Emanuel School, Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emanuel School
Emanuel School, viewed from Centennial Park in 2017.
Location
18–20 Stanley Street, Randwick, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°54′24″S 151°14′37″E / 33.9068°S 151.2437°E / -33.9068; 151.2437
Information
Type	Independent co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school
Motto	Mind, Spirit, Being
Denomination	Jewish
Established	1983; 42 years ago (1983)
Founder	Rabbi Brian Fox AM
President	David New
Principal	Andrew Watt
Staff	~78
Years	Early learning and K–12
Enrolment	~800
Colour(s)	Maroon and grey
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Emanuel School; Aston Lodge; Loreto Sisters' School; Mount St. Joseph; Little Sisters of the Poor Novitiate; International Grammar School
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	386
Type	School – Private
Category	Education

Emanuel School is a special kind of school in Sydney, Australia. It's an independent Jewish day school that welcomes both boys and girls (co-educational). Students from early learning (pre-school) all the way to Year 12 attend here.

The school is located in Randwick, a suburb in Sydney's eastern area. The campus itself is quite old and has a rich history. Emanuel School first opened its doors in 1983 in Woollahra. The school then moved to its current Randwick location in 1985. In 1986, the Prime Minister at the time, Bob Hawke, officially opened the school. Today, about 800 students learn at Emanuel School. Mr. Andrew Watt has been the Principal since 2018.

Over the years, many parts of the school have been updated and improved. For example, a new science building with labs and a primary school library was finished in 2011. In 2015, a new building opened with classrooms, a theatre, a gym, and art rooms. More recently, in 2018, an "innovation" building was added. It has new classrooms, a design lab, and a kitchen for students learning about hospitality.

The school's campus has a long and interesting past. Before it was Emanuel School, it was a monastery, a place for religious training (a seminary), and even a large private home. The main building, Aston Lodge, was designed by a famous architect named Edmund Blacket in 1864. The entire school site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because of its historical importance.

Emanuel School's Journey

In 1982, a plan to create Emanuel School began. It was led by Rabbi Brian Fox and supported by many people from the Jewish community in Sydney. The very first students, 53 of them from Kindergarten to Year 6, started classes on February 2, 1983, at Temple Emanuel. Later that year, some older students moved to a different location in Watsons Bay.

In 1984, with a lot of help from Mr. Aron Kleinlehrer and the community, Emanuel School bought its current site in Randwick. The school officially opened there in 1985 with 230 students. As mentioned, Prime Minister Bob Hawke celebrated its opening in 1986.

In 2001, Dr Bruce Carter became the new Principal. In 2005, the school raised money to help pay off debts and improve the campus. A new science building was completed in 2011, partly funded by a government grant.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2013, the school raised more money for a new building. This building, which opened in 2015, replaced older portable classrooms. It brought new classrooms for younger students, a theatre, a gym, and special art classrooms. In 2016, the old high school art area was changed into new kindergarten classrooms. At the end of 2017, Anne Hasting retired as principal, and Andrew Watt took over in 2018. The "innovation" building, with new classrooms and a design lab, opened in 2018.

Campus History: A Look Back

The land where Emanuel School stands has a very long history.

Early Indigenous History

Before the 1780s, Aboriginal people lived in this area. They used the land for fishing and cultural activities. You can still find signs of their presence, like rock engravings and shell middens (piles of shells from their meals). The Cadigal people lived south of Port Jackson, and the local clan in the Maroubra area was called "Muru-ora-dial." By the mid-1800s, many Aboriginal people had either moved away or sadly died due to European diseases or conflicts.

Colonial History of Randwick

In the early 1800s, European settlers started to claim land here. The suburb of Randwick got its name from a town in England. Simeon Pearce, who was born in Randwick, England, and his brother James helped develop the area. Simeon bought land and built his home, calling it "Randwick."

Randwick grew slowly at first because it was far from Sydney, surrounded by swamps and sand. Travel was difficult. However, the area had two different groups of people: the wealthy, who lived in large houses, and the working class, who often worked in market gardens or piggeries. Some poor immigrants even lived in makeshift homes in an area called Irishtown.

In 1859, Randwick became one of the first areas in New South Wales to form its own local government. This allowed them to collect money and improve the suburb. The Randwick Racecourse was established in 1863, which greatly helped Randwick grow. Trams soon connected the suburb to Sydney, making it a busy and lively place. Today, Randwick is a mix of homes, businesses, and is home to the University of NSW and the Prince of Wales Hospital.

Aston Lodge Estate: A Gentleman's Home

The land for Aston Lodge was first sold in 1862. John Watkins bought 11 acres and hired the famous architect Edmund Blacket to design a large stone house. Blacket was known for his Gothic Revival style. John Watkins and his family lived in Aston Lodge from 1865. He was a successful merchant and even served as the mayor of Randwick several times. When the Watkins family wasn't living there, other important people rented the house, including Walter Bradley, who was also a mayor of Randwick.

In 1894, John Watkins's son, John Leo, became the owner. He was a lawyer and helped write parts of the Commonwealth of Australia's constitution.

From Private Home to Schools

Aston Lodge became a school for the first time in 1891, run by Misses Anne A. Hales. In 1892, the Loreto Sisters, a group of nuns from Victoria, opened their first school in New South Wales at Aston Lodge. It was a boarding and day school for young ladies. The Loreto Sisters taught girls to be well-rounded and intelligent. They even built a wooden dormitory.

In 1897, the Loreto Sisters moved their boarding students to a new school in Normanhurst. The day students continued at Randwick until a new school opened in Kirribilli in 1901, which was easier for students to reach by public transport.

Aged Care and Religious Training

In 1901, the Aston Lodge site was sold to the Little Sisters of the Poor. This religious order was founded in France to care for the elderly poor. They lived simply and relied on daily donations. They used Aston Lodge as a place for new nuns to train (a novitiate). A wooden chapel was built, later replaced by a stone one in 1921. More buildings were added over the years, including a laundry and a large new novitiate building in 1936.

By the 1970s, fewer young women were joining the order. In 1982, the Little Sisters of the Poor decided to sell Aston Lodge. There were plans to build high-rise apartments, but the community and heritage groups strongly opposed this. The Heritage Council of NSW stepped in to protect Aston Lodge. The novitiate then moved to New Zealand, and the site was sold in 1984.

Emanuel School's New Home

Emanuel School, pictured in 2015.

In 1984, Emanuel School bought the Aston Lodge site. They also agreed to let the International Grammar School use part of the site for two years while they found a new location. In 1985, Emanuel School officially took over the property. They bought the rest of the current site in 1986, bringing all their students (infants, primary, and secondary) to one campus.

When Emanuel School moved in, they changed the buildings to suit their needs. Aston Lodge became the administration building. The chapel was changed into classrooms and a library. The old laundry became the Art Block, and the novitiate building became classrooms. Since 1986, the school has continued to build and improve its facilities, including a new hall and kindergarten.

School Life and Learning

Emanuel School believes in a well-rounded education. Music is very important, with a required Instrumental Programme for students in Years 3 to 6. Students are encouraged to continue playing music throughout high school. Sport is also a big part of school life.

The Emanuel School Learning Centre has special teachers who help students with their learning. They also have programs for "Gifted and Talented" students and "Opportunity Classes" for those who need extra challenges. All high school students and primary Opportunity Classes use laptops for their studies.

The Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school is right on the same campus. It provides early learning for about 60 children aged 3 to 5 years old.

Heritage Importance

Emanuel School's site in Randwick is very special. It has unique buildings and grounds, including the Aston Lodge villa from 1864, designed by Edmund T. Blacket. The site also has a beautiful chapel (1921) and novitiate (1936) buildings. These were built for the Little Sisters of the Poor, who owned the site for many years.

The school is located on one of the highest points in North Randwick. This means parts of the site, especially the 1936 novitiate building, can be seen from far away, like from Queens Park, Centennial Park, and Bondi Junction. It's a well-known landmark in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The site has important connections to the history of Randwick. It was once the large home of James Watkins, a merchant and local council member. It also played a role in the history of private education in Sydney with the Loreto Sisters' school. Later, it was important for social welfare in New South Wales as the training center for the Little Sisters of the Poor, who cared for the elderly.

Many features on the site are historically significant, such as the high walls, the gate lodge (1932), the laundry (1929), and the old paths and gardens. Emanuel School was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its historical and cultural importance.

Notable Alumni

• Luda Kroitor (Class of 2001) – a dancer who has won the world Salsa championship five times. She also won Dancing with the Stars series 8 with her partner Luke Jacobz.

See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• Judaism in Australia