Teacher and Student at Shalom Aleichem's Extended School Program in Migdal Haemek

Every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 5:00pm you will find the unimaginable- teachers convincing, and in extreme cases bribing, elementary school students to put their chairs away and leave school for the day. You might stop to check you had not fallen into the Bermuda Triangle, but I assure you this phenomenon exists at Migdal Haemek's Shalom Aleichem Elementary School's Extended Day Program. The program, which is in its second year, runs after school from 3-5pm after a full day of classes. The students receive a hot meal followed by homework tutorials and after enrichment activities.

Homework focuses mainly on English and Mathematics. The teaching team is comprised of teachers from "Shalom Aleichem" together with post high school volunteers know as Shinshinim, students from affluent backgrounds who have decided to postpone their first year of army service to work in at-risk neighborhoods. The volunteers were leaders of their youth group and display great initiative and leadership skills, are sponsored by the Extended Day Program and the Sacta Rashi Foundation. Each volunteer undergoes formal training and is assigned to three students, allowing students to receive one on one attention while forming a personal relationship with the students. The volunteers become big brother/big sister role models and work with the same students throughout the year. This relationship extends beyond the classroom and into the home, where the parents receive updates on the students' progress and are encouraged to become more involved in their student's studies. The program keeps easily impressionable students off the streets and offers them a chance to excel in their studies at their own pace. "My mother doesn't understand my homework because she didn't go to school, so the Extended Day Program helps me a lot with my work. I feel comfortable, they understand me" said Hannah a student in the 6th grade at Shalom Aleichem. A large percent of the population of the region are families that have made aliyah in the past 10 years. Participation rates vary from 80-100% of the student population depending on the school. The partnership supports the students in the Extended Day Programs where they receive valuable developmental skills in all areas and provides them with a chance to succeed that their families wouldn't otherwise be able to provide for them. The program puts the students and their individual needs first.

In addition to homework tutorials, the students participate in a variety of enrichment activities such as capuera, tennis, basketball, arts and ceramics, and even drama. The instructors come from the local community center and expose the students to different forms of expression while developing or discovering hidden talents the students possess. "I have more self confidence. I can raise my hand and I can answer. I know the answers, I am learning. I want to be an actor and now I know I can." said Aliza age twelve. Extended Day Programs give students the skills to succeed in school and the confidence to tackle everyday life in their community. The students love the program and are able to get much more out of school. Thanks to Partnership 2000 and the funding from Detroit students are being enriched throughout Extended School Program in almost every school in the area.

*Students names have been changed to protect their identity.

Iyar 5764 - April 2004