IN THIS ISSUE Final IB exmas
On May 20^th, our five German Language A Self-Taught students came out of the very final EMIS IB exams of May 2016. Everyone took a big breath and let out a sigh of relief when they realized that they were all finally done! It was a sight to see as students hugged each other and cheered with true joy - they have made it to the end of a very rigorous period.
 

  
There were some tears of joy, a lot of smiles, and in true EMIS style, we celebrated with turning on the sprinklers and turning up the music… yes that’s right- a water fight! The only aim of the day? Get everyone as soaking wet as possible and smiling from ear-to-ear! The afternoon was all about forgetting the stress of exams (at least until the 6^th of July- the day of the results). As always, EMISers created an afternoon filled with laughter and celebration.
 

    



    

Click here to watch all photos >>>

And here's a video from our EMIS-style party:

  

Graduation
On 25th May we had the honour of holding the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2016 – our first graduating class. It was a proud and emotional moment for EMIS staff, students, and families to see the DP2 students proudly wearing their blue caps and gowns as their two action-packed years came to an end.
 

   

   

During the ceremony, guests (some of whom had travelled thousands of miles to attend) were treated to wonderful music from the Glee Club and EMIS band as well as moving speeches from the founder of EMIS, the director general of Hakfar Hayarok, and Tsili Charney (wife of the late Leon Charney, after whom the Charney Centre is named).
 

   

Everyone was blown away by the student speaker, who summed up perfectly what it was like to be a pioneering EMIS student, and the highs and lows of being an EMIS mother or father were also shared by two of the graduates’ parents.

As the staff shared final words of wisdom with the students, and were touched to receive flowers from the graduates, EMIS diplomas were awarded as everyone fought to keep back the tears, at least until the end of the ceremony.
 

   

The ceremony ended with a final song and cheer from the Class of 2016 as the tears began to flow. Celebrations continued with friends and families and of course endless photographs as we bade farewell to some of the most impressive young people we have come across.

Congratulations to the Class of 2016, our pioneers. Good luck in your next adventure, we will miss you!
 

Prom
On the 23^rd of May, EMIS celebrated their first ever student-organised Prom. Both DP1 and DP2 came together for this exciting event, where they enjoyed food, desserts and music. The event was beautifully set up near the village’s swimming pool, with wonderful lights and decorations. Everyone wore glamorous dresses and suits and looked as if they could have been walking on the red carpet.
The Prom was filled with the EMIS spirit of global unity and togetherness as the students enjoyed one of their last nights together before embarking on their next world-wide adventures. We should say a big thank you to the Student Prom Organizing Team as well as the Dining Hall staff and everyone who helped setting up- as always, the community came together and produced a triumphant and memorable event.
   

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International Ceremony for Peace
The Eastern Mediterranean International School of HaKfar Hayarok held an international ceremony for peace on May 8.

      
 
      

Students from Yemen, China, the Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine shared their experiences with conflict. In between, students and faculty sang songs and recited poems about peace.
 

The ceremony ended with a moment of silence for all those lost in every conflict. Ameen Haj Yahia of East Jerusalem wrote, “We can build, we can destroy. We can choose to love, and we can choose to hate. The right choice is in our hands."

 

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Educators Circle for Peace and Sustainability in the Middle East

The Eastern Mediterranean International Foundation, The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, EMIS, 4 other Palestinian schools and 3 other Israelis schools held their 2^nd educators meeting in May.

The project was founded by the EMIS Foundation to create a vibrant circle for educators, a place of trust, respect, shared educational programs and hope in the Middle East.

The purpose of the circle is to bring together educators and students on a common interest of enhancing peace and sustainability  in the Middle East.

At our last meeting we hosted educators from The American School in Gaza, Renaissance school in East Jerusalem, Irtach School, Bala School, Hakfar Hayarok High School, Leo Beack and Dror.

The participants of the circle, both educators and students will take part in the planning and implementation of the "Youth Organized Collaboration of Peace and Sustainability Conference" which will take place on October 26-28^th ,2016.
 

 

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The Arditi Foundation Award EMIS is proud to announce that Ms. Lavinia Gavrilovici, DP2 graduate, is one of the nine winners of the Arditi Foundation writing competition on the topic of "A house for all-living together in a multi –cultural space". The award ceremony was held in June at Tel Aviv University.

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The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) unanimously accpets EMIS as a regional project for cooperation

The Union of the Mediterranean  organization that brings together all EU countries and another 14 countries from North Africa and the Middle East, including Arab countries, Palestine and Israel, recently accepted EMIS as a project for regional cooperation at a high-level meeting held in Amman Jordan.  All 43 countries voted in favor of this project.  This is the first time an Israeli project is accepted by the prestigious organization which validates the mission and vision of EMIS of promoting education as a force for peace and sustainability in the region.

For the full article at UfM's website - click here >>>
 

 

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