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12
SUMMER
2013
Once again, the preschoolers were on a mis-
sion.This time their quest was to find out
the needs of their counterparts in a public
school nearby. In other words, they must
observe their surroundings, ask appropriate
questions and come out
with a conclusion – not
an easy task for five year
olds. But they didn’t seem
particularly inhibited.
“It’s a journey of discov-
ery,” explained teacher
Nada Bekdache to her
Grand Section students.
“We are going to find out
what they need.”
The public school in
question was a well
looked after school and
even boasted an inte-
gration program in the
school for children with
disabilities. “As you can
see,” the director was
quick to point out to the
visiting children, “our
students here are clever
like you.They have par-
ents who love them like
you do, they have lovely
homes like you and have
lovely meals like you. Per-
haps the only difference
here is that we don’t have
as many toys as you do in
your school.”
That was immediately
evident as the children
toured the preschool.
While the furniture
seemed new and up to
date, the preschool classes
were definitely lacking in
toys and books.The play-
ground was quite large but had one solitary
slide to be used by 90 preschoolers.
For their part the public school pre-
schoolers seemed intrigued by their young
visitors and timidly stared at them.The
On a
Mission
IC children shyly stared back. Teachers
rushed to break the ice. First a song that
both groups joined in with (well, at least
the girls did) and then an art activity.
Still the two groups didn’t speak.The
chance finally came, how-
ever, when IC students – as
assigned – had to question
their counterparts about
their needs in their school.
Armed with question-
naires, IC students began.
“Do you like to play with
your friends?” asked Celine
Abu Shaker, 5 (IC) strug-
gling to read the questions.
“My mom gives me
coloring paper at home,”
responded Miriam Khalil,
5 (public school).
“Do you miss your friends
here when you go home?”
“My mother is at home
and my daddy works.”
“Do you want more toys at
your school?
“I don’t know how to go
down the slide, do you?
“Do you like homework?”
“I like helping my mama at
home.”
Celine diligently “wrote”
down her answers as her
classmates all around
conducted similar ques-
tionnaires.
It was finally time to go.
The public school children
presented to their guests
little paper stars and waved
good bye. IC students
promised to see how they
can help out the school.
Back in class, there were
many discussions between Bekdashe and
her students.The school needed books.
How about writing up a few books for
them and buying the rest? What about
puppets? Everybody loves puppets. And so