Guy Zooaretz, host of the famous Israeli variety show, ‘Survivor’, visited Raanana last week for a meeting with members of the student councils of each of the elementary schools, as part of the elementary schools’ activities to prevent social injury in school.

For several years, the elementary schools have adopted a municipal policy to prevent violence and social injury including uniform rules of behavior at the schools, in order to create a positive educational environment and climate, to improve communication between students and their teachers and to encourage ethical behavior in the school environment.

This year, a decision was made to focus activity on the subject of media as leverage for encouraging positive social interactions.  Student council representatives will work to encourage positive social interactions in a project known as ‘All Good Things at School Will Be Photographed” - in which the student council members will instruct students how to take a photograph that captures a “good deed” and they will select the photo that will represent the school at an exhibition that will highlight this subject.

Last Sunday, the students gathered at the HaMishkan Center for Music and Arts for a day of activities on the subject of the role of media in preventing social injury, as part of the cooperative effort between the elementary and middle school education department and the Education Ministry.

The children watched the film entitled “Snitch” – produced by children in the Lahav Association/Children’s Channel’s project ‘Children Create Films’.  Afterward, photography workshops were held led by students at Metrowest High School’s photography department.  At the conclusion of the day, TV host Guy Zooaretz surprised the students and spoke to them on the topic “Life is not a Variety Show” handed out bookmarks printed with the sentence “Leave the Eliminations for Survivor - Protect Your Friendships”.

Mayor Nahum Hofree: “The student council members are our young leaders and they are capable of making a difference, changing and promoting social values of friendship, respect, tolerance and sensitivity to others at school and in the community as a whole.”

In the photo: Guy Zooaretz and members of the student councils.  Photo courtesy of the Raanana Municipality.