Liz Arviv, who graduated from Shfeyah in 2000 sent me an email and photos today , proudly announcing that she is engaged and planning to get married sometime soon. Many of you have met Liz who has visited Southern California and attended Convention twice talking about Youth Aliyah and Meir Shfeyah where she turned her life around. She has done all that she promised herself and us; finishing her studies at Haifa University, getting certified as a social worker and working in Migdal Haemek with children and teenagers who like herself, need someone to understand, guide and trust them . She will begin her married life as a confident, successful, professional young woman with inner strength and beauty. This is what we wish for the young people we work with. The opportunity to change their lives, believe in themselves, to aspire to what they once thought impossible and to fulfill their dreams. She is thrilled and so am I.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A New Start
September 3rd, 2008
Our returning and first year students arrived at Shfeyah on buses, some with their families, during the morning hours this Sunday, August 31st carrying overstuffed bags full of their personal belongings and hopes that the new school year will be filled with old and new friends, counselors , house mothers and teachers who will love and believe in them, new experiences and successes which have so often alluded them. Greeted by their counselors and house mothers ,they take their things to the dormitories which will be their homes and are introduced to their roomates who will be their families during the next 10 months, unpack, sometimes tearfully and are directed to the dining room for lunch.
In our traditional opening ceremony on Sunday night in the village amphitheater, close to 600 students in grades 7-12, made a grand entrance in an orderly procession as each group, wearing festive white shirts , was ceremoniously seated .
Our external students from Zichron Yaakov and surrounding communities arrived with their parents or friends ; the returning 8th graders feeling especially confident and familiar as they return for their second year in our outstanding Mofet Program; newer, younger 7th graders a bit more reserved and hesitant as they begin in their new school for the first time.
The students and staff were addressed by Shaul Elbaz, the village director, Sagiv Cohen, the new residential director and Eli Bezalel, the school principal and then this year's 12th grade class , our largest ever, welcomed their younger peers , sang and performed and participated in a torch lighting ceremony during which the 12th graders sponsored a representative from the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grade classes and lit a torch together. The inspirational evening ended dramtically with HaTikvah and fireworks !
Every year I am touched by the trust that these young people and their families put in us and themselves , in hope that maybe, just maybe, this year will be different and they will find themselves among people who understand, appreciate and truly care about them. Maybe this year will they finally succeed in school, learn English, understand math and master subjects which have been incomprehensible, unattainable and overhwhelmingly frustrating in the past.
The next morning, they sleepily trudge to the dining room for their first breakfast after what has been for some, a difficult and sleepless first night away from home. They carry school bags, sometimes tattered, and pencils, sometimes broken and new or used notebooks hoping, " Maybe this year things will be different. Maybe this year, things will be good."
And it is our privilege and almost sacred responsibility help them to believe in themselves , to trust us and to believe that together we can make a difference, together we can change and be changed, together we can make this a year they and we will always remember and cherish.
We know that it is possible. At Shfeyah it happens all the time.
Our returning and first year students arrived at Shfeyah on buses, some with their families, during the morning hours this Sunday, August 31st carrying overstuffed bags full of their personal belongings and hopes that the new school year will be filled with old and new friends, counselors , house mothers and teachers who will love and believe in them, new experiences and successes which have so often alluded them. Greeted by their counselors and house mothers ,they take their things to the dormitories which will be their homes and are introduced to their roomates who will be their families during the next 10 months, unpack, sometimes tearfully and are directed to the dining room for lunch.
In our traditional opening ceremony on Sunday night in the village amphitheater, close to 600 students in grades 7-12, made a grand entrance in an orderly procession as each group, wearing festive white shirts , was ceremoniously seated .
Our external students from Zichron Yaakov and surrounding communities arrived with their parents or friends ; the returning 8th graders feeling especially confident and familiar as they return for their second year in our outstanding Mofet Program; newer, younger 7th graders a bit more reserved and hesitant as they begin in their new school for the first time.
The students and staff were addressed by Shaul Elbaz, the village director, Sagiv Cohen, the new residential director and Eli Bezalel, the school principal and then this year's 12th grade class , our largest ever, welcomed their younger peers , sang and performed and participated in a torch lighting ceremony during which the 12th graders sponsored a representative from the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grade classes and lit a torch together. The inspirational evening ended dramtically with HaTikvah and fireworks !
Every year I am touched by the trust that these young people and their families put in us and themselves , in hope that maybe, just maybe, this year will be different and they will find themselves among people who understand, appreciate and truly care about them. Maybe this year will they finally succeed in school, learn English, understand math and master subjects which have been incomprehensible, unattainable and overhwhelmingly frustrating in the past.
The next morning, they sleepily trudge to the dining room for their first breakfast after what has been for some, a difficult and sleepless first night away from home. They carry school bags, sometimes tattered, and pencils, sometimes broken and new or used notebooks hoping, " Maybe this year things will be different. Maybe this year, things will be good."
And it is our privilege and almost sacred responsibility help them to believe in themselves , to trust us and to believe that together we can make a difference, together we can change and be changed, together we can make this a year they and we will always remember and cherish.
We know that it is possible. At Shfeyah it happens all the time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)