A Short History
Ma'ayan-Shachar Comprehensive School (Grades 7-12) is a regional school located in Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh, in the Hefer Valley on Israel's central coastal plain. Ma'ayan-Shachar replaced a group of smaller schools situated in several kibbutzim and villages in the northern areas of the Hefer Valley Municipality. In the late 1980s, the idea of consolidation was born in order to rationalize financial resources and integrate diverse socio-economic and culturally segregated groups.
In 1989, the Emek Hefer Regional Council initiated the first meeting between local community representatives and presented a plan for the establishment of one integrated network of schools, Grades 1-12. Subsequently, a steering committee was created in order to oversee implimentation of the project named The Vision: Education for the 21st Century. In March, 1990, the plan was formally approved by the local assemblies of the participating kibbutzim– Ein HaHoresh, Givat Hayyim Muchad and Givat Hayyim Ichud.
In September, 1990, the Shahar Junior High School (Grades 7-9) opened. The following September (1991), Ma'ayan High School opened. Ma'ayan kept the name of the previous Young Guard Movement (HaShomer HaTsair) boarding school established in 1948 that was situated on the present-day Ma'ayan Shahar campus. The two schools share the same campus, and in September, 1992, the two schools merged to form what is today called the Ma'ayan-Shachar Comprehensive School (Grades 7-12).
Our School Today
Our student body today numbers about 1,000 students who come from 16 kibbutzim and villages in the Hefer Valley. The schools campus covers 55 dunams (13.5 acres) of spacious landscaped grounds. Each grade has its own building, each containing 6 classrooms (one doubles as a bunker, in case of…). This allocation of space gives each grade a more intimate and autonomous atmosphere for study. There is a central main library as well as several specialized learning centres: Science, Technology, Music, English, Music, Cinema, Special Needs, etc. There is also a football pitch, basketball courts and an enclosed sports hall. For special events–plays, concerts– we use the auditorium in Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh.
