I have always loved writing and over the past four years I鈥檝e thoroughly enjoyed sharing aspects of 91抖阴 life with you each week. I must confess, though, that I haven鈥檛 looked forward to writing this last post. Goodbyes don鈥檛 come easily to me and I鈥檓 not good at leaving. Initially I wondered whether my mum and sister were the only people who read my weekly scribbles, but conversations over the years reassured me that others were reading too and that encouragement kept me going. Today I鈥檒l allow myself a little self-indulgence and reflect on my time at Carmel and what I鈥檒l remember about this very special school.

Four years ago, I had never knowingly met anyone Jewish. The thought of leading a Jewish day school was both exciting and daunting. I needn鈥檛 have worried; from day one I was welcomed, accepted and grateful for the opportunity to learn about a community that, as some of my friends politely say, 鈥渉as a lot going on鈥�.

Carmel has changed me in ways I didn鈥檛 expect. The 鈥楽habbat shalom鈥� texts that now circulate among various family members every Friday afternoon always make me smile. I鈥檝e reconnected with members of my own family, inspired by what I鈥檝e learned here about the central importance of family; and I will forever be grateful for the understanding of what it means to be a mensch.

So, what will I remember? I鈥檒l remember the dedicated, hard-working teachers who invest so much care and love into their work and open countless opportunities for our students. I鈥檒l remember the CSG and the team of people who quietly and competently keep us safe on campus each day. I鈥檒l remember the generosity of our P&F, who volunteer their time to friend-raise and fund-raise for the School. On the hardest days, I鈥檒l remember sitting in the ELC, finding comfort in the children who are the reason we do what we do. I鈥檒l remember singing Hatikvah with heart in assembly, along with the beloved 91抖阴 song. I鈥檒l remember standing at the gate, greeting children each morning. Most of all, I鈥檒l remember the students themselves; the funny, bright, talented young people who ensured there were very few days when I didn鈥檛 laugh or smile.

I鈥檒l also remember the hard times, including the challenges and fears of Covid as we worked to ensure learning continued towards the end of the pandemic. I鈥檒l remember a time towards the end of 2023, when I greeted children arriving at the Primary School gate protected by five armed police, four CSG security guards in stab-proof vests and my Principal鈥檚 badge. I will remember having to make decisions which, whatever option I chose, would inevitably upset or anger different members of the community.

That鈥檚 what leaders do. They look after people; they listen, they learn and they make hard decisions. When you鈥檙e leading an institution as important as a school, it鈥檚 even more essential that those hard decisions are made with careful thought and consultation. I am grateful to those of you who have vehemently disagreed yet understood the necessity of some choices and supported them. I have valued the wise counsel of many of you who have freely shared your thoughts and I have appreciated those of you who have entrusted us with the most precious things in your life, your children.

Arguably the most significant learning has been my increased understanding and knowledge of this remarkable Jewish community which I have grown to love. I will take this with me and I commit to continue to use that understanding to educate others. It has been a privilege to have been welcomed into the community and trusted to lead this fabulous school over the past four years. I am proud of what we have achieved together in that time and of the many developments that have positioned the School for ongoing success.

A heartfelt thank you.

Shabbat shalom.

Dr Julie Harris

Principal