Mar Elias Educational Institutions
Ibillin - Galilee
Mr. Elias Abu Ghanimeh, a graduate of MEEI, has witnessed the growth of MEEI, and has become the principal of the High school, the same school he studied at. “We strive to welcome the beautiful mosaic of Galilee on our campus not only to teach these students but also to learn from the unique diversity they embody.” Elias adds: “Each day, a plethora of well-educated faculty holding the highest degrees in Education and other subjects welcome these students and empower them for the challenging life circumstances here along with the vital mission each of these students carries in Galilee and the region.”
The High School, an integral part of the Mar Elias Educational Institutions, culminates the ethos of MEEI and the broader mission of promoting coexistence, tolerance, and understanding among students from various religious and cultural backgrounds. Nonetheless, the emphasis at the High School is academic excellence as a means of preparing students for higher education and future leadership roles. The curriculum is designed to meet academic standards in concert with the Ministry of Education while incorporating tolerance and social responsibility values.
Mar Elias High School opened its doors in 1983. The number of students back then reached 118, and those students studied in four classes. Father Elias Chacour strove during that year to establish a school not only for the larger community of Galilee but also for the other communities, such as those living in the Negev and lacking educational infrastructure. Since that remarkable year, Mar Elias High School has aspired to operate not only as a scientific, educational, and ethical humanitarian institution but also as a home for the people of Galilee to nourish their love of curiosity and creativity where students can develop their abilities to accept and respect others and to achieve peace with oneself and with others.
The school has achieved an impressive growth. More than a thousand students from different towns study at the Mar Elias High School nowadays. These students belong to other religions and backgrounds within the Arab community. The school has adopted, through the years, programs to enhance Social and national awareness and promote science, knowledge, and love for humanity. Among these programs is the forgiveness curriculum developed by Dr. Robert Enright at the University of Wisconsin, where students learn how to apply the virtue of forgiveness in their daily lives. In addition, Mar Elias High School plays a significant role in the Galilee Dreamers Project, which gathers various schools from Israel from both the Arab and Jewish sectors.
Education: Master's Degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Haifa.
Social Status: Married and a mother to four children. Lives in Millia Village, a small Christian village in the Upper Galilee (75 mins. drive).
History at Mar Elias High school: I started teaching during the academic year 2003/2004. Became the English coordinator (head of staff) during the academic year 2014/15. Became a member of the Board of Administration during the academic year 2017/2018.
Why I enjoy teaching at Mar Elias: Mar Elias is a reflection of the Israeli-Palestinian society. This school blends together teachers and students from all religions and social status. It provides us with a great sense of belonging to this unique family. Students are exposed to and share different customs, holidays, and cultures which strengthens the bonds between them. Mar Elias prepares its students both academically and socially to face the "outside world". We give them all the skills and support they need to help them advance and find their place in society. There is a mutual feeling of respect and partnership between the teachers and the students which is based merely on one clear goal: the success and wellbeing of the students.
Mar Elias: Service, Surpassing, and A Promise
I started working at Mar Elias High School in 2002. The school has always incarnated the ambition for the human capability for creativity and awareness of reality. It is an awareness of excellence and diversity. For me, the High School has always been a project of encounter with the other and a constant discovery with that other. I am here today because MEEI incorporates the dream to walk vertically to the depth and not to the top. To walk horizontally towards the other right and left, and in every direction possible. Making one's life a service to your community, a continual surpassing towards the best, and a promise for renovation.