Willing, able and ready to learn

AS tens of thousands of year 12 graduates around the state plan for next year, Leibler Yavneh College graduate Yoel Segelov is preparing for TAFE, where he will undertake a Certificate One in transition education, a course he likens to a Shnat year where he would gain life-long skills and leadership experience.

The 18-year-old thrived in his three years at Yavneh and graduated along with his peer group thanks to the support of the Jewish Day Schools Integration Program (JSIP).

“It felt amazing and wonderful to graduate. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but the fact that it did, with all my peers, is a credit to the school,” Segelov told The AJN.

Funded by the Melbourne Jewish Orphan and Children’s Aid Society, the JSIP assists with the educational costs of children with a range of disabilities – be they physical, emotional or learning – to facilitate their integration within the Jewish school system.

The organisation receives about $500,000 each year courtesy of the profits from the Posh Opp Shoppe in Glenhuntly, run by Rosalie Silverstein on behalf of the society.

While Jewish schools receive government funding of up to $5000 for each special needs child in their care, the JSIP supplements this total to ensure students have the best possible chance of succeeding within the mainstream school system.

“In the past, the schools were really good at keeping these kids included only until secondary school,” JSIP coordinator Sharon Goodhardt explained. “Now the schools are really good at finding alternative paths for their students. Many offer VET (Vocational Education and Training) subjects and apprenticeship opportunities.”

The JSIP supports students in all year levels, from kindergarten to year 12, at each of the nine Jewish schools, from Adass Israel School to Sholem Aleichem College, Yesodei Hatorah to The King David School.

The  coordinators at each school also form a network and meet regularly to exchange ideas and practices and offer each other support.

“Being in the mainstream environment means these students model themselves on the mainstream children, they are pushed to achieve their greatest potential and it is also great for the mainstream kids and teachers,” Goodhardt said. “The benefit on us as a community is almost more than the impact on them.”

Another student who benefits greatly from the initiative is Zalman Feiglin, in year 8 at Yeshivah College.

His mother Michelle admits she and her husband often evaluated the benefits of their son staying within the Jewish education system or attending a specialised school. They were particularly concerned with the transition to secondary school, but have not looked back.

“He wouldn’t have had as much of social a life, he wouldn’t be as much a part of the community, he wouldn’t be as stimulated and his life wouldn’t have been as rich,” she said of her son’s involvement in mainstream Jewish education.

“He participates in all parts of everything, fromthe drumming and dancing group at Access, to Bnei Akiva camps, Friendship Circle and the Port Phillip Council’s drama group.”

With a full-time integration aid, Zalman attends the school minyan and has breakfast with his friends before spending the first two hours of each school day looking ahead at what he will be learning about in each of his subjects. He subsequently joins his class with added confidence and an awareness and expectation of the day’s events.

Michelle is certain her son would not be the person he is if not for his integration within Yeshivah with the support of
the JSIP.

The Melbourne Jewish Orphan and Children’s Aid Society Posh Opp Shoppe is located at 1226 Glenhuntly Road, Glenhuntly. (03) 9572 2248; For more information about the Jewish Day Schools Integration Program, contact Sharon on sharon@goodhardt.com.

Caption: Zalman Feiglin (left) and Nadav Ellinson on Bnei Akivah camp last year.

DALIA SABLE