Binational School for Jewish and Palestinian kids

The Primary School encourages students to work with the community and reach out to others through their artistic skills. The Primary School has displayed their pieces in various art events through the years. In mid-February, the school kids, teachers and families came together to work on adding a part of themselves to the school. This was done with the help of artist Benjamin Swatez and his two colleagues Robert Markey and Shira Shvadron, who were guests at the village for a week. Everyone collaborated by preparing a mural for the school, creating a beautiful mosaic with fish and birds at the entrance of the school building and working on individual drawings. As part of the program, our pupils also selected their favorite drawings and painted it onto canvases which will be exhibited at the United Nations in New York City

Last fall, a group of German pupils and teachers visited the Primary School from a primary school in Dusseldorf called Freiherr-vom-Stein-Realschule. Both schools have been working together on class projects and communicate with each other on a regular basis. In an effort to continue expanding the children’s horizons and cross cultural relationships, the 6^th grade class, accompanied by English teacher Raida, and Carmella, the principal took a trip to Germany to see how the German students spend their days learning. This exciting educational trip was a memorable experience for the 6^th grade class. The trip nurtured the relationships between the two classes as well as both schools; there are already talks of expanding this class exchange to a family exchange.

Soon to be published, Dr. Alon Fragman and Dr. Aura Mor-sommerfeld have recently completed their first round of research on the Primary School bilingual educational model. The research set out to test the Arabic language proficiency of Hebrew-speakers in the Primary School, grades 2-4. The results show that the Primary School students scored as much as 50 points higher (on a scale of 100) than Israeli high school students studying Arabic. “The exposure to both Arabic and Hebrew already begins in kindergarten through elementary school, in a well-organized systematic bilingual program conducted by teachers who are familiar with second language pedagogy. This unique concept of the bilingual Arabic-Hebrew school of Neve Shalom seems to have a major effect on the acquisition process”, say Fragman and Mor-Sommerfeld.

Voices for Change

Holding their voter registration cards, the pupils of the Primary School eagerly stood in line as they awaited their turn to cast their vote for the new chairs of the student committee. The student election process introduces the importance and impact of letting their voices be heard about what they believe in. This year, the winning candidates ran on platforms of increasing extracurricular activities like swimming lessons, time for activity breaks, implementing a ‘student teaching teachers’ week, and of course something all the pupils agree on, longer recess times.

Another avenue for letting students’ voices be heard is a visual communications class taught by Roy Etinger, a new addition to the NSWAS family. Roy joined the school with the goal of teaching the Primary School pupils a new way to express themselves. Calling his class, “Creative thinking with your mobile phone,” he believes that teaching kids to use their phones as something more than a selfie or gaming instrument will open up limitless possibilities. Kids can use the, “language of moving images as a bridge” to get their messages across. By the end of the year, the kids will have produced a one minute short film about themselves and their home, all while learning about framing, storytelling and editing.

Every student has a story to tell and it is our duty to give them the skills and tools to act on their ideas.  As a result, the Primary School aims to create programs that develop civically minded students who recognize the importance and responsibility of finding common ground and using that space to become role models and leaders for other students outside of the NSWAS Primary School. Close communication with our families and attention to ongoing research helps ensure we stay focused on cutting-edge educational practices and that are part of an inclusive plan. Because of your own commitment, NSWAS Primary School students learn to take part in shaping their world and become ambassadors of peace, one year at a time

With the recent conflict on the minds of many of their students, the teachers at the Primary School of NSWAS work hard to instill in them a sense of optimism and encourage them to keep working for a brighter future.  Students are beginning to take interest in new communications and space studies programs and are preparing to be leaders of their social groups, communities, and futures. 

The students are able to re-direct their attention away from war and to engage in an exploration of their universe from a place of interest and curiosity. By focusing on building a more peaceful future, they learn to communicate more effectively in their individual relationships, while working and dreaming beyond our world to gain an understanding of the larger picture.

Looking towards the future and with your much appreciated support, the Primary School will be evaluating its available spaces and strengthening its experimental learning focus in the form of a new science lab based on the needs of each grade level. The school continues to build relations with other bilingual schools in order to provide the students with the most effective approach to bilingual education.

A New School Year and a Fresh Start

A new chapter begins at the Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam Primary School this September. As the school year begins students will also welcome a new Principal, Ms. Carmela Farber. The former principal of a primary school in Bat Yam, Ms. Farber, previously is excited and eager to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

The Primary School recently received special status from the Israeli government allowing it to pave the way for future growth. Already, plans are under way to take on 100 additional students, and the School continues to gain recognition as a model across the region.

Last year at closing ceremonies, the Primary School said goodbye to Anwar Dawood, the beloved leader for many years. His wishes for the students at his departure were clear: “May you make many friends. May all your courses be interesting. May you always have your homework in on time!”

• A New School Year and a Fresh Start (DOCX)

In keeping with the Primary School’s unique commitment to learning in two languages and several narratives, the students marked Passover and Easter together with an activity-centered afternoon outdoors.

Teachers and children were engaged in several activities ranging from crafts to quizzes to the highlight for many children: the chance to make their own matzoh.

This unleavened bread recalls the speedy escape of the Jews from Egypt, as they didn’t have time to wait for the bread to rise. The students formed the balls of dough into a round shape, and the teachers put the bread on a hot surface for them. After a few minutes, the bread was finished and tasty.

As they learned the exodus story, students asked about Moses: “Whose prophet is he?” “Which religion does he belong to?” This degree of curiosity, and freedom from assumption, is one small example of the impact of the School’s groundbreaking educational approach.