College Principal
From the Principal’s Desk: Welcome Back to an Exciting New School Year!
What a joy it has been to see our corridors filled with smiling faces and eager learners as we begin another wonderful school year! The enthusiasm of our students reconnecting with friends and diving into new learning experiences has brought such wonderful energy to our campus.
Our teachers have been particularly impressed with how quickly students have settled into their new classes. From our youngest learners confidently exploring their new classrooms to our senior students mentoring their younger peers, the sense of community is already flourishing. It's wonderful to see familiar friendships rekindling and new ones beginning to blossom.
It was lovely to see so many of you at our parent information evenings - thank you for your engagement and thoughtful questions. Please note there has been a change to our upcoming Parent Welcome Evening date – it will now be on Tuesday February 18th. We look forward to seeing you all there for what is always an enriching and enjoyable community gathering. This evening provides a valuable opportunity to meet your children's teachers and learn more about the exciting year ahead.
I realise it may seem unusual to address our Year 10 Masada Israel Trip in this first newsletter of the year, and to direct this message to families across all year levels. However, this timing underscores just how significant this program is to our school community and how essential early planning is - both for us as a school and for you as families. So no matter the age of your children, I urge you to keep reading. To all parents, from those with children just beginning in Kindergarten through to our senior students: the MIT program is a cornerstone of our Year 10 experience. This transformative journey is an essential part of our students' educational journey, and its substantial cost requires early financial planning. I strongly encourage families to begin setting aside funds now, even if your children are in their early years of schooling. Starting early can make this vital experience more manageable when Year 10 arrives.
The MIT program is a comprehensive five-six week journey that includes time in Israel, where students explore their deep connection to the land, engage with Biblical history, and deeply delve into the Jewish heritage and culture. During the program, students also visit Poland and Auschwitz, learning about European Jewish history and the Holocaust. This immersive experience has been a meaningful rite of passage for generations of Australian Jewish Day School students, creating lifelong bonds among classmates and strengthening their connection to Jewish heritage and land. While some financial support is available for Jewish students, even the remaining cost is significant for many families. This is precisely why early financial planning is crucial - we don't want any student to miss this life-changing opportunity due to financial constraints. Our goal is to ensure every student can participate in this essential educational journey that we expect all Year 10 students to undertake.
Sadly, with the Israel situation being what it is, our 2023 and 2024 Year 10 cohorts have not been able to experience MIT. We are very hopeful at this stage, that we are seeing the light at the end of a dark, dark tunnel, and that MIT will be able to go ahead in 2025. Planning for the program has already begun. If you have questions about financial planning for the MIT program, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to support you in making this important experience accessible for your children.
Looking ahead, I'm filled with excitement for all the learning and growth that awaits our students this term. Here's to a fantastic year of discovery, friendship, and achievement! In the coming weeks, our calendar is filled with exciting events and learning opportunities across all year levels. Our sports teams are already training enthusiastically for upcoming competitions, and our music ensembles are preparing for their first performances of the year. The vibrant buzz of activity throughout the school is truly inspiring.
I want to thank you all for being such an integral part of our school community. Your ongoing support and partnership in your children's education makes our school community the special place it is.
Raquel Charet
College Principal
