Minaret Gazette - Tri 1 Edition 2020

THE
Minaret Gazette
TRIMESTER 1 EDITION
August-December 2020
Message from the Principal
I want to congratulate our students, parents and teachers on a
successful 1 st Trimester! It was quite a different start to the
school year with various learning formats, new technologies
and new procedures for everyone. I am truly amazed at how
well everyone adapted to the new world order. I am hopeful
that we will return to normalcy in the near future. There is light at
the end of the tunnel.
As your principal, I am committed to continuing the tremendous
legacy, tradition and mission of Minaret Academy. I am
thrilled to be part of a dynamic staff of dedicated, talented,
caring and committed educators and am excited to be working
with our brilliant students. One of Minaret Academy’s greatest
strengths is our powerful family and community support. As
parents, guardians and family, you are your child’s first and
greatest teacher.
Together as a loving school community —family and school—
working as a mutually trusted and respected team, we exemplify
our belief and philosophy that “it takes an entire village to
raise and educate a child.”
In line with the value of this month, self-restraint and patience, I
want to thank all our parents and guardians for their cooperation
during campus closure and distance learning for elementary
and middle school students. This really helped mitigate the
spread of the deadly virus. We are continuing to do all we can
to ensure the facility is as safe as possible and ready to have
the students return to on-campus learning soon.
Have a restful Winter break. Every parent,
student and teacher has earned this break!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Shabnum S. Husain
WINTER BREAK
DEC. 21 ST –JAN. 1 ST
CLASSES RESUME
JANUARY 4, 2021
SELF-CARE CHALLENGE
All of these recommendations and should be observed
with masks and socially distanced from others.
1) Take a walk in the neighborhood
or park
2) Take 30 minutes or more for
yourself without technology
3) Have a game night with family
4) Read a book for fun
5) Visit the beach and watch a sunrise
or sunset
6) Catch up with an old friend or
relative
7) Drink a glass of water first thing
every morning
8) Enjoy one-on-one time with each
member of your family
9) Practice positive thinking
10) Take a trip down memory lane with
old photo albums and yearbooks
VALUE OF THE
MONTH & SCHOLAR
DECEMBER
Self-Restraint & Patience
Mariam al-Asturlabi
A 10th century female
astronomer and maker of
astrolabes in Aleppo, in what
is now northern Syria.

To open, or not to open…
that has been the question.
Since COVID-19 closed schools in March, there has only been
one question on everyone's mind...When are we reopening?
After months of silence in the halls and empty classrooms,
Minaret opened it’s doors and began to welcome students
back to campus on August 31st. Although they returned to a
different environment, where face masks and a temperature
below 100 is the golden ticket through the door, both students
and teachers were happy and relieved to finally be back to a
traditional school setting.
Minaret is resilient!
h
Challenges in Life
I asked for strength and
God gave me difficulties to make me strong
I asked for wisdom and
God gave me problems to solve
I asked for prosperity and
God gave me a brain and brawn to work
I asked for courage and
God gave me danger to overcome
8 th grader delivers
JUMUAH KHUTBAH
On Friday, November 20 th , Ally Sultan,
gave a powerful Khutbah to the middle
school students and teachers in the upstairs
patio. He explained how a Muslim
should lead a pure life-style by paying
attention to how one should spend their
time, deal with their money or income,
preserve their body and obtain good
deeds. He supported his Khutbah with
great Hadiths and concluded it with a
wonderful congregational prayer. Ally
recited Ayaat from Surat Luqman and
Surat Yaseen.
I asked for love and
God gave me troubled people to help
I asked for favors and
God gave me opportunities
I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed
Special thanks to Mrs. Rana
Alshurafa for her guidance and
direction. Fellow classmate,
Rehan Ahmed, gave the adhan
and iqamah.

MINARET HAS
A NEW FRIEND!
Help us find a name!
Please take the online survey to name our new
Montessori Giraffe—located downstairs in the hallway.
We have narrowed our search down to these three
names—have a fun family discussion and vote!
1) Ghazi the Giraffe
2) Ghulam the Giraffe
3) Ghaleb the Giraffe
DID YOU KNOW?
Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes
of sleep in a day! They often achieve
that in quick naps that may last only
a minute or two at a time.
On 10/15/2020 at 10:15am marked the annual
Great California Shakeout
Despite learning from home, Minaret families
observed the day with drills and revising emergency
and evacuation plans.
On campus, our Montessori students practiced the drill
STOP, DROP, and COVER!
For more info and safety tips, visit:
www.shakeout.org

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021 - 8 th GRADE STUDENT PROFILES
AbdulRahman Shatta
Birthplace: Santa Ana, CA
Parents: Roula El Azmeh
1.When did you first attend Minaret Academy?
When I was 3 years old.
2. What are your favorite memories from Minaret?
When I went to Pali, Catalina, and AstroCamp.
3. What are your achievements in middle school?
I won my first spelling bee last year in 7th grade and
got over my fear of swimming at Catalina camp.
4. What are your hobbies and special interests?
I like to play basketball and swim. I also like to draw
and use photoshop.
5. What are your future goals?
I want to graduate from UCLA and become a doctor.
I would like to help many people and get many
achievements for being one tf the best doctors.
Ally Sultan
Birthplace: Newport Beach, CA
Parents: Salah Sultan & Maria Kouli
Siblings: Sammy (6 th grade)
1.When did you first attend Minaret Academy?
I started in preschool.
2. What are your favorite memories from Minaret?
Going to the Rainforest Café in kindergarten,
Astrocamp and Knotts Berry Farm in 5th grade,
and Catalina in 7th.
3. What are your achievements in middle school?
I was in Pentathlon in 6th & 7th grade and went to the
Inter-District Spelling Bee in 6th grade.
4.What are your hobbies and special interests?
Playing basketball, reading, and playing videogames.
5.What are your future goals?
I want to go to Oxford or Troy and go to medical
school in the future to become a neurologist.

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021 - 8 th GRADE STUDENT PROFILES
Sami Kabbani
Birthplace: California
Parents: Houssam Kabbani & Dania Silk
Siblings: Rami (1 st grade)
1.When did you first attend Minaret Academy?
I started in 2010.
2. What are your favorite memories from Minaret?
AstroCamp, Pali, CIMI, Rain Forest Cafe
3. What are your achievements in middle school?
Khitma, all the field trips, getting good grades.
4. What are your hobbies and special interests?
Video games, basketball, biking, doing home projects
with my father, technology.
5. What are your future goals?
I want to be a successful person in life. I want to
attend Buena Vista Virtual Academy or Troy and
hopefully go to UCI for college.
Zeena Katbi
Birthplace: California
Parents: Samer Arabi Katbi & Kinda Akkad
Siblings: 5 (Abdullah, Janna, Kamar, Zubaida, Abdulrahman)
1.When did you first attend Minaret Academy?
I started preschool in 2010.
2. What are your favorite memories from Minaret?
When I went to Pali, Catalina, and AstroCamp.
3. What are your achievements in middle school?
I won my first spelling bee last year in 7th grade and
got over my fear of swimming at Catalina camp.
4. What are your hobbies and special interests?
I love reading and I sometimes paint.
5. What are your future goals?
I hope to become either an architectural or civil
engineer as well as become a business woman. I intend
to go to Arnold or Beckman High School spend two
years at Irvine Valley College then another two years at
the University of Irvine.

Red Ribbon Week
The Red Ribbon Week Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation.
Minaret students and staff showed their support by wearing red and signing a pledge to be drug free!
RED-y to be Drug Free!
SPORTS DAY
Teaming up
to be
Drug Free!

Middle School Science
Distant, but Engaged
As Neil Tyson said, “The good thing about science is that it is true whether or not you believe in it”. Science is an adventurous field
that triggers questioning and exploration. Here at Minaret Academy, our students are continuously motivated to participate in a funfilled
scientific journey. Our focus is not limited to the science content, but includes the scientific process which takes place everywhere
and anytime. In our science classes our students are developing 21 st century literacy skills that enable them to use virtual labs
and simulations to deepen their understanding of science and its applications. 6th graders (The Flintstones) used seismograms to
locate epicenters of an earthquake. 7th graders (The Little Hulks) analyzed lab data to identify a genetic mutation and propose a
treatment. 8th graders (The Alchemists) took the roles of forensic scientists and applied what they learned about electrons and
chemical reactions to recreate the methods used by suspects to make fake coins and prepared evidence for a court case.
Our students also participated in hands-on experiments where they extracted DNA, inflated balloons using chemical reactions, and
much more. There is no limit to what our students can and will do!
4 th grade Virtual Field Trip
"Walk Through California"
Ms. Maham’s 4 th grade students had the
opportunity to engage and interact in an
educational virtual presentation of the
retelling of California’s rich history.
Through the use of games, music, and storytelling,
history came to life!
Students also dressed up in a historical
costumes representing a period from
California’s past like pioneers, Spanish
explorers, miners, vaqueros, farmers and
missionaries. During the presentation,
students competed in a friendly contest to
earn points for their team. Each student was
awarded a participation certificate.

UNITY IN
DIVERSITY
COVID did not stop Minaret students from celebrating International Cultural Day and Arabic Language Day
in true fashion. Although we were unable to hold our traditional parade, students still dressed up in their
favorite cultural clothes. On campus, Montessori students learned about different countries through songs
and fun activities. Elementary students did Zoom presentations on their chosen country and educated
their peers throughout the day.

Middle School
International Cultural Day
& Arabic Language Day
Middle school students enjoyed a day of interactive
games, presentations, and personal reflections for their
annual and first-ever Virtual International Cultural Day.
The History-Social Studies Department played a special
Kahoot focusing on the background of teachers and the
world around us. To honor World Arabic Language Day,
the Arabic Department held special sessions to enhance
the appreciation of the language with a scavenger hunt,
Family Feud games, special presentations from national
and international speakers plus much more.
The Islamic Studies Department strengthened the identity
of all the students with an amazing 'Wheel of Fortune'
game highlighting teamwork and cooperation. In closing,
Elyas Haseem delivered a Friday Reflection talking about
the importance and beauty of diversity and its importance
in our community. To conclude the celebration, all 13
eighth grade students shared their favorite memories and
experiences at the school along with their future plans
including high school, university/college and career
goals. Overall, all of the students and teachers enjoyed
the program and bonding with each other.

Thank you teachers and staff for all your hard work, dedication, and
increasing your knowledge through all of the professional development sessions.
MONTESSORI STUDENTS
HAD A FUN
THANKSGIVING PROJECT
MAKING
INDIAN FEATHER HATS!
Board of Trustees
Chairperson: Samar Katbi Vice-Chairperson: Imtiaz Mohammady Secretary: Nayrouz Raslan
Board Members: Samer Soubra | Kinda Akkad | Necva Ozgur | Shezad Rokerya | Seema Ali