Latest News

Beautiful Kinder Transition Kabbalat Shabbat

Today the Senior Kinder children participated in a special Kabalat Shabbat at the Junior School with Louise, Coordinator of Jewish Life & Learning at the Junior School. One of the experiences offered was to afford each child the opportunity to make a beautiful Magen David necklace. Please click here to see some photos from the morning. All of the children showed great engagement and participated well showing their knowledge about Shabbat within a new learning environment. This is indicative that they are ready for their transition to their new school environment in 2024.

Shiri Peres

ELC Hebrew & Jewish Studies

17
NOV

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Year Levels: K

Year 3 go to Wombat Corner for the first time

Year 3 enjoyed their time at Wombat Corner last week. We spent the first day partaking in activities such as the flying fox, archery and rogaining and then spent the second day at Healesville Sanctuary. Please click here to see photos from the camp. Here are some reflections from Year 3 students:

Louis - In the cabins and bus, our community helped each other because people were feeling homesick.

Levi - On Thursday afternoon, I loved rogaining because I got to look in the bushes and around the campsite for numbers and letters.

Ayalah - On the first day, I loved the flying fox because it was really fast.

Zach - On Year 3 camp, I liked the cabins because they were really comfy.

Leo - On Year 3 camp, I wanted more tim

17
NOV

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Year Levels: 3

Insights: A letter to CSG

Dear Community,

In my family there has been a long lasting joke that is applied whenever someone complains about something no matter how trivial. The response passed down from my grandmother is “Write a letter!” This comes from a time before social media, when the primary channel of activism was to write to your Member of Parliament or to the editor of a newspaper. Our family’s misapplication of this principle to mundane situations like someone failing to take their dish to the dishwasher has become an ongoing source of humour.

Over the last weeks there has been a huge number of people within our community who have adopted this form of activism. There has been a proliferation of open letters that have circulated among the community regarding the crisis in Israel and the surge in antisemitism that we have sadly witnessed locally.

In response to the current situation, I wish to write my own open letter

17
NOV

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Challenging ourselves at Year 4 camp

On a sunny Monday morning 41 bright eyed Year 4 students gathered at school with their huge bags, ready to embark on an adventure. What an adventure it was! Please click here to see images from the camp - there are more available on the myKDS Photo Gallery.

After three train rides, including Puffing Billy with its steam engine and rainforest surroundings, the students arrived at Wombat Corner. As always, finding out their cabin and activity groups was a highlight for many. Setting up the beds with sheets, and organising belongings and sleeping bags, were the first steps of independence on the camp.

Activities started on the very first day and within the three days all students got a chance to try all of the main activities: canoeing, low ropes,

17
NOV

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Year Levels: 4

Our stationery has arrived in the South of Israel!

The stationery we collected for displaced families in the Arava has arrived! Coordinator of the drive, teacher Shiri Peres, shared this message with us:

Dear King David community,

Our hearts are bursting with pride and joy as we pack your generous stationery donations. As you can imagine, we can’t wait to see the Arava children’s faces when they receive all your amazing stationery. The Arava are now in the process of setting up day care centres and schools to accommodate those 943 children up to eighteen years of age.

On behalf of the Australia Arava Partnership we thank you most sincerely for your kindness and willingness to support these children during this very difficult and traumatic period.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Judy Blumberg and Jenny Lipsitz

17
NOV

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Our superb scientists

The King David School was one of 149 schools that entered the Statewide Science Talent Search. Interested students committed lunchtimes and time after school delving into scientific principles related to an area of interest. Our budding scientists were required to invent, experiment or construct a model encompassing innovative ideas detailed in a comprehensive written report. This year students were keen to research areas of interest, or to address matters related to enhancing people’s lives. A diverse range of sophisticated projects were produced from developing a water filtration system to measuring the effectiveness of activities that promote mindfulness.

Our students are to be commended for their effort and achievement. The following results were attained:

Merit: Arbelle Attias-Rabinowitz and Nina Gelfand - Plants That Thrive

Maddie Black - Clean Water Initiative

Acknowledgment: Jasmine Leigh and Eden Swerdlin

16
NOV

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Year Levels: 3, 4, 5

Year 9 students 'Adopt a Digger'

As part of our exploration of World War One and in honour of Remembrance Day 11/11/23, Year 9 History students have been busy with their project "Adopt a Digger."

Students were tasked to complete an attestation paper for each soldier or nurse and design a poster with all the details of someone they found of interest in the "digger database."

Who were these brave people? Where and when did they enlist? How old were they at the time? What did they do before they enlisted? Where were they posted? Were they wounded? Did they survive the war?

Students excelled at research, poster designs and reflections. Leo Gelfand in Year 9 JK writes:

"The war was horrific and the "Adopt a Digger" assignment puts names and faces to all of the soldiers and civilians that died and served. It gives students a great understanding of the history of the war and how terrible it was. It makes it&nb

16
NOV

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Year Levels: 9

ISV Arts Learning Festival - Poetry Competition

One of the greatest lyric poets of his day, Rainer Maria Rilke, once said that ‘the work of the eyes is done, now go and do heart work.’ Poetry connects the reader and writer to their emotional self like no other form of writing can. Like Rilke, students who entered the 2023 ISV Poetry Competition created poetry inspired by close and careful observations and by reaching into their well of feeling.

The eight students who entered the competition are to be commended for embracing this enrichment opportunity with passion and enthusiasm. Each poem was crafted with figurative language and a range of poetic techniques including alliteration, simile, power of three and use of strong verbs. Some examples of striking language included ‘the sky is alive with colour’, ‘speak words of freedom’ and ‘dragon rule the mountains’.

Congratulations to Year 4 student, Poppy Wainrit, for being recognised with not

15
NOV

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Year Levels: 3, 4

Computing students present innovative solutions to real-word problems

On Monday we were fortunate enough to experience the next wave of technological innovation, viewing projects by our Units 1&2 Applied Computing students. Working in small teams to identify and analyse a problem, our students designed and developed an innovative solution to the issue, utilising emerging technologies.

Each team presented their project, explaining how they identified and researched their problem and then developed a technology-focused solution to the problem. Please click here to see photos of the presentations.

Eden Blumberg, Dylan Padowitz and James Gostin developed 'Spot-O', a solution for finding items commonly misplaced by people in aged care settings, including eye glasses, keys and wallets.

Using a mi

15
NOV

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Year Levels: 9, 10

Rabbi Dr John Levi teaches the Year 9 Archaeology Class

On Friday our students were treated to a lesson with one of the Jewish Community’s greatest educators and a Founder of the School.The Rabbi Dr John Levi Antiquities Collection, displayed in the Library, was opened for the students. Please click here to see a few images from the lesson.

Students were able to handle, with care, pieces from across Jewish History from making Torah Scrolls in the Sinai during Exodus, to coins commemorating capture of Iudea by Emperor Vespasian and some authentic Australian pieces as well. The students were enthralled as Rabbi Levi ragaled them with the ways in which he had to transport the antiquities to Australia and his extensive love and passion for Archaeology. To come face to face with artifacts of their Ancient Is

14
NOV

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Year Levels: 9

Our Tiny Tim!

Year 1 student Mira Feldman is currently playing Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at the Comedy Theater. It is an Old Vic Production of the play adapted by Jack Thorne (who also adapted Harry Potter). The show also stars Welsh actor Owen Teale (Game of Thrones) as Scrooge.

Mira shares the role with three other young actors who take it in turns to be on stage or stand by.

Mira is having a wonderful time with the cast and loving every minute. Mira has been inspired by her older siblings who have also been involved in theatre.

Well done Mira!

14
NOV

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Year Levels: 1

A Butterfly update from Year 1

Year 1 students have been so excited to welcome a few new members to our community, beautiful butterflies! The butterflies arrived in their chrysalises. We gave them names and have been watching them change from green chrysalises to beautiful Monarch butterflies. We even managed to film one coming out of its chrysalis - please click here to watch the video. After the butterflies dried and we noticed they were able to fly around, we released them into the world, whilst making wishes. We are so excited to see the rest of our butterflies emerge.

Natalie Porat and Alexa Shepherd

Junior School Teachers

13
NOV

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Year Levels: 1

And now for a Jewish spin on A Christmas Carol

Elise Hearst (Class of 1999) and KDS parent has written A Very Jewish Christmas Carol which is now showing at Melbourne Theatre Company.

The play is a Jewish reworking of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It follows baker Elisheva as she works through the night to fulfil orders for her Bubbe's famous Polish gingerbread.

Hearst told the AJN that there "will be song, there will be Yiddish, there will be joy." Hearst said that with the ongoing conflict in Israel, she has been glad to be working with Jewish creatives on a work that is imbued with Yiddishkeit and celebrates life. To find out more, please visit the MTC's website.

13
NOV

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Events

This Sunday - Kites for Freedom

(Event finishes 23/11/2023)

Please join ARZA and fly #KitesForFreedom. This is a global initiative supporting Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
“You fire missiles at us, we fly kites towards you”
This is an annual event, this year we will be flying kites to FREE the kidnapped Israeli children.
Sunday, 19 November 11:00 am, Hawthorn East
Secure location with private security & CSG on site
There will be music, food and speakers.
Please click here to register.

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Prep - 2 Musical: The Zion King

(Event finishes 01/12/2023)

We are excited about the upcoming Prep to 2 Musical - The Zion King! All Prep to 2 students are involved in this production.
Tickets are now on sale. Please click here to purchase. The bookings site is managed by Monash Performing Arts Centres (MPAC).
We encourage families to book promptly as seating is limited.
Please note: wheelchair/accessible seating may be purchased by sending a purchase request to: boxoffice@monash.edu.

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TBI - B'nei Mitzvah Info Session

(Event finishes 24/11/2023)

Will your son or daughter be celebrating their B'nei mitzvah soon? Consider TBI for their special day!
TBI is holding an info night for its bar/bat mitzvah program. This inspiring and community-building program offers both group learning and one-on-one individualised tutoring, catering to your family and child, and TBI invites parents to attend to find out more.
Info Session
Wednesday 22 November at 7pm
Want more info or can't make the info night, but would still like to know more about the program? Email info@tbi.org.au or call (03) 9510 1488

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Kedem's Mitzvah Day

(Event finishes 23/11/2023)

This year for Mitzvah Day Kedem has chosen to give small gifts to the Community Security Group (CSG) volunteers to thank them for all the work they do protecting the entire Jewish community.
Although the security guards at the King David School, (KDS), are provided through the security group that KDS uses, CSG volunteers protect other synagogues, schools and community events and they do many other tasks to monitor, protect, train, advise and empower the whole community.
Please collect small items, such as tea, coffee, hand cream, bath salts, chocolate etc. Be mindful of use by dates.
Please bring donations to the service at KDS on Saturday November 18 at 3pm.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.

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2023 Presentation Evening

(Event finishes 08/12/2023)

Please join us on Thursday 7 December as we celebrate the achievements of our Years 6 - 12 students.
Please note, this is compulsory for Years 6-12 students to attend.
Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, 7.30 - 9.30pm.

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Advocacy and Empowerment Educational Session + Community Disability Expo

(Event finishes 30/11/2023)

The NDIS, Advocacy and Empowerment Educational Session + Community Disability Expo is a free event for those eager to uncover the wealth of disability support services available for the Jewish community and beyond. Whether you’re seeking assistance for yourself or a family member, our event is your comprehensive guide to:
Dive deep into Navigating the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)
Empower yourself in Advocating for Disability Rights
Explore a world of Disability Assistance Programs
Immerse yourself in the Expo with over 20 organizations exhibiting a wide range of services, from horse therapy to support workers and sailing adventures.
It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with the very best in the field. Please see the attached flyers for more information. Please click here to register.

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