Editorial 7/11/19

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Dear Parents and Carers,

Re: Communication Guidelines

The school has recently published revised guidelines to provide a platform for effective and positive communications between staff and parents/carers. Parents/ carers are entitled to expect courteous and timely communications from school staff just as staff are entitled to expect courtesy and respect from them.

This extract from the guidelines outlines the rationale behind them:
Research consistently finds that children achieve more when schools and parents/carers work together. However, the unique relationship that a parent/ carer or teacher has with a child might at times lead to differences of opinion as to what is best for the child. Both parties need to appreciate and respect the special skills and insights that each brings to their relationships with a child and understand and appreciate each other’s perspective.

Tension in the parent/staff relationship can arise when both parties are strongly motivated to do the best for the child but occupy fixed positions about how to achieve this. The ability to voice differences of opinion, respectfully and with understanding, is key to a successful relationship and to minimising conflict.

A link to the guidelines, which have been shared with staff, can be found here: https://hasmoneanmat.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Communication-Guidelines-Oct-2019.pdf

The contact details for staff can be found on the individual schools’ websites:

https://hasmoneanboys.org.uk/contact/

https://hasmoneangirls.org.uk/contact/

We hope that all members of the Hasmonean community will find the new guidelines helpful.

With kind regards,

Mr A McClusky
CEO – Hasmonean MAT

Mr Y Halberstadt
Chair of Local Governing Body Committee – Boys  – Trustee of Hasmonean MAT

Mr S Blumgart
Chair of Local Governing Body Committee – Girls – Trustee of Hasmonean MAT

90 Have Fun in Phasels Wood

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The Year 7 girls returned late on Wednesday evening from a very successful Achdut Trip to Phasels Wood. They enjoyed six different activities, ate a shop’s worth of nosh and ended the day sitting around a beautiful campfire singing before eating pizza and chips (express delivery from Golders Green- who knew that kosher pizza could be delivered to Kings Langley!) The campfire was created by Mr Tutty and Mr Sharpe – thank you.

The trip was led by our informal educators Miss R Wagner and Miss S Rabson. Staff who volunteered to join the girls included Mrs Brice, Miss Liley, Mrs Waugh, Mrs Epton, Miss Gelley, Miss Simonsson, Mrs Berg and Mrs Rand. The Year 12 madrichot: Tova, Chayale, Chana, Racheli, Ariella and Ella put in a huge effort to ensure that every Year 7 girl felt included and were superb role models.

Interfaith Arsenal

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On Friday 1st November some of the Hasmonean students went to an Arsenal in the Community Interfaith Day. Nicola Green from PAJEs remarked that the girls were, without exception, friendly, polite, interested and attentive. It was a pleasure to see them engage with girls from Islamia School. One of the students has written about her day below.

Teams of a different sort met at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium last Friday. Twelve of our Year 11 and Year 12 girls took part in an Arsenal in the Community Interfaith Day in partnership with Islamia Girls’ School. Each group consisted of two girls from each school and they were given one of the six major religions in the UK to research. They then had to prepare a presentation based on each respective religion’s main festival, whilst linking Judaism and Islam to other dominant national religions and their practices. This was all in preparation for Monday 11th November when each group will give over their presentation to local Jewish and Muslim primary school children.

Each group thoroughly enjoyed working together regardless of religion or age, and look forward to sharing their presentations next week.

By Ariella
Year 12