Binational School for Jewish and Palestinian kids

The Primary School is embedded in the only Jewish-Palestinian community in Israel that is itself fully inclusive, bilingual and egalitarian. In addition to the continuously evolving culturally inclusive bilingual- binational curriculum, every time the children (or their parents) are outside for recess, field trips or community events, they see the lived reality that is modeled in their classrooms.

The greatest impact is on the 90% of the children who come to the Primary School from 12-15 neighboring towns and villages, connecting children’s families and friends with wider communities and diminishing fear of “the other”

The teachers are in their second and final year of developing a curriculum and special education materials, to be available in Hebrew and Arabic,  for binational, bilingual schools. The music program, based loosely on the (Venezuelan) El Sistema, provides classical and traditional instruments and direct instruction for each child, growing musicians and the seeds of social change through classical and traditional music.

The recently completed Primary School library is filled with open spaces, private nooks, small group study areas, bilingual books and materials, and digital tools that support student research and projects in the visual and performing arts.

Sustainable growth is underway, by adding an additional class of first-graders- each year for a 5-6 year period.

At the Primary School, students are always active participants in each other’s culture.

This year, students are experiencing each other’s culture through music which creates opportunities for individual expression, facilitates language learning and builds common experiences across cultural boundaries.

Although music has always been a part of the curriculum, a more formal structure for music education has been introduced, and the students love it.

They have set their sights on creating a school ensemble that celebrates Palestinian and Jewish musical identities.

You could help the music program grow and expand into an ensemble of ambassadors of peace. Our students
have the will, but they need you to help them on the way.