On May 13, nine elementary schools in Umm el-Fahm came together to mark the end of the school year and the progress they’ve made as part of ICEI’s new Municipal Model. It was the first time all participating schools gathered in one place to share their work and celebrate the students, teachers, and families driving the change. The Municipal Model is ICEI’s first citywide initiative, designed to create a shared pedagogical language and community-wide collaboration.
A Citywide Celebration of Progress
Over 450 people attended the event, including students, parents, educators, the mayor, Ministry of Education officials, and ICEI staff. Each school had 10 minutes on stage to present their learning journey: through songs, skits, a play, and more. First through third grade students took the lead, showcasing skills and confidence developed over the year.
“We wanted every student, teacher, and parent to feel how far they’d come,” said Rema Igbaria, ICEI’s Municipal Model coordinator. “And we wanted everyone to see: this is what’s possible.”
Each presentation was unique, and many involved school staff beyond language instructors. One school’s music teacher arranged a student-written song for the student choir. Another brought in a professional designer to help with staging.
Raising the Bar, Together
As the first municipality to adopt ICEI’s program citywide, Umm el-Fahm’s schools were the first to see the effects of a new kind of collaboration. Seeing peers from other schools gave students and staff a sense of shared achievement and even a bit of competitive motivation.
“Even schools that aren’t in the program came to watch,” said Rema. “They saw what’s possible when everyone’s working together.”
The students chosen to present reflected a wide range of backgrounds and abilities, including many who don’t often get the spotlight.
“A father came up to me on the street specifically to thank me,” Rema recalled. “He said, ‘We each see the results in our own kids and our own school, but seeing ALL the kids makes us feel like our whole town is going strong and moving in positive directions.’”
Two more schools are expected to join next year. The citywide momentum is already underway.
