A tale centred around a map with a critical missing piece, devious intentions of a young girl named Ezmai, and a mansion holding secrets about to be revealed were just some of the ideas that materialised in the ‘Write a Book in a Day’ event. On Thursday 29 August, Year 5 students worked in teams over a nine hour period to craft stories in our KDS competition. All given the same starting prompt, the competition required that teams create a cohesive narrative, with refined structure and literary elements. Please click here to see photos from the day.

We were fortunate to be joined by celebrated author, Elliot Perlman, who judged the narratives together with David Opat. Judging was structured around six criteria including continuity of events, deliberate choice of language, and the crafting of ideas to support a theme. Elliot offered our Year 5 students wise words about resilience, overcoming challenge and accepting loss as necessary on the path to success. His key message to the students was that ‘successful people fail, everybody fails. It’s what you do afterwards that counts’.

Dear Community,

Last week the cohort of Year 7 participated in the Kabbalat Mitzvah celebration. This was a wonderful occasion where the students joined their parents, grandparents and special friends in a night of joint learning and reflection on reaching the stage of Bnei Mitzvah and the significance of this in their lives. 

We were privileged to hear from three generations of speakers who each reflected on their Jewish identity and on the value of Jewish education. Millie (Yr 7) spoke about how proud she was to connect with her heritage and how grateful she is to have the opportunities for rich Jewish learning at this school.

Parent, Lara Lubitz, spoke about her hopes for her children and how she felt that anchoring their emerging identities in their Jewish practice had been so meaningful for her. Grandparent, Andrew Jakobovits reflected on his journey to Australia and then about how over time he has come to realise how vital it is to offer young Jews a Jewish school education as a way to ensure their engagement with Jewish life.

Next, Rabbi Allison Conyer addressed the audience on why becoming Bnei Mitzvah was so important.

This week was Gan Tamar's last Bush/Grass Kinder session for the term. With the wind flying through our hair, we eagerly began running up and down the hill, jumping off the tree and rolling down through the long grass. Some of the children found a big long stick and pretended it was a witches' broom and tried to lift it from each side so their friend could sit in the middle and fly!

After morning tea we decided to leave our usual area and go for a big long walk. The children exercised their stamina as we explored the whole park climbing through trees, logs, following paths and bridges, jumping from stone to stone.

We had a great adventure in the grass!

Rivka Ash

Kindergarten Teacher

In what was a very windy day in Melbourne, KDS competed in the annual Balaclava District Athletics Carnival featuring our finest athletes. In 2023 we took home the coveted Usain Bolt Trophy but this year we settled for 4th position. Please click here to see some photos from the day. 

There were some outstanding results on the day with Ness Page taking 1st place in Hurdles as well as Josh Hoffman in the high jump.

Our most successful athlete on the day was Year 4 student Zach Sutton winning three events: 100m & 200m sprints as well as teaming up with Wolf, Archer & Louie winning the 4x100m relay.  All of these students move on to the Beachside Division competition.

Well done to all athletes who braved the tough conditions.

Drew Solewicz

Sports Manager

Last week our Year 5 students had their longest camp yet. From learning about our gold mining history, to experiencing our magnificent landscape on hikes, Year 5 students had an excellent adventure, aided by our wonderful staff and Year 10 student helpers. Please click here to see photos from the camp. 

Here are three students' reflections:

"This year I went to the best camp ever, Year 5 camp.

On the first day of camp, we took a two hour bus ride from Caulfield Park to Sovereign hill. Some of my favourite things we did there were going to the lolly shops and getting lollies then making a colourful candle. After that, we got to go gold mining like how the gold miners used to do. I got a little bit muddy and numb in my fingers from the freezing cold water but it was worth the fun! The first day at the campsite we had to go on a three hour hike, it was very tiring but still fun! On the third day, we got to have a year five trivia night with all sorts of questions, my group even won! One of the challenges I faced in camp was falling asleep, especially on the first night!. My best memory at camp was being able to hold 370,000 dollars worth of gold at the gold pour. I had a very fun time at Year 5 camp and it was a nice adventure away from home. I can't wait to go to Canberra in Year 6."

Tali Rubinstein, Year 5

"Last week, I went on Year 5 camp at Sovereign Hill. My favorite part about Sovereign Hill was exploring 

What a magical Book Week we've had! 

Starting off with a parade on Monday and finishing with the Year 5s writing a book in a day, our students have celebrated stories and characters throughout the week. While Monday was dress up day for our Prep to Year 5 students, each day our ELC students have wowed us with their inventive costumes. It's been wonderful to see so many beloved characters come to life. Please click here to see some photos from Book Week. More will be added on the myKDS Photo Gallery in due course.

ELC and Junior School students were also treated to a visit from renown author Kim Kane, who has written books for multiple ages, including the Ginger Green series, Esther's Rainbow, When the Lyrebird Calls, and Pip: The Story of Olive. Kim explained to our students that "writers are noticers, alwys taking in what's happening around us." To our older students, she explained the book making process and the role that illustrators, graphic designers, editors and publishers have. Throughout the week students shared their favourite stories, and wrote new ones. Thank you to everyone involved for making it so special!

From the ELC, Amy Abrahams in the Senior Kinder reports:

What an amazing Book Week we had this week. It was packed full with many book related activities and special guests. Celebrating Book Week is important because it fosters a love for reading, enhances language skills, and sparks creativity in young children. It also provides an opportunity for social interaction and helps children appreciate diverse cultures through stories. Book Week makes learning fun and supports the development of key literacy skills in an engaging and memorable way.

On Monday Sarah (Asher's mum) came in and as she is an author she told us how to write a book. She mentioned each book needs a front cover, a catchy title, a beginning, middle and ending. We then sat at our 'desks' and wrote our very own books. We drew pictures and created a story, then Zak wrote down the words. 

The King David School is honoured to have received a generous and special gift from the Baer family. This week, David Baer, along with his brothers Adrian and Michael, donated a violin that was deeply cherished by their late father, Herbert Baer, who passed away in 2015.

This thoughtful gift will provide a unique opportunity for King David violin students to experience the beauty of this extraordinary instrument. The violin will be available on loan to a deserving student who demonstrates exceptional musical ability and commitment to our School's values. 

Herbert Baer was a talented violinist who played in the Zelman Symphony Orchestra, the precursor to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, for over two decades. His life was marked by remarkable resilience and perseverance. As one of the last children to escape Nazi Germany via the Kindertransport, Herbert faced internment before arriving in Australia on the troopship Dunera. Despite these challenges, he pursued his education, earning a degree in commerce from the University of Melbourne. In a historic moment, Herbert became the first Jewish person to be admitted to the Melbourne Stock Exchange in 1960.

By donating this violin, the Baer family is ensuring that Herbert's passion for music lives on through a future talented musician. 

NB The second image is of Herbert Baer presenting David Baer with his membership when he was elected to the Melbourne Stock Exchange in 1984.

The KDS 2024 Soccer Olympic tournament run by the Ruach Va’ad went over three weeks of exciting matches every lunch time. The teams were inter-year level allowing for the whole Magid Campus to come together to compete and support each other. Please click here to see photos from some of the games. Last Friday was the Grand Final - Australia VS Brazil! 

The final was an exciting day with music, snacks and lots of student made signs supporting their teams. The game was intense and finished 0 - 0, going into penalties. Australia the Year 7 and 12 team won on the 6th penalty! 

Congratulations to all the teams that competed in this tournament and everyone who came to support every lunch time! This tradition is hoped to be continued every Olympics and team Australia is going to be presented a trophy that will be kept in the KDS trophy cabinet at the next assembly! 

Poppy Rauchberger, Year 12

Last week Charlie competed in the Victorian Interschools Snowsport Championships on Mt Buller as part of King David's team.

He competed in three events: Giant slalom, ski cross, and slopestyle.

Charlie achieved an excellent result in slopestyle and was selected to represent our school in the national championships. He will compete in Perisher Valley in NSW in September.

Charlie recently competed in Maccabi and The ABL Jewish Schools Snowsport Championships where he won all his events.

We are proud that he is able to represent King David and our community in this event and wish him an amazing race. B'hatzlachah Charlie!

This week, the Junior Kinders participated in a drama incursion by Drama Toolbox. Our wonderful drama teacher, Delyse Weisz, took the children on an Aboriginal Dreaming story adventure as they dressed up and pretended to be Australian animals such as emus, frill-necked lizards, wombats, koalas, kangaroos, cockatoos and kookaburras. 

Using performance, music and storytelling techniques, the children re-enacted and became part of the story of Tiddalick, a greedy frog that drank up all the water! Please click here to see images of the children acting. They did so well working collaboratively with others to make Tiddalick laugh and get the water back. 

Ava: It’s a monster frog!

The children shared what they enjoyed the most:

Olivia- dressing as a kangaroo

Lila- putting on the costumes

Millie- making Tiddalik laugh

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the King David School and associated entities was held last Tuesday evening at the Magid Campus.

Attended by Council members, constitutional members of the school, senior leadership and involved community members, School Council President Jeffrey Leigh, Vice President Rochelle Rothfield, Treasurer Susan Taylor and Principal Marc Light all reported to those gathered on the achievements and challenges the School faced in the past 12 months.

Council member Peter Levi sadly decided not to stand for reelection to Council. Jeffrey warmly thanked Peter for his many years of service to King David, instrumental in making the school the success it is today.

Josh Samuel, a parent of two King David students, was nominated to stand for the vacancy made available by Peter’s retirement and was unanimously elected.

Rick Tudor was elected for another two year term, and Immediate Past President Lahra Carey agreed to be co opted to Council for another year.

Council member Danielle Nahum resigned her position on Council. Parent Jason Rose was co opted to fill the vacancy.

Following the AGM, Council met to elect office bearers. Jeffrey Leigh remains School Council President, and Rochelle Rothfield retains her position as Vice President. Carrie Kausman was elected Chair, while Susan Taylor relinquished her role as Treasurer and was elected Company Secretary, also taking on leadership of a new Governance sub committee.

New Council Member Jason Rose was elected Treasurer. Jason brings a wealth of financial expertise to this integral role on School Council.

As is customary each year, Council members reaffirmed their commitment to King David, and pledged to work hard to continue to improve the school for its students, families and staff members. The school is incredibly grateful for the selfless work these dedicated volunteers do for all of us.

We are delighted to share the impressive results from the recent Victorian Interschools competition, where our King David School students continued to demonstrate their exceptional talent on the slopes.

A special congratulations to Charlie Lindros, who has qualified for the National competition in the Slopestyle Ski event! Charlie secured his spot by finishing in the top 20, achieving an outstanding 11th place. Please see the article above for more information. He will now represent King David School at the National competition, which will take place at Perisher from the 3rd to the 8th of September.

We also want to highlight the achievements of Sam Lazarow, a Year 10 student, who delivered a strong performance by finishing 56th out of 154 competitors in the Division 2 Alpine event and 52nd out of 165 competitors in the Division 2 Ski Cross. Additionally, Year 8 student Hugo Samuel showcased his talent by finishing 37th out of 162 racers in the Division 3 Alpine event.

Macy Vorchheimer also delivered a remarkable performance. Although she competed under Mansfield Primary School, Macy is a proud student of King David School. Her skills were on full display as she finished 14th in the Snowboard Giant Slalom event, securing her place at the Nationals as well. Mazal tov Macy!

Year 10 students were recently privileged to hear from Liam Spilman, a visiting IDF platoon commander, who was injured by a UAV, during his service on the Lebanese border during the current conflict. He shared his experiences with the students, giving them a greater insight into the war on the northern front.

His presentation included a video about Beit Halochem (ZDVO), an NGO which provides rehabilitation services to injured IDF soldiers, as well as a photo slide presentation about his story.

Toward the end of his presentation, Year 8 students Gemma Hatfield and Romy Baigel, representing their entire year level, said a few words welcoming Liam, and passed on to him cards of support for and solidarity with injured IDF soldiers.

As a Zionist school, we are proud to collaborate with Beit Halochem (ZDVO) and thank them for facilitating the visit, which stressed Jewish solidarity and Jewish peoplehood. 

Last week, our Year 1 and Year 2 students had an exciting visit from Mad About Science, who brought a world of discovery into our classrooms. This incursion broadened the students' knowledge in key areas of their science curriculum.

The Year 1 students delved into the fascinating topics of sound and light. They participated in hands-on activities that allowed them to explore the differences between opaque, transparent, and translucent objects. They also learned how sound travels and how light is reflected, making these concepts come to life in a fun and engaging way.

Meanwhile, our Year 2 students explored the water cycle with a special focus on water erosion and pollution. They discussed the impact of oil pollution and conducted an oil experiment to see its effects firsthand. This practical approach helped deepen their understanding of environmental issues and the importance of protecting our waterways.

Both year levels thoroughly enjoyed the incursion, gaining valuable knowledge and experiences that will support their ongoing studies in science.

Alexa Shepherd

Junior School Teacher

Last Friday the Vaad Tarbut, Year 12 Hanhagah Arts committee, hosted a high-energy celebration of student and staff musical talent at our Magid Campus. The Recital room was packed as students watched their peers perform. Please click here to see photos from the event.

Year 10 student Ebony Lewis sung a beautiful rendition of 'The Greatest Love of All'. Harry Hearst and Noah Wise drummed and strummed The Red Hot Chilli Peppers' 'Californication'. The King David RocKING band, made up of Millie Zelman, Elijah Lloyd, Jake Birnbaum, Benji Bigos, Jess Zelman, Ellie Newton, and Oscar Gelfand performed Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo.  Finally, the KDS staff band, The Yeah Yeah Nahs Nahs rocked out to 'Born to be Wild'.

No one wanted the music to end but sadly we had our period 5 classes to attend.

Thank you to the Arts Vaad for organising this rocking event! 

Our Years 6-9 students are proud to present this year's Middle School musical: 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat!'
Sunday 8 September (matinee and evening performances) and Monday 9 September (evening performance). Our students can't wait to share this story with you - tickets can be purchased here.  

We look forward to commemorating the upcoming High Holy Days with friends and family, and invite you to join us at TBI services and events.
Across the period, there will be a number of Family events, and we welcome you and your family! These are open to all at no cost! If you would like to attend any of the other ticketed TBI events during this time, discounts afforded by KDS families make TBI membership essentially free - get in touch via (03) 9510 1488 or info@tbi.org.au
For more information on our upcoming High Holy Days programming, visit https://tbi.org.au/highholydays/

Kedem's High Holy Day guest rabbi for 2024 is Rabbi Michael Boyden, from Israel. 
Rabbi Michael Boyden is an honours graduate of London University in Hebrew Language & Literature and a Fellow of the Leo Baeck College, where he was ordained. He is a qualified Marriage Guidance Counsellor and served as a rabbi in Manchester before making Aliyah with his family. He has helped establish Reform congregations in Israel, and served as Director of the Reform Movement's Beit Din (rabbinic court). For more information please see the attached flyer or contact Rosi at rosi.kedem@outlook.com