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On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, schoolchildren all over the country are back in their classrooms. Hot lunches, school supplies, books, and school trips are just some of the items not every family can afford for their children as they begin the school year. Give students the chance to make the most of Ariel's award-winning education system by donating to the Back-to-School Fund
 


Only the Best for Ariel's New Director of Education

Ilana Nulman in her office

 

Ilana Nulman inspires students--and educators--to aim high

 

Ilana Nulman had planned to go to law school at Hebrew University in her hometown of Jerusalem until she received a message in the form of marijuana. As a singer, she was on a European tour with a group of dancers from Dimona, Israel, when she was wandering about a crowded square in Amsterdam. Someone stopped her.

 

"He wanted to give me hash," Nulman related from her office at the Education Department in Ariel. "I was 20-years-old. I started to cry and said: 'Woah. What am I doing going to law school? Maybe in a few years this will be the situation in Israel at Kikarim Square in Tel Aviv."

 

It was then that she decided to switch majors to history and dedicate her life to ensuring Israel's future through connecting Israeli children with their past.

 

One of Nulman's most meaningful position as an educator has gone into full gear this week with the start of the school year. As the new director of Ariel's education department, Nulman will oversee Ariel's five elementary schools and one junior high and high school. In total, Ariel's school system serves 3,185 students.

 

Nulman's own background represents the Zionist dream. Her father came on foot to mandate-Palestine from Iraq in 1926. Her mother, an �migr� from Odessa to Argentina, came to Israel as a tourist. They fell in love and built their family in Israel.

 

Upon graduating Hebrew University, she worked as a homeroom and history teacher at a high school in Be'er Sheva. In 1991 she moved with her husband to Ariel, where they have lived ever since, raising their three children. In Ariel, she started as a grade level coordinator and a homeroom and history teacher for the local high school. From 1997-2006, she established and led Ariel's Hayovel Junior High School as the school principal. Prior to her current post, she served as principal for the Israel Arts and Science Academy in Jerusalem, a national boarding high school for gifted students.

 

"I returned home to the education system in Ariel that is very dear to me," said Nulman, speaking in English with an enthusiasm that is her hallmark. She communicates not only as an educator but an inspirational speaker. ("I always smile because it's contagious" is one of her mottos.) 

 

READ MORE ABOUT ILANA NULMAN'S EDUCATIONAL VISION.

 

The Herdmans' First Day of School in Their New City

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. 

 

Support Ariel's "Back to School" Campaign

 

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Contact:
Israel Office, office@friendsofariel.org, 972 (3) 936-4406

Avi Zimmerman, Executive Director, avi@friendsofariel.org

Orit Arfa, Director of Communications and Visitor Services, orit@friendsofariel.org