Dear Community,

One of the things that has changed about our approach to learning at school is our understanding that learning is a social activity. While many parents will recall their school days as emphasising a time when learning was an individual and silent enterprise, the reality is that at particular stages of childhood and adolescent development the socialisation imperative is so powerful that it predominates students’ motivation. Asking students to “just stop talking” is sometimes necessary, but oftentimes, harnessing the social imperative to augment learning is more effective. In this way, learning can be structured to go with, and not against, the grain of natural development.

This week was replete with examples of times when our students showed that learning together can be more powerful than solitary work.

On Monday, I attended our Magid Campus Ensembles Concert. On top of the huge range of brilliant musical performances that showcased our students’ emerging talents, I noticed the genuine collaboration, team work and unity that is required to perform in an ensemble. Alongside the musicality and technical skills with their instruments, we saw our students listening carefully to others, focusing on one another's timing, sharing the physical space, moderating their volume to align with their peers and looking for visual and audio cues regarding when to come in and stop.

As the skill develops it becomes such a vital part of the experience that it becomes a whole bodied musical conversation - a call and response - that uplifts all participants. It occurred to me that what we were really seeing emerge was the musical embodiment of the value that lies at the heart of KDS - community-mindedness. 

This week also saw our Year 5 students participating in the peak activity Write a Book in a Day. In small groups our students worked from morning until nighttime to write a novel. The students were offered a prompt chapter and then spent the day being mentored to develop their characterisation, setting, plot and writing style. They were able to incorporate many of the ideas that they have been exploring in The Writing Revolution program that informs our practice in Integrated English. 

Sh'lach*

Candle lighting 4.50pm

Havdalah 5.51pm

A dvar Torah on this parasha might focus on the “minority report” of the two renegade scouts or spies, Yehoshua and Calev (Joshua and Caleb), who said that although the Land of Israel was filled with giants “have no fear then of the people of the country, for they are our prey: their protection has departed from them, but God is with us. Have no fear of them!” (Numbers 14:9) By contrast, the ten other spies’ report that the Land could not be conquered led “the whole community [to break] into loud cries, and [to weep] that night.” (Numbers 14:1).

As taught by Israeli-British Reform theologian Rabbi Michael Marmur in his Living the Letters, twentieth century French Jewish philosopher Emanuel Levinas suggested that these spies had three anxieties which we need to understand. He argues that they were very understandably afraid of being injured and killed. Secondly, Levinas suggests, anachronistically, that the spies struggled to recognize tzabarim (native-born Israelis) as kith and kin, as if they had prophetically foreseen a potential Israeli-Diaspora rupture. Finally, he avers that the spies were concerned of the moral cost which would be involved in conquering the land. Would the price of dispossession be worth gaining control? 

Marmur writes that the spies’ fears can be summed up in the form of three challenges: “Will we survive? Will the Jewish future after entering the Land be recognizable and desirable? And is the moral price of sovereignty too high?” 

Year 2 students have been working hard in the Kibbutz garden this term. They began by preparing and sowing the soil, learning how healthy soil helps plants grow.

The students were excited to dig up Jerusalem artichokes that had been growing underground. Today, they carefully harvested the vegetables and enjoyed discovering what was hidden beneath the soil.

Another highlight was preparing freshly picked olives for pickling. The children learned about the process of curing olives and how this traditional food is prepared before it can be eaten.

Through these hands-on activities, the Year 2 students have gained valuable gardening skills and a deeper understanding of where food comes from.

Reconciliation Week was honoured at Magid Campus this week with a special smoking ceremony and assembly.

The Year 10 Truth Telling & Reconciliation Derech elective MC'd the assembly with grace and dignity.

These meaningful experiences provided students and staff with an opportunity to learn, reflect and connect, while recognising the rich cultures and traditions of First Nations peoples.

A tale of a perilous voyage across turbulent seas, a character burdened by a mysterious past, and a bus wreck inhabited by monkeys were just some of the imaginative ideas that emerged during this year’s Write a Book in a Day event.

On Wednesday 3 June, Year 5 students worked in teams over ten hours to craft original stories as part of our KDS competition. Teams were challenged to create cohesive narratives featuring strong structure, engaging characters and sophisticated literary elements.

We were fortunate to be joined by acclaimed author and parent Sarah Krasnostein, who judged the stories alongside David Opat. Reflecting on the day, Sarah welcomed our students into the “tribe” of writers, and that being true, they are privy to secrets of how to be great writers. Drawing on the advice of filmmaker Werner Herzog, she encouraged students to “read, read, read, read, read, read”, explaining that writers are shaped by the books they encounter throughout their lives. Books, she suggested, become lifelong companions, and great writing grows from a rich reading life.

Sarah also spoke about the importance of perseverance—of staying committed to a project when it becomes hard and, when the mind is empty, finding inspiration in music, art, people and places. These powerful messages will remain with our students as they continue to develop their skills as writers.

Throughout the day, students demonstrated impressive collaboration, and sustained engagement and effort as they worked towards a common goal. The finished narratives showcase not only the creativity of our Year 5 students, but also their growing command of language and storytelling. Congratulations to all teams for setting high expectations for themselves—and achieving them.

On Tuesday night this week, students in Years 11 and 12 came together for the VCE Trivia Night, facilitated by the Hanhagah's Va'adat Ruach (School Spirit Committee). With students and staff competing in multiple rounds of trivia and mini games and enjoying dinner together, the event was a welcome moment for our VCE students to press pause and enjoy a facilitated space of fun and connection!

Kol HaKavod to Va’adat Ruach -  Charlie Lindros, Tom Marek, Ella Weinstein and Tahnee Wise for planning and facilitating an incredible evening.

On Monday night, the School was alive with the sounds of music as all of our Magid Campus musical ensembles performed for an appreciative audience of supportive parents and teachers.

From our newest musicians taking part in the Year 6 Classroom music Classy Brass program through to our very experienced VCE musicians, there was a huge amount of talent on display. It was wonderful to hear the variety of instruments being learnt throughout the School with brass, percussion, strings, singing, woodwinds, guitars and piano playing all being highlighted in different items throughout the concert. Impressively, many genres of music from Classical through to Jazz and Contemporary items were all performed to a high standard.

Congratulations to all of the students and teachers who participated and made the evening so special and enjoyable.

Any students who are not yet playing in an ensemble or taking music lessons at school but would like to are warmly invited to contact libby.choo@kds.vic.edu.au to enquire about how they can become involved in the program.

Students in Year 5 took part in a creative and inspiring portrait workshop in Art on Monday. They had the opportunity to work with Contemporary Portrait Artist Brent Rosenberg, who spent some time discussing his work and career before taking students on their own creative journey. Students worked with mixed media to create a collage portrait, exploring textures, thickening paint with impasto and using hot glue to adhere fabric to their work. By the end of the workshop everyone had a unique portrait to be proud of and students had a better understanding of the day to day routine of a professional artist. This was a truly inspiring session and the School thanks Brent Rosenberg for giving us his time and expertise.  

Our Alumni Reunions held last Sunday evening were a massive success!

We welcomed back the Classes of 2006, 2016 and 2021 for their 20, 10 and 5 year reunions respectively.

It was a special evening to get together, share memories and catch up.

Thanks to staff, both past and current, who came along to reminisce with our almuni.

This weekend, 25 Year 10 students volunteered their time and weekends to support a participant on Flying Fox Camp. As their coordinator, I was fortunate to spend some time on camp and see them in action myself. It was wonderful to watch each student step outside their comfort zones, work together as a team and build connections with their participants. Each student approached every challenge with kindness, patience and a willingness to help. The students should be very proud of the way they represented themselves and the School. They truly went above and beyond to help create a meaningful and inclusive experience for all involved. 

Kol Hakavod to all Year 10 Flying Fox volunteers! 

Student reflection - Siena Fridman: 

Flying Fox was an amazing 2 and a half day camp that involved us all participating in so many fun activities, learning opportunities and bonding with each other and our participants. We are all so grateful to have been able to participate in Flying Fox camp and the singing, dancing, learning and bonding we had with our participants. We had an amazing VR experience, went to Archie Brothers to play lazer tag, lots of arcade games and bumper cars. We watched a reptile show, did some science experiments and on the last day we headed to Luna Park and went on some crazy rides with our participants.

Last week's King David Foundation Business Lunch tackled the highly topical subject of longevity with a powerhouse panel that included Anne-Marie Elias, Social Futurist; Dan Monheit, Entrepreneur and Bernard Salt AM, Columnist and well known social commentator. The panel was moderated by our very own superstar Marc Light!

We are very grateful to our sponsors:

Gold: Gary Peer | Marlow Recruitment | Trawalla Group

Silver: Eisen Family | EXEC Security | Five Squared Property Group

Thank you to all who attended. It was a very memorable and enlightening event. 

National Reconciliation Week was celebrated across the Early Learning Centre with many engaging activities for the children.

Children explored what it means to take care of the land they play on every day. They read the special creation story of Bunjil, the great wedge-tailed eagle, learning how he created the land, the trees, and the people, and how we must look after his creation.

To connect more deeply with these stories, the children became artists and storytellers themselves. Inspired by Aboriginal art and storytelling traditions, they looked at different traditional symbols. 

The children participated in a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle William Pepper, a proud First Nations person. Three special plants were used in the Welcome to Country ceremony on Bunurong/Boonwurrung Country: Cherry Ballart, Wattle and Gum. The properties of these plants protect guests both physically and spiritually. The smoke is a symbol of water; when you pass through it, it is as if the smoke passing over you is like running water from head to toe.

Kedem invites you to attend a life long learning session. Presented by Rabbi Micky Boyden Should Converting to Judaism be Difficult will be a fascinating discussion about Peoplehood, Covenant and Becoming Jewish
Date: Sunday 14 June (2pm - 5pm)
Venue: in a private home (includes afternoon tea)
Please register : https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1587254 Non Kedem and Non PJV members $20.00

Bring in Shabbat with the whole family in a short, engaging Shabbat. With after-school snacks and Shabbat treats, lively music, Shabbat songs and storytelling ...and home in time for Shabbat dinner!
Aimed at Primary School aged children, all are welcome! No registration required.
4.15pm
Every 2nd Friday of the month
Next event: 12 June

We invite parents in the community with girls in Years 3 to 6 to attend an information session that navigates the transition to adolescence. It is well known that the social world of girls can change dramatically in Years 3-6.
This will be an important session for all parents of girls; it will include people who have worked in this space for many years and a small panel of older girls to discuss their experience.
Please RSVP your attendance here
DATE: Tuesday 23 June 
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Kobritz Auditorium, Junior School, 373 Dandenong Rd, Armadale 

Calling all students from Years 3-12! Join Netzer's Winter Camp  (30 June 5 July).
Sign ups open now: register here
See attached for detail or contact campvic@netzer.org.au

The next session of Storytime with Savta will take place on Sunday, 21 June  at 10.30am in the Junior School library (373 Dandenong Road). Please register here.
Children aged 3-5 years old and their families are welcome to join us where stories are read b'Ivrit (in Hebrew). 
When: Sunday 21 June, 10.30am
Where: Library at our Dandenong Rd Campus, 373 Dandenong Road, Armadale