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Ramallah Friends School was founded over 150 years ago. Its goal was to educate girls. Well done, Friends. As usual you’re ahead of the rest of us.
Adrian Moody, Head of School, sent this email. I travelled to Palestine two years ago.It was thrilling and heartbreaking.
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A challenging year has come to an end with the uncertainty of what is to come. All over the world at this time there are many people suffering because of Covid-19. Here in Palestine families are struggling through financial stress, the pandemic and military occupation. At Ramallah Friends School (RFS) we have had the most unusual beginning of the new school year after our students spent 6 months at home due to the declaration of a state of emergency in Palestine. Our community of 1500 students, 200 staff and hundreds of families have had to adjust to the immediate transformation of school from face-to-face learning to full distance (online) learning to blended learning- back and forth on a weekly basis since March. We have had to adjust and improve all of our educational and community programs to follow Covid-19 safety regulations. Wearing masks at all time oncampus, our students and staff have marvellously succeeded together through the first semester without skipping any RFS traditions. All school events were cancelled and so our art and music teachers insisted that we transform the traditional Christmas Performances virtual as well. This year, instead of parents coming to watch their children singing Christmas Carols, they will watch them online from the safety of their own homes. As a part of our wonderful community, you are welcomed to subscribe to our You Tube channel to share the joy with our families and their children. At 151 years of age, Ramallah Friends School has faced numerous challenges as the history of the school is closely tied with the history of Palestine. Over the last century, the School has experienced Turkish, British, Jordanian and Israeli occupation, world wars, closures and has served not only as a school but as a center for refugees and hospital. Today, our goal is for RFS to remain a safe home for our students and their families. Since the outbreak of the pandemic many of our families have lost their jobs, and we tried to include all of them in our Student Financial Aid Program for 2020-2021, but unfortunately the school has lost funds as well and we are struggling to help our community. You can make a difference. Help us keep our community safe and in school. At RFS, Community has always been a core value and Quaker testimony cherished by all. And it is these values that are bringing together all members of our community together as teachers, administrators, students, alumni and parents. And all of us are working very hard to get through these difficult times and we know that RFS will get through yet another challenge, as always. |
