MILESTONES

1962

FEBRUARY

First meeting held to consider formation of Jewish Day School in Wembley.

MARCH

Rabbi Berman encouraged formulation of a committee to go ahead with establishment of Yavneh Primary School, Wembley. Among those elected were: Hon. Principal, Rabbi M. Berman and Charles Arnold, Chairman of the Board of Governors.

DECEMBER

Inaugural meeting of Governors, prospective parents, representatives of the Torah Department of the Jewish Agency and Mrs. Ann Hanstater, the first appointed teacher.

JANUARY

Yavneh Primary School opened with four girls and six boys.

FEBRUARY

P.A. formed, chaired by Mr. David Rose.

OCTOBER

Mrs. Myrna Glass appointed Senior Teacher.

DECEMBER

The only two classes of the school gave the first Chanukah Concert.

1963

1965

SEPTEMBER

Nursery (founded in 1954) merged with school.
It was reported at the Governors' Meeting that "...The London Board of Jewish Religious Education hoped that there would be a new state primary school established in the immediate area within a short time".

JUNE

First of several Garden Parties.

1966

1968

JANUARY

First inspection of the school by the Department of Education and Science.
Myrna Glass became Head Teacher.

FEBRUARY

First major fund-raising function held by Friends of Yavneh at the Greenford Hall, featuring Alf Fogel and others.

JULY

First of the now Annual Sports Days held at King Edward's Park, Wembley.

MARCH

First model seder ceremony held.

JUNE

Developments regarding new Jewish Day School put on hold.
First of the summer outings. Children went to Kew Gardens.

JULY

First Leavers' Presentation Ceremony for top class.
Appointment of Mrs. Betty Ashleigh, the first school secretary.

DECEMBER

School entertained Friendship Club.

1969

1970

MARCH

First of several Yavneh Jewish Year Books published.

JUNE

Summer Concert was "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast".
The Chief Rabbi, Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, visited the School.

FEBRUARY

Yavneh children planted a tree in Wembley Synagogue grounds given by JNF as a prize at Tu Bishvat celebrations held with Kenton, Kingsbury and Wembley Hebrew Classes.

APRIL

First entries of children's art at Annual Jewish Child's Day Ben Uri Art Exhibition

JUNE

Rabbi Berman reported that the position regarding the establishment of a Jewish State School in Brent was now more promising.

JULY

First of yearly Summer Fairs was inaugurated by Miss Rivka Beck, who was then Juniors' Hebrew teacher.

1971

1972

FEBRUARY

PTA participated in a Festival of Synagogue Choirs at Brent Town Hall.

MAY

Infants came second in JNF Lag Ba'Omer Sports Day.

JUNE

London Board examinations taken for first time.

OCTOBER

Mrs. Anne Weintraub hosted first of several Succah parties for the Infants.

DECEMBER

Children in the Diaspora were writing a Sefer Torah. Money had been collected by Yavneh children to enable 64 letters to be written.

JANUARY

10th Anniversary Celebrations of the establishment of Yavneh Primary School began.

MARCH

Yavneh Shabbat at Wembley Synagogue.

APRIL

Performance of "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat".
First PTA Show was an Old Time Music Hall.
School Choir won a trophy for participating in Brent Music Festival.

JUNE

First appearance of School Choir at JNF Festival of School Choirs at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
New school to be sited in Shakespeare Drive.

SEPTEMBER

A school magazine was produced.

DECEMBER

Money raised at Sponsored Silence (approximately £500 by 20 children) sent to JIA in aid of Israel's grave political situation.

1973

1974

FEBRUARY

PTA revue "Showboat".

MARCH

Rabbi Berman retired as Hon. Principal. In recognition of his work, the Board of Governors established "The Rabbi Myer Berman Scholarship".

MAY

First school secretary retired and Mrs. Rita Garfield appointed in her place.

JUNE

School Choir participated in JNF Festival of School Choirs at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Rabbi Ivor L. Abrams invited to become the new Hon. Principal of Yavneh.
PTA performance of their version of "The Boyfriend".

JANUARY

Yavneh Bar Mitzvah Year. Another Yavneh Shabbat held with former and present pupils taking an active part in the Morning Service.

MARCH

Yavneh visited llford Primary School for Purim celebrations. Former pupil of Yavneh, Sara Clifford appointed Deputy Head Girl at JFS.

JUNE

School Choir participated in Israel lndependence Day celebrations

at Kenton Synagogue.

Class 7 joined in lndependence Day Rally at New Victoria Theatre.
Party of pupils visited Kerem School for Yom Y'rushalayim.
Summer Outing: Upper Juniors shown around House of Commons

by Dr. Rhodes Boyson, M.P.

OCTOBER

PTA presented "Hello Dolly".

DECEMBER

Letter received from London Board of Jewish Religious Education congratulating Yavneh on its fine examination results.
School entertained B'nai B'rith as well as Friendship Club

with Chanukah Concert.

Participated in JNF Concert at Hendon Odeon.

1976

1977

FEBRUARY

Children presented "Tobias and the Angel" and "Samson", partly in aid of British Friends of Israeli War Disabled. Several exhibits for "Jerusalem Competition" were selected and shipped to Israel; letters of commendation received.

JUNE

JNF Lag Ba'Omer Sports. Infants came first and won a cup.

OCTOBER

PTA performance of "Sunny".

DECEMBER

Governors set up small sub-committee to note progress of new school and Yavneh interests.

MAY

Yavneh Cookery Book published.
Yavneh was top team in the LITSOC "Brain of Wembley" contest.
It was reported that the new school would open 1981 with a three form entry.

JUNE

First Wimbledon Sweepstake.

DECEMBER

PTA performance of "Salad Days".

1978

1979

MAY

Choir participated with Mike Burstyn and other stars in Yom Ha'atzma'ut celebrations at the Wembley Conference Centre.
First of two Sponsored Walks for Yavneh.

OCTOBER

Choir sang at major fund-raising dinner of the JEDT held at the Carlton Towers Hotel, London, in the presence of the Chief Rabbi and the Israeli Ambassador.

NOVEMBER

Visit to the Tate Gallery.
Local Police visited school, showed the film "Never Go With Strangers", and spoke to each class.

DECEMBER

School participated in Drama Festival at St. Georges Theatre with their own production of "The Mystery of the Golden Slipper".
PTA presented show "Forties on Parade".

FEBRUARY

Special weekend away at the Yakar Study Centre in Stanmore for Classes 6 and 7.
Foundation Stone laid at new school by Michael Sobell.

JULY

Record Sports Day! Because of inclement weather, 43 races run in one hour.
Annual Leavers' Presentation Ceremony.
Mrs. "Mac" of the Kitchen Staff given special presentation after 21 years service to Wembley Kosher Meals.

OCTOBER

Children again entertained members of CARE Society in the Succah.

NOVEMBER

PTA presented an Olde New Tyme Music Hall.

1980

1981

JANUARY

Last of Yavneh's Annual Birthday Dances.
Choir participated in concert with Chazan Paul Zim at Brent Town Hall.
Regular meetings between representatives of Solomon Wolfson PA and representatives of Yavneh PTA now taking place.

FEBRUARY

Governors, Staff and Pupils deeply mourned the passing of Rabbi Ivor Abrams, the esteemed Hon. Principal of the School.

APRIL

Boys participated again in a six-a-side football competition held at JFS .

MAY

Yavneh team came first again in LITSOC "Brain of Wembley".

JUNE

Final summer outing for Infants, as the very first, to Kew Gardens.

Juniors went to Knebworth House.

Anthony Hart, first Yavneh pupil to be awarded scholarship to Carmel College.

JULY

Final Sports Day held at King Edward's Park.
Last Wimbledon Sweepstake Draw.
Final Summer Fair - part of proceeds donated to Yavneh Nursery (remaining on Synagogue premises).
JNF Festival of School Choirs.
Last End of Term Concert and Open Evening.
Valedictory Ceremony.
Last Class 7 Leavers' Presentation Ceremony.
Final Assembly.