Latest News

Kabbalat Mitzvah - Students light the flame

Kabbalat Mitzvah was held for Year 7 students and their families on Tuesday evening. Centering around the theme of becoming B'nei Mitzvah and what this means, Shabbat was adopted as a lens through which receiving (kabbalah) Judaism and responsibilities could be explored. To quote the Zionist

thinker Ahad Haam, ‘More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews’. Please click here to see images from the night.

The evening began with hearing from members of three generations about their thoughts and associations with Shabbat. Participants then chose from multiple Shabbat-themed sessions on offer, ranging from challah plaiting, kiddush cup and challah-cover decorating and mindfulness, to how to host a Shabbat dinner, Shabbat

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Year Levels: 7

Av at our Junior School

Chodesh Av is also called “Menachem Av”. Menachem means “comfort”. Why would the Jewish people need to be comforted in the month of Av? Last week, we marked Tisha b’Av the saddest date in the Jewish calendar. It was on this date, nearly 500 years apart, that both the first and second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed. Our Year 3-5 students gathered for an assembly where they partook in retelling the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza whose tale of Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred) is said to have brought about the destruction of the second Temple. Our Prep-2 students enjoyed learning sessions with the JLife team in their classrooms on a similar theme. Please click here to see pictures. This week we have turned our intention

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Insights: Keeping our children safe

Dear Community,

This year will mark five years since the release of the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Royal Commission was a watershed moment which saw Australian institutions being held accountable for a litany of failings that compromised the safety of children. Sadly, there was also a deep reckoning within the Jewish community as some of its institutions were also exposed for unsafe practices that allowed for the exploitation of children.

A positive outcome of the Royal Commission was a complete overhaul of the way that we monitor child safety and the policies, procedures and culture that we instill to try to prevent children from being exploited and in the way that we respond when concerns are raised.

On July 1 this year, Ministerial Order 1359 came into effect in Victoria. This updates the governmental requirements around our protocols to ensure that we comply with

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Senior Kinder celebrate Grandparents' Shabbat

Our adorable Senior Kinder children celebrated Kabbalat Shabbat today with grandparents and special friends. Please click here to view images.

A penguin and some dinosaurs made special appearances, chicken soup was "prepared" and joyous Shabbat songs could be heard throughout.

The children made beautiful gifts for their families which were presented to them with a massive hug before saying their goodbyes.

Families were also able to enjoy creative video presentations of the children in class, preparing for Shabbat.

Many thanks to our dedicated educators and to wonderful Daniel Light for the music.

Shabbat Shalom!

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Year Levels: K

Year 4 Eleh HaShemot

This past Tuesday, our Year 4 students came together in front of their families to present their learning in the inaugural Eleh HaShemot celebration. It was a truly wonderful experience where the students were able to share their learning in their current Jewish Studies Torah unit. They were also able to delve into the meaning of their name with a focus on personal attributes- what makes us, us, and who we aspire to be. This term the Year 4 students have been looking at the meaning behind their names and potential connections with the TaNaKh. It was wonderful to watch their love of Judaism grow and share it with their families. Please click here to view photos from Eleh HaShemot.

Rachel Ben-Atar and Kim Fulop

Junior School Teachers

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Year Levels: 4

Our Year 5 Book Club launches

Get your bookmarks ready, your reading spectacles polished and your page-turning fingers licked because Year 5 has officially launched our Book Club program. Over the last few weeks, we have been building up our inferencing, analysing and conversation skills in preparation for Book Club. Through reading and discussing Dreamtime stories and classic Roald Dahl books, Year 5 further developed their ability to analyse the language and theme of a text.

Last week, students were excited to choose their first Book Club novel of the year. There was a huge variety to choose from, with stories about diabolical mutant slime, courageous World War 2 soldiers and even the world's worst teachers! Year 5 spent the week reading and recording their thoughts to bring in for their discussions.

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Year Levels: 5

Ending the DAV's Schools Competition season

On Wednesday, the Year 12/Grade A debaters participated in Round 5 of DAV's Schools Competition. This was a bittersweet end to the season. The three debaters, Alex Cowen, Charley Cowen, and Tobi Taranto, have been debating since Year 7: a significant commitment and achievement. The three students participated in a debate against Shelford Girls' Grammar. As the Negative Team, the students argued that developing countries should not prioritise tackling corruption, as there are other pressing issues to address. The students had only one hour to prepare their arguments, as it was a secret topic. As always, the audience watched in awe as the students, having honed their skills and knowledge over many years, spoke with confidence and excellently executed their rebuttals and substantives. Alex, for the second round in a row, won Best Speaker.

The students now have the opportunity to become adjudicators for DAV, which will act as a full c

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Year Levels: 12

The goodness of our gym

My name is Tash Freiberg, and I am a student in Year 10. I am not naturally sporty: I come last in every running and swimming race, and the only competitive sport I have ever won is chess. However, thanks to Josh at the KDS gym, I am now able to do two minute planks, 20kg bench presses and, most importantly, keep myself in the best mood possible every day. On Mondays and Tuesdays, my brother Rene and I wake up at 6:45am, get dressed, eat breakfast and arrive at the gym around 7:30am. The gym always puts me in a good mood; I am able to challenge myself, be more mindful of my body, produce happy hormones that get released with exercise, and, have a silly line or two with Tom Skinner. On Monday and Tuesday mornings, I go to Kesher feeling calm, relaxed and positive. My body feels light and comfortable, and it is as if I am able to concentrate harder and process more information in class after a good gym session.

You don’t have to be spo

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Lunch with the Israeli Ambassador

As a prize winner in the JNF My Israeli Passport competition, this week Year 4 student Zoe attended a JNF lunch with the Israeli Ambassador, His Excellency Amir Maimon. Zoe won second prize - a hoverboard!

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Year Levels: 4

Mapping Migration in Year 6

As part of our Humanities Migration unit in Year 6, students were asked to interview family members and map their migration route to Australia. They eagerly presented this information on a gigantic map to highlight that every one of us has our own unique family story of migration.

Adi and Adam

Year 6 Teachers

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Year Levels: 6

Commonwealth Games come to the ELC

This week Gan Zayit and Gan Gefen joined forces to compete in the KDS mini Commonwealth Games. The athletes arrived in their countries' colours and wore flags to represent Australia, England, Singapore, Canada and Fiji. The events the children participated in were swimming, hurdles, running races, sack jumping and shot put. We spoke about fair play and giving things a go. The children could be heard cheering for their team mates as they ran around the front sports court.

Please click here to see images of our Senior Kinder athletes.

Focusing on building gross motor development is a key component of our Kindergarten program each term.

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Year Levels: K

Year 7 shine against rivals

Round 3 of the EISM saw KDS play their long-time rivals Oakleigh Grammar in the Year 7 Winter season.

After a slow and tough first half, the boys' basketball team eventually got moving and their defensive teamwork and offensive talent shone through as they defeated Oakleigh 35-25.

In a very much one sided affair the girls demolished the opposition 39-1 totally outclassing Oakleigh in a dominant display.

The boys' table tennis team also proved too good for the rivals winning their matches 7 sets to 2.

Unfortunately the good news stopped there as the girls' table tennis team and both indoor soccer teams were not as successful this week.

Drew Solewicz

Sports Manager

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Year Levels: 7

Fitopoly in Year 8

This term the Year 8 Sport Science class have been studying the skeletal and muscular system, they have been looking at movements and muscles used. To apply this knowledge, this week students played a game of 'Fitopoly' where they rolled the dice to see where to move on the board. Each square has corresponding activities such as sit ups, burpees and star jumps. Players had to make their way around the Fitopoly board more than other pairs to win overall.

Chelsea Dabner

Senior School Teacher

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Year Levels: 8

Attending the Sexual and Gender Diversity Conference

Last Thursday, Zoe, Jayne, Rod, and I, attended the Sexual and Gender Diversity Conference at Melbourne Grammar School. Zoe and I were given the privilege of being able to speak. We talked about how we felt as though our actions in attempting to change the school culture around queerphobia through small tasks were meaningless, until we began to communicate with the teachers. We spoke at length about how we were able to present at a Monday afternoon teacher meeting, and how our preparation came together, including how we would word our feedback to teachers and which queer-friendly terminology we would provide them. We showed off our excited anonymous questions box we bring to every session which garnered a surprising amount of admirers!

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Year Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12

Events

Join us for our annual Business Breakfast

(Event finishes 27/10/2022)

Please join us for our annual Business Breakfast:
Pathway to zero: Why smart businesses are leading the way
Thursday 27 October
7.15am – 9.15am
The Park, 36 Lakeside Drive, Albert Park
Join us for a great networking morning and hear from some of Australia’s leaders on emissions reductions: Ben Burge (Telstra Energy), Stan Krpan (CEO Solar Victoria), Anna Skarbek (CEO Climateworks Centre) and panel moderator Eytan Lenko, thought-leader of the clean-energy transition.
For more info contact:
Jo Upton, Foundation Sponsorships
joanne.upton@kds.vic.edu.au

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KDSPA 80's Trivia Night - Tickets now on sale!

(Event finishes 26/08/2022)

KDSPA love to put on fun fundraising events that bring our community together. Over the years we have hosted a few highly successful trivia nights and we are so excited to bring this event back in 2022 to our entire school parent community from ELC to Year 12 (grandparents and past parents welcome too!).
Tickets are now on sale! Click here to secure your place.
Date: Saturday 27 August 2022
Time: 7:15pm (for a 7:30pm sharp start)
Venue: Rebecca Magid Centre Hall, 520 Orrong Road, Armadale
Cost: $30 (including snacks and soft drinks shared at the table)
We are also selling individual Vegetarian Grazing Boxes with delicious treats and beer and wine on the night (sorry - no BYO - this is our fundraiser with all funds raised going directly back to supporting the School).
So please come along in your finest 80s gear and get ready to have a fun night of laughs!

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PJV's HHD Book of Remembrance now open

(Event finishes 26/08/2022)

The PJV's Annual Virtual Book of Remembrance 5783 is now open for entries.
Up to six names may be recorded for the cost of $36 if submitted before Sunday 18 September and $54 if submitted between then and Rosh Hashanah. Each additional name you would like added will cost just another $6. Please click here to book.
People remembering loved ones in this initiative do not need to be members of our Movement so if family and friends would like to use our Virtual Book, they are welcome to do so.

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Limmud Oz Melbourne is back!

(Event finishes 19/08/2022)

After a long hiatus and a brief online hurrah in 2020, Limmud Oz Melbourne is returning for an in-person event 3 - 4 September 2022.
Limmud is welcoming a wide array of fabulous international speakers and an extensive list of locals who I have no doubt you and your constituents will be excited to hear and learn from - see more here.
There are many options for tickets including affordable options for students, concessions (pension, health care card, DVA etc), volunteers and the option to attend only one day if the whole weekend is not feasible. Further, if you would like to organise a bulk ticket option for employees or volunteers in your organisations, please let me know and I will be able to help.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any further questions.&am

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Finance Committee Vacancy

(Event finishes 01/09/2022)

The Finance Committee is a committee of The King David School Council. The Committee oversees the School’s financial position and disclosures and provides advice to the Treasurer and the School Council. Members of the Committee meet monthly and meetings are chaired by the Treasurer.
Having recently reviewed its composition, diversity of skill set and gender balance, the Committee is now seeking an additional member with the following key skills and attributes:
- Qualification as either a CA/FCA or CPA
- Experience in a large Australian Audit practice
- Experience in financial reports, financial records and systems

- Ability to assess financial risk and advise on appropriate risk mitigation measures

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Can you help the City of Stonnington with its Road Safety Strategy?

(Event finishes 18/08/2022)

The City of Stonnington is currently undertaking a community consultation for the new Road Safety Strategy - can you help? Please see the attached for more information.

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Join Kedem for their Service for the Soul

(Event finishes 27/08/2022)

Please join Kedem for their service for their soul: For a Shabbat of meditation, renewal and peace
Saturday 27 August 2022 at 10 am
Register with Ruth for the Zoom link and to check if in-person attendance will be an option: ruth.kedem@outlook.com.

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Embrace Kids movie night: Addressing body image and understanding difference

(Event finishes 16/09/2022)

Our upcoming movie event "Embrace Kids" addresses key issues such as body image and embracing individual differences. We feel the messages contained in this movie, together with the professional debrief planned afterwards (in separate rooms for parents and children) are important viewing for students in Years 4-9 and their parents. The post-movie debrief will be conducted by trained people who have expertise in this space. We appreciate that some students may not wish to attend with their parents and it is OK if parents wish to attend without their children. We hope that as many students as possible from these year levels can be encouraged to attend with at least one parent/guardian.
KDSPA has organised a special screening at Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick.
Tickets are $12 each to cover the cost of hiring the cinema. Please note that seating is not pre-allocated so tickets can be purchased by each family separately.

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Year Levels: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Special Alumni Reunions coming up

(Event finishes 18/08/2022)

We all missed out on events due to COVID over the last two years including our 10 and 20 year reunions. By popular demand, we are hosting a reunion for the following year levels on Thursday 1 September 2022 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
* Class of 2011 (11 year)

* Class of 2010 (12 year)

* Class of 2001 (21 year)

* Class of 2000 (22 year)
Invitations have been emailed to members of these cohorts. If you haven’t received this email (perhaps we don’t have your current details?), please email us to be sent the invitation: alumni@kds.vic.edu.au
We look forward to seeing you there!

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