Dear Maarif Families, 

As we are in the final weeks of this term, I would like to share events and activities that have enriched our students’ learning experiences.

Our Primary School Captains and Vice-Captains recently participated in the Primary National Young Leaders Day event. They engaged in meaningful conversations and listened to influential speakers, where they further developed leadership skills and learned the importance of teamwork and responsibility.

During World Storytelling Day, our students were captivated by stories from different cultures, enhancing their love for storytelling and literature. There was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about water conservation and sustainability duirng World Water Day. Their enthusiasm in discussing ways to save water was inspiring even to us adults!

Students engaged in valuable discussions about staying safe and responsible online, developing their digital awareness and skills during National e-Smart Week. Next term, we will have Police Youth Liaison Officers visit our school to speak to senior primary sctudents about staying safe online, which will prove to be beneficial.

In addition to these events, our lunch clubs have been a great success. From Kindy Budies, Art Club to Soccer Club, Folk Dancing to Choir, Orchestra to Chess Club, students have been enjoying learning new skills with their friends. Please email your child's class teacher if they wish to withdraw from any of the clubs, otherwise they are required to attend.

On another note, we are happy to share that NAPLAN assessments are now complete.  

Looking ahead, we have some exciting excursions planned in the final two weeks of term, providing students with enriching experiences beyond the classroom. School Photo Day is next week. I kindly ask all students to arrive dressed in full school uniform, including correct school shoes, and hair tied back neatly to ensure everyone looks their best for these special memories.

As we conclude the holy month of Ramadan, we extend our warmest wishes to all our students, families and staff in celebrating Bayram/Eid. May it bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all our families.

Bayramınız Mübarek Olsun! Eid Mubarak!

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. 

Also, well done to these students for receiving awards.

Exploring Nature

This week, we went on an adventure exploration with our Prep students. During our exploration, we observed and reviewed the concepts of living and non-living things. Using our magnifying glasses, we searched for ants’ nests and other small creatures’ homes. We discovered that nature is home to trees, birds, rocks, and many different living and non-living things.

After our nature walk, we engaged in outdoor physical activities to release our energy and played traditional Turkish games. Later, we collected tree branches and brought them back to our classroom. Using these branches, we explored the concepts of long, medium, and short, reinforcing our learning through fun and interactive activities.

It was a productive week where we enjoyed both discovering nature and learning through play.

Mrs Ayşe Açıkkol

Prep Teacher

Exploring Drama: Kindergarten Students Bring Dinosaurs to Life!

Our young learners have had a roar-some time diving into the world of drama! Our students recently explored creativity and imagination through an exciting activity where they made their own dinosaur masks and pretended to be dinosaurs, both individually and in small groups. It was a fun-filled adventure full of giggles, roars, and creativity!

The children were given the chance to create their own dinosaur masks, allowing them to express their personalities and imagination through their creations. Once the masks were ready, they turned the classroom into a prehistoric landscape, moving like dinosaurs, exploring the "jungle," and pretending to interact with each other just like their favourite dinosaurs would!

Pretend play, like acting out being an animal or another character, may seem like simple fun, but it supports many areas of a child’s development. When children dramatize being someone else, they step into new perspectives, which helps them develop key social, cognitive, and emotional skills. It benefits their growth by boosting creativity and imagination, improves social skills, supports emotional development and fostering brain development.

We are excited to continue nurturing our students’ creativity and imagination in the weeks to come. Whether through more pretend play, storytelling, or exploring new characters, the possibilities are endless for these budding young performers!

Mrs Ülkü Türkmen

Kindergarten Class Teacher 

From Kahoots to Kindness: A Fortnight in 1A 

What a fantastic end to the term it has been for 1A! Over the past fortnight, we’ve been busy revising and recapping everything we’ve learnt throughout the term and what better way to test our knowledge than with a fun and competitive game of Kahoot! We had a blast trying to beat our friends while using some 

We have also been working hard on our portfolio tasks, showcasing all the wonderful progress we’ve made this term. Alongside our learning, we’ve taken part in some meaningful and engaging events, such as Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day, World Storytelling Day, and World Water Day. These special days gave us a chance to learn about the world around us and reflect on how we can make a difference. 

In writing, we have been turning our ‘boring’ sentences into ‘super’ sentences using whiteboards. We practised adding exciting verbs, interesting adjectives, details about who, what, when, and of course remembered our capital letters and full stops. Our sentence-building skills have come a long way! 

It’s been a joyful fortnight full of learning, creativity, and reflection. What a great achievement we’ve shown this term — well done, 1A! 

Ms Bahar Sevgi

1A Class Teacher 

Celebrating World Water Day & Letter Writing in 2A

Over the last two weeks, 2A has been engaged in meaningful learning experiences across different subjects. For World Water Day, we discussed the importance of water and how we can conserve it. Students took turns writing messages on the interactive whiteboard, sharing their thoughts on why water is essential and ways to reduce waste in our daily lives. In HSIE – Geography, students practiced letter writing by describing a place they have visited in Australia and learning how to correctly address an envelope before posting their letters in our class letterbox. They then received and read a letter from a classmate, improving their understanding of written communication.

It has been a wonderful two weeks of engaging meaningful learning!

Ms Zeliha Mehcur

2A Class Teacher 

2B Continue Growing

Our students have been working hard in both literacy and mathematics, and we are excited to share their progress!

In literacy, students are making improvements in reading comprehension and spelling. They are focusing on understanding texts and summarising key ideas.  We are also focusing on spelling strategies like phonics patterns and word families to boost their writing and speaking skills. In maths, students are placing three-digit numbers into ones, tenths, and hundredths. They are developing a strong understanding of place value and how to break down numbers into these categories.

Additionally, as part of our celebration of Ramadan this month, students designed a beautiful class lantern using recycled materials. Each lantern became a meaningful expression of what Ramadan means to them. They wrote thoughtful reflections on their lanterns, such as:

• "Ramadan means to remember family and getting together. Ramadan feels peaceful."
• "Ramadan is a good time to pray and make dua for our loved ones."
• “During Ramadan I like to help my parents make iftar.”

I am thrilled to announce that their hard work paid off! They won the school's Ramadan Lantern Design Challenge and will be celebrating with a pizza party at the end of the term. This project allowed students to reflect on the spirit of Ramadan while being creative and environmentally conscious.

We are proud of their hard work and look forward to seeing even more growth!

Ms Aisha Basic

2B Class Teacher

Bound for Botany Bay Excursion

3A students had an exciting opportunity to attend the "Bound for Botany Bay" excursion at Kamay Botany Bay National Park in La Perouse. The program brought history to life as students explored the meeting of two cultures: Aboriginal Australians and the crew on the First Fleet. Students took part in guided walks, role-play activities, and learned about traditional Aboriginal life and the impact of European arrival. Overall, it was a memorable and fun day exploring history outside the classroom.

Ms Amel Mehana

3A Class Teacher 

Science and Creativity in 3B

Over the past fortnight, in our classroom we worked together to find out which material—metal, plastic, or wood—is the best at conducting heat! Before we started, we all made predictions about what would happen. Most of us thought metal would be the best because it feels hot quickly when we touch it.

We tested each material by seeing how well it carried heat. We then used some heat sources and measured how much the temperature changed. At the end, we compared the results and learned a lot about how heat travels through different materials.

In our Visual Arts lesson, we learned how Aboriginal artists use art to share stories about their customs and culture. By painting dots with an upside-down paintbrush, we created our own traditional dot drawings to celebrate the culture of the First Australians.

Well done 3B!

Ms Atike Ozkan

3B Class Teacher 

Students Step Back in Time – YEAR 4 EXCURSION

Year 4 students embarked on a fascinating journey through history, exploring the first British landing on Australian soil. The excursion took place on the island in Botany Bay, where students gained firsthand insights into both European and Aboriginal perspectives of this significant period.

Guided by expert historians, students visited original European buildings and key sites where early encounters between the British and Aboriginal people unfolded. Through engaging storytelling, they learned about the life of William Buckley, a British convict escapee who forged a deep connection with the Wathaurung People. Buckley’s survival depended on the skills he acquired from the Aboriginal community, who came to revere him as a spirit within their tribe.

This immersive experience encouraged students to view Australian history through multiple lenses, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of early colonial encounters. The excursion proved to be an eye-opening exploration of the rich heritage surrounding Botany Bay, leaving students with a newfound curiosity for the past. Our students were on their best behaviour and represented Maarif to the best of their ability. Well done 4A and keep up the great work.

Mrs Aslı Tekirdağ & Mrs Irem Taş

4A Class Teachers

Exploring Kinetic Energy in STEM

This term, Year 5 students have been exploring energy in STEM lessons. In this recent project, they built a pedometer, which is used to track walking steps. They started by measuring the number of steps they have taken. They used that value to calculate the distance that’s been travelled, the average walking speed and average kinetic energy value for that motion. Some discussion we had in the classroom include how to measure the speed of walking and what kind of energy this is. Students practised hands-on building skills and logical thinking ability as they overcome challenges and mistakes in the process of building the device and collecting data.

Mr Mike Liu

5A Class Teacher

Exploring Identity Through Art: Self-Portraits

This term, our students tapped into their creativity by designing their own self-portraits. Using a variety of materials and techniques, they explored expression, identity, and individuality through visual art.

It was wonderful to see each student’s personality shine through in their work, with thoughtful details and unique artistic choices. The self-portrait project not only built artistic skills but also encouraged self-reflection and confidence.

Ms Dilara Aydoğdu

5B Class Teacher

6A’s Creative Cubism Adventure

The 6A students enjoyed learning about Picasso's Cubism style in their visual art class. They adopted bold forms, bright colours, and varied angles to create distinctive abstract pieces that represented musical instruments. The students thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with new ways to draw guitars and make them look interesting and different. The activity enhanced their appreciation of Picasso's artwork while enabling them to express their creativity and create their own masterpieces.

The students worked in high spirits together to create a beautiful class lantern for the Ramadan Lantern Competition. They put a lot of effort into designing and decorating it with bright colours and patterns, which reflected the festive spirit beautifully. Their effort and creativity paid off when they were announced as winners, sharing the prize with Class 2B. Congratulations to both classes on their exceptional teamwork and dedication!

Ms Samira Asad

6A Class Teacher

Physical World: My Electric House Project

In Year 6, students created a fantastic science project by designing a model house using recyclable materials, showcasing their understanding of electricity. The project focused on demonstrating both simple and parallel circuits, with the student incorporating these circuits into their model house to power various features such as lights and small furnitures. Using materials like cardboard, wires, and batteries, the student applied their knowledge of circuit designs, ensuring that each part of the house was connected properly to function as intended. This hands-on project allowed them to bring theoretical knowledge into a real-world context, reinforcing their learning about electricity and circuits.

The outcomes of the project were impressive. The student was able to explain the differences between simple and parallel circuits and showed a clear understanding of how electricity flows through each type. They successfully wired the circuits to light up different areas of the house model, demonstrating both creativity and problem-solving skills. The project also helped the student develop a deeper understanding of how electrical systems work in everyday life. Through troubleshooting and refining their design, they gained valuable skills in critical thinking and practical application, culminating in a well-executed and informative presentation of their model house and circuits.

Ms Zeny Galsim

6B Class Teacher

Year 3 Beginner Level Turkish Lessons

We continued our lessons with our Year 3 beginner-level Turkish students, encouraging them to use Turkish more in their daily lives. We focused on helping students use appropriate expressions at the right time in daily conversations. To support this, we provided various time-based scenarios, and students tried to predict what should be said in each situation.

Additionally, this week we revisited classroom and school rules with our students to reinforce their understanding.

Year 5 and 6 Beginner Turkish Lesson

This week, we continued working on daily conversation skills with our Year 6 beginner-level students. They practised introducing themselves and learned how to continue a conversation when they meet a Turkish speaker. Additionally, they worked on their pronunciation to improve their communication skills. We also focused on professions in our lessons. Students learned how to talk about their jobs, where they work, and what they do in their professions. As part of this, they completed a listening activity. The teacher provided sentences about different professions, and students tried to guess the correct profession based on the given clues. They then arranged them in the correct order and expressed them verbally.

Ms Meyra Biçer

Turkish Language Teacher 

Exploring the World of Animals!

In our Year 1 Turkish class, we explored the topic of animals with great enthusiasm. We started by learning the names of different animals. Then, we talked about where they live, how they survive, whether they have wings or tails, and whether they are born or hatch from eggs.

Our students were curious and actively joined the discussions, asking questions and sharing their ideas. To strengthen our learning, we played fun matching games and completed writing activities based on what we had learned.

It was a fun and educational lesson where we improved our Turkish skills while discovering the animal kingdom!

Our Beans’ Growing Journey

Over the past few weeks, our Year 2 students have been growing beans on cotton as part of a fun and hands-on activity in our Turkish class.

We were so excited to see how our beans slowly started to sprout and grow. As they got bigger, we talked about what happened during each stage of their growth and what they look like now.

To wrap up the activity, we filled in our plant observation sheets, recording all the changes we noticed. It was a great way to learn about plants and practise describing what we see — all while using our Turkish skills!

Ms Tutku Şahin

Turkish Language Teacher

Learning Subtraction

We learned ow to subtract in Turkish with our Year 2 students and practiced using different methods.

We learned how to write a letter and identified the information needed to deliver it.

By playing Turkish-language board games, we expanded our vocabulary.

Learning to Write Titles

We talked with our Year 3 students about what to consider when determining titles for reading passages. We read a reading passage about “Kız Kulesi,” one of Türkiye’s important tourist attractions.

Mrs Özge Akçelik

Turkish Language Teacher

Çanakkale Zaferi Kutlu Olsun!

On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli Victory, a commemorative ceremony was held where our Year 5 and 6 students performed oratories. Year 6 students presented the Turkish National Anthem, reciting all ten stanzas in an oratory style. Year 5 students read the poem "Dur Yolcu," which tells the story of the Turkish nation's heroism and love for the homeland during the Gallipoli Campaign.

İyi Bayramlar!

Year 2 students, with the approach of eid, prepared Ramadan greeting cards for their families using the letter-writing techniques they have learned to.

Mrs Şeyma Akdemir

Turkish Language Teacher 

Bayram Gift Exchange

Wow, what a wonderful success our Gift Exchange event was! We also had a gift excahnge for our staff and we were excited as much as our students. We are so thankful to all the families who participated. It was incredible to see the joy and excitement all around—those smiles and that laughter were truly contagious, making it a day to remember.

A big thank you to everyone who helped bring this event to life, parents, families, and teachers. Your support and participation played a huge role in making it such a special occasion, and we could really feel the Bayram spirit in all our classrooms.

From all of us at Maarif, we wish you and your family a joyful Bayram! We can't wait to see all the bright, smiling faces back at school on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025!

Religion Committee

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 4 students memorised the first 20 names of Allah (SWT) with the meaning, and they have been assessed based on the first 20 names of Allah (SWT). All the students completed their tasks.

We wish you a very happy Eid.

EID MUBARAK

Religion Teachers

We Are Happy to Learn

Our students are very happy to learn new things, new rhythms, new melodies, sing, accompany themselves and make applied music in each new music lesson. Thus, they have the opportunity to have fun and learn with music.

Mrs Fisun Benlisoy

Music Teacher

Restarting the QuickSmart Math Program: A Fresh Start for Student Success

We are excited to bring back the QuickSmart Math Program, a powerful, evidence-based tool designed to boost students’ math fluency, confidence, and problem-solving skills. This restart marks a new chapter in the journey of mathematical excellence for our students.

For students who may be feeling uncertain after the break, we started with review sessions that reinforce their knowledge and build confidence.

QuickSmart provides short, timed sessions to improve students’ fluency in core math facts. The program is tailored to each student's needs, allowing them to progress at their own pace. Through interactive activities, students stay engaged while mastering essential math concepts.

Mrs Hatice Kocalar

Numeracy Support Teacher

World Storytelling Day

In Week 8, Maarif students celebrated World Storytelling Day by participating in yarning circles, embracing the tradition of oral storytelling. Each class created a unique collaborative story by having every student add a sentence to build the narrative together. The final stories were filled with humour and adventure, reflecting the creativity and imagination of each class. This activity encouraged active listening, teamwork, and a shared appreciation for storytelling. Well done to all students for showcasing their wonderful storytelling skills.

PDHPE Events

Last week, International Maarif School proudly celebrated National eSmart Week, promoting safe and responsible technology use. Through engaging lessons and discussions, students explored online safety, digital wellbeing and respectful communication. Teachers incorporated dedicated resources to help students navigate the digital world confidently. Posters and classroom activities reinforced positive digital habits, encouraging students to make informed choices online. Let’s continue these conversations at home to empower responsible digital citizens!

We also celebrated Eliminating Racial Discrimination Day on March 21st, and we would like to extend our appreciation to all classes for engaging in meaningful discussions about racism, cultural diversity and inclusion. We want to thank our staff for their dedication to fostering an inclusive school environment ensuring that all students feel valued and respected. The lesson in classes have supported students in understanding and addressing racism in a respectful and age-appropriate way. Through structured activities and open discussions, students have explored the importance of diversity and inclusion in their communities.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for ensuring these lessons were delivered with care and sensitivity, creating safe spaces for students to share their thoughts and experiences. We encourage all teachers to continue these important conversations beyond this week.

Here are some photos showcasing the fantastic activities and discussions from our classrooms. Thank you for making a difference!

PDHPE Committee

Primary School Clubs Update

Our school clubs are in full swing, and we are excited to share how things are going!

Art Club – Kindergarten and Year 1

Art Club has begun, and our first few sessions have been a great success! This term, our theme is all about the holy month of Ramadan. Kindergarten and Year 1 students used the paper tearing technique to create beautiful moon and star decorations and designed a vibrant Ramadan Mubarak poster. Their creativity and enthusiasm shone through, and we couldn’t wait to show off their wonderful artwork. Well done to all our young artists! 

Folk Dancing Club – The students have been learning steps of traditional dances with energy and excitement.

From Ms Khadijeh Sakalaki......

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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