Jacquie Goodman née Baum

Givat Washington, Swimming team and Synchronized Swimming.

Skiving off some sixth form periods to go to the Old Bailey and listen to the trials. Not really funny, but Mr Gatoff in assembly being really cross with the fire alarm going off constantly and not really knowing what to do about it. I felt quite bad for him.

Miss Magill (became Mrs Wineberg) in Maths - believed enough in me and encouraged me to do O level even though I wasn’t really good enough for the CSE! Mr Moses - just liked him. Mr Winkworth - Form Tutor for years. Miss Frey, English teacher - always loved English from then on. Miss Olsberg - patient with me even though I talked through most of her lessons. Mr Partridge - throwing a board rubber at a boy in my class whilst shouting “You Boy!” scared the living daylights out of me.

Swimming Club. Did the Bat Chayil Course with Mr Leviton and celebrated my Bat Mitzva in floral skirts and white blouses alongside 15 other girls on a Sunday afternoon, with the school hosting a tea for us and our families.

Trying to find my classes and climbing lots and lots of staircases and walking down long, narrow corridors all over the school at Camden. I still have serious recurring nightmares about not getting to class on time.

I took a year off and worked to save some money, and then went to the USA where I was a nanny with a family and also travelled there. Then I went onto Manchester Polytechnic to study Business and Finance.

100% it brought me out of my shy primary school shell and helped me develop social skills. Since then I’ve managed to talk my way through my life journey to achieve whatever it is I am doing at any given period of time.

Currently I am teaching English in an Israeli Democratic School in HaKfar Hayarok in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. I am also a doula and childbirth coach.

Find what interests you and pursue and delve deeper into those passions. Don’t fret too much about subjects that don’t hold the same interest.

That learning in a school environment (sitting in lessons, repeating dates & facts, and listening to strict educators) is not the only way to learn...

People. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, has a unique and fascinating story to tell.

I was involved in the last reunion that Camden held before JFS moved to Kenton, and have since visited a number of times. Most recently when my daughter was on shlichut for three years in London via the IDF, as JFS hosted the Yom Hazikaron events for the Israelis in London.

Pride, connection, conversation starters - you can always tell a JFS student no matter how many years have passed since they’ve been there.

Not my Jewish journey, but I am sure that Givat Washington was a great influencer of why I now live in Israel.

I loved being at JFS. I’d had an awful primary school education where I was bullied (by teachers) and feared going to school. From day one I made friends at JFS and I loved all my years at the school.