From the Principal’s Desk: The Joy of Purim

The spirit of joy and celebration was evident across our College last week as we embraced Purim. The campus was transformed with colour and laughter, from our littlest learners in the ELC showcasing their costumes to our primary students parading with flair and our senior students making statements with their imaginative ensembles.

Our Senior School Masquerade Ball, organised by our fantastic 2025 senior prefect team was a highlight, with students dancing and celebrating in an atmosphere of festivity and community. Meanwhile, the Junior School activities brought smiles as students engaged in traditional Purim games and celebrations. The joy was palpable as our Jewish Life Department led the activities of the day.

Among these celebrations, I am proud to share the success of our inaugural North Shore Women's Megillah Reading, which took place in the shul in partnership with Kehillat Masada and North Shore Synagogue. This event brought together our senior school girls to witness something special - women's voices bringing to life the ancient text of Megillat Esther.

The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Throughout history, women's voices have rarely been heard, yet the story of Queen Esther centres on a woman whose courage saved the Jewish people, in a story over two and a half thousand years old. There is symmetry in women chanting the text, for women, that celebrates a woman's heroism.

Nine incredible women from the Sydney Jewish community spent hundreds of hours between them, studying this ancient musical tradition. I extend a special acknowledgment to Ora Teichtahl in Year 8, whose hard work and leyning made her the first Masada College student to participate in this initiative. Ora's dedication in chanting the sacred text set an example for her peers, and we are proud of her achievement.

We hope that more of our girls will be inspired to partake in this tradition in the future. We hope that this event has planted seeds that will grow into a new tradition at Masada College, one that honours both our heritage and our commitment to empowering young women to bravely use their voices for good and to lead with courage.

Raquel Charet
College Principal

A warm welcome back to our community to the 2025 school year. It's hard to believe we are already over half way through the first term of the school year. The college prides itself on providing support to our students and families to ensure they thrive and flourish during their school journeys. There are a number of ongoing opportunities for families both inside and outside of the college across a range of subject areas that may be of benefit to you and your children. Below is a list of current offerings from some of our trusted partnerships as well as our parent session for 2025.

Jewish Care- ADHD parent support group
Jewish Care provides a phenomenal service to our community across a range of different areas including youth wellbeing services. One of their offerings is providing support to parents who have children with ADHD. If you would you like to meet with other parents facing similar experiences in a supportive environment and connect with others whilst gaining valuable resources, and discover the power of community, please visit this link for a sign up: https://jewishcare.com.au/events/adhd-parent-support-group/

Office of the e-safety commissioner
eSafety is Australia's independent regulator for online safety. They educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent. There are also a range of parent education resources including webinars and fact sheets. These can be accessed here:https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Elevate- parent series webinar
Elevate is an organisation that has been working with your child’s school to help them become more effective learners. Your child’s ability to self-motivate, manage their time and prepare effectively will be a crucial factor to guarantee their success over this academic year. Join them for our exclusive webinar series where we will show you – as parents – how to best support your child through school. If you are interested, sign up for the mailing list here: https://go.elevateeducation.co...

Sue Mclean Parent session at Masada
We are thrilled to welcome Sue Mclean back to Masada. Sue will be presenting her dynamic and engaging workshops to students during the day on Tuesday 25th March and we have also organised a parent session that evening that is not to be missed.

An informative & entertaining session for Parents and carers is delivered with Susan’s famous ‘no-nonsense‘ approach and will cover the positive benefits of technology, as well as what parents need to be aware of, including:

• What are kids doing online: You know Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Sykpe but what about Omegle, Musical.ly, Yubo, Melon or KiK? These other apps are also used as live streaming sites. What are the age restrictions and why are they important? What are they exposed to and why can this be a problem
• Online Grooming: What is it and when/how does it occur? What are the warning signs and what to do if you suspect this is happening to your child?Cyberbullying
  What it is, where it happens, what it looks like, how to prevent it and what to do if it occurs? Also the legal consequences and the possible criminal charges.
• Sharing Nudes and Sexting: The taking and sending of explicit images. The social and emotional consequences as well as the Law.
• Potential dangers and safety tips: How to assist the children in your care to stay safe online via parental controls and restriction passcodes.
• Problematic Internet use and gaming issues

The session will conclude with an opportunity to ask questions. We encourage all parents to attend. The session will take place at 6:30pm sharp in the Teperson Centre. Please RSVP here.

Mrs Natalie Street
Head of Academic Care Y7-12

Rosh Chodesh Circle

Our Year 10 and 11 girls came together for the launch of our Rosh Chodesh Circle, a new monthly tradition designed to connect students with the unique energy of each Jewish month. Rooted in the power of feminine connection, this special gathering offers a space for our students to uplift and empower one another. Mrs Dadon shared insights into Rosh Chodesh and its deep connection to women, and Ms Gottlieb explored the theme of joy in Adar, reflecting on the meaning of true happiness. Mrs Hayman and JLED Madricha Shani then led an interactive activity, where students chose a meaningful quote about joy, shared it with a friend, and wrote it on a heart-shaped locker magnet - a daily reminder to embrace joy throughout the month.

Purim

What an incredible Purim we had across the school! The festive spirit was truly alive as students and teachers embraced this year’s Heroes and Villains theme with creative costumes and enthusiasm.

The day was packed with exciting activities, including a costume parade, giant inflatables, a "Dunk the Teacher" water challenge, carnival stalls, the Year 6 fete, lively lip-sync battles, and a special high school assembly. We were also fortunate to have members from various youth groups join us to lead some of the festivities.

Students actively participated in the four Mitzvot of Purim, and together, we raised funds for three meaningful charities. A highlight this year was our first-ever women's Megillah reading hosted by Kehillat Masada.

Shterny Dadon
Head of Jewish Life (ELC-Y12)

Early childhood is a critical period for social and emotional development, as children begin to form relationships, express emotions, and navigate social interactions. The process of settling into a new setting can be challenging for young children. Ensuring a smooth transition is essential in fostering a strong foundation for their social and emotional well-being.

One of the most important aspects of settling children into the Rainbow room is the development of secure attachments with educators and peers. A well-established settling process allows children to build trust in their new environment, feeling safe and valued. This security provides a strong foundation for exploring relationships, engaging in learning experiences, and developing confidence in social interactions.

Young children are still learning how to manage and express their emotions effectively. A well-structured settling process provides consistency and emotional support, helping them understand and regulate their feelings. With the guidance of early childhood educators, children learn strategies for coping with separation anxiety, frustration, and other emotional challenges, fostering resilience and self-awareness.

Settling into the Rainbow room enables children to engage in group activities, cooperative play, and social interactions with their peers. These experiences are vital for learning essential social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, empathy, and conflict resolution. Early exposure to a structured social environment allows children to navigate social situations more effectively, setting the stage for positive relationships in later life.

A smooth settling process promotes independence by encouraging children to explore their environment and engage with others without constant parental presence. When children feel comfortable in the room, they develop a sense of autonomy, making decisions and solving problems on their own. This sense of independence contributes to their self-esteem and overall emotional well-being.

Masada Cottage is not just a place for play; it is a space for meaningful learning. When children feel secure and comfortable in their environment, they are more open to new experiences and eager to participate in learning activities. A positive settling experience fosters curiosity, engagement, and a love for learning, setting the foundation for academic and social success in the future.

Petro Burger

ELC

We are thrilled with our newly selected SRC for Semester 1 of 2025! They are brimming with energy and excitement, ready to make a positive impact on our school and community. Keep an eye out for all the fantastic initiatives they will be rolling out this year. We hope you all get involved and show your generosity. Get ready! They will kick things off with a fun and interactive trivia quiz for Harmony Day.

On the 14th of March, Masada College had our annual Year 6 fete. On this day the Junior School students got to participate in multiple activities from hamentashen decorating, organised games , enjoying delicious coke floats and many other fun activities. Through the sale of raffle tickets and our fun activities, we raised money for new things to enjoy at the school and we will also be donating some of the proceeds to Magen David Adom.

By Karah Bernstein-Beck & Mo Zeng Year 6

Last Thursday was a day of cheers and splashes as our Year 3-6 students took to the pool for their swimming carnival. After a week of rainy weather, we were incredibly fortunate to have a day free from rain.

The majority of students participated and gave their best. It was inspiring to see so many students enthusiastically participating, with some challenging themselves in every race!

Events included freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and the popular "choose your own stroke" race. There were some impressive displays of skill and determination from all participants.

The day concluded with the highly anticipated fun race: Year 6 students versus the teachers and senior house captains. The competition was intense, but in the end, the teachers proved too strong. It was a fantastic way to end a memorable day.

Brad Gordon

PDHPE and Sport

On the 6th of March was our annual swimming carnival. Years 3 to 6 competed in swimming races. Some of our amazing swimmers even made it to the next round for ASSISA. With all the chanting and cheering we are sure everyone had some fun. The year 6 class even got to do a noodle race against the teachers. Sadly the teachers won but we still all had so much fun.

We were so impressed by all the teamwork and support . Thank you!

By Ricky and Ariel (Junior School sports captains.)

I’m sure you will join me in congratulating Mr. Daniel Morris and his wife, Liat, on the birth of their first daughter, Michal. Our community had the joy of meeting baby Michal for the first time when she visited us on Purim.

Mazal Tov to our weekly Benching(Grace after meals) raffle winners! This year, we’ve introduced an exciting new initiative—students who bench nicely each day receive a ticket and are entered into a weekly draw at assemblies.

Congratulations to the exceptional individuals who have been recognised as recipients of the Week 6 Merit Awards!

All Senior School parents are invited to join our special parent workshop being run by expert Sue McLean on Cyber Safety for our young people.

The workshop will run on Tuesday, March 25 at 6.30pm at the College. Please click here to RSVP.

Topic covered include:

• What are kids doing online? You know Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Sykpe but what about Omegle, Musical.ly, Yubo, Melon or KiK? These other apps are also used as live streaming sites. What are the age restrictions and why are they important? What are they exposed to and why can this be a problem?
  
  
• Online Grooming What is it and when/how does it occur? What are the warning signs and what to do if you suspect this is happening to your child?
  
  
• Cyberbullying What it is, where it happens, what it looks like, how to prevent it and what to do if it occurs? Also the legal consequences and the possible criminal charges.
  
  
• Sharing Nudes and Sexting The taking and sending of explicit images. The social and emotional consequences as well as the Law.
  
  
• Potential dangers and safety tips How to assist the children in your care to stay safe online via parental controls and restriction passcodes.
  
  
• Problematic Internet use and gaming issues

The session will conclude with an opportunity to ask questions.

The Maths competitions we will be running this year include the following.

1. Kangourou Sans Frontieres (KSF) 26th March 2025. Cost $5.20
This is an international competition open to Year 7-12, the 30 questions are multiple choice and will take about 75 minutes to complete. The questions encourage critical thinking and problem solving across a broad range of mathematical concepts. Sample questions have been given out to interested students and permission notes have also been completed.

2. Mathematics Challenge Term 2 2025 $29
This is a 6 problem challenge that students can work on over 4 weeks. It is open to Years 7-10. Students get to work on interesting questions that are more involved allowing them to explore new concepts in more depth. Students are required to submit their solutions for marking after 4 weeks.

3. Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) 5-7 August 2025. Cost $9
This is a 75 minute Multiple Choice competition and is open to Years 7-12. (please check dates do not clash with assessments). Samples will be available closer to the time.

How to apply: Students will be made aware of competitions and permission notes will be given out to interested students to get signed by parents/carers. If permission is received the cost will appear on their school account. If you have any questions please email Ms Wong pwong@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au or Mr Steel dsteel@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au

Ms Pauline Wong
HOLA - Mathematics

The Year 11 Peer Support leaders recently organised an exciting Peer Support Picnic for our Year 7 students. The event was a vibrant picnic filled with laughter, giant games, and energetic music, all aimed at fostering strong friendships and helping the Year 7s feel more connected to their new school community. It was inspiring to see our older students taking on leadership roles, guiding and supporting the younger ones as they built new relationships and shared enjoyable experiences. Events like this are a wonderful reminder of the power of peer connection and the sense of belonging within our school.

Miss Jessie Kirkpatrick
Peer Support Coordinator

On a recent Incursion Day, our Year 11 Design and Technology students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the creative process of bringing their Reflection ideas to life. The day was designed to help students understand the key steps in transforming concepts into physical forms, focusing on building momentum and refining their ideas along the way.

The workshop buzzed with activity as students engaged in hands-on work, exploring different construction methods, testing materials, and fine-tuning their designs. It was an exciting and dynamic atmosphere, with our students fully embracing the challenge of moving from thought to action.

This incursion was a fantastic example of the practical learning experiences that enhance our Design and Technology curriculum, offering students the chance to develop their technical and creative skills.

Ms Meg Steel
TAS Teacher