This week in Faraasha

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Yesterday was a Professional Development Day for the staff at IQRA. During these days, administration and staff elaborate on better means to improve key points associated with a conducive school atmosphere. Workshops, modules, teaching strategies and assessments are also learnt, practised and evaluated during this time.

The end of the semester is near

As you already know, the end of the first semester is this coming Friday inshaAllah, Nov 30th.  Students must hand in all late homework if they still want to receive credit. They have already started simple evaluations that assess how much they have assimilated so far.

Thiadiaye

This important chapter in IQRA's history started when certain classes went out to this tiny village close to Mbour to see traditional pottery being done. The village is composed of Christians and Muslims. One of Mme Sarr's housegirls is from this village. She left the village as Anna the Christian, and returned as Aisha, a fully covered, practising Muslim.

Okay, so she didn't really look like this, but close enough. Let's continue the story.

As this transformation amazed many of her family members, the talk was less centered on pottery and became axed on religion.

Ustadh Ahmed, an American Imam, teacher at IQRA, and potter himself, finally, after talking to the village, softened their hearts to Islam, and by Allah's grace, 16 women took Shahadah after he and the IQRA school arrived, and then 5 more before they left the village that day. 

There has been a relationship with this village ever since.

They however, need people to help them learn the religion. They need nurturing, just like a baby depends on his mother for nurturing. They are not looking for just words. They need people to accompany them to make them become practising, striving, Muslims.

Ustadh Ahmed and company, have been going periodically to the village. His first trip, since returning from the United States will be this Saturday, December 1st inshaAllah.

If you have any food donations that you will like to give, it will be extremely appreciated.

IQRA has been helping this village as well, by giving food and clothing donations every time we have gone there.

If you would like to involve yourself in this Community Service Project, please contact Ustadh Ahmed directly: 77 754 40 87

Fiamanillah!

Progress Reports

Assalamu alaikum!

The end of the first semester will be the 30th of November inshaAllah. 

There will be an end of semester exam in each subject area. Depending on the subject, the exam may count as much as 20% of the final grade. The exact percentage can be found on Engrade.

We are very closely working with those students that need extra attention so that they succeed this semester inshaAllah.

Progress reports were sent home this week. Please write your comments and send them back to the school by Monday inshaAllah. They will be returned once they have been photocopied.

Do not hesistate to speak to any of the Faraasha teachers about the progress of your child. 

Mr Cheikh A T Diallo, French teacher

Mme ZamZam, Science, Social Studies, Art, English Second Language, English Six Traits and Math Teacher

Mr Elijah Abdullah, English teacher

Ya Seyda, Deenyat and Quran teacher

Mme Fouzia Cherif, Arabic Teacher

Mr Diagne, Physical Education teacher

Mr Abdou Chakour Fadhuili, Quran and Information Technology teacher

Mr Leopold Manga, French Six Traits teacher

Extra curricular clubs (Thursdays 12:45 - 13:40):

Health and Nutrition Club: Mme ZamZam

Art and Design Club: Ngone Dior (A very gifted, artistic Grade 11 student).

Sewing and Crochet Club: Tata Anta

Homework Club: Mme Gaye

Students that need special attention or extra help use this time to do their homework with a teacher's assistance. 

We will also be starting a literacy circle next semester. Students will read the same books, and discuss their thoughts and ideas about the book in a convivial setting.  We may meet for a half hour after school, or on a Saturday morning. Books could either be in French or in English.

If you have suggestions on any book titles that you feel will be a great read, please contact me.

Have a great weekend!

This week in Faraasha

Assalamu alaikum!

We are all wishing Mme Sarr a speedy recovery. She was in a car accident over the weekend. May Allah heal her, and pardon her sins, ameen.

Lessons

Students must review the work that they are given each day. Not only lessons must be understood, but concepts must be memorized. Some concepts may be learnt by practice and exercises, but there are always things that need to be memorized. For example, in Science, students should know that plants are classified into plants with seeds, and plant that do not have seeds...

In Deenyat class yesterday, most students of the Faraasha class did not memorize the first two lines of the du'ah that we say during the prayer; when we sit after the prostration, at tayiyyatu lillahi (TASHAHUD). Prayer is not complete if you do not know how to perform it. This component of prayer is very important. 

Students are also not taking the time to memorize correctly their Surahs. If they are reciting with minor mistakes, they have not memorized correctly the verse. These words are the words of Allah. We have no right to add on to them or deform them.  The Quran is the easiest thing to lose. We all should be learning and reviewing our Book.

Sondages/Survey forms

There are many surveys that did not come back to IQRA. If you are still holding onto it, please turn it in immediately. We will need this feedback to complete our self study towards accreditation inshaAllah.

Cahier de texte

All students must have a cahier de texte. Each day, they will write their homework in their notebooks and the cahier de texte. Parents and guardians must sign each day as witnesses that their child has completed the homework on a given day.

Excellent week!

Important information this week

Assalamu alaikum!

Nasheed Choir Auditions

Auditions for IQRA Aria, Iqra Bilingual Academy Nasheed Choir will be Tuesday, November 13th during recess, lunch time and after school.

Where: Mme Sarr's office

If you (student) are interested in being a part of the choir, please sign up in class.

The song that you will be required to sing is Light of Dawn. Practice the song below!

Lateness

School starts at 8:15am. At 8:30am, we sometimes still have more than half the 4th grade class absent! This has great pertubations on the first class. Please make a greater effort to get your children at school on time!

Homework

Students receive homework every day! If you child is telling you everyday that he or she does not have homework, please look at his/her notebooks, and contact me immediately.

I will be sending homework notice slips starting this week inshaAllah. Slips will require parent signature, and the student must complete the homework and give it in the following day.

Please keep in constant contact with subject teachers and myself. 

Communication is an important aspect in the success of your child!