The festival, under the musical direction of Uri Kariv and produced by the Supplementary Education Division in conjunction with all the city’s schools, is a traditional event designed to give expression to the talents of Raanana’s children, who wrote, composed and sang all of the 12 festival songs.

The festival was hosted by the children’s channel star, Kobi Mahat, along with two graduates of the Pninei Hasharon Troupe, Bar Ofir and Daniel Namet.

The “Dance Academy” members and members of the dance troupes of the schools and Batei Hatalmid and the dance departments of the city’s middle schools opened the event with the dance “Carnival 2010”.    Also performing were the Supplementary Education 2010 Dance troupes, Pninei Hasharon, Efrochei Raanana, Horah Raanana, the Pirchei Raanana Boy’s Choir, the dance academy, school dance troupes and the dance department dance troupes.

All the participants took to the stage to perform the finale together, singing the song – “The World Belongs to All of Us” to the words of Dan Almagor. 

The festival included 4 performances, where the first performance was open for free to the community and included people from retirement homes, senior citizen clubs, students from new immigrant and special education classes, teachers and educators.

The panel of judges included professionals from the world of the performing arts:  TV host, Meni Pe’er; Galei Zahal Music Department Director, Yoram Rotem; radio host and editor for Reshet Gimel, Aharon Ferera; choreographer and artistic director of the Carmiel Festival, Shlomo Maman and Israel Prize Recipient, Yehoram Gaon; educators, directors and inspectors at the Ministry of Education’s Social Services and Youth Administration.

The panel of judges, along with the audience, selected the winners from among the twelve songs selected to represent the schools on the festival stage and all the students who performed received certificates of participation.

In first place:  Dekel Elementary School, with the song “Green is the Rule”
In second place:  Ziv Elementary School with the song “It Helps to Recycle”
In third place:  Hayovel Elementary School with the song: “A Small and Perfect World”
In fourth place:  Yavneh Elementary School with the song:  “Who Will Save My Home?”
Winners of the theme song category:  Hadar Elementary School with the song “Bringing Back the Green” and Ariel Elementary School with the song “Recycling All the Time”
For Unique Performance:  Pa’amonim Elementary School with the song “Saving the World.”

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “The festival is designed to encourage creative activity among our younger generation and I am proud of our talented children, who have written and composed all the festival songs.”

Deputy Mayor Aryeh Friedman, director of the informal education administration:  “The festival is an educational masterpiece, which includes 1,000 students appearing on one stage, with complete cooperation between the schools and the supplementary education programs.”

In the photos:  Raanana children singing at the festival
Mayor Nahum Hofree with the festival children
Mayor Nahum Hofree and deputy mayors Aryeh Friedman and Ronit Weintraub, Education Division Director Michal Hirsch-Negri and Supplementary Education Division Director Esther Sela, with Ariel Elementary School students.
Hosts Kobi Mahat, Bar Ofir and Daniel Namet
Photographer:  Kfir Meir.