Metula Elementary School Reopens After Evacuation, Focusing on Emotional Recovery

The "Handiv" elementary school in Metula has reopened its doors to 42 students after nearly three years of war, evacuation, and displacement. While the children are happy to return to a semblance of routine, seeking social belonging, the path to restoring their sense of security and trust remains long. The school, now operating with three multi-age classes, has undergone renovations, but principal Ida Singer emphasizes that the primary challenge is not structural but emotional.

Singer explained that the small class sizes allow for personalized attention, helping staff identify difficulties that might not be apparent in grades or behavior. She noted that children who have experienced such upheaval cannot simply resume their studies as if nothing happened. The school employs individualized learning approaches, including small group work, to support students.

Illustrating the children's altered reality, Singer recounted reading "A House to Rent" to first and second graders. When asked about renting, one child responded that they lived there during the war, while another said they lived in someone else's house, highlighting their displacement.

Beyond core academics, the school incorporates activities like dog training, breakdancing, and basketball as part of a "holistic education" approach promoted by the Metula Local Council. Singer believes these activities are crucial for emotional healing, helping children process trauma through movement, touch, play, and success. Dog training provides an emotional anchor, fostering responsibility and empathy. Breakdancing helps release energy and build confidence, while basketball promotes teamwork, cooperation, and resilience in the face of loss.

Students like sixth-grader Emma Wolf expressed joy at returning home and appreciated the new activities. Third-grader Gili found the mid-day breaks beneficial for learning, and Alma Assor felt safer studying closer to home, with the extracurriculars providing a needed respite. Singer, who herself was evacuated from her home and served in the reserves, understands the impact of displacement. Her experience assisting displaced students in Kiryat Shmona informs her current role, aiming to rebuild students' sense of capability.

Even with the school reopened, the proximity to the Lebanese border, with occasional sounds of explosions and visible smoke, serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing conflict. Singer observes that the children are less startled by these events than before, as it has become part of their reality. Driven by her own experiences and a desire to support at-risk youth, Singer is also establishing a non-profit organization called "The Nest, The Home That Sees You" to provide a safe haven for young people in the north.