Kesser Torah College Your Weekly eNewsletter Thursday 29 January 2015 / 9 Shevat 5775 Parshas - Beshalach Shabbos candlelighting - 7:45pm Shabbos ends - 8:43pm Welcome back everyone! In this week’s special edition newsletter, we share with you all the EXCITING and AMAZING INITIATIVES that will be taking place at KTC! Primary (Pgs 4-6) Thursday, 29 January 2015 Secondary (Pg 7-9) Principal’s Message Dear Parents, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you back to another exciting year at KTC. Our entire staff has been eagerly preparing themselves for what IY”H (with Hashem’s help), hopes to be a fruitful and productive learning experience for your child. Please take a moment to read this first eNewsletter. The sole focus is to present just a tiny snapshot of the amazing new initiatives we will be integrating this coming year. In keeping with our open door policy, I would like to impress upon you all that I will warmly welcome any discussions you wish to have with me - should it be sharing positive feedback or specific concerns, or simply how KTC can better meet the needs of your children. We want the opportunity to be able to engage with our parents as well as our students. The best way to set up a meeting with me, is to contact my PA Sarah Vasin on 9301 1109 or [email protected]. Wishing you all a good Shabbos and a restful weekend, - Rabbi Dr Noteh Glogauer - Principal Click here to return to Index Page Click here to return to Important Dates Thursday, 29 January 2015 Important Dates TERM 1 2015 First Day Term 1 2015 Thursday 29 January Wk 1 First Day Term 1 2015 - Year K Wk 2 Tu B’Shevat Wednesday 4 February Wk 3 Primary Parent Information Evening Wednesday 11 February Advanced PSG Briefing (all Parents) Tuesday 17 February Wk 4 Wk 6 High School Meet The Teacher Breakfast Wk 7 Sunday 22 February Taanis Esther Wednesday 4 March Purim BOYS Swimming Carnival (Years 3-12) Wednesday 11 March Indoor Soccer Competition (Years 7-9) Tuesday 24 March Wednesday 25 March Thursday 26 March Last Day of Term 1 Tuesday 31 March Holidays 2nd Night Seder Thursday, 29 January 2015 Thursday 12 March & Friday 13 March Indoor Soccer Competition (Years 11-12) Erev Pesach (1st Night Seder) Click here to return to Important Dates Friday 6 March Tuesday 10 March High School Vaccinations Wk 10 Thursday 5 March GIRLS Swimming Carnival (Years 3-12) Pi Days - a Mathematics Event (Primary & High Schools) Wk 9 Wednesday 18 February ECC/CRELS Grandparent Wine & Cheese Night Shushan Purim Click here to return to Index Page Friday 30 January Term 2 commences Friday 3 April Shabbos 4 April Tuesday 21 April General News PSG Roster - Term 1, Week 2 Monday - Thursday Afternoons: ARRIVE AT 3:00PM SHARP! Friday Afternoons: ARRIVE AT 2:15PM SHARP! Mazel Tovs To Francois & Tanya Sarzin on the birth of a daughter. AM Mendy Gershowitz Gil Mizrahi PM Ruth Apple AM Eli Chaiton To Lance & Loren Suntup on the birth of a son. PM Chana Raizel Friedman AM Michael Berkovits To Rabbi & Chaya Perlow on the birth of a grandson; a son to Boruch Sholom & Chanie Kantor. PM Romy Krassenstein Monday 2 February Tuesday 3 February To Zalman & Chaya Lever on the birth of a daughter; a granddaughter to Rabbi & Aviva Itkin. Wednesday 4 February AM Miriam Ziegler PM Cathy Roberts AM Mark Ray Mark Reinhardt PM To be filled Thursday 5 February Click here to return to Index Page Friday 6 February Click here to return to Important Dates Thursday, 29 January 2015 To Rabbi Mendel & Tzippy Kastel on the engagement of their son, Shuie to Sheva Tennanhaus. To Rabbi Elozer & Miri Gestetner on the engagement of their son, Shuie to Chaya Greenbaum. Primary School The Primary School extends a warm welcome to the following new teachers: Joel Lewis-Ninyo Teaching Year 5 Boys Teaching IT to Years 1-6. Laura Butler Teaching Year 4 Girls Orna Binder Teaching Ivrit to Years 3-6 Lynn Saber Teaching Ivrit to Years K-2 Mendy Barber Jewish Studies Learning Support Danny Winterfeld Teaching Year 4 Boys The Year K dismissal times for Term 1: Monday - Thursday Friday 3:10pm 2:30pm We are delighted to introduce one IT period per week for Year 1-6 classes. Click here to return to Index Page Click here to return to Important Dates Mr Lewis-Ninyo has designed a comprehensive IT learning program to develop and enrich the students' IT skills. Lessons will encompass: • The use of the computer and iPad operations • Safe and efficient browsing on the Internet • Using graphics to create artworks and manipulating images with a digital camera or iPad • Formatting and editing texts • Data handling - understanding and creating spreadsheets • Creating and generating charts and graphs • Entering basic formulae into a simple spreadsheet • The creation of slideshows and multimedia presentations • The use of iMovie to create and edit multimodal texts Thursday, 29 January 2015 Primary School In Jewish Studies.... We will be implementing our tailor-made outcome-based Kriah program in the Infants school. We will ensure continued individualised attention and to allow each child maximum review time, each Year K and 1 class will be divided into three teacher-lead groups three times a week, where they will learn and review the Kriah skills through engaging and fun activities. In line with our vision to reach all our students, we will be trialling a special ed Chumash class for Year 3/4 Boys. The Jewish Studies Learning Centre will be supporting students needing assistance in Kriah. The implementation of outcome-based learning in Chumash in Years 3 - 6 using the Zekelman Standards. The implementation of outcome-based learning in Mishnah and Talmud in Years 3 - 6 using Menachem Foundation and Gemora Berurah Standards. An emphasis on having fun and meaningful programs for special days both within each classroom and across the Infants and Primary schools. Leadership Program for Year 6 students Click here to return to Index Page It is with great excitement that we introduce a new Leadership Program for the Year 6 Students in 2015. The program offers every Year 6 student an opportunity to hold a leadership position in the school that they can feel proud of whilst fulfilling a responsibility that they feel passionate about. Click here to return to Important Dates Thursday, 29 January 2015 Primary School Chess Coaching Sydney Academy of Chess is looking at running chess coaching at Kesser Torah College. The classes will be held once per week. ! Chess is a valuable activity for children, developing their logical thinking skills, concentration and discipline, as well as being a source of much enjoyment! What better way to combine learning and fun! These classes begin with an interactive lecture by one of our experienced coaches. During the second half of the lesson children play games against each other, putting newly learned strategies into practice. As the term progresses and the children become proficient in all the basics, the lectures will move on to more complex ideas such as strategy, middle game ideas and chess technique. The cost for the coaching is $8 per child per lesson. There are approximately 8-10 lessons during each term. If you are interested in your child taking part in this activity, please contact the school office for a form to complete. In the Learning Centre..... • • Click here to return to Index Page Click here to return to Important Dates • • • • Thursday, 29 January 2015 Use of iPads, including apps specific to students with learning difficulties Individualised learning targets set for each student, including strategies and resources, based on assessments, monitoring and observations Use of newly purchased literacy resources to develop skills of written expression, reading, comprehension and spelling Continued support of classroom teachers through in-services and meetings Use of the Classroom Adjustments document to support students with learning difficulties in the classroom Closer collaboration between the General Studies and Jewish Studies learning centres High School The High School extends a warm welcome to the following new teachers: Lily Okati Head of Science Dept Science Teacher Michael Benstock Ivrit Teacher Amelia Phillips Geography and Business Studies Neta Steigrad Ivrit Teacher Hanochas Tefillin / Bar Mitzvah Many boys in Year 7 will start putting on Tefillin and celebrate their Barmitzvahs in the coming year. These significant milestones are made all the more memorable when celebrated together with friends and teachers at school. We do however wish to remind parents about some protocol in this regard: • • • Click here to return to Index Page Click here to return to Important Dates • Parents need to notify the school by email at least 4 weeks before the day Siblings in GHS may not attend If you are going to be providing some sort of refreshments (as is customary) you will need to provide enough for the entire school (+/- 65 students). However, this is to be “refreshments” only (e.g. a piece of cake and cup of juice for each student) NOT a full breakfast. No food may be home-baked, it would need to be bought from an establishment under the KA that is Cholov Yisroel only (e.g. Glicks) In addition to the above, the School would be honoured to present a gift to each boy for their Bar Mitzvah at the Shule service or at the celebration function. Please be in touch with Rabbi Glogauer to coordinate this special gift. Thursday, 29 January 2015 High School GHS Bi-Annual Production The Bi-Annual Girls High School production will be staged at the conclusion of term two, 2015. We look forward to showcasing the GHS‫׳‬s amazing talent in a kaleidoscope of song dance and drama with an array of various performing arts. Celebrating Special Days and Chagim The Shluchos and Coordinators have planned some fun activities to celebrate special days and Chagim in the GHS. • • • • • • • Click here to return to Index Page • • Click here to return to Important Dates Thursday, 29 January 2015 15 Shevat - new year for trees is celebrated with a special class and fruit party. We always provide JNF with volunteers to man the phones for their annual "plant trees" drive. 22 Shevat - a special and inspirational day for girls. This day will have an activity , special learning and inspirational speaker. Purim - Our annual Purim bash with specific theme will take place in our MPH. No one misses this amazing event. Pesach - Specific learning programs to prep students about the dinim and background of this Yom Tov in order to enhance the family Seder. Israel week - A week of learning and activities highlighting the land of Israel with its uniqueness in many areas. This year will include topics on shmittah and its ramifications. Lag B’Omer. Our evening event is always full of song dance music and fun Shavuos program - Includes topic specific learning in school as well as an evening of speakers with inspirational anecdotes. Tisha B'Av - A time is self reflection and appropriate learning with a program of community service to reflect on the needs of others. Elul - A full month of yom Tov prep with classes, speakers and special activities all leading up to the packed month of tishrei. High School Mathematics Department Mr Wagner is looking to start a Maths Club for a period a week in each of the boys’ and girls’ High Schools. Pi Day will once again be taking place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March. Creative Arts Department In Music • The First cohort of preliminary year 11 Music students • The BHS will be performing at the Montefiore this term on the 5th March • The re establishment of the Ukulele and Keyboard ensemble for years 3-6 • And many more exciting performing opportunities planned In Visual Arts • NSW Gallery Trip and study day planned for year 11 /12 • Entries for 2015 Mosman youth art competition opportunity • Frank Stella Sculpture Workshop and display ( cross curricular initiative/ Maths in Art) Click here to return to Index Page In Design Technology • Interior Design development and sustainability workshops • 3D printer Demonstration / how its changing design production • Food Technology "in the Kitchen " programme scheduled for years 7/8 • Coffee Barista School Click here to return to Important Dates Thursday, 29 January 2015