There are currently 271 students in grades 9–“13,” all of whom have dropped out of more traditional schools, at AMIT Fred Kahane. They can prepare for a full matriculation or earn a technological or vocational diploma in different fields, including business administration, car electronics, hair design or culinary arts. “Grade 13” is a junior college program, now in its second year, that allows students to extend their vocational training before they begin their military or national service. It gives students the opportunity to become certified automotive engineers and electricians, as well as legal or medical secretaries. Students in this program have the advantage of beginning their service with the skills needed to have a meaningful experience while in the IDF or national service, and gives them a head-start on a respectable career afterward.
The school has a 90% IDF enlistment rate among the boys, while 87% of the girls enter the army or choose national service. These rates are higher than the national averages, and even more impressive when considering that many of these youngsters are the first in their families to enlist. The value of service is twofold—the graduates help their country by joining the IDF or doing national service, while they benefit by gaining work skills and experience that will help them in the job market.
One of the ways the school encourages army service is by emphasizing the importance of what the soldiers do for the country. This message was brought home to the students on Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, when the students printed magnets with a special prayer for bereaved families. They personalized each magnet with the name and date of passing for a fallen soldier and placed the magnets on the soldiers’ graves for their families to see when they came to visit on Yom Hazikaron. “This project changes my perspective on Yom Hazikaron completely. In the past, I never thought about the bereaved families. Today, once you hear the story about the individual fallen soldier, you identify more, and that is very emotional. I feel admiration for the families now,” said 12th-grader Gal Kachlon. “It was so touching, such an emotional moment when I saw it on the grave,” says Ruti Machlof, mother of fallen soldier Kfir. “I couldn’t understand who had done this, who thought about us down to the last detail. When I saw that this project was done by students, it moved me even more.”
AMIT Fred Kahane students also take community involvement seriously, and this past year went to a nearby facility for the elderly, where they treated the women to hair and makeup sessions, and cooked up delicious food for them. This volunteering activity is part of a long-term relationship the school has with the facility, in which the elderly come to the school periodically for a fun day run by the students.
The school also has a close relationship with two organizations that work with adults with mental and emotional special needs. In March, the students planned a Good Deeds Day during which they hosted groups for a fun day at the school. Members of the two organizations were also invited to celebrate Purim with the AMIT Fred Kahane students, as well as a number of other events and ceremonies throughout the year.
