Tarbiyah Academy Parent Newsletter
Updates, Information, and Reminders for our TA Families
August 22, 2021
Assalamu Alaikum Dear TA Parents and Families!
I hope that this finds you all well and in the best of conditions!
On behalf of the TA faculty and staff, I would like to welcome you to the 2021-2022 academic year here at Tarbiyah Academy! While we are excited to kick off our 7th year of operation, we understand there are valid and real concerns-lingering and new-around what the school year will look like, and how safe our community will be as we open our doors to students. As it has been since March of 2020, we will continue to prioritize our community's safety, needs, and well-being above all factors that arise in the process of school functioning.
May Allah always envelop our community in His protection and in safety and security. May He facilitate a successful and fruitful year for our learners and families, filled with immense blessings and meaningful experiences.
Please read ahead for lots of pertinent information at this time for our families. Continue to stay tuned for other relevant information that arises in the coming days and weeks as we kick off the school year, insha Allah. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Thank you and jazakum Allahu khairun.
Hagar Aboubakr
Head of School
Staff List & Classroom/Grade Assignments
*Staff bios not yet posted on the site will be updated in next few days.
Administrative Staff
Hagar Aboubakr-Head of School
Ghada Elkordy-Admissions Officer and Administrative Assistant
Primary Years Program (Elementary School) Teachers
Homeroom Teachers
Aisha Karachiwalla – KG
Sana Waris – 1st Grade
Debby Rashed – 2nd Grade
Nahla Aboushaara – 3rd Grade
Hiba Ahmed – 4th Grade
Shabana Ahmed – 5th Grade
Arabic, Qur’an, and Islamic Studies (AQI) Teachers
Wafa Alnumri – KG and 1st Grade
Khalid King – 2nd and 3rd Grade
Yousaf Seyal-4th Grade Islamic Studies and Quran
Hala Salama – 4th Grade Arabic
Hala Salama – 5th Grade
Visual Arts Teachers
Aya Karam-K-3rd Grades
Zaynub Siddiqui-4-8th Grades
Physical, Social, Personal Education Teacher
Tasibur Hasan-K-8th Grades
Middle School Teachers
Fatima Ilyas–English/Language Arts Teacher
Bassnt Wahba–Math Teacher
Shaista Abbasi–Science Teacher
Mahvash Ahmed–Social Studies Teacher
Zaynub Siddiqui–Visual Arts Teacher
Tasibur Hasan–Physical Education Teacher
Aziz Ahmed–Inquiry and Skills Teacher
Support Staff
Fatima Khan–Counselor
Madeha Mira–Teacher Assistant
Zareen Siddiqui–Receptionist
Amro Abdulwahid–IT Specialist
Munaza Khan–Events and Marketing
Fatima Rafique–Events and Marketing
Amina Jamil–Marketing Intern
Program Coordinators
Hagar Ibrahim–Arabic, Qur’an, Islamic Studies Coordinator
Shaista Abbasi–Middle School Coordinator
Covenant and Handbook
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
Supply Lists
Please bring supplies to our Meet and Greet this Thursday, August 26th from 1-4 (see details further below).
Uniform Purchase Information
Uniforms are mandated for all students, including the Formal Friday and PE uniforms.
1110 N Rolling Rd
Catonsville, MD 21228
When you enter our school into their online system or shop in person, Dennis Uniform will guide you in purchasing the appropriate uniform pieces for your child. Physical Education/Gym uniforms are NOT purchased through Dennis Uniform; these are purchased through the school. We will share information on purchasing the PE/Gym uniform at a later time, insha Allah.
Please find further information below.
Dennis Uniform Store Information
PE Uniform Purchase Information
Please place PE uniform orders using the link below.
The deadline to place PE uniform orders is Friday, September 3rd. Once ordered, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
In addition to the PE shirt, t-shirt, or hoodie, students will also need a pair of plain blue, gray, or black sweatpants and sneakers.
For students who do not know how to tie their shoelaces, please send your child to school in velcro sneakers or sneakers with tieless shoelaces such as these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MM33TSS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_M7HDJR7Y8695VS85D7RD
Finally, in place of the PE uniform shirt, alternatively, students may wear last year's TA spirit gear shirts/hoodies, or any TA t-shirt from previous TA events.
Important Dates
K-3rd Grades: 1:00-2:30
4th-8th Grades: 2:30-4:00
*If you have children in both groups, you may choose either time slot to attend the Meet & Greet.
*Please note that families may be asked to wait outside the building during the Meet & Greet to avoid overcrowding inside the building.
*Please strive to attend the Meet & Greet only with your TA student; if possible, please do not bring non-TA siblings to this event.
*When inside the building, please do not linger or chat with other families/parents and abide by social distancing and safety procedures at all times.
*All individuals entering the building must wear a properly fitted mask at all times, including children and vaccinated individuals.
Monday, August 30: First Day of School; Drop off begins at 8:30 through front or back entrances; see further information below.
Thursday, September 2: Virtual Back to School Night; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Monday, September 6: Labor Day-No School for Students
Administering Prescription Medication
We will have the form available for families, as well, during our Meet & Greet/supply drop off.
Join Your BAND Group!
Follow us on Social Media!
Lunch Purchase Options for Students
We will have lunch purchase options available to students Monday-Thursday, starting on the first day of school, August 30th. Cash will NOT be handled at this time when purchasing lunch. All purchases will be charged to parent TADS accounts. Please see lunch options below.
Mondays/Wednesdays; provided by Flip’s Pizza
- Pizza by the slice - $2
- Mozzarella sticks (5 sticks) - $5
- Medium fries - $3
- Small garden salad - $5
- Grilled cheese sandwich with fries - $5
Tuesdays/Thursdays: provided by Columbia Café (thabiha options)
- Chicken burger with fries - $6
- Beef burger with fries - $6
- Chicken tenders (3 pcs) with fries - $6
- Chicken nuggets (6 pcs) with fries - $6
- Fries $2
In addition, snacks and bottled water are available for purchase on a daily basis for $1. Please have your child bring exact change for this. Snack options will include items such as crackers, raisins, popcorn, and fruit cups.
Nut Free Policy
Student Water Bottles
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Our doors will open at 8:30 for students. At this time, and in order to minimize the number of people in the building, we ask that parents do not enter the building beyond the front lobby.
Parents may drop off their child at the front or rear entrances of the building (see diagram below for back entrance route).
Each child's temperature will be taken before they enter into the main building. Any student with a temperature over 100.4 degrees will be sent home.
Students that arrive after 8:40 must enter through the front entrance of the building, and are marked as tardy.
Dismissal
Dismissal will begin at 4:00 p.m. Please read ahead carefully.
FRONT Dismissal: Students in grades 4-8th, plus their siblings in K-3rd grades will be dismissed at the front entrance of the building. Families will need to park their car and pick up their child.
BACK Dismissal: Students in grades K-3 that do NOT have siblings in 4-8th grades will be dismissed from the back of the building. Parents are to come through the back entrance of the school through Roosevelt Boulevard and remain in their cars, following the direction and guidance of staff (see image below).
Important!!
- For families picking up at the back of the building, please ensure that your driver's side is clear for students to enter your car into. If you have an infant or toddler, please place their car seat on the passenger side of the car, so that your student may enter into the driver's side of the car when being picked up from school. Students are NOT allowed to go around the car and enter through the passenger side; this creates a major safety hazard for students and staff.
- Please do your best to keep dismissal moving along efficiently; do not chat with staff/teachers at dismissal or get out of your car at this time. If you need to discuss a matter with your child's teacher, please reach out through email.
- Families will be issued a car tag to display for staff when picking up their child for dismissal. This car sign will indicate your family name and grade levels; using these signs will facilitate the dismissal process. Signs will be issued during the Meet & Greet. Please ensure that when picking up your child from school, that your sign is clearly displayed for staff.
- At this time, we will keep all students inside the building during dismissal and call students out as parents arrive for pick up.
- If families coordinate a carpool together, you MUST authorize another person to pick up your child in writing. We will NOT send a child home with anyone who is not officially authorized to pick up the child. In this case, please complete the "Pick Up Authorization Form" through TADS. If you are coordinating with another family for just a day you may send an email to our office stating your child's name, your child's grade level, and the name of the families who are authorized to pick up your child from school that day. Please send this email to our office staff, Ms. Siddiqui and Ms. Elkordy:
gelkordy@tarbiyahacademy.org
Before & After Care
Before care will be available from 7:30-8:30 a.m. After care will be available from 4:15-6:00 p.m.
Please note there are additional charges for Before and After Care.
Space in Before and After Care will be limited. If you will regularly be using Before and/or After Care, you must register your child(ren). To register for Before and/or After Care and to view fees, please visit our school’s website here: https://tarbiyahacademy.com/academics/after-care/
Safety Precautions and Measures
Expectations of TA Community Members
- All staff, students, and families entering the school building at any time are expected to follow health protocols as indicated by the CDC, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Howard County Health Department, and our school’s policies and procedures. As guidelines are updated and/or modified, the protocols for staff, students, and families will also be updated and/or modified.
Mask Policy
All students, staff, families, and anyone entering the building must wear a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Please note the following procedures and policies when wearing a face mask:
- Masks must be properly fitted and worn over the nose and mouth. A properly fitted mask should cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face, without any gaps.
- Children must wear children-sized masks to ensure proper fitting.
- Students may wear a mask bracket under their face masks to allow for easier and more comfortable breathing.
- Face shields, when worn alone, are NOT sufficient protection; face shields must be worn with a mask.
- “Gaiters” will not be permitted to be worn as masks at this time.
- Face coverings may be removed while an employee is alone in an enclosed office or classroom or while eating lunch. Surfaces exposed while not wearing a face covering must be disinfected. Face coverings must immediately be put back on whenever another individual enters the space.
- The only instance in which students will be exempt from wearing masks is during lunch and snack times (i.e. while eating) and when drinking water. At these times, students will be seated at a minimum distance of 3 feet apart from each other. Students may remove their masks for eating and drinking, and immediately put the mask back on when finished eating/drinking.
- Teachers and staff will conduct mask checks throughout the day to ensure that masks are properly fitted, snug against noses/mouths/faces, and that mask brackets are worn properly and do not interfere with the proper wearing of masks.
Signage
Signage will be placed at the school’s front entrance, back entrance, in the classrooms and throughout the buildings to alert staff, students, and families of the following:
- Face masks must be worn at all times
- Social distancing with a minimum of 3-foot distance must be maintained at all times.
- Proper, frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer usage must be maintained throughout the day.
- Students and staff must return home if experiencing symptoms and immediately alert school administrators of experiencing of symptoms.
- Reminders of healthy hygiene practices such as sneezing into a tissue, coughing into arm, etc.
Building Cleanings
The school will be systematically, thoroughly, and professionally cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis.
Throughout the day, a cleaning schedule will also be implemented for high touch areas in classrooms and throughout the school building including desk surfaces, front office counter/desk area, door handles, sink fixtures, and toilets.
Disinfectants and other cleaning supplies will be stored and secured in the janitorial closet. Disinfectants and other cleaning supplies to be used by teachers and other staff members in the classrooms will be stored atop the classroom cascade system or on shelving, in designated containers/bins.
Water Fountains
Water fountains will be closed off and suspended at this time. Students MUST bring a bottle of water, labeled with his/her name to school on a daily basis. Water bottles are not to be left in classrooms overnight.
Class Pets
Class pets will not be permitted at this time.
Building Preparation
The reception area of the school building has been provided with a freestanding clear Plexiglas barrier. Plexiglas barriers will be placed in other public-facing staff and student areas and classrooms.
There will be a table or drop box in the front lobby in the event that parents will need to drop off items for students and/or staff.
Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters will be placed in each of the classroom spaces, as well as front lobby, staff offices, and other shared spaces. HVAC filters will be replaced.
When Inside the Building
Parents and staff are not to congregate inside the school building and must maintain a minimum 3-foot distance at all times. In the case of several families arriving to the school at one time, families will be asked to wait outside the building until others exit the building. Please adhere to staff requests at all times.
Sanitizing Stations
Sanitizing stations equipped with hand sanitizer, disinfectant hand wipes, disinfectant surface wipes, disinfectant/cleaning spray, and paper towels will be placed in each classroom and throughout the building including in the following areas:
- At both entrances to the building
- At entrance/exit of all bathrooms in the building
- At each classroom library
- At each classroom entrance/exit
- Receptionist desk/front lobby/foyer area of school
- Teacher planning/copy room
- Head of School office
Sanitizing stations will be clearly marked with signage. Students will be prompted and instructed to sanitize their hands at regular intervals throughout the day.
Single containers of disinfectants and other cleaning supplies at the sanitizing station will be stored in an enclosed plastic bin when not in use.
Food Service
Directional arrows for entering and exiting the food service area will also be marked. Food will be set up in a grab-and-go manner. A gloved staff member will be available to facilitate and assist with lunch distribution. Another staff member will note students who are purchasing food. There will be no exchange or handling of money at this time. Parent TADS account will be charged for their child’s lunch costs.
Teachers and staff will ensure children wash hands prior to and immediately after eating. Staff will wash their hands before and after managing food service. Food will not be prepared in the building; food will be ordered from a local restaurant/food service provider.
Children will dispose of their own lunch wrappers/waste in designated trash and recycling receptacles.
Temperature & Symptoms Screening
The following protocol, adopted from the CDC, will be adopted for temperature and symptoms screening upon students’ arrival in the morning:
- A visual inspection of the child for signs of illness will be conducted, which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness, and confirm that the child is not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.
- The child’s temperature will be taken with a non-contact thermometer. The thermometer will be wiped with an alcohol wipe in between each reading.
- Students who have a fever of 100.40 (38.00C) or above or other signs of illness will not be permitted into the school building.
- Parents are requested to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children, to keep them home when they are sick, and to take their child’s temperature at home, each day, before coming to school.
Symptoms
According to CDC guidance, symptoms may include:
- fever or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- muscle or body aches
- headache
- new loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- congestion or runny nose
- nausea or vomiting or diarrhea
In Case of Exposure
Anyone from the TA community who has known or suspected exposure to COVID must report the exposure to the TA administration. This includes anyone from among the TA parents, staff, and students.
In the case that the TA administration learns of exposure of COVID to any of our community members, families will be contacted immediately via email by the school administration, alerting you of the exposure, as well as guidance on needed actions to take.
Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
Report Suspected or Known Exposure here: https://forms.gle/Zaa53Sh5hEiUwiA5A
As per state requirements, Hagar Aboubakr, Head of School, will report all TA COVID cases to the Howard County Health Department.
When Providing First-Aid or Care to Students
When providing health care as needed to students, school staff will utilize the following personal protective equipment (ppe) in order to protect their own safety and health:
- Disposable Surgical Mask
- Disposable gloves (non-latex)
- Disposable gowns (when exposed to bodily fluids such as when a child is vomiting)
- Face shield or goggles
All ppe will be removed, discarded, and replaced before entering other areas of the building.
Health Suite/Isolation Area
In the case of a child who develops symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, a designated isolation space will be in effect for control management and the reduction of spread of infections. In the case of a child who is experiencing symptoms, he/she will be placed in a separate health suite/isolation area and be given a properly fitted surgical mask. Parents will be notified, and the child must be picked up immediately. The isolation space will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use. The health suite will be equipped with the following supplies:
- Disposable gowns
- Surgical masks
- Non-latex gloves
- Face shields
- goggles
- Thermometers
- First-aid equipment; band aids, gauze, antibacterial ointment, ice packs
Bathroom Use
Bathroom use will be limited to 2 persons at a time.
Faucets and handles will be cleaned at regularly scheduled intervals.
Light switches will remain on in the girls’ and boys’ bathroom in order to prevent students handling the light switch.
In the Event of School Closure
1) Release Form
2) Cohort Preference Form
Here are the Cohort Assignments:
Cohort A: Monday, Tuesday (students come to school on these days)
Cohort B: Wednesday, Thursday (students come to school on these days)
Friday: Fully Virtual
3) Student Logins
Previous Newsletters
Hagar Aboubakr, Head of School
Email: hagaraboubakr@tarbiyahacademy.org
Website: www.tarbiyahacademy.com
Phone: (844) 827-2492
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TarbiyahAcademy/