6 Kaleidoscope December 2023 Kislev 5784 Scopus Flashback Marc Besen z”l, was a champion of Scopus and a tireless fundraiser for our school. As a parent of four young children at the College in the mid 1960s, his role actively evolved over four decades. All-the-while, Marc was a visionary. Developing a lifelong passion for the arts with his wife Eva, the College benefitted from several projects including the Besen Family Performing Arts Centre, opened in 2000. ‘I had a dream’ – Marc’s handwritten opening ceremony speech is a valued artefact in the Archive collection. He dreamed of a ”‘home’ where creative ideas could achieve dramatic quality… arouse our consciousness to human emotions and social problems… where all the arts and our students could reach for the stars”. That dream became a reality, and in 2024 we look forward to celebrating the reality of 75 years of our amazing school. February 8, 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of the first day of Mount Scopus Memorial College in St Kilda Rd. Stand by for compelling flashbacks throughout 2024. Parents’ Association It has been a busy and successful year for the Parents’ Association. Suzy Suss and Romy Borensztajn, Co-Presidents, thank all our dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors for their support. We have focused on community support during the challenging last few weeks. The parent community united for Israel with a B’Yachad function, a special Kabbalat Shabbat at GBH, and PA morning tea for teachers. All money raised from lunch orders, tuck shop and challah stalls was donated to Israel. Our Father’s Day stall, coffee morning, book sale, challah bake, challah covers, mango fundraiser and sports day were all well attended. This success allowed us to purchase much needed equipment for GBH, FKI and SFPS. At the end of 2023 we farewell and thank Suzy Suss for her dedication as PA Co-President. We also say goodbye and thanks to two dedicated volunteers: Romy Donner, GBH Lunch Order Co-ordinator and Mel Raleigh, Mother’s/Father’s Day Stall Co-ordinator. We look forward to a wonderful 2024. Goodbye and toda raba At the end of every school year we say farewell and thank you to staff who are leaving, some after over 15 years of service. Earlier in the year we said goodbye to Jorge Santander after 20 years in Maintenance at the Gandel Campus; Bridget McDermott after over 24 years of creative flair as a Secondary Art teacher and Faculty Leader of the Loti Smorgon School of Visual Arts; Jason Lord after 20 years as Production Manager in the Besen Family Performing Arts Centre; and Sue Vermes after nearly 15 years as Garden Educator, designing, creating and bringing the Scopus Kitchen Garden program to life. As the school year draws to a close, we farewell Dani Aisen after almost 35 years as a much loved Primary Music teacher; Elka Borden after more than 25 years as an outstanding Primary Jewish Studies and Hebrew teacher across multiple campuses; Dean Kuran after over 18 years as a dedicated Primary teacher; Tessa Fisher after almost 15 years as a respected and incredibly patient Secondary Maths teacher; and Sharon Stocker, Deputy Principal – Secondary after over 35 incredible years (read Rabbi Kennard’s tribute to Sharon on page 2). We wish each one of them all the very best and thank them for their dedication, commitment and care of our students. Bat Mitzvah chagiga Year 6 girls enjoyed a special Bat Mitzvah chagiga, as the culmination of their various Bat Mitzvah programs this year. The morning was an opportunity for the students to celebrate this milestone all together, and included Rosh Chodesh Kislev tefilla in the Bursztyn Synagogue, followed by a simcha-breakfast and rauch in the Rose Hall. Secondary students shared their reflections on what they would tell their 12 year old selves, and the Bat Mitzvah girls learned about the mitzvah of hafrashat challah as they prepared challah to take home and bake. Our Bat Mitzvah program aims to inspire life-long connections to Judaism and prepares our young women to be active members in the community. Throughout the program girls take part in a wide-range of learning experiences to mark their Bat Mitzvah, in a way that suits their individual strengths and interests. Mazal Tov to all our Bat Mitzvah girls of 2023. Noam White, Myer Brott and Robert Bontschek before opening day, 1949 Our amazing volunteers at this year’s Father’s Day stall Maya Morawetz reads from the Torah as Morah Dalya Freedman and classmates Dahlia Szylit and Jessica Meltzer look on
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