Surkis Elementary School Kfar Saba Israel

Narratives

Architect Narrative

THE SURKIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN KFAR SABA, ISREAL

The Surkis elementary school, named after Kfar Saba’s first Mayor, Mordechai Surkis, is situated in the heart of a new residential neighbourhood in the north of the city.
The goals of the design were flexibility and openness, allowing maximum utilization of interior spaces and playgrounds, both in the present and in the future, as well as placing the child at the center of the educational process.
The structure is one story high and is comprised of three “houses”, containing six main classrooms each, and a central block containing administrarive offices, teachers room, additional rooms, multipurpose shelters and a central library.
Construction was planned in three phases, one “house” - six classrooms - in each phase. Each house has a communal space at it’s center, allowing work outside the classroms, individual studies or goup work, and contains computer stations and topical learning centers.
Foldable acoustic partitions seperate the classrooms from the central space and from each other. Varying sizes of spaces can be created by opening and closing these partitions. The entire age group can work togather by creating one large space, or a smaller space can be used to combine two or three classes.
Each house has its’ own color, reflected also in the furniture. First and second grades house is blue, third and fourth house is maroon, the central raea is green and the fifth and sixth grades house will be violet.
The main library is situated near the entrance in the round central space and is an activity center for all the students, during classroom hours and in recess alike. Placing the open library at the center of the school was intended to stimulate the students and allow them free access to books.
Each house has it’s own exit leading to a private courtyard, in addition to exits to the general courtyard and sport gounds from the passages between the houses. The entrance courtyard is in the shape of a funnel, delineated by colored concrete columns, which invites the visitor to come in.
Thefurniture was designed in conjunction with the building and according to the pedagogic approach which guided the school’s physical design.
A memorial room is dedicated to the late Mayor Surkis was donated by his widow.
The school incorporates itself into the residential surroundings with a sloped red tile roof, in accordance with neighbourhood building codes. This creates a noninstitutional facade which the students find inviting.
A single story building fits the scale of the child’s world and generates a cozy feeling. Wood ceilings on the interior create a warm atmosphere in the communal spaces.
The school is intended to answer the community needs. The parents take an active part in school activities and in community activities which take place in the afternoon.
Surkis school is an example of how a building can be a positive influence on the surrounding community by housing activities for children and adults, both pedagogic and social. Surkis school has been a great success and is considered highly desireable among Kfar Saba families. Students and parents are proud and fond of it, and many teachers apply for work there.

Educator Narrative

THE M.SURKIS PUBLIC SCHOOL, KFAR SABA

THE STRUCTURE’S EFFECTt ON EDUCATIONAL APPROACH

Surkis elementary school opened its’ doors, for the first phase, in September 1996. The 2002-2003 school year is its’ seventh year of operation.
The school contains a memorial room commemorating Mordechai Surkis, Kfar Saba’s first mayor, which contains personal effects, documents, and photographs of his life and many pursuits.
The school building was designed according an innovative educational concept and serves our approach to education.
At present there are twelve main classes in the school, two to an age group, a total of 400 students. The student body is integrated, with all students attending regular classes.
Students come from three neighbourhoods in Kfar Saba. Transportation has been provided for students residing far away from the school.
The school’s approach to learning is focused on specialization and development of topical classrooms. These classroms provide a rich learning environment for their subject, with appropriate learning aides and materials.
In each “house” most of the classrooms connect to a central space, and can be opened up to it with foldable acoustic partitions. The spacious central area houses a variety of learning centers, which allows for interaction between different age groups on a given subject. The different age groups have adjoining classrooms.
As learning is centered on a specific age groups, opening the partitions between these classrooms allow all students in a specific age group to be participate in the same activity at the same time. Opening the partitions is also used for social activities, and when assembling students and parents.
The reference library is located at the central hall of the school. The open and readily available library enables all students to use it at their leisure. Students arrive at the library from all age groups and work there individually or in groups, according to their preference. Maintaining order in the library and organizing it is the students’ responsibility.
The unique structure of the school creates a pleasant, open environment for all who work, study or visit there.

Ms. Ayala Goldberg
principal, Surkis Elementary School
Kfar Saba