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- From our Head of Curriculum
- Kindergarten
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Turkish Lessons
- Islamic Studies
- PE Program
- Book Week
- Mawlid al-Nabi
- Turkey Republic Day
- World Teachers' Day
- 'The Human Race' Live Performance
- World Kindness Day
- School Photos
- Teacher Professional Development
- Staff and Student Birthdays
- Reminders
- Term Dates
Dear Parents/Carers,
What an action packed few weeks it has been at Maarif so far this term and what an exceptional place our school is indeed! Students have continued their extra-curricular activities and their learning. At the very heart of our Maarif education, is teaching our students to embrace our values which are:
-Confidence
-Transparency
-Cooperation & Solidarity
-Competence & Virtue
-Respect to Local Values
-Inclusiveness in Education
-Universality
Always Was, Always Will Be
NAIDOC Week recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Class activities have been organised at our school to celebrate NAIDOC week. You can read more about these and see some of the wonderful artwork of our talented students in this edition of the newsletter.
World Kindness Day
A special thanks to everyone for supporting our fundraising food stalls that we held throughout the week. I am proud to announce that we were able to raise $3,000.00 thanks to our generous parents, students and staff. This will provide essential aid for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Izmir, Turkey.
‘The Human Race’ Live Performance
‘The Human Race’ is a Resilience Program which covered key themes that were very relevant to all our students and teachers. Bullying and Cyber Bullying, Wellbeing, Respect, Diversity and Inclusion, Positive Relationships, Honesty, Conflict Resolution, Empathy and Compassion were explored and modelled in the live performance. All students were engaged and walked away with strong messages that tied in well with our school values.
Book Week
Maarif celebrated Book Week with lots and lots of reading! When we engage in reading, we escape from the real world and enter a world of curiosity and imagination. The theme for the CBCA Book Week this year, ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’, celebrated creative benefits to be gained from reading. We had special guests performing a live show called ‘The Greatest Discovery’ which was a highly interactive incursion where the entire audience explored the very best Australian children’s books. It was a wonderful day with lots of fun, fabulous costumes, bringing the book characters to life. Please enjoy the photos from the day.
Got Game PE – Fitness and Resilience
This term we have PE lessons delivered by Got Game where we have an external Physical Education NSW Accredited teacher come to our school and teach lessons focusing on self-management through challenging physical and behavioural activities. It is aimed to provide students with the ability to feel greater control over their behaviour and take responsibility for their actions.
School Assemblies
We have recommenced our Monday morning assemblies as a whole school this term where students can showcase the awards they receive. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our hard working students who have received Bronze, Silver and Gold awards as well as Hale Caliskan for receiving her Principal’s Award. Keep up the great work!




Mrs Reyhan Er
Head of Curriculum
Kindergarten has been learning about nouns in English. They completed activities on identifying nouns and proper nouns in reading books. Students also had opportunities to learn about estimations by measuring their desks with pencils.











To commemorate NAIDOC week, Kindergarten students enjoyed painting their boomerangs with dot painting.


Kindergarten students have been learning about kindness and the importance of sharing this week. They have been watching videos and having discussions about kindness.


Mrs Julie Brennan
Kindergarten Teacher
Year 1 students were encouraged to show their creative skills by using thick paint and thin paint brushes and painting on cardboard paper. Our theme was nature and the special places they have visited, they were advised to use colours that reminded them of these places. The students showed the ability to share materials and work in small groups as they created the best of artworks. Year 1 really enjoyed this experience and requested to have the session again. Great work Year 1!










This week year 1 students did an experiment about how water changes when other items are added to it. We tried adding a teabag, a bottle cap, milk, crumbs, paper, tissue etc and watched what happened when these items mixed with water. We also discussed how water dropped onto different surfaces, for example, sometimes the water got soaked by the surface, other times it stayed on top etc. Year one students came to understand that water has the ability to change depending on what type of item is mixed with it.
Maarif celebrated NAIDOC Week last week! Year 1 students were encouraged to bring in an item from home that represented the Aboriginal culture. We are honored to have our first Aboriginal student at Maarif, the beautiful Aleena who brings so much knowledge and joy into our class about the Indigenous culture. Our day continued with many Indigenous art and craft activities.
This term, Year 2 is learning to about 'Changes All Around' in Science and Technology and as a class we planted bean seeds in our mini greenhouses and we will be looking after them and watching them grow.






In English, Year 2 is focusing on procedural texts and structure and we thought it would be great to make our own playdough and write a procedural text about it.








Mr Rachad El-Sabeh
Year 2 Teacher
Year 3 have been thoroughly enjoying their physical education lessons this term, delivered by an external teacher from Got Game. Students have been actively participating in fun and engaging activities to help them develop greater proficiency across a range of movement skills including stability, object control, locomotor skills.






Year 3 have been exploring how we experience day and night on earth. Through role play, students learnt that earth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours and therefore, different parts of the planet is facing towards the sun or away from it, causing night and day.
Students were also able to identify that at the same time that the earth spins on its axis, it also orbits the sun.






Year 3 have been enjoying playing games to consolidate their learning of new mathemtical concepts in a fun and engaging way. Students played online games and board games about rounding, data and money. Playing games provides students with opportunities to develop positive attitudes towards mathematics.






Ms Amel Mehana
Year 3 Teacher
Year 4 students are developing researching skills in Geography. They get weekly in-class task where they work in pair to recognise quality resources and answer the questions.






In PE, students are engaged in variety of sport arranged by Got Game. They are refining their team work skills by participating in different games.






Year 4 students engaged in Maths games to help them understand the concept of money. This type of game-based learning has developed their skills without losing the motivation.








This week Year 4 celebrated NAIDOC week and got engaged in different activities to acknowledge the Aboriginal contribution towards Australia. Students as a class generated an artwork which depicts that we all are different but when we work together it results in great result. It was great teamwork.








Mrs Samira Asad
Year 4 Teacher
Three Layers of Government
As an introductory lesson into natural disasters, it was important for Year 5 students to understand the levels of government in our country to understand the different layers of responsibilities when it comes to protecting us and recovering from devastations of what natural disasters can bring upon us. To make this engaging, the students made a triarama.








Understanding History and Culture through Art
Visual Art lessons this term are based on the use of natural materials in the environment. This led to the idea of historical masks and how in some cultures, masks have been used for centuries and for different reasons. During the first practical lesson, students drew a mask and focused on the different patterns that could be used.








Shake, Rattle and Fall
In Science and Geography students have been involved in lessons about natural disasters and specifically, the human impact on cause and prevention. In Science Year 5 conducted an experiment called ‘Shake, Rattle and Fall’ where students replicated the movement of different scaled earthquakes. The test was the see if a Lego-built home or a wooden block home was stronger. Students concluded with the idea that Lego was stronger as it acted as bricked and were interconnected; creating strength.










Making Masks
Boys and girls in Year 5 are working on their tribal masks. They are using a mix of materials to create their masks. The first layer of the mask was paint layered with black tribal patterns. The final stage of the creation is using natural materials to enhance the appearance and uniqueness of their masks.










Flood Simulation Experiment
Year 5 took a dive into understanding the geographical concepts associated with floods. Once the students knew how the land and people could be effected, they were given the opportunity to create a small community which had to include a body of water, different buildings and differing levels of ground to see the result of a flood. The ultimate test was to see what house would survive the longest. To their discovery, it would be a house on the highest point of ground, and it would be more secure if the body of water had a constructed wall to protect the homes as a starting point.








Mrs Olivia Peach
Year 5 Teacher
Kindergarten
This term, Kindergaten students learnt numbers up to 20 with songs, memory games and online games.
Students learnt different kinds of animals. They completed art and craft activities, sang animal songs with their animal masks.








Year 4
Year 4 students learnt some traditional Turkish games such as Saklambaç, Körebe, Seksek, Mendil Kapmaca, Yağ Satarım Bal Satarım, Ak Terek Gök Terek, Birdirbir, Misket, Beş Taş, Topaç Çevirme, İsim Şehir Bulmaca. Students watched the videos of the games to learn the rules and they played in the classroom and outside of the classroom. They also learnt the game rhymes.













Year 4 students made dialogues according to the topics and did role play in the classroom.
Year 5
Year 5 students made presentations about their summer holiday plans.














They read letters received from Turkey and responded them.




Students made posters which includes animals and adjectives in groups and presented them in front of the classroom.












Mrs Aysegul Seyma Akdemir
Turkish Teacher (Years Kindergarten, Year 4 and Year 5)
Year 1
This Term at Maarif a lot of fun things happened in Turkish classrooms. Year 1 learned more about their belongings and clothes. They also learned how to tell their daily routine in Turkish and completed matching activities easily. One of the best classes was about toys and games in Turkish, they all experienced that traditional Turkish games and described the toys.
They danced a lot! Year 1 learned 3 more songs in 4 weeks and they sing Turkish songs even in the breaks. Every week they had reading time, game time and colouring time activities which make Turkish classes full of fun for them.






Year 2
There is a lot of new news in Turkish lessons this term! One of the most important is TURKISH STARS!
According to activity initiated by Ms.Pamuk, students receive 1 Turkish star according to their completed worksheet or good behaviour in each class. Each student who collects 10 stars gets +30 dojo points and increases the number of green cards rapidly.
Their other favourite is the new songs they learned this term. Every lesson they sing and dance at least twice. They learn while having fun with new picture puzzles and activities. They increase their points with each new word they learn. During this amazing learning periods they did not forget their special days and they celebrated 29 October Republic Day of Turkey enthusiastically.
Finally, they learn new words and improve their vocabulary with card games when they improve their focusing skills.
Year 3
The most exciting Turkish class for Year 3 was the class they which the learned new games. They loved traditional children's games and were very excited while playing.
They listened to Turkish fairy tales and learned new words with these characters. They saw some characters during Book Week which looked so real. They did not understand how time passed with online Turkish games and almost half of the lesson passed rapidly. We look forward to more learning and fun activities during the remainder of Term 4.






Miss Esra Pamuk
Turkish Teacher (Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3)
Kindergarten
Time to learn Wudu and Salah!
Kindergarten have been learning that we perform Wudu/Abdest to clean ourselves before we can stand for Salah. We have been practicing the steps of wudu as well as saying “Bismillah” before we start, and the “Shahadah” when we are finished.
Students have also learnt the adab of Salah, such as standing for prayer and standing in a straight line without speaking or looking around. As you can see in the pictures, they have done very good at standing for Salah. Well done Kindergarten!






Year 1 & 2
Story Time!
Years 1 and 2 have been learning about the lives of the Prophets and so far, learnt the amazing story of Prophet Musa (as), Prophet Ibrahim (as) and Prophet Isa (as). They are also gaining moral lessons from their lives and the important fact that Prophets came to deliver the same message “There is no God but Allah”. Well done to students for listening attentively in every lesson, gaining knowledge about the Prophets of Islam.
Here is the link to our video we love listening to each and every lesson. They have almost memorised all the names of the prophets from this video mashallah!








Ms Gulcan Aksu
Islamic Studies Teacher
Our Physical Education program is run by Got Game. Mr Mahdi our PE teacher teaches the Australian Curriculum PDHPE outcomes on Fridays. Students have been enjoying the specialist sports program so far this term.








Maarif celebrated Book Week by viewing and reading many books, by dressing up as book characters and by watching a performance by Perform Education. The performance included exciting elements of Olympic history, along with a selection of The Children's Book Council of Australia 2020 Shortlisted Books, encouraging students to engage with reading in an active and energetic manner and reinforcing the idea of inclusiveness and celebration of endeavour rather than competition outcomes.













Students and Teachers dressed up in creative book character costumes. The judges were the performers from the show and had a difficult time in choosing the best dressed students as there were lots of fantastic costumes. Two winners from each class received a book prize.














Mawlid al-Nabi is the observance of the birthday of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Religious Attache of Turkish Consulate General Mr Bilal Aksoy and Auburn Gallipoli Mosque Imam Mr Enes Ozkan visited our school and spoke to our students about the importance of commemorating our Beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) on his birthday. They gifted all our students with books about Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and the Glorious Qur'an.

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Turkey Republic Day commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923. Maarif students were given the opportunity to enter a song contest - where they were able to show their talent and sing a song about Turkey. Our judge Music teacher Mr Emre Sevinc congratulated the winners and all students who participated in the contest.












Maarif celebrated the remarkable teaching profession by saying thank you to all the teachers, school leaders and admin staff on World Teachers' Day. They have all continued to work hard to do their best for Maarif students during the unprecedented year.












'The Human Race' Live Performance
Students from Kindergarten to Year 5 had the opportunity to watch and participate in a live performance of 'The Human Race', an educational theatre by Brainstorm Productions. The performance invited students to celebrate our differences and encouraged resilience.




Year 4 received the Best Class award during the show. Well done, Year 4 students!


It was World Kindness Week at Maarif last week. We had a food stall everyday last week. It was wonderful to see everyone supporting such a good cause.












Maarif students had school photos taken on Wednesday last week. Portrait and group photos were taken on the day with lots of lovely smiles! We look forward to receiving them. Here we have the whole school, our School Captains and Vice Captains and our staff.






Teacher Professional Development
Maarif teachers were the students in the classroom, engaging in an interactive Professional Development program which aimed at supporting both student and teacher wellbeing. 'Wellbeing: It's not just a policy' delivered by Life Skills Group covered key concepts such as understanding mindfulness-based emotional intelligence, enhanced self-awareness, strategies for mental and emotional resilience as well as deeper professional engagement.




On behalf of Maarif we would like to wish our staff and students a very Happy Birthday who have celebrated their birthday during the month of October.
Students:
Haktan Cetiner
Halid Cetiner
Omer Kale
Yusuf Kose
Fatima Uzun
Vera Bulli
Kerem Er
Mikail Er
Adem Aygun


Students are expected to come to school dressed in their full summer uniform for the remainder of Term 4. All students are reminded to wear their hats during recess, lunch and sport. Please also remember to send a water bottle with your child every day.




Students who travel to and from school by bus are reminded to follow bus rules whilst travelling on the bus. Removing seatbelts and walking on the bus is NOT permitted.


TERM DATES
Term 4: Monday 19 October to Friday 18 December 2020
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2020
Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December 2020