Previous Years’ Newsletters

2024

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We publish extracts and other news weekly on our blog.

2023

May 2023

We step in where central education fails
Every May and June our contact volunteers visit their projects to check to what extent the children are benefitting from the help the Talia Trust has given them since the beginning of the school year.

Here are examples of how you have helped children in two projects, one in a high school and the other for primary school children at a community centre.

Learning strategies
At Kfar HaNoar HaDati high school D, who is 16, told our volunteer, Leah Rottenshtreich, that a few months ago she was given a psycho-didactic assessment, subsidized by the Talia Trust. Recently she took part in the learning strategies course the Talia Trust finances in memory of Barrie Greenson z.l.(as described in the December 2022 newsletter).

D had been assessed because she has difficulty with language learning and suffers from attention and concentration difficulties. She was disorganized and had always needed guidance to fulfil academic tasks .
The immediate result of the course is that now D feels less pressurized. By following the methods taught in the course, D is already more comfortable and successful when solving exam questions. Listen to D here

The Talia Trust was founded for children just like D. We are so glad to know that she is already feeling more positive about her studies and wish her much success.

Reading levels
The recently released PIRLS international reading assessment results show that Israeli 10 year olds' reading level last year dropped dramatically, even compared to other countries. Currently the Talia Trust has 4 reading projects, three in Hebrew and one in English.

I would like to tell you what Orly Zalikovich, our volunteer who monitors the Haifa project, heard about the seven to eight year olds who have been coming to our after-school Hebrew reading course for young school children at the Neve Yosef community centre. The course has been running for 6 months . She told us that the second grade children are working on accurate reading and comprehension.
S and M are learning singular and plural, with an emphasis on exceptions to the rule.
Orly was amazed to hear from the project's teacher, Hiba'at, about one little boy, Y (not pictured):
"His classroom teacher described him as "stupid", his school was thinking of moving him to special education. He is an intelligent child who has developed this year, has become sociable and independent, though he is still catching up on first grade material."
At last Y is learning to read, thanks to the Talia Trust.
Hopefully our course will continue next year, too, and Y will reach his class-mates' level. The Talia Trust is happy to give him the extra help not available at his school and appreciate the individual help to the children from our volunteer,Esther Bibas.

Again, thanks to all our volunteers. Next month - news from two more projects.

Best wishes
Marilyn Hyman

April 2023 Update

Maurice writes:
“Wow! Many, many thanks to all the 40 runners & over 100 supporters in the recent Jerusalem Marathon. It is always an amazing and exhilarating experience to join thousands of runners through the streets of Jerusalem, and then to realize that our small group in this event has so far managed to raise 27,000 shekels for our 5 Remedial Teaching projects for needy children throughout Israel. Finally, a special thanks is due to all those who helped to organize this event, particularly Lynn Golumbic, Linda Altshul, and Sam Ackerman. Through all your efforts, we are now able to give 70 children a better start in life.”

On a sad note, we regret to tell you of the untimely passing of Malka Hertstein who volunteered with us tirelessly for many years, in preparation of the annual Rosh HaShanah campaign every summer. We send our condolences to her husband, Dennis, and to her children. May her memory be for a blessing.

We sincerely wish all our donors and readers "Chag Sameach", for whichever festival you celebrate.

The Talia Trust Committee members

March 2023 Update

Dear reader
In a few days' time, our 2023 Jerusalem marathon participants will be running or walking to fund our four remedial programs for younger schoolchildren and one for older children. So far 40 runners plan to take part and wear our bright yellow Talia Trust t-shirts with the logo you can see printed above. Look out for them on March 17th.

You can see why they are running by clicking the link and watching our new short video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1j-FPRGD-0

This time the Talia Trust is concentrating on raising funds for small group remedial teaching.

Our current primary school language projects are, from north to south:
Shirat Hayam, Kiryat Yam - group remedial work in Hebrew for twelve 6 to 8year old (see the February 2023 Update below).

Matnas Neve Yosef, Haifa – after school remedial reading for ten 7 to 9 year olds (see January 2023 update below) in two groups, in a local community centre.

Jabotinsky, Bet Shemesh - Hebrew reading and comprehension for 8 children aged 7-8 in two groups.(Featured in September 2022 newsletter)

Givat Gonen, Jerusalem - English language group remedial teaching for twenty-three children aged 7-12.

Givat Gonen is our largest and longest-running remedial teaching project for young children. The school's population is still socio-economically very weak in the main. Parents cannot fund remedial teaching themselves and the school's budget is over-stretched.
The course is dynamically taught by Dorit Shostak. We think that it is a most successful project .
Since October, three of the children have progressed so fast that they have already rejoined their other schoolfriends, near the top of the class!

In addition, as reported in December 2022, the Barrie Greenson learning strategies project at Kfar HaNoar Kfar Hassidim got off to a good start and the school hopes to continue it in the next school year. A group of freemasons plan to run in memory of Barrie z"l and to raise funds specifically for this project.

Anyone able to sponsor our sportsmen, women and children, please use this link:http://bit.ly/3SoNAS1

With sincere thanks
Marilyn and all the Talia Trust committee

2022