Mr. Bathish, Sister Berchtold, the award of the Salvatorian Sisters School as the best school in Israel by the Israeli Ministry of Education is an extraordinary recognition. What does this mean to you in the current situation?
Awni Bathish: As you know, we have been living in a war zone since October 7, 2023. This new situation has presented us with many challenges, especially in the area of education. Despite all this, we have continued to provide our children and young people with full instruction. Our teachers and staff have also done their best to provide the students with the best possible support.
Sr. Klara Berchtold: This shows a high level of professionalism, dedication and the absolute will to support our youth. It also means that we use the challenges as an opportunity to improve our skills and work for the benefit of our students and their families. The award means special encouragement and reinforcement in these times.
All of your students are required to take Arabic, Hebrew and English. How does mastering these languages change the way we interact with one another?
Awni Bathish: We believe that open and respectful communication is the best way to understand others, overcome barriers and contribute to a better coexistence. Language is a means to achieve this. We teach Arabic because we believe that students should know and strengthen their own culture in order to be able to represent it to others. As for Hebrew: We live in Israel, where the majority of the population are Jewish and speak Hebrew. Official organizations and institutions also use Hebrew.
To prepare our students for higher education at universities and colleges, as well as for their professional careers, we bring them to a native level in speaking, reading and writing Hebrew. English is one of the most important international languages that is used everywhere. Here, too, we bring our students to a very high level in speaking, reading and writing. Teaching three languages in the first grade is a big challenge for the students and the teachers, but thanks to the high motivation of the students and the professionalism of the teachers, we succeed.
Do the students practice multilingualism when dealing with one another?
Sr. Klara Berchtold: We have many activities at school that require multilingualism. One of these activities is interreligious dialogue, in which Jewish and Muslim students take part. Another program is the MUN – the “Model United Nations” – in which our students present and represent one country (a different one each year) three times a year at a three-day simulated conference. The conference will be held in English for the delegations of all participating schools.
Do you have a school language or changing languages in class?
Awni Bathish: In the classes we teach Hebrew, English and Arabic. We teach the remaining subjects in Arabic up to the 8th grade. From the ninth grade onwards we teach mathematics, physics, chemistry, electronics, computers, communication and media, as well as environmental sciences in Hebrew.
How do you convey the core values of openness, respect and mutual appreciation?
Sr. Klara Berchtold: The best way to convey these values is for students and teachers of different religions and backgrounds to live and work together, who respect and value each other. We are convinced that the best way to convey these values in everyday life is to practice them yourself – in the “dialogue of life” and not through lectures.
Your concept includes recognizing and competently dealing with specific needs, learning disorders, learning disabilities and autism. How do you go about early detection?
Awni Bathish: As Salvatorians and Salvator School, we follow the vision of our founder, Blessed Francis Mary of the Jordan Cross, and the charism of the congregation. We are open to all families and particularly support those who do not have the same opportunities as others. In our school we have students with learning difficulties and disabilities, children affected by autism and those who have to cope with physical limitations. It is a great challenge to do justice to everyone in everyday school life.
What specific measures are you taking?
Awni Bathish: We train our staff to deal with a wide variety of students and we invest a lot in preparing for this. This process is continuous and we ensure that our staff receive constant training.
Are the other students included?
Sr. Klara Berchtold: 86 percent of our students are Christians of different denominations. 14 percent are children of Muslim faith. The most important task for everyone is to accept others and learn to treat them openly and in a friendly manner. We have activities in which children and young people support each other in various areas, not just in the educational area, for example in sport or art. We believe this is one of the most important practical ways to instill these values in our students and staff.
How do you cope with everyday teaching in the current situation?
Awni Bathish: We prepared the students and staff for such a situation many years ago (during the pandemic). We integrate technology and hybrid teaching in school during normal times. So when this situation arose, we adapted to the change very quickly from day one. In the first three weeks, classes only took place via Zoom. Since October 14th, we have moved to hybrid learning, where each day half of the students learn in school and the other half learn via Zoom, and we switch the next day.
What plans do you have for the future?
Sr. Klara Berchtold: Our goal is to continue to offer our students the best possible upbringing and education in a rapidly changing world.
What challenges do you see?
Sr. Klara Berchtold: One of the big challenges is the migration of mainly Christian families, especially in the last year. Another challenge is financial. Before the war, we were already suffering from a severe disadvantage in the financing of our institutions by the Ministry of Education compared to other Jewish schools. We expect this disadvantage to worsen due to the budget cuts the government will have to make to finance war spending.
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