forces. The children were provided with a range of materials to build their own marble runs and discussed the concept of gravity, friction and momentum. This also provided them with the opportunity to synergize with their peers and to develop their creativity and problem- solving skills as they tried to make their marble runs work. This incursion was a fun and engaging way for our young students to learn about Science.

The Junior School Art Show was a wonderful celebration of all the fabulous artworks that the Masada K-6 students have produced since the start of the year. Artworks ranged from realistic pencil drawings, mixed-media paintings, sculptures and prints. TheYear 6 Living Historian portraits were one of the highlights of the exhibition. The audience, staff and executives were able to vote for their favourite Living Historian portrait just like the actual Archibald Prize. I am so proud of all of the students who put in so much effort to produce their artworks. The students thoroughly enjoyed walking through the exhibition to see what all the other grades had produced.

Our Year 4-6 girls were lucky enough to listen to Ruth Wienburg at our latest Women of the North session. Ruth shared a bit about her role as a Social Worker working in Adoption and Foster Care. She explained to the girls what the difference between foster care and adoption is, and explained why some people might need help looking after their children, whether that be on a temporary or a permanent basis. The level of questions asked by our students was absolutely incredible. We are so proud of the maturity and respect that our girls showed during the session. Thank you Ruth for a truly inspiring talk.

Book week is the most jam packed and exciting day of the whole school year. This year's book week costume theme was to dress up as your future self. We saw exceptional creativity go into these costumes, with ideas such as lawyers, Matildas players, movie directors and more. To top off an amazing day, we were lucky enough to meet the author of Real Pigeons, Son of Death, The Greatest Blogger in the World and Hello Twigs: Andrew McDonald. He gave everyone some tips and tricks guiding them to becoming outstanding authors. He discussed how to generate ideas and then put them onto paper and much more. To end the day, we had an intense game of trivia, which featured students and even a teachers group. This trivia included questions and even a special impromptu acting battle - Micah and Ryan vs. Mrs Gunsasekara and Mrs Maltz. Of course, the students won! Looking forward to seeing what the last few weeks of this amazing term will bring.

Your Junior school captains

Micah and Ryan

To celebrate our Science units from Term 2 and 3, Year One visited Adamama Farm - an Urban Jewish Education Sustainability Hub located in Randwick. We enjoyed a hands-on experiential day, learning about all things food, sustainability and nature related. We were lucky enough to taste freshly picked lettuce, coriander and sugar cane. We also learnt to make kites out of recycled materials.

With the month of Elul and in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, the Junior School fulfill the mitzvah of listening to the Shofar being blown every morning with a learning moment led by either Rabbi Lewin or Rabbi Friedler.

To immerse our young students in the Chag of Rosh Hashanah, The Shofar Factory shared with students the significance,symbolism and process of preparing the Shofar. The experience culminated in students sanding and sealing their own shofars.

Year 1 have been busily preparing for their Siddur Presentation which was celebrated on Friday 1st September. The shul was filled with songs and expressions of gratitude by the students in receiving their own Siddurim. The students presented their learning and focus on chesed and being a kind person which was linked to their presentation taking place in the month of Elul.

Students embraced this year’s Book Week theme, ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ by dressing up as their ‘future selves’. The creativity and imagination amongst our students was wonderful to see as they disregarded logic and came dressed in an array of characters and professions.

Andrew MacDonal, author of the very popular Real Pigeon books came to speak to the children about writing his novels and the trivia game provided lots of fun and unearthed some serious literary champions.

Da Vinci Decathlon took place in 2023 back at Knox Grammar School with the excitement of a live event with all competitors jostling in the one large auditorium. Each school team was challenged to engage with the 10 events focused on the theme ‘Unity’. As usual it was an intellectually stimulating and frustrating competition testing the resilience of our competitors. Years 7 and 8 participated on Tuesday 25th July while Years 9, 10 and 11 ‘stepped up to the plate’ on Wednesday 26th July.

The 2023 team members were as follows:

Year 7 – Aiden Bethlehem; Phoenix Dawe; Ella Levi; Daniel Lovkiy; Bella McHugh; Gabby Sion; Gabriel Treisman; Jaida Walt.

Year 8 - Jihoo Chun; Shakked Gazi; Ethan Henson; Taylor Henshall; Lachlan Jackson; Andrew Jiang; Jade Kaye; Sonny Liang.

Year 9 – Zara Duder-Forrai; Lia Gazi; Isabelle Henkin; Ariella Mirkin; Alvin Quin; Jenna Rossi-Zalmans; Yam Tchelet; Guangzhao Zhu.

Year 10 - Satya Chadda; Chase Feldman; Ben McNeil; Arin Michels; Daniel Ouyang; Jessica Sternberg; Alexander Wu; Sherman Yan.

Year 11 – Orli Ades; Jess Bernstein-Beck; Kobe Choy; Arin Ginsberg; Ricky Maltz; Mika Nobel; Rebecca Roozendaal; Becky Xiang.

The 10 events are:

1. Art & Poetry

2. Cartography

3. Creative Producers

4. Engineering

5. English

6. Science

7. Mathematics

8. Ideation

9. Legacy

10. Code Breaking

Certainly, students report that participation in the State da Vinci Decathlon is a consistent highlight of the year. It requires a student to be resilient, intrepid, an ‘out of the box’ thinker, team player, creator and collaborator. Also essential are logic, problem solving and a growth mindset as each event presents participants with unexpected challenges.

Some student comments from 2023 are noted below:

Participating in the da Vinci this year was fun and enjoyable because we could attend the competition physically rather than through the screen. One of the highlights of the experience was the engineering section that Satya and I worked on, scoring 4th place. Overall, it was a rewarding and fulfilling experience definitely worth doing. - Daniel Ouyang, Year 10

Da Vinci is a renowned competition for students to show their knowledge in a variety of subjects. It is an academic competition but on the day the communication and teamwork make it a lot of fun and doesn't feel like work. – Alvin Qin, Year 9

Being a part of the da Vinci Decathlon team of 2023 was an exciting and challenging experience. This year’s competition brought forward a greater sense of team spirit among the group as for many, it was our first year competing in person. As a whole, I feel greatly appreciative to have been part of this experience and am excited to see what Knox has in store for next year’s Decathlon! – Isabelle Henkin, Year 9

I really enjoyed the da Vinci decathlon. I had a good time working with my peers and competing in different subjects. I really enjoyed the parts where we got to meet new people from other schools and graffiti all over the tables. I had a lot of fun and I'd love to participate again next year! – Ella Levi, Year 7

Results for da Vinci need to be placed in a context. In 2023 most year groups had over 70 teams participate from throughout New South Wales and in some over 80! Some of these schools are selective with large cohorts. Katherine Zeman, Adi Halevi, Sharon Bresler and I are enormously proud of this year’s teams. The results were as follows:

Year 9 – 8th Cartography; 15th Ideation (out of 74 teams)
Year 10- 4th Engineering; 13th Legacy (out of 73 teams)
Year 11 - 6th Creative Producers (out of 63 teams)

Congratulations to you all!

Karen McEwen
Da Vinci Decathlon Coordinator

On the 30th of August Year 8 made an exciting trip to Penrith Lakes in order to dive deeper into the topic of ‘Water in the World’. The day started off with a debrief of the purpose of Penrith Lakes. Today the lakes are used for recreation and environmental uses such as water treatment, but previously in 2000 it was a site for the Olympics. Prior to that, the lakes were dug out and the pebbles and rocks found at the bottom of the floodplain were shipped all across Australia to be made into gravel and concrete. In fact the majority of our motorways have been made from rocks at Penrith Lake! We also learnt about the management strategies that are used to retain and cleanse the water. High turbidity and sluice are combated by introducing native species, such as Bass to fight Carp, and selective weed spraying is used to reduce Hydrillas.

Following the debrief given by the park rangers, Year 8 headed to their two waterland locations. Those being the Waterside Residential Area and Regatta Lake. On the drive there, we were provided with information about the environmental state and history of the locations. Arriving some time later, Year 8 began to complete the many water quality tests, including usage of geographical instruments for phosphate, acidity, clarity, temperature and turbidity. This day taught us many invaluable lessons about the importance of water quality and why we pursue it. The day was incredibly fun, even though none of us got to take out our swimmers!

By Shakked Gazi and Taylor Henshall

Masada College Career Insights Morning

On Friday 1^st September we hosted the annual Career Insights morning. Year 9, 10 and 11 students had a wonderful opportunity to learn about different careers, industries and educational pathways from both current professionals working in these areas and ambassadors from both Universities and Private Colleges. There were 25 guests which included alumni, parents, as well as industry representatives and ambassadors from Universities/Private Colleges. Students participating learnt about opportunities in a range of careers such as; Engineering, Science, Hospitality, Defence, Architecture, Logistics, Sports Management, Music and more.

UNSW Engineering the Future Podcast
The Engineering the Future series is a space for thought-provoking conversations about the bold ideas that will impact society over the next two decades. From exciting developments in nuclear technology and major transformations in the mining industry, through to the universal impact of artificial intelligence, we speak with leading academics and industry leaders about the technological marvels that will define us as we work towards a more sustainable future for all.
https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/news-events/events/engineering-the-future

SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 Junior Computer Animation Festival - Applications Close 27 October
The SIGGRAPH Animation competition is an exciting opportunity for school students to unleash their creativity and showcase their emerging talents in a 2-minute animation. Let your imagination run wild. More information here

Cadetships, Apprenticeships, Traineeships

Master Builders Apprenticeship Services | Pre-apprenticeship Program
3-week entry level training program provides an introduction to industry and a carpentry trade prior to commencing an apprenticeship. Participants will learn how to build house frames, safely use hand and power tools, undertake measurements and calculations for project work, effectively demolish part of a structure, work safely at heights, and apply first aid. Earn 6 units of competency towards CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry. For further information visit: https://www.mbaapprenticeship.com.au/mbas-pre-apprenticeship-program/.

Jobs

Sportsgirl
Sportsgirl are hiring new casual Sales Team Members for holiday season in-stores, commencing from October through to January 2024. We can support your growth from shop floor to head office and offer the learning and development to grow your knowledge and further your career in the retail sector. Click here to apply! If you're ready to dive into a world of possibilities, make sure to also apply at sister brands Suzanne Grae and Sussan too!

SummerJobs.com.au
A website with that includes lots of casual summer jobs - https://summerjobs.com.au/

Update from Tertiary Institutions

University Admissions Centre (UAC) - Digital Information Sessions
A range of free webinars available to students and parents/carers to access live or to view recordings of events. The sessions include information and Q&A’s on the application process, panel discussions with experts on moderation and scaling, and introductions to the many and varied universities in NSW and the ACT. They also include a series of sessions focused on popular fields of study. Visit the following site for more information: https://www.uac.edu.au/schools/uac-digital

Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) Information Evening – 13 September
Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, film, 3D animation and visual effects at the AIE Information Evening. The evening will include presentations on different areas of industry to get into as well as information about AIE courses and entry. Register here

ACU - Webinar Series
- Talk with Exercise Science and High Performance Sport Professionals – 20 September @6pm. Register here
- Talk with ACU Arts Graduates – 21 September @ 6pm. Register here
- Talk with Psychologists, Youth Workers and Social Workers - 26 September@ 6pm. Register here
- Talk with Nutritionists and Dietitians - 27 September @ 6pm. Register here

Australian Institute of Music
- Song Writing Holiday workshop – 25 September. More information here
- Music Performance masterclass – 25 September. More information here

Sydney Actors School - Study Musical Theatre
The Sydney Actors School Musical Theatre Diploma offers a practical and comprehensive approach to developing your singing, dancing, and acting skills and equips you with the real-world skills needed to begin a career in musical theatre. For more information visit: https://www.sydneyactorsschool.edu.au/diploma-of-musical-theatre/

Whitehouse Institute of Design
- Illustration and Portfolio – 3 October. More information here
- Foundation Sewing – 4 October. More information here

Macquarie University
Year 12 webinar series on topics such as Early Entry, Study Without Stress, Guide to Uni and more – For more information and to register click here

UNSW - Explore UNSW: Engineering your Future, Friday 6 October @ 9am – 3.30pm
Year 10 and 11 students are invited to explore a day in the life of an Engineering student at UNSW. During the day, students will have the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops, whilst connecting with current students, academics and alumni. This event will be held during the Spring School Holidays. Register here

UNSW - Aviation Short Course - 3 - 4 October
This two-day short course is aimed at Year 9-12 students interested in a career in Aviation. From the technically challenging cockpit with awe-inspiring views to the operational, logistical, safety and commercial challenges of managing airports and airlines, UNSW Aviation is uniquely placed to create graduates ready to take on opportunities and become future leaders in this exciting industry. Register here

University of Sydney - Webinar Wednesday sessions
Registration links can be found on the Undergraduate Events page. These webinars are best suited for students from Years 10-12, and include tips on your school subjects, preparing for university and how to choose a course. The series also includes faculty-specific speakers. Upcoming webinars:

Sydney Design School
Interior Decoration Workshop – 4&5 October. More information here