Dear Community,

Welcome to the new school year! I would like to share with you an extract from the speech that I offered to our students at the Magid Campus opening assembly.

“Students, last week I met with the staff to launch our planning for the new school year. I told them what I consider to be an amazing story about an Englishman called Matthew Syed.

During the 1990s Syed was the UK’s number one ranked table tennis player. He lived in Reading about 90 min from London.

In 1990, Reading had a population of around 200,000 out of a UK population of around 57 million. This means that at the time, around 3 out of every 1000 English people were from Reading. 

Now within Reading there was a particular street called Silverwater Rd. The reason I raise this, is that from the mid 1980s through the mid 1990s more than 50% of the UK’s national table tennis team were from Silverwater Rd. Of 57 million citizens of the UK, there was a bizarre proliferation of talent in this one tiny area. 

The team included Matthew and Andrew Syed who lived at number 119, Andy Wellman who lived at 149, Karen Wilks who lived at 249 and seven other players who lived within the same block.

Most of these had gone to the local school, Aldryngton Primary School.

Now at Aldryngton, there was a particular teacher called Peter Charters who was an elite table tennis coach.

He created a culture at the school where the kids that everyone looked up to played table tennis. He also converted an old wooden shed around the corner from the school and put a table tennis table in there and created a place for those who were interested to play after school and at weekends.  This was called the Omega club.

He also honoured those who showed proficiency and responsibility by giving them a key to Omega and allowing them free access.

Syed states that there were multiple factors that contributed to his extraordinary success. 

Our Years 6-8 students started the school year with Launch Experience, a program of events, activities and discussions. This is designed to ensure students have lots of opportunities to get to know each other, familiarise themselves with school procedures and values, and to get used to challenging themselves with new experiences and learning. Please click here to see a range of photos from Launch Experience. Please note, more photos are available on the myKDS Photo Gallery.

Highlights included the Year 8 students taking ice skating lessons, the Young Scientist program, Year 7 students stretching themselves at Up Unlimited, the Year 6 obstacle course, Earthballs and Splashtastic, and experiencing a taste of electives. Thank you to all the teachers involved who are ensuring our students have a wonderful start to the 2025 school year! 

Candle-lighting 8.09pm

Shabbat ends 9.08pm

This week’s parashah, Beshalach (which means when Pharaoh let the people go) sees the Exodus of B'nei Yisrael/the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In this parashah they pass through Yam Suf/the Sea of Reeds onto dry land and see the elite soldiers of the Egyptians, one of the superpowers of the world, drown in the Sea behind them. In response Moshe/Moses, and then Miriam his sister, break out into spontaneous song, acknowledging the miracle that they just witnessed, and giving thanks and praise. 

What happens next - almost immediately - is that they start to whinge, like really whinge. And they make up rubbish! They reminisce about the massive amounts of bread and meat they ate in Egypt and express a desire to go back. But they-we were slaves in Egypt - we didn’t have massive amounts of anything to eat! 

This week in Gan Zayit, Ava‘s mum Sarah spoke to us about the Lunar New Year. Sarah told us that this year is the Year of the Snake. The snake is gold and red, and that the colour red is for good luck. Just like at Rosh HaShanah, families come together to celebrate and eat special foods such as long noodles for a long happy year. Sarah showed us lanterns and spoke about how it is also good luck to feed a lion money in a red envelope. Sometimes there is a dragon show and these dragons are always very friendly! There are also lots of fireworks. 

Thank you Sarah for sharing this festival with us!

Jen Duband

ELC Educational Leader & Teacher

What an exciting start to the school year! Our Prep students have been busy settling into their new routines, exploring the school, and making connections. The Preppies had school all to themselves last Friday to get used to their surroundings and new activities. Please click here to see photos from the orientation. Please note, more photos are available on the myKDS Photo Gallery.

We went on a special tour around the school, meeting some of the wonderful people who help make our community so special. We visited Fay at reception, Danielle, our art teacher, and Anna, who looks after digital technology and the library, just to name a few!

We also read The Invisible String, a beautiful book that helped us discuss how the people we love are always connected to us, no matter where they are. It was a wonderful way to start building a sense of belonging and community in our classroom.

This week we have continued getting used to our new routines and we have introduced a fun handwriting chant to help us get ready for our lessons:

"You got here by being you, finish it by being the best of you."

Year 12 students launched into their final year last Friday, returning to school before everyone else to settle into their roles as the leaders of the student cohort.

Marc Light shared with students that "Year 12 allows you license to be masters of your own identity", encouraging students to "make the most of school life" and that "what you put in this year is what you will get out of it."

Marc Light reiterated that the School and VCE teachers will work in partnership with them to help them to meet their goals. 

Graduates from the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024 shared their study tips and stories for surviving the year with the new Year 12s. Their advice included to set achievable goals, put phones in another room, study with people who challenge you, and teach what you're learning to friends, your family, or even your pets! The graduates reiterated the importance 

Excitement and curiosity were in the air as Year 6 and 7 students embarked on a riveting journey through science during our recent Young Scientist Program as part of Launch Experience. The hands-on activities challenged students to think critically, work collaboratively, and unleash their creativity.

Year 6 students took on the Marble Roller Coaster Project, engineering the longest track possible while incorporating loops, hills, and curves. With trial, error, and plenty of cheers, teams refined their designs to achieve the perfect ride! Meanwhile, the Scientific Poster Marathon put their observational and teamwork skills to the test as they raced to replicate and design posters displayed in the library.

Year 7 students stepped into history with the Boston Tea Party Activity, where they constructed floating boats designed to protect a tea bag using only paddle pop sticks, tape, and teamwork. The challenge required problem-solving and perseverance! The Spaghetti and Marshmallow Tower saw students racing to build the tallest freestanding structure topped with a marshmallow, testing their engineering skills and patience as they worked to keep their creations standing for at least a minute.

Our Years 6-12 students started the school year with an assembly at the Magid Campus on Monday run by our Year 12 hanhagah (leaders). Principal Marc Light welcomed everyone, particularly our new students and staff. He remarked that it is wonderful to be back at school with some optimism about the situation in Israel. 

Marc's main message to students was to take advantage of the opportunities that the school provides - to have the attitude of 'yes! I'll give it a go!' and try new activities, talk to new people, and push yourself to be your best. 

Director of Jewish Life and Learning Ilan Bloch also reflected on his hope for Israel. Ilan gave a short drash on this week's Parashah, Beshalach. A midrash on the Parashah, Sotah 37a, reminds us of the power of being a leader rather than complaining, detailing how when the Israelites got to the Sea of the Reeds, chased by Pharoah's army, they stopped, refusing to enter. It took Nachshon Ben Aminadav to step up and step into the sea for the rest of the Israelites to follow when they saw that it would be safe. Ilan asked us to think about how we can be more like Nachshon. 

Over the holidays, the cast of our 2025 Senior Musical, Mamma Mia, participated in our SHIR camp. Over the four day camp, the students rehearsed many of the songs and dances for the show. The team of dedicated Performing Arts staff were greatly impressed with the talent, commitment and focus of the students involved. Some of the highlights of the SHIR camp included bonding sessions, themed dress up activities, rehearsing vocal and choreographic numbers from the show, and an evening performance of Sister Act at the Regent Theatre. We can’t wait to see our cast of Mamma Mia performing later this term! Please see the myKDS Photo Gallery for images from the camp.

Eli Erez

Head Of Performing Arts

Aftercare in the Junior School has really started with a bang this year. Our new Aftercare Coordinator, Elena Aront, has a real artistic flair and the students are already producing amazing works of art under her guidance. Naturally, they are also playing games, building, reading and going outside. It is a hive of fun activities. We are not sure that the kids are ever going to want to go home.

David Opat

Vice-Principal Wellbeing and Head of Junior School

Please join the Jewish Museum of Australia for multiple events, including:
Anita and Leonard
11 March 2025 - 12 March 2025
Tuesday 7.00 (7.30 start) - 9.00pm
Wednesday 7.00 (7.30 start) - 9.00pm
Join acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Anita Lester for a special intimate performance at the Jewish Museum of Australia, marking the closing of the captivating exhibition, A Secret Chord. Known for her haunting voice and poetic style, Anita will perform her own songs alongside the timeless works of Leonard Cohen, offering a soulful tribute to his enduring legacy. The evening will also feature the stunning talents of Alma Zygier, Rita Satch and Ari Jacob, weaving together music and conversation in celebration of Cohen’s profound influence.
For more information and to book, please click here.
JMA Music Trivia Night
Thursday 6 March 2025: 7.00 (7.30 start) - 9.30pm
Which Australian-Jewish musician, best known for his hit ‘Working Class Man,’ became one of the country’s most iconic rock stars in the 1980s?
Answer: Jimmy Barnes (his maternal grandmother was Jewish).
Join us at the Jewish Museum of Australia for a night of fun, music and laughter at our Music Trivia Night, inspired by our current exhibition, A Secret Chord.
Bring your soundtrack of knowledge, gather your crew (tables of 5–8) or let us match you with new friends as you compete for the title of ‘Music Master.’ There will be food, drink and a raffle!
For more information and to book, please click here.

Please join Michelle Bihary: mental health clinician, psychotherapist, and family therapist with over 40 years’ experience, as she speaks to the Kedem community on 23 February at 10:15am.
As we live through these unprecedented times of uncertainty and change, we need to develop increasingly sophisticated strategies to cope with the emotional strain this creates.
Register with Rosi (also available on Zoom) - rosi.kedem@outlook.com
Non-members $20
Followed by a light lunch
Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Soccerwise is a fitness, training and development program that focuses on 'understanding the game' of soccer. Soccerwise is perfect for anyone with an interest in soccer and caters for any fitness or skill level.
Soccerwise is at KDS on Wednesdays afterschool, catering for Prep-Year 5 students. All levels of experience are welcome! 
Please see the attached fliers for more information. 

The UIA is privileged to have IDF Major-General (Ret) Noam Tibon and his wife Gali as their exclusive guests at this year’s Progressive Appeal, to tell the dramatic story of their rescue mission to save their son and his family.
For Noam and Gali, 7 October 2023 began like any other day until they saw a text from their son, Amir, that there were terrorists inside their kibbutz, Nahal Oz, in southern Israel. Worried for their son and his family, the retired IDF Major-General decided to head to Kibbutz Nachal Oz. Gali insisted on joining him. Armed only with a pistol, Gali and Noam raced Southward.
Noam and Gali will speak at TBI on Thursday 6 March. Please click here for more information and to register. 

We invite parents and students from Years 5-12 to attend a highly relevant information session on how to help young people prepare for and manage the digital world - social media, mental health and safety. Families will have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Grant Blashki and Isabelle Blashki (click below for more information).
Tuesday 11 March, 7pm. Multipurpose Room, Magid Campus (517 Orrong Road).
This is a free event but registration is required. Please click here to register.

The King David School Parents' Association invites all Prep - Year 5 families to the inaugural Family Fun Day Disco! Come dressed to party!
Note: Prep start time 4:00pm. We are giving the youngest students "early access" before everyone else arrives at 4:30pm. 
Please click here for more information and to book your tickets. 
There will be a pizza truck, games, Purim mask painting, footy handball, dancing and more! 
Come and meet other families at the Junior School at this relaxed and fun afternoon.
Please note that this is not a "drop off" event and parent supervision is required.
If you have any questions, please email kdspa@kds.vic.edu.au

Bring in Shabbat at TBI with the whole family in a short, engaging Shabbat, with after-school snacks and Shabbat treats, lively music, Shabbat songs, storytelling and home in time for Shabbat dinner!
Aimed at Primary School children, all are welcome! No registration required.
4.15pm, every 2nd Friday of the month, starting 14 February.
Temple Beth Israel: 76 Alma Road, East St Kilda

Our Year 7 (2026) Experience Day is being held on Tuesday 4 March at the Magid Campus, 9am - 3pm. Experience Day is an opportunity for students from all schools to join our current Year 6 cohort for a taste of life and learning at The King David School. 
Morning tea and lunch will be provided.
Please click here to register attendance.