PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE GRANDPARENTS I was fortunate to have known each one of my grandparents. As a child in primary school I remember being so excited about sleep – overs at their houses as they always made me feel special. They had the time and the desire to focus on me, and they enjoyed my company just as much as I enjoyed theirs. I still have fond memories of eating Arnott’s biscuits in bed with Nanna and Poppa while watching Bonanza on a portable black and white tele- neither the biscuits nor

watching television in bed were allowed at home! As I grew older my grandparents also took the time to listen as I questioned why my parents behaved in certain ways and expected certain things from me. Being able to unpack my frustrations helped to alleviate some of my angst at home. And when I left home as a young adult, I continued to visit my grandparents on a regular basis – the door was always open, to share a hearty meal and to take time to listen.

Grandparents are a very special part of a child’s life. There is little Torah literature that deals with the respect that a grandchild must show for their grandparents but, as Rabbi Cowen and I discussed, this may be reflective of the fact that the natural relationship between grandchild and grandparent requires no unique positive command from G-d. A mitzvah is generally to push us towards doing something we might otherwise shy away from. In this case, Torah recognises the relative ‘ease’ of this relationship. We have always known the importance of grandparents and that special bond that they share with their grandchildren but now research has shown how crucial grandparents can be.

A study which examined the role grandparents play in the development of children, confirmed that grandparents are a key to grandchildren’s happiness! The results found the emotional relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren can significantly affect the children’s academic, psychological, and social development. When grandparents are involved in their grandchildren’s lives, children are not only more social but also more engaged in school. Researchers also noted children were more likely to develop skills essential for social development, such as showing care, compassion and kindness for people who are not part of their inner circle.

The strong grandparent-grandchild connection was found regardless of income or whether it was a single parent or two parent households. In fact, grandparents who do not live with their grandchildren could possibly have a stronger bond. That may be because non-resident grandparents take on a role that encourages positive development rather than disciplining negative behaviour, particularly important in early-adolescence when parent-child conflict increases. Grandchildren can find secure allies in grandparents. If there is a problem, they can be a valuable resource.

The study concluded that children have a higher level of self-confidence when grandparents give more affection. Such emotional closeness has long-term positive impacts on children’s lives, including the value children derive from giving and receiving care from another person.

Many of the grandparents at Yavneh are active members of the school community. I have come to know many of you as I frequently see you at pick-up and drop-off time and attending school events. During the coming fortnight Yavneh is hosting two special events that especially focus on grandparents; the Prep Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ morning (16 March, 9.30am) and the YPO Grandparents’ Social Club (22 March, 9.30am). I look forward to seeing you there!

Acknowledgement: Jeremy Yorgason, Assistant Professor in the School of Family Life, Brigham Young University

Shabbat shalom.

Cherylyn Skewes Principal

9 March 2018 - 22 Adar 5778

CANDLE LIGHTING: Shabbat Begins: 7.31pm Shabbat Ends: 8.27pm

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY MARCH Sun 11: ELC BBQ 4.30pm—6.30pm Elsternwick Campus

Mon 12: Labour Day Professional Development Day Student Free

Tues 13: Years 3 & 4 Literacy Evening 7.30pm Hamerkaz

Wed 14: Primary Swimming Carnival 1pm

Secondary Parent/ Teacher Interviews Lamm Hall Thurs 15: ELC Parent Talk 7.30pm Balaclava Rd Campus Fri 16: Grandparent & Special Friends Day 9am, Lamm Hall Shabb 17: Rosh Chodesh Nissan Tues 20: Secondary Parent/ Teacher Interviews Lamm Hall Wed 21: P—Year 6 Numeracy Evening 7.30pm Hamerkaz Thurs 22: YPO Grandparents’ Club Nachas event 9.30am Lamm Hall

RAV NOAM’S PARSHA RAP פרשת פקודיYet again, I bring you the fantastic words of Sivan Rahav Meir, who just this week posted on Facebook the following: Today (Wednesday), in the United States, they will celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the release of Natan Sharansky with an official festive event in his honor. Here is a small, but big story which was sent to me by Dr. Yael Ziegler, a lecturer on the Bible. A short time before his imprisonment, Natan Sharansky received a book of Psalms as a present from his wife Avital. The Book moved with him from prison to prison, between cells and dungeons, and served for him as a symbol of justice and faith inside a world of darkness. And so says Ziegler: "Recently I was in a bakery in Jerusalem and I noticed that before me in line was Natan Sharansky. I gathered the courage and told him that I quoted from his book “Fear No Evil” in my class when I was teaching the Book of Psalms. I told him that my students heard for the first time how he kept in the Soviet prison a small Book of Psalms, and how he fought the authorities for the right to do so. Sharansky smiled, put his hand in his shirt pocket and took out a small, old Book of Psalms. I was shocked and asked him: 'What? Do you carry with you this little book everywhere you go?' And he replied with a smile: 'To be frank, the Book carries me'. It is incredible, the kind of people who can stand in front of you in the line in a bakery in Israel." This past year we have made a concerted effort at school to educate about Tefila (prayer) more. There is no doubt that our school, like every other Jewish Day School in the world, struggles with tefila. We have our successes which we are proud of, but there is so much room to grow. So we try to do a bit more, each week sharing a little more, looking for ways to educate more. One of the ideas that we shared recently was that “a Siddur (prayer book) that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” When someone invests in the discipline of prayer it does not solve their problems, but rather it can give an individual the strength to deal with the challenges that inevitably come our way. One of the most powerful qualities that true prayer instils within an individual is that of humility. The words of prayer guide us to understand that we are not in charge. God is guiding our lives, giving us the strength to do what we need. And do we must! Prayer is not about saying “God will do it,” but rather it’s about aligning our values to what truly matters and becoming partners with Hashem in this world as we channel His Will into reality. Psalms, or Tehilim, has this quality as well. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov said that when one is reading Tehillim, they should imagine that everything King David was writing about is really referring to them. They should place themselves into the text. No doubt, this is what Natan Sharansky did, as he prayed for redemption in the Soviet gulag, and finally one day could sing out, “In Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.” In the lead-up to Pesach, we read special sections of the Torah, called the Arba Parshiyot. This week, we will read Parshat Parah, which

discusses the law of the Parah Aduma, the red heifer through which the Jewish people achieved ritual purity, enabling them to eat the Pesach

sacrifice. One of the main lessons we take out of the Parah Aduma is that of humility. Firstly, the animal is turned into ash, representing our

need to completely nullify our own self-importance outside of our Divine mission. Additionally, the very mechanism through which the Parah

Adumah worked was a mystery, hidden even from the greatest of sages, teaching us that we cannot understand everything about this world.

The value of humility is essential in our path towards the freedom of Pesach. Today, we have no Parah Adumah ritual to cleanse us. However,

when we delve into its’ teachings and when we immerse ourselves into the world of prayer and Tehillim, they can build a deep sense of faith

within us. Not just a faith in Hashem that He is guiding us, but moreover, a faith within ourselves that God has chosen us to do something

unique in this world and that he believes in us. May we be so blessed.

Shabbat shalom Rabbi Noam Sendor Campus Rabbi

FROM ADMINISTRATION

MAKING OUR LOCAL ROADS SAFER As parents and carers our actions speak far louder than any verbal message.

This is supported by a verse in Pirkei Avot “Emor me’at, Aseh harbeh” Say little, demonstrate positive actions extensively.

In writing to you today, we make an impassioned plea; please be positive role models whilst using roads especially in the vicinity of campus. Our children learn how to treat others by watching us, they learn safe driving by watching us and they learn courtesy and consideration by watching us.

We recently heard from one of our valued neighbours. Not only was he disappointed that his experience was severely lacking in derech eretz as he was knocked from his bike, but the driver involved in that incident showed little remorse.

Apart from the important role we all play as role models the interaction could have resulted in injury or worse.

Please be aware of pedestrians, bike riders and cars in our area. A moment of patience is all it takes to ensure a tragic event is avoided.

Please share this with others in the Yavneh Family as we strive to keep members of the school community and neighbours safe.

David Fisher, Head of Administration

PREPARE AND PREVENT, DON’T REPAIR AND REPENT.

In educating young children, a lot of time and energy is spent ensuring the well-being of the children in our care and we spend a lot of time reviewing our safety protocols to ensure we are always on top of our game.

Safety is a broad topic that is an integral part of so many

aspects of our day. From physically doing daily safety

checks of all indoor and outdoor environments,

rehearsing fire-drills and evacuation drills, critically

analysing our strategies in re-directing inappropriate

play, conducting in depth discussions on road safety,

animal safety and self-protection all the way through to

educating our parents and teachers on topics such as

bullying and cyber-safety and child protection.

One’s health and well being is an important component of safety. Ensuring healthy lunch boxes for your child, being aware and respecting those with allergies, and keeping a sick child at home are all areas where your support is integral in relaying these messages to your children. Teaching children about the natural world is not just a nice thing to do - it is vital for the future of our children and the future of all life. Children are naturally curious and open to learning about nature, but in an increasingly urban society we often need to consciously create opportunities to help children bond with nature and learn about the environment. This is an important component of our learning. Discussions on recycling, scraping our leftovers and peels into the compost bin, looking after our beautiful outdoor spaces and picking up litter are all part of our learning.

FROM THE ELC

Children’s health and safety is about more than just their physical wellbeing; it also refers to their whole welfare. This means that our educators think about more than practical health and safety issues in their day-to-day work. They also recognise that children will have differing emotional support needs and therefore deal with each child differently, respecting their individual life contexts. Learning about how to live in a healthy way, and being able to take increasing responsibility for making good health choices and caring for themselves, enables children to experience wellbeing in their present lives, and lays the foundation for a healthy lifestyle in the future. A key part of learning about and adopting healthy lifestyles involves

children seeing these modelled positively and enthusiastically by the

important people in their lives, including their peers, families,

communities and early childhood educators. Learning about healthy

lifestyles often occurs most effectively when educators identify and use

the learning opportunities in everyday experiences such as meal times,

hygiene procedures, active play times and toileting routines. Children who

become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing are resilient and

confident learners; they are able to cope with day-to-day challenges and

frustrations, and they are able to recognise and feel good about their own

achievements and those of others. Educators support this by

acknowledging each child’s cultural and social identity, and responding

sensitively to their emotional states. When children can see and feel that

they and their family and community experiences are understood and

valued in the early childhood setting, their feelings of belonging increase,

which in turn supports them to become confident and involved learners.

Shabbat shalom.

Charlene Orwin, Head, Early Learning Centre

YEAR 3 FOCUSES ON MIDDOT

Middot (good character traits) is a focus in Year 3. We have begun the year focussing on the middah of zrizut (alacrity). We have discussed the many benefits of having an enthusiastic approach to all we do and to life in general. The day begins when we open our eyes and recite the “Modeh Ani” with enthusiasm and gratitude to Hashem who has given us another day. The children made posters to take home with the very first halachah from the Shulchan Aruch which teaches us that one should be strong as a lion to rise in the morning to do the will of Hashem. In Chumash, we have been revising the argument between Lot’s shepherds and Avraham’s shepherds and how Avraham chooses to resolve this quarrel with Lot. This has led to the discussion of how best to resolve conflicts that arise in our everyday lives , in the best and most peaceful way. In the lead up to Purim, students learned intricacies of the story of the Megillah and completed a creative booklet relating to it. They thoroughly enjoyed weaving their own fish (please see photos below), which is a symbol of the month of Adar, as fish in the rivers multiplied in this month. The children finished their fish by writing the words: מזל של אדר . We learnt that the month of Adar was indeed a month of mazal for all Israel. May the remainder of the month of Adar and the arrival of the month of Nissan bring us all much mazel and joy! Shabbat Shalom Morah Diane Stollard and Morah Michelle Sharp. Year 3 Jewish Studies.

KINDER 2019

First round offer for places in Junior Kindergarten in 2019 have now been made. Should you have a child ready to commence Junior Kindergarten in 2019, please ensure that you have completed and submitted an enrolment form in order not to miss out on a place. The Kinder Enrolment form can be downloaded by clicking on the link below: http://www.yavneh.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Yavneh-Online-Enrolment-Application-Form.pdf For further information, please be in touch with our Enrolment Coordinator, Dionne Abramowitch, on 9982 5726 or by email on d.abramowitch@yavneh.vic.edu.au

IMPORTANT ENROLMENT NOTICE

PRIMARY NEWS

YEAR 4 VISITS THE MAYOR During this term, Year 4 have been learning about the Government with a focus on local government. We embarked on our excursion to the Glen Eira Town Hall on 27 February and met Mayor Tony Athanasopoulos. The students were excited to visit the Meeting Chambers, sit in the Councilors’ chairs and talk with the Mayor. The students certainly didn’t hold back when it came to question time, making sure they knew how the council came to their decisions and how they could contribute to making Glen Eira district a beautiful place to live.

Shabbat shalom

Leigh Roncon, Melissa Bloom and Helen Krechman

We met the Mayor Tony Athanasopoulos and he gave us each a special spot to sit. The chairs were so comfortable. He told us about his job, how to get elected, how much time his meetings take and how the meetings work.

Uriel Gabai When we arrived in the meeting quarters, I got to sit on one of the big brown chairs right next to the Mayor. It was the CEO’s chair, Rebecca McKenzie. I found it very interesting on what the mayor was saying about his meetings, rules and laws.

Mity Paluch Tony Athanasopoulos sits in the chamber and wears a chain made up of the previous mayors’ names. He gets to find out lots of interesting facts. I learned that he has to make sure that he makes the right decisions.

Rebecca Rozen and Jessica Levin A rule is something that not the whole world needs to follow. A law is something that a country and the whole world needs to follow.

Hanna Sion I learned that you can get a fine if you go on a bike or scooter without a helmet. The mayor has meetings and he told us that you can come to the meetings. I learnt that rules and laws are to keep you safe and to help you in all different ways.

Mikey Wittenberg

PRIMARY SWIMMING CARNIVAL The Primary Swim Carnival will be held next Wednesday 14 March at Bialik College. Please find below the schedule for the afternoon, aiming for a 1.00pm start and a 3:30pm finish. The Year 4-6 children have been training extremely hard this term at Monash Swim Centre during their sport lessons and look to be in peak condition in time for the carnival. While the forecast looks quite mild, there will be parents from the YPO selling water and portable plastic fans to make the carnival a comfortable spectacle. We hope to see many parents and grandparents at the venue to support the students. Looking forward to a memorable afternoon.

Marc Felix-Faure & Alan Wing Primary Sport

Primary Inter-house Swim Carnival Parent Program Races start at 1:00pm, finishing at 3:30pm

Grade 4 Boys 25metre freestyle Grade 4 Girls 25metre freestyle Grade 5 Boys 25metre freestyle Grade 5 Girls 25metre freestyle Grade 6 Boys 25metre freestyle Grade 6 Girls 25metre freestyle

Grade 4 Boys 25metre Backstroke Grade 4 Girls 25metre Backstroke Grade 5 Boys 25metre Backstroke Grade 5 Girls 25metre Backstroke Grade 6 Boys 25metre Backstroke Grade 6 Girls 25metre Backstroke Grade 4 Boys 25 Metre Breaststroke Grade 4 Girls 25 Metre Breaststroke Grade 5 Boys 25 Metre Breaststroke Grade 5 Girls 25 Metre Breaststroke Grade 6 Boys 25 Metre Breaststroke Grade 6 Girls 25 Metre Breaststroke

Optional Grade 4 Boys 25 Metre Butterfly Grade 4 Girls 25 Metre Butterfly Grade 5 Boys 25 Metre Butterfly Grade 5 Girls 25 Metre Butterfly Grade 6 Boys 25 Metre Butterfly Grade 6 Girls 25 Metre Butterfly Grade–4-5 6 Freestyle Relay The two fastest Girls and the two fastest boys in each house will swim in the 4 x25m freestyle relay.

PE DEPARTMENT

IMPORTANT DATES IN SPORT Wed 14 March Year 8 Interschool Round Robin 10am-2:30pm All students attending. Years 4-6 Interhouse Swim Carnival 1:00- 3:30pm All students attending. Bialik College Pool Fri 16 March Year 6 Life Saving Program. 9am-12pm All students attending. Elwood Life Saving Club Mon 19 March Year 6 Balaclava District Summer Round Robin All day All students attending. Thurs 22 March Year 7 Interschool Round robin 10am-2:30pm All students attending.

DR SAMSON SAYS….

RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS

As I mentioned last week, March 16 is the National Action Day against Bullying and Violence. While our School Captains are creating some great lunch time activities to help raise awareness for the day, I wanted to take a moment to talk about how Respectful Relationships are an important foundation for a positive and safe school culture. If we begin from the position that all our interactions, whether at school or at home or at work are based on respect for the other and kindness then creating spaces for wellbeing to grow and flourish becomes easier. What does a respectful relationship look like in the Secondary School? For me, first and foremost it begins with the small things. Simple greetings in the morning as students and staff meet each other for the first time that day. I try to get to Brentani gate as often as I can in the morning to welcome students to a new day of learning. As we move through the spaces in the College, being respectful is being mindful of those around us. Taking care to leave space and watch out for others as well as thinking about how we are speaking and what else is happening around us. When we are in the classroom, respectful relationships happen when teachers and students

work together to create a learning environment that is engaging, dynamic and compassionate. In the College environment and surrounds it might be leaving space for another car, picking up litter, or offering to help someone who looks unsure or has their hands full. Respectful relationships are based on taking a moment to remember that schools are the nexus for three key factors: students and their learning, staff and their teaching, and parents and the College community. Remembering that we are all here to create a learning environment where our children, our staff and our community can feel safe, be connected, find meaning and flourish. As we move towards the National Action Day against Bullying and Violence, please take the time to speak about the importance of respectful relationships, kindness and what the small things might be that we can all do.

Shabbat Shalom Dr Amanda Samson Head of Secondary School

SECONDARY NEWS

HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT

Many ask: What is HASS? I usually answer; “It is not a rabbit” (Haas in Afrikaans). Our Humanities and Social Science Department (HASS) covers many subject areas. In Years 7-10 it includes Jewish History, General History, Geography, Economics and Civics and Citizenship in what is a very crowded curriculum. In the VCE years, it includes History, Business Management, Accounting, Legal Studies as well as Religion and Society. We combine experiential learning with texts books and other resources. Our students enjoy a variety of activities that enhance the study of HASS; such as, excursions to water recycling plants, parliament, Ballarat, the Immigration Museum and in VCE Legal Studies students get an opportunity to visit a jail. This week my focus will be the Jewish History component of our curriculum. In January, I had the privilege of participating in the JNF Educators trip to Israel. The College wholeheartedly supported this initiative which led to Leigh Roncon and my visit. As a History and Jewish History teacher, this trip was right up my alley. In one of the schools we visited in Israel during the tour, the school playground was decorated with archaeological artefacts found in the region. In Israel, the history lessons come to life as one visits the exact sites of the events and for our students who learn so much of Jewish History at Yavneh, it is a place they long to visit. Travelling to Israel for Pesach does not ‘relieve’ them from school work for as they walk the streets of Jerusalem and visit the City of David they are tasked with reporting to the class all they have learnt and discovered. At Ben Gurion Airport on the way back from the JNF Educators trip. I met a group of Yavneh students who had just graduated and were returning to Australia after their first visit to Israel. I asked: “What was your highlight?” and they answered “Masada.” I repeated my questions that they do not have to give the answer the Jewish History teacher would want to hear and they repeated: “Masada, it was amazing, we learnt about it and then we were there. Thank you for all those history lessons; it is amazing how much Jewish history we realised we knew on our trip.” This incident for me drove home the meaning of a passuk from Kohelet.

(1שלח לחמך על פני המים כי ברוב הימים תמצאנו )קהלת י"א

“Cast your bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) In our Jewish History classes we ‘cast the bread on the waters’ – we give over knowledge of Jewish History, well aware that the appreciation for it may not come until ‘after many days’. Sometimes it is only after one sees Israel and can walk the paths of Jewish History that the bread of Torah can give its full nourishment to the soul. In our HASS department, we put much thought into ensuring that our topics and projects are age appropriate. In many schools around the world the Roots Project is done as part of the Bar Mitzvah education programme. At Yavneh, we found that students appreciate the project much more in Year 9 where they have the maturity to understand the history of their family. It also fits in with the Year 9 History curriculum, which covers 19th and 20th Century history of Australia, World War 2 and Israel. This week our Year 9 students went to the Jewish Museum for the launch of the Roots Project. We collaborated with the Jewish Museum to tailor make a programme where our students had the opportunity to learn how to evaluate an artefact, learned interview skills and learned where the Jews of Melbourne came from as well as attended a meeting with members of the Australian Genealogical Society who gave students some tips on how to research their family history. In the evening parents were invited to an information session about the Roots Project. The highlight this year will be that the students will enter the artwork they make as part of their project into an international art competition run by the Diaspora Museum in Israel. I look forward to learning more about the tapestry that makes our school community and the Melbourne Jewish Community so special. In the lead up to Yom Hashoah we would like families to email us with names of their family members who perished in the Holocaust. The names will be displayed during the Yom Hashoah commemoration Ceremony on 12 April. Please send the names to s.slonim@yavneh.vic.edu.au

Shabbat Shalom Sonia Slonim Head of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

JEWISH STUDIES DEPARTMENT

JEWISH STUDIES IN YEAR 7 Panic was creeping in. What should I do?? What should I do?? I stood in front of my Year 7 class, silently observing the noise level rise… a cacophony of voices- talking, singing and laughing. I knew I only had about a minute to make a decision on whether to shut it down or not… and how. What should I do?? The noise was growing louder and louder. What if another teacher walked past?? Was there a class next door?? Probably. My mind was racing… ok, well at least we were in the corner room. At least we were at the end of the hall. I looked over at my support person… he was talking to 3 students. I looked over at the clock… lesson before lunch, nearly done. Tick. I looked at the window… carpark outside. Tick. Windows closed. Tick. Louder and louder... I stood… watching. Act now! I had to act now. I raised my hands, held them out and motioned them downwards. One student noticed… he shushed his friend. He shushed another. I looked around… no… no. I lowered my hands… and smiled. Let their voices ring out and fill the hallways. Their first ever Gemara chavruta- partner session. Nachas. Tick.

Miriam Segal Jewish Studies Teacher

Between Us is by Northern Territory author Clare Atkins. Is it possible for two very different teenagers to fall in love despite high barbed wire fences? Jono is athletic, musical and self-assured. He’s had girls keen on him before and hasn’t been interested. Anahita has a cheeky gleam in her eye and when she sings he’s transported to another world.

But Jono doesn’t know that Anahita is an Iranian asylum seeker. He doesn’t know that she is only allowed out of detention to attend school. And he doesn’t know she has to earn credits to buy a phone card to call him for half an hour. She doesn’t want to tell him, she wants to maintain the feeling of having something special, something secret between them.

Clare Atkins lives in Darwin. She was born and

raised in Sydney and has also lived on La Gomera,

a small Spanish island and Arnhem Land. Clare is

an author, scriptwriter, script editor and

producer. Clare has a teaching degree and loves

talking to school groups and running workshops

about scriptwriting and creative writing.

Indigo Blue is by Gold Coast author awarded solo sailor Jessica Watson. Alex has been sent from Sydney to stay with her aunt at Boreen Point, a small coastal town in Queensland, to finish her final year of school. Her father has gone overseas to research cancer detection and treatment-work which is driven by his grief over the loss of his wife.

Alex feels like a fish out of water in her new hometown, so she spends her savings on an old yacht, Indigo Blue, and throws herself into restoring it. But when Alex meets the sailmakers apprentice, Sam, a boy with pointed ears, she feels an immediate attraction and can’t help but be captured by his mysterious ways.

Jessica Watson, now aged 24, is an Australian

sailor who was awarded the Order of Australia

medal for completing a Southern Hemisphere

solo circumnavigation at age of 16. Despite her

early struggles with dyslexia, Jessica became a

storyteller, firstly on her popular blog and then in

her best-selling book True Spirit. Jessica lives on

the Gold Coast and was named Young Australian

of the Year in 2011.

The Endsister is by Melbourne author Penni Russon. Meet the Outhwaites, there’s mum and dad; sixteen-year-old Else, a violinist who hates the violin, her nature loving brother Clancy, the twins Oscar and Finn and four-year-old Sibbi. They live happily together in a cottage among the trees and possums. But when dad inherits a large, run down house in the city, the family has to pack up and move from Australia to London.

While the boys quickly find their feet, Else is miserable missing her violin. Sibbi is misbehaving and won’t stop talking about the people in their house that no-one else can see. Meanwhile two ghosts watch over as the family moves in and hope and pray they keep them away from the locked door upstairs.

Penni Russon is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning writer and academic. Penni was born in Tasmania and now lives in the bushy

outskirts of Melbourne with her partner, three kids and a schnauzer called Swoosie. Penni is also a freelance editor and originally

wrote poems.

David Easton

Secondary Librarian

FROM THE SECONDARY LIBRARY

This year we are proud to be introducing a project we believe is necessary to our wellbeing and development as adolescence within the community of Yavneh and beyond. Combat DAT is designed to combat the prevalent issues and dangers of Drugs, Alcohol and Technology we are often faced with in society. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage students to acknowledge the dangers of D.A.T and to speak about it, to reduce peer pressure and to create a healthier and more mindful environment within school and social groups.

Complete prohibition rarely works, rather we aim to educate and raise awareness of the dangers inherent in these three areas. We seek to encourage students to develop their own sense of integrity and understanding which will result in monumental changes in our physical, social and mental health. This is a conversation that will span through the whole year, however we have decided to combat the excessive use in technology first. Next week, from Tuesday 13 to Wednesday 14 March we are challenging students to go phone free for 24 hours (and longer if they wish!) Although it is not our aim to completely stop using technology, these 24 hours will hopefully spark some recognition that we do not need to spend so much time on our phones and that certain aspects of our lives are actually improved when we are not so reliant on them. Many students and teachers relate to this in our school. In our Wednesday assembly, a series of questions were posed and students had to sit down if the question applied to them. With the first question being “sit down if you don’t have any form of social media”, only two or three people in the entire hall sat down. Again only a few people sat when we asked “sit if you don’t check your phone when you are at a meal with family or friends”. It was only when we asked “sit down if you feel somewhat addicted to your phone/technology” that everyone in the hall was seated. The generation born after 1995 is known as the “iGen”. It is within this generation that teenagers are more likely to suffer from mental health issues. One of the factors that has lead to this, is the increased use in technology and social media. The loss of frequent face-to-face interaction and over use of social media, means we are being constantly exposed to what others are doing 24/7 through Snapchat, Instagram stories and constant updates leaving us more likely to feel socially isolated and alone than ever before. Furthermore, many of us teenagers suffer from sleep deprivation. In a period so pressured with studying, extra curricular commitments and busy social lives; lack of sleep increases the stress, and anxiety and has a negative impact on our wellbeing. With the phone often being the last thing we look at before we go to bed, and remaining in quick and easy access, it is hard to resist when we can’t fall asleep. That blue light of our screens inhibits our brain’s production of melatonin, the chemical that makes us fall asleep. The outcome is poorer performance in studies, and a higher risk at developing obesity and depression and anxiety. We ask that you help us! Be role models and encourage moderate use of technology and help us launch Combat D.A.T. Please sponsor our students, $1 per hour for 24 hours where all money will be going to the JCCV program YAP– Youth Alcohol Program which aims to prevent and educate youth in our community about the excessive use and dangers of alcohol. Help us achieve our goal and spread this important message to prevent students succumbing to the pressures of D.A.T! Link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/58chg48

Thank you for supporting us and we look forward to embarking on this journey with you throughout the year. Shabbat shalom. Yavneh Social Action Captains 2018

FROM YOUR SOCIAL ACTION CAPTAINS

THE 2018 CAPTAINS’ CORNER

GAV’S GUESS THE LYRICS

1. “So we sailed up to the sun, ‘till we found a sea of green…” - Easy

2. “We sweat for a nickel and a dime, turn it into an empire” - Medium

3. “Thank God for mom and dad for sticking through together ‘cause we don’t know how” - Medium

4. “Bad times are comin’, and I reap what I don’t sow” - Hard

ELAD AND JAKE’S TOP 5 ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Rank #1 in a Physics SAC 2. Homeroom on time 3. Getting Parkesy to laugh 4. Actually studying for an assessment and getting the

mark you deserve 5. Using Mrs Dabscheck's office as a thoroughfare

without getting caught 6. Sneaking into early minyan at 7:41

JAFFA FAMILY QUIZ Theme: guess the theme 1. Which element has an atomic number of 22? 2. ROYGBIV is an acronym used to remember what? 3. What is the name given to a light fitting made of

hanging crystal prisms? 4. Which Bee Gees song is used while giving CPR? 5. Niagara, Angel and Iguazu are all kinds of what?

If you think you know the theme, please contact one of the

Jaffa siblings.( first person to guess the theme correctly gets

a shoutout in next week’s quiz!)

Last week’s theme: types of knots

HUMANS OF LEIBLER YAVNEH STUDENT OF THE WEEK: EYAL PALTIN-ELIAHU YEAR 8

Likes: sushi, spicy food, Drake, basketball, Houston Rockets, hanging out with friends, Mexican food, The Good Doctor, My Kitchen Rules Dislikes: Homework, being sick, honey, winter, the cold, capsicum, people who are annoying Favourite thing about Yavneh: How we all know each other

If you were principal for a day what would you do? Everyone has a day off Fav thing to get from the tuck shop: Nachos Random fact about yourself: I have only had one pet in my life and that was a pet fish (well it wasn’t really mine it was my sisters, but still counts as

mine)

GLICKSY’S GIGGLES Can February march? No, but April May. Did you hear about the guy whos left side was cut off? He’s all right now! What type of sandals do frogs wear? Open-toad!

GAV’S GUESS THE LYRICS ANSWERS 1. The Beatles – Yellow Submarine 2. Rihanna – American Oxygen 3. OutKast – Hey Ya 4. Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar

JAFFA FAMILY QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Titanium 2. Rainbow 3. Chandelier 4. Staying Alive 5. Waterfall

COLES SPORTS FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM Yavneh College has registered for the 2018 Coles Sports for Schools. All the local Coles supermarkets have a collection box with our College name on it, for coupons to be dropped off after shopping.

The College also has 2 collection boxes if students want to bring their coupons into school. One is at reception and one is in the Sec office. For every $10 spent at Coles a coupon is earned. The more coupons we collect, the more sporting equipment we will be able to acquire. The program runs until June. Please support this program.

***SUMMER SALE*** Polar fleece sports jackets heavily reduced. Limited sizes available. 50% off now only $35

NEW UNIFORM SHOP HOURS: Monday 7.30-9.30 Wed 8.30-11.30 Thursday 3-5pm

The ordering system will still be in place for your convenience.

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

SECOND HAND UNIFORM & BOOK FACEBOOK PAGE With over 170 members, the Yavneh 2nd Hand Uniform & Books Facebook page is the place to buy and sell your pre-loved uniform and books. You can either use the page to sell privately, or you could ask us to sell for you in which case the money is donated to the YPO. If you have not joined yet, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/yavnehuniform/ and request to become a member. Any problems please email (Bindycohen@gmail.com) or phone me (0423 007 114). Uniform has to be in good condition, and books have to be on the current Yavneh booklist.

If you wish to donate books to the YPO stock please contact Florence Pyke (florencepyke@optusnet.com.au). If you want to donate your old textbooks to the YPO so we keep the proceeds, please make sure they are currently on the booklist. (No Maths Quest , no Science Quest and no Pearson history please. ) Alternatively try Gumtree or eBay. Other schools may use them. You are welcome to sell extra-curricula clothes as well through this channel such as ballet, karate, cricket kit etc. Please restrict the sales to items relevant to education. You can also use the Facebook group to request any uniform/ book items you are looking for.

Shabbat Shalom Bindy Cohen

ANNOUNCEMENTS MAZALTOVS To the Linnow family on Ethan’s Bar Mitzvah. To the Roth family on Eliav’s Bar Mitzvah. To Jonathan & Rebecca Skovron on the birth of their daughter, Lennon Rose. May you continue to have nachat from your families

HAVE A SHABBAT OR YOM TOV WITH OUR SHERUTIES!!

To invite them for a Shabbat or Yom Tov meal, please contact Lynda Pilalis at the main Reception on 9528 4911

Or email l.pilalis@yavneh.vic.edu.au

BAR AND BATMITZVAH REGISTER Please remember to register the date of your son or daughter’s bar or bat mitzvah with Lynda Pilalis at Reception so

that we can avoid function clashes whenever possible.

The YPO is excited to launch the Yavneh Grandparents Club, and invite all grandparents to join us on Thursday 22 March at 9.30am to hear about the heart of Yavneh in 2018. Morning tea will follow, as well as an opportunity to shmooze and take a tour of the Elsternwick Campus. Please pass on to all grandparents, we look forward to seeing many of them there! RSVPs essential – N.Feutrill@yavneh.vic.edu.au Stay Connected – Join Yavneh Parents’ Organisation on Facebook!

Keep up to date with what’s going on by joining our Facebook group – search for Yavneh Parents’ Organisation (YPO) next time you’re online. Upcoming Events *NEW* ‘Women’s Rosh Chodesh Group’, Planning Meeting – Monday 19 March, 8pm Details to follow shortly, stay tuned. Enquiries and more information please email Ilana Lipski - ilanalipski@yahoo.com ‘Yavneh Grandparents Club’ Launch – Thursday 22 March, 9.30am All grandparents are welcome and encouraged to join us for the launch of the Yavneh Grandparents Club! We invite them to the Lamm Hall to hear about the heart of Yavneh in 2018, at our first Grandparents Club event for the year. Entry via Nagle Avenue, hall doors to open at 9.15am. RSVPs essential – N.Feutrill@yavneh.vic.edu.au Michael Shafar - Kosher Bacon, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Monday 2 April at 8.15pm at Trades Hall Tali Boltin & Amanda Hampel YPO Co-Chairs

YPO UPDATE