Despite the unseasonal weather and the threat of a snow day hanging over us all, we managed to celebrate Purim in true JCoSS style once again.   Students and staff excelled themselves in the fancy dress department, and students took part in a wide variety of fun workshops, including spy games, crystal maze, drumming, street dance and circus.  Congratulations to Isaac Reuben for winning the Talent show with his ode to the one way system and finally a huge thanks to the amazingly daring and creative staff members who starred in this year’s video.

In other IJE news, our inaugural Leadership Academy group have graduated from the first phase of the programme, with a wonderful closing session form Rabbi Joseph Dweck. The students have undertaken a wide ranging and challenging programme, with pathways in communal leadership, educational leadership and social action leadership.  All are now undertaking projects to put the incredible learning they have had into practice, and preparing for the residential element of the programme.

Our linking programme has continued this term with joint programmes for both year 8 boys and year 9 girls with our link schools.  Students are developing relationships with students from other faiths and learning much more about their Judaism in the process.  We are looking forward to welcoming students from our link schools at the JCoSS interfaith tent next term.

We are also delighted to announce that so far this year we have raised over £5000 for our nominated school charities.  This takes us halfway to this year’s target – so look out for some intensive sponsorship and fundraising opportunities coming up in the summer term

Sara Levan

Director of Jewish Life