Assalam Alaikum.

Masha Allah we received more than 250 responses to our survey! Thank you for your participation and for your feedback. The more we get to know our parents and their needs, the better we will be able to serve our school community.

GIS was recently recognized in the Santa Clara City monthly newsletter, as one of the few schools that involve their middle school students in environmental restoration at the Ulistac Natural Area. Our Student Council participated in this internship last year. For more information about participating with GIS in this community service, visit the following website: http://www.scu.edu/cas/esi/ulistac/volunteer.cfm#workday

Last month we had our second School Community Meeting. We had a discussion about parents’ long-term expectations for their children. The parents shared with us the challenges they foresee in raising Muslim children in America and the characteristics they would like their children to have. We were happy to see that our parents’ goals for their children are closely aligned with our school’s mission.

We are in the process of updating 2012-13 registration and application forms. The new forms will be mailed in the first week of February. Based on parents’ feedback, we are simplifying our application and registration process to make it easier for our parents. Stay tuned for the registration mailing.

Please remember to turn in your volunteer cards by Tuesday, January 31, to the school receptionist, Sr. Halima. Also remember to ask for a receipt for the $200 card.

Next week is Science Fair and Exhibition at GIS. To accommodate more parents, we decided to have the grades 1-5 Science Exhibition on a different day (Thursday,  January 26) than the science fair (Tuesday, January 24). We will also use the MCA Maryam Hall for the project displays. Page 5 includes details of project viewing time for parents. Please take the time to stop by and look at our students’ projects for this year.

The second Progress Report will be sent home next week, Insha Allah (Friday, January 27). This marks the midpoint of our school year. The following Friday (February 3) is our annual Open House from 8:30 to 11:30 in the morning. Please spread the word to your family and friends who are interested to learn more about Granada’s program.

Sincerely,

Nihad M. Mourad

nihadm@granadaschool.org 

Principal