Latest News

Insights: Being Excellent

Dear Community,

This week, we conducted our annual Back to School Service. I would like to share with you the words that I delivered in my address.

Around this time of year, 34 years ago, as an impressionable young person I went to see Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

The film tells the story of Bill S Preston and Ted Theodore Logan who are informed that if they do not receive an A+ for their final History assignment they will be flunked and will not graduate from high school.

The consequences of this would be that Ted would be sent to military school and the friends’ dreams of success for their garage rock band, Wyld Stallyns, would be shattered.

The pair seemed to be doomed as they were presented as barely literate and totally lacking in the requisite skills to ace their papers. Their help comes in the form of a guide from the future called Rufus who presents them with a phone booth time

09
FEB

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Our Beautiful Back to School Service

Our Middle and Senior School students participated in a beautiful Back to School Service yesterday, run by our Jewish Life Va'ad (Year 12 student committee). This year's theme was based on the lesson taken from the film 'Inside Out', which helps us to understand the importance of recognising and feeling our emotions without judgement. Please click here to see photos from the service (there are more photos on the myKDS Photo Gallery). Students from each year shared something they are grateful for as part of Nissim b'Chol Yom (including friends, pets, and time at school). Principal Marc Light focused on the importance of being our best, particularly in our interpersonal relationships. Va'ad Rosh Trixie Burstin-Ir

09
FEB

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

Lifting off with Launch Experience

Our Years 6 - 8 students have started the school year with Launch Experience, jam packed with fun activities that foster team work, organisation, and help each year group get to know each other better. Please click here to see some pictures from the program. Students have walked the 1000 Steps (Kokoda Track), done a Scavenger Hunt, joined the Young Scientist program, learned positive communication and organisation skills, made music together, participated in a Murder Mystery, played with giant bubbles, successfully decoded an Escape Room, and more. Together students launched into a magnificent year of learning in the Middle School.

08
FEB

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Year Levels: 6, 7, 8

Introducing Ilan Bloch, our new Director of Jewish Life and Learning

This year, we welcomed Ilan Bloch as our new Director of Jewish Life and Learning. Ilan has been extensively engaged in Jewish education in Israel for the last 20 years. Ilan embarked on his teaching career at KDS in 2002 teaching Jewish Studies and Hebrew. He also served as head of the Informal Jewish Education Program (now called Jewish Experiential Education). We asked him a few questions:

KDS: Welcome back to King David! How has our school changed since you were here 20 years ago?

Ilan: It is incredible how much the school has grown over the last 20 years - both in terms of capital works, as well as the number of students and staff. What a great testament to all those who worked, and who work, so hard to achieve the vision of a thriving and vibrant Progressive Jewish day school!

What is your favourite part of being an educator?

I love trying to develop independent, critical and independent thinkin

08
FEB

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Learning about Lunar New Year in Junior Kinder

Junior Kinder students have been learning about the Lunar New Year this week. This is the New Year based on the lunar (or solilunar) calendar, that is marked throughout Asia, most popularly in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Korea. The students played with dragons, decorated banners and lanterns, and wore red in honour of the holiday. Please click here to see some photos of the learning taking place. This year the Lunar New Year matches with the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar I.

08
FEB

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Year Levels: K

Want to see more of life at King David?

While The Harp is published weekly, we showcase what's happening at our wonderful school several times a week on our social media accounts. Following us on Facebook and Instagram allows you to see more frequent updates. If you haven't already, please like us on these channels. We also

08
FEB

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Top Class success

We are thrilled that Teige Cordiner (Class of 2023) has been selected to perform in Top Class Theatre Studies 2024 as part of the VCE Season of Excellence.

Teige will be performing his 2023 Theatre Studies Acting and Direction solo, 'Blithe Spirit – Madame Arcati', on Friday 19 April at 2:00pm at Melbourne Recital Centre. Mazal Tov Teige!

07
FEB

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Fun in the Kibbutz

The smallest members of our Junior School, the Preppies, recently adventured to our school kibbutz where they encountered plenty of leafy greens, cherry tomotoes, zucchini, pumpkins and passion fruit. Our Kibbutz program, led by school parent Erez Naim, teaches our students the joy of healthy, fresh food, and is a wonderful way for students to learn Hebrew vocabulary for fruit, vegetables and the growing process. Our Preps tasted fresh agvaniot sheri (Cherry Tomatoes) and marvelled at how tall the plants are.

07
FEB

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Year Levels: P

VCE PE camp 2024 : A wave of excitement

Our recent surf camp started our year with not just an escape from the holiday break but an exhilarating journey that left us with unforgettable memories and invaluable experiences. As students of VCE Physical Education, we approached this camp with enthusiasm and curiosity, and it did not disappoint.

The staff, Tom, Ciara and Russell, patiently guided us through the fundamentals of surfing, from paddling techniques to riding the waves. Their expertise and encouragement helped even the most novice among us gain confidence and proficiency in the water. Please click here to see some photos from the camp.

As students of VCE Physical Education, the surf camp offered us a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. We gai

07
FEB

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Year Levels: 10, 11, 12

Senior Musical Students shine

The dedicated and talented cast of our 2024 Senior School Musical - '13' - spent four days at SHIR camp, prior to the start of our school year. The cast participated in a series of workshops, bonding activities, choreography and vocal rehearsals. Please click here to see photos from the camp. We are so very proud of their wonderful efforts. As a reward, the students were treated to the first preview performance of Tim Minchin's 'Groundhog Day'. Watch out for further updates about the the Senior School Musical in the Harp. Tickets to our production of '13' will go on sale soon.

Eli Erez

Head of Performing Arts

07
FEB

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Year Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year 6's Tu BiSh'vat Seder

“This year’s Year 6 Jewish Studies classes began with Mr Bloch blessing our learning for the year then we moved on to a few leaders from Year 12 teaching us some dances to prepare us for all the Ruach dances at the Swimming Gala on Friday. After some very fun dancing we moved on to the Seder to celebrate Tu BiSh'vat, the Jewish New Year for trees. We all started off by washing our hands and saying the brachah (prayer). We had four cups of grape juice mixed starting with red only, then different mixes of red and white which symbolises the seasons. Then we ate olives, coffee beans, raisins, plantains and sunflower seeds.” Abi Terry, Year 6

07
FEB

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Year Levels: 6

Keeping safe online

This week our Year 6 students participated in a workshop on Keeping Safe Online with Project Rockit.

The facilitators, Shannon and Ella, ascertained which online platforms students are using, including gaming, messaging, and watching videos.

Using student volunteers who each interpreted a variation of the same charade, they showed how a story can mutate with each turn. In this case, a Chihuahua eating a hamburger while skateboarding turned into animals driving to a party. Students talked about how quickly information can spread online, and how fast the details of the story can change.

The faciliators discussed how people spread things they don't understand, change the story depending who it is about, exaggerate to make the story more entertaining, and how much miscommunication can happen online.

The Year 6 students talked about how much easier it is for people to be mean online than in person.

07
FEB

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Year Levels: 6

Celebrating Tu BiSh'vat with a new Fig tree

For Tu BiSh'vat, also known as Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot (New Year for Trees), our new Director of Jewish Life and Learning, Ilan Bloch, planted a tree on behalf of the School on this day, marking not only Tu BiSh'vat itself, but also the beginning of this important role at the School and of the new school year. The tree was a Ficus Benjamina, commonly known as a Weeping Fig, Benjamin Fig. It is one of the most common trees in Israeli cities and parks. Our students involved in our Student Maintenance program over the summer break were on hand to assist with the planting. The tree is flourishing in the courtyear near our Technology Centre at the Magid campus.

06
FEB

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2024 Off to a Flying Start!

We had a phenomenal day last Thursday welcoming students to King David - both returning students and those who are brand new. As they entered the school, students were greeted with music and ruach. We marked the start of the year with a Welcome to Country and a Smoking Ceremony at each campus led by Uncle William Pepper from the Boonwurrong Land and Sea Council. Uncle William explained that the smoke is similar to water - it cleanses and symbolises a new start. Like the mikveh, it is traditionally undertaken for weddings and other important rituals. Please click here to see a selection of photos from the first day (more photos are available on the myKDS Photo Gallery). Sudents in the Junior School spent the day doing special activities to get

02
FEB

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Events

Kedem presents: Rabbi Dahlia Shaham

(Event finishes 15/02/2024)

Please join the Kedem community on Tuesday 13 February at 8pm for a Zoom session with Rabbi Dahlia Shaham, who is based in Haifa. Rabbi Shaham will be speaking about peace in Israel. To register, please email Rosi at rosi.kedem@outlook.com. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

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Celebrate your simchah with TBI

(Event finishes 15/02/2024)

TBI's B'nei Mitzvah Program ensures your child is both prepared with the necessary skills and knowledge for their upcoming bar or bat mitzvah, and well-integrated in Jewish life through fostering friendships and community connections.
The program offers:
An inspiring experience, providing a lifelong connection
Group learning, plus one-on-one individualised tutoring
Bespoke services catering to your family and child
For more information, call TBI on (03) 9510 1488 or email info@tbi.org.au.

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Call for candle lighters and speakers at Yom HaZikaron

(Event finishes 16/02/2024)

Zionism Victoria is looking for candle lighters and speakers for this year's Yom HaZikaron ceremony. Please fill out this form if you are interested in participating.

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