Representing Team GB: Preparing for the Maccabiah & JCC
Updated: Feb 27, 2025
Maccabiah Games 2025
The Maccabiah Games are in full swing this month, with a packed schedule of training sessions and friendly fixtures against both local and national teams.
Our Girls’ Football squad had an unforgettable experience at St George’s Park, where they had the chance to meet professional players, tour the England team’s changing rooms, and take part in an exclusive training session led by one of their top coaches.
The U16 Boys’ Football team recently took on Leyton Orient in a highly competitive match, while our Padel and Pickleball teams continue their rigorous training in preparation for the summer tournament. Our 45+ Futsal squad and 55+ Football squad are also holding weekly training sessions to ensure they are match-ready.
In Swimming, our squad will hold their final trial this Sunday, where we hope to welcome additional athletes to the team. Meanwhile, our three Netball teams are training and competing consistently. The arrival of official training kits has given a huge morale boost, adding to the growing excitement as we gear up to represent Team GB at the Games this summer.
We also successfully hosted our fourth management workshop, attended by over 40 members of our management team. The session covered key topics such as mental health and concussion awareness, alongside team-building exercises. Additionally, we focused on logistics and best practices for managing our athletes during our time in Israel.
With the flight deadline fast approaching, we are finalising squad numbers and securing all necessary bookings. Our Pre-Camp and Jewish Identity Programme is also taking shape, featuring two days in Jerusalem, a special day with Beit Halochem, and a Gala Dinner for Team GB.
Preparations are progressing well, and we are eagerly looking forward to visiting Israel next month to review plans and witness the ongoing developments ahead of the Maccabiah Games.
JCC Maccabi Campus Games 2025
It has been another action-packed month for the JCC managers and athletes, with everyone working hard on their fitness and performance.
Even more exciting – our athletes have now tried on their team uniforms and playing kits, which has added an extra buzz to the preparations!
With the countdown to the JCC Maccabi Campus Games in full swing, everyone is looking forward to another busy and productive month ahead.
As part of the lead up to the JCC Maccabi Campus Games, we are hosting a Duplicate Bridge Evening on Sunday 18th May. Register at www.maccabigb.org/bridge
My first thought about helping students organise their own learning is that the everyday experience deserves as much attention as the larger explanation. Keeping track of unfinished tasks can make a busy school week feel more manageable. That connection helps me see why student learning organisation can be worth a closer look. I would be interested in a simple example, because it is often the ordinary details that make an idea memorable. What kind of planning system is simple enough for students to use consistently?
The topic of making space for questions in the classroom gives me a few things to think about, especially when the discussion moves beyond general advice. A thoughtful pause can give quieter students time to develop an answer. It also gives the phrase student classroom participation a clearer meaning than a label on its own. I would be interested in a simple example, because it is often the ordinary details that make an idea memorable. What helps a classroom welcome questions that do not have an immediate solution?
Considering rebuilding confidence after a learning setback, I keep coming back to the difference between knowing about an idea and putting it into practice. A disappointing result does not have to define the next attempt. I would use that point as a starting question when considering learning confidence recovery. I can imagine different answers depending on the situation, so I would want to understand the context before drawing conclusions. What helps a learner recognise progress after an earlier difficulty?
The subject of developing skills through focused workshops feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. A short workshop can be useful when it gives participants time to try one specific technique. I would keep that thought nearby when looking for ideas about focused skills workshops. A short discussion of an everyday example would make this easier for me to connect with, especially as someone still learning about the subject. What should a learner be able to do differently after a focused session?
Thinking about making collaborative classroom projects work, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. A group task becomes easier to follow when everyone understands their own contribution. It makes me curious about the practical side of classroom project teamwork. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. How should students share responsibilities without leaving one person to do everything?