Dear Aqsa Families,

Assalamu Alaikum! I pray this newsletter reaches your family in the best of health and highest iman. Insha’Allah all our students and families had a wonderful summer. The administration and I have been very hard at work all summer preparing curriculum, teacher trainings and adding technology to make the year ahead as successful as possible. We can not wait to have your beautiful faces and bright minds fill our halls again! We are so excited that we will be back for a brand new school year soon!

www.aqsa.edu

You can find the following: https://aqsa.edu/forms/

1. FORMS: Immunization, physical, dental and/or vision forms

2. SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS: School Supplies lists: all school supply lists for elementary and department supply lists for JH and HS.

3. SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS: You can find the summer Advanced Placement and all JH and HS Reading requirements for grades 6-12. Elementary Summer Enrichment packets were sent in portfolios.

4. HIGH SCHOOL BOOKLIST: A book/ course resource list (only students in grades 9 to 12)

REGISTRATION: If you have not done so already, please be sure to come in and register your child. Some classes are filled and no longer accepting students. Hurry in, our summer hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10am-2pm.

Be sure to note all the upcoming events this month! More information available below in this newsletter

*Junior High and High School New student Orientation: August 21, 2023

* Elementary Student MEET AND GREET: August 22, 2023

* The First Day of School: August 23, 2023

Inshallah the year ahead is filled with immense blessings! We cannot wait to see you all very soon Inshallah!

Peace Be Upon All the Aqsa Families,

Ms. Tammie Ismail

Principal

Aqsa School

The first day of school is always a special time: meeting new teachers, making new friends and seizing new opportunities to learn. Here are some details to make note of as you prepare for the day!

TIME: 8:20am to 12:30pm . The school day will start at 8:20am and the first day will be a half day concluding at 12:30pm for all elementary, junior high and high school students.

Elementary students

• Elementary students may come to school out of uniform.
• They should pack a lunch and snack.
• If you did not come to the Meet N Greet to drop off your supplies please send them with your child on the first day. Parents will be asked to come through the front door to drop off supplies.

Junior High and High School students

• Junior High and High School students will come to school wearing their uniform.
• If they don't have their skirts in yet please have them wear a long skirt or black abaya.
• They will be given a light snack.
• NO NEED to bring supplies until the 2nd day of school.

ARRIVAL/ DEPARTURE:

Please be patient with the flow of traffic at pick up and drop off in the first few weeks as we get oriented with our new families as well as share space with the neighborhood schools and masjid. We will try our best to make the process as seamless as possible but we also ask for your cooperation and patience.

Elementary West Side Drive Through: Families with children in the elementary levels will be assigned numbers to hang up in their cars. As the car comes through our West side drive up, we will call the number and have your child come out accordingly. For the safety of everyone please do not come to the door to pick up your child.

Junior High and High School East Side Lot: Junior High and High School students are dismissed from the East side door. You may park in the lot and have students walk out to you.

Late Arrival: If you are late, past 8:20am, you will need to park in the front lot and walk your child into school through the front doors.

Thursday and Friday August 24 and 25th : The rest of the week will be full days, from 8:20am to 3:30pm. Please pack full lunches and snacks for those days. Hot lunch will not begin until the following week of August 28th. A lunch menu will be sent home with more details.

Are you entering High School for the first time OR are you new to Aqsa School's High School (grades 9,10,11 or 12)?

If you answered yes to these questions than you MUST attend the Aqsa School Orientation on Monday, August 21st!

WHO: This orientation is REQUIRED for all PARENTS/ guardians and STUDENTS who are new to Aqsa Junior High or High School or a student in 6th or 9th grade.

WHEN: Monday, August 21, 2023

TIME:

Junior High Orientation for ALL 6th graders and New 6,7 or 8th graders will begin 11:00am and conclude by 12:30pm

High School Orientation for ALL 9th graders and NEW 10,11 or 12th graders will begin at 1:00pm and conclude by 2:30pm

It is very important to attend the orientation in order to go over all expectations and rules of junior high or high school.

The Meet and Greet is a drop off program anytime from 3:30 to 5:30pm. We look forward to seeing you then!

Address: 10139 S Harlem Ave, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 ( just a few minutes away from Aqsa School)

When searching or ordering online enter the Aqsa School code: S0963

BOYS: Navy Blue slacks and Green Polo

GIRLS ( 1st to 4th grade): Jumper and Green Polo

GIRLS ( 5th to 12th grade): Plaid Skirt and Green Polo

or Abaya for girls from Diana's Fashions Address: 10730 S Harlem Ave, Worth, IL 60482 Phone: (708) 923-0717

Physical Education Uniform: Gray t-shirt ( must be long sleeves for grades 6-12) and navy blue jogging pants

Many additional pieces exist as accessories or alternative choices such as sweatshirts, fleece zip ups and more.

GENTLY USED UNIFORMS: The Aqsa School Mother's Club has a limited supply of gently used uniform pieces for purchase at the school during the orientation and meet and greet days.

Free Educational Websites to Get our Brains back into Learning Mode:

Summer is a great time to explore nature and the outdoors, even relax and rejuvenate. While everyone deserves a break, too much time away from learning can lead to learning loss, often called the summer slide. In the few weeks left before school begins take some time to read a book, do some math drills or a science experiment. High School students have summer reading assignments for English and AP courses to begin. Elementary students have enrichment and practice workbooks that were sent in their portfolios at the end of the year. And prek to 5th students don't forget the library Barnes and Noble reading challenge.

Additionally, there are also online sites for learning that you may want to try. Here are three apps that make screen time a learning time:

1. CodeMonkey: a game-based education program that teaches children to code. It comes with a membership fee, but there's a free 14-day trial that doesn't require a credit card.
2. BrainPop: Online learning across subject areas for children in kindergarten through middle school and ELL learning for all age groups. Free.
3. Khan Academy: Online learning in math, science, and literacy for all age groups. Standards-aligned. Free.
4. Scholastic Learn at Home: Interactive learning journeys for all ages.

Please be sure to start your Common App account and put me as your high school counselor so that I may assist you as you add in your college choices.

Also, please make every effort to attend the College Essay Writing Workshop. All this information and more has been shared on Google Classroom and in our senior chat!