Thursday 6 March 2014 New Silwan School

We attended the inauguration of a new school for Silwan.  It had been a dilapidated building and was renovated to become a school.  The mayor of Jerusalem and other dignitaries toured the building.  The students were brought from their old Silwan School for the occasion. The building is not complete, so this may have been an effort to show the mayor the progress and encourage the city to complete the restoration. Inas commented she was glad there was no rock throwing.  She seemed concerned the mayor's presence may create problems.  All went well.  The students performed well, the mayor seemed attentive, and we hope this leads to completion of the school so the students can have a better facility.

 The students still sit 3 to a table, but the rooms are big compared to the old school. 

 The mayor is on the left.  The principal is second from the right.  The woman she is talking with on the far right is responsible for overseeing the English classes in Jerusalem schools.

The principal and the mayor of Jerusalem

 The students sang a song about dental hygiene.

We briefly met the mayor when he came into our room.  We think the principal said we are from the Mormon University and we help with English classes each week.

Hallway on the second level.  The administrative offices are on the right.  There are 4 classrooms on the second level.

When the mayor first arrived, he cut a ribbon to celebrate the inauguration of the school.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, students performed a dance for the mayor.

Two of the students in our classroom who pled for me to take their picture.

This is a classroom in the old Silwan school in contrast to a classroom in the new Silwan School.