Principal's Welcome
Bruchim Habaim - Welcome to the King David School
Our values of inclusivity, egalitarianism, and social justice ensure that students develop emotional intelligence. Students are encouraged to use their achievements to create a better Australia.
From celebrating our Chagim (holidays) to debating Jewish ethics to researching Jewish history, our students experience Judaism as a rich and moving tradition that is relevant to their lives. Our Jewish Life team facilitates hands-on learning that strengthens our students' Jewish and Zionist identities.
As you look on the website, I encourage you to discover our educational philosophy and the extraordinary opportunities on offer both in and out of the classroom. From exceptional outdoor education, to musicals, debating, coding contests and more, our students are able to challenge themselves in a range of environments.
Our School's founders, Isador Magid AO and Rabbi Dr John Levi AC, stand as role models for our students and teachers alike by virtue of their dedication to learning and enlightenment. The school environment they created continues to this day, promoting critical inquiry, positive relationships and the embracing of difference.
It is a privilege to lead Australia's only Progressive Jewish school. I invite you to book a tour and learn more about the King David difference.
Marc Light, Principal
Insights - Principal's Blog
Each week our Principal, Marc Light shares his insights into current events and educational pedagogy, highlighting how these inform the educational programs and culture at The King David School.
Putting NAPLAN into perspective
This week our Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students have been busy participating in the annual NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy and involves a series of tests which are conducted at these year levels around the nation. Our students sit multiple choice
Navigating criticism after 7 October
Theodore Hertzl’s text Altneuland was pivotal as a force for gathering momentum towards support for the establishment of a modern Jewish state in our historic homeland. The title, meaning ‘old new land’, was an expression of the interplay between the modern and ancient and the continuing Jewish presence. An interesting fact
Our drive for innovation
Recently there has been some welcome discussion in Australian media surrounding the adoption of enhanced educational approaches in school settings. There has been coverage of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools’ announcement that it has adopted a pedagogical framework that is grounded in explicit instruction. This follows on from a reported
Creating the community we want to be part of
This week I attended the first King David School Parents’ Association (KDSPA) planning meeting of the year. I left the meeting feeling greatly uplifted. Here was a large group of representatives who had given of their time to work collectively on ways to enhance the experience of our students, staff
Is this ‘it’?
“Is this it?” This is the creeping, disquieting question that has persistently bubbled to the surface over recent months as we have experienced the abhorrent rise in domestic antisemitism. I am not often prone to catastrophizing and logically I know that our community is resilient, strong and, by most measures,
Different ways of being excellent
This week, we conducted our annual Back to School Service. I would like to share with you the words that I delivered in my address. Around this time of year, 34 years ago, as an impressionable young person I went to see Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. The film tells the
Insights: Challenging Group Think
Last night we celebrated our collective achievements for 2023 in a wonderful Presentation Evening. I would like to share a section of the speech that I delivered. The world since October 7 is a different one. As you, our graduating students, stand at the threshold of a significant transition, I
A tribute to Vera
This week, we hosted the Rozkin family, past and current students, staff and community members in a truly moving memorial for our beloved teacher, Vera Rozkin, who passed away earlier this year. I would like to share with you the words that I delivered on both my and past principal
A formula for a life well lived
This week we celebrated a wonderful Graduation Dinner for the Class of 2023. I would like to share with you an extract from the speech that I delivered to them at the event: As is traditional at Graduation Dinner, it is my privilege to try to convey some wisdom to
An open letter to CSG
In my family there has been a long lasting joke that is applied whenever someone complains about something no matter how trivial. The response passed down from my grandmother is “Write a letter!” This comes from a time before social media, when the primary channel of activism was to write
Navigating VCE at this trying time
This week we marked the Shloshim for those murdered in the Hamas atrocities of October 7. It has been such a trying month for all in our community. From the shock and disbelief at the scale and depravity of the terrorist attacks, the deep-seated worry for the hostages, the global
Bring them Home
It has now been almost a month since the dreadful terrorist attacks on Israel of October 7. At the time of writing, Hamas is still holding around 242 hostages captive in Gaza. The vast majority of these are civilians and the Israeli government believes that 138 of the hostages also