The end of the school year is meant to be a joyous time – with new beginnings for the sixth-graders and promises to meet up again in two months for the younger children. This year, we experienced a two-week interruption in June as the children stayed close to home and missile alerts sounded daily.
But the school staff was not willing to let the year end on a note of chaos and fear, and the children came together again for a few days to remind them, among other things, that the friendships and lessons created over the year are stronger than hatred and anger.
On June 27, the school staff opened the doors to welcome the students back after a fraught two weeks with a day of activities. As well as adding a bit of fun, the activities were designed to help the students vent their anger and express their feelings. The day ended on a sweet note, with popsicles for everyone.
Certificates were awarded to students for excellent behavior – this time for showing maturity and perseverance through the Zoom lessons offered during the offensive.
On the 30th, the students were treated to a bilingual play.
Emotional goodbyes
The end-of-the-year parties were delayed by the war, but only by a few days. The special final party of the year – that of the sixth-grade class – took place in the beginning of July. This was the 40th graduating class, and the children undertook planning and performing the ceremony with all the care and preparation called for by such an event. The centerpiece of the evening was a musical performance, and the children, staff and parents were moved by the words of the principal, Neama Abo Delu, their teachers and others. Shimon Betat, director of the Mateh Yehudah local council spoke in Arabic, telling everyone that the WASNS school is the best thing in the region. He himself has two grandchildren who attend the school.
The children laughed and cried about the fact that they had undergone so much in a short six years – including Covid, fires, attacks and war. The ending was bittersweet as the children put on a skit about with a news event in which every child had a say. Grandparents and those who remember the first classes attended, making it a very emotional evening for all.
Graduation performance
After four years, Neama will be leaving the WASNS primary school, moving on in her educational career. “The past four years have been an extraordinary journey of learning, meeting challenges, growth, and, above all, immense love for our school,” she wrote. Among other things, she leaves the school with a new language center, an active parents’ community and a culture of caring for one another and resilience in the face of fear and sorrow.
