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Br. Jawad Saleem

Islamic Foundation
School Durham

April-May 2016

Asalamualaykum Parents and Guardians,

Alhamdulillah we had a productive month of April in the Grade 7/8 classroom. The
details of curricular and co-curricular activities that occurred during the month of April,
are detailed below. Please check the calendar for assessment dates and encourage your
child to work towards set goals, in a systematic way. They are being encouraged to not
just improve the content of their work in class, but also the overall presentation.

Inside this issue:

Language

Science

Mathematics

Social Studies

Art

Islamic Studies

NEBS Field Trip

IFSD Play Day

In terms of communications with the school, please note, parents having a concern
regarding their child must first contact the teacher for an explanation/resolution. If the
matter is not resolved, the Head of the Department / Division should be contacted. If the
problem is still not resolved, only then should it be taken up with the Principal. We
would also appreciate hearing about our achievements, accomplishments, and the
positive aspects of our school.
JazakAllah Khayr,
Br. Jawad Saleem

Curriculum Highlights
Language
During this month, we worked through our
Short Story unit. Students not only got to
read short stories by authors such as
Langston Hughes and Thomas King, but
also wrote their own short story using
teacher-provided guidelines and a rubric.
MashaAllah, they all channelized their
creative energies to produce gripping narratives.

we read and analysed two Extended Metaphor poems in class, followed by an exciting game of composing extended metaphor
poems in just 5 minutes! I was very
pleased to note the enthusiasm exhibited
by students during the literacy game. Students will be writing an extended metphor
poem in class next month, as part of their
assessment.

During the second half

of April, students engaged with Poetry. We
started with a Living
Poem activity in class
that the students thoroughly enjoyed. Then
they were able to work
on Found Poems as a
group first, and then individually. Finally,

Science
In Science class, both grades have completed their Unit D. Grade 7s shared their
learning through insightful presentations
on Global Warming & the Greenhouse Effect. We also watched a documentary, An
Inconvenient Truth to help students understand the issue better. Grade 8s shared
their learning about the global water issue
through a first person narrative as they

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created a sketch of children in Sierra

Leone, and their daily struggle of
fetching water. Next month, both
grades will work on Unit B, related to
structures.

Mathematics
Grade 7s have worked through the
unit on Area and
Perimeter, and after
their assessment,
started the unit related to Percentages.
Grade 8 students
completed the unit
on Circles, and after their assessment,
have started the unit on Geometry.
Both grades are practising questions
regularly in class and at home using
their PHB. A test is planned for the
first week of May.

Grade 7/8 Chronicles

Please speak to your child about the

importance of following a step-by-step
procedure for solving Mathematical
problems. It is imperative that they
understand why they are being asked
to list all the statements before calculating the answer. This is a skill that
will help them in future grades as
well.
We also learned about the 6 Articles
of Faith, this during April. Students
will have an assessment on the topic
next month.

Grade 8 students also presented an

oral speech to the class on the importance of studying History. They have
developed sound note-taking skills
and are able to quickly scan the text
for important details. During April
they worked through Chapters 4-6 of
the text book and will have an assessment during early May.

Social Studies
Grade 7 students have completed
their History coursework, culminating
with a speech about the importance of
studying History at school. They also

Art

Islamic Studies

Students enjoyed working on a One

Point Perspective piece during April.
They were able to understand how to
show perspective in their art work. It
is hoped that they will continue to use
this skill in future art work. Students
are currently working on a
Chromatic and Tonal Landscape
using watercolour as a medium.

Reading Response Journals continue

to be a regular feature in our classroom. Students work on their Seerah
RRJs 3-4 times a week during DEAR
time. Not only are they able to improve their literacy skills through this
initiative, but are also beginning to
cite examples of the Prophets (Sm)
life during other lessons as well. Most
of them have completed their first
journal notebook and have started
their second notebook.

NEBS Field Trip

IFSD Play Day

On April 25, 2016, we enjoyed a school

trip to NEBS Game World in Oshawa.
Students enjoyed a morning with
bowling and after lunch were able to
try the different rides offered by the
facility.

IFSD invited Grade 5 students and

teachers from IFS Toronto, to have
join us for our Play Day on April 21,
2016. 10 stations were set up and students were divided into a total of 20
teams comprising of 6-8 students in
each team from all grades including
the guest students. This allowed them
to develop a spirit of teamwork. IFSD
Grade 6-8 students served as team
captains, a role that they greatly enjoyed.

Students were thoroughly excited by

the opportunity, and had an enjoyable
day. We would like to thank all the
parent-volunteers who helped make
the day a success.

worked through their first unit of Geography and will have their assessment in May.

...O my Lord! so order me that I may

be grateful for Thy favours, which
thou hast bestowed on me and on my
parents, and that I may work the
righteousness that will please Thee:
And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the
ranks of Thy righteous Servants.
(Surah An-Naml, 19)

In the afternoon, two friendly soccer

matches were played between IFSD
and IFS Toronto students.

Website: ifsd78.weebly.com
Email: jawadsaleem.ifs@gmail.com