A New School Year in Challenging Times

This year, like last, Dror Israel's educators and students, from preschools to high schools across the country, begin their studies in the shadow of war and captivity. Families are still waiting for hostages to come home, soldiers continue to defend our country, and families remain displaced from their homes.

Shimon and Neveh, 12th graders at Dror Israel’s High School in Karmiel, share heartfelt words with the entire student body at the opening ceremony.

And yet, even in this precarious reality, we begin again. At Dror Israel, our educators and students commit themselves to creating new beginnings, to building a better society together.

Dror Israel educators ready to start a new year with hope for a better future.

At Dror Israel’s flagship high school in Karmiel, 12th grade students opened the year with a ceremony they created and led, a cherished tradition across our schools that highlights the responsibility students take for their community. Many of these students come from the school’s boarding program, where therapeutic and vocational training with dogs and horses helps them grow, heal, and prepare for the future. Two of the seniors, Neveh and Shimon, shared words of encouragement for the year ahead:

"This is our last year at school, or as we say, our last year at our second home.We want to wish all our friends great success in learning, patience, and many good experiences. Invest in building your classes, in being together—don’t give up on the time you share.Remember to enjoy the journey, to look out for one another, to be good friends, and to take in every moment of your time here in our home.For us, the seniors, we wish ourselves success too—that we will make this year the best year of our twelve years of study. Let’s take responsibility for our school and make it an even greater home, for us and for the younger students.And to our educators—we wish you a good and successful year. May you form deep connections with your students, dream, and create projects that help us all become thoughtful learners. We have no one like you.May it be a good and calmer year for all of us. And may everyone return home safely.”

At Dror schools, every student belongs to a group, not just a class. Educators focus on building strong social connections, turning the class into a true home.

These words capture the special spirit of Dror Israel’s schools: students taking responsibility for themselves, for their friends, and for the society they are building together. This is how we begin a school year, with commitment, solidarity, and hope.

We know the challenges remain. But we also know that this is the way to bring about the year we dream of: the year the hostages return home, the soldiers come back safely, and evacuees return to their communities.

This is the way we begin again.

From preschool to high school, welcoming ceremonies give every student a voice from the very first day.

Wishing all educators and students a meaningful start to a hopeful new school year!