Editorial 16/7/2021

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Dear Parents/Carers,

 

This is an important letter about the arrangements for this term and next – please read this all the way to the end.

 

Information regarding provision for GIRLS SCHOOL students

YEARS 7,8,9,10,11,12 on Monday 19th July and Tuesday 20th July

 

There has been a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases at the Boys’ school and we are concerned that we may not be aware of other Covid-19 cases in the school community due to the absence of compulsory testing in schools and a lack of clarity about contacts out of school. We feel that, to support our students’ and staff’s physical and mental wellbeing during the run-up to a long-awaited holiday, we should move to delivering our educational provision online for the last two days of term which were already planned to be short days.

 

Monday 19th July: Lessons for Years 7-10 and 12 starting at 11.30am.

Tuesday 20th July: Lessons for Years 7-10 and 12 starting at 9am and finishing at 12.15pm.

 

If you need your child to attend school on Monday or Tuesday, please email admin_requests@hasmonean.co.uk by 4pm today.  Students will need to bring their Chromebook, headphones and a packed lunch. Students who receive free school meals will be provided with lunch.

This is not a decision which we have taken lightly but we think this provide the best educational experience for everyone. With a great rise in the number of cases amongst Hasmonean families infection levels could be rising at a rapid rate and this seems the most prudent course of action. Online provision will mean that every student will receive the same teaching including those who are having to isolate.

Students have been asked to clear their lockers today and it is important that all lockers are empty. If your child is absent, she may come into school (providing she is not isolating) between 3:30 and 5:30 on Monday or from 12:30-3pm on Tuesday.

Information regarding arrangements for the beginning of the Autumn term

This information concerns arrangements for the beginning of next term.  We are looking forward to seeing all of your daughters relaxed and rested!

COVID19 asymptomatic testing arrangements for the Autumn term.

As children and young people return to the classroom following the summer holidays and the further easing of restrictions, we need to be sure that potential Covid-19 cases are found as quickly as possible and measures put in place to prevent the virus spreading throughout the school community. From 16th August, if step 4 of the roadmap goes ahead, these measures will no longer include the self-isolation of close contacts if they are under age 18 or have had both doses of the vaccine. This makes regular testing even more important.

Incoming Year 7 students will be offered two tests onsite at school to ensure they are confidently and correctly administering the tests, which have not been offered to them at primary school. All of other students in the incoming Years 8-13 should complete two tests at home before they return to school one on the morning of Sunday 29th August and one on the morning of Wednesday 1st September.    Year 7 parents will be receiving a separate communication about the plans for this.

It remains very important that students and staff continue to test at home, twice a week. From September we will continue to provide test kits, but if you find you do not have sufficient supply to cover the summer holiday period, test kits can be ordered online or collected locally. More information is available at: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information-and-advice/covid-testing-nhs-test-and-trace-service/free#title-0 .

One in three people who test positive for Covid-19 do not have symptoms and so regular asymptomatic testing continues to be a vital part of our response to managing the virus. This new testing approach is designed to minimise the spread of Covid-19 and support more learners to remain in face-to-face education, which is our top priority.

 

Start dates and times for the new term

Year 7 Wednesday 1st September for Covid testing before returning home.

Thursday 2nd September  9:00 start until 3.30
Year 8-11 Thursday 2nd September  1:30 start until 3.30
Year 12 Wednesday 1st September  1:00-2:45 Photos, subject and midrasha choices

Thursday 9:30 Introduction  to the sixth form

10:30 Lessons begin

 
Year 13 Thursday 2nd September    10:30 start, lessons begin at 11:30

We are hopeful that the canteen will be open on Thursday 2nd September.  We are moving to a new provider for lunches from September and this is still being finalised.  More information will be sent to you when details are confirmed.

 

Key Diary Information for the Beginning of Term

Friday 3rd September  School ends at 1.00pm

Monday 6th September (Erev Rosh Hashana)   School ends at 12.15pm

 

Health and Safety Issues

The Student Services Officer, Mrs Palmer, will take care of any students who feel unwell during school and, if she suspects that they may be suffering from Covid-like symptoms, the student will be isolated, parents will be immediately informed and asked to collect their child and test.

We will no longer be responsible for contact tracing of Covid cases; NHS Test and Trace will now be conducting contact tracing should there be a Covid case in school. Students will no longer need to automatically isolate if they are identified as a positive contact but will be expected to take a PCR test.

Pupils are not expected to wear facemasks in school but they must wear them on public transport.

The school’s Risk Assessment document will be available on the Hasmonean MAT website before the start of the new term.

There will no longer be staggered starts or endings to the day.

 

Reminder about Quarantine rules

We have been asked by Barnet to remind you that, if you are planning on travelling abroad, you should be mindful of any quarantine rules which could impact on the students returning to school on time for the new term.  Please ensure that you factor this consideration into the planning of your holidays.

 

New Timetable

The lesson times are changing slightly next year and we will be moving to a 2-week timetable.  The students will be provided with their new timetables in the new academic year.

 

Results Days: A Level, BTEC and GCSE

A Level and BTEC Level 3 Results Day            Tuesday 10th August

GCSE and BTEC Level 2 Results Day              Thursday 12th August

 

More information about these days can be found on our website.

Wishing you all a wonderful and well-deserved holiday.

Kind regards,

 

Mrs K Brice

Headteacher

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Parents/Carers,

This is an important letter about the arrangements for this term and next – please read this all the way to the end.

Information regarding provision for BOYS SCHOOL students YEARS 7,8,9,10,11,12

for Sunday 18th July, Monday 19th July and Tuesday 20th July

 

We have experienced a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases at the Boys’ school and, consequently, the number of students who are then required to isolate.  We are also becoming increasingly concerned that we may not be aware of the other Covid-19 cases in the school community due to the absence of compulsory testing in schools and a lack of clarity regarding contacts out of school. We feel that, to support our students’ and staff’s physical and mental wellbeing during the run-up to a long-awaited and long-deserved holiday, we should move to delivering our educational provision online. As a result, our provision will move online from Sunday.  School will still be open for students on Monday and Tuesday: if you would like to send your son into school on Monday and Tuesday please email admin_requests@hasmonean.co.uk by this afternoon at 4pm.  They will need to bring their chromebook, headphones and a packed lunch.  Students in receipt of Free School Meals who attend school will be provided with lunch.

 

This is not a decision which we have taken lightly but we think that this will provide the best education for everyone during this period. With an exponential rise of cases within Hasmonean’s families, and with a lack of clarity regarding contact tracing of positive cases outside of school, levels of infection could be rising at a rapid rate.   Online learning enables all of our students to access their education, including our students who need to isolate.

 

Sunday 18th July: Online Tisha B’av programme for all students – Rabbi Golker will send out more information in a separate email.

Monday 19th July: Lessons for Years 7-10 and 12 starting at 11.30am.

Tuesday 20th July: Lessons for Years 7-10 and 12 starting at 8.55am and finishing at 12.15pm.

 

Students in school today have been given bags to take home their belongings from their lockers.  We need all of the lockers empty at the start of the summer holidays. If a student is absent, they are welcome to come into school from Monday at 3.45pm-6.00pm or Tuesday from 12.30pm-4.00pm.  If a student is isolating, please ensure that another Hasmonean student comes into school during this time to collect their belongings.  If this is not possible, please email me (d.lebrett@hasmonean.co.uk).

 

Information regarding arrangements for the beginning of the Autumn term

This information concerns arrangements for the beginning of next term.  We are looking forward to seeing all of your sons relaxed and rested!

 

COVID19 asymptomatic testing arrangements for the Autumn term.

As children and young people return to the classroom following the summer holidays and the further easing of restrictions, we need to be sure that potential Covid-19 cases are found as quickly as possible and measures put in place to prevent the virus spreading throughout the school community. From 16th August, if step 4 of the roadmap goes ahead, these measures will no longer include the self-isolation of close contacts if they are under age 18 or have had both doses of the vaccine. This makes regular testing even more important.

Incoming Year 7 students will be offered two tests onsite at school in the gym to ensure they are confidently and correctly administering the tests, which have not been offered to them at primary school. All of other students in the incoming Years 8-13 should complete two tests at home before they return to school one on the morning of Sunday 29th August and one on the morning of Wednesday 1st September.    Year 7 parents will be receiving a separate communication about the plans for this.

It remains very important that students and staff continue to test at home, twice a week. From September we will continue to provide test kits, but if you find you do not have sufficient supply to cover the summer holiday period, test kits can be ordered online or collected locally. More information is available at: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information-and-advice/covid-testing-nhs-test-and-trace-service/free#title-0 .

One in three people who test positive for Covid-19 do not have symptoms and so regular asymptomatic testing continues to be a vital part of our response to managing the virus. This new testing approach is designed to minimise the spread of Covid-19 and support more learners to remain in face-to-face education, which is our top priority.

 

Start dates and times for the new term

Year 7 Wednesday 1st September for Covid testing before returning home.

Thursday 2nd September  8.40am start until 3.30pm
Year 8 Thursday 2nd September  1.45pm start until 3.30pm
Year 9 Thursday 2nd September  1.45pm start until 3.30pm
Year 10 Thursday 2nd September  1.45pm start until 3.30pm
Year 11 Thursday 2nd September    Day starts with Beis at usual time
Year 12 Wednesday 1st September  12.30pm Assembly, 1pm Beis Introduction, 1.15pm subject confirmation, 1.30pm photographs for new lanyards
Year 13 Thursday 2nd September    Day starts with Beis at usual time

We are hopeful that the canteen will be open on Thursday 2nd September.  We are moving to a new provider for lunches from September and this is still being finalised.  More information will be sent to you when details are confirmed.

 

Key Diary Information for the Beginning of Term

Friday 3rd September School ends at 1.00pm

Sunday 5th September  Sunday School

Monday 6th September (Erev Rosh Hashana)   School ends at 12.15pm

 

Health and Safety Issues

The Student Services Officer, Mrs Fine, will take care of any students who feel unwell during school and, if she suspects that they may be suffering from Covid-like symptoms, the student will be isolated, parents will be immediately informed and asked to collect their child and test.

We will no longer be responsible for contact tracing of Covid cases; NHS Test and Trace will now be conducting contact tracing should there be a Covid case in school. Students will no longer need to automatically isolate if they are identified as a positive contact but will be expected to take a PCR test.

Pupils are not expected to wear facemasks in school but they must wear them on public transport.

The school’s Risk Assessment document will be available on the Hasmonean MAT website before the start of the new term.

There will no longer be staggered starts to the day but we will endeavour to allow the Year 7 and 8 students to leave a few minutes early after form time to stagger the end of the day rush.

 

Reminder about Quarantine rules

We have been asked by Barnet to remind you that, if you are planning on travelling abroad, you should be mindful of any quarantine rules which could impact on the students returning to school on time for the new term.  Please ensure that you factor this consideration into the planning of your holidays.

 

New Timetable

The lesson times are changing slightly next year and we will be moving to a 2-week timetable.  The students will be provided with their new timetables in the new academic year.

 

Results Days: A Level, BTEC and GCSE

A Level and BTEC Level 3 Results Day  Tuesday 10th August

GCSE and BTEC Level 2 Results Day    Thursday 12th August

 

More information about these days can be found on our website.

Wishing you a safe and relaxing summer

With best wishes,

Mrs D Lebrett

Headteacher

 

 

 

 

Dr Mett Farewell

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Last week Hasmonean said farewell to Dr Mett, who has taught A-level Maths for the past 40 years. He joined Hasmonean as a second form pupil back in 1957, skipping a year and rising to the fourth form. The friends he made at Hasmonean have remained his lifelong friends – indeed, as he flew to Israel on Monday to begin his new life in Jerusalem with his children and grandchildren, an old school friend was on the same plane. Dr Mett and his contemporaries have all given to the community; they include R’ Gershon Hager, Judge Jonathan Weingarten, R’ Binyomin Moscovits of Midrash Shmuel, and R’Oppenheimer of Gateshead.

After leaving Hasmonean, Dr Mett learned in Gateshead, and then took up a place at Gonville and Caius to read Mathematics. He shared rooms with another former Hasmonean alumni, Michael Weiselberg. There weren’t many religious Jews in Cambridge in the 1960s, but there were enough to support each other and enjoy the canteen at Thompson’s Lane. From Cambridge, Dr Mett completed a PhD in Physics at the University of Surrey.

So, how did Dr Mett end up teaching at his alma mater? He had a full time job lecturing at the Open University, which was based in Milton Keynes. His Department Head encouraged working from home, which meant that there was time in his schedule. In 1978 he was called by Mr Stanton as the school needed a Maths teacher for the Sixth Form. He joined on a temporary basis…which lasted 40 years!

Although not an accredited teacher, with his ‘vintage’ degree and with maths being a shortage subject, Dr Mett, as he said in our interview ‘got away with it’. It was not a difficult transition as the boys in his classes tended to be more mature and motivated. One of his stand out moments was when a former pupil, Rabbi David Meyer, became his boss! He has always loved teaching, crediting his success as being due to the fact that he has always taught what he is enthusiastic about, and he hope that he has passed this enthusiasm on to his students. When his teaching was observed, his colleague, Mrs Epton said he would always humbly ask how he could have improved his teaching. The response was that his teaching was exemplary and very little needed improving. The lessons were always outstanding. Two of his most recent students, Noga B and Zara A-P said that ‘Dr Mett is a wonderful teacher who always goes to great lengths to ensure we understood all the material. We looked forward to each of his lessons and were very lucky to have been taught by him.’

Now that he has retired, Dr Mett intends to keep up his learning with his existing Chavrutot via Zoom and to enjoy his family in Israel.

Rabbi Golker remarked that ‘I am a “talmid chaver” of Dr Mett. A student turned colleague. But it is not just in school that I have learned to respect and admire Dr Mett. He is a stalwart of our kehilla leading many worthy communal enterprises with dignity and dedication. Perhaps the most famous is the Netz minyan which Dr Mett has run for decades, which at the height of summer means a 4am start!’ He continued: ‘Dr Mett is a role model in integrity, humility, dedication and yiras shomayaim (fear of heaven) and will be sorely missed not just in the Hasmonean family, but in Anglo Jewry as a whole.’

Mr McClusky said at the farewell event that his career since 1978 spans eight UK Prime Ministers (since James Callaghan) and a similar number of Hasmonean Headteachers or Executive Headteachers. The fact that his life as student was spent at Hasmonean means that his whole life has been dedicated in one or way or another to the institution. This is a truly remarkable achievement.

He is held in the highest esteem even until today by students and the whole Hasmonean community owes him an immense debt of gratitude for his lifetime of service.

Editorial 9/7/2021

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As the Jewish people prepare to enter the Land of Israel, the tribes of Reuven and Gad drop a bombshell on Moshe Rabbeinu. After forty years of journeying in the desert with the final destination to go to Eretz Yisrael, they tell him that they want to stay on the east side of the River Jordan and not settle in the holy land.

“We want to build sheep pens for our livestock here and towns for our children.” (Bamidbar 32,16)

In his response, Moshe Rabbeinu makes a subtle change and conveys an important and timeless message.

“Build towns for your children and pens for your sheep.” Moshe reverses the order and gently rebukes them for prioritising their livestock and assets over their children. Moshe tells them to first build towns for their children and then worry about their wealth.

Whilst we may scoff at the blatant warped priorities displayed the tribes of Reuven and Gad, is our society different? Building a business and pushing for partnership is all too often at the expense of spending time with our families.

We are approaching the summer holidays and often have more opportunities to share quality time with our loved ones. The message of this week’s sedra is a timely reminder that we should invest in our most precious assets.

We also have more opportunity to show our children what our real values are. Try asking your children to articulate what they think your three most important life principles are. Whilst we may know what is important to us, we often forget to convey this to our children.

Wishing you all a wonderful Shabbos.


Rabbi J Golker
Menahel

Girls’ School Year 11 Shabbaton

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Our Girls’ HIPE team are really something very special. Last Shabbat, they organised a wonderful Shabbaton for our Year 11 girls. With the aid of our exceptional Kevin, the hall was transformed into a banqueting space. The HIPE team also utilised the girls’ skills to create welcome packs, decorate the hall, create games, serve meals, and do the all-important toranut. With a theme of balance, they achieved the balance of the girls enjoying Shabbat together, as well as being invested in the entire experience.

Highlights included games led by Year 11 students, Rabbi Birnbaum and his family walking from Edgware to run a programme, and Rabbi Golker and his wife walking up to present a Q&A session and to speak at Seuda Shlishit.

The staff who attended on Friday night were phenomenal, losing a night’s sleep to ensure that Friday night was calm. Thank you to the night shift, which included Mrs Canoville, Miss Gelley, Miss Simonsson and our HIPE team.

A group of ten alumni (and Mrs Ellerman) walked up towards the end of Shabbat. These older girls spent time schmoozing and learning with the Year 11s – giving ideas about life after Year 11. One of the attendees described the Shabbaton as ‘exceptionally amazing’, running smoothly and creating the perfect balance of guided time and time just to chill.

The HIPE team were thrilled to be able to send off the students with such a positive last ‘Hasmo’ experience, and a well-deserved weekend together after showing such a balanced and positive attitude over the past 15 months.

Year 11 HIPE Week of Activities

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After a somewhat doom and gloom year, the Year 11 boys were treated to the first ever HIPE week at the Boys’ School. Each day began with a special Beis programme, followed by a phenomenal range of activities including Aqua Bounce, Thorpe Park, Inflatables and the Tough Mudder experience! To end the week, each shiur in the Beis was treated to a group activity with their Rebbeim. The boys certainly deserved a week of fun to conclude their GCSE journey at Hasmonean! We cannot wait to see them back for Sixth Form ready to conquer more challenges!

Boys’ School – Junior Kangaroo Maths

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Another set of fantastic results for the Junior Kangaroo Maths 2021. After getting Gold in the JMC 2021, 4 of our students qualified for the Junior Kangaroo for Maths. Three of them have been awarded a Merit Certificate which places them in the top 25% of the students qualified for the Junior Kangaroo.

The three students are:
• Boaz A 103 marks
• Sam T 103 marks
• Shimon W 98 marks

The fourth student is Rafi S, who got 85 marks. This is also a very decent result as it is very close to the threshold for a Merit Certificate.

Congratulations to the students and to their teacher Mr Francos.

Year 13 Girls’ School Shabbaton

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The Hasmo Hotel reopened last weekend for some very special guests: the Year 13 graduates.

Mrs Paster, Miss Simonsson, Mrs Naylor, and Mrs Brice were the brave teachers who slept overnight at school. Ms Valencia was with them on Friday night, Miss Gelley walked up in the morning to join the girls, and Rabbi Bennett and his family walked over for lunch.

The theme was ‘Transitioning and Making the Right Choices’, with a group of alumni walking over to learn with the girls on that theme. Shiurim were also given by Mrs Paster and Miss Gelley. There was a novel ‘backwards panel’ where different girls were asked questions about their experiences of Hasmonean.

Thank you again to HIPE team who have really given their all to ensure these girls have had a magnificent end to their time at Hasmonean. Although, as we always say ‘you can take the girl out of Hasmonean, but you can’t take Hasmonean out of the girl’.

Boys’ School Activities Event

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The annual Activities Event 2021 kicked off with a range of trips heading out from Hasmonean Boys. Coaches were filled with excited boys from Years 7-10. Five coaches were headed towards paintballing, one to water sports and two to trampolining and mini golf. It was an exciting day full of flips and tricks throughout. The lads were helped by the wonderful weather which ensured that rain did not stop play!

On Tuesday many of the students were hosted by Power League for the football tournament of the century. For those who preferred not to play football, they were able to spend the day on site for Grand Hasmo Day filled with inflatables, music, gaming, cooking and art sessions. Thanks to some of our amazing staff for running these fantastic sessions.

To end it all off we had Sports Day 2021 which was filled with new personal bests, photo finishes and competitive spirit. The boys enjoyed a range of team challenges, as well as the more traditional and highly competitive races. Thanks to Mr Tutty and Mr Sharpe for organising such an exciting day to end off a phenomenal few days!

 

Girls’ School Activities Event

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The annual Activities Event kicked off to a great start on Monday. The girls marched up to Hendon Rugby Club for a somewhat different Sports Day. The first half of the day saw them attempt a range of challenges which included throwing balls into targets, hula hoop relays, netball shooting, obstacle courses, and hockey slaloms. Team leaders from each year group and a host of enthusiastic staff ensured that everyone had a fun morning. After lunch, the more traditional events began: shot putt, javelin and a range of races. Again, the team leaders ensured that as many girls as possible had a chance to compete. And, even if you weren’t competing, it was a perfectly sunny day to hang out in the grass and cheer your friends on!

On Tuesday, the girls enjoyed Theme Park Day: Years 7 and 8 went to Chessington and Years 9 and 10 to Thorpe Park.

Wednesday saw a phenomenal Grand Hasmo at the Girls’ School, with Mrs Jacobson and Mrs Miller deftly organising 357 students into four different slots to do activities such as fencing, mug painting, dance, sculpturing Easter Island inspired heads with Mr Bazen, inflatables, table tennis, football and beginners First Aid. One group of girls were given the chance to decorate Mrs Jacobson’s English classroom with a magnificent Macbeth mural. Thank you to our indefatigable events manager, Mr Tutty who ensured that everyone was in the right bubble at the right time going to the right event! Our Activities Event was more of a challenge to pull off than in past years and it was wonderful to see staff and students enjoying being at Hasmonean in a more relaxed environment.

Editorial 2/7/2021

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Dear Parents and Carers,

I am not a sports fan, but I do enjoy watching Wimbledon and so it was that at 9:30 last night I started watching an enthralling match with Andy Murray which was already in its fourth set. Murray is an interesting character having gone from being reviled for his on-court outbursts to being the darling of the crowds for winning a gold medal in the London Olympics and then Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.

Murray is now so popular that my son said ‘I love Murray, he’s such a legend!’ I think this has less to do with his sporting prowess than with other aspects of his story with which we can all empathise. We are impressed that he has been in the finals of 11 major tournaments, which is highly unusual for a British tennis player, but what we all relate to much more is the human emotions which he has displayed. There were the tears of relief and joy when he won Wimbledon and then the tears when he broke down having had to pull out of the Australian Open in 2018 because of serious problems with his hip which seemed to put an end to his career.

Since then Murray had undergone various bouts of surgery which have given him a metal hip and he has shown remarkable resilience in fighting to regain some of his former glory. This story of battling against the odds is one which resonates with us and we want it to succeed. It helps that Murray has other admirable traits. He has done a lot of work raising money for charity and he is a champion of the women’s game arguing that women should receive the same prize money as men. Murray has been asked why he doesn’t just retire and stop punishing his body which has been through so much. His reply in a recent article was:

‘Don’t be sad for me! I like doing this, and I’m choosing to do it. No one’s forcing me.’

Murray is exemplifying a growth mindset which we try to promote in school. He is not letting setbacks stop him from trying but instead he redoubles his efforts to find a way round the problem. He may never be number one in the world again but he has made it through to the third round of Wimbledon (as he has done every time he has entered the tournament) and that in itself feels like a victory.

Shabbat Shalom.
Best wishes,

Katherine Brice