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P.O. box 19796, Jerusalem 91017
Tel. 02-628-2062, FAX 02-6287842
The School
Program
In general, the school follows the same curriculum offered in the
schools
under the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The language of
instruction is Arabic, but English is taught as a second language as of
the first grade. French, an extra foreign language, is taught as
of the second grade. Teachers work to discover the talented children to
train in string instruments and oriental instruments at the Edward Said
National
Conservatory
of Music.
Program and staff development is a continuous process at Rawdat
El-Zuhur.
Along the years, the following projects and programs have
been
accomplished, and our target group has become the whole family and not
only the school children.
The building and furnishing of the second floor on the
rented premises
of the school.
The renovation of the school yard, kitchen and bathrooms
and
enforcement
of one of the class rooms.
The renovation of the kindergarten section
The renovation of the drinking fountains.The upgrading of
the school
equipment
and installation of e-mail service.
The establishment of a  computer
laboratory
Adding a course in debating to the curriculum
Adding the French language to the curriculum
The establishment of an alumni
club.
Providing training in musical instruments to talented
children, and
upgrading
the teaching of art.
Participation of a number of children in summer camps at
the YMCA and
Helen
Keller School.
The establishment of a special program“Farah”
(Joy) for the mothers which developed into a wider project to guarantee
a continued relationship between home and school. Through that
project
the following activities have been introduced:
Testing of all students to identify children
with special
learning needs,
( such as dyslexia, dysgraphia ----) and providing a remedial program.
Special programs for the mothers for building awareness
regarding a
variety
of issues.
Counseling for the children and the parents
Special courses offered to the mothers according to their
request like
French, and aerobics
The participation of mothers in fund raising activities
for the school.
The Computer
Lab
As early as 1991 the
planning
for a computer laboratory started. Unrestricted funds from
friends went towards that project until the dream was
realized.
With a substantial contribution for the amount of 
ECU23,300 from The Palestinian Centre for Microprojects
Development
(PCMD), the laboratory was inaugurated on graduation day in June
1996.
A special teacher was appointed and all the staff got special training
that summer. In September 1998, and with a special donation from Mr.
George
Buchanan the computers were upgraded with disc drives. In June
2001
a grant of $20,000 from ANERA made it possible to get ten new computers
with a network system and access to the internet and e-mail. It
was
a good opportunity to install the Future Kids special program at this
time.
The computer teacher and the science teacher got special training for
that
program during the summer holidays, and all the school children
from
ages 4-12 continue to get training in computer skills and are
being
very creative in producing nice material.
Science
With the limited space at the school for many years, the children never
dreamed of having a science laboratory. But with the extra space
provided on the second floor in 1991, one of the rooms was allocated
for
a science laboratory. For five years the children had the opportunity
to
enjoy that facility until the difficult decision had to be taken when
the
computer training project was realized. The fifteen computers
needed
space, and an innovative solution was found for the science
laboratory.
Not ideal, but when was the school working under ideal circumstances? A
mobile laboratory was designed. The equipment is now stored in a closet
in one of the classrooms, and the experiments of every day get
rolled
into the various classes.
The
Principal
tries every effort to facilitate matters for the science teacher and
the
children to make up for their lost science haven. A variety of
instruments,
microscopes, charts, and science videos are available, and the
children
are encouraged to be creative as they work on science projects.
Library
Since the development of the program of Rawdat El-Zuhur into formal
education,
it was realized that establishing a library was one of the priorities
of
the school. But unfortunately with the limited space that was
available
the only option  was
to have the books in closed closets in one of the corridors and to have
the children check out books at certain hours either to
take
home or to read during specially allocated hours for reading in the
class
rooms. Mrs. Aniseh Kreitem who had been recruited to work at the
school had been a librarian at the British Council. So in spite
of
the limited facility the books were classified, and checked out
professionally.
In 1991, and with the inauguration of a second floor to the school
building,
a library was made available. A small one but with open stacks,
tables
and chairs for the children to have the opportunity to sit and
read
and browse into reference books. Aniseh helped in training the
senior
Arabic teacher Basimah Abu- Libdeh who also attended short
courses which qualified her to become in charge of the
library.
The Library was dedicated to the memory of Robert and Sophie Peterson
from
the USA who were friends of Rawdat El-Zuhur and personal friends of
its
founder, the late Elizabeth Nasir. The Petersons had left a
legacy
to the school for the amount of $12,290 , and the
dedication
took place during the inauguration ceremony of the building. The
presence of the children of the Petersons, Alan Peterson and
Carolyn
Ericson made the occasion very meaningful. Alan and Carolyn were
specially moved at the choice of the library for the memory of their
parents
as their mother Sophie had been a librarian. They also made
a generous contribution on that occasion for the library.
The library holds 3583 books: 1625 Arabic, 1602 English, and 356
French.
The reference books are five sets of encyclopedias, three in English,
and
two in Arabic. While the periodicals are three, two in English
and
one in Arabic. There are never enough books or magazines in
the
library, and there is a continuous need for new books and specially
attractive
for children. The school welcomes any book or
magazine
gifts.
Music & Art
video clip
Ever since it was established, Rawdat El-Zuhur gave special attention
to
music. The first piece of equipment that the founder, the late
Elizabeth
Nasir bought in 195 2 was a manual record player.
She
focused on music appreciation and dancing to help the girls
overcome the misery of their destitution. As the organization
developed
its program to formal education there has always been
someone
to teach singing to the children. Very often they were
volunteers.
The children
love singing and love performing to school guests in Arabic, English
and
French, and on special occasions like Mothers’ Day and the  graduation
of the sixth grade. During the last few years and in
cooperation with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music,
talented
children
have been training in string instruments, and oriental
instruments.
In April 1999 the ANERA Middle East Leadership Team presented the
school
with six violins and a cello. The School has two pianos, one in
the
kindergarten section, and the other in the all-purpose hall.
The first, a
Yamaha, was donated by the Norwegian Refugee Council in the early
seventies, and the second, a Kawai, was donated by the
Japanese
International Volunteer Center in 1999. We continue to hope that one
day
the school will have its own musical ensemble. In the meantime
master
Simon keeps the children happy as they sing and hop around.
For two years,
1997-1999 Rawdat El-Zuhur was privileged to have the volunteer
art
teacher Lori Hayes from the USA work with the children. She
loved the children, and they loved her and her art lessons as
well.
There was a new focus on art as a result of the experience with
Lori.
Palestinian artist and teacher Taleb Dweik continued to teach on part
time
basis with Lori for the rest of her term.
Lori left a very meaningful art legacy, “Bright Wings” a book of
the children’s art with photos and text by Lori herself.(see
link)
It was sponsored by the Global Ministries: a common witness of the
Division
of Overseas Ministries,  Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Wider Church Ministries, United
Church
of Christ, 800-537-3394 who were sponsoring the volunteer work of
Lori.
As of the fall of 2000 Mrs. Aya Jawharieh, a retired art teacher has
been
working at the school as a full time art teacher. She has
been
combining art, with music and drama in a remarkable manner, and is
preparing
a special program for the 50th anniversary in April 2002.
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