The Herdmans' First Day of School in Their New City
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The Herdmans on Their First Day of School (L to R: Bella, Calev, and Hanna) |
Recent immigrants to Ariel from Detroit share the excitement and nervousness of their first day of school in their new city.
Pam and Ray Herdman's
three children were more excited than nervous when thinking about starting a new school year in their new city: Ariel. Since landing from Detroit a few weeks ago with the Nefesh B'Nefesh charter flight, the new Israeli children have already made friends.
"We went to this school thing one time and it was for everybody to meet their classmates," said Hanna, the middle child at age 9, from the dining room table that had just arrived with their lift from the United States. With the help of the supportive Anglo-community in Ariel, the Herdmans signed a lease on an apartment, sight-unseen, prior to their arrival.
"I met this English speaking girl named Orly," Hanna said. "We figured out she lives across the street from us. She's in my class and the only English-speaking girl."
The two already had a "sleepover" and swam together at Ariel's Sports & Recreation Complex, always a favorite summer hang out for kids.
"I'm nervous I won't get the language and I won't understand any of my classmates," she said earlier this month. "I'm excited about the new education. I wonder what it's going to be like."
Fast forward to the first day of school on August 27, 2013, and Orly, whose parents hail from South Africa, proved to be a good friend at their 4th grade orientation at Or Zevulun, the religious-Zionist elementary school in Ariel. She helped translate for Hanna as she met new friends.
Becoming fluent in Hebrew is just one of the challenges that new olim (immigrants) to Israel face when they arrive, but Pam Herdman doesn't see that as a drawback to her children's education.
"They're really living and learning the land they've been learning about for however long they've been in school," she said.
Pam is proud to be raising children who will speak both Hebrew and English. In fact, Israel's public education system, much like Israel's public healthcare system (recently rated one of the best in the world), is a huge draw for olim.
READ MORE ABOUT THE HERDMANS' FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.