Malka Leifer, the former principal of the Adass Israel School, is being sentenced on Thursday for the sexual abuse of Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper when they were students at the Elsternwick school between 2004 and 2007.
Ms Erlich, Ms Sapper and their older sister Nicole Meyer, whose allegations of abuse Leifer was acquitted on, are there in person for the Victorian County Court hearing.
Leifer is watching by videolink from Melbourne's maximum security women's prison.
Before the hearing Ms Erlich said she and her sisters were going in with low expectations, hopeful they don't see a predator back on the streets too soon.
"No sentence is going to reflect what she did to us, but what we're hoping for is that, as long as possible, she's away," she told Sky News.
The courtroom was full when Judge Mark Gamble began reading his lengthy sentencing remarks, with former premier Ted Baillieu and Victorian MP David Southwick among those in attendance.
Judge Gamble is sentencing Leifer on six charges each of rape and indecent assault, and three charges each of sexual penetration and indecent acts with a child aged 16 or 17 under her care, supervision or authority.
He referenced the cruel home life endured by the sisters, leading them to see school as a refuge.
The judge also noted their ignorance in sexual matters with no education until special lessons before marriage.
Leifer arrived in Australia from Israel in 2001 and was appointed menaheles - a highly revered principal position giving her responsibility for the ethos of the school and religious teachings.
She offended against Ms Erlich and Ms Sapper when they were high school students, among her favourites, at the Adass Israel School.
It continued when they were employed as young first year teachers at the school.
They viewed Leifer as a mentor.
Leifer began to abuse Ms Erlich during weekend lessons during which she professed to love her like a mother.
Judge Gamble said that grooming allowed Leifer to facilitate the abuse.
Ms Erlich said she was scared of Leifer and unable to say anything.
"She knew a lot of things about me and implied if I said anything she would share those things about my home life, which was a big shame to me at the time," Judge Gamble read from Ms Erlich's evidence.
Ms Sapper endured the same grooming and initially welcomed the special treatment because she felt Leifer loved her like a mother was supposed to love a child.
Judge Gamble said some of Leifer's offending against Ms Sapper may appear brazen, but it is plausible when it's known that a few weeks earlier she had already tested the waters.
When Ms Sapper had not protested against touching or made a complaint in the following days, Leifer may well have felt confident to act in the ways she did later on, he said.
Leifer was aged between 37 and 41 when she targeted the sisters.
Ms Erlich's statement in court about the impact of the offending was a powerful illustration of the legacy she is left with as a result of the insidious abuse, Judge Gamble said.
One of the most egregious aspects of the harm caused was the permeating effect it had on her as a mother, and her overpowering need to shield her daughter form harm.
Ms Sapper described dealing guilt, shame and fear and continues to blame herself for allowing Leifer to love her.
But Judge Gamble said the sisters were commendably resilient and surprisingly optimistic.
"They were completely innocent victims of the predatory behaviour of Mrs Leifer and it is she and she alone who should feel guilty," the judge said.
It's been a long wait for justice for the sisters, delayed by Leifer fleeing to Israel in 2008 when allegations were first raised with school officials.
The 56-year-old mother of eight arrived back in Australia to face justice in 2020 and was convicted after a trial earlier this year.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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