October 1998 New Year at Sunrise

by Norma Tarazi

Luanna Collin, the lead teacher at Sunrise who teaches 4^th and 5^th grade, was very enthusiastic when asked about the new school year.  She said it is so different, particularly with Iffy Mobin-Uddin teaching kindergarten instead of running the pre-K program.  The two new homeroom teachers have lots of training and experience and are adding so much to the staff team.  Everything they do is a learning experience.  The calendar in the morning becomes a math lesson without the students realizing.  “I get the feeling the kids are happier this year”, she said.  She finds her students are enthusiastic about doing extra work, in addition to their homework.  She has gotten requests to by-pass recess to continue a reading lesson.  Two boys who had many other options in the class free time period, including computer time, chose to sit together and read poems.

There has been a great response from parents this year with about 90% showing up for the school Open House in early September.  Ms. Collin noticed that the parents are communicating better with the teachers than last year, coming up and voicing their concerns, whereas last year they were somewhat shy.  They are very interested in the educational process and this is always so important for students.  Communication has improved all around and there has been a great response from parents in donating for the school’s wish list.  A donor has upgraded the classroom computers to Pentiums recently.

“The school is the classroom,” Dr. Souzan El Kest said. When the teachers know their jobs and are enthusiastic in their work, the school goes smoothly.  Dr. El Kest is a former lead teacher and current school board member.  She is interim administrator now that Principal Adam Muhammad decided not to renew his contract.  Dr. John Kashubeck, chairman of the school board, says the school is actively looking for a new principal.  Several resumes have been received already.

Dr. El Kest feels the principal’s absence is not a problem for now because the school has such very good teachers.  She is very pleased with them and how they give extra time and stay late without being asked.  Dr. El Kest is particularly pleased with the students’ work with Quran and Arabic computer programs this year.  She too is very enthusiastic about the school.  The Latch Key program is working well both morning and afternoon.  She is seeing children who don’t want to go home because they like school so much.

One problem she identified is getting volunteers, especially for Friday Prayers.  The school always has dhur prayer at 1:30.  Last year, a volunteer, br. Khaled Kobresli, came to provide regular khuttbahs on Friday to make Jummah Prayer for students and adults.  Unfortunately, he is unavailable this year.  She would like to have some volunteers sign up for some sort of regular schedule.  She noticed how the children really listen to the khuttbahs and can discuss the topics in class afterwards.  It is an important learning experience for them and the volunteers will surely be well rewarded by Allah for their efforts.

Ms. Collins felt Mr. Muhammad, whose specialty is adult education, has trained the teachers to function in a rather independent manner.  She described him as a “hands off” administrator.  He made her lead teacher last spring and encouraged her to be in charge of a teachers’ group that worked together as a team on curriculum implementation and academic standards.  She feels that the teachers pool suggestions and resources and work in a common style.  With this type of school organization, the principal is needed mostly for administrative work.  However, having a principal who knows child development for elementary age and is well versed in curriculum and modern teaching techniques is something Ms. Collins looks for.  For now, she is directing the other teachers.  If there is a concern and she or the total group are unsure of the best direction to take, she has access to Suzanne Jones, the curriculum consultant from the Ohio State University who has been working with the school for over two years.  Together the teachers, a mix of Muslims and non-Muslims, have been though in-service training in sensitivity to the diversity of the Sunrise students and the Islamic environment the school is designed to provide.

The financial aid program is complete for this year with all aid funds distributed.

The school is always willing to accept scholarship funds.  The school board sets aside as much as possible from its own funds also.  Alhamdullah, every student who applied and was qualified for aid this year received it.

Dr. Kashubeck was concerned about the cancellation of the pre-kindergarten program.  He said it is being put on suspension for the whole year pending an evaluation of the program.  Only 3 part time students applied for the program.  It is designed for 15 full time students.  The school couldn’t justify the manpower and financial expenditure.  The board intends to reassess the community needs to get better community response but it is committed to providing pre-k education in some format.

The number one priority for the school board, aside from finances and academic standards, is expansion for the 6^th grade.  In the year 2000 the school will be out of space.  The plan currently is to expand Sunrise Academy to include 7^th and 8^th grade plus a gym/cafeteria.

Otherwise the only new program under study is the ESL [English as a Second Language].  The school is looking for a part-time ESL specialist with English as a native language.  Until one is found, the school plans on using volunteers working under the direction of classroom teachers.  About 2 or 3 students in each class are very weak in English.  The teachers are doing a month long assessment of students’ abilities after which the tutoring program will start up.  Volunteers for tutoring are encouraged to phone the school.  There are also about 2 or 3 students in each class who have no Arabic background and some without Islamic Studies background.  Tutoring will be needed for these students also.

Dr. Kashubeck commented that there was a lot of concern in the community about the school because of the cancelled pre-k program.  However, he felt the school is stepping back, reevaluating its programs, and getting into position for the long haul.  The school must work continually to better understand the community needs (and with community growth, these needs are continually changing) and adjust its services.