Editorial – 10/12/2020

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Dear Parents,

The number eight is central to Chanukah. The festival itself lasts for eight days and we light an additional candle each night, culminating with eight candles. Chanukah itself comes to a climax on the eighth and last day which is given the title “Zos Chanukah” – “this is Chanukah”, suggesting the number eight is wrapped up in the essence of the festival.

What is special about the number eight and what is the link to Chanukah?

I once heard the following explanation from Rabbi Pinchos Roberts. The Greeks espoused a philosophy of rationality and denied the possibility of “l’maala min hatevah”, the concept of the supernatural.

This was the target of the three edicts the Greeks decreed against Klal Yisroel. Shabbos, Milah and Chodesh. Each represent an aspect of l’maala min hateva.

Tell a shopkeeper who shuts his store early that this act of mesiras nefesh will actually bring blessing. As the Maharal notes, the very number eight represents “beyond nature”. The number six represents the physical, seven is injecting spirituality into the physical and eight is the level beyond nature. That is what milah is – on the eight day. And “chodesh” represents a Supernatural Power governing the solar system.

The very purpose of Chanukah is to counter that philosophy. To proudly declare that HKBH runs the world and proclaim the message of number eight. “Zos Chanukah” – this is Chanuka, this is the very essence of what Chanukah is about. The eighth day epitomises the concept of “l’maala min hatevah”, the supernatural.

Chanukah is of course linked to the word “Chinuch” – “education” and is the festival of the original Hasmoneans. I often feel that what we achieve at Hasmonean is “l’maala min hatevah”.

In today’s world it is harder than ever to impart spirituality to young people and yet here at Hasmonean we continue to strive for excellence in both kodesh and chol, achieving excellent exam results when so much of the school days is dedicated to kodesh. And most importantly, to produce students who are rooted in Yiddishkeit and are learned and passionate Jews who can also make their way in this world and live productive and meaningful lives, contributing to the society in which they live.

But as much as we live and engage in this world, we recognise that there is a concept of “l’maala min hatevah”, and that is felt at Hasmonean, not just at Chanukah but all year round.

Wishing you all a happy Chanukah and a good Shabbos.

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel

Editorial 4/12/2020

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Dear Parents,

I have been thinking about heroes lately following a conversation with Rabbi Golker about Maradona which became the focus for my last assembly.  Maradona was a sporting legend but the scenes of grief and the thousands queuing to pay their final respects suggested that this was a man who was more than just a footballer.

When I thought about Argentina during the period when Maradona was growing up, his status became more understandable. The country was ruled by a brutal dictatorship and thousands had disappeared. In 1982, Argentina lost the Falklands war and there was very little for Argentinians to feel proud of in their country. Then a poor boy from a shantytown helped, through his genius, to propel Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, on the way beating England which came as some compensation for the Falklands defeat. This helped to restore Argentina’s national pride and faith in itself as a fledgling democracy.

We do not live under a dictatorship but the news has been unremittingly depressing for months and we also need some heroes to lift our spirits. Colonel Tom Moore with his aim of raising £10 000 for charity by doing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday was one such. In the end he raised over £32 000 000.  In our daily lives, we can all act as a hero to someone else by an unexpected act of kindness, going above and beyond the call of duty or by quiet thoughtfulness. My hero this week is Mrs Langdon for all her efforts in getting nearly 800 chromebooks out to students, a process which was very far from simple.  I invite you to identify the heroes in your life and to acknowledge them.

Wishing you all a Good Shabbos.

 

Katherine Brice

Editorial 26/11/2020

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Dear Parents,

I am delighted to announce that, after a long wait, our Chromebooks have started to arrive. A global shortage of these devices meant that we had to source new suppliers for many of the devices. Had we not done so, we would have had to wait until February for most of them to arrive from our original supplier. The additional costs incurred for the same devices with the same specification have been covered by the schools. Heartfelt thanks to those parents who paid for some of the children whose families could not afford to buy Chromebooks to receive them. If other families would like to sponsor further Chromebooks, please do contact the Headteachers to let us know.

We should have all of the Chromebooks that have been ordered in school by the end of this week and we will be spending next week registering them to their new owners and uploading software onto them. We hope to be able to hand them over to students very soon.

Once students have their devices, teachers will then be able to start using them in lessons to experiment with new pedagogical approaches and to introduce a variety of different apps to enhance students’ learning and augment more traditional approaches to classroom learning. It will also mean that students are well-equipped to access learning from home both outside of school time and during school time should they need to self-isolate.

We are also now about to advertise roles to take charge of and implement our digital learning strategy. The aim is to:

1. Harness the very best practice from other schools in this country and abroad
2. Cascade blended leaning through our learning areas
3. Curate a bank of digital resources within each learning area
4. Support all staff members with training and development

This will, with further staff training and development, enable us to build on our learning during lockdown and, over time, achieve our ambition of transforming our provision.

On a separate note, I would like to apologise for the frustration that some parents had at the online Year 12 and 13 Boys’ parents evening. The provider of the platform to enable parents and teachers to meet experienced a technical glitch which regrettably prevented some teachers from joining meetings for part of the evening. Alternative meetings are being arranged to ensure that those parents can be updated about their children’s progress. We are also reviewing the meetings to ensure parents and teachers have a sufficient time for discussion.

With kind regards,

Andrew McClusky
CEO, Hasmonean MAT

Editorial 18/11/2020

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Dear Parent,

Due to the increase in cases of COVID-19 within schools, we would like to remind you of our procedures if your child develops symptoms or tests positive, as well as the guidance from Public Health England, with whom we are working closely.

Current Restrictions
In general, you must not meet with another person socially or undertake any activities with another person. However, you can exercise or meet in a public, outdoor space with people you live with, your support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble), or with one other person.

You should minimise time spent outside your home. When around other people, stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household – meaning the people you live with – or your support bubble. Where this is not possible, stay 1 metre apart with extra precautions (e.g. wearing a face covering).

You must not meet socially indoors.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. You must inform the school by contacting Mrs S Fine at the Boys’ School (s.fine@hasmonean.co.uk) or Mrs M Palmer (m.palmer@hasmonean.co.uk) at the Girls’ School, who will then advise you how to proceed and the date of your child’s return to school.

• Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
• All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
• Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
• The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
• Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
• If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
• Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
• If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

What to do if your child tests positive for COVID 19
If your child receives a positive COVID-19 test, we are asking parents to use the link on our website or the link here: https://forms.gle/AvbtNEunDx4MrM9A8 to inform us. All information will be dealt with confidentially.

We will use the information gathered from the form to contact identified students to let them know that they must isolate and also advise you of your child’s return date.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do
• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Yours sincerely

Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust

Editorial 12/11/2020

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Dear Parents,

This week has been an extremely sad one for the entire Jewish community. The news about the passing of both Rav Dovid Feinstein o’’h and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks o’’h culminated in a collective outpouring of grief from the Jewish world. People have felt individually and profoundly affected: these were two shining examples of personalities having a huge impact, far beyond their own countries. In fact, far beyond their own religious sphere.

It has been profound and humbling to read the moving statements which have been released from so, so many members of British society following this week’s news about the passing of Rabbi Lord Sacks. The Hasmonean community are planning our own programme of reflection which will take place at the end of the sheloshim period. More details to follow.

It is very pertinent that this week’s parsha starts with discussing the life of Sarah; it is clear that she had a powerful impact over her family during her life and over our entire nation to this day. She raised Yitzchak during his formative years, nurturing him to become a future Jewish leader. Interestingly, the parsha begins with the death of Sarah but it is her legacy which she left behind which dominates the narrative. In the words of Rabbi Lord Sacks, in his own commentary of the parsha: ‘It is future-orientation that defines Judaism as a faith…First build the future. Only then can you mourn the past.’

Yours sincerely,

Mrs D Lebrett
Headteacher
Hasmonean High School for Boys

Editorial 5/11/2020

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Dear Parents,

When is the first time the word אהבה (love) appears in the Torah?

The answer is this week’s parsha: קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ אֶת יִצְחָק. Hashem instructs Avraham to take his son Yitzchak, “whom you love” and offer him up as a sacrifice.

The second time the word אהבה is used in the Torah is in next week’s parsha: וַיִּקַּח אֶת רִבְקָה וַתְּהִי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ. Yitzchak marries Rivka and “loves her”.

The third time the word אהבה is used in the Torah is in the parsha after that in describing the love of Yitzchak and Rivka for their children:וַיֶּאֱהַב יִצְחָק אֶת עֵשָׂו … וְרִבְקָה אֹהֶבֶת אֶת יַעֲקֹב.

My brother-in-law Rabbi Jeremy Finn has recently published another wonderful sefer on the Parsha. He cites Rabbi YY Jacobson who makes an insightful and powerful observation.

As Yitzchak had been the recipient of love, he knew how to love others. Since Avraham had shown love to Yitzchak, Yitzchak was able to show love to Rivka and because she received her husband’s love, she, in turn, was able to love her son Yaakov.

The Torah is teaching us that if we want our children to grow up as loving, productive and well-balanced members of society, we need to show them love. Our children will not know how to love unless they have experienced being loved.

This needs effort and needs us to be proactive in our relationships. Showing our children that we love them will not only build them, but will help them in their relationships too.

Wishing you all a wonderful Shabbos.

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel

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Dear Parents,

As you are aware, we have a number of students who are having to self-isolate at the two schools.

We have been trialling hardware such as graphic tablets, headsets and webcams to help teachers deliver lessons to students isolating at home. Our order of these items has now arrived and we would like to train all teachers in how to use it so that more of them have the facility to livestream their lessons to those who are isolating.

To this end, we would like to close the schools to students at 2.45 pm on Tuesday next week so that staff can be trained period 7/8 before the Year 11 boys’ parents’ evening. It will mean that most students miss one lesson as there are very few period 8 lessons on that day.

We are confident that the net impact on education will be positive as the training will enable more teachers to be ready and able to livestream lessons.

We are expecting the Chromebooks which parents have ordered to arrive in November. We make regular enquiries about a delivery date but have not yet received one. When we have, we will update you accordingly.

With sincere thanks in anticipation of your understanding in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Mr A McClusky
CEO, Hasmonean MAT

 

Editorial 29/10/2020

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Dear Parents,

The relentless nature of the bad news which surrounds us is like the autumn storms which seem to buffet us from all sides. It can be hard to keep cheerful in such circumstances and to show the resilience which we try to inculcate in our children. So this week I thought we should concentrate on the little things: smiling above the mask, stopping for an extra moment to see how someone else is, sharing in the joy of a new baby or an engagement. We all need to live more in the moment and to take pleasure and sustenance from what is happening now and not to worry too much about what the future may bring. The Year 7’s took huge pleasure from their achdus trips and the chance to do fun activities together.

Undoubtedly this is a stressful time and the older students who have exams coming are understandably anxious about how they are doing and what might happen. Encourage them to keep a sense of perspective. If nothing else, this pandemic has taught us that the important thing is the love of our family and friends and the way we treat other people. Academic work and achievement has a place – and an important one – but in the end it is not what defines us. I draw solace from Psalm 103 and this verse in particular:

“Bless Hashem, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

Wishing you a very good Shabbos.

 

Mrs K Brice
Headteacher
Hasmonean High for Girls

Editorial 22/10/2020

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Dear Parents,

If every child in a class self-isolates, their live lessons can be delivered live relatively easily as was the case during lockdown. However, if some remain in school and others have to self-isolate at home – which is the more likely scenario – delivering live lessons to both groups simultaneously is more challenging.  We are working hard to identify the optimal solution to deliver live lessons at home in this scenario however we are not quite there yet. For this to happen smoothly, students need to have Chromebooks which they can use both at home and in school, and all staff need to have the appropriate equipment (and training) to deliver lessons in school that are simultaneously streamed home.

Our Chromebook supplier has advised that these will arrive in November and, once delivered, they will then be configured for deployment. When we receive a precise date, we will let you know when your children will receive a device if you have ordered one. Additionally, teachers need to be provided with equipment to enable them to teach students in the class and at home concurrently. This involves identifying the optimal Bluetooth headsets, webcams and graphic tablets and, as you would expect, we are currently trialling a variety of equipment prior to placing bulk orders.

Once all of these elements are in place, staff will have the facility to give those at home access to live classroom lessons. Until then work will be uploaded onto Google classroom which will include live/recorded lessons wherever possible.

Please bear with us while we work through this process – we know that it will cause some frustration – and we are sincerely grateful for your patience while we go through the steps we need to take to increase live lessons for those who are isolating at home. We will get there.

To help us minimise the number of students who are having to self-isolate, please ensure that your children observe social distancing outside of school when socialising with their friends.

Please also check that your child has a clean face covering to bring to school each day to minimise the risk of infection (this is now mandatory in London).

Students must stay at home if they have any Covid symptoms and get tested. If they have had a Covid test for any reason, they should wait at home until they receive the results.​

We continue to follow Public Health Guidelines and take advice from Barnet Public Health in regard to all Covid-related matters.

With best wishes,

 

Mr Andrew McClusky, CEO

Editorial 15/10/2020

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Dear Parents,

It has been a pleasure to welcome the students back to school after the break and to see them embracing the opportunity to learn in real classrooms. There is a real buzz in school and the students really want to be here. We have also managed to run an outstanding Year 7 Achdut trip for the boys which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Now that London is moving to Covid Tier 2 over this weekend, I am writing to remind you about the importance of following the Government advice in order to try to slow the spread of the virus. Our aim is to keep the schools open to the very best of our ability. This means that we are asking for parents and students to play their part in minimising infection spread: if you attend or promote gatherings indoors where households are mixing, you are putting your family and others at serious risk. Please help us to keep the schools open and to keep the community safe.

As we start again with Sefer Beraishit, it is worth noting that the entire sefer is replete with examples of our Avot behaving in an altruistic fashion and thinking about others. This must be our mantra during these very challenging times.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful Shabbat,

 

Mrs D Lebrett
Headteacher
Hasmonean High School for Boys

Editorial 1/10/2020

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Dear Parents,

As soon as we finish reading the Torah on Simchas Torah, we immediately begin leining parshas Bereishis. And when we make a siyum, the minhag is to start the beginning of the next masechta at the very same celebration.

What is behind this?
The Torah begins with a ב and ends with a ל. This is strange as it spells בל which has negative associations. Think of words with these two letters in this order and it is invariably a negative connotation. A few examples: בעל, בלי, הבל, נבל, בלק, בלעם.

It gets worse. Torah she’baal peh begins with a מand ends with a ת. This of course spells מת – dead.

I once heard an explanation in the name of Rabbi Joseph Pearlman. We never simply complete Torah, we always start again. As soon as we finished the last words of V’Zos Habracha, we start Bereishis. So too at a siyum, as soon as we finish one masechta, we begin a new one.

In this light, the last letter of Torah she’bichsav and the first letter now spells לב (heart – suggesting our full emotional involvement) and Torah she’baal peh spells תם – perfection.

Even the word ש”ס (shas) has a gematria of 360 suggesting a circle of 360 degrees with no linear start or end point, just a continuous, ongoing circle.

The concept of continuity resonates with me in two, quite different ways.

Firstly, my wife and I are thrilled to have become grandparents this week. A Yom Kippur grandson! We feel very blessed and grateful and wish everyone to enjoy much simcha and nachas from their families.

Continuity also features in school too. For a start, thankfully school is still open! That is no small feat and it is has taken many people and much work to achieve this. Please G-d, we should continue to stay open and safe in the months ahead.

As we again begin a new Jewish year and a new cycle of Torah, may we absorb the above ideas and engage in Torah with all our לב and with an appreciation of its perfection.

Wishing you all a wonderful yom tov.

Yours sincerely,

Rabbi J Golker
Menahel