Since the beginning of the school year, there have been significant obstacles to our educational efforts at AMIT’s seven northern schools, including the three in Tzfat, and one each in Chatzor, Acco, Carmiel, and Haifa. The year began with no “in-person” learning, followed soon after by a rotation by grade which allowed for limited numbers of students to learn right near a mamad (shelter) in line with the guidelines of the Homefront Command. None of the cities in which AMIT operates were evacuated, just a handful of teachers were, and students were predominantly at home. We offered AMIT’s Hybrid Gogya which enabled students to keep up with their coursework and remain busy and entertained.
Finally, after three long, tension-filled months, our schools have reopened. Many reservist staff members from our northern schools, including teachers and principals like Nedaviah who attended our national dinner in New York, are safely home. Transportation to and from school is up and running, and a sense of normalcy is slowly returning.
During this period, AMIT staffed and continues to operate a northern war room, led by Dani Rahat who operated the Sderot war room, together with community directors. The war room ensured that every principal and staff member received ongoing contact with a headquarters professional; arranged Shabbatonim for principals and their families from the north; sent care packages to each staff member, and more, to provide and deliver whatever practical and emotional support was needed in a timely and professional manner. Tatzam is working in full force in our northern schools, and therapies are offered to students and staff who need them. Of course, like all AMIT work, we continue to address the specific needs of each school, principals and their teams, and students, in personalized and unique ways. The war room will continue to operate as we accompany our schools in returning to routine.
In the South, our Sderot schools have been open and functioning at capacity since day one this year. AMIT’s Sderot Directorate remains hard at work alongside the municipal leadership, focused on rebuilding the city. The Directorate is intent on creating a culture of overall excellence with special focus on academic excellence; social-emotional well-being of students, staff members, and the greater community. Our unique approach blends formal and informal education to allow for a well-rounded holistic learning experience and implementing AMIT’s innovative learning pathways approach to allow for personalized learning that maximizes strength and potential.
Overall, we have found that our students, staff, and the greater Sderot community, are extremely resilient and hopeful. They still wade through ongoing trauma, with a seemingly endless war happening nearby, with many absent reservist staff members (hopefully that will improve now with the ceasefire in the north), and additional focus and support are of utmost importance. As we have said – we were in Sderot before and during the war, and we will be with there with them throughout the long recovery ahead.
We are encouraged to see our students return to normal as we prepare rigorously for the upcoming winter Bagrut exams. We know that we are strong, dedicated, and persistent, and our students in Sderot will continue to receive the very best care that AMIT can provide. Today is Rosh Chodesh Kislev and the countdown to Hanukkah is upon us. Our staff in Sderot report a palpable joy and excitement as the students celebrated the new month and look forward to the Festival of Lights.
