Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the 2025 academic year! This year, Maarif has started with a strong and dedicated team. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new teachers and new leadership roles.

Finance Department

• İbrahim Uzgur – Finance Manager

Primary Leadership Roles

• Fatima Memedoski – Year 1 – Year 6 Curriculum Coordinator
• Khadijeh Sakalaki – Appointed as Welfare Officer and Social Media Coordinator
• Ülkü Türkmen – Prep & Kindergarten Coordinator

Primary Class Teachers

• Aisha Basic – Year 2 Teacher
• Atike Özkan – Year 3 Teacher
• Aslı Tekirdağ – Returning from maternity leave as a part-time teacher

Secondary Leadership Roles

• Ayşe Tokyürek – Welfare Coordinator and Secondary School Turkish Teacher
• Canan Korkut: – Turkish Coordinator and English Teacher
• Recep Öz – PDHPE Coordinator and Sports Teacher

Secondary School

• Anureet Kaur – Science Teacher
• Mitchell Gordon – Music Teacher
• Ying Li – Maths Teacher

Today, we held school captain speeches and elections at our school. The elected students represented our school and serve as future leaders in our community. Congratulations to all students who have stepped up to deliver speeches and take on this responsibility!

We have three new classes this year that we did not have last year: a small Prep class, one Kindergarten class, and one new Year 1 class. These students are all new to Maarif. Therefore, we have arranged an informative session on "Adaptation to School and Environment" for their parents, presented by experienced psychologist Ms. Burçin Gençoğlu on Tuesday, 18th February.

We look forward to the presence of our Prep, Kindergarten, and Year 1 parents at the session.

Maarif Lunch Clubs Are Starting! We are excited to introduce Maarif Lunch Clubs for students from Kindergarten to Year 9. Club activities are a vital part of student life at International Maarif Schools of Australia and contribute to their personal and social development. Clubs will be organized based on students’ age groups and will depend on student interest and participation. This year’s clubs include: Choir, Folk Dancing, Chess, Orchestra, Soccer, Art Club, Kindergarten Buddy Club. Kindergarten Buddy Club is a new club pairs younger students with older peers to provide guidance, support, and friendship, helping them feel comfortable at school while fostering leadership, empathy, and responsibility.

Maarif Lunch Club participation link: Club Registration Form

The NAPLAN exam schedule has been sent to the parents of Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students via email. All exams will take place in March. Please review the schedule, and if you wish to withdraw your child from the exam for any reason, kindly fill out the attached form sent via email.

Ramadan is approaching with all its beauty! We are pleased to invite our Year 3 – 11 students to the 7th Traditional Maarif Student Iftar on Tuesday, March 11. Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan! Enjoy this special time. Ramazanınız şimdiden Hayırlı olsun!

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the education and wellbeing of our students. We are excited about the opportunities and growth that 2025 will bring to Maarif.

Best regards,

Dr Zeynep Yaseen

Principal 

Dear Maarif Families,

Welcome to a brand-new school year! We are excited to see our students back, ready for a year filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities.

As we begin the year, I would like to remind everyone of our PBIS school values Respect, Honesty, Cooperation and Excellence which guide us in creating a positive and supportive learning environment. I encourage all students to demonstrate these values in everything they do.

To ensure a safe and productive school environment, I would like to take this opportunity to remind students to follow school rules and instructions, to wear the correct school uniform every day, including the correct school shoes. Black leather shoes that look sporty are not the correct school shoes. 'Hats On, Game On!' – a school hat is required for outdoor play during recess and lunch every day.

We have commenced Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) in literacy and numeracy to help us understand where students are at in their learning journey. These assessments provide valuable insights to support individual student progress throughout the year.

We look forward to a fantastic year ahead and appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at reyhan.er@maarif.nsw.edu.au or by making an appointment at the school office.

Warm regards,

Mrs Reyhan Er

Primary School Coordinator

Well done to the students who have been selected as 'Student of the Week'. These students are selected for academic achievement and for modelling our school values. 

New Beginnings at Maarif Prep!

A joyful “Welcome to School” celebration was organised for the Maarif Prep students. To support their transition into the school environment, classroom rules were discussed together, and a conversation was held about why these rules are important.

Throughout the week, a variety of fun and educational activities took place both in the classroom and outdoors. The children played games, made new friends, and experienced sharing and teamwork. Art activities, story time sessions, music, and movement games made the learning process even more enjoyable.

Outdoor free play allowed the children to release their energy. These colourful and lively past weeks helped foster their interest in school and supported their adjustment process.

Mrs Ayşe Açıkkol

Prep Teacher

Our first few weeks of Kindergarten!

Kindergarten is a critical stage in early childhood development, where children not only begin to learn about the world around them but also explore their own identity. One of our exciting and educational activities that KA did was painting a self-portrait. This encouraged both self-awareness and creativity in identifying their facial features.  This hands-on approach not only allowed students to experiment with colours and patterns but also serves as an effective way to help them understand how creative they can be.

Among the many activities that nurture young learners, fine motor exercises stand out as an essential part of daily classroom routines. These activities help children develop their small muscle control and hand-eye coordination, all while allowing them to bond with their peers and engage in cognitive challenges.

Mrs Ulku Turkmen

Kindergarten Class Teacher 

New Friendships in 1A

This year, 1A has had a fantastic start as we get to know each other, build friendships, and embrace our school values in the classroom. In English, we have been exploring adjectives and learning how to use them to describe book characters, to eventually make our writing more interesting and creative. In Maths, we have been developing our understanding of the calendar by learning about the months of the year, important dates, and the different seasons. Our class has also been working together to build positive learning habits and routines, ensuring a successful and enjoyable year ahead. We have also been exploring what makes a good friend in class to ensure that we build good respectful relationships with one another in the playground. It has been a wonderful fortnight of learning, and we are excited for all the great things to come in 1A, great job, everyone!

Ms Bahar Sevgi

1A Class Teacher 

Fantastic 2A!

The last two weeks have been fantastic in 2A! We have all enjoyed getting to know one another and building strong relationships in our classroom community.

In PE this term, 2A has displayed excellence out on the courts as we engaged in a variety of team-based games, developing our movement skills and working together to achieve success.

For PDH, we have been learning about regulating our emotions. We explored the Zones of Regulation and discussed different activities we can do to help manage our feelings in a healthy way.

It has been a successful start to the term for 2A, well done everyone! We look forward to more exciting learning ahead.

Ms Zeliha Mehcur

2A Class Teacher 

Amazing 2B!

This year, Class 2B has had an amazing start! We are getting to know each other better, making new friends, and following our school values of Respect, Honesty, Cooperation and Excellence in everything we do. In English, we have been learning to practice reading and spelling the sounds ai/ay, ea/ee and oa/ow as well as new tricky words. We have also started on exploring features of an imaginative text and practicing reading comprehension, making our writing more fun. In Maths, we’ve been exploring how to read and understand calendars by learning how to the order of events. Our class is also focusing on building positive habits and routines, which will help us have a successful and enjoyable year. We’ve also been talking about what makes a good friend, so we can build respectful relationships with each other on the playground. We have also had a very enjoyable art lesson where the class had the chance to explore their creativity, experimenting with different materials and techniques. Its been a fantastic couple of weeks, and we are excited about all the great things ahead.

Well, done Class 2B!

Ms Aisha Basic

2B Class Teacher

Science Experiments in 3A

3A students have had an exciting start to the year, diving into their first science investigation on heat energy. They explored how heat affects movement by acting out high energy and low energy motions before conducting an experiment with hot and cold water. Through hands on learning, they discovered that heat makes particles move faster and learned key terms such as heat energy, temperature, and thermometer.

We also extend a warm welcome to our new students who have joined Maarif this year and are now part of 3A - Burak, Mohamad, and Rumaysa. We are so excited to have you in our class!

Ms Amel Mehana

3A Class Teacher 

Exciting New Year!

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to a new and exciting school year in Year 3! I am thrilled to be your child's teacher, and I am looking forward to a year of growth, learning, and development. Together, we will work to create a positive, engaging, and supportive classroom environment where every child feels valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential. I am looking forward to building a strong partnership with you in supporting your child's development.

To start the year, we engaged in a “Get to Know Me” activity. This activity was designed to help me learn more about each student’s interests, hobbies, and personal preferences, while also allowing the students to get to know their peers. It will encourage self-expression and help create a classroom environment where everyone feels comfortable and valued. I am looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and am eager to see the progress each student will make, both academically and personally.

Ms Atike Ozkan

3B Class Teacher 

Learning in 4A

Welcome back to an exciting new year of learning and adventure! The students of 4A have had a fantastic start to the year, diving headfirst into new experiences and reconnecting with old friends.

The first few weeks have been filled with laughter, smiles and enthusiasm as the class has welcomed new students and reunited with familiar faces from last year. It's been wonderful to see the children settling in, making new friendships and quickly establishing a sense of belonging.

As their teachers, we've been thrilled to see the students' excitement and eagerness to learn. We're looking forward to a year filled with engaging lessons, creative projects and memorable experiences that will inspire growth, curiosity and a love of learning.

Together, we're all set for an incredible journey. We can't wait to see what the year ahead holds for 4A!

Mrs Asli Tekirdag & Mrs Irem Tas

4A Class Teachers

Quiet Reading Session in English

As the new school year unfolds, our 5A students have embraced the transition with enthusiasm and focus during their quiet reading sessions. These moments of engagement not only foster a love for reading but also provide numerous benefits for our young learners. Quiet group reading encourages students to immerse themselves in the texts, enhances their comprehension skills, and promotes critical thinking as they share insights and reflections. On the other hand, reading cultivates a peaceful classroom environment, allowing students to develop their independent reading skills while building a strong sense of community among peers. We are thrilled to see our students so dedicated to their reading journeys!

Mr Mike Liu

5A Class Teacher

Welcome to a Fantastic Year in 5B!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to another exciting school year! I am thrilled to embark on this journey with the wonderful 5B students as they take on new challenges, explore their creativity, and grow both academically and personally. The start of the year is always a special time filled with fresh opportunities and new beginnings. The classroom has already been buzzing with enthusiasm as students settle into routines, build friendships, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. I look forward to working together with each parent to support each child's learning journey and celebrate their successes along the way.

Ms Dilara Aydoğdu

5B Class Teacher

Welcome to our hive Year 6A..the best place to bee!

Welcome to an exciting and enriching school year! In our first week together, we focused on building a positive and inclusive classroom environment by introducing essential class rules.

To nurture a love for reading, students will participate in D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything And Read). This daily 10-minute session after lunch or recess encourages students to immerse themselves in the joy of reading.

As part of setting meaningful goals for their final year of primary school, Year 6A students wrote letters to their future selves. These letters will be revisited at the end of the year as a reflection on their growth and achievements.

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Karam Milhem and Omer Cantas, who have joined our Maarif family.

We are looking forward to a year filled with curiosity, creativity, and incredible accomplishments. Let’s make this a year to remember!

Ms Samira Asad

6A Class Teacher

An Unforgettable Year Ahead!

Welcome to Year 6B! I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey of learning and growth with both students and parents. This year will be filled with engaging activities that will spark curiosity and deepen understanding in both Literacy and Numeracy.

In Literacy, students will explore captivating novels, enhance their creative and persuasive writing skills, and dive into rich discussions about themes and characters.

In Numeracy, we will tackle real-world problem-solving, investigate patterns and data, and develop critical thinking through hands-on mathematical challenges. With collaborative projects, interactive lessons, and plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents, Year 6B promises to be a year of discovery, achievement, and fun.

We are also delighted to welcome a new student, Aayah Khan, to our class community.

I look forward to working together to make this an unforgettable and successful year!

Ms Zeny

6B Class Teacher

Our Kindergarten Students Have Started Their Turkish Lessons

Our Kindergarten students have started their Turkish lessons by introducing themselves. Through songs, games, and storybook reading activities, they are expanding their vocabulary and improving their pronunciation. With these fun and engaging activities, our students will gradually become more confident in using Turkish fluently.

In our lessons, we will continue using the education books provided by the Türkiye Maarif Foundation. Additionally, as part of our bilingual education program, we incorporate resources from Türkiye Maarif Foundation that support our students in effectively learning both languages.

Our Turkish lessons not only help students develop their language skills but also provide an enjoyable learning experience.

We Have Started Turkish Lessons with Our Year 5 Beginner-Level Students

We have kicked off the new term with excitement alongside our Year 5 beginner-level students. In our first lesson, students shared what they did during the holidays through spoken activities. They then practised writing by forming simple sentences using the vocabulary they had learned. This activity helped them improve their ability to express themselves in Turkish.

Our students received and explored the primary school Turkish textbooks provided by the Türkiye Maarif Foundation. These books contain engaging and educational activities designed to support their language development. Throughout the term, we will continue using these resources to enhance students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Our Turkish lessons not only help students gain confidence in learning a new language but also encourage them to actively use Turkish in their daily lives. Through games, storytelling, and interactive activities, we make the learning process both enjoyable and effective.

Starting the New Term with Our Year 6 Beginner-Level Turkish Students

We are excited to begin a new term with our Year 6 beginner-level Turkish students! Our first lesson kicked off with students introducing themselves in Turkish, helping them gain confidence while learning new words. It was wonderful to see them eager to express themselves in a new language.

This term, we are using the Turkish textbooks provided by the Türkiye Maarif Foundation to guide our learning journey. We’ve started with the topic of professions, where students discover different jobs and expand their vocabulary. As the term progresses, they will continue to improve their pronunciation, build stronger sentences, and become more comfortable using Turkish.

To keep lessons fun and engaging, we’ll be using interactive activities, games, and group work. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where students can practise both speaking and writing in Turkish with confidence.

Ms Meyra Biçer

Turkish Language Teacher 

1A Turkish Lessons

Welcome to your school, Year 1! We began our Turkish lessons by getting to know each other. In the following lessons, we explored the days of the week and the months of the year.

2A Turkish Lessons

We met our Year 2 students in our Turkish lessons and started our classes. In our first lessons, we revised previous topics and then learned about Australia’s states.

Ms Tutku Şahin

Turkish Language Teacher

Year 3 Turkish

With our Year 3 students, we talked about what we did during the holiday by forming sentences. We explained the meaning of synonyms and gave examples of their usage in daily life. We also discussed what we will learn in the new academic term.

Mrs Özge Akçelik

Turkish Language Teacher

Taking the time to introduce yourself is essential for building relationships with classmates based on mutual trust. Students in Year 5 & 6 completed an "All About Me" activity and shared it with their classmates. This helped everyone learn more about each other and find common interests. Later, they had the opportunity to share their favorite memories from the past summer holiday, discussing exciting trips, new experiences, and special moments spent with family and friends. This activity not only allowed students to reflect on their personal experiences but also encouraged meaningful conversations and laughter, making everyone feel more connected. 

Mrs Şeyma Akdemir

Turkish Language Teacher 

Hello To Music

Students said HELLO to music again after a long break. They recalled the musical instruments they had learned last year. They replayed the pieces they had learned. Due to the approaching month of Ramadan, they started learning nasheeds in their lessons.

Our new students met the xylophone instrument they will learn this year and started to discover the musical instrument.

Mrs Fisun Benlisoy

Music Teacher

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,    

(May peace and mercy be upon you)

All praise be to Allah (SWT), the most merciful and may peace and blessings be upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), his family, companions and all those who follow him.    

We are pleased to inform you that Year 5 students are learning Dua Qunoot (1st Part) and can apply this dua while praying Salat-Ul-Witr. Quran Students recıte the Surah-An-Naba in this term and memorize some ayat of the surah. Students who are in Elif-Ba book also continue to progress from where they left off.

Religion Teachers

School Drop off and Pick Up

Students need to be dropped off at school by 8:45am daily and pick up at 3:30pm. 

Parent-Teacher Communication 

When communicating with teachers, please try to be respectful of their time and understand that they may not always be able to respond immediately. This means, giving them a reasonable amount of time to respond to your emails or messages, and understanding their work hours. 

Please avoid sending multiple follow-up messages when not receiving a response immediately, teachers have many responsibilities. 

Written Communications

Written communications to the school, including emails and letters, please include the student's full name and class for identification purposes

Phone & Electronics

Primary School students are not permitted to bring to school, their phones and/or any electronics. This includes smartwatches. 

Birthday Celebrations

We love to celebrate our students at Maarif and accept that some families may want to share the special occasion of their child’s birthday with his/her class peers. As a school, we embrace this opportunity however would like to enforce a strict policy of not bringing in food or other edible items for these one-off occasions. It is important we cater to all students including those who have severe allergies by monitoring this closely. If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday, we would suggest an alternative to food. 

Toys and Valuables 

Students are not permitted to bring toys and valuables to school. These include Pokemon cards, fidget toys and weapon-like toys. Students are only permitted to bring in appropriate toys on allocated Show and Tell days. Please check with your child's class teacher if unsure.

Student Lunches

We understand that occasionally dropping off a meal may seem convenient, but we appreciate your cooperation in supporting our efforts to promote fairness and healthy eating for all students by not dropping off fast food for your child. It is no longer allowed at our school. When fast food is brought to school, it can lead to other children feeling left out or upset if they do not have similar meals. 

All uniform requests can be made as follows:

Order Submission Only

• Primary school parents are to complete the attached uniform order form
• Order forms should be emailed to uniforms@maarif.nsw.edu.au or sent to the school office with students if required
• Orders will be processed weekly on Wednesdays and uniform items will be sent home with students by the following day
• Contact number for uniform-related enquiries 0402 393 844

Attached below is the Uniform Order Form

We consider that uniform is important for several reasons.

• It provides pupils with a sense of identity and pride in their school. 
• It enhances the appearance of pupils and therefore the reputation of the school. 
• It helps to instil a sense of purpose in pupils when they put on their uniform in the mornings. 
• It helps overcome the worry about “fitting in” with fashions and keeping up with other children. All children feel equal and there is no stress, competition or worry for families about expensive brands/labels.
• It overcomes the problem for both parents and teachers about what is suitable attire for school. 

We request that our parents and/or carers be extra cautious during school drop-off and pick-up times.

Years Prep, Kindergarten - 3 are dismissed from the Front School Gate.

Years 4 - 6 are dismissed from the Side School Gate.

Please ensure NSW Government rules regarding road safety are being followed and adhered to at all times. This means:

- Respecting the road rules and signs, and driving within the speed limit of 40km/h in a school zone.

- Parking safely in designated parking areas or in drop off/pick up zones. 

- No double parking, as it is dangerous and illegal.

- Three-point turns and U-turns are not permitted in school zones, as not only is it dangerous for students and other vehicles but it also causes traffic congestion.  

- Follow the directions of our school crossing supervisors.

- Give way to our School Bus drivers. 

According to ACARA National Standards for student attendance, parents are required to complete an Application for Leave Form for holidays within the school term or other leave. Applications should be submitted 14 days prior to the leave. The Principal approves this leave as appropriate.

For all student leave requests (1-50 days) an application form should be submitted to the school at least 14 days prior to the requested leave date. Supporting documentation, such as travel ticket or itinerary, should be included with student holiday leave applications.

Holidays taken by students outside of School vacation periods are included as absences.

Families are encouraged to holiday or travel during school vacations rather than in term time. If travel during the school term is necessary, the following considerations apply:

• If the Principal accepts the reason for the absence, the absence will be marked as justified leave.
• If the Principal does not believe the absence is in the student’s best interests and does not accept the reason, the absence will be recorded as unjustified leave.

The Leave form can be accessed below:

Did you know you can organise your school fee payments into weekly, fortnight or monthly payments? International Maarif Schools of Australia uses Edstart to provide more flexibility and choice for your school fee payments. There are no additional charges for the service regardless of the schedule or payment method you choose. Getting started is easy, simply visit edstart.com.au/Maarif to set up your payments online or call 1300 139 445. If you would like further information, you can also contact our accounts team at accounts@maarif.nsw.edu.au or 02 8316 0655.

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