The whir of drills and bangs of hammered nails pierce the morning's quiet at Alonim Shaar Hanegev Elementary School in Sderot.
As maintenance workers tackle summer projects, freshly painted welcome placards offer a bittersweet reminder of hope in a town still reeling from tragedy.
Located just a mile from the Gaza Strip, Sderot was battered by Hamas' October 7 invasion, losing over 70 of its residents in a day that forever changed the community.
Now, nearly a year later, the town is striving for a semblance of normalcy. The determination is palpable, but so too is the undercurrent of grief and anxiety that permeates daily life.
A Patchwork of Solutions
While Sderot's schools seem set for the 2024-25 academic year, the situation in surrounding areas is a testament to the ongoing upheaval:
- Sdot Hanegev plans to start the year largely as before, with some adjustments.
- Hof Ashkelon will relocate three schools to more distant locations, uprooting students from their familiar environments.
- Shaar Hanegev faces uncertainty, with some pupils potentially attending classes in temporary structures – a stark reminder of their displacement.
- Eshkol's situation is described as "much more complicated" by Education Ministry spokeswoman Suzie Ben Harush, with schools being relocated and repurposed in a desperate attempt to provide stability.
The contrast is not dissimilar to Israel's Galilee region, where continued Hezbollah attacks have shattered any hope of schools reopening, leaving families in limbo.
Balancing Trauma and Education
In her office at Alonim Elementary, Principal Shlomtzion Cohen's eyes reflect both determination and sorrow as she emphasizes the need for "emotional fortitude." She admits, "We feel like we're in an extended shiva. That makes our recovery difficult. It's very hard to be happy."
The weight of loss hangs heavy – two teachers and one student murdered, seven students kidnapped and later released, one parent still captive in Gaza. Yet amidst this pain, Cohen and her staff are preparing to address students' emotional needs through counseling, pet therapy, and art therapy. There's a fierce commitment to maintaining routine and academic standards, a lifeline of normalcy in a world turned upside down.
Financial and Emotional Investment
Sderot's municipality is pouring resources into healing its youngest residents. Deputy Mayor Elad Kalimi, his voice tinged with both concern and hope, reports a 60 million shekel ($16.5 million) boost to the education budget. This substantial increase will fund additional staffing for tutoring and mental health support – a recognition of the deep scars left by October 7.
The challenges facing Sderot's children are staggering. Kalimi describes a range of issues, including "post-trauma syndrome," suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and increased domestic problems. Each statistic represents a young life forever altered.
Looking Forward
Despite the obstacles, there's a raw, defiant determination to move forward. O.S., a local restaurant manager and IDF soldier, embodies this spirit, "It's my home. If we leave, the border will move... I'm not going to leave."
As Sderot prepares for the new school year, the community's resilience is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Classroom walls adorned with hopeful messages stand in stark contrast to the vacant lot where the police station once stood – now a makeshift memorial to those lost.
The coming months will test the town's ability to provide both education and healing for its youngest residents. In the face of unimaginable trauma, Sderot's educators, parents, and children are writing a new chapter – one of courage, perseverance, and the enduring power of community.
* Tablet Magazine contributed to this article.
