The school at the forefront of the water challenge

JORDAN MOSHE

Darchei Noam is a unique school in that it offers individual attention and tailormade solutions to Jewish children who don’t quite fit the conventional school mould. It offers scholars an opportunity to discover where their strengths lie and unlock their potential.

The school is situated in Highlands North and has separate campuses for boys and girls from Grades 1 to 12.

“By treating a child as an individual and not just one in a class, you can help them discover something about themselves and make sure they leave school with something to give,” says Shireen Sacks, principal of Darchei Noam.

“We offer different support measures through our different schooling streams, and classes never have more than six pupils in them. We are therefore able to actualise our school’s motto of schooling for the individual,” says Sacks.

Under the guidance of education psychologist Heidi Bome, a multidisciplinary therapy team assists the school’s educators in finding the best way to help the 60 pupils currently enrolled.

“Children today really hate going to school,” says Bome. “When a child feels that they cannot succeed, imagine how much more difficult going to school is for them. We look at them to find where their potential lies. Using a team approach involving the therapists and the teachers, we give them exactly what they need to succeed.

“People need to understand that you don’t need academics to be successful, and it’s time we redefined what success really means.”

In order to make a child feel the thrill of accomplishment, the school offers three different educational streams: inclusive, special needs and vocational.

While the pupils in the inclusive stream may be adept at academics and require only emotional support, those in the other two streams are given opportunities to engage in activities beyond the scope of academics in order to find what they are good at.

These programmes include Kodesh studies and extracurricular activities such as sports, as well as cultural activities such as drama and even woodwork.

Offering heavily reduced school fees, the school is reliant on people looking to donate not only funds but also their time and involvement in a classroom. Staff are grateful for whatever time people such as retired teachers or professionals can spare.

Kevin Levin, a volunteer woodwork teacher at the school, works closely with the pupils and helps them discover their creative abilities outside of the classroom. Although he’s currently an electrician by profession, Levin knows what it feels like to be unable to take to the traditional academic focused education.

“I experienced learning difficulties as a child. I know what it feels like for these kids,” Levin explains. “When I heard that the school was looking for someone to give woodworking classes, I saw an opportunity to give to those whose struggle I know very well.

“If I’d had an opportunity to attend a school like this in my day, I know my academic struggles would’ve been far more manageable. Conventional schools do not cater for the talents we have here, and if pupils from those schools were to try to do what ours do in woodworking, we’d walk right over them.”

While the school offers a unique environment in which pupils can find their niche, the goal of integrating them into the community as people who can contribute something unique remains in place.

“There is more to life than school,” explains Sacks. “Our dream is to put our pupils out in society so that they can make a difference. Their mere presence in society is enough to show people that we can learn something from them. “There is a taboo around people with special needs or who simply don’t fit the mould. Adults see it, but children don’t. If they don’t, their presence in the wider world can help other people look past the stigma and see what these souls have to offer their world.”