MCC Academy NewsSeptember 2016

Upcoming Events:September 5 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 8, 7:30pm at Morton Grove campus - Reflections on the Prophet Abraham: An Interfaith Perspective - Stop by this interfaith event by MCC Interfaith Committee. This is a

program for adults only please.

September 9, 8:45am - PSG Meeting - All parents are welcome to attend the bi-weekly Parent Support Group meetings at Skokie campus. Please join the PSG in planning regular community and fundraising activities that support MCCA students and teachers. See below for more updates from PSG

September 12-14 - NO SCHOOL - Eid-al-Udha Break, school will resume on Thursday, September 15th; MCC has arrange Eid Salah at both masajed for the following times:MCC - Elston8 am and 9:30amandMEC - Morton Grove7:30am and 9:30am

September 15, 7-8pm - Boy Scouts of America Registration - Stop by MCC Academy Skokie Campus to register your son in grades 1st-5th to participate in Boy Scouts of America. MCCA is not leading this troop but is very happy to host this registration night for the Boy Scouts.

September 23, 8:45am - PSG Parent Breakfast - Stay tuned for more information

September 23, 7pm - Family Action Network (FAN) Lecture on "Raising Moral, Community-Minded Kids in a Secular Age" - Parents, attend this free lecture by Author Katherine Ozment and Dr. Steven Levitt at New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, 7 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL.

TEXT ALERT SYSTEM: If you would like to receive Text Alerts from MCC Academy, please text the word "ALERT" to 22300. Per the law in the state of Illinois, we can not add you to the system ourselves. You must opt in yourself if you would like to receive text messages from us. JazakAllahkhairun.

 

Fall After School Activities:Below are a few of the after school programs we will be hosting this fall. Please stay tuned for information about additional clubs and activities.

Please register your child by clicking on the link below each activity. Payment for activities can be made to the program lead on the first day of the class or you can drop payment off in the school office.

BOYS PRESEASON BASKETBALL CAMPSEPT 27 - OCT 6, on TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS from 4-5:30 PMMORTON GROVE CAMPUS$10.00 - payable on first day of campOPEN TO MCCA STUDENTS AND PUBLICNO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, PARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN A WAIVERClick here to register

TAE KWON DOSEPT 21- NOV 30, WEDS AND/OR FRI from 4:15-5:15pmSKOKIE CAMPUS$140 FOR TWO DAYS/WK, $80 FOR ONE DAY/WK, $30 FOR UNIFORM - payable on first day of sessionOPEN TO MCCA STUDENTS ONLY and PUBLICPARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN A WAIVERREGISTRATION DEADLINE MONDAY SEPT 19THClick to register

BOYS FOOTBALL   SEPT 23RD-NOV 4TH on FRIDAYS FROM 4-6PMMORTON GROVE CAMPUS$30.00 (INCLUDES JERSEY) - payable on first day of programOPEN TO MCCA STUDENTS IN GRADES 6TH-8TH ONLYPARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN A WAIVER. STOP BY MORTON GROVE ATHLETIC Click to register

SPORTS CLUBOCTOBER 3 - DECEMBER 19 on MONDAYS from 4-5:30PMSKOKIE CAMPUSOPEN TO BOYS AND GIRLS IN 3RD-5TH (OPEN TO PUBLIC AND MCCA STUDENTS)$75.00 - payable on first day of programSTUDENTS WILL LEARN AND PLAY DODGEBALL, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND FITNESSClick to register

QURAN AND TAJWEED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (DARALOOM) at Skokie CampusOctober 3, 2016, and runs through May 31, 2017Skokie CampusMeets every Monday thru Thursday, 4-5pmOPEN TO PUBLIC AND MCCA STUDENTSFor students ages 5 and upCost is $450 per student for the entire year (discounts available for multiple students from

same family). To register, please stop by the Skokie campus to fill out the registration form and remit payment. 

QURAN MEMORIZATION AND READING PROGRAM AT MORTON GROVE CAMPUSBegins October 3, 2016, and runs thru end of May 31, 2017Morton Grove CampusMeets every Monday thru Thursday, 4:30-5:30pm (one or two-hour slots available)OPEN TO PUBLIC AND MCCA STUDENTSFor students ages 5-18 yrs oldCost: Two-Hour Rate is $650 for entire year or $75 per month; One-Hour Rate is $450 per month or $50 per monthTo register, please stop by Morton Grove campus to fill out registration form or email khanzainab15@gmail.com 

Stay Tuned for information about additional clubs and activities that will start very soon!If you would like to lead a club or activity, please contact azam.tai@mccacademy.org

REMINDER: TUITION PAYMENTSMonthly tuition is due each month by the 10th. Late payments will accrue late payment fee of $25 for each month payment is not received.

Please sign up for automated withdrawal if you have not yet done so. If you have any questions about tuition payment, please email our accountant at salik.rehmani@mccacademy.org.

A Note from the School CouncilSalaam alaikum MCC Academy Parents and Community,

Welcome to academic year 2016-17. I am so glad to be here greeting you at the start of the new school year. I consider this a blessing from Allah swt. This will be my last year doing so as chair of the MCC Academy Council, but I am hopeful that I will still find a way to serve the school and community in other ways.

Every year two or three members (alternatively) of the community are appointed by the MCC Board of Directors to serve on the MCC Academy school council. The job of the school council is to oversee the function of the MCCA in accordance with set policies and to formulate new policies, as and when needed. The Council also seeks new ways to fund the policies and make sure that the spending follows established guidelines. This year, three new members came on board: Dr. Omar, who is a grandparent of two of our students; Dr. Sazzad, who has served on the MCC Board of Educatio; and Mr. Puthawala, a parent of three MCCA students. We appreciate your willingness to step into these roles and look forward to working with these new council members.

At this time, I would also like to thank the outgoing council members who have put in so many hours of hard work. Thank you Mrs. Kulsum Sadiq and Mr. Feroze Khan. We really value and appreciate all that you have done for MCC Academy. May Allah swt reward you both. Jazak Allah Chairman. And we would like to recall and recognize the incredible work of departed council member Farisa Hussain and pray Allah swt reward her and grant her a place in jannat al firdaus. Please forgive our sins and shortcomings. Amen.

Please look for this monthly newsletter to keep up with exciting news and information about MCC Academy. We also send weekly reminder emails about important upcoming events. We like our families to be fully aware of activities taking place at the school so please check your email regularly and let us know anytime your contact information changes.

Please feel free to reach me directly at musarratjk@gmail.com with any

questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Musarrat KhanMCCA Council Chairperson

PSG UpdateKey Dates:Sept 9, 8:45am - First PSG meeting - all parents welcome, please attend! PSG meetings are held at Skokie Campus in the cafeteria or the PSG meeting room. Sept 23 - Parents Meet and Greet Breakfast - stay tuned for more information about location and time

Assalamualaikum and Welcome to a New School Year!

PSG welcomes all of our new and returning parents! We look forward to lots of fun programs for our students and teachers. We look forward to your involvement in PSG as a means of staying involved!

Changes in PSG LeadershipKhadija Ahmed has resigned from her role as President of PSG for personal reasons after three years of leadership. We thank Khadija for her commitment to PSG, as she still continues to be part of the board in the role of 'previous president'. Mariam Khan also resigned from her role as PSG parent representative to the MCCA Council. Mariam was part of the PSG board for the last 3 years in various positions and she will be greatly missed. Thanks Mariam for your contributions.

Per PSG bylaws, PSG is able to nominate parents to fill vacancies during non-election times. Therefore, Belinda Tibayan (previous Vice President) has accepted the role of President and Khaula Chaudhry has accepted the Vice President position. PSG is still identifying a candidate for the vacant position of PSG Rep to council (to fill for Mariam Khan). Inshallah, we will share that information as it becomes available. Here's the new PSG board for 2016-17:

President - Belinda TibayanVice President - Khaula ChaudhryTreasurer - Faizah SyedRecording Secretary - Mona MahmoodCorrespondence Secretary - Fikreta AdemiPSG Rep to Council - Thazneem FaizPSG Rep to Council - vacant

Previous President - Khadija Ahmed

Lots of Updates Added to Curriculum and Building over the SummerAdministration was hard at work over the summer in making important additions to the MCCA curriculum and managing updates to both campus buildings. In terms of curriculum, we have made the following additions:Added a computer coding course to the Middle School curriculum and we will be launching an after school computer coding club for elementary students this fall (stay tuned for more information).

Added STEM robotics coursework to the 1st - 8th grade curriculum; each student will have the opportunity to take one 6-week STEM course during the school year

Formally added Accelerated Reading parameters for students in 2nd-8th grades, including goals for students to reach in reading for enjoyment throughout the year

Formally added Art Program curriculum for students in 1st-8th grades. Elementary students will now have art class for two quarters of the school year and Middle School students will have it for one quarter

Incorporated Life Skills coursework into Middle School curriculum through our counseling services with Khalil Center to help students become more independent learners by teaching study and organizational skills, time management, and positive social skills, and how to handle peer pressure.

Teachers worked through the summer on updating curriculum maps, very specific learning targets for each subject for each week of the school year

Updates to the Buildings:

Added 3M window tints to the Morton Grove campus for extra security Waxed and touched up floors in Skokie and Morton Grove Repaired and resurfaced entry stairs at Skokie campus Resurfaced and re-lined parking lots at both campuses Shampooed all carpets Painted entire building at Morton Grove campus including all classrooms

and hallways Added decorative features to Morton Grove campus (much thanks to

Mrs. Nazneen Ayoob and Mrs. Haniyya Siddique, two parent volunteers who were helping guide much of this process over the summer, and thanks to all of their volunteer helpers!)

Updated the restrooms in the preschool and one pre-K classroom Cleaning and service updates to heating and cooling systems at both

campuses

Partial-Closed Campus and School Drop-off/Pick-up ProceduresSECURITY PROCEDURESMCC Academy has a partial-closed campus security policy to help ensure the utmost safety for our students and staff. Parents of early childhood students may enter the school and pick-up and drop-off by showing their MCCA ID card (will be issued at Open House). Elementary and Middle School student parents can not enter the school at drop-off or pick-up unless they have an appointment or special business to conduct with school administration. We will send a separate email with details about our safety and security procedure as we near the start of the school year. For safety and security, we do not publish this policy on the school website.

DROP-OFF and PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Early Childhood (Pres-KG):For our students in our full-time preschool, pre-K, or kindergarten classes and our part-time dual-language program, parents must park their vehicles in the designated campus parking lot or in lawful areas along the street in order to drop-off and pick-up their children at the classroom

door inside the building. Parents can enter Skokie campus either through the back (north) entrance or the South entrance. If entering through the South entrance, parents can park on the streets in front of the school along Keating, Kilpatrick or Lyons Streets. FULL-TIME Pres, Pre-K and KG Location: SKOKIE CAMPUSDays: Monday through FridayDrop-off Time: Between 8:05-8:30amPick-up Time: Between 3:20-3:50pm

PART-TIME Prek/Kg Dual-Language Program Location: MORTON GROVE CAMPUSDays: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayDrop-off Time: 10amPick-up Time: 2pm

Elementary (1st-5th) and Middle School (6th-8th):Parents will utilize our convenient drop-off/pick-up lanes in our parking lot at both campuses to drop-off and pick-up students in Elementary and Middle School grades. Students will go directly to morning assembly in the gymnasium at drop-off time. For pick-up, staff will call your child down to the parking lot as you wait in your vehicle in the car line-up at pick-up time. Drop-off Time: Between 7:55-8:20amPick-up Time: Between 3:40-4pm

TARDY POLICY:STUDENTS WILL BE MARKED AS TARDY IF THEY ARRIVE AFTER 8:30AM

AFTER SCHOOL CARE: We do not offer after school care so your child MUST be picked up on time. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office.

MCCA Teachers and Staff Had Bustling Week Preparing for the New School Year

Alhamdulillah, MCC Academy administration welcomed back 80+ teachers and staff members on August 21, the first day of Teacher In-service. This bustling week began with a day of meetings with administration where teachers and staff got to know one another and trained with Principal Mr. Quadri and Vice Principals Mrs. Mujtaba and Mrs. Salma Ahmed on best practices and instructional planning to utilize throughout the year. Then, teachers spent much of the rest of the week prepping classrooms, customizing desks and folders with students' names, and decorating with fun and exciting themes for kids to enjoy.

Welcome New Teachers and StaffWe are always thrilled to have new teachers and staff join the MCC Academy family! Welcome to all of the following individuals:

Suad Abdeljaber, First Grade AssistantI will be a teacher's assistant to Mrs. Nabeel in 1-C. I am a recent graduate from DePaul University. I majored in elementary education with a concentration in English Literature, with endorsements in English and Social Science. At DePaul, I learned how to teach a variety of learners by creating an engaging and stimulating environment that sets up all students for success in all content areas. As a Muslim and Palestinian-American, I often like to refer back to my own experiences growing up in the United States as a part of many marginalized groups of people who struggle for basic success. I use my experiences in the hopes of giving children a classroom experience in which they will be socially aware of their surroundings and environment.

Nisa Fayyaz, Prek Lead TeacherMy name is Nisa Fayyaz. I am teaching Prek-B. I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

Nida Iftekaruddin, 4C Lead TeacherAsalaamu alaykum! My name is Nida Iftekaruddin and I will be teaching 4C this year. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelor's degree in Urban Elementary Education. I taught fourth grade in Chicago Public Schools and also at an Islamic school in Reston, Virginia, called Al-Fatih Academy. I'm very excited about starting a relationship with the MCC community!

Anum Mustafa, Full-Time Substitute TeacherMy name is Anum Mustafa and I will be co-teaching in the 4th grade classroom. I graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor degree in Education. I have previously worked at Hynes Elementary School. I have also taught at MEC Sunday School for 9 years. I have grown up in the MEC community and looking forward to work in a community that I am so comfortable and familiar with.

Sharon Saleh, Hifdh Program Math and English TeacherMy name is Sherin Saleh. I am honored and excited to be the Math and English teacher for the Hifdh program for the 2016-2017 school year. This will be my first year at MCC Academy after three years of teaching at ICCI Academy. I started out as a substitute teacher at ICCI Academy and quickly transitioned to become the Math and Science teacher for grades

4-6.I am a certified teacher in the state of Illinois. I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (K-9 certified) along with various middle school endorsements including Language Arts, Math, Social Science and a minor in Spanish. My teaching methods are aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

Jumana Yousef, Quran and Islamic Studies TeacherI'm Mrs. Jumana Yousef. I will be teaching Quran and Islamic studies at MCCA. I taught several years in weekend schools in the area. I currently hold an Ijaza in teaching Juz Amma and I will be graduating soon from American University with a degree in Islamic Studies.

Welcome from MCCA Resource DepartmentAssalamualaikum! The purpose of the MCCA Resource Team is to help our students build a solid foundation in reading and math. Maria Basith and Maheen Ayub provide extra support to students in order to meet their literacy and math goals. Maria Basith is a third year teacher at MCCA. For her first year, she taught at MCCA's middle school. She is now working as the Math Resource teacher at both campuses. Early in her career, Maheen Ayub taught 5th grade at a public school in Skokie for five years. At MCCA, she works as a certified Reading Specialist for grades K-5. Look forward to updates, tips, and tricks from the Resource Team via teacher web and school newsletters.

Welcome from School CounselorAssalamualaikum MCCA families!

Alhamdulillah, our new school year has started! I hope everyone had an amazing summer vacation inshAllah. Khalil Center is at MCCA this year as a team to provide school counseling services. Both myself, and Mr.

Farhan Ahmad will be at both campuses working with our students. In our role at MCCA, we work to promote a positive culture by setting up school-wide programs, help kids learn valuable life skills and study skills, help kids in dealing with social dynamics, provide peer mediation, and see them for individual counseling.

InshAllah, we have many exciting activities planned for our students this year including service projects, social awareness initiatives and much more. We also have a life skills elective course coming for middle school - the goal of the class is to provide students with skills to develop emotional intelligence as well as learn to utilize productive study habits. Individual counseling and peer mediation are available for students who may need support throughout the year. As the year continues, you will hear more about our efforts inshAllah! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments or concerns at sabaahath.latifi@mccacademy.org.

Your School Counselor,Ms. Sabaahath Latifi

MCC Academy Library News!Asalaamu alaikum MCC Academy Families,We are off to a great start this year at MCC Academy!

SKOKIE CAMPUSLibrary classes started at the Skokie campus this week and students will begin checking out one book per week following the Eid break. We added hundreds of new titles over the course of the last school year and I am excited for the students to read them!

If you have a student in the 2nd - 5th grades, please anticipate them taking AR (Accelerated Reader) tests after several weeks of school. AR testing will be primarily for students in the 2nd -5thgrades at the Skokie campus. AR tests simply test students over their comprehension of their selected library book/s. Reading teachers require students to select an AR book appropriate for their current AR reading level.Students in the 1st - 5thgrades have taken home an assignment with a list of "10 Ways to Care for Your Library Book." The students are asked to read through this with their parents and both should sign it. On the backside, students can decorate a book cover. This should be returned to the child's teacher or Mrs. Bergeson in the library. Students will not be able to check out books until they have returned this assignment with signatures!

MORTON GROVE CAMPUSThe Morton Grove campus is in the process of setting up a library area again! This is GREAT news and still in the beginning stages, so please keep this project and the people helping with it in your dues!

DONATIONSFinally, unfortunately the Skokie Campus is NOT ABLE to accept donations at this time. Please inquire in October the types of books and resources we can accept. Until that time, we kindly request that you refrain from leaving boxes of items in the library.Thank you for your support and understanding!

Annual Golf Outing Raises $10,000MCC Academy alongside ICN of Naperville hosted the 6th Annual MCCA?ICN Golf Outing Fundraiser last month. Drawing a record 84 golfers this year, the fundraising event raised in excess of $10,000 that will be split to benefit both organizations. Our thanks to MCCA alumni parent and school council member Tariq Laliwala for his involvement in organizing this event once again this year. And, special thanks to Sabri Nihari for donating the incredible lunch enjoyed by all attendees.

MCC Academy Alumnus Invited to meet President Obama MCCA students learn at an early age the power of their words. One such student wielding her pen on behalf of Muslim-Americans is Noor Abdelfattah, an alumnus of MCCA who attended our school from preschool through 8th grade. Noor penned a powerful letter to President Obama that landed her a personal invitation to the White House this past summer where she dined with a group of Muslims invited for Eid-al-Fitr dinner and then afterwards was one of only 15 people asked to meet the president in person.

Currently a junior at Loyola University, Noor is studying to be a psychologist. She is the youngest of a family of six siblings and the

daughter of Palestinian immigrants. Her letter to the president spoke of her parents struggles in their quest for the American dream, their collective love of our beautiful country and the story of how through hard work and great effort, she and her siblings all graduated from MCC Academy and went on to study at some of the top universities across the country. She thanked and complimented the president for his support of Muslims in America and encouraged him to keep standing firmly against those who are trying to limit the rights of Muslims in America. You can read Noor's letter in its entirety on the White House website. We are incredibly proud of Noor and pray Allah swt continues to guide and protect her, inshAllah.

MCCA Alumni Found International Relief OrganizationOur greatest hope for MCC Academy graduates is that they grow into faith-driven, charitable, and successful individuals who can affect positive change in the world. Over the past 25+ years, our graduates have moved on to partake in some amazing endeavors, alhumdilAllah. One of the more recent and awe-inspiring stories we have been following is that of two young men, Bakir Dzananovic and Rahim Amlani, graduates of MCC Academy, who have truly put to action their desire to change the world. Earlier this year, Bakir and Rahim founded and launched an international relief organization, The Humanity Projects, whose mission is to provide

education and sustenance to people in desperate need throughout the world to ultimately help them to eventually become leaders and pillars for their own communities. In less than a year, these young men drew in a team of volunteers to share in their mission, officially filed as an Illinois State non-profit organization, and immediately launched into the work of easing the suffering of some of the world's most desperate people in Haiti. Already, these young men have raised money to provide generators, food assistance, medical screenings, and water wells to these people who are still suffering from the devastating effects of the 2010 earthquake and now they will be celebrating the grand opening of their boarding school for orphans suffering from isolation, homelessness, and destitution. In working with the imam of a local masjid in a small village outside of Port-au-Prince, Bakir and Rahim have rented a facility, hired staff and registered the orphanage with the Haitian government to open what they are calling the Madinah Orphanage and Academy. Located in Miragoane, Haiti, the boarding school opened on September 2, 2016, and will be funded by donations collected through The Humanity Project and will support 40 orphans from the village who currently live on the streets.Bakir and Rahim hope to empower these orphans with knowledge of Islam and secular education so that they can be successful and give back to their community. To help support this project and many others, The Humanity Project is hosting its First Annual Fundraising Dinner at MEC on Saturday, October 1, 2016, featuring guest speakers Mufti Azeemuddin (Principal of Darussalam Foundation) and MCC Academy's very own Principal Mr. Habeeb Quadri. If you are interested in learning more about The Humanity Projects and attending the fundraiser, please visitwww.thehumanityprojects.org/ dinner to purchase your tickets. We hope our community embraces the efforts of these young men and their team by supporting their efforts.

Middle School Rocks their "Houses" 

Ansaar House Wins First "House" competition of the year!

Our middle schoolers get the opportunity to accomplish one of the most rewarding sunnahs of the Prophet Muhammad (S): community service. They volunteer their time to give back to those in need. The system creates an environment of competition for good deeds and fosters a spirit of accomplishment. Since all students are included in the houses, it builds self-esteem and increases unity among Muslim brothers and sisters. The system encourages compassion and cooperation between multiple cohorts and programs, including the Hifz department. It is a great opportunity for the upperclassmen to showcase their leadership skills. Through the system, students are recognized for exemplary deeds every Friday and can earn points towards quarterly prizes.

How your child can earn points for his/her house:

1. Doing good throughout the week - recognized on Fridays2. Participating in the morning dua3. Is present when it is his/her turn to lead the school in the morning dua

and the pledge4. Showing school spirit during assemblies and wearing house colors5. Trying his/her best to accomplish house competitions6. Receiving the highest points for Accelerated Reading in Mrs. Gomaa's

class7. Winning the Spelling Bee in Mrs. Elmasri's class8. Memorizing surahs and Juz in Mrs. Musleh's class and from the Hifz

department9. Impressing his/her teachers with intellectual comments, questions, and

behavior10.Sending Ms. Basith a picture of when he/she does community service11.Sending Ms. Basith a receipt after attending family restaurant nights12.Winning the science fair in Mrs. Saleh's class

How house points can be deducted:

1. Improper behavior during salah time2. Absent and not participating for morning assembly 3. Improper behavior during service days and general assemblies4. Improper behavior during house activities

At the end of each quarter, the winning house receives a week packed with prizes and rewards, such as homework passes for the house members, an ice cream social, and an honorary lunch.

Last year's accomplishments:- In collaboration with Project Risq, students in houses competed to collect food supplies to make sandwiches for the homeless. Alhamdulillah, we made OVER 1,300 LUNCH BAGS to distribute to the homeless. - With Khalil Center, students created personal hygiene kits for Burmese Rohingya refugees.

- Through Zakat Foundation, students in houses competed to collect OVER $4,000 in order to build TWO WATER WELLS in an impoverished region of the world ($2,500 needed per well).

- Students volunteered their time at Silverado Nursing Home and enjoyed spending time with elders.

MCC Academy, 8601 N Menard, Morton Grove, IL 60053

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