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Insights: Assessments and positive learning

Insights: Assessments and positive learning

Dear Community,

When I was studying education, I recall a particular lecturer sharing the statement that in education “we assess what we value and we value what we assess”. Assessment is a crucial aspect of the education cycle. When performed in a considered manner it can be used to guide teaching direction, to test for understanding and to highlight areas of success and where development is required.

Unfortunately, assessments, be they tests, quizzes, projects, essays, examinations or the myriad of other creative ways we can evaluate progress, tend to be commodified as a means through which students can seek reward for their work. 

Arguably, this establishes a false paradigm which can be likened to the industrialised employment model where students are seen to “work” and are “paid” with grades as a result of their efforts and achievements. In this model, we focus heavily on comparison and c

And the winner of our Shavuot Bakeoff is....

And the winner of our Shavuot Bakeoff is....

On Tuesday, our Years 6 to 8 students participated in our annual Shavuot Dairy Bakeoff! Our 'Masterchef students prepared dairy dishes at home (in accordance with our kashrut policy) and presented them to our "celebrity" judges who marked them on taste, texture and presentation. There were many delicious entries and competition was tough. After some nail-biting deliberation, the judges declared Gemma Hatfield (Year 6) the winner! Mazal tov Gemma! 

Kol HaKavod to all our Senior School chefs! 

To see images of our Shavuot activities, please see our myKDS Photo Gallery. 

Learning about habitats at the Zoo

Learning about  habitats at the Zoo

Year One has been looking at the concept of change in all areas of our curriculum. 

One area of change we have been really looking into is animal life cycles. 

We have also been looking at the habitats of animals, so we decided to take a trip to the Melbourne Zoo to see some of these animals and their habitats for ourselves. 

Mietta - "I saw a giraffe and I learned that females have lighter spots than males"

Zac "I saw an orangutan and learned that they like to live high up "

Ani "I saw a lion and I learned that their habitat has long grass and tree trunks" 

We had an amazing day and we learned lots! 

To view photos from the excursion, please access the myKDS Photo Galle

Year 3 students learn from an access architect

Year 3 students learn from an access architect

On Wednesday, the Year 3 community were joined by an Access Architect, Jenna, to explore the accessibility and design of the KDS Junior School and Playground. This aligned with our Units of Inquiry exploring concepts of inclusion, empathy and disability. This will inform our own review of the KDS playground, and allow us to design an accessible playground including features for all abilities. Here are some of our reflections:

"I learnt there are things at the bottom of the stairs for blind people, so they know there are stairs or warning. I know if at bottom there will be one at the top."

"We learnt the grip on the stairs to show another stair coming as a signal for people who are Blind."

"We were talking about how to make things more accessible,to allow people to get upstairs into the building."

"We learnt that it is important to get to know the person before their disability."

Winter Round Robin - Years 5 & 6

Winter Round Robin - Years 5 & 6

Despite the challenges the weather presented, our Years 5 & 6 students competed earlier this week in the Balaclava District Winter Round Robin in Soccer, Netball & Teeball.

Together with their coaches, the students trained all term for this competition and their skill, pride and sportsmanship certainly shone through. They performed fantastically and were rewarded with great results.

To view images from the day, please see our myKDS Photo Gallery.

If you do not have access to myKDS,

Using our Kibbutz to learn about change

Using our Kibbutz to learn about change

In Prep we have been investigating 'Change'. Over the last few weeks we have watched seeds grow and change. In Kibbutz we chose some seeds to plant and have carefully watched the seeds sprout and grow. Each week we draw the changes that the seeds are going through and discuss the differences in vegetable seeds and make connections and generalisations about why some plants are growing faster or differently than others. We are excited to plant our vegetables in a few weeks. 

To see photos of our learning, please visit our myKDS Photo Gallery

Magen David Australia visit our ELC

Magen David Australia visit our ELC

On Tuesday 7 June Magen David Adom visited the ELC, and they turned each classroom into a hospital! Their aim was to familiarise children with both hospital and medical treatments, as well as the work that MDA does both in Israel and around the world.

The children to brought their favourite teddy or soft toy to Kinder and a coin for donation.

Their soft toys participated in the checkup process in the mock hospital, and the children pretended to be the parent of their sick and injured teddy! The children took their teddy to triage for weighing and measuring, get an x-ray, get immunised and make sure their teddy goes home feeling much better. They played with and dressed up in paramedic jackets, bandages, medical records, x-ray print outs, scales and measuring tapes to help weigh and measure their teddies for their medical records.

Thank you t

Building atoms in Year 9

Building atoms in Year 9

Just before our year 9 went to camp, students completed a fun mini project where they design and create an atom of their choice using everyday household items. Some of these models are now on  display in the library.

Here are some photos of their work. If you do have access to myKDS, please click here for a selection of images.

Learning characterisation through movement

Learning characterisation through movement

Years 7 and 8 Movement and Drama students participated in an excellent Impro Melbourne workshop last Friday. Students developed their characterisation skills and their ability to accept and extend improvisation performances.

Please see our myKDS Photo Gallery for images from the day.

Maccabiah Games Torch comes to King David

Maccabiah Games Torch comes to King David

The countdown to the Maccabiah Games in Israel is well and truly underway.

With more than 10 000 Jewish athletes from around the world competing, we are extremely proud of our Year 12 student, Adam Benson, who is competing in track and field events. We were thrilled that Hugo Burstin (Class of 2018) who is accompanying the Australian delegation in an official management capacity, brought along the Maccabiah torch to our Senior School this week. We wish Adam and Hugo a great experience as well as past students who we know are also participating in this event.

Year 6 Holes Day

Year 6 Holes Day

Our Year 6s recently celebrated King David's first-ever 'Holes Day'.

To immerse themselves in the spirit of the day, our Year 6s donned costumes of their favourite characters from the classic Louis Sachar novel 'Holes'. 

Our budding readers participated in a range of interactive and engaging activities throughout the course of the day, including participating in a 'Holes' Escape Room challenge and designing their very own jars of 'Sploosh'.

It was a unique opportunity for our Year 6s to celebrate our class novel and the wonderful world of literature.

To see photos from the day, please access our myKDS Photo Gallery

What an excellent day!

A week of exploration for Year 6 in Canberra

A week of exploration for Year 6 in Canberra

One of the highlights of the year for our Year 6 students is the trip to our nation's capital, Canberra.  Recently our students were engaged in all there is to learn and enjoy, visiting prominent landmarks and educational sites including the National Gallery of Australia, the Electoral Education Centre, Questacon, Parliament House and the War Memorial.

A spontaneous visit to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy provided an opportunity to listen to a presentation during Reconciliation Week.  Thank you to our wonderful staff for providing a full week of exploration for our students and taking such good care of them!

Be

Events

KDSPA Breakfast - at LEONDA next Friday

(Event finishes 17/06/2022)

KDSPA Breakfast - at LEONDA next Friday

The King David School Parents' Association is thrilled to be hosting our annual KDSPA Breakfast for the first time in 3 years! Ticket sales have closed but you are still able to purchase last minute seats.
This year we are excited to welcome Louise Milligan as our guest speaker. Louise is an Australian investigative reporter for the ABC TV 7.30 and Four Corners programs. She is also the author of two award-winning non-fiction books; Witness, An investigation into the brutal cost of seeking justice and Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.
Friday 17 June
9:00am - 11:30am
Leonda by the Yarra

Click here to buy your ticket to this not-to-be-missed much loved KDSPA event.
The ONLINE AUCTION is now live. You can bid on items even if you are not able to attend the breakfast.

Netzer's Winter Camp is happening

(Event finishes 18/06/2022)

Netzer's Winter Camp is happening

Join us for an amazing week of pure Netzer fun at Machane Mundial
Our Melbourne Winter Camp is a week-long immersive experience for chanichimot (participants) from Years 3-12. Find out more on Netzer's website.
Contact Noah (0481 370 188) and Lola (0498 348 681) at wintercampvic@netzer.org.au if you have any questions!

A story of an Eating Disorder - Parent Education Evening

(Event finishes 21/06/2022)

A story of an Eating Disorder - Parent Education Evening

Join David Opat in conversation with mother and daughter, Tanya and Asha Mendel about their experience of an eating disorder in their family.
DATE: Thursday 23 June, 7.30pm
VENUE: Multi Purpose Hall, Magid Campus 517 Orrong Road, Armadale
This is a free event. Please consider a donation to the Butterfly Foundation HERE in lieu of cover charge. For more information about Butterfly and body dissatisfaction, visit 

Help Kedem support Mazon Australia

(Event finishes 22/06/2022)

Help Kedem support Mazon Australia

Kedem is supporting Mazon Australia for its Shavuot 2022 Tikkun Slam project. Join them to pack fresh vegetables and a soup recipe. Sunday 19 June, 10am-12pm.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.