Weekly News & Learning

Dear NISL Families,

On February 14, 2025, Nur Islamic School of Louisville hosted a Stakeholder Appreciation and 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at The Jeffersonian. This evening was a truly special occasion as we reflected on our school’s incredible journey over the past 25 years and honored those who have played a vital role in its growth and success.

From humble beginnings to the thriving institution we are today, NISL has been built on the dedication, vision, and generosity of countless individuals—our founders, staff, board members, parents, and community supporters. This event was our way of expressing heartfelt gratitude to those who have contributed to the school’s mission of providing high-quality Islamic and academic education.

One of the highlights of the evening was recognizing the founders of NISL, whose dedication and vision laid the foundation for the strong institution we have today:

• Farah Ahmed
• Yildiz Ozkarayel
• Norma Nangju
• Sundus Michele Browning
• Lynnetta Bryant

In addition to our founders, we also honored three early board members who, while not original founders, played an instrumental role in shaping the school’s early years and ensuring its sustainability:

• Asma Iqbal
• Muzaffar Ali
• Mustafa Kadir Mohamed

Their contributions, leadership, and commitment helped lay the groundwork for a lasting legacy that is NISL today .

The program for the night included:

• A formal dinner in appreciation of our stakeholders
• Slideshow of memories over the years
• Highlights of our history and accomplishments over the 25 years
• A glimpse into the exciting future of NISL and GLIC

It was a beautiful evening filled with nostalgia, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to the future of our school.

As we move forward, we remain deeply grateful for the continued support of our parents and community members. Your involvement, dedication, and trust make all the difference in shaping the next generation of students at NISL.

Sincerely,

Natalia Aisha Blagaia

Dear NISL Families,

On February 18, 2025, our high school students participated in an engaging Health Care Careers Workshop, where they explored various careers in the medical field through hands-on experiences!

A huge thank you to our special guests, Hanna Mohamed and Bratley Coffman from Northwest Area Health Education Center, for sharing their expertise and inspiring our students to pursue careers in health care. Their guidance and interactive activities made this an unforgettable learning experience!

Thank You for Attending Parent-Teacher Conferences!

We sincerely appreciate all the parents and guardians who attended our Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 20, and Friday, February 21. Your involvement and commitment to your child’s education make a big difference!

This time, we introduced team conferences for middle and high school, where all core subject teachers met with parents together.

We would love your feedback to help us improve future conferences. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey!

Parent/Teacher Conference - Feedback Survey

Your input is valuable and will help us continue to improve our communication and collaboration.

• Check assignments and grades regularly in Alma.
• Read the weekly newsletter for important updates, upcoming topics, and exam dates.
• Ensure all assignments are completed

Reminder: Quarter 3 ends on March 14, and all missing assignments must be turned in by this date.

• Your Alma username is firstname.lastname
• If you’ve forgotten your password, click the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it.
• If you experience login issues, contact Sr. Hafsah Salleng ar hsalleng@nurislamicschool.org for further assistance.

Sincerely,

Natalia Aisha Blagaia

Welcome Ramadan Workshop

The middle school STUCO team has been working to create a special event for students in grades K through 8. The event features fun activities and events designed to instill love, appreciation, and respect for the sacred month of Ramadan.

A special and sincere thanks to local businesses for donating funds so that the event and materials can be free of charge for students.

$500 Donors:

• Al Nahrain Supermarket (3327 Bardstown Rd #100, Louisville, KY 40218)
• The Charcoal Restaurant (2805 N. Hurstbourne Pkway, #100. Louisville, KY. 40223)
• Chocolate and Nut Kingdom (3731 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40218)

• Dino's Bakery (4162 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40218)

$100 Donors:

• Bellissimo (4162 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40218)

Welcome 6th Grade Reps!

Sihaam Shafi and Umar Yusupov were elected by students to represent their class last week. Sihaam and Umar are great additions to the team and have already begun to work.

Please check in next week for pictures of the event and our new reps!

Alhamdulillah, the NISL PTO held its first general body meeting on Tuesday, February 18. Our parents braved the snow in the hopes and working with teachers to make NISL shine even brighter.

Meeting Highlights:

• Soliciting volunteers for the STUCO Welcome Ramadan Workshop on 2/25
• Improve communication between parents and the school (e.g. chaperoning for field trip)
• Event planning (i.e. Mother-Daughter Iftaar, Teacher Appreciation Week, etc.)
• Creating guidelines for the NISL PTO WhatsApp chat
• Fundraising for NISL PTO events

Please use the button below to join and plan to attend their next meeting scheduled for April 22, 2025 in Room #211 @ 4:30PM, inshaAllah.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4811

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ‏ لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لاَ يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ

4811 سنن أبي داود كتاب الأدب باب في شكر المعروف

• Feb. 22-23: CISNA Arabic Spelling Bee (Grades 6-8)
• Feb. 23: GLIC Ramadan Market (11:00AM -4:00PM)
• Feb. 25: Pre-Ramadan Workshop for students (in school)
• Mar. 1: Tentative First Day of Ramadan
• Mar. 14: 3rd Quarter Ends
• Mar. 21: 3rd Quarter Report Cards Released
• Mar. 31-Apr. 4: NO SCHOOL - Eid Ul-Fitr & Spring Break

...inshaAllah

Reminders/Notes

Whole Group

Amplify Skill 8: Double-Letter Spellings for Consonants. Students will learn fourteen double-letter spellings for consonant sounds and four new high-frequency Tricky Words. Double-Letter Spellings: mm /m/, nn /n/, pp /p/, bb /b/, tt /t/, dd /d/, cc & ck /k/, gg /g/, ff /f/, ss /s/, zz /z/, ll /l/, rr /r/.

Small Groups

Group 1: Vowel Teams & Diphthongs

• Read words with vowel teams and diphthongs.

• Build fluency and accuracy with these patterns.

Group 2: Consonant Digraphs

• Recognize and read words with consonant digraphs.

• Apply these phonics patterns in reading and spelling.

Group 3: Silent Letters

• Recognize and read words with silent e.

• Apply these phonics patterns in reading and spelling.

• Understanding Ramadan – Learn that Ramadan is a special month of fasting and worship.

• Acts of Worship – Recognize fasting, praying, reading Qur’an, and giving charity.

• Good Manners – Practice kindness, patience, and gratitude during Ramadan.

• Suhoor & Iftar – Learn about the meals before and after fasting.

Math

Science Connection

• Observing weather changes and recording daily observations in a Weather Diary.

• Experimenting with heat absorption on different surfaces to explore summer temperatures.

PE

• Improve reaction time by responding quickly to visual or auditory cues.

• Develop hand-eye coordination through reflex-based drills.

• Enhance decision-making speed under time pressure.

• Improve the ability to identify and differentiate between colors quickly.

• Strengthen cognitive processing by associating colors with specific actions.

• Enhance memory and focus through color-based drills.

SEL

• Introduce the positive actions of decision-making and problem-solving.

• Introduce the positive action of learning new things.

• Remind students that school is made for learning.

• Write a short paragraph: The Kindness of Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ).
• Change the text color.
• Use different font styles (such as bold, italics, etc.).

REMINDERS & NOTES

Ramadan Lantern Craft (Fanoos)

English Language Arts

🔤 Amplify Skill 6:

• Lesson 10: Spelling Alternatives – Introduce /n/ › ‘kn’

• Lesson 11: Review /n/ › ‘kn’, ‘n’, ‘nn’ and /s/ › ‘c’, ‘ce’, ‘se’

• Lesson 12: Grammar – Review Nouns and Pronouns

• Lesson 13: Practice Using Nouns and Pronouns

• Lesson 14: Review Adjectives and Prepositions

• Lesson 15: Spelling Assessment and Plural Nouns

🌍 Amplify Knowledge 8:

• Lesson 1: What Is a Habitat?

• Lesson 2: Animals of the Arctic Habitat

• Lesson 3: Animals of the Sonoran Desert Habitat

• Lesson 4: Animals of the East African Savanna Habitat

• Lesson 5: Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest Habitat

Phonics Practice (UFLI): Focus on low-frequency words.

Phonological Awareness Practice: Deletion and substitution of the last sound.

High-Frequency Words Practice: Reinforce recognition and usage.

Reading Comprehension: Enhance understanding of text.

Grammar: Focus on adjectives, pronouns, and 1.1.1. Rule.

Islamic Studies

Focus: Ramadan

• Students will explore the significance of Ramadan, including fasting, prayer, and charity.

• They will learn about key practices like Suhoor, Iftar, Laylatul Qadr, and Eid al-Fitr.

• Mini-Book Project: Students will create their own Ramadan mini-books to reflect their understanding.📖

• Each student will create their own Ramadan Mini-Book over five days, adding a new page each day with writing and illustrations.

Math

• Tuesday, 2/25: Start i-Ready Unit 6, Lesson 22 – Shapes

• Geometry: Distinguishing defining vs. non-defining attributes of shapes (1.G.A.1)

• Shape Composition: Creating new shapes from 2D and 3D shapes (1.G.A.2)

• Numbers & Operations: Two-digit addition and subtraction

• Measurement: Understanding length and mass units (USA standards)

• Word Problem Practice: Solving a daily word problem

Science

• Land Habitats: Students will explore different types of land habitats such as forests, deserts, and grasslands, and the animals that live there.

• Water Habitats: Students will learn about water habitats, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and the creatures that thrive in them.

Social Studies

Lesson 12: Alif Mamdudah Long (باَ) and Short (بَـ)

• Recognize the shape of the Long Alif and the Short Alif.

• Pronounce each letter of the alphabet correctly with Fat-ha and compare its pronunciation with that of the Long and Short Alifs.

• Recognize that the difference between the long and the Short Alif is only in their shape, not in the way that they are pronounced.

• Pronounce the Long and Short Alif.

• Recognize that the Short Alif is only written in the Quran.

• Write a short paragraph: The Kindness of Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ).
• Change the text color.
• Use different font styles (such as bold, italics, etc.).

REMINDERS & NOTES

English Language Arts

Skills 4: Narrative paragraph examples and worksheets

Lesson 4 Review: Tricky Spelling ‘i’

• Read simple decodable phrases, identify the action verbs, and demonstrate understanding by acting out the phrases.

• Review the sound/spellings /ie/ > ‘i,’ ‘ie,’ and ‘i’ and will break two-syllable words into individual syllables to determine whether ‘i’ makes the /i/ sound or the /ie/ sound.
  Students will read words with ‘i’ spellings, and will complete fill-in-the-blank sentences using these words.

• Read “Drummer’s Grove” in pairs and will closely read the text by answering text-dependent questions, discussing Tier 2 vocabulary and difficult passages from the text.

Lesson 5 Assessment: Spelling Assessment

• Spell dictated words featuring /aw/ > ‘au’ and ‘aw’’ /oi/> ‘oi’ and ‘oy.’

• Review the sound/spellings /ie/ > ‘i_e,’ ‘ie,’ and ‘i’ and will read words with /ie/ > ‘igh.’

• Read words with /ie/ > ‘igh’ and will use those words and their understanding of synonyms and antonyms to complete fill-in-the-blank sentences.

• Read “Dwight’s Lights” with purpose and understanding, will answer written multiple-choice and short-answer questions about the story, and will answer oral literal, inferential, and evaluative questions about key details in the text.

Lesson 6:Tricky Spelling: Introduce ‘y’ › /y/, /i/, or /ie/

• Read words with ‘y’ > /ie/, /i/, and /y/.
  Students will recognize that ‘y’ can also make the /ie/ sound and identify words with ‘y’ as /ie/.

• Write the inflectional endings –s and –es to singular nouns to form plural nouns and will change ‘y’ to ‘i’ when adding –es to the ends of nouns or verbs.

• Read “The Gym” with purpose and understanding and will answer literal and inferential questions about key details in the text.

• Spell words with /ar/ > ‘ar,’ /or/ > ‘or,’ and /er/ > ‘er,’ ‘ir,’ and ‘ur.’

Lesson 7 Grammar: Plural Nouns and Apostrophe-‘s’

• Write the correct singular or irregularly formed plural nouns in fill-in-the- blank sentences and will indicate whether printed words are singular or plural.

• Read “The Corner Market” with purpose and understanding and will answer literal and inferential questions about key details in the text.

• Write simple phrases, adding ’s to proper nouns to indicate possession.

Math

REMINDERS & NOTES

Spelling List 19 Group A

thickness attack quickly sickly coarse calendar candle course kindness kangaroo snowflake lookout soccer occupy anchor stomach occur character vacuum Loki

Spelling List 19 Group B

thickness attack quickly sickly coarse calendar candle course kindness kangaroo snowflake lookout soccer occupy anchor stomach

ELA

Unit 6: The Viking Age

Lesson 2: Sif's Golden Hair

• Write sentences using the conjunction because.
• Examine a Norse myth and identify characters, setting, and plot.

Lesson 3: Loki and the Dwarves

• Determine the meaning of words formed when –ive or –ly is added to a root word.
• Answer questions, orally and in writing, about main ideas and details from a Norse myth.

Lesson 4: Stolen Thunder

• Interpret the meaning of sentences that use the conjunction because.
• Answer questions, orally and in writing, about main ideas and details from a Norse myth.

Lesson 5: A Plan is Made

• Write words using spelling patterns and rules for the sound /k/.
• Answer questions about a text and explicitly cite the text as the basis for their answers.
• Write a description of a character from a Norse myth.

Spelling Test Friday, 2/28

BOOK CLUB on Friday

Objective: Small Reading Groups based on iReady skill level

• Discuss the chapters read: main idea, characters, plot, setting etc.

Math

Unit 3: Multiplication: Finding Area, Solving Word Problems, and Using Scaled Graphs

Lesson 17: Solving One-Step Word Problems Using Multiplication

• Session 3 -5 Refine: Solving One-Step Problems Using Multiplication and Division

LESSON 17 Quiz: Friday 2/28

Social Studies

Chapter 5: Citizenship

Lesson 3: Taking Action for a Cause

Technology

Unit 8 - Lesson 11: Introduction to Basic Docs

• Write a short paragraph: The Kindness of Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ).
• Change the text color.
• Use different font styles (such as bold, italics, etc.)

Art

Ramadan Craft: Moon and Star Collage

• Cut out a crescent moon from yellow/gold paper and stars from any color.
• Arrange them on cardboard, glue them down, and add extra decorations like doodles or beads.
• Let it dry, and your Ramadan moon and star collage is ready

REMINDERS & NOTES

English H.W: Razkids (2 stories)

• Assigned: Monday, 2/24
• Due: Friday, 2/28

Math worksheet:

• Assigned: Monday, 2/24
• Due: Friday, 2/28

Social Studies Project:

• Picking a state ONLY
• Assigned February 17

English Language Arts

• Speaking and Listening: Use their research to create an oral pitch for their lab’s invention, including facts and details to support their argument. Listen to presentations, take notes, and paraphrase what they have learned about each invention. Use audio recordings to enhance their oral presentations.
• Writing: Write and present a skit with dialogue to show the importance of their lab’s invention.

Math

Unit 4: Fractions, Decimals, and Measurement: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication

• Lesson 18: Compare Fractions

Science

Science Unit 2 : Vision and Light

Lesson 2: Introducing Animal Senses

• People and other animals use their senses to get information about what is in their environment.
• People and other animals have body structures that function to get information from their environment.

Social Studies

Social Studies Research Project

REMINDERS & NOTES

Raz Kids: 2 books weekly

2-3 pages in math packet weekly.

When absent please check Google classroom and i-Ready for teacher assigned weekly for math support/lessons.

English Language Arts

• Lesson 1: Shakespeare's Life and Language

• Lesson 2: Changes in Everyday Life

Reading: Read and summarize informational text to explain how the Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformation movement.

Grammar: Review how correlative conjunctions work together, and will correctly use correlative conjunctions in sentences to describe partners whom they have interviewed.

Math

Unit 3

• Lesson 2.6: Explaining How Raindrops Form
• Lesson 2.7: Designing Freshwater Collection Systems

Engineers use science knowledge to design solutions to problems.

Social Studies

Bidaya book

Technology

Unit 5 - Lesson 5: Introduction to Slides

Chart-Part 2: How to Create Bar, Column, Line, Pie Chart in Google Slides ?

Assignment: Create Bar, Column, Line, Pie chart

Quiz

Art

Ramadan Mubarak Paper Banner

• Cut out rectangles or triangles from colored paper
• Write or print a letter on each to spell "Ramadan Mubarak."
• Decorate with stars, moons, and glitter.
• Attach to a string and hang for a festive display.

REMINDERS & NOTES

6E-Sub-Unit 1: Summer of the Mariposas

• Lesson 7: Working With Theme #1 - A Family Lost?
• Lesson 8: Ignoring the Warning Signs
• Lesson 9: The Odyssey Comparison
• Lesson 11: Different Dreams, Different Journeys
• Lesson 12: How Does the Sisters’ Relationship Change?

Reading: Analyze elements of two interpretations of a similar story and then compare those elements.
Writing: Develop a focused explanation of how Odilia’s one or two key characteristics compare to Odysseus’s.
Reading: Gather textual evidence to support inferences made about the nature of family, and what the return of the father means to the Pérdido and Garza families.

Standards- NGSS

• Science investigations use a variety of methods and tools to make measurements and observations.
• Science investigations are guided by a set of values to ensure accuracy of measurements, observations, and objectivity of findings.
• Scientists and engineers are guided by habits of mind such as intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism and openness to new ideas.
• Science limits its explanations to systems that lend themselves to observation and empirical evidence.

Objectives

• Convert their science fair projects into journal articles.
• Refine their NISL science fair presentations for the Louisville Regional Science and Engineer Fair competition on 3/1/25 at U of L.

REMINDERS & NOTES

Standards- NGSS

• Science investigations use a variety of methods and tools to make measurements and observations.
• Science investigations are guided by a set of values to ensure accuracy of measurements, observations, and objectivity of findings.
• Scientists and engineers are guided by habits of mind such as intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism and openness to new ideas.
• Science limits its explanations to systems that lend themselves to observation and empirical evidence.

Objectives

• Convert their science fair projects into journal articles.
• Refine their NISL science fair presentations for the Louisville Regional Science and Engineer Fair competition on 3/1/25 at U of L.

Technology

Unit 4-Lesson 7: Introduction to Slides - Chart - Part 2

How to Create Bar, Column, Line, Pie Chart in Google Slides ?

Assignment: Create Bar, Column, Line, Pie chart

Quiz

REMINDERS & NOTES

Standards- NGSS

• Science investigations use a variety of methods and tools to make measurements and observations.
• Science investigations are guided by a set of values to ensure accuracy of measurements, observations, and objectivity of findings.
• Scientists and engineers are guided by habits of mind such as intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism and openness to new ideas.
• Science limits its explanations to systems that lend themselves to observation and empirical evidence.

Objectives

• Convert their science fair projects into journal articles.
• Refine their NISL science fair presentations for the Louisville Regional Science and Engineer Fair competition on 3/1/25 at U of L.