Mohammed Haddad, a 12-year-old student in the American School in the Gaza Strip, kicks a soccer ball through the window of a third-grade classroom, breaking the glass. In the past, this never occurred, as the expansive playground at the school's former site was large enough for the ball to travel long distances without hitting anything fragile. However, that building, which was in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, was destroyed during the 2008-2009 war after it was bombed by Israeli F-16 jets. Now, the school is living a new reality. 

I learned to read in that school

Salma Shawa, a 16-year-old high school student in the American school, says that following the bombing she went to the school building. She tried to determine the location of the library, and headed in that direction. She said, "Nowadays, I read everything I can get my hands on. It was in the school library that I learned to love reading. At the time, I searched for my favorite book, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, but I couldn't find it. Everything was torn apart. Now, the school only has a small library, and most of the books are for children. It's very sad, everything has changed." She noted that even the textbooks were burned, and they now use photocopied versions. 

Mohammed Aouda, the school's principal, spoke to Al-Monitor in his school office. He said that he knows that the students are in need of a larger school building, and that they are trying to survive despite all the difficulties.