Dec. 1997 Training for Excellence

by Norma Tarazi

This was something I really felt, Muslim brotherhood among the people,” Dr. Souzaz El-Kest said upon returning recently from a weekend conference of the Council of Islamic Schools in North America.  Representatives from 127 schools attended this event, hosted by the Islamic Center of Greater Houston.  The conference was of great benefit to all the participants.  For every question a teacher posed, several helpful responses were given along with detailed practical suggestions.  A wide range of types of schools were present, chartered, non-chartered, full-time, and part-time.

“Achieving Excellence in our Islamic schools” was the title of the conference and the goal was to create a united effort in creating a standard curriculum, an effort that looks to be in its final stages.  More long term, they plan to create a standard for teacher certification through the organization, to ensure a high professional level for teachers throughout the Islamic schools of North America.  Networking, (getting to know other teachers, and comparing notes, ideas for fundraising, hot lunches, and other topics) came out of many informal discussions.  The formal workshops covered Quran in the classroom, Islamization of the classroom, multi-level classroom instruction, teaching Arabic, curriculum development, school community relations, and school development and administration.  Dr. E-Kest teamed up with the representative from Dayton to share notes and materials so that they could both get full benefit from all of the workshops.

This is just one of the most recent educational efforts being made by members of the staff of Sunrise Academy.  Twenty four events were on the calendar since July 18^th.  Dr. El-Kest and Mairvat Mrayam went to the Midwestern Region Arabic/Islamic Studies workshop in Dayton.  Jennifer Tomson, Iffy Mobin Uddin, Amina Fayed, and Dr. Souzan El-Kest all attended the Ohio TESOL Fall Conference that focused on teaching children foreign languages and teaching English as a second language.  October 19^th brought the staff together with the staff of bright Horizon school of Dayton to form strong ties of assistance and cooperation with this closest sister school.  Workshop topics and courses included how to use newspapers in the curriculum, CPR training, child abuse education, communicable disease training, first aid training, computers and math, computers and language arts, webpage use, laws and procedures for bussing students, classroom management, and student assessment.  

Attending and actively participating in these many activities demonstrates the efforts expended by the Sunrise staff to continually improve the quality of education at Sunrise Academy.

June 1997 Sunrise News

Register Now! Full time for the fall

Sunrise Academy is a real bargain!  Subsidized by the Muslim community, Sunrise offers a high quality academic program with computer labs, field trips, library, and most of all, dedicated teachers, along with a strong course in Quran and Arabic from the pre-kindergarten.

Do you have children entering classes between kindergarten and 4^th grade this coming school year?  Do you have a child who will be 4 by September 30^th?  Enroll them at Sunrise for the coming school year.

Sunrise has full-time classes for them with a curriculum reviewed by the Department of Education of Ohio, an Islamic environment where Islamic values are practiced as well as taught.  The computer lab is equipped and ready for them.  Buses are available for transportation.  Register them today.

For registration and more information phone the school now, 527-0465, and talk to the administrator, Arif Khan.

Sunrise Academy maintains a racially non-discrimination policy and admits students of any races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of Sunrise Academy.

Summer Program at Sunrise

Our summer program consists of a blend of enrichment activities in a variety of areas such as;

Hands-on mathematics and science projects.  Computer skills.

Mastering skills in Arabic and English languages, group studies in Islam.

Competitions in Quran memorization and hadith knowledge.

Physical education and sports programs: soccer, basketball, martial arts, and ping pong among others.

Social activities and arts and crafts

Field trips, camping

Some activities are conducted n groups of mixed ages.  This arrangement will allow for peer teaching, mentoring, guidance, and rewarding social experiences.

Schedule and fees

The summer program is offered 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, for 9 weeks from June 16^th through August 15^th.  Participants have the option to enroll full time (40 hours) or part time (20 hours).

The weekly fees are $65 for full time enrollment and $40 for part time enrollment.  The application deadline is June 9^th.  A late registration fee will be assessed at $20 per applicant.

Transportation is limited.  Contact the Academy office to discuss available options and transportation fees.  Call: (614-527-0465.

Approved for Title 20!

Recently, Sunrise Academy became a provider for publicly funded childcare.  This achievement is a result of continuous efforts of members of our community who believe n success and strive to provide affordable, high quality care and education to all our children.  This step will make it easier for low income families to enroll their children, between the ages of 3 and 5, in the preschool program at no cost or at a very low cost to them.  Families are encouraged to contact the Academy to find out about the eligibility requirements and the application process. 

Head Start

Sunrise Academy is trying very hard to achieve necessary programs which will meet the needs of our children as well as the needs of our Islamic community as a whole.  The Head Start Program would enable us as a school to enhance the quality of our education and to provide child and family development services for low-income children under the age of six, and their families.  The purpose of the program is to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development, to support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles, and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency.  If implemented, the Head start Program would provide for low-income families with children enrolled at Sunrise Academy; yearly physicals, immunizations and dentistry free of charge.  Families falling within certain government guidelines would also receive free breakfast/lunch and snacks for their children while at school.

To meet the goals of the Head Start Program, however, we need letters of support from you, the community.  Won’t you please take a few minutes of your time to write a short letter of support for these services?  All it needs to state is that you support the implementation of Head Start and feel that it would be a great asset to have in our community.  Remember, there is no charge for these services since they are federally and state funded and the great difference it would make for our children would be very fulfilling and very important for all our families.

A box will be placed at Sunrise Academy for you to drop off your letters of support or mail the letters to : 5657 Scioto Darby Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026, or fax the letter to: 614-527-4265.

Dec. 1997 Have You Met The Principal Yet?

by Ahmed Mapara

Well you will soon!  Adam Muhammad is the new principal for Sunrise Academy, which just turned a year old.  He took office on November 17^th, with all the confidence a leader of an organization like Sunrise Academy should be expected to have.  “My vision for this academy is more on the lines of a community educational resource, meeting the needs of not only pre-school-school-age children but also adults and other members of our community and also the members of the non-Muslim community at large.”

Br. Adam (formerly known as Brian Clouse) has played an active role in the Islamic community of Columbus since he accepted Islam 5 years ago.  In addition to his sound background in the field of education, (nearing the end of his PhD studies), he has been involved in what he describes as “Grass roots level community development in rural villages of Latin America.”  He had the opportunity of working with people in villages of Brazil, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, working in community development, sanitation, oral rehydration therapy, nutrition, and reforestation and other development related projects.

Asked how he plans to attract adults to this new school, Br. Adam responded, “We would like to introduce Arabic courses in our school, not only for the Muslim community but also for the non-Muslims, especially the business class.  Also we are planning to introduce English as a second language.”  This, in his opinion, will not only enhance the English speaking skills of our growing community, but will provide an alternative education program for the international community in Columbus, again including both the people within and outside our community, not forgetting the international student community around Ohio State University.  “This will also give us a chance of making our presence felt in Columbus and bring new people into our community and will be a form of dawah, as people will be coming to us in appreciation of our services to them, inshallah, though our emphasis will be more on elementary school to middle school to high school, running parallel to the pre-school children’s’ needs, and adult programs”.  

Currently Sunrise Academy offers pre-K, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 4 and expects to expand at least one grade a year.  With the staff of 8 full-time people and 5 part-time workers, Adam and his team are concentrating most on teaching math, science, social studies, language arts, Arabic, Islamic studies, Quran, art, music, and health.  “With time we are also planning to add computer related courses for the general public,” adds the principal, who not very long ago, himself was involved in teaching multimedia and internet related applications to teachers and trainers for interactive lessons.  “Our whole purpose here is to use this school facility as an educational resource for the entire community, not just serve as a school which closes its gates at 4 pm in the evening.”

Subhanallah with this spirit and goals in mind, looks like the Sunrise Academy is prepared now for a tall stand in the growing Columbus area, with the support from the Muslim community of course. 

Sept 1997 Forging a Partnership

by Sohail Khan, chairman, Sunrise Academy School Board

Founding an institution is exciting and challenging.  It is a responsibility given to few, as generally people inherit the institutions that were formed before them and are asked to assume them, and, with whatever modifications they may be able to make, pass them down to those who came after.  For those of us in our community who came from abroad, Islamic institutions, mosques and schools, were there before our birth, and because of our diverse backgrounds, each of us has a little different idea of what they should be and how they should function.  For those of us from this country, there have never been Islamic institutions, and many don’t really comprehend what they look like or how they should function.  So when we all come to the table to create our own community institutions, our first task is to create a common vision of our mission, not to recreate something someone has known somewhere else.  We need to create a structure that satisfies the needs of all of us, the Muslim community, which lives here under these conditions now, and needs to practice our faith and educate our children now.

The school, Sunrise Academy, is such a new institution.  As the people of our community struggled to raise their children in their faith, and realized the very difficult struggle, it became a common consensus that our community needed a full time Islamic school to set the standard for the education of our children.  The very nature of the school creates a partnership between the school and the community.  The school strives to guide our young in the moral atmosphere of our faith, to seek knowledge and understanding of the world with the constant remembrance that it was created by Allah (SWT) and is a trusteeship for us in our life of service to Allah (SWT).  The community supports the school, to fulfill its obligation to pass down this understanding of life to our children, both by sending the children and by their financial support.  On a larger scale this partnership is between us and Allah (SWT).  We would have no need for the school were it not for the need to please Allah (SWT) to submit to His Will and live our lives as He has guided us.  We could continue to send our children to the public and private schools already available that teach the secular world view, and which are presently causing about 85 % of Muslim youth to become non-Muslim adults.

Sunrise Academy started with a formal commitment by the Islamic Society of Greater Columbus, in October 1995, to open a full time school by September 1996.  This commitment was fulfilled, in spite of all obstacles.  The building was not ready until December 1996 and temporary quarters were used across the street.  Only 2 teachers were on staff and only 7 families committed a total of 9 students opening day September 3, 1996.  In the excitement generated by the ISNA convention, many people didn’t realize that the school even opened.  Look how much it has grown since then.

The first stage of our building program was completed, and since December ’96, the school has been in its newly renovated modern building, fully owned by the community, and equipped with the computer technology for children of the 21^st century. Our library, which now has over 1000 books, and computer program were a priority over the needs for a gym and cafeteria, as we sought to provide a solid academic opportunity for the children above and beyond all else.  The teaching staff has expanded, and their dedication to the special needs of our children lead to their devoting many afterschool hours to workshops and study of the most advanced methods of bilingual and English-as-a-second language education in addition to the extra load of meetings and work to set up all of the programs of a normal elementary school.

In addition to providing a full time program, with Arabic and Islamic Studies and all of the usual elementary classes for children, Sunrise also opened a preschool program in January, fully licensed for early childhood education while offering Arabic and Islamic moral environment to children as young as three years old.  Two buses started operating for the school in February, providing transportation aid to parents, and improving the school’s ability to provide educational field trips.  Two soccer teams now wear school colors and have been practicing from about the same time.  Another development, in the effort to utilize the facilities to the fullest and serve community needs, was the creation of a pilot Quranic program in January ’97, a full Saturday of classes in Islamic Studies and Arabic that was full to capacity from its start for students unable to participate in the full time program.  A pilot program was implemented to provide for the summer needs of children whose parents work, as well as other children, to provide a wholesome and fun educational environment.

Now the new school year is starting and the past months have been full of hard work and planning.  Search for the principal continues.  With the dedication of our staff and our strong parent and community support, we will, inshallah, get the right candidate for our community.  Another 2 or 3 months may be necessary before filling this post.  The principal is the leader and momentum for the standards, both moral and academic, at the school and requires a strong knowledge of American educational procedures and standards along with a strong grounding in Islamic principles of education and the ability to communicate and cooperate well with our diverse community.  In the interim, Dr. Souzan El Kest, the Arabic and Islamic Studies teacher of last year who is fully acquainted with all of the school, will be Lead Teacher, handling curriculum and instruction administration with the assistance from Dr. Kevin Freer, our education consultant. More fully qualified teachers are being added to the staff so that Dr. Souzan has strong support from all sides.

We have many plans for this academic year.  We will continue to strengthen our academic program and add to our bilingual teaching expertise.  We need to fence in our property so we can install a playground, instead of continually using the municipal park next door.  We need to plan for the gym/cafeteria and more classrooms.  We need to improve our financial situation through endowment programs. 

We have a bright future ahead of us through there is still a lot of work.  Dreams move institutions to the highest level of performance and we need to share in this common dream and work together as partners.  All of us have a responsibility to the school regardless of whether we have school-age children or not.  No matter where we are from or what we have seen elsewhere, we are here now and have needs here now and have this institution now that we are building.  We need to advocate the values of Sunrise Academy, support the Academy, and make it stronger.

People come and go; institutions stay.  Sunrise is ours.  Get involved and you will understand the importance.  Let us align ourselves through shared vision and purpose.

July 1997 Scouting at Sunrise Academy!

Sunrise Academy is sponsoring and chartering the first Islamic Scouting organization in Central Ohio.

While the scouting program is not an official part of the Sunrise Summer or regular academic programs, we should recognize the importance of Sunrise as the official sponsor of our scout groups and the relationship between the academic, spiritual, and social growth offered by Sunrise and the personal growth and skills development offered by scouting.

For example, activities and learning modules offered by Sunrise during its summer program will qualify scouts for various achievement awards.  On the other hand, scout leaders will be organizing activities and learning modules which will complement all academic, spiritual and social programs whether from Sunrise or any other institution.

In this beginning stage, 10 boys and 10 girls have signed up and had their first meetings.  We have boys in Tiger Cubs through Weblos.  We have girls in Brownies through Juniors.  Children as young as 5 can participate.

Ahmed Al-Akhras represents the organization Islamic Scouting Society of America, which is developing learning and activity modules which are exclusively Muslim.  Kim Yasin will represent the girl’s equivalent.

Please be assured that all activities and learning will be halal!

All children are welcome to this program and interested parents are asked to call Rafiq (David) at …. For more information about the meetings and introduction to the Boy Scouts, and Kim Yasin at …. For the same information about the Girl Scout program.

July 1997 Sunrise Needs Volunteers

At present, the computer lab needs someone to organize the set up and utilization of our computers for the coming year.  We have many programs with conflicting requirements to be coordinated to the best usage of our equipment.  Our teachers need help managing the hardware.  Call 527-0465 and ask for Sr. Carolyn.

The secretary could use some help with office work to prepare for fall.  If someone can volunteer a few hours a week, please call Sr. Carolyn.

The library computer needs someone with database background.  Our catalogue is a dos program.  English-Arabic, in DB# which we would like to update.  If you have ability in this area and have some time to donate, please call Sr. Norma at ….

August 1997 How is Sunrise?

By Dr. Kevin Freer, education advisor

Sunrise Academy offers the opportunity to provide an education for our children in an Islamic environment.  The academy is truly a diverse, multi-cultural setting.  Some students are from families who will return to their home countries.  Others are exclusively living their own culture as first generation Americans.  Many are striving to formulate a new Muslim identity here in the U.S.  Sunrise Academy, as a crucial center of activity for the Islamic community in Central Ohio, has worked hard to meet the educational needs of all the students during the past year.

The aim of Islam is to create a better human being.  In order to obtain this goal, we must be well educated.  Through Sunrise Academy, we have the opportunity to have an impact on future generations of Muslims.  We can shape our children’s ways of thinking and prepare them in Islamic Studies and their general education.

The essentials are now available.  We must not only reach for minimum standards – we must also excel in all that we do.  Sunrise Academy has the potential to become a model school for the entire community.

These are exciting times for Sunrise Academy.  Like any new group or organization, however, the parents, staff, and board members have experienced stages of development often referred to as “forming” and “storming”.  A tremendous amount of time and effort has been made by many dedicated (and patient) individuals during these initial stages.  We expect to be “norming” next year when additional policies, procedures, and staff are in place.

People often ask me, “But how did we do?”  I am happy to be able to say, “Very well, thank you! And we have much to do in the coming year.”  I also manage to ask, “Would you like to know how you can get involved?”

Much has been accomplished.  Let me focus on academics.  During the last quarter, we completed end of the year Competency Based Education inventories for grades k-3.  Standardized tests were administered to 3^rd graders. 

Overall, our students did fine – we are on track with the basics.  Cumulative folders have been completed for each student to track progress, record health and attendance, etc.  Reports have been sent to parents.  Quarterly evaluations of each student will be conducted next year.

There are several on-going issues that are both expected of any new organization as well as particular to Sunrise Academy.  Examples of the former include the continuous cooperation and relationship between the Board of Trustees and the school Board, funding, strategic planning, and a budget process based o a stable source of income and long-range goals.  An example of the latter is the unique language needs of our students.  Discussions of how much Arabic is to be taught will continue.  Several students require English-as-a-Second Language as well.   

The fact that we are experiencing rapid growth explains issues and opportunities we are facing: staffing, curriculum development, assessment strategies, possible expansion of the Pre-K program (through a Head Start grant) and library, computer room expansions.

How You can help

There are numerous volunteer opportunities at Sunrise, like the library, computer room, office, classrooms, special events and school projects.  The PTA needs your active support.  Whether you have a child at Sunrise or not, you are welcome to attend special events at the school. 

Looking to the future

The chartering process will continue.  The state’s requirements provide us with benchmarks to track our progress.  We are hopeful that grant submissions and other outside resources recently obtained will continue to bring new services and supplement our own resource development.  We have emphasized quality in all that we do – with that will come increased enrollment and organizational growth.  Sunrise Academy will continue to focus on the individual child throughout this process.

Register your children as early as possible so that we can make adequate plans for the coming school year.

June 1997 General Assembly Meeting

By Fauzi Labidi

The general assembly meeting was held on Friday, May 16, 1997.  The purpose of the meeting was to report back to the community of the accomplishments of the board of trustees (BOT) those of the executive committee (EC), and to elect new members to the general body of representatives (GBR) and to the BOT.

The meeting started with a presentation from Br. Mouhamed N. Tarazi (Abu Omar), board chairman.  Abu Omar started his speech by thanking the brothers and sisters who played an active role in the different projects and activities of the community.  

At the forefront of those projects is the Islamic School. With the help of Allah, the ISG was successful in establishing a full time Islamic school, the first in Central Ohio.  This project stemmed from the fact that the Muslim community in Central Ohio has grown considerably over the years and its make-up has shifted from a predominantly student population to that of settlers.  Providing the Muslim children with an Islamic education is essential to the preservation of their identity and to their protection from the pitfalls and problems that public school are currently facing.

To shed some light on the various activities of Sunrise Academy, Br. Mahmood Moosa, Chairman of the school board, was invited to speak.  In his speech, Br. Mahmood highlighted many school activities, accomplishments, and future plans.  Among there were:

•  Currently, Sunrise Academy is offering education from pre-k to 3^rd grade to be extended to 4^th grade next year (inshallah).  The student enrollment currently stands at 30 students.
• As far as school chartering is concerned, a letter of approval was received from the Ohio Department of Education on January 13, 1997.  The school is now in the final stages of the chartering process.
• The school acquired 2 buses to be used for transporting the students back and forth from school. 
• The school board hired three consultants, two of them, Dr. Shaker Al-Sayed and Dr. Kevin Freer, serve on the board in a non-voting capacity.  The third, Ms. Suzanne Jones from the Hilliard school District, is reviewing and conduction the testing and record keeping activities for the school
• There is a weekend program for Arabic and Islamic Studies
• A Chat Room has been formed where parents, teachers, and the school board meet to discuss school issues.

Once Br. Mahmood finished his presentation, Br. Abu Omar took over to shed some more light into other accomplishments and project that the ISGC is currently undertaking.  Among these projects/accomplishments are:

• Two public hearings were held to discuss the proposed Muslim Community center in Hilliard.  As a result of these discussions, a technical committee, headed by Br. Ayman Ismail, was formed to look into the viability of these recommendations.
• A media recognition of the ISGC both in the newspapers and on TV
• Revision of the ISGC constitution to reflect the dynamic nature of the organization and to correct whatever loopholes might exist.  A three member committee was formed to help out in formulating a new constitution.  This committee is made of Br. Hussein Al-Kazzaz, Br. Hazem Gheith and Br. Fauzi Labidi
• A face uplift of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque.  This project is headed by Br. Nassir Hassan.  A great improvement has already been achieved in this endeavor.
• A newsletter that reaches a wider readership to keep the Muslim community abreast with what’s going on.  

To this fact, editorial board member Br. Fauzi Labidi discussed the following points.

• This is IQRA!’s 5^th year of publication with no interruption.  All brothers and sisters on the IQRA! Staff are volunteers.
• IQRA!’s circulation is close to 500.  About 430 copies are mailed regularly and the rest are distributed in the masjid and Muslim grocery stores.
• The current cost of printing and mailing IQRA! Is about $250/month; $200 for printing and about $50 for mailing.
• IQRA!’s budget consists of SGC funding and proceeds from advertisements and subscriptions.  About 4 months ago, IQRA! Started receiving $100/month from ISGC.  Prior to that, it had been self-supporting.  The proceeds from advertisements and subscriptions vary and tend to be very low.  This is due in part to the fact that IQRA! Is a free newsletter and subscribing is voluntary.  Therefore, financial support from the community is essential to the continuation and growth of the newsletter.

Following IQRA!’s presentation, MSA president Br. Sultan Salim was invited to report on the MSA activities on the OSU campus.  In his speech, Br. Sultan articulated the following points:

• Promote the unity and joint action among Muslims on the OSU campus.  This includes responding to unfair critical articles of Muslims and taking a proactive role to acquaint people about Islam.
• Provide a dawaa table to introduce non-Muslims to Islam
• Hold Jummah prayer on campus
• Invite Muslim speakers from out-of-state to talk on major issues that affect Muslims in North America
• Hold regular meetings and dinners to foster a stronger brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims on the OSU campus and to bring in the different cultural groups to the MSA>
• Conduct athletic activities such as basketball and camping trips.

Following Br. Sultan’s speech, ISGC president Siraj Akhtar spoke on the accomplishments and shortcomings of the ISGC.  His recommendations and personal views were summarized in a report he passed out to the GA.  Among the points accented in his report were:

• Defining a clear objective and mission of the ISGC.  The main objective of the ISGC is to bring people closer to the true path of Allah (SWT).  Our success would depend on how closely we achieve this mission.
• Restructuring the ISGC to reflect the dynamic nature of the organization.  This includes:
• Enhancing the participation by all members of the organization. Abolishing the concept of permanent members in the BOT and explicitly defining the responsibilities of the BOT members in the ISGC constitution.
• Reducing the criteria for individuals to be on the GBR and the size of the GBR.
• Defining specific tasks and duties for GBR members.
• Holding monthly shura meetings in the masjid.
• Expanding the IC to include deputies from the different committees.  The deputies would attend the EC meetings but have no voting power.
• Requiring by the constitution that final decisions on any major matters be made by the BOT, GBR, and EC meeting in a joint session.
• Focusing on continuity and growth of the community.  There should be a mechanism through which experience from the past is used to formulate better products for the future.
• Expanding EC to include a full time administrator.
• Having a better outreach to the different Muslim communities in central Ohio
• Providing the community with a correct and pristine Islamic knowledge.  This educational process must be organized and targeted to all age groups.  Providing our youth with a correct and authentic Islamic knowledge in all spheres of life, ranging from the basic aspects of personal life to the global aspects of the Muslim Ummah.
• Renovating the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque.
• Finding a permanent place of our own for Jummah prayer.

Following the completion of his speech, Br. Siraj turned the meeting into the hands of the election committee to conduct the elections for GBR and BOT seats.