King David is fortunate to welcome four dynamic young Israeli adult leaders into our School. Since landing from Israel early Tuesday morning, they have quickly warmed the hearts of all who have met them. On Thursday they hosted a Cafe in the middle of the Magid Institute, where students could sit around a table, find something to eat and drink, and take time to introduce themselves.

Today they lead their first Mifgash, honouring Tu B'Av, and helping to spread the love. Fun filled the Kobritz Auditorium as students shared their thoughts on true love, such as whether it is possible to fall in love millions of times, or just once. They made a mini documentary, where MI studens shared their thoughts on the difference between love of a sports team, of a family and other types of love.

At lunchtime, the Israeli team then offered a series of interactive games, discussions and activities and the Middle School, something which will become a feature of the campus over the next month.

Dear Community,

In this column just last week I wrote about the need to disrupt the ugliness of intolerance and racism where it is found. Sadly this ugliness has gathered further momentum this week in the form of the booing of champion Sydney Swans footballer Adam Goodes.

The Australian Football League has been an exemplar in promoting harmony and a number of important causes. Indeed, the AFL has been prominent in drawing community attention to commemorating our ANZACs, to joining the fight against breast cancer and motor neurone disease, to establishing the Multi-cultural Cup and to honouring Australia’s first people in its indigenous round and ‘Dreamtime at the G’ events.

At The King David School we have celebrated our Yr 5 student, Aiden King, who recognises the positive impact that football can have. He has dedicated himself to collecting football cards for less fortunate kids. This year, Aiden hopes to collect 10,000 cards to help brighten the lives of young Aust

This week our VCE Music Style and Composition class welcomed the young composer and cellist Nikki Edgar. She performed some of her solo music for cello, as well as her sketches of a recent work with the Australian String Quartet.

Adam Yee
Head of Music

Yesterday, students in Years 6-8 celebrated Tu B'Av, a festival of love. Year 7 student, Skyla Howard wrote about her experience below:

'In the morning I came to School and was greeted with a warm hot chocolate which really made my day! I then walked into the hall for T'fillah and said hello to the Camp Sababa kids. I love talking to them and meeting them because they have such friendly and kind personalities

Then the Service began and I decided to sit next to a boy called Moshe. He told me lots of interesting things about himself like is favourite song, how old he was, what he knows in Hebrew, that he loves Camp Sababa and a lot more. I like bonding with these kids because I want to bring a smile to their faces, make them feel comfortable and happy.

This morning T'fillah felt like happiness was every where, like the service was so warm and friendly. We truly felt a sense of love for our Melbourne Jewish community. Moshe was such a sweet boy and I hope to meet many more Camp S

KDSPA are once again facilitating the Art by Kids Fundraiser this year.

Prep to Year 2 students will create their own artwork in class that will be printed as greeting cards. Kindergarten children and Years 3 to 8 students will be asked to create their own artwork at home. Those families interested in participating, need to collect the Art by Kids pack from either Southwick Office (for Kindergarten) or Magid Campus Reception for Years 3 to 8 students.

We are sure your child will love this creative experience and all orders placed also benefits the School financially.

Earlier this week, Year 1 students visited The Collingwood Children's Farm and the Abbotsford Convent Bakery as part of their unit of inquiry, 'From this to that'.

They learnt about what food we get from different animals, had the opportunity to milk a cow, and got to pat and feed all the animals on the farm. They then went to the bakery next door to watch a baker make bread. They all were given a delicious fresh bread roll to enjoy!

The Higgins Community Christmas in July Thank You function was hosted by Federal member Kelly O'Dwyer and with special Guest Sir James Gobbo, AC, CVO, QC, former Governor of Victoria.was held earlier this week.

In recognition and celebration of the many volunteers in our community, it was a great opportunity to thank a few representatives amongst the many volunteers that give so much of their time to our School. Pictured are Ronnie Issko, Marc Light and Taryn Diamond. Mazal Tov!

In this week's Instrumental Enrichment class, Year 3 students began a new and exciting instrument titled 'From Empathy To Action'.

Through a series of role plays the students were able to define what empathy is and think of appropriate responses that match a series of exciting and different images. The students utilised the thinking strategy of systematic searching and making a plan.

Year 3's realised the importance of this cognitive function when they carefully devised a plan before systematically searching to look for a silver key in the class room. They learnt that an efficient strategy can contribute towards finding success in all areas of life.

Year 2 students are currently studying the Jewish Calendar in Jewish Studies. They have been going outside every night throughout the month of 'Av' to record the phases of the moon. During class the students went to the hall and each student made a Jewish Month or an English month with blocks. They had to make the length of the month the exact amount of days. We then lined up all the Jewish months and all the English months. We discovered that once you put all the months in one long line the English and Jewish years are not the same length. Students cleverly then realized that this is because one system is solar and one system is lunar. They then had to solve the problem that all the Jewish festivals would be at the wrong time if the problem was not fixed. They eventually decided that more time would have to be added to the Jewish calendar and they discovered that the Rabbis of old did exactly that by adding 'Adar Bet' every few years. Problem solved!

Term 3 is Shakespeare term for Senior students at King David! Years 8 to 11 students are embracing studying a variety of classic Shakespearean texts in their English and Literature classes. Some of the works examined include: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘Othello,’ ‘Macbeth,’ ‘Coriolanus’ and ‘Hamlet.’

Year 9’s study of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has so far included making their very own masks to wear to Lord Capulet’s party, acting out the famous ‘balcony scene,’ and analysing the themes and ever-present universal truths present within Shakespeare’s language.

Enthusiastic students are enjoying learning why even 500 years on, the Bard’s statement that “all the world’s a stage,” and that they should “be not afraid of greatness” still resonates today.

As part of the commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac, Kelly O'Dwyer, Federal Member for Higgins ran a Higgins Anzac Centenary School Poetry Competition.

Students were encouraged to express their thoughts on the Centenary Commemoration of World War I, as "we remember the service men and service women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during the First World War".

The poetry competition had three levels of entry, Primary School, Years 7- 9 and Years 10 – 12. .

Mazal Tov to Rafael Ungar (Year 11) was the overall winner in the Years 10 - 12 category. Judy Cyngler (Yr 12) and Romi Lazarus (Yr 11) were also finalists.

On Friday both Junior Kindergartens went on an amazingly exciting excursion to the East Melbourne Fire Station. This was our first excursion, so part of our main excitement was catching the big school bus! The children met the Fire Fighters, watched a display of a car being cut in half, tried on uniforms, sat in a Fire truck and watched the Fire fighters climb a ladder to save a person from a double story building. This was all part of teaching the children about fire safety, and the roles of the Fire Fighters In our community. It has complemented our programs where we have been talking about ‘Real Hero’s and ‘People in our community.

KDS Chaverim is a free program run on a regular basis at Southwick Kindergarten and is designed to familiarise 2 to 3 year old children with Kindergarten.

Recently, a Chaverim session was held where children "travelled on a bear adventure through the deep dark woods," using stories and songs about bears and a fun play. The session concluded with a drama workshop which involved the story book, "We're going on a bear hunt". We all snuggled as we sang 'Teddy bear teddy bear turn around', as well as enjoying fruit time with teddy bear biscuits. It was a teddyific morning!

Current Year 5 students attending ANY school are invited to experience a taste of life and learning at The King David School by joining current Year 5 students for a Connect Day on Friday 21 August 2015. 9am to 3.40pm. Please contact Admissions on 9527 0102 or admissions@kds.vic.edu.au

All Primary School families are invited to attend the Secondary School Parent Information Evening on Wednesday 12 August 2015 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. This session will introduce all the varied education programs that are offered to students from Years 7 to 12. Please contact Admissions on 9527 0102 or admissions@kds.vic.edu.au for any questions relating to this Information Evening.