Sderot: 20 seconds to take cover

"Routine is the only remedy, because the Qassams have turned into a constant state. We are not talking about a day or two or even a year, but about six years," she said.

Unfortunately, Azran is already used to seeing children running to take cover. Only at the beginning of the week she visited Tel Aviv with her students as part of activities aimed at taking a break from the Qassam routine.

However, she and her students were hit by reality once again, when the rocket landed in the school yard.

"I arrived at the school at 7:30 a.m., and on my way I saw students in the neighborhood waiting for a ride. I prayed that nothing would happen," she said. "The moment I put my things down, we heard the alert. I was nervous because it was exactly the hour when the students arrive at school."

According to Azran, "The biggest danger as far as we are concerned is when the children get off the ride at the beginning of the day or get on the bus at the end. It's most terrifying then, because they are not next to the fortified classes… And still, once the siren is heard we have to take cover within 20 seconds. It's a problematic mission when you are in the exposed street."

'Miracle saved children'

Azran continued, “We all ran to the fortified rooms. After the first fall I wanted to go outside to see if the children were alright, but the blast of the second fall threw me back into the class. That’s when I know the second fall was very close to us.”

She believed that a miracle is what saved the children’s lives Wednesday morning, and the force of habit that the children have to run directly to fortified areas and cling to the walls when an alarm is sounded. She says that is what saved them.

For Sderot’s children, the lack of routine caused by Qassams falling has actually become the routine.

“It’s very difficult for us to see the children in this situation, but on the other hand we have to transmit routine and security to them,” Azran said, “Even teachers with a day off came in today to help.”

She explained that teachers spent a lot of time working with children on ways to deal with their fear.

“The first question a child asks after a Qassam falls is where it fell and did anything happen to their family. Naturally, the children worry for family members, so we allow them to bring cellular phones to class and contact family members,” she said.

“It may not be a regular routine, but we are all accustomed and organized, and resume classes despite the fall, and despite the many difficulties in concentrating. We have no other choice,” she concluded.