Madina Academy #1

Read about the scavenger hunt organized in the school. Scroll down to read the details and be the first person to find the item hidden somewhere in the school. There is a prize for the person who finds it!!

Assalamu Alaikum Madina Academy. Welcome back to the school’s newspaper! It is an absolute honor to be working as the editor again this year. SubhanAllah, two months of school have passed in the blink of an eye. So much has been going on, and I hope this newsletter gets you all caught up! I am proud to introduce our new team for the 2024-2025 term:

Writers:

Salma Mahmoud, 12th Grade

Aliaa Hassan, 11th Grade

Zara Fatima Khan, 11th Grade

Taqwa Bedir, 10th Grade

Faqiha Faheem, 10th Grade

Minal Khan, 10th Grade

Fatima Vahora, 10th Grade

Naureen Ambia, 9th Grade

Sarah Elsherbini, 9th Grade

Noor Hassan, 9th Grade

Fatiha Islam, 9th Grade

Noora Mahmoud, 9th Grade

Content Creators:

Sidra Bedir, 12th Grade

Tasneem Zoghol, 12th Grade

Ayah Kanaan, 10th Grade

Huda Khaliq, 9th Grade

Photographer:

Salma Tuffaha, 11th Grade

This issue is packed with exciting updates and helpful tips! We’ll be covering some of the amazing field trips that have already taken place and the exciting visits from college admission officers—perfect for those starting to think about their next steps after high school.

In addition to academics, we’ll dive into topics like the welcome party highlights, and we have some great advice on important issues like getting enough sleep and overcoming body self-hate. To keep us grounded, we’ve also included some beautiful ayahs and hadiths to reflect on as we move through the year.

Lastly, don’t miss our student council section, where we celebrate the winners of this year’s election. We can’t wait to see the positive changes they’ll bring to our school!

Stay tuned, and we hope this edition keeps you informed and inspired as we continue the school year together.

The following students are always focused in math class and are recieving awards for high achievement:

Amin Zeinelabdin Grade 7

Tasneem Alshareef Grade 6

Nabila Kandil Grade 6

Mohammad AlsalehGrade 7

Tasneem Zoghol was awared the Best Delegate Award at the UConn Model United Nations Ceremony. She represented Kenya in the Committee: Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Tasneem was recognized for her passion, confidence and incredible public speaking skills. Way to Go, Tasneem!!

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ

Narrated Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2646)

وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ

In Surah Al-Mujadila, Allah says, “Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and ˹raise˺ those gifted with knowledge in rank. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (58:11)

This hadith and ayah emphasize the significance of seeking knowledge, as it plays a key role in making the journey to a high rank in Paradise more attainable. For this reason, it’s important to always make your best effort in school, with a sincere intention to learn for the sake of Allah (SWT), not just for the sake of achieving grades. When you intend to study and learn for Allah (SWT), you get rewarded for all the work you put into school. Now, who wouldn’t want that?!

Welcome Back to School Celebration:

On September 6th, 2024, Madina Academy’s PTS team hosted a Welcome Back to School Celebration to enlighten students for the upcoming school year. Students could enjoy a wide range of activities for students to compete for candy, including volleyball and mini-challenges. In addition to that, high school students assisted the PTS with volunteering for activities - an outstanding way for students to engage in volunteering opportunities. To conclude an exhausting day, a fundraiser was hosted to raise money for the school. Thank you to the PTS and high school students for improvising a successful celebration!

On October 3rd, 2024, Madina Academy hosted an Open House to introduce and familiarize parents and students with Madina Academy. Parents were granted the opportunity to communicate with their child(ren)’s teachers and get an overview of the yearly school syllabus. It is imperative that not only students, but parents are deeply involved in Madina Academy’s school environment, and its mission of pursuing academic success. Additionally, a bake sale was hosted by the 12th graders to fundraise for their upcoming senior trip at the end of the year. Thank you to all parents and students who attended and the teachers who continue to help shape Madina Academy!

On October 17th, 2024, high school students hosted a fundraiser to raise money for participants entering the UConn Model United Nations program in November. Items including deserts, chips, candy, drinks – were all available for purchase, which helped the school UCMUN team reach their goal.

Madina saw some very creative head gear on Hat Day!

Wowie! The Madina Academy high schoolers have sure been busy so far. Let’s take a look at what’s been going on:

What is the Dual Enrollment Program?

The Dual Enrollment program allows high school students to take college courses and earn college credit before graduation. This allows students to receive higher education, opening their horizons for future learning opportunities and career paths. Students begin to accumulate their college credit in high school, and then will often enter college with a lot of the required courses completed. Consequently, this leaves more time for electives and double majors in college. By enrolling in dual enrollment, you’re not only saving time and money, but you are also receiving a head start on college-level learning and creating a secure foundation for your future.

Dual Enrollment Program at Madina Academy

At Madina Academy, we have partnered with the CT State Community Colleges, allowing the 11th and 12th graders to participate in the dual enrollment program. This means the students at Madina Academy are allowed to take classes in any of the twelve community colleges in Connecticut. This makes it easier for the students as they can go to the community college closest to their home. Most of the students from Madina Academy attend Manchester Community College (including myself: Zara Khan). The students here usually attain 30 - 45 credits which equals one and a half years at college already completed! The juniors and seniors attend Madina Academy on Tuesday and Thursday and attend college classes either on Monday and Wednesday, or Friday.

Madina Academy’s dual program students can now take university-level courses at Southern Connecticut State University tuition-free. The students would be taking university courses at no cost at all, while still in high school.

As a high school student in the dual enrollment program, I would recommend all parents to keep their children enrolled in high school at Madina Academy. If you know any other parents or students who would be interested in this program, don’t hessitate to recommend Madina Academy!

On October 24th, Madina Academy hosted its Student Council re-elections. The nominees gave speeches, sharing their plans and ideas for the student body. After the speeches, students voted to choose their new council members.

Student Council Winners

• President: Sidra Bedir, 12th Grade

• Vice Presidents: Salma Mahmoud and Tasneem Zoghol, 12th Grade

• Secretary: Zainah Khaliq, 11th Grade

• Treasurer: Zara Fatima Khan, 11th Grade

• Reporter: Juman Tuffaha, 9th Grade

• Social Media Manager: Sameer Hasan, 9th Grade

• 12th Grade Class Representative: Ameer Hasan

• 11th Grade Class Representative: Salma Tuffaha

• 10th Grade Class Representative: Ayah Kanaan

• 9th Grade Class Representative: Juman Tuffaha

• 8th Grade Class Representative: TBD

• 7th Grade Class Representative: Enaaya Mohammed

• 6th Grade Class Representative: TBD

Congratulations to all who participated!

Madina Academy’s 9th graders are currently taking AP Java, where they are learning the basics of coding through programming. This course helps students develop a strong foundation in computer science and prepares them for future careers in technology. This is also the only AP course offered at Madina, and taking it not only boosts student’s GPA, but prepares them for the college level classes they are to take in 11th and 12th grade. This class is taught by none other than Ms. Ibtsam, who also teaches Computer Science at Manchester Community College. Ms. Ibtsam has done an excellent job of teaching this difficult course, offering extra credit, staying after school to tutor, and replying to emails almost instantaneously. Alhamdulillah, with her support, a few of our students in the past have actually PASSED the AP Java exam at the end of the year, making them eligible for college credit. InshaAllah, we will see more students pass this year!

Grade 9 Students Present Their Projects for Biology class

The 11th grade students will take their PSAT/NMSQTs on October 29th. The PSAT provides students and parents guidance in terms of how they will perform on the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT stands for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. High school juniors who achieve high scores on the PSAT/NMSQT may qualify for National Merit recognition and scholarships. The test results come out in about a month, let's make duaa the students get high scores!!

On Thursday, October 10th, Kenneth Mai, an Admissions Officer from the University of Hartford (UHart), came to Madina Academy to talk to our high school students. He shared important information about applying to college, UHart’s programs, campus, classrooms, and more.

One student mentioned that they found the details about UHart classroom settings and the college application tips especially helpful. His visit helped students learn what to expect at UHart and got them thinking about college. We look forward to gathering more feedback from students and sharing their thoughts in upcoming newsletters!

On Tuesday, October 23rd, Jomaira Rincon, a Senior Admission Officer from the University of Connecticut, visited Madina Academy to inform the high school students about UConn. She handed out UConn pamphlets that included significant information including all the campuses located throughout Connecticut, the housing, a list of the 125+ undergraduate majors, and other general information.

She informed the students about the wide variety of majors and minors at the campus, the amounts of courses taken at UConn, the sport programs, housing opportunities, the tuition and financial aid, scholarship opportunities and application dates. The students were also allowed to ask questions. A question one of the bright students at Madina Academy asked was, “Does UConn provide lots of study abroad programs?” Jomaira Rincon responded, saying: “Yes, there are alot of study abroad programs and students have choices out of 80 countries to travel to.” In my opinion, that shows how UConn has a lot of opportunities given to the students. On top of that, UConn offers 3634 undergraduate courses, more than 700 clubs for students to engage in, and it is among the nation’s top ranked public universities. Most of the kids that graduate from Madina Academy attend UConn. It is a very great option for students from Madina Academy because UConn accepts the credits that are from the dual enrollment program. Who knows, maybe your kid will end up at UConn?!

Ayah Kanan:

3 things I learned:

• To always make sure I analyze little grammatical mistakes so I can learn from them.

• How to know if a source is informational or just an advertisement.

• Be more aware of what is going on in the world, whether it is political or just random facts.

2 things I liked:

• I really enjoyed my first session titled “So You Think You can Edit,” mainly because I have always been a very grammatical person. And I felt like I could relate to much of what the director was saying.

• Additionally, I also liked how we were forced to get out of our comfort zone and go meet new people.

1 thing I want to learn more about:

• I definitely got interested in the journalism field because of my first session, and I hope to see more on the subject in the future.

Salma Eid:

3 things you learned:

• To always fact check your answers.

• Making sure that my information comes from a reliable source.

• How to write a lead.

2 things you liked:

• Collaborating with other people.

• The way the speaker in the Tiktok workshop had a way with words that made me interested and matched my vibe.

1 thing I want to learn more about:

• I want to learn more about how journalists deal with the trauma (if there is) of seeing wars.

Mariam Haroun:

3 things I learned:

• Time is of the essence, you should start journaling for sports right when you watch the game you’re journaling about

• When receiving hate via mail, track it down using police

• Don't surround yourself with people that can cause more hate, and let the hate they receive in public get to them

2 things I liked:

• My first lecture’s topic and information,we covered sports journalism

• Socializing with new people

1 thing I have a question about

• During my “receiving hate” session, i was wondering how to deal with receiving hate from bigger groups out in public

FATIMA VAHORA:

3 things i learned:

• How to write leads is a skill I learned that will help me be a better writer.

• Even though you can find credible news , always fact check news online.

• Don't trust everything you see online

2 things i liked:

• The activity in my first session pushed me to interact with strangers, and helped me make a new friend.

• The activity in my second session was very interesting and helped me become a better reporter which helps me because I interview people in the school newsletter.

1 thing you wanna learn more about:

• I want to further learn on how to write leads and how to be a better interviewer.

Mariam Albagdadi:

3 things i learned

• Gained more knowledge about photoshop

• How to determine whether its photoshop/ai or not

• The world can easily be deceived by false pictures

2 things i liked

• Socializing with new people

• Gaining new experience

What i wanna learn more about:

• journalism

Dawud Bey:

3 things i learned

• I learned how to identify disinformation and how to tell if a source is trustworthy or not

• When quoting it is better to put the attribution in the middle of the quote to break it up

• I learned how to identify misinformation in writing

2 things I liked

• Media literacy

• Media literacy

1 thing i still want to learn more about

• nothing

Eman Shaikh

• 3 things I learned:

• Ways to use AI to enhance your writing skills or give ideas.

• How to identify AI in pictures or writing

• Different ways to edit through your writing.

• 2 things I liked:

• In my first session the interactive learning was really enjoyable with other new people I met. My group got to compete in answering and correcting sentence errors and got 2nd place.

• The last guest speaker got to voice her views and thoughts as an experienced journalist so it was nice listening to her advice and important stories.

• 1 thing I want to learn more about:

• More journalists' views on things.

Huma Mohammad:

3 things i learned:

• To take sports pictures horizontally.

• The difference between sans and sans serifs.

• That sports journalism is actually very demanding.

2 things i liked:

• I liked the second session which was covering high school sports.

• I liked the keynote speaker and the information she portrayed.

Taqwa Bedir 😛:

3 things I learned:

• I learned different fonts and how they look on different surfaces

• How to manage highschool sports

• Managing high school sports can be difficult

2 things I liked

• I liked learning about highschool sports and how to manage their websites, properties, and platforms

• I liked learning about how different fonts can completely change how something appears

Amgad Kassem:

3 things i learned

• I learned that when we cover sports we have to be in an area where the players are running to you or in your direction, so that it looks good.

• I also learned that when people take videos they usually take it vertically

• I learned that we should not start a story with “imagine this.”

2 things i liked

• I liked that when the teacher for the covering highschool sports

Malak Khedr:

3 things I learned:

• I learned not to believe everything I see on the internet and to always fact-check any information I get online

• I learned that contrast is important when it comes to making newspapers/newsletters and posters

• I learned that as a Reporter/journalist, you need to attend important meetings and gather as much information as you can

2 things I liked:

• I liked how the workshops were interactive and well organized/planned out

• I liked making new friends and learning how much us highschoolers relate to each other

1 Question:

• Are the trips journalists need to go on prepaid, how do journalists plan where to go(based on what)?

Minal Khan

3 things I learned

1. I learned that working in journalism can be very dangerous and distraught, if you aren’t the type of person to face danger on a daily basis it may not be for you.

2. I learned that petitions have a very slim chance of actually making a difference

3. I learned that journalism requires a sharp mind and sometimes face to face interactions with poltiicans.

2 Things I Liked

1. I liked that the workshops involved activities with classmates and you were put on the spot to come up with solutions/short writing pieces.

2. I liked that there was refreshments and coffee

1 Question

1. How much is the salary range of an average journalist starting out

Journalism Day

Journalism Day at SCSU was incredible. I learned many things, such as different writing styles in grammar (from the first session). I also enjoyed the engaging activities and group work. I learned about AI myths & facts, and how to identify AI versus non-AI (from the second session). The speaker talked about how AI is quickly taking over almost every platform, and how we can safely and positively use it to our benefit. I enjoyed her presentation, as it was very interesting. There was also a professional journalist who talked about crazy stories in her life, and it was very interesting to hear about her exciting experiences. The day overall was really fun, I loved the free hot chocolate and cake, as well as going to Shahs (the food was really good for the perfect day). The car ride was amazing and I got to hang out with my friends. In general, I had a blast on this field trip and would definitely go again.

After our Journalism Workshops at SCSU, we prayed Jumuah salah in Orange Masjid and got a bite to eat at Shah's Halal- defientely recommend it!

Let’s be real, nothing beats the thrill of a field trip! Every student is desperately waiting for the one day you get to leave behind all the work and escape on a mini-adventure. We asked some students to spill their thoughts on the best part of field trips, and it’s not just about the “educational enrichment.” The 9th graders went to Boston, and the 10th graders went to Southern Connecticut State University’s annual Journalism Day. Here's what they have to say:

For Adam Barakat (9th Grade), field trips are all about hanging out with friends. “I really just wanted to be with my friends. The most exciting part was the ferry boat because when we were going back we got to sit down and relax while we watched the sunset.” Enjoying the ride back with friends and taking in the sunset made for a memorable experience. Sometimes, it’s the little moments that matter most.

Mariam Haroun (10th Grade) says about her trip, “When I went to SCSU … I really liked the first session … The topic interested me and I enjoyed talking with the people and hearing the lecture …I'm getting to know one of them. We went to Shah’s Halal after and then we prayed Jummah.” Mariam’s experience shows how field trips can be fun and educational. Meeting new people and discussing interesting topics made her trip even better, and enjoying a meal together afterward added to the good times.

We all know it’s true. Sure, you might technically be learning about literature or history, but let’s be real—the best part of the day is not taking notes. It's more about the food and hanging out with friends!

Huma Muhammad (10th Grade) had a blast during her trip to SCSU! “The best part of the trip to SCSU was after we did the journalism thingy we went to Shah’s and ate food and it was really good and yeah.” But then came the fry fiasco: “The guy lowkey forgot my fries 😭. And I had to go remind him and he called me fat in like five different languages.” Huma's

experience shows that the funniest memories often come from unexpected moments, making this trip one to remember!

According to Dawud Bey (10th Grade): “The car ride home was the most exciting part of the trip. Muaz (sibling chaperone) was talking about bow and arrows for 50 minutes straight and playing with a deer collar (I think that's what it was called) the whole time and, I don’t know, it was kind of funny.”

As you can see, field trips are all about having fun, making memories, and maybe learning a thing or two along the way. These adventures are what really make the highlight of the school year!

We had an amazing experience during our field trip to Mystic Seaport. When we arrived there, we got split up into groups to begin our fun adventure. Our class was able to learn so many new things from exploring all of the different workshops that were there. We were able to see new things, learn from them, and at the same time, enjoy! In Mystic, we visited many buildings/mini workshops each representing different aspects and activities done at a seaport. Some buildings included sailloft, ropewalk, shipyard, cooper, shipsmith, etc. We are currently learning about Europe. The geography of Europe allowed for the development of many seaports. By going to Mystic, we learned more about what happened in seaports and how essential they are. One building we went to, the Cooper, was dedicated to making casks. Casks are barrels that were important to be made at a seaport because they helped with importing, exporting, and keeping goods. Another building that we went to was called the ropewalk. The ropewalk was aplace where the ropemakers would make rope. This rope was used for the ship. In conclusion, we were able to gain a lot of beneficial knowledge about seaports and how they work.

​​Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is much more important than most people realize. Many students are caught in a cycle of staying up from around eleven p.m. to four a.m., whether scrolling on their phones or finishing homework. Although winding down before bed is natural, pushing sleep off until late at night is not the answer. Often, students end up napping after school, losing even more time that could be spent on homework, hobbies, or relaxation. Your lack of sleep shows clearly in your school performance, mood, and energy levels. It’s scientifically proven that during sleep, your body works to support brain health and maintain physical wellness. Without enough rest, you go through the day with a drained mind and body, making learning and focusing much harder. That’s why learning time management is crucial as it helps students avoid wasting time napping or struggling to stay awake. Good time management supports your physical health, boosts academic performance, and helps mental health. It also leaves you with more time to enjoy hobbies, socialize, or just relax. In conclusion, getting enough sleep on a regular schedule can completely transform your lifestyle, making you healthier, happier, and more productive.

Email salmam@madinaacademy.org or zainahk@madinaacademy.org with questions you have regarding just about ANYTHING! We will try our best to answer all of your questions in the newsletter.

A: The struggle with body image is one many face, especially in this day and age. We are constantly bombarded with a beauty standard that is narrow and unachievable for most people. Men and women alike are expected to have certain facial features, body shapes, weights, and heights in order to be considered attractive -- at least, that’s what you’re made to believe. In reality, only a small percentage of people actually look like that; there is a much wider range of diverse features throughout the world, and most of humanity doesn’t fit into that cookie-cutter standard.

So the question is, how do you stop feeling this way? Sometimes this insecurity is so deeply ingrained in a person that they consistently fall back into that spiral of self-hate. As Muslims, the most important step is to remember that it is Allah SWT who created us the way He thinks is best. Allah says in Surah At-Tin, among many others, “We have created mankind in the best design.” The way we are created is a blessing from Allah, and we should not despair over His design. Other than this, you need to train yourself to recognize your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. This is easier said than done, because you may be so used to thinking badly of yourself that you do it without realizing. Take time to challenge bad thoughts about yourself and remind yourself that nobody is perfect and that you are worth more than how you look. Try to treat yourself how you would treat your own friends. I doubt anyone would constantly body shame and criticize their own friends (I’d recommend reconsidering your friendship if a “friend” is doing that to you), so why do that to yourself? Dismantling self-hate can take a long time, and requires a lot of effort, but you deserve to see your own worth.

It was my first night working for Mr. and Mrs. Smith. As I stood at the doorstep to the big fancy house in front of me, I started contemplating my choices. Should I run back home or should I ring the doorbell? Before I had the chance to make a choice, a tall muscular man who I assumed was Mr. Smith opened the door and welcomed me inside with a wide grin on his face that ran shivers down my spine. I had a bad feeling about this. When I looked over my shoulder to the left of the room I noticed a pretty little girl with long luscious brown hair hiding behind a couch. She looked terrified, although as soon as she saw me her face lit up and she ran to me and shoved me into the nearest door, locked it, and told me something that shocked me and made my knees weak….

*return next month to see what happens next*

An item is hidden somewhere inside the school—but not in any classrooms! You will start with a clue that will lead you to different locations, each with another clue, until you find the final spot.

If you find any code or need clarification, email sarahe@madinaacademy.org

Rules:

1. Keep the Scavenger Hunt a secret unless someone already knows about it from reading the newsletter.

2. You can only search for clues during your free time, ideally during lunch.

3. No running in hallways or unsafe behavior while searching.

4. If you find the item, don't announce it. Instead, hand it in to the front desk and let them know.

5. The first person to find the item will receive a prize (TBD)!

6. The first clue will always be hidden in the MusAllah or the Event Hall.

7. No fighting or snatching the item from someone who finds it first.

8. If you find a clue but aren’t sure of the answer, leave it in its spot so others can find it too.

9. Only the first person to hand in the item will be eligible for the prize.

Hidden Item: Gray Stuffed Elephant

First Clue:

"I shelter the unseen, where memory fades,

A resting place for what’s become ghost.

No hands to claim, no eyes to see,

Yet here the misplaced wait silently.

No locks, no guards, but hidden from view,

Where the overlooked gather, waiting for you."

Happy hunting, and good luck!

Let’s test how well you’ve been paying attention in Islamic Studies. See if you can answer all of the questions!

1. What was the first masjid the Prophet built?

2. In which battle did the Prophet break a huge rock into pieces?

3. Which Prophet is mentioned the most by name in the Quran?