Dear Community,

Have you ever watched the first wobbly, exploratory steps taken by a toddler? You will notice that they tentatively stutter forward, and most likely, fall down. While they may have burst into tears from the shock, they were unlikely to have been hurt in the process. This is because the inherent design of human physiology seems to have accommodated the likelihood of stumbles and falls at this key developmental stage. 

The toddler’s body has softer bones, extra cushioning around the knees and bottom and different proportions which combine to allow them to progress from crawling, to walking, to running without experiencing severe injuries in spite of their many mishaps.

As we get older, we tend to forget that discomfort, embarrassment, and fear -  those feelings we experience when stepping outside our comfort zones  - are where true learning happens.

There are many reasons that we learn to protect ourselves from the risks associated with encountering new skills and being exposed to the unfamiliar. Fear of being laughed at, worries about not being good enough or even that we might hurt ourselves can be a genuine impediment to learning or to experiencing the delights that come from novel adventures.

At King David, we are committed to the mission of growing great people. We constantly ask ourselves, “Who are our students becoming as a result of their time with us?” This leads us to consider not just the classroom curriculum, but the additional co-curricular and extracurricular offerings that help us to develop our students holistically.

With all this in mind, we have carefully designed an outdoor educational continuum that gradually extends the challenge for our students in line with their development.

To celebrate the FIFA World Cup and cheer on Australia in today's big match against Paraguay, the Junior School went all out! The campus was a sea of vibrant team colours as each class proudly represented a different competing nation.

Go Aussies!

Click here to view some photos of students arriving for the day

Balak*

Candle-lighting 4.52pm

Havdalah 5.53pm

Bilam, a prophet hired by the Moabite king Balak, to curse the Israelites, ends up blessing them as he looks upon their tent encampment. Even though he has been paid to curse, even though he may be punished for not cursing, he speaks what becomes his truth and blesses the Israelites, saying Ma tovu – “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!” (Numbers 24:5)

Rashi (France, 11th/12th century) explains that Bilam was so impressed with the fact that the Israelites’ tents were set up in a way that nobody looked into anybody else’s tent – their encampment was one of respect and modesty. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b) says “tents” refers to synagogues and batei midrash (study halls, literally “houses of study”). Perhaps this is why we add the line from King David’s Psalms Va’ani Berov Chasdecha – “But I, through Your abundant love, enter Your house; I bow down in awe at Your holy temple.” (Psalms 5:8) to our morning prayers (after the verse of Ma Tovu).

Year 2 students were delighted to share their published narrative stories about Rexy, a curious little T-Rex who was always embarking on exciting adventures and sometimes getting up to a little mischief!

Using the Story Champs reading structure and the Writing Process, students carefully planned, drafted, revised, edited and published their stories. They worked hard to create engaging narratives filled with imaginative ideas and descriptive language. It was wonderful to share our finished stories with the Year 4 students, who enjoyed listening to Rexy's adventures.

A wonderful way to celebrate our learning and end Term 2!

Our talented Year 7 Technology Elective students took center stage at the inaugural Game Jam Showcase earlier this week. This exciting event offered a firsthand look at the impressive interactive experiences our students have brought to life.

Centering on the compelling theme of Escape, students embarked on a rigorous, real-world game development process. They began by brainstorming diverse design concepts, pitching ideas, and selecting their strongest vision to move into production. Working either individually or in collaborative pairs, these young developers took on the roles of designers, programmers, and artists. They carefully crafted everything from visual aesthetics and audio effects to core gameplay mechanics, rules, and player behaviors.

The result? A room full of highly engaging, challenging, and innovative games that thoroughly entertained students and teachers alike.

We are incredibly proud of all our participants. They demonstrated outstanding resilience, persistence, and creative problem-solving from the first line of code to the final presentation.

We recently hosted a Parent Education Evening for families of girls in Years 3–6, focusing on the natural shifts that occur in the social worlds of young girls.

The discussion explored evolving social dynamics—including cliques, "queen bees," hangers-on, gossip, and the impact of social media—with a particular emphasis on how technology has accelerated these changes in recent years. Parents were encouraged to adopt the role of a "sports coach": offering wise guidance and helping their daughters adjust their "game plans" without stepping onto the field to fight their battles for them. We were incredibly fortunate to feature a panel of four Year 11 students, who shared insightful reflections on their own recent journeys through this complex stage. It was a highly engaging evening that gave everyone plenty of valuable food for thought. 

Gan Zayit and Gan Gefen children provided an audience recently for Year 2 students who showcased the skills they have been developing in Music lessons with their string instruments.

The children were introduced to different members of the string family, including the cello and the violin and discovered that the cello produces the lowest sounds in the string family, while the violin creates the highest. They also learned about the correct way to hold and play each instrument. 

The Year 2 students demonstrated different playing techniques, using both their bows and their fingers to create a variety of sounds and musical notes. 

Experiences like these provide valuable opportunities for children to develop an appreciation for music and the arts. Learning about musical instruments supports cognitive development, enhances listening and coordination skills, encourages creativity, and provides opportunities for self-expression. Music also fosters social connections through shared experiences and collaborative participation, helping to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and enjoyment of the arts.

Your support of our 2026 Annual Giving Appeal directly funds our Scholarship programs, ensuring that future innovators, leaders, and visionaries have access to a life-changing King David education.

If you haven't had a chance to contribute yet, it is not too late to make an impact.

Key Details for Your Donation:

Closing Date: The appeal closes on 30 June 2026.

Tax Status: All donations are tax-deductible.

How to Give: You can make a secure online donation here: KDS Foundation

A significant soccer match was played last weekend between Maccabi Football Club's Queen Bees and Wild Bees in celebration of women’s football, community and the legacy of Bondi victim, Matilda Britvan.

The competition was refereed by our own Year 8 student and soccer superstar, Abi T!

Current parent and King David Admissions Manager, Elie Zuch, a valued team member of the Wild Bees, contributed to the 1-0 winning score!

So proud of the performances all round, and the meaningful competition in honour of Matilda.

Our fourth "Storytime with Savta" session of the year took place on Sunday, with stories, games, songs and other activities - in Hebrew - for toddlers, whether from Hebrew-speaking families or those with less Hebrew proficiency, and whether from King David families or those not yet enrolled. 

Ten toddlers come each time and we invite you to join us at our next session which will take place on Sunday, 19 July at 10.30am in the Junior School library. Please register here 

Special thanks to our Savta - Hani Ron, Hebrew Learning Area Leader (6-12).

Mazal Tov to Year 6 superstar gymnast, Mia B, winning SILVER in Beam in her first national competition at the Border Challenge in Queensland over the weekend. What an achievement.

Over the weekend, the Year 12 cohort embarked on our final KDS camp. The weekend was a relaxed, reflective and fun experience; a perfect conclusion to years of wonderful school trips.

We set off for Queenscliff on Friday morning and stopped in Geelong to do some indoor rock climbing. We took turns challenging ourselves to reach new heights on the climbing wall and belaying (controlling the rope for) our friends from the ground.

The physical activity didn’t stop there, as we spent much of the weekend outside playing sport, running around in activities, and going on walks along the beach trails.

The Shabbaton was a meaningful Jewish experience, with student-led Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat, Saturday morning Shacharit and Saturday evening Havdallah services. The ruach and joy we felt from singing and being together in those spaces was really special.

We also had a fantastic jeopardy game run by Eden L and Tali B, where our knowledge and memory of the school, our teachers, and our year level lore was tested. 

Kedem welcomes you to join our Shabbat Mincha Service
Saturday 4 July 2026 at 2.00pm at The King David School.
Register with Rosi at rosi.kedem@outlook.com
All welcome!
Shabbat Shalom

7pm Sunday 12 July
$18 Tickets, $9 Student Tickets
Inspired by Refugee Week, Proceeds going to Project Dignity
Told through the eyes of a teenage girl and her refugee family in pursuit of resettlement, this emotional roller coaster takes us from despair to joy through hope, humour and love. Featuring three magnetic daughters and shot over 7 years in Malaysia and Australia, it's an extraordinary psychological study of the effects of refugee status.
Q&A features Writer/Director Robyn Hughan and a member of the family featured.