Orna Eilat, New Co-Principal in Galilee, Energizes School

Orna Eilat entered her position as the Galilee School's co-principal in September 2007.   She adapted immediately to the unique Hand in Hand setting - bilingualism, multiculturalism, and integration and equality between Arab and Jewish students, parents, and teachers.  Orna's multi-cultural experience began in 1969, when she first moved to the United States with her family. She later came back to Israel to pursue a career in Education, one which would eventually lead her to her current role as head co-principal of the Hand in Hand Galil School in Israel. After graduating from the Teachers Seminar at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Orna pursued her academic career further, acquiring a B.A and a M.A degree in English Literature from the Hebrew University.

During her years as a teacher and as a tutor, Mrs. Eilat took part in a variety of programs aimed at enriching her knowledge and experience in matters of multi-cultural education. Such experiences include conflict resolution workshops and human-rights awareness projects. She recently joined Hand in Hand after managing the “Value Way” project, a ground breaking educational project in Israel, in which the entire community, along side with the school's children, parents and teachers, comes together to explore and celebrate Israel's pluralistic and multi-cultural nature. She is a mother of four, and currently lives Misgav, north of Haifa, Israel.

Orna has brought with her enthusiasm and a fresh look at the programs of the school.  The following are some of the new projects that she has initiated.

Hot Houses - This project focuses on bringing the students and the community together in a collaborative approach to education. Joining forces with a company called "Alef-Beit Zraeim", the children learn how to construct hot houses, how to plant seeds, how to grow food, and how to monitor growth.  The project allows the school to make use of the company's research labs for their science classes. An entire education program has been constructed around this unique cooperation.

Community Involvement - The middle school, in cooperation with the Center for Humanistic Education at Kibbutz Lochemei Hagetaot, started a community involvement project in November 2008.  Workshops are given in the institute to the students, who later volunteered with various organizations in Sachnin, Misgav and Carmiel. These organizations worked with the physically and mentally disabled, as well as with elderly and other at-risk communities, both Arab and Israeli.  The children learned both the theory and practice of community involvement.

Alef to Taf National Days Program - A comprehensive program educating students from first to ninth grade regarding the various national holidays of Arabs and Israelis.   This program increases the awareness and appreciation of each other's experiences and situation today.