About Karmiel schools--Thanks to Shoshie
Re: Living in Karmiel
Posted by: "shoshiek" shoshana.kadish@gmail.com shoshiek
Date: Thu Oct 8, 2009 2:28 pm ((PDT))
I'll try to reply to some of your questions here and feel free to contact me via email for more details. (Your son is also welcome to contact my son - i have a 10yr old 5th grader and i can send you his email address - he reads english fine and can write as well, albeit with spelling mistakes)
1) Karmiel is probably a little more pricey than Ma'alot though I'm not sure the difference is significant - it also is a matter of neighborhood and whether you are looking for a house vs apartment, etc.
- Karmiel does not have any all religious or even 'mostly religious' neighborhoods but instead is more mixed whereas Ma'alot has at least one neighborhood that is majority religious (if not almost all religious).
2) Karmiel has a few Ashkenazi orthodox shuls around town - in rabin there is at least one, there is one down near the old center, there is habad up on the top of the hill right between ma'aravit and dromit neighborhoods, the hesder yeshiva minyan behind the iriya, and a black hat shul in the dromit. So there are options though the vast majority of shuls are 'eidot hamizrach'. (We've just adapted after 12+ years in karmiel and rarely if ever daven ashkenaz by now).
3) Karmiel has one mamlachti dati elementary school - boys and girls on the same campus, separate sex classes. (From what I know, Ma'alot has separate schools for mamlachti date - one boys, one girls). There is also a chardi school with separate classes.
- Our kids are in the mamlachti dati school and like it. Classes are generally fairly small by israeli standards though I understand this year 1st grade classes are large (30 or a bit over).
- My son is in 5th grade and has 20 boys in his class now as they broke off a small 3rd class for 5-6th grade for kids needing some additional academic help. His class overall seems to have nice boys and its a mix of kids from religious, traditional and a few from non-religious homes.
- My son is the only english speaker in the class - you will find in both karmiel and Ma'alot, there will be only a handful of english speaking kids in the schools as the communities are not dominated by english speaking immigrants. If you are needing a large english speaking group within the classroom, that will be found more in traditionally popular spots in the center of the country and near Jerusalem. The schools do try to offer some assistance to acclimate but it definitely is a learning curve for kids and they tend to catch on within a year or so to most things but there are definitely cultural differences between the US modern orthodox schools and Israeli schools up here. (I cannot comment on the academics as my kids have only gone to school here)
4)Karmiel has a wonderful music conservatory (not sure if your son is interested in visual, dance or musical arts) which both my kids study at - my 5th grader is a talented trombonist and already plays in the HS band there.
- there are many many dance classes and troupes in Karmiel for the dance oriented
- I believe there are a number of art classes through the community centers as well as some private classes. I know we looked into some but my 10yr old (who is my artist) simply doesn't have time after music and his biking club.
- there are many afterschool activities of all sorts in town from swimming, karate, other sports through science and computers, etc
5) Regarding english teaching - I think for the regular schools, you need to get certified by misrad ha-hinukh, which should be relatively easy if you have ESL certification in the US but nefesh b'nefesh would know more about those details.
- There is a michlala (technical college) - Ort Braude (http://www.braude.ac.il/) in Karmiel which might look to hire english teachers as all the students there are required to reach a fairly high level of english proficiency and most study at least a year or two of english as a result.
==end of quoted text from Shosie==
More:
> My daughter is set to go to Beit Sefer Moriah next year - and there are so
many things I don't know. I thought it would be better to ask these things on
the list, rather than private emails, so that others can see what the schools
are like.
>
> 1) Uniform: What colors do I need to get for the shirts - do we have to call
the school? Does this change each year?
The schools all send out a 'preparation' letter some time during the summer
since each one has their own rules (or none) regarding their school uniforms.
- All elementary and middle/high schools in the city have mandatory use of
school shirts as do many schools in the nearby area. Some schools require
specific colors only
- Moriah has the following approved colors (other schools vary):
- White (required for Fridays, Rosh Hodesh and other special days)
- Bordeaux (maroon)
- Orange (Added only this past year)
- Green (added this past year, no specific shade was specified from
what my kids say but bright and dark green are what I've seen)
- Blue & Techelet (typically the blue was navy and techelet was
light blue but basically any sort of blue goes)
Where do you buy school shirts? - There are a number of shops in town which sell solid color shirts for this purpose and will apply the appropriate school logo
on the tee-shirt/long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt for you as part of the standard
purchase cost. If you've got multiple and you plan to hand down the shirts,
consider trying to get the slightly better quality ones - if you know you won't
get re-use, don't bother as they'll all last the year
The following are 4 shops I know of (probably there are more
- Nyrlon outlet in the Azor haTa'asiyah which is slightly more expensive
than some of the others (but not all) and has good quality and large selection
- Bottom floor of the old mall (can't recall the name) which sells cheap
clothing and has, at least in the past, sold school shirts - not sure if they
still do (as I bought there only 3 years ago when it was different location on
same bottom floor). Slightly cheaper prices/quality.
- Clothing shop in ma'aravit in that long strip mall area under the
apartments. Nice people, decent quality (though can vary depending on brand but we had problems with the small size shark brand sweatshirts having too small neck holes, but good quality material). They don't always have a large variety of options in the small sizes if you've got tiny kids to worry about - they are better with middle/larger sizes
- 'Hulzot Karmiel' in the Azor haTa'asiyah - no idea of quality but they are
definitely more expensive than all the others from what I've been told.
How many to buy?
- your mileage varies on how often you do laundry but be prepared for back to
back white shirt days coming up so I'd recommend at least 2 whites and 3
colored shirts (I tend to get 5 colored shirts so I can go a week if I need
to)
What to buy?
- Short sleeve or 3/4 sleeve (if your preference) for the hot months. Moriah
requires (or just prefers?) non-cap sleeves for the girls but 3/4 isn't
mandatory
- Sweatshirts (with or without hoods) for the winter
- My kids like to have a zip up jacket or two that they can put on/off during
those in between times (or when the AC is too cold for them in class)
- Optionally long sleeve t-shirts for in between weather but I've never bothered
(worst case, I have my kid put a short sleeve shirt over a very light long
sleeve shirt if its too hot for sweatshirt, too cold for t-shirt)
> 2) Lunch box - are the white the-sectioned trays not cool for first grade?
Are "Bratz" themed school bags and lunch boxes the norm or banned. Do we have to provide lunch or snack?
Schools in the city are big on promoting recycling so the section trays and
Tupperware type things are just fine (my kids use them). No need for themed
lunch boxes.
- You will need to provide aruchat eser (10 o'clock meal) every day plus a 2nd
snack for the longer days. (There was a hot lunch program for the 13:00 break
when there was school till 15:00 but that isn't active this year though it was
optionally available the 2 years before - Pack for 10'oclock snack the same things you'd sent to gan (kindergarten) that your kids will eat. Teachers all remind you they don't like junk food (though some parents send it)
- For the later snack, my kids say they don't have time to wash for sandwiches
so they usually take fruit, dry cereal in a bag, etc.
Schoolbags - just buy the typical offerings in he store. The younger kids all
seem to go with the 'character' or 'picture' type big bags with 3 or 4 sections.
- Not sure if I've seen Bratz at Moriah but I can ask my boys (they probably
notice more than I) but plenty of other image stuff yes
- I've typically searched around to try to find the bag on the 'sale rack' that
basically is the one version (same types, images) that a store is dropping the
price on and save the 50NIS for the 'cheaper' option.
- The bag you buy for kita-aleph will likely stay with your kid through 2nd
grade and often 3rd or more
My 4th grader (who I got a new bag for this year after 3 years with
his worn Spiderman bag) said this year basically all his classmates 'upgraded'
to slightly smaller big kid bags but still orthopedic backed but without
characters (majorly uncool now!)
You'll get a list of the school supplies needed but the stores can all give the
general advice too. Stock up with plenty of extras of
- Pencils (non-mechanical )
- Little erasers
- Crayons
- Scissors (they get lost)
- Glue (stick glue mostly)
- for 1st grade you'll need the 10 line notebooks (vs. 14) - buy the super cheap
brown paper backed versions in general as the kids make covers for them anyway
in 1st grade
- Get one 3 pocket pencil case to put all the junk in
- Package of plastic notebook covers (the store will show you)
- One plastic folder for art class plus 'tzvei panda (oil crayons - store knows)
and the pads of white paper they use for art class
- anything else will come on the lists from the school/teacher - I can't recall
what else
- do NOT buy a 'yoman' (date/appointment book) if your kids are going to Moriah as the school supplies them to all the kids themselves. (I don't think this is standard at other city schools)
In Karmiel you don't need to buy schoolbooks for any of the primary schools in
stores. The schools purchase in bulk (city wide even) and you'll get them from
the school as part of your standard parent fee
- Karmiel is rare in that all the schools charge less than the national allowed
fee and for us it includes all books! Most places make parents book shop
separately on top of the fee
- The older kids will have books they return at the end of the year (the ones
they don't write in) but for first grade, basically everything is workbooks.
- The re-usable books are not 'new' when the kids get them but who cares. Last
time I checked, the sefer bamidbar my son has that must be at least 10 years old
is no different than a new one :)
> 3) Anything that happens at Gan, that is too "uncool" for first grade? I'm an
Olah and don't want to embarrass my girl - that's happened enough at gan. :S
No real ideas here as I'm the embarrassing olah mommy too but mostly just let
the kids go with the flow. They'll tell you what they need or want.....
- For Moriah, most kids take the bus (you'll get info on that too but don't use
it the first day or two) but many will get dropped off by a parent. A very few
first graders have parents who walk them to the classroom (as do special
occasions for all kids) but in general that's not too cool at least not after
the first couple of weeks of school :)
More:
SCHOOL STUFF ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING.
Gleaned from the archives of gonorthkarmiel@yahoo.com
> My daughter is set to go to Beit Sefer Moriah next year - and there are so
many things I don't know. I thought it would be better to ask these things on
the list, rather than private emails, so that others can see what the schools
are like.
>
> 1) Uniform: What colors do I need to get for the shirts - do we have to call
the school? Does this change each year?
The schools all send out a 'preparation' letter some time during the summer
since each one has their own rules (or none) regarding their school uniforms.
- All elementary and middle/high schools in the city have mandatory use of
school shirts as do many schools in the nearby area. Some schools require
specific colors only
- Moriah has the following approved colors (other schools vary):
- White (required for Fridays, Rosh Hodesh and other special days)
- Bordeaux (maroon)
- Orange (Added only this past year)
- Green (added this past year, no specific shade was specified from
what my kids say but bright and dark green are what I've seen)
- Blue & Techelet (typically the blue was navy and techelet was
light blue but basically any sort of blue goes)
Where do you buy school shirts? - There are a number of shops in town which sell solid color shirts for this purpose and will apply the appropriate school logo
on the tee-shirt/long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt for you as part of the standard
purchase cost. If you've got multiple and you plan to hand down the shirts,
consider trying to get the slightly better quality ones - if you know you won't
get re-use, don't bother as they'll all last the year
The following are 4 shops I know of (probably there are more
- Nyrlon outlet in the Azor haTa'asiyah which is slightly more expensive
than some of the others (but not all) and has good quality and large selection
- Bottom floor of the old mall (can't recall the name) which sells cheap
clothing and has, at least in the past, sold school shirts - not sure if they
still do (as I bought there only 3 years ago when it was different location on
same bottom floor). Slightly cheaper prices/quality.
- Clothing shop in ma'aravit in that long strip mall area under the
apartments. Nice people, decent quality (though can vary depending on brand but we had problems with the small size shark brand sweatshirts having too small neck holes, but good quality material). They don't always have a large variety of options in the small sizes if you've got tiny kids to worry about - they are better with middle/larger sizes
- 'Hulzot Karmiel' in the Azor haTa'asiyah - no idea of quality but they are
definitely more expensive than all the others from what I've been told.
How many to buy?
- your mileage varies on how often you do laundry but be prepared for back to
back white shirt days coming up so I'd recommend at least 2 whites and 3
colored shirts (I tend to get 5 colored shirts so I can go a week if I need
to)
What to buy?
- Short sleeve or 3/4 sleeve (if your preference) for the hot months. Moriah
requires (or just prefers?) non-cap sleeves for the girls but 3/4 isn't
mandatory
- Sweatshirts (with or without hoods) for the winter
- My kids like to have a zip up jacket or two that they can put on/off during
those in between times (or when the AC is too cold for them in class)
- Optionally long sleeve t-shirts for in between weather but I've never bothered
(worst case, I have my kid put a short sleeve shirt over a very light long
sleeve shirt if its too hot for sweatshirt, too cold for t-shirt)
> 2) Lunch box - are the white the-sectioned trays not cool for first grade?
Are "Bratz" themed school bags and lunch boxes the norm or banned. Do we have to provide lunch or snack?
Schools in the city are big on promoting recycling so the section trays and
Tupperware type things are just fine (my kids use them). No need for themed
lunch boxes.
- You will need to provide aruchat eser (10 o'clock meal) every day plus a 2nd
snack for the longer days. (There was a hot lunch program for the 13:00 break
when there was school till 15:00 but that isn't active this year though it was
optionally available the 2 years before - Pack for 10'oclock snack the same things you'd sent to gan (kindergarten) that your kids will eat. Teachers all remind you they don't like junk food (though some parents send it)
- For the later snack, my kids say they don't have time to wash for sandwiches
so they usually take fruit, dry cereal in a bag, etc.
Schoolbags - just buy the typical offerings in he store. The younger kids all
seem to go with the 'character' or 'picture' type big bags with 3 or 4 sections.
- Not sure if I've seen Bratz at Moriah but I can ask my boys (they probably
notice more than I) but plenty of other image stuff yes
- I've typically searched around to try to find the bag on the 'sale rack' that
basically is the one version (same types, images) that a store is dropping the
price on and save the 50NIS for the 'cheaper' option.
- The bag you buy for kita-aleph will likely stay with your kid through 2nd
grade and often 3rd or more
My 4th grader (who I got a new bag for this year after 3 years with
his worn Spiderman bag) said this year basically all his classmates 'upgraded'
to slightly smaller big kid bags but still orthopedic backed but without
characters (majorly uncool now!)
You'll get a list of the school supplies needed but the stores can all give the
general advice too. Stock up with plenty of extras of
- Pencils (non-mechanical )
- Little erasers
- Crayons
- Scissors (they get lost)
- Glue (stick glue mostly)
- for 1st grade you'll need the 10 line notebooks (vs. 14) - buy the super cheap
brown paper backed versions in general as the kids make covers for them anyway
in 1st grade
- Get one 3 pocket pencil case to put all the junk in
- Package of plastic notebook covers (the store will show you)
- One plastic folder for art class plus 'tzvei panda (oil crayons - store knows)
and the pads of white paper they use for art class
- anything else will come on the lists from the school/teacher - I can't recall
what else
- do NOT buy a 'yoman' (date/appointment book) if your kids are going to Moriah as the school supplies them to all the kids themselves. (I don't think this is standard at other city schools)
In Karmiel you don't need to buy schoolbooks for any of the primary schools in
stores. The schools purchase in bulk (city wide even) and you'll get them from
the school as part of your standard parent fee
- Karmiel is rare in that all the schools charge less than the national allowed
fee and for us it includes all books! Most places make parents book shop
separately on top of the fee
- The older kids will have books they return at the end of the year (the ones
they don't write in) but for first grade, basically everything is workbooks.
- The re-usable books are not 'new' when the kids get them but who cares. Last
time I checked, the sefer bamidbar my son has that must be at least 10 years old
is no different than a new one :)
> 3) Anything that happens at Gan, that is too "uncool" for first grade? I'm an
Olah and don't want to embarrass my girl - that's happened enough at gan. :S
No real ideas here as I'm the embarrassing olah mommy too but mostly just let
the kids go with the flow. They'll tell you what they need or want.....
- For Moriah, most kids take the bus (you'll get info on that too but don't use
it the first day or two) but many will get dropped off by a parent. A very few
first graders have parents who walk them to the classroom (as do special
occasions for all kids) but in general that's not too cool at least not after
the first couple of weeks of school :)
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