Madina Academy

Welcoming the Blessed Month of Ramadan at Madina Academy

As-Salaam Alaikum! We hope this message finds you in the best of health and spirits. As we

approach the month of Ramadan, we at Madina Academy would like to share our plans for

ensuring that our students have a rewarding and spiritually enriching experience.

Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion. With this in mind, our school will be adjusting its schedule to better accommodate the needs of our

students during this special time:

Ramadan Reduced School Hours:

Starting from the first day of Ramadan, school hours will be shortened to give our students

ample time to rest and engage in worship. Classes will begin at 8:00 AM and end at 1:30 PM.

Please arrange to drop off and pick up your children accordingly.

We kindly request that parents support their children's spiritual growth this month by

encouraging them to participate in these activities and balance their academic and religious

commitments.

We look forward to experiencing the blessings of Ramadan together as a community. May Allah SWT accept our fasting, prayers, and acts of worship.

Ramadan Resources:

As Ramadan quickly approaches, we recommend a few resources (click the links) that

you may find helpful in the weeks leading up to the holy month and throughout it.

1. Winning Through Sacrifice curriculum unit Ramadan is about sacrifice. This unit addresses the virtue of sacrifice in Islam and the reward for the believer who does.

2. 5 Pillars Made Plain: Fasting

Sh. Abdullah Oduro covers everything your students may want about why and how we

fast.

3. Jannah: Home at Last, All New Ramadan Series

Join Dr. Omar Suleiman this Ramadan as he describes Jannah and the deeds and

duas that can help us make it there.

4. Ramadan Duas on Repeat video series and eBook

IXL for students:

As the academic year progresses, we want to ensure your child receives the best education

possible. That's why we are reaching out to emphasize the importance of IXL for students in

Pre-K to Grade 8.

IXL is an online educational platform that provides students with personalized learning

experiences in math, language arts, and science. It offers an extensive range of topics and

adaptive exercises catering to students' learning needs and abilities.

We have observed that students who use IXL consistently throughout the school year tend to

perform better in their NWEA MAP growth exams. IXL is directly aligned with each grade level

curriculum and learning objectives. It helps students practice the skills and concepts they need to master to succeed in the classroom.

We highly recommend encouraging your child to use IXL for at least 20-30 minutes daily

outside school hours. This will help them improve their academic performance and foster a love for learning. When your child says they don't have homework, IXL is a perfect tool to build your child's academic skills.

Important Notice: Displaying Dismissal Numbers:

As you may already know, our school is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all

our students. Therefore, we will require all parents/guardians to display a unique dismissal

number on their car windshields during dismissal.

This dismissal number will help our staff to identify your child and escort them to your vehicle

efficiently. Therefore, it is essential to keep the dismissal number on display at all times and in a visible location so that our staff can quickly and easily identify your vehicle.

We understand that this may seem inconvenient, but ensuring our student's safety and security is vital. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to make dismissal time run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. If you need another number to display, please contact the school immediately. Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

Dr. Cooper

Marriam Khan recently received her acceptance to her "Dream School," Northeastern University. She has been offered admission to the Class of 2027 with a major in the Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering.

According to CollegeBoard, "Northeastern University is very selective with an acceptance rate of 18%. Students that get into Northeastern University have an SAT score between 1390–1540 or an ACT score of 33–35."

Marriam came to Madina as a kindergartener, and over the years, she has developed into a bright, confident, self motivated- high performer. You did it, Marriam! BRAVO!

Tasneem Zoghol (Grade 10): Finalist & Special Award

Project: Investigating the effect of dimpled and tubercled geometries in conjunction on the drag and lift of airfoils.

Mentor: Ms. Sana

• Tasneem Zoghol, Deana Khatib, Fatima Zeinelabideen, Zainah Khaliq: 1st place senior group performance
• Salma Mahmoud and Ghita Elamrani: 1st senior group documentary
• Imaan Ehmad and Sidra Bedir: 2nd senior group documentary
• Taqwa Bedir and Sarah Elsherbini: 1st junior group website
• Noor Hassan: 2nd junior individual website
• Ayoub Elamrani: 3rd junior individual documentary

Ms. Salwa says:

"It has been so nice to watch them (our students) really become a team over the last few months, and to see them really rooting for each other yesterday- and caring for the one student who didn’t place."

The National Honor Society chapter of Al Qalam is a duly chartered affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership was open to those students who met the required standards on four areas of evaluation: Scholarship (GPA 3.5 or above), Service, Leadership, and Character.

Students were selected for membership by majority vote of a group of faculty council, which bestows this honor upon qualified students.

Students Selected for 2023 Membership:

• Zainah Khaliq (Grade 9)
• 
  
• Mustafa Mutlu (Grade 9)
• 
  
• Yameen Ahmed (Grade 10)
• 
  
• Imaan Ehmad (Grade 10)
• 
  
• Salma Mahmoud (Grade 10)
• 
  
• Tasneem Zoghol (Grade 10)
• 
  
• Maryam Akbar (Grade 11)
• 
  
• Farida Barakat (Grade 11)
• 
  
• Tasneem Haroun (Grade 11)

Membership in the NHS is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. However, it is more than an honor. It is an ongoing responsibility and an obligation to continue to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that resulted in the selection.

Yusuf Bedir

Sumeya Duric

Mustafa Ather

Sarah Elsherbini

Madina Academy Raises Funds for Earthquake Relief in Turkiye and Syria

Madina Academy students and staff joined together to raise funds for those affected by the recent earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. The school community worked tirelessly to raise money for this important cause. The school hosted a non-uniform day on Tuesday, where students wore red, black, green, and white to show their support for Turkiye and Syria. In addition, there was a poster competition, where students of all ages created posters to help raise awareness about the earthquake relief efforts.

Students from the 9th grade hosted a coin wars event, where students from different grades competed to see who could raise the most coins. After spending their entire Friday counting the immense amount of coins, the 9th grade announced that the 3rd grade had won the competition, with the 9th graders coming in second place, and the Kindergarten class coming in third. The total amount raised from the coin wars was around $1500.

The 8th-grade students put together a bakesale featuring spring rolls, samosas, and a variety of baked goods. Their efforts brought in about $1600. The 7th graders, on the other hand, hosted a taco and ice cream sale, with a special edition; cotton candy. Their efforts were incredibly successful, and they raised approximately $2000.

Throughout this week, Madina Academy partnered with Islamic Relief and organized an online donation campaign. Students worked hard and competed with each other to see who could raise the most money. Thanks to their efforts, Madina Academy was able to become the number one team on the Islamic Relief leaderboard.

The funds raised will go a long way in helping those affected by the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. Madina Academy is proud of its students and staff for their efforts to make a difference in the world. We hope that these efforts inspire others to get involved and make a difference in their communities as well.

https://www.courant.com/2023/03/02/madina-academy-raises-funds-for-turkey-syria-earthquake-relief/

Madina Academy high school students held an annual Muslimah Night this February.

where many fun activities took place for girls of all ages. They started off with the talent and fashion shows and had delicious dinner afterwards alongside dessert. After that, the activities took place! There was henna, face paint, games, fun and more.

Madina Academy also held their annual school Science Fair, featuring many fantastic elementary and middle school science projects. Awards and prizes were also given for outstanding projects! In the middle school category, Faqiha Faheem received the first prize for her project “Solar Powered Car.” Amgad Qasem received the second prize and Hadi Ghabagh received the third prize. In the 5th grade category, Hayaa El-zamzamy and Israa Haroun received the first prize, Yusef Nemlaghi received the second prize, and Aisha Mohamed and Tajriyan Khan received the third prize. Congratulations to everyone!

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was the

last prophet.

People worshiped things other than Allah

So this is why the prophet came,

And to him, preaching islam was no game

The prophet was very polite, and he tried his best

To never start a fight

He was extremely truthful and to him obeying

Allah was always crucial.

He never left anyone in

despair, for he always cared.

He shared his meals with poor

and continuously gave more.

When the prophet pointed he used his whole hand

To make sure you knew he wasn’t mad.

And when he spoke, it was so clear, you could hear

It far or near

He never needed to repeat his speech,

Because each time he spoke it was extremely clear

He was very wise, so when he replied,

All his logic fully applied

And if you were speaking he payed his full attention, turned his whole

Body, and made sure it was clear he was paying his full attention.

If you had any questions or maybe a suggestion,

He took it into consideration without hesitation.

He was very modest, with his smile so wide,

Always being honest

When you shook his hand he wouldn’t take his

Hand back until you took yours

He always walked for a reason and was devoted to

Get to where he needed

He sat straight, even when he ate,

And this shows he wasn’t lazy

He was strong, but many

Times he was wronged

The Prophet was devoted to Allah, and worked

Hard to deliver the message of Islam

Oh Allah, help us to be more like the Prophet,

Who was kind, generous, and honest

Dear Salman (RA),

I care about you very much. You are very kind, smart, and strong-willed Mashallah! And you also want to seek the truth because you want to seek the right religion and belief of Islam and the one true god. What I learned about you is very interesting because you are very amazing, intelligent, and a very special Sahabah! What I learned is to always believe that Allah (SWT) will guide us to the straight path and to believe that He is one and there is no god but Him alone. I thank you for helping to spread the message of Islam because you are the Sahabah or Companion of Prophet Muhammed (S). I also learned that you are called the: “The Truth Seeker” because you traveled your hard journey from Iran, Syria, Nasbeen, Turkey, and then to Madina to find the truth of the true religion Mashallah! I think you are a hero because you saved the Muslims from being attacked by the disbelievers. You were the one that gave the idea of digging and building a long, huge trench all around Madina to defend it because you are very smart Mashallah! I admire you and appreciate your hard work of finding and preaching the message of Islam to us Muslims. I hope Allah (SWT) will forgive all your evil sins Inshallah! I also hope you live a nice life in Jannah too! Anyway, I thank you again for all your hard work and good you have been doing in your life.

Thank you for everything!

-Sincerely,

Muaaz Mohammed

January comes to an end, but high school prep still continues into February as people from different careers are invited to speak at Madina Academy to highschoolers about the journey of their professions.

Tasneem Khedr, a former Madacad student who graduated Madina Academy in 2017, was invited to speak about her pursuit of law. As a twenty-three year old graduate student pursuing her Juris Doctorate degree, Tasneem was a relatable and empathetic speaker, immediately appealing to the crowd of young freshmen and sophomores still struggling to find ways to hack the system that was life and how to persevere through schoolwork. She shared her own struggles that she faced in high school and the ones that followed her to college, as well as doling out valuable advice on how to choose the right career path. Her discussion ended with thunderous applause, as she first faced students who were reluctant to pursue law, but quickly rectified that with her exceptional persuasive speech. It was evident why Tasneem had chosen to pursue law after convincing almost ninety percent of the room to become lawyers. (Talk about choosing the right profession!)

Dr. Khurram, a family doctor with a practice in East Granby, also came to Madina academy to talk to the high school students about his career as a doctor and all that medical school entails. After a discussion of his background, an insightful Q&A session took place, in which the students bombarded Dr. Khurram with question after question, eager to satisfy their growing interest in the medical field. He thoughtfully answered each one, along with a piece of advice tailored to each question. His experience and knowledge of medicine was beneficial in helping the students learn about the ups and downs of a doctor’s life.

Interviewer: How do you feel about the school?

Sarah Elsherbini 7th grade: It’s a good school, yeah, yeah.

[Long Pause]

Sarah E.: It could be better.

Interviewer: What changes would you like to see?

Sarah E.: Well maybe fix that volleyball net that someone broke today. AHEM, AHEM, AHEM.

Taqwa Bedir 8th grade: LOCKERS! I will not have my shoulder broken by the end of the year.

Interviewer: How do you feel about the school?

Rahma Eid 7th grade: Hm, I’ve been here since kindergarten and it's sooooo good. So good. Definitely

[Laughter]

Interviewer: What changes would you like to see?

Rahma: Definitely lockers. I wouldn’t like having my back being broken, and also some AC’s maybe. Like, come on. Yeah, that’s it.

ANSWER: Before you start to respond to the person, look at yourself. How does that person’s disrespect make you feel? Are you angry? Sad? Make sure you are able to sort out your own feelings, because that can allow you to gain the emotional intelligence to deal with the other person.

Next, realize that if someone is being unnecessarily rude to you, it probably isn’t your fault. Most likely, there is something within them that makes them feel little, and in order to make it go away, they try to make themselves look bigger. Do not take their hurtful words personally, although that’s definitely easier said than done. Recognize that what they are saying about you is NOT TRUE -- in fact, they are most likely projecting their own insecurities on you.

But how should you react? Obviously, don’t make it worse. Don’t raise your voice, or insult them back, or physically hurt them. Try to diffuse the situation. Ignore them, or walk away. Calmly tell them what they’re saying doesn’t affect you. Another way to get them to stop is to agree with them. If they say something mean about your outfit say, “You’re right.” How will they respond to that?

If they still don’t stop, tell a trusted adult. If the adult does not do anything, contact a higher authority. Alhamdulillah, most of the teachers at our school do care about our concerns, and will be willing to help you find a solution.

Always remember that what another person says about you is not who you are. You are how you react to unfairness.

I sat on my couch, the sun rays hitting my face as I stretched my body. My mind was only on one thing: food. I was as hungry as a bear in spring. My stomach grumbled loudly. I was starving. My meal should have come hours ago. As I flipped over to face the table in front of me he finally came and placed my food on the black marbled table.

My gaze fell over to his wrist, the scar that stretched across its width. I had caused that. Me, the only one responsible for that ugly mark.

I sat beside him, remembering the only reason I was here at all, the reason I had injured him in the first place, the day that I had met him.

My body had once been thin and spindly, matted fur along my back, but that had all changed when he came through the alley, when those sad eyes caught sight of me, and never let go.

His eyes didn’t waver, even when I slashed his wrist, afraid of the hands reaching for me. His hands ran down my back, smoothing down my fur as he smiled. My trembling body had started to calm down when I realized that he wasn’t the enemy.

He was so gentle, so kind. He picked me up and tucked me under his jacket to protect me from the cold. He took me to his home, a warm place with comfy cushions. He cleaned me, as I fought to not be touched by water. He persisted even as I screamed, and squirmed.

He gave me a bowl that stayed in the same spot all the time. It was filled with food. For the first time I ate my fill. And for the first time I wasn’t starving.

Everyday he would care for me, groom me, feed me, and bathe me. I enjoyed the attention, the comfort, and his kindness. It felt amazing. But soon, it was the norm. I expected all those things from him. I got mad when he cut short his generosity.

I remembered that the life I was living now was more luxurious compared to the life I had lived before, and I was complaining. I ignored the food that my owner had placed in front of me and went over to his side of the couch. I cuddled beside him as he rubbed between my ears.

“Good kitty” He smiled.

1. You can hold it without using your hands or your arms. What is it?

2. What has a head and a tail but no body?

3. A life or death skill for gunfighters.

4. What goes through towns and over hills but never moves?

5. Everyone has it and no one can lose it, what is it?

6. What has 88 keys but can’t open a single door?

7. What invention lets you look right through a wall?

8. Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it you die. What is it?

9. Mom and dad have four daughters, and each daughter has one brother. How many people are in the family?

10. What is a witch’s favorite school subject?

1. Dictionary

2. Ton

3. Needle

4. Mississippi

5. Shadow

6. Wrap

7. Egg

8. Married couples

9. I must be 23 if my father is twice as old as me.

10. 40 cents. The price of each fruit. is calculated by multiplying the number of vowels by 20 cents

1. The world’s oldest wooden wheel has been around for more than 5,000 years

2. Dead skin cells are a main ingredient in household dust

3. Sudan has more pyramids than any country in the world

4. The bumblebee bat is the world’s smallest mammal

5. There are parts of Africa in all four hemispheres

6. The cornea is one of only two parts of the human body without blood vessels

1. Dictionary

2. Ton

3. Needle

4. Mississippi

5. Shadow

6. Wrap

7. Egg

8. Married couples

9. I must be 23 if my father is twice as old as me.

10. 40 cents. The price of each fruit. is calculated by multiplying the number of vowels by 20c.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand people are safe, and the believer is the one people trust with their lives and wealth.”