July 1995 ISGC summer School

by Katie Abdullah

This summer, the Omar Ibn El-Khattab Mosque will be sponsoring the annual summer program for Muslim children. Beginning on Tuesday, July 4th, the school will continue every Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks. The program will be from 11 am to 3 pm on these days so children should be at the Omar Mosque before 11 am. Children between the ages of 5 years and the teen years are invited to attend. You can register your children at the Omar Mosque when you bring them on the first day. tuition is just $25 per child, and financial assistance can be provided. Students are asked to bring a sack lunch, and a light snack will be provided. The goal of the summer program is to provide Muslim children with an opportunity to learn and play with other Muslim children, Inshallah, reinforcing the Islamic environment of their homes. The summer school has been designed around this goal, so that in discussions, field trips, and play activities, Islamic values, behavior, and etiquette can be demonstrated and modeled.

The three components of the program are as follows:

1) Quranic recitation, memorization, and meaning, according to each child's ability.
2) Activities and discussions with Islamic themes.
3) Games and play utilizing Islamic etiquette and behavior.

The participants will be divided into age groups. The youngest children will spend more time with organized social activities, while the seven to 10 year olds will be participating at "challenging tables" with puzzles, mind games, etc. Children over the age of ten will be divided into girls and boys. The boy's group will engage in sports activities, while both groups hope to have lectures and discussions pertaining to current issues for Muslim American youth.

Several field trips are planned for this summer. Field trips are always popular events for the children. In addition to the fun of making short trips, they have an opportunity to be together as Muslims in the American environment, Inshallah, further reinforcing their Islamic values and behavior.

The coordinators of the program hope to have available for the children a library with materials for their reading level in English and Arabic. The more the students know about Islam, the more they will understand their families and themselves, and they will Inshallah, feel more confident being Muslim in America.

Volunteers are welcome and needed. You may volunteer for the whole program, certain parts of the program (such as Quranic recitation, discussions, crafts, or sports) or certain days you are available. The children enjoy seeing a familiar friendly face. May Allah (SWT) reward you for your sincere efforts to hlep the Muslim children! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sr. Rima XXX XXXX or Sr. Farida XXX XXXX.