Education from an Oleh

I must go a little out of order from catching you all up on our Aliyah experience because today is the first day of school! The parents look just as happy here as they do in Rambam dropping off the kids. The most amazing thing for me personally is that last year I drove carpool 8:30, 12:30, & 3:30 every day and now the girls can go by themselves across the street and I walk Max up the block, how exciting!

The girls are in Mesuat Neria (R' Neria was a student of Rav Kook). Tamar lucked out because there are so many girls her age and the new olim pushed them over their class size limit of 40 students (no this is not a typo). They opened another class and she is with Avital Masri (her aliyah buddy and classmate from Baltimore). The girls both looked so nervous but their teacher welcomed them warmly and she seems so sweet.

Meira is in class with Gila Kahan (a classmate from Ramabam from the 3yr old class). There are about 30 girls in her class and her teacher is also great.

When we walked through the gate at school we were greeted by a table of older students giving out a pretty card with some hebrew poem and a candy to each student. There was a sea of children and parents like I have never seen. The school goes from 1st-6th grade and they have hundreds of students. The principle's name is Simcha and just like her name she is a happy sweet and smiley woman. She made an extra effort to welcome the new (and nervous) olim to school.

Max goes to Gan Chova (kindergarten) in Gan Narkis. His Ganenet's name is Ayelet and she gave him a big hug and welcomed him to his class (of 35). She speaks a little english and she reassured him that they would have a lot of fun. He has 2 children in his class who speak english but I'm sure he'll learn hebrew the fastest.

For today Bella is home and feeling lonely without her siblings. Her Maon (day care) is starting after the Chagim. They had to open a new one for all the Olim who are doing Ulpan.

Tuition:

the girls tuition is about $300 a year (also not a typo) and Max is free. They ask you to pay a one time air conditioning fee of 120 shekel but it's optional. That my friends is one of the most amazing perks to living in our Home Land.