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,

Dr Zeynep Yaseen

Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Term 2 has been very busy for secondary school students at International Maarif Schools of Australia.

During the second half of Term 2, secondary school students have been busy with a range of activities including sports events, sports training, debate team coaching, Reconciliation Day, Food Allergy Day, World Environment Day, World Music Day, and Kurban Bayrami excursion.

The boys and girls Soccer teams have been training every Wednesday and Thursday after school. Students have been trained by a well-known professional A-League soccer player Tarek Elrich. Coach Tarek has developed an amazing rapport with the teams. Students have been learning new techniques, developing skills and enjoying team spirit throughout term 2.

The boys and girls Oztag teams have also been training every Wednesday and Thursday. Students have been training with their amazing trainer Coach Abdul. Coach Abdul has developed an amazing rapport with the students. The team eagerly awaits the training sessions every week.

Our sports teams have been participating in various sporting activities including 7-9 Oztag competitions, and Futsal competitions including U13 boys, U14 boys and girls, and U16 boys and girls.

The Maarif Debate team has participated in debates with other schools. Our stage 4 and 5 teams have won their competitions. Our sports and debate team has been making us proud of their hard work and achievements.

In addition to curriculum-related activities, and subject excursions/incursions, students have participated in a range of extra-curricular activities. Furthermore, the Kurban Bayrami excursion provided students with an opportunity to further celebrate the Kurban festivities with their friends. Students had fun playing laser tag. Students enjoyed lunch as they played a game of bowling.

Students have been learning about their social and emotional well-being. The weekly You Can Do It program has been running through term 2. Students have been learning about resilience and character development. Students participate in a range of activities and class discussions throughout the program.

International Maarif Schools of Australia believes in maintaining open and effective communication between parents, carers, and the school. Parents and carers are encouraged to get in touch with subject teachers via email, sentral or phone appointments.

As Term 2 2023, draws to a close, I would like to wish all students and families a happy, safe, and enjoyable school holiday and look forward to seeing everyone in Term 3.

Kind regards

Adeba Qasim

Secondary School Coordinator

World Music Day is an annual event that is observed on June 21 every year to celebrate music.

Secondary school students participated in World Music Day by learning about how music helps kids grow. Music encourages children to think creatively. By learning about music from different cultures, students learn to appreciate cultural diversity. The study of music can improve memory, attention, and academic skills.

Students at International Maarif Schools of Australia participated in Reconciliation. Students learnt about the history and importance of Reconciliation.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australia’s colonial history is characterized by devastating land dispossession, violence, and racism. Over the last half-century, however, many significant steps towards reconciliation have been taken.

Students learnt about the five dimensions of Reconciliation including:

Race relations
Equality and equity
Institutional integrity
Unity
Historical Acceptance

Secondary students at International Maarif Schools of Australia participated in World Environment Day. Students learnt about the importance of taking care of the environment. Students learnt about the impact of climate change.

Secondary students at International Maarif Schools of Australia learnt about food allergies. Researchers estimate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18. That's one in 13 children or roughly two in every classroom.

Students learnt about the different allergies and how to be safe and cautious. Students participated in class discussions regarding the different support networks available. Students learnt about the challenges associated with food allergies.

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.

	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Week 7	Selma Harembasic 7A	Hamza Abu Rashed 8A	Rachid Zeidan 9A
Week 8	Siba Abu Issa 7C	Mansur Uzun 8B	Aishah Saddik 9B
Week 9	Yusuf Efe Pehlivan 7A	Busra Ciyim 8B	Muzamil Darwish 9N
Week 10	Mehmet Bulduk 7B	Arda Yildiz 8A	Amira Hoblos 9B

"Personal Voices"

Our talented students have been delving deep into a unit called "Personal Voices" this term. This study has provided students with an avenue to understand, explore, and express their unique perspectives and experiences. A highlight of the unit was the assessment task where our students wrote and presented a personal speech to their peers. The confidence and eloquence displayed by each student in articulating their thoughts was truly commendable. Furthermore, students had the opportunity to cultivate their creative writing skills through a poetry writing workshop. This immersive activity allowed them to explore language, emotions, and themes in an entirely new light, with the product being a collection of poignant and vibrant pieces of poetry.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

This term, our Year 8 English students embarked on a literary journey through the world of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." As they dissected the intricate plot and vibrant characters, students developed a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare’s profound insight and complex characterisations. The centrepiece of the unit was an assessment task in which they analysed the themes woven throughout the play, including the nature of love, the interplay between reality and illusion, and the dynamics of power and social order. This exercise helped the students enhance their analytical skills and foster a deeper understanding of the timeless relevance of Shakespeare's works. Complementing their studies, Year 8 also participated in a poetry writing workshop. This fusion of analytical learning and creative expression has shone a spotlight on our student's capacity for critical thinking and imaginative exploration.

Asian Literature

Year 9 English spent the term studying Asian literature during their unit 'Exploring Asian Voices'. This immersive study opened a world rich in culture, history, and distinct narrative styles, honing our students' understanding and appreciation of a wide range of Asian texts. The highlight of the term was the assessment task where students meticulously analysed their chosen texts, subsequently crafting and presenting a multimodal presentation that showed the distinct 'Asian voice' inherent in their work. Further enhancing their literary skill, students also partook in a poetry writing workshop. This term has been a fusion of literary analysis, creative expression, and cultural exploration, all of which have enhanced students’ understanding of content and the development of skills.

Ms Samia Sabih

English Coordinator

Financial Mathematics

This term, students will be working towards building up their knowledge, skills and strategies of the concepts studied in class to complete the Mid-Year Examination. Parents and Caregivers are advised to be conscious of the due dates and support their students to ensure a smooth implementation. Years 7 and 9 will have their Mathematics Exam in Week 6, while Year 8 is expected to have their exam in Week 7. It is vital that students bring their Calculators to class and use them during examinations.

In this newsletter, we bring you snapshots of work samples of the Year 9 PowerPoint investigation on Financial Mathematics where the students have used their research skills to explain key terms and created unique and complex questions with worked solutions.

Ms Sabriye Boz and Ms Mariam El Maarraoui

Maths Coordinator and Maths Teacher

Incredible Voyage into the Living World

Dive into the heart of the Stage 4 Science Curriculum's thrilling exploration of life in its most fundamental forms! It's a rollercoaster ride of scientific discovery that leads us from the incredible diversity of the living world to the remarkable systems of classification that help us make sense of it all. But the journey doesn't stop there! We plunge even deeper, unravelling the complexities of living cells, the bustling microscopic cities that form the foundation of life. These cellular metropolises, teeming with intricate structures and dynamic processes, are key to understanding how organisms grow, develop, and function. Each class, each lesson is a fresh, exciting exploration of life's mysteries. As we progress through the curriculum, our understanding of the living world expands, transforming the way we perceive and interact with the natural world around us. So, gear up, intrepid explorers, for the journey of a lifetime – a journey into the very fabric of life!

Mr Abdussamed Dilber

Science & TAS Teacher

Textiles

As another term comes to a close, we can all look back at the wonderful work and the continuous effort that stage 4 has done in TAS this term. Both year 7 and 8 students have completed research activities that have allowed them to explore the fundamental ideas of textiles and their applications and impacts in the real world where students explore the different material technologies and their uses in our everyday lives. Students’ understanding of these ideas and concepts was assessed in the TAS exam that took place this term. Students have done a wonderful job showing their understanding of textiles with the overall excellent performance and result that students have achieved in the exam!

Students have learnt about the inner workings and setup of the sewing machine which include threading top and bottom threads, adjusting the settings of the machine, and sewing the fabric while practising safety in the textile lab. Year 7 this term had the opportunity to design and create some very creative tote bags and year 8 have had the opportunity to design and create their very own pillow of their own choosing!

Mr Billal Almadi

Technology and Applied Studies (TAS) Teacher

Year 7 History

This term, year 7 History students have embarked on two civilisation groups: Ancient India and Ancient Egypt, unravelling the mysteries and wonders of these ancient worlds.

Our exploration of Ancient India provided an opportunity for students to analyse the geographical features, cultural heritage and legacies. We also journeyed through time exploring the emergence of philosophical foundations and achievements of Ancient India

Furthermore, students discovered the importance of the Nile River and the agricultural practices that sustained life for the Ancient Egyptian civilians. Students investigated the monumental pyramids, religious beliefs, everyday life and the feudal system that defined Ancient Egyptian society.

Year 9 History

Students have explored ancient civilisations to unravel the complexities of modern-day societies and further delved into Australia’s involvement in World War I – World War II.

One of the highlights of this term was our captivating excursion to Manly Quarantine Station, a place of significant historical wonders. The practice of the quarantine station began during the 14th century in an effort to protect coastal cities from epidemics. During the excursion, students gained valuable insights into various stories of those immigrants who were once quarantined.

Ms Burcin Taskin

Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) Teacher

Year 9 Commerce

This term Year 9 Commerce students studied ‘ The Business and Economic Environment’. Students explored the intricacies of the business world and its relationship with the economic environment. Furthermore, students analysed key factors and influence that shape the success and challenges of businesses in today’s global marketplace. Students had the opportunity to develop an understanding of entrepreneurial concepts showcased within “Shark Tank”. Students were able to apply their knowledge to demonstrate market gaps and respond to challenging questions posed by the panel.

Through interactive activities, we developed a deeper understanding of economic indicators: GDP, inflation and unemployment rates and their significance in evaluating business performances.

Wishing Year 9 Commerce students a restful and enjoyable holiday.

Ms Mariam El Maarraoui

Commerce Teacher

Basketball

During PDHPE practical lessons, students engaged in dynamic activities that has enhances their motor skills, teamwork, and overall fitness. When learning about basketball students were eager to learn shooting, passing and dribbling skills. Witnessing their progress and the pure joy on their faces was great. Students have been finishing up content in class as the term comes to an end. Take care of yourself and enjoy the holiday!

Ms Fatma Sahin

PDHPE Teacher

Innovative World of Modern Farming

Exciting happenings in our Year 9 Design and Technology class! As part of the NSW Stage 5 Curriculum, our students have been exploring the innovative world of modern farming, truly pushing the envelope of what's possible. Our focus? Vertical farming – a revolutionary concept where crops are grown in vertically stacked layers. This cutting-edge method optimizes plant growth and saves resources, offering a potential solution to future food security. Students have been applying their engineering design skills to explore efficient models of vertical farms, taking into account aspects like space management, light sources, and irrigation systems. It's heartening to see our future innovators contribute their ideas to these global challenges. We look forward to sharing more of their ingenious solutions with you soon!

Mr Abdussamed Dilber

Science & TAS Teacher

Exercise, Nutrition and Rest

Students have been really engaged in PASS lessons. We have emphasised the importance of regular exercise, proper nutrition, and ample rest. Students have demonstrated a large amount of interest in the topic. As this semester comes to an end, I encourage all students to carry this knowledge and apply it throughout their lives. Enjoy your holidays!

Ms Fatma Sahin

PDHPE Teacher

Year 7 Art

This term the year 7’s have been exploring different landscapes. They have been introduced to the different ways we view and analyse art. Students have been exploring different art-making techniques through their recent assessment and how to reflect on their art-making process. All students have presented high-quality artwork and thorough evaluations.

Year 8 Art

This term the year 8’s have been exploring the world through art-making. They have been focusing on landscapes and different art-making processes. Students have explored the various watercolour techniques to create highly refined artworks including studying the post-modern frame in recreating artworks studied in class.

Ms Joanne Silva

CAPA Coordinator

Music Year 7

In music, these past few weeks, year 7 have been focusing on developing their music writing skills in the area of how music affects the film. The year 7’s have submitted a music assessment where they were required to design scenes for a film within a booklet. After the booklet was completed they learnt how to use music software in order to write their own soundtracks for their scenes. All students successfully composed and created music that demonstrated their creativity.

Music Year 8

These past few weeks, the year 8’s have been analysing how music affects advertisements. They have been studying different advertisements and how the music aids or limits the advertisement. As well as this, students were given the opportunity to write their own music using music and video editing software. Students enjoyed the process of creating their own advertisements.

Ms Joanne Silva

CAPA Coordinator

Gothic Drama

The Year 9 Drama class has focused on their performance skills in the last few weeks. They were given the opportunity to create, rehearse and present their performance in their end-of-term performance. The class decided to focus on creating a spooky gothic drama and presented highly refined acting skills. Students are looking forward to continuing to develop their skills.

Ms Joanne Silva

CAPA Coordinator

Kurban Bayramı

Year 7 Turkish language students, advanced and beginner levels, came together and had a conversation in Turkish. The advanced students guided the conversation and helped the other students. This week, they discussed the upcoming Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha), and everyone talked about the traditions and customs of the first day of Eid.

The Year 8 advanced, and beginner-level students had a conversation with each other as part of their Turkish-speaking class. Native Turkish speakers assisted the other students, for example, with pronunciation and sentence structure. Later, they learned celebratory phrases for Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha) and engaged in a discussion about Eid traditions.

Ms Sever Meyra Bicer

Turkish Teacher

Hababam Sınıfı

Year 8 and 9 advanced Turkish students read about the differences between Japanese, Turkish and Australian school systems. After completing the bookwork, the classes watched Hababam Sınıfı and discussed the differences between old and new, and how modern education differs. They later talked about how their families celebrate Eid and how different cultures celebrate holidays.

Mrs Esma Dogan

Turkish Language Teacher

Year 8

Year 8 created ‘How to do Wudu’ chart posters which help memorize what steps of wudu are obligatory/fard and what steps are sunnah/recommended. This unit is part of the purification and prayer lessons year 8 covered during the term. It was a fun way to also revise the steps for their upcoming exam.

Year 9 Excursion and Workshop

Year 9 had the opportunity to attend a workshop on the importance of goals as part of the Islamic Studies unit on well-being (Al-Afiyah)

During this workshop, they were guided on how to focus on realistic and measurable goal setting and then were given a short talk by Sheik Wesam Charkawi on the importance of investing in oneself by changing thoughts and outcomes.

Year 9 was then treated to an awesome Thunder Jet ride through Darling Harbor as an incentive and way to bond with their classmates.

Mrs Rouba Kodr

Qur'an and Islamic Studies Teacher

Maarif OzTag Team

Recently on the 31^st of May, students embarked on an enjoyable and action-packed gala day competition. Both the boys and girls’ teams had high hopes and determination, ready to give it their all. Each game provided thrilling moments of skill, adrenaline and teamwork. Despite the scoreboard not reflecting our desired outcome, we celebrated every small triumph and ended the competition with strengthened bonds and a resilient spirit.

Maarif Soccer Team

In the recent futsal competition, the year 7 boys’ team showcased their amazing skills and determination as they advanced to the quarter-finals. With accurate passes and unwavering teamwork, they left a trail of victories in their wake. On the other hand, year 8 and 9 students faced many challenges, encountering defeat in most of their games. However, their unwavering spirit and commitment to improving their game motivated them for future success.

Western Grammar School

Congratulations to our school debating teams who achieved an exceptional feat in their recent encounter at Western Grammar School. Both our Stage 4 and Stage 5 teams emerged victorious in their third debate of the year, showcasing the progress they have made over the year in developing their debating skills. The thought-provoking topics at hand were "That parent should always have access to their children's social media accounts" and "That businesses should be able to fire employees based on their social media use", with our teams representing the negative side of each debate. Our teams brilliantly dissected these contemporary issues, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the topics and an ability to effectively counter opposing arguments. This impressive performance is not only a testament to the diligent preparation and hard work of the students but also a reflection of the rich and encouraging learning environment fostered by our school. Well done to our students and we look forward to competing in our remaining rounds this year.

Ms Samia Sabih

English Coordinator

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

We are pleased to inform you that new road signs have been installed on Percy Street. Please pay attention to the new Pick up/Drop off zones and No Stopping zones.

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.