International Maarif Schools of Australia eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

This term has been a period of growth, learning, and exploration for each and every one of us. From the students who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence, to the teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional guidance and support, we have all contributed to the vibrant tapestry of our educational journey.

As we reflect on the remarkable achievements of Maarif in the previous term, we acknowledge that it was not without its challenges. We faced the news of our building company going into administration, causing a temporary halt to the construction of our new building. However, I am delighted to inform you that we have successfully resolved this issue by forging a close partnership with Hindmarsh Construction Company. Despite this setback, our commitment to providing our students with the highest quality education remains unwavering.

While we eagerly await the completion of our new building, we remain focused on nurturing an environment that stimulates intellectual curiosity, encourages creativity, and instils a love for learning. Our students continue to thrive academically, and their accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our exceptional staff.

We are immensely proud of the resilience and determination displayed by our students throughout this challenging time. Their unwavering commitment to their education is truly inspiring. By embracing opportunities for growth and seizing every moment, they exemplify the core values we strive to instil in each Maarif student.

As we move forward, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our students, their families, and our dedicated staff for their unwavering support and resilience. It is through our collective efforts that we overcome challenges and continue to provide an exceptional educational journey for each and every student at Maarif.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and for your ongoing support. As we enter the break, I wish you and your families a wonderful time filled with warmth, joy, and beautiful memories.

Kind regards,

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Dr Zeynep Yaseen

Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we conclude Term 2, I would like to thank everyone part of our school community for the support and collaboration to make this term another success.

Our students continue to shine as they display PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) values at school. Students are demonstrating and displaying each value in the correct place within the school. Teachers have continued to dedicate explicit teaching time to teach the core values of Respect, Honesty, Cooperation and Excellence. We have recently had our AIS NSW (Association of Independent Schools) consultant who works with us, to visit our school recently where she conducted a ‘walk-though’ and selected students and staff randomly to ask about our values. She will provide us with insightful, constructive feedback for us to move forward effectively in the PBIS program.

We are delighted to have presented you your child’s Semester 1 report, a comprehensive overview of your child’s progress and achievements so far this year. Students have also brought home their Term 2 portfolios. Our dedicated teachers have carefully assessed and evaluated their performance based on classroom observations, assessments, projects and assignments. I encourage you to take time to review the report and portfolio over the school holiday break, celebrating their successes and reflecting on areas for continued improvement. Please do not hesitate to schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss any areas you would like to discuss further and explore strategies for continued growth and support. We look forward to continuing our partnership as we strive for the success and wellbeing of every student at Maarif.

We had a wonderful end to Term 2, with a Bayram-Eid festival. Students engaged attended a special assembly where duas, nasheeds and songs were performed. Awards were presented to students who are now reading the holy Qur'an, who we are very proud of. Students also had the opportunty to order burgers and chips, purchase fairy floss and popcorn as well as get henna and face painting done. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely parents and staff for organising the activities and helping out.

Wishing you all an enjoyable school holiday break.

Warmest Regards,

Mrs Reyhan Er

Primary School Coordinator

Write on Competition is an annual opportunity open to all NSW primary students in Years 1 to 6. Students chose to compose an imaginative text of up to 500 words using an image as the stimulus. The competition provided students with opportunities to become published authors and showcase their creativity. Once the students submitted their stories, the English Committee chose 1 winner per class. All the participants received a certificate of appreciation, and the winners received a small gift. Well done to all our writers!

In celebration of World Music Day, our music coordinator surprised each classroom with a performance using a variety of musical instruments, including violin, Turkish guitar, flute and piano.

Our students were overwhelmed with joy and mesmerised by his performances. They sang along with him and joined in on the fun. Here are some photos of the excited reactions.

On Thursday, 22nd June, students were encouraged to wear their favourite sports jersey. It was an exciting initiative organised by the Year 6 Committee.

Here are some photos!

The Year 6 committee held a food stall last week. Students were encouraged to bring food, sweets and yummy treats to sell at the stalls.

The funds raised will go towards all the upcoming events, celebrating the class of Year 6, at the end of the year.

More photos are found on our social media platforms!

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.

	Week 9	Week 10
KA	Musa Al Khuzai	Ada Naz Ozkan
KB	Hasan Karakocoglu	Sophia Alameddine
KC	Nour Isik	Elisa Kice
1A	Eren Varlik	Aneesa Barham
1B	Elifsu Cifci	Esila Alagoz
2A	Syed Ibrahim	Mikaal Khan
3A	Irem Badem	Affan Hasan
3B	Widad Hawat	Erkut Odabasi
4A	Kerem Er	Raqeem muzamil
4B	Saif Saad	Jody Batisha
5A	Ahmed Ziya Ciyim	Jada Saddiq
6A	Emin Karahasanoglu	Azra Coskun
6B	Amar Hussein	Aiden Elbadar

Also congratulations to these students for receiving an award.

The Australian Museum

KA had so much fun visiting The Australian Museum last week where they had the opportunity to look at the real sizes of dinosaur bones and treasures from the past. There were preserved birds and animals that allowed them to see endangered animals up close. The students really enjoyed looking at items that represented the Indigenous culture and other artefacts in our world.

Museums and other informal learning environments invite children to engage in varied exhibitions and activities, to explore and understand new concepts.

When we go to museums and other excursions, we learn and discover things about the past and the future, science, art, and cultures, offering unique educational opportunities outside of the classroom.

Mrs Ulku Turkmen

KA Teacher

Excursion to the Australian Museum

Today we went to the Australian Museum and it was quite exciting. First, we had our recess in the yard which was quite nice and sunny, then we had a little introduction from our host of what we are going to see and the things that we can do and couldn’t do. We visited the Aboriginal section and looked at the musical instruments and other decorations or items they built many years ago. Then we visited the jungle animals section which the children found quite interesting. These jungle animals were shown in their actual sizes and the children found them quite amazing. Then we visited the bird section and looked at all of the colourful bird types available in Australia. The most interesting part was of course THE DINOSOURS. Children found this section quite amazing. We spent most of our time in this section taking photos, getting answers to our questions and talking a lot about them. It was a wonderful but also an exhausting day.

Ms Gulden Aksoy

KB Teacher

Eid Cards

KC had a fantastic time getting into the Eid/Bayram spirit by creating Eid cards and decorating the classroom whilst listening to nasheeds. Our class favourite is Rahmatun Lil’Alameen by Maher Zain.

Students did great teamwork by sharing a large colouring sheet. They used their manners by saying please and thank you when swapping sides and exchanging colouring pencils and crayons.

KC also learnt more about primary and secondary colours by mixing paints together. Well done to all our creative artists!

Eid Al-Adha Mubarak! Kurban Bayraminz Mubarek olsun.

Looking forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 3!

Ms Saadet Ugur

KC Teacher

The Little Diggers

Year 1 students had a wonderful time during our excursion to The Rocks for the Little Diggers program. The purpose of this excursion was to delve into the past and learn about how people lived. One of the highlights was exploring the different toys and games that children enjoyed in the past. Additionally, students played the role of an archaeologist and went digging to find different objects and materials. Overall, it was a fantastic excursion, and we are proud of our students for representing Maarif and our values.

Merve Sarikaya

1A Teacher

Little Diggers Program

Year 1 students had a wonderful time during our excursion to The Rocks for the Little Diggers program. The purpose of this excursion was to delve into the past and learn about how people lived. One of the highlights was exploring the different toys and games that children enjoyed in the past. Additionally, students played the role of an archaeologist and went digging to find different objects and materials. Overall, it was a fantastic excursion, and we are proud of our students for representing Maarif and our values.

Ms Derya Karaman

1B Teacher

Unforgettable Adventures at Little Diggers!

Stage 1 recently embarked on an exhilarating excursion to the Little Diggers program, leaving them with cherished memories and a newfound enthusiasm for history. This extraordinary experience took them on a thrilling journey into the past, where they embraced their inner archaeologists and delved into the secrets of Sydney's early settlement.

After their adventure at Little Diggers, students enjoyed their lunch at the Observatory Park which had a stunning view of the famous Harbour Bridge! It was a beautiful spot to relax, eat and connect with the city’s heritage.

Students returned to school not only with stories to tell but also with a deeper appreciation for the rich history of Sydney.

Ms Maryam Faisal

2A Teacher

Chinese New Year

Students in Year 3 enjoyed a culturally immersive excursion to the Chinese Garden of Friendship and Chinatown in the city. This excursion was planned as part of the HSIE unit on Commemorations and Celebrations. Preceding this excursion as part of classwork, students gained an understanding of the Chinese New Year and its incredible significance to the Chinese people. Additionally, children learnt about the concept of religious syncretism and its presence in the various traditions associated with both Chinese New Year and Diwali. Profound in its implications, religious syncretism is a phenomenon that has played a major part in the development of many belief systems around the world. A popular student observation about the garden was that it was “just like the Jade Palace in Kung Fu Panda”.

Ms Samira Asad and Mr Aziz Hawlader

Year 3 Teachers

‘James and the Giant Peach’

Students have been participating in a novel study of the book, ‘James and the Giant Peach’. They are regularly participating in shared and guided reading. After reading we discuss what we have read and then participate in comprehension activities.

On this particular day, students asked to read books in a cosy manner, under the desks with the lights off to really immerse themselves in the experience fully, being taken away into a different world with the help of their imagination.

Mrs Ayse Yildiz

4A Teacher

Eid Decorations

4B students eagerly came together to prepare and decorate their classroom for the joyous celebration of Eid al-Adha. With excitement in the air, they adorned the walls with colourful posters depicting the significance of the occasion and crafted handmade decorations, from paper lanterns to sheep. Throughout the process, the students engaged in meaningful discussions, sharing personal stories and experiences, deepening their understanding of diverse cultures. Their collective efforts not only created a visually stunning environment but also fostered a sense of belonging and respect for all, reflecting their commitment to embracing diversity and promoting cultural awareness.

Ms Suzan Tarpis & Ms Fatima Memedoski

4B Teacher

Happy Eid!

Welcome to our final weeks of term 2! I hope the students enjoy their school holidays and their Eid!

The students had an interactive time learning traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance in our PDHPE program for dance. These dances have been practised for thousands of years and hold significant cultural, spiritual, and social importance within Aboriginal communities. Therefore, it is important to note that Aboriginal traditional dance is a diverse and multifaceted aspect of Indigenous Australian cultures, with significant regional and cultural variations.

Additionally, the students attended their final cricket lesson. They really enjoyed learning about their final cricket game. Cricket is a popular sport played within Australia and the students really engaged with the traditional aspects of the sport.

Finally, we had our year 6 fundraiser, and the students came in with a jersey to raise funds for the people impacted by the Turkish earthquakes. All the students showed their support and wore their jerseys.

I hope 5A have enjoyed their time with me this term, I look forward to teaching 5A in term 3 as I have more interactive and engaging lessons planned for the remainder of the year.

Mrs Sevim Keselik

Year 5 Teacher

English Creative Task

During the English unit, students explored the concept of intercultural experiences by studying the novel Onion Tear and My Place. Students in class had many discussions about the experiences of migration and the causes of migration. Students in class complete a poster based on aspects of their environment that holds value to them. Students create maps and symbols on an A3 piece of paper. Students used sensory and visualisation elements, such as touch and visualisation, to depict their special environment. Hands-on activities such as building and drawing allow students to use their critical thinking and visualisation skills to depict their safe place. The students also competed against each other to see who could draw the best and had the most decorated map using graphic skills.

Here are some photos of the different maps that the students created.

Miss Dilara Ozhan

6A Teacher

Compass Directions!

6B students engaged with the learning last week with an interactive activity to learn about compass directions. They all demonstrated knowledge on compass directions and successfully completed the activity to reach a certain destination.

Keep up the great work.

Mrs Asli Tekirdag

6B Teacher

‘My Life in Pictures

This week in Turkish language lessons the Year 6 class completed their ‘My Life in Pictures’ task. They used photos of themselves from various important moments and put them together to make a timeline. They added short descriptions to each photo explaining what was happening, why it was an important moment and how old they were. Students brainstormed what makes a moment important and what parts of their lives they wanted to add. It was a great activity the students enjoyed.

Ms Esma Dogan

Turkish Language Teacher

Shapes

This week in Kindergarten we completed a revision activity on Shapes. We sang our shapes song and revised our 3d and 2d shapes. We used our fine motor skills to make different shapes with playdough.

Mrs Muge Tugrul

Turkish Language Lessons

Drama

Year 6 students performed a drama activity about shopping at a stationery store. Afterwards, we discussed what went well and areas that needed improvement, such as pronunciation and sentence structure. Based on our conversation, the students reenacted the scenario.

Ms Sever Meyra Bicer

Turkish Language Teacher

Geometric Shapes

Year 2 learnt geometric shapes by writing, drawing and painting.

Year 2 also had a conversation about Eid-al-Adha, and ideas expressed by the children were written on the board.

Ms Ayse Acikkol

Turkish Language Teacher

Islamic Studies

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmetullahi wa barakatuh,

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

Alhamdulillah, as believers having faith and trust in Allah, we have overcome a very challenging term in which I would like to thank all parents and guardians for all their help and for supporting our students throughout the term.

Our students in Primary had in-class project tasks for Islamic Studies. This was to show their understanding of some of the topics covered throughout the term.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others.”

Students were reciting, and practising their Qur’an pages as well as memorising chapters (Surah) and Dua’s which were displayed on the smartboard.

We pray that Allah (SWT) allows our students to keep the Qur’an in the centre of their lives and let the Book of Allah be the light of their hearts.

Mr Muhammed Ordukaya

Qur’an and Islamic Studies Teacher

The Student Corner is a dedicated space for students of any year level to showcase their unique work and talents!

Belinay Elustu - KB

Bilal Ufacikligil - KC

Safiyyah Kassem - KC

Zara Rafiq - 1A

Adem Rafiq - 2A

Melikhan Mengi - 3A

International Maarif Schools of Australia has commenced recess/lunch clubs, providing a variety of opportunities for each student. Here are some photos from some of our clubs these last two weeks.

Chess Club

Advanced Art

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:

Student_Short_Term_Leave_Application_Form_less_than_50_days_.pdf

Student_Short_Term_Leave_Application_Form_less_than_50_days pdf 263.96 KB

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 in 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

2023_Primary_School_Uniform_Order_Form.pdf

2023_Primary_School_Uniform_Order_Form _pdf 186.13 KB

Maarif students are expected to wear their Summer school uniform during Term 1. Please be reminded of the importance of naming all items of school uniform with your child’s name and class. This means that lost items found around school can easily be returned.

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.

As our school is growing, we request that our parents and/or carers are extra cautious during school drop off and pick up times.

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 also causes traffic congestion.

- Follow the directions of our school crossing supervisors.

- Give way to our School Bus drivers.

Thank you for your cooporation.

Road_Safety.pdf

Road_Safety _pdf 1.68 MB

Instagram: @australiamaarif

Facebook: Maarif Australia

Twitter: @AUmaarif

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We have many items including school uniform, lunch boxes and water bottles in our lost property baskets. Please be advised that all these items will be thrown out if not claimed. The lost property baskets will be located in the office area. Please clearly label all items with your child's name, surname and class.

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 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 smart watches.

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.

School Permission Notes

All school permission notes must be returned by the due date that is on the note. In the case where signed notes are not received by the due date, students may not be able to attend.

All permission notes must always be returned to the class teacher and not the school office. Hard copies can be sent in with students or soft copies can be emailed to class teachers directly.

We are no longer accepting cash payments for excursions. Please use the link or QR code provided in the permission notes for payments.

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.

First Day of Term 3

Tuesday, 18 July 2023

2023_Academic_Calendar.pdf

2023_Academic_Calendar _pdf 853.94 KB