Latest News

A happy and sweet New Year in the Junior School

Excitement was buzzzzzing in the Junior School from the moment the Year 2 students blew their shofarot in the Prep - Year 5 classrooms in the morning. The annual Rosh HaShanah Festival ensured every student was involved in engaging hands-on learning in preparation for the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days). Please click here for images from the Festival.

With each year level participating in different activities, there was excitement as students baked honey cake and honey joys, learned how to braid their own round challah, decorated special challah covers as well as other Rosh HaShanah themed craft activities. There was a special Tashlich ceremony outside where students were encouraged to reflect on their behaviour from the previous year and decide

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Year Levels: P, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Celebrating Rosh HaShanah and our new Hanhagah

Today in a special Rosh HaShanah Assembly we thanked our 5783 Hanhagah (student leaders) for all they have given to our school. From helping us to take action to better the world (Tikkun Olam Vaad), leading our student T'filah (Vaad Yahadut), creating a culture of joy and inclusivity (Vaad Ruach) and bringing out the artists in all of us (Vaad Tarbut) - among many more initiatives from each Vaad - the 5783 Hanhagah has enriched our school immeasurably. We then welcomed in our Hanhagah for 5784. Mazal tov to all of our new student leaders, and particularly the Roshim (Captains) of each Vaad.

Vaadat Ruach (School Spirit): Naomi Irons, Shani Jachimowicz (Rosh), Aurelio Orsillo, Poppy Rauchberger (Rosh), Lila Singer

Vaadat Tikkun Olam (Social Justice): Mia Bentata, Tash Freiberg, Reagan Perlstein, Ella Simons, Dylan Umansky (Rosh), Shelley Wajsbrem (Rosh)

Vaad Yahadut (Jewish Life): Alex Aronovych (Rosh), Trixie Bu

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Year Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Arendelle comes to Orrong Rd with Frozen Jr

Our Years 6-9 students shone as they brought the iconic movie, Frozen, to life this week with their performances of Frozen Jr., the musical. This had one of the biggest casts in KDS's history. We were happily taken to Arendelle with its beloved characters including Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, Hans and Oaken. Please click here to see photos from the production. Thank you to all involved for such a memorable experience, especially our Head of Performing Arts Eli Erez. We absolutely loved 'letting it go'.

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Year Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9

Insights: Reflecting on Rosh HaShanah

Dear Community,

As we approach the Yamim Noraim, the days of awe, our tradition encourages both introspection and externally focused actions which promote reconciliation in our relationships.

It is a quirk of Judaism that we celebrate Rosh HaShanah, our new year, before Yom Kippur, our day of atonement. Surely it would make more sense to atone and then to approach the new year with slate wiped clean, relationships restored and ready for a new beginning.

Rabbi Jacqui Ninio explains this phenomenon by suggesting that we need to use the nourishment and sweetness of Rosh HaShanah to prepare ourselves to engage honestly in the challenge of Yom Kippur. She states: “All the studies about resilience teach that gratitude and appreciating our blessings, and the good which surrounds us, is the means by which we build fortification to help us withstand the challenges which will come our way. Jewish tradition embeds that in

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Gan Gefen's Mitzvah Tree

After trying some rimon (pomegranate) last week, we have continued our learning about what pomegranates symbolize during Rosh HaShanah. The pomegranate is supposedly full of 613 juicy, red seeds. Please click here to see our learning in action. The children have been prompted to imagine that each seed inside represents a good deed (mitzvah) that they can do during the coming new year. The children have been encouraged to think of specific kind actions that they can do, like helping a friend, sharing their toys or packing away.

What is a mitzvah? The literal meaning of the Hebrew word mitzvah is commandment or rule, but the generally accepted sense is that of a good deed. The emphasis is on deeds - not on positive thoughts or wishes, but on

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Year Levels: K

A celebration of musical talent

What a thrill to be part of this week's annual Spring Concert, this year showcasing musical talents of students in various choral and musical ensembles from Years 1 to 12. Please click here to see images from the Concert. The Percussion Ensemble gave a dramatic introduction to the performances playing the 20th Century Fox theme. Solo performances by Shayna Epstein and Jacqui Pizzo (Year 12) and Year 9 students Emily Umansky and Sophia Barolsky (with their composition projects) were hauntingly beautiful. The Junior, Middle and Senior Choirs delighted with Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Count on Me and Song of Purple Summer respectively.

Also part of the program were the Junior Rocking David Ba

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Year Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Former IDF Chief of Staff speaks at Caulfield Shule

Late last week Year 9 students, alongside students from other Jewish Day schools, heard former IDF Chief of Staff Lt General Aviv Kochavi speak at Caulfield Shule. Lt General Kochavi shared stories from his 40 years of service in the IDF. In that time, he has witnessed many changes in the political situation between Israel and its neighbours. Many Arab states that used to be enemies are now no longer antagonistic.

Lt General Kochavi spoke about happiness comes from having meaning and purpose. He also linked the discipline, managerial skills and experiences of failure and perseverance that army service involves with Israel's culture as a 'start up nation'.

The talk provided food for thought, as well as admiration for the work of IDF soldiers who are close in age to our Year 12 students.

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Year Levels: 9

Science of Elite Sports Performance St Kilda FC excursion

This week the Year 10 Science of Elite Sports Performance attended the St Kilda Football Club Recovery Right program. We got shown around by AFLW player Georgia Patrikios. She is in her third season at St Kilda FC and has previously won the Best and Fairest. We got to see the training facilities including pools, gyms and ovals including the new Danny Frawley Centre and were taken through an education session on recovery for players. Please click here to see some photos from the excursion. Students looked at training programs for AFL and AFLW players, recovery methods and also looked at the importance of sleep. Students then got to experience the facilities and complete various recovery methods such as the sauna, Ice baths, Normatec boots and other sports massag

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Year Levels: 10

Spotlighting innovation through toys

As part of our Inquiry unit based on Inventors and Inventions, our Year 2 students experienced a Toy Invention incursion where they explored different toy inventions from various eras. Please click here to see photos from the incursion. They learnt the important role that inventors like Leonardo Di Vinci played in the design of toys that can be seen today. The students had an amazing time experimenting with the toys, their design and invention. Students also put their own toy together and identified its features, origins, materials and energy use.

"It was fun exploring all the different toys from many years ago" - Phoenix

"My favourite toy to play with was the rocket launcher" - Atticus

"It was fun learning ho

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Year Levels: 2

Understanding symmetry through art

During Mathematics this week, students had (a little too much) fun putting their symmetry skills into practice. The Year 4 students created their own African – inspired masks. Please click here to see some images from the class. These wonderful designs centered around identifying the line of symmetry and exploring reflective symmetry (mirror images).

Ben Stein

Junior School Teacher

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Year Levels: 4

Year 12 students showcase their talents at Yellow Wheel's upcoming season

Year 12 students Charli Cantoni-Bud and Jasmine Weisberg have been chosen to be part of the Yellow Wheel Contemporary Dance Company's major season. Yellow Wheel, established in Melbourne in 2012, is an Australian dance company specialising in working with young people and emerging artists. Yellow Wheel presents fresh, ambitious new dance works featuring the next generation of young movers, as well as supporting artists to create and present work.

During the upcoming school holidays, from September 21 - 24, Charli and Jas will perform in two new dance pieces. These works have been choreographed by the renowned Kyall Shanks, in collaboration with the dancers themselves.

"Hive Mind" is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the evolution of human connections. "The Dancing Fever of 1518" is a performance that needs no explanation; it speaks for itself.

Charli and Jas invite you to join them for a

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Year Levels: 12

Eating our vocabulary

Over the past few weeks during Hebrew, our Year 3 students have been learning the story 'Aba BaMitbach' (Dad is in the Kitchen). They have been learning and practicing the vocabulary and verbs around the story and implementing the vocabulary in real-life conversations. Please click here to see images of our Year 3 students baking and learning.

This week, our students brought the story into life by decorating their own cakes, while practicing Hebrew at the same time.

A follow up activity was writing their own story in a "photo album" based on the cake-decoration activity.

Yael Rath

Hebrew Teacher

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Year Levels: 3

Tikkun Olam Vaad presents: Ask Yourself about food packaging

In the final part of the Hanhagah's Tikkun Olam Vaad's 'Ask Yourself' series, this week they asked Magid campus students to consider our food packaging choices. The Vaad created a video featuring students showcasing different packaging choices for their lunches.

The Tikkun Olam Vaad stressed that a big way we as a school could make an ethical impact is through reducing our use of plastic. Each year, Australia consumes close to 3.5 million tonnes of plastic and in a single year the average Aussie discards 130 kilograms of plastic!

The Vaad shared these links:

If you are looking for some great reusable packaging try beeswax → https://www.beewrappy.com.au/

If you are looking for more information on how you or your parents can improve on making low waste school lunches → https://www.cleanup.org.au/school-lunches

Thank you Theo, Zach, Sammy, Tara, Ellie and Blake for prompt<

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Year Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Year 6 share stories from their suitcases

During this week, our Year 6 students took great pride in showcasing their 'Stories From My Suitcases' exhibition. Please click here to see photos from the exhibition. This event served as the concluding activity in our Year 6 Humanities Migration Unit. Throughout the term, students delved into topics encompassing the challenges and prospects experienced by migrants and refugees.

Year 7s observed the Year 6 students expressing the reasons why they would bring sentimental items as an immigrant to a new country. This shared experience was heartwarming and enlightening.

Well done to the Year 6 students on producing a creative and informative showcase.

Adam Black

Year 6 Level Coordinator

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Year Levels: 6

Events

Shana Tova from TBI

(Event finishes 05/10/2023)

TBI would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year - Shana Tova! We invite you and your family to celebrate with us across 2 days of services and events. Take a look at our schedule to join in prayer, song and celebrations, including Tot and Family services, so there's something for the whole family to enjoy on Rosh Hashanah. Please visit tbi.org.au/highholydays

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Saltpillar Theatre Night - KDSPA and Friends of KDS Group Booking

(Event finishes 19/10/2023)

The Parents' Association together with Friends of The King David School (for grandparents and friends) has organised an exclusive night out at Saltpillar Theatre's hilarious musical comedy, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Join us on Wednesday 18 October from 7:30pm at the Phoenix Theatre in Elwood for a fun night out. Seating will be allocated according to time of booking to fill up each row sequentially.
Featuring some of our talented KDS Alumni, it is sure to be an entertaining evening - not to be missed!
To book your seats to this special event, please click here.
For any questions, please email kdspa@kds.vic.edu.au

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Membership of TBI for KDS Families

(Event finishes 29/09/2023)

TBI offers KDS families a 50% discount on their membership fees, and KDS reduces tuition fees equivalent to 50% of TBI membership fees, making TBI membership essentially free for KDS families! (KDS families who are staff at KDS also receive a 50% discount from TBI) For more information, please call TBI on 9510 1488 or email info@tbi.org.au.

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Join Kedem this High Holy Days

(Event finishes 22/09/2023)

Join Kedem for High Holy Days services led by community members Rabbi Gabbi Sar-Shalom and Cantor Ohad Rein.
To purchase non-member tickets, please contact Rosi on rosi.kedem@outlook.com
Please see the flyer attached for more information.

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Kedem's Service for the Soul

(Event finishes 05/10/2023)

Join Kedem for their Service for the Soul on Shabbat Shuvah: the special Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
"Return O Israel, to the Eternal your God" - Hosea 14:2
Saturday 23 September
10 am at a home and on Zoom
Register with Rosi: rosi.kedem@outlook.com

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