Ramat Hasharon (English Translation)
- Education
- Museums
- The History of Ramat-Hasharon
- Senior Citizens Administration
- Municipal System
- Music Academy
- Sports
Education
The pedagogic enterprise of Ramat Hasharon's education system is based on the State Education Law's primary objective, which is to educate an individual to be kind to others. All other objectives such as instilling values, applying students' abilities to the fullest and encouraging motivation are derived there from. Development and nurturing of all students is achieved through an attentive organization that adapts itself, in view of attaining great successes on both local and national levels.
The municipal education system comprises 7,000 students, meaning, on average, in every second home in the city, there is one child in the education system. This fact, and the fact that education is top priority among municipal officials, account for the great investment in the education system, which officials, account for the great investment in the education system, which receives the largest share of the municipal budget.
Promoting educational objectives is achieved by mutual cooperation with all factors involved, including parents. Ramat Hasharon's education system offers a wide range of solutions to its students, in various groups, programs and unique activities such as:
Diverse kindergarten models
Extended learning day, combined kind combined kindergarten and grade one, kindergarten cluster.Wide range of solutions for students with special education needs
Integration in standard institutions, communication skills kindergarten, language kindergarten, classes for students with learning disabilities in higher education schools.Solutions for the promotion of students with learning disabilities
"Rakefet" municipal treatment center, unit for treatment with animals at the municipal research garden, empowerment and support centers at the higher education schools.Promoting Excellence
First program of its kind in Israel for children of compulsory kindergarten age, for the promotion of talented students, in the morning hours and a program for gifted children in elementary school and junior high.Increase youth involvement in the community
Allocation of an additional education hour in junior high schools, creation of a municipal framework for youth volunteering in community, activities designed for encouraging youth leadership, youth delegation exchange.Progress and technology
Special scientific labs and advanced computer labs in schools, creation of a municipal educational portal and education radio station.Enrichment
Exposing students to activities in municipal institutions and facilities such as concerts by the municipal conservatory of music, information center for preschoolers, geological museum, Rishonim house, public libraries, road safety lot.Unique municipal programs
"The city dances" - all 5th grade students participate in folk dances and ballroom, "My community" - 4th grade students in joint program with Rishonim House, "Proper nutrition"- in compulsory nursery schools, "Education week" in the municipal system, community graduation ceremony for 6th grade students, co-existence programs, inter-generation ties, young entrepreneurs, youth national security college for high school students and more.Increase of teaching hours, teaching positions and job openings
Increase in teaching hours at a sum of one million new Israeli shekels, addition of psychologist positions, individual assistants for students, security guards, social coaches to prevent drop out. Variety of unique study programs in high schools and possibility to enchance matriculation grades.Decreasing the number of students in a class
Average of 28 students in elementary school, 32 in junior high school.
Ramat Hasharon's largest educational enterprise is bearing fruit. Students' achievements on the various age levels, which are gauged and examined with national tools, place the municipal education system at the top of district and national tools, place the municipal education system at the top of district and national accomplishments. Achievements in scholastics, sports, volunteer work, breakthroughs and initiatives are a direct result of professional work with education staffs in both institutional and municipal systems.
Over the last decade, two schools won the prestigious education award, which is granted by Israel's President. Sports teams of the schools won State cup several times, and young athletes exceeded personal records.
Furthermore, principals of municipal education systems won education awards for the district of Tel Aviv to which they belong. Ramat Hasharon's schools won awards with honorable mention and citations from government offices and othe national institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Joint Israel and World Joingt, national film festival, Yad Vashem and more.
Ramat Hasharon's largest educational enterprise is being fruit. Students' achievements on the carious age levels, which are gauged and examined with national tools, place the municipal education system at the top of district and national accomplishments. Achievements in scholastics, sports, volunteer work, breakthroughs and initiatives are a direct result of professional work with education staffs in both institutional and municipal systems.
Over the last decade, two schools won the prestigious education award, which is granted by Israel's President. Sports teams of the schools won education awards for the district of Tel Aviv to which they belong. Ramat Hasharon's schools won awards with honorable mention and citations from government offices and other national institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Joint Israel and World Joint, national film festival, Yad Vashem and more.
Museums
The Geological Museum
The House of the First Settlers also houses the Ramat-Hasharon Geological Museum.
This museum deals with earth sciences and focuses on natural treasures such as gas, oil, diamonds and gold as well as phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
The museum is unique in that it is the only geological museum in Israel that is open to the public, free of charge.
The museum displays a magnificent variety of minerals, gems and fossils from all over the world, most of which evolved in ancient geological eras. The rich minerals, rocks and fossils collection is a most valuable educative and inspiring resource for all visitors, of all ages. One can even touch fossils and rocks from prehistoric era.
One of the most important activities that the museum offers is introducing young students from the Ramat-Hasharon schools and schools throughout the country, to the ever changing planet and the wonders of the world that surround them, helping them discover the natural forces that shape our planet, the treasures we procure from it, the effect we have on it and its place in the universe.
The House of the First Settlers
The Ramat-Hasharon Museum of History is located at 12 Hapalmach Street and is part of a large compound that includes "The Rocks Park" and the Central City Library.
The house was donated to the city by one of the first families of settlers and was dedicated to the preservation of the Ramat-Hasharon heritage and history, from its founding to the War of Independence, the absorption of European immigrants and the vast wave of immigration from Middle-Eastern countries, especially Iraq.
On display are the daily tools used by the founders of the town, as well as documents, photographs and plans depicting the way in which the small agricultural village evolved into a small township and subsequently into the city it is today.
The museum includes an historic archive of documents, letters and photographs from 1922 to 1948, at which time the State of Israel won its independence. The archive also includes material from the subsequent decade, with the wave of immigration from the east to Eastern parts of the city whereby immigrants were put up in transitory tent camps, known as "Ma'abarot" (transitional camps).
The exhibition is an active one, I.e., visitors can "sense" the daily life of the first settlers and the "Ma'abarot" residents.
The History of Ramat-Hasharon
Ramat Hasharon is a city of approximately 45,000 inhabitants, located 10 miles northern of Tel Aviv.
The city was founded in 1922, by a group of new immigrants, mostly from eastern Europe, who originally came to Jafa and decided to seek for a piece of land in an "open space" as they described it, out of the crowded and narrow streets of the ancient city. They also decided that the new settlement will be an agriculture one.
After an exploration envoy which have looked all over the region north of Tel Aviv, the envoy members recommended to settle in the an area which was "flat, ithout any hills nor valleys and suitable for seeding and plantations and the air is good". This area is what had become "Ir Shalom" ("city of piece") the first name chosen for the new settlement. The price they paid was 5 Egyptian pounds for 500 Acers.
By 1928 the young and small settlement was totally based on agriculture, especially oranges, field plantations and chickens and by that time the small community decided to call for an open competition to suggest a new name for the village. In November that year the name Ramat Hasharon the height of the Sharon was chosen, to indicate the character of the location ("Sharon" is the region alongside the Mediterranean, in the central part of Israel).
In 1929 the whole place was evacuated due to the riots caused by the "Abu Kishek" gang, a local Arab tribe which controlled the main roads to Ramat-Hasharon and threatened to raid the village. The unrest and fear remained until the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, and in between the village survived the murderous times of the Arab riots in 1936-1937 and participated in the long battle in years 1945-1948 for the independence of Israel.
The city was founded in 1922, by a group of new immigrants, mostly from eastern Europe, who originally came to Jafa and decided to seek for a piece of land in an "open space" as they described it, out of the crowded and narrow streets of the ancient city. They also decided that the new settlement will be an agricultural one.
Nowadays Ramat-Hasharon is no longer an agricultural village. In the year 2001 it was officially declared a "city". However the original "flavor" of a green place is kept. Not far away from the big city (10 miles from Tel Aviv), Ramat –Hasharon runs a quiet life with a high standard of living, based on a high quality educational system, which includes 2 high schools (of the finest in the country), specialized in arts and technology, high institution for music (especially jazz music) and lots of sports clubs, amongst then the women basketball club, which attracts top basketball players from the WNBA and last season titled 3rd in Europe Cup.
During the years Ramat-Hasharon developed warm "Sister City" relations with two cities, Georgemariehutte in Germany and Dunkerque in France. On March 17, 2006, Mayor Itzhak Rochberger signed another sister city agreement with Tallahassee, the capital city of the state of Florida.
Mayor Itzhak Rochberger was elected in 2003 and under his leadership the city is going through an unprecedented time of blooming in all sectors of life. Some of his greatest achievements are the shut down of a huge fuel and gas farm which has been a menace to the city for decades, linking in a record short time the local water system, which has been based on the local wells, to the national system.
In the near future the city will go though a major development process which on one hand will strengthen the city which enjoys a high standard of living it is famous for.
Senior Citizens Administration
7,500 senior citizens reside in Ramat Hasharon (as defined by the National Insurance), constituting 17.5% of the population. This percentage is on the rise, as life expectancy increases. Accordingly, the number of residents over the age of 75 is also increasing.
On average, the life expectancy of the elderly, after retirement, is 18 years. It should be noted that 95% of the elderly continue living in their community and do not move into the various institutions or protected housing.
Over time, the needs of the elderly change due to the deterioration in functioning, however, they remain independent, desiring to maintain their purpose and role in society. Therefore, the Ramat Hasharon community encourages its senior citizens to seek alternatives such as leisure time activities and volunteer work for their well-being and the well-being of the community.
One way in which the community provides for the elderly is offering support both on a social level and in terms of health, care and nursing.
There are five institutions in the municipality's welfare division provide personal services for 10% of the city's elderly.
The ELA association provides nursing care.
The Senior Citizens Administration was established in the Ramat Hasharon municipality at the end of 2005, in view of handling the special needs of the elderly. The administration operates in coordination with volunteer institutions, organizations and municipal departments in order to augment the solutions for the elderly in all areas:
Leisure time culture - colleges, group activities, trips, museum tours, plays concerts, holiday vacations and movies. The culture basket tailors its content to populations of various ethnic groups and the community cultural activities were also expanded to accommodate every individual, and new group activities were added.
- Sports activities for the elderly such as Tai Chi with a certified instructor every Sunday morning.
- Consulting, information and guidance services.
- Nursing services (at the day center and the center for Alzheimer patients).
- Mobile catering services.
- Book exchange service.
- Solutions for individuals with special needs such as Holocaust survivors.
- Alternatives for paid employment by providing volunteer work.
- Health and disease prevention services - health days, workshops to increase awareness, creation of consultation and geriatric diagnosis center with medical facilities.
- Assistance in reaching public services by providing public transport, for example, a transportation line to the cemetery once a month and transportation to central city locations on a daily basis.
- Inter-generation activities for children, youth and the elderly to reinforce ties.
- Expansion of the nursing facilities for the elderly and their families.
Municipal System
As a modern institution, Ramat Hasharon municipality manages its activities with state of the art computer systems, in order to provide the municipality the most efficient tools with which to make data-based decisions and to improve the services provided to its residents.
The municipality's IT systems include all services related to computerization, communications and more, including traditional managerial systems school computer system support, acquisition, maintenance and upgrades of software and hardware systems to suit the specific needs of municipality departments and sites.
The municipal computerized systems handled by the IT department include collection, accounting, wages, human resources, business licensing, welfare, education, Internet website, acquisition and logistics, engineering, properties, public libraries archives, municipal supervision, parking supervision, municipal center, claims management of halls and events, legal activities management, follow up on tasks and decisions and the psychological service department.
One of the most important systems is the municipal Internet website that provides vital information and serves as a channel through which the public can address the municipal center or the various municipal authorities. Another important role is online payments, as well as online registration to schools, inquiries and so forth.
One of the department's growing projects is the development of a Geographic Information System (GIS). The Internet based system enables the display of geographical information with aerial photos, structures and more. The system provides information on infrastructures, land covers, and land assignments. It also enables reception of spatial analysis and arriving at various conclusions, not necessarily engineering related.
The link between the geographic/engineering data to the demographic data, collection data and student count enables making decisions in various areas based on limited geographic area such as a neighborhood or a street. One can also receive extensive information such as age cross section, existing educational institutions and more, as a basis for making decisions regarding the opening of a kindergarten, community center or activity center for senior citizens.
The department shared in the "Computer for every child" project of 2005. 61 families that joined the project received a computer, software programs and Internet hook up. 30 additional families will join in 2006.
One of the department's upcoming challenges, together with the Ministry of Education, is the creation of an educational portal. This portal will include all the schools and will provide knowledge communities in various areas. There will be tools for teachers and students such as an exam bank, scholastic papers, assignments, referral to information databases and so forth.
The portal will be set up in a way to enable future expansion based on needs. The teachers will also receive tools to analyze exam results and make decisions as to learning methods. The portal will provide tools to improve teaching methods by way of learning items and will reinforce ties with parents.
In the future, residents will also be provided access to some of the online information.
Music Academy
For over 20 years, the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat Hasharon has been a home to young, talented musicians from all over the world who search for personal creative expression in contemporary music. We started with 35 students and 10 teachers. Today, over 400 students and 70 faculty members fill our classrooms and rehearsal halls.
Whether a student studies music technology, education or performance, our comprehensive program of seven majors and over 160 courses is specifically designed for graduates to enter the music world. Our commitment to excellence in music education has made Rimon the best music school in Israel. Hundreds of graduates have become central figures in the music industry; succeeding in careers as singers, instrumentalists, composers, songwriters, music producers, arrangers and sound engineers. Among our alumni are Noa, Eti Ankri, Aviv Gefen, Miri Mesika, Eran Tzur, Miki Karni, Ronit Shahar, Dana Berger, Mira Awasd, and Daniel Salomon.
Internationally, Rimon has strong formal academic ties with the Berklee College of Music, long considered the best comtemporary music school in the world. Through a special student exchange program, Rimon students can transfer credits and graduate with a Berklee degree. We also participate in major music school forums and associations across the globe to make sure our students are at the cutting edge of contemporary music culture. Through workshops and master classess, our students are exposed to such International jazz giants as Chick Corea, Pat Metheney, Herbie Hancock and Israeli stars David Broza, Gidi Gov and many others who conduct workshops and master classes.
Locally, Rimon develops academic programs with the Academy of music and Dance in Jerusalem. We have participated in exciting joint projects with such leading music festivals as The Red Sea Jazz Festival, the jazz Festival in Tel Aviv, and joint performances with the prestigious Israel Philharmonic as well as countless programs for Israeli television.
Our school mirrors the cultural melting pot of Israel by becoming the home to many young, new immigrants that make aliyah and choose to study with us. We've welcomed students from South America, the former Soviet Union, Europe, Ethiopia and the United States. Their presence has inspired new and diverse curriculum changes and they have had a tremendous impact on our cross-cultural consciousness, so important to teaching music in our ever-shrinking global music community.
In addition, Rimon reaches out beyond our campus by going on the road with the Rimon-on-the-Road program, where teachers and students travel to small Israeli communities and conduct workshops and master classes.
Ramat Hasharon has provided a supportive home for Rimon. Close ties with Mayor Itzak Rochberger enable the school to continue to expand and improve our facilities. We have a strong and productive working relationship with the local community, the Ramat Hasharon Music Conservatory and the Alon High School Music program. Also, Rimon regularly participates in a large variety of local community activities and events.
Making a dream come true takes hard work, commitment and the generosity of our many friends and donors throughout the years. We couldn't have come this far without the continuing support of the Ramat Hasharon municipality, our committee members, the Israeli government, private and corporate donors. Along with our students and staff, it is they who have helped make Rimon the most exciting place to learn and listen to contemporary music in Israel.
Sports
Sports in Ramat Hasharon is an essential and integral part of the residents' cultural and leisure life. Therefore, the municipality devotes vast resources and knowledge to support and promote the city's sports events and sports facilities.
The sports activities have been managed for years by the Sports Association, a registered non-profit society established 3 decades ago and managed by an elected public committee. The Association initiates and operates all the city's sports activities, both amateur and professional, and is allocated funds from the municipality and other public institutions, as well as membership fees.
The Sports Association is an autonomous institution; non-dependant on national sports centers. The association operates according to municipal sports policies.
As such, in terms of sports, the Association represents Ramat Hasharon vis a vis Israeli Olympics committee, various sports centers, the council for gambling regulation (Toto), sports associations and so forth.
In Ramat Hasharon in general and sports associations in particular, athletes have emerged who have achieved fine accomplishments. Our athletes won national tournaments in men and women's basketball, athletics, soccer, badminton, handball, volleyball, school championships and various international achievements.
Many Ramat Hasharon athletes represented Israel in the various international championship and Olympic games and were awarded grants and assistance from the municipality, via the Sports Association.
In recent years, virtually 3000 adults and youth, from toddlers to senior citizens, boys and girls, have taken part annually in many sports activities. The activites take place in the schools in the framework of physical education classes, in representative professional groups and amateur sports events.
In addition, thousands of athletes participate in events, both in Ramat Hasharon and nationwide. The prominent enterprise include "The Spring Race", the Gal Levinson duathlon (combined competition of running and bicycle riding, the race of which is also part of the Israeli championship in this event), the "Eyal Race" in memory of Eyal Shmueli, which is also an Israeli championship event in the 15km road racing, "March for the Boys" in memory of Ramat Hasharon soldiers who are killed in Israel's wars.
Ramat Hasharon's professional groups are active in the framework of independent associations whose budgets stem from several sources, including municipal support. This support includes making available local sports facilities.
Several professional groups are active in Ramat Hasharon, in various leagues and events:
- Anda Ramat Hasharon - Women's top league basketball. Ramat Hasharon's flagship team and since 1999 won 4 times the national championship, 5 national cups awards. This team is the only women team who represented Israel for 15 years in a row and ahd great success in European cups.
- A.S. Ramat Hasharon - Top league handball
- Ironi Ramat Hasharon - national league (second devision) soccer
- A.S. Ramat Hasharon - national league volleyball
In addition, secondary top teams are active in the various leagues.