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Mariam Bardwardi Kindergarten
Young children are given a ‘head start’ - nurturing hearts, minds and spirits.
The Kindergarten at Mar Elias Educational Institutions was founded in 1970 by Father Chacour with the invaluable help of nuns from Nazareth. Today two hundred children, aged three and four, play and learn in a three-story building on a site in Ibillin village near the church and also at the main campus in the Mariam Bawardi Centre. In addition, one hundred 5-year-olds attend kindergarten in the old high school building on the Mar Elias Campus. The children get an excellent start on their educational journey in the Mariam Bawardi Kindergarten.
Every June about one hundred children graduate from kindergarten to first grade. The smiles of proud children are matched by the smiles of their parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. At a recent graduation a staff person said, "Today we are planting seeds. The children need to know that when they strive for excellence they can achieve important things in their lives."
The Kindergarten is a lively and welcoming place for children 3-5 years old where they are nurtured through the all-important foundational years of early childhood education. Staff are dedicated to fostering the spiritual development as well as providing the best possible environment for physical and intellectual development of the pre-schooler's in their care.
"Our children deserve the best education we can give them."
"They deserve to live with dignity. They must learn to live in peace with their neighbours. Hopefully some of our students will shape the future of Israel and Palestine and bring peace to this troubled land. We also hope our graduates will choose to stay in Israel/Palestine for their graduate education. By finding jobs here they can make a difference and help bring about peacequot.
EXCERT FROM BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS - ABUNA CHACOUR
Mrs. Hiam Ghattas, director of both Kindergarten and nurseries, the Kindergarten is the first project ever initiated by His Excellency Bishop Elias Chacour, few months after his arrival to Ibillin, in 1965. It’s under the patronage of the saint, from the village, Mariam Bawardie. At the beginning father Chacour gave the responsibility to the sisters of St. Joseph to care and run the first Kindergarten in Ibillin, when there was none. These nuns left their imprint in the whole village on Muslims and Christians alike. They were dedicated to the service of the Ibillin community for over thirty years. In 1994, the nuns becoming older, became unable to run the kindergarten any more, they returned the responsibility to father Elias Chacour. Since then Nawar Musalam, the very well-known educator took on herself to run the kindergarten with the help of Mrs. Hiam Ghattas. The kindergarten comprise today three classes for kids 3 to 4 years old, they are 96 children in three classes, in addition to three other classes for children 5 years old, and these are 94 children. Presently it’s the association of MEEI who took the responsibility for these kids. Six ladies' teachers and nine assistance in addition to one psychologist. The Kindergarten is run according to the educational program special to early childhood and try to implement the special goals to help the children to be more aware of the environment and to get to know the natural social qualities comprising a better knowledge of their mother language (Arabic), they learn Mathematics, Technology, Arts, Physical fitness, and the other important human qualities and Music. Activities in which the kindergarten children participated: the local village library called "Phanuss", whose aim is to introduce the children to read books and to encourage parents to read for their children and to enjoy for them reading books, and thus help them to develop their curiosity and the human and social values. Each child will be given a gift of eight tale books to take home. An adapted extra curriculum activities including Music, and Motoric Activities Theater and so on. In the frame of extra curriculum activities, the children in the Kindergarten participate in the activities of the "Phanuss" program to acquaint the children of reading books and inviting parents to read with them. Our children in the Kindergarten take part in the special program of preparing them for the elementary school, so that in order to help them accept the challenge of change in life.
