What a class act!
AFTER another interrupted and challenging year, Victoria’s Jewish schools have come out strong with Bialik College basking in VCE glory yet again.
With a median study score of 37 and a 32.6 per cent of study scores at 40 or above, the Hawthorn East school – which placed first in the state in 2020 – came in second this year, behind Haileybury Girls College.
It’s the seventh year in a row that Bialik has cracked the top three – 11.3 per cent of students at the school achieved ATARs of 99 or above, placing them in the top one per cent, with 52.1 per cent scoring 90 or above, placing them in the top 10 per cent of the state.
While the median study score was lower than previous years, the fantastic achievement has principal Jeremy Stowe-Lindner thrilled.
“We are all so proud of this menschlich and hardworking group of students and their dedicated teachers,” he said.
“It is also so pleasing to see so many Jewish schools in the top echelons of the state and it goes to show what a wonderful group of excellent schools our community has developed.”
Mazal tov to Bialik dux Tye Samuels who achieved an ATAR of 99.85.
Samuels told The AJN he was “really excited and surprised” receiving his results. “I really owe this mark to my amazing teachers who were able to keep me sane and motivated throughout lockdown,” he added.
Leibler Yavneh College, meanwhile, shot up the ranks this year, taking over from Mount Scopus Memorial College as the second highest scoring Jewish school and the seventh ranked school in the state with a median study score of 37 and 29.4 per cent of study scores 40 or above – a massive leap from 25th in the state in 2020.
Six per cent of students achieved an ATAR of 99 and above and
58 per cent achieved an ATAR of 90 and above.
Congratulations to Yavneh dux Yoni Gilboa who achieved an ATAR of 99.6. “I feel ecstatic!” Gilboa told The AJN, adding “I’m so grateful to my wonderful and dedicated teachers who have been there every step of the way, as well as my amazing peers.”
College principal Cherylyn Skewes said, “The results reflect a school that has pulled together over two years of COVID.”
Crediting the academic and pastoral staff who “worked tirelessly in supporting our motivated students to flourish,” she added, “This result is also emblematic of a school community, parents and students who showed exceptional emotional and academic support for one another.”
While Mount Scopus slipped a little this year, the school was still able to make the top 10 in the state achieving higher results than more than 500 schools and ranking in at number nine with a median study score of 36 and 31.9 per cent of study scores reaching 40 or above. 10.6 per cent of students achieved an ATAR of 99 or above and an impressive 53 per cent achieved an ATAR of 90 or above.
Mazal tov to dux Joshua Rotstein who achieved an ATAR of 99.9. Rotstein said, “It’s quite satisfying and relieving to see the tangible proof of my hard work over the past few years,” putting his impressive score down to practice, good preparation and developing good relationships with his teachers.
Noting that it was exceptionally demanding for students “transitioning back and forth from in-person to online learning whilst maintaining motivation for studies,” Mount Scopus principal Rabbi James Kennard added, “We are prouder than ever at their achievements, and we thank their teachers for their endless support and commitment.”
The King David School also achieved a median study score of 36, with 26.8 per cent of study scores at 40 or above, placing the school 17th in the state.
An impressive seven per cent of students also achieved an ATAR of 99 or above, placing them in the top one per cent of the state.
This year’s dux is Jessica Cebon who achieved an ATAR of 99.6.
Principal Marc Light said, “Our students’ dedication and commitment, supported and guided by the expertise of their teachers, has enabled them to achieve results that will open doors to the tertiary courses they seek and continue to place The King David School in the top echelons of the state.”
At Yeshivah College, the median study score was 35, with 14.3 per cent of scores reaching 40 or above and 40 per cent of ATARs over 90. Congratulations to college dux Yaakov Jurkowicz, who scored an ATAR of 99.15.
Jurkowicz said, “Above all else, I feel grateful,” praising a “good balance of sleep, study and leisure” for his success.
At Beth Rivkah, the median study score was 34, with 20.9 per cent of scores at 40 or above.
Dux Rochel Tenenbaum, who achieved an ATAR of 98.15, told The AJN she was both “shocked and elated as well as grateful to all of my teachers”.
“We are extremely proud of our 2021 graduating classes at Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges, who have overcome such challenges over these past two years of COVID,” said principal Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum, who added that “they are to be commended and their achievement justly celebrated”.
At Yesodei Hatorah, the median study score was 31, with 3.1 per cent of study scores of 40 or above.
Further coverage: Pages 8-12
Leibler Yavneh’s class of 2021.
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