Bialik College

Bialik College is an independent comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary and secondary Jewish day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1942 in Carlton North, Victoria, the school has had a Zionist orientation since its inception, with the establishment of the State of Israel central to its identity. Bialik's approach to Judaism is pluralistic and cross-communal.[1][2]

Bialik College
Bialik College in 2014
Location

Australia
Coordinates37°50′32″S 145°02′37″E
Information
TypeIndependent comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary and secondary Jewish day school
MottoStep Forth With Courage and Be Your Best
Religious affiliation(s)Reform Judaism
DenominationJewish
Established1942 (1942)
PrincipalJeremy Stowe-Lindner
YearsEarly learning; K-12
Enrolment1,046
Colour(s)Blue and yellow   
Websitewww.bialik.vic.edu.au

School capacity is more than 1,000 students, ranging from 3-year-old kindergarten to Year 12, with day care for children from three months to three years. Bialik offers the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

Facilities

Since the late 1990s, Bialik has added a building to house its VCE department, an Early Learning Centre, the 'Besen Family Art & Technology Centre' and the 'Gringlas Sports Centre' to its campus. Additionally, the school has established the Rosenkranz Centre For Excellence and Achievement, aimed at providing enrichment and extension programs for students.

A new drama studio opened in 2010 and the Evelyn Hellen Library opened in early 2011. In 2011, a new Jewish Life Centre, The Mifgash,[3] opened as part of the school's new Jewish Life and Informal Education initiative. The College has an award-winning Kitchen Garden, cafeteria (the Shuk ) and runs a school bus service.

In 2015, the Primary School underwent a major rebuild and is currently a multi-purpose and multi-sensory environment with a variety of learning and playful spaces.

A new state-of-the-art crèche is opening in July 2019.

Academics

Bialik College has offered the VCE since 1990; the school has consistently been ranked as one of the top 10 in Victoria.[4] As of January 2019, the school has been ranked in the top 5 in Victoria for 21 out of 22 years.[5]

Performing arts

Bialik College has a comprehensive performing arts program. All Primary School students are provided with an opportunity to learn a musical instrument and participate in orchestras and ensembles.

The Middle School offers a Drama elective in Years 7-10, with many students choosing to continue it for VCE. In 2016, a new Drama program was introduced in the Primary School for Year 3 students.

On alternative years the school presents a major musical, and produces a play. Some recent Bialik productions include Fiddler On The Roof, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, High School Musical, Aladdin and in 2016, The Golem. There is also an annual house performing arts competition, which is run by Year 10 drama students.

Jewish life

Jewish Life looks over the three departments within the college: Jewish Studies, Hebrew, Informal Jewish Education. Informal Education caters to the four pillars of Judaism, Zionism, Leadership and Health and Wellbeing. Informal Education is run out of The Mifgash, which represents the ethos of Bialik College in terms of pedagogy, outlook, and conforms to typologies held by Jewish Informal Education. Every Year 10 student attending Bialik College has the opportunity to travel to China and Israel for 'Chavayah[6]'. The College was the first Jewish school in Australia to add an Asian component to the annual Israel tour. Students discover China's industry and impact on the world's economy, as well as the history of the Jewish community in Shanghai.

Student leadership

Bialik's leadership model promotes inclusivity as students are self-nominated for leadership roles. There are leadership opportunities at various year levels throughout the Primary, Middle and Senior schools. Every Year 5 student becomes a leader of the Primary School and can choose from a variety of portfolios that suit their personal interests. There are further opportunities for leadership in Years 9,10, 11 and 12.[7]

House system

The three houses, Weizmann (Green), Szold (Yellow) and Herzl (Red), are mainly used for interhouse sports and are named for Chaim Weizmann, Henrietta Szold and Theodore Herzl.

Sport

Bialik is a member of the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM).

EISM Premierships

Bialik has won the following EISM senior premierships.[8][9]

Boys:

  • Basketball (3) - 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Cross Country - 2007
  • Hockey (6) - 2001, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2020
  • Soccer (5) - 2009, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Tennis (5) - 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Touch Rugby (2) - 2014, 2015
  • Volleyball (7) - 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020

Girls:

  • Netball - 2014
  • Soccer (4) - 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
  • Table Tennis - 2006
  • Tennis - 2017

Notable alumni

  • Joel Fetter, barrister and winner of the Supreme Court Prize at Melbourne Law School[10]
  • Josh Frydenberg, Australian politician who has been the Treasurer of Australia and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party since 24 August 2018[11]
  • Josh Glanc, lawyer and comedian, Josh's hit comedy show 99 Schnitzels (Veal Ain’t One) sold out during the 2015 Melbourne Comedy Festival and ran for a second festival season in 2016[12]
  • Anthony Goldbloom, founder and CEO of Kaggle
  • Elise Hearst, successful playwright based in Melbourne and co-creator of acclaimed production, Bright World (2016)[13]
  • Nathaniel Lizak, recipient of the Young Investigators Best Oral Presentation for his work on the effects of MS treatments in slowing its progression, whilst studying Medicine at Monash University[14]
  • Ben Zygier, an Australian-Israeli citizen who was a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces and allegedly an agent of Mossad.[15]

See also

References

  1. Bialik College "About Bialik" web page Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  2. Bialik College "History and Vision" web page Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  3. humans.txt, Alaress. "Jewish Life". www.bialik.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. Family, Wang. "VCE School Ranking - 2015". bettereducation.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. Family, Wang. "School Ranking - 2015". bettereducation.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  6. "Bialik College Goes to China". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016.
  7. "Student Leadership". Archived from the original on 12 May 2016.
  8. "EISM". www.eism.org. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  9. "EISM". www.eism.org. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  10. "Barrister Profile - Victorian Bar". www.vicbar.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=FKL
  12. "99 Schnitzels (Veal Ain't One), Joshua Glanc | Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2016". www.comedyfestival.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  13. "Bright World: creativity and long struggle for a fair deal".
  14. humans.txt, Alaress. "Alumni News - Nathaniel Lizak makes advances in MS Research - News". www.bialik.vic.edu.au. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  15. "From Melbourne to Mossad: the life and times of Ben Zygier". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
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