ICB August Newsletter 2022 (1)

Fauget
Capital
August 2022 Newsletter
Our Vision: Best School; Best Learning Journey
I’m extremely proud to announce ICB won six of
Australia’s inaugural Crescent Awards - the equal
highest number - and finished runner-up in another six
categories.
It’s tremendous recognition of how our passionate
staff – both teaching and administration – and
our talented students, are working together to achieve
positive outcomes, not only for the college,
but the broader community.
The Crescent Awards for outstanding Muslim learners,
educators and schools, which I was fortunate
enough to attend, were presented at a gala dinner in
Sydney on August 6.
(6) Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
Winner: Rukhsana Ashraf (Primary)
(7) Curriculum Winner: Craig Burchell– Futsal
Excellence Program; Runner-Up: Maneesha
Iqbal, Fauzina Nabi, Mohammed Shah,
Aanisah Buksh, Suraiya Girach (Primary)
(8) Learning Environments Winner: Sakinah
Greenhouse Gardens
(9) Wellbeing Winner: “The Hub”
Ali Kadri
CEO Islamic College of Brisbane
THE FULL LIST OF ICB AWARDS
(1) Academic Impact Award (Secondary) Runner-Up:
Amna Dawood
(2) Sporting Impact Award (Secondary) Winner:
Yasmin Hijazi; Runner-Up: Danya Mustafa
(3) AMUST All-Rounder Award (Secondary) Runner-
Up: Yunus Shuaib
(4) AMUST All-Rounder Award (Primary) Runner-Up:
Hannan Dawood
(5) Distinction in Beginning to Teach Winner: Ebony
Kerrigan; Runner-Up: Nisa Johnson

PAGE 02 I August Newsletter
Sporting celebrities call in on students and staff
A big “thank you” to Australian cricketer Usman
Khawaja, and former AFL Star Bachar Houli for
taking the time to visit the college – and inspire
us about the importance of teamwork, and how
to achieve our full potential and perform at the
highest level.
Both Usman and Bachar have known adversity
and experienced the knockbacks of the
challenging world of professional sport.
They are also well versed in how important it is to
remain focussed, maintain a good work ethic
and display desirable traits like tenacity and
determination.
Both are consummate professionals, who took
the time to chat and were more than
happy to pose for what seemed like endless
photos! Everyone walked away feeling
invigorated and full of confidence to tackle any
challenges that may lie ahead.
In fact, Usman posted this message on social
media: “Enjoyed visiting the boys and girls at
the Islamic College of Brisbane today. Some
very cool, smart and funny kids around. Love
the mix of religion and Australian culture
coming together. Something I can definitely
relate to!”
A left-handed top order batsman, Usman
Khawaja became the first Muslim and
Pakistani-born Australian to receive a cricket
Test baggy green cap. A reminder his
foundation will be running an after-hours
coaching session at the college on September
7. You’ll need to accept the EVENT on Parents
Lounge to ensure your son takes part, and if he
does, he’ll need to wear his PE uniform and
have a water bottle and hat/cap.
Bachar Houli is a former Australian rules
footballer who played 232 games over a 15-
year career with Richmond and Essendon in
the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a
three- time premiership player with Richmond.
In his retirement speech last year, Bachar, the
first devout Muslim and third Muslim overall to
play in the AFL, said:
"Not only did I want to play as many games
as possible, but I wanted to educate
Australia, about my faith (and) about the
religion of Islam, the religion of peace. I
hope I have left a sense of peace in
everyone’s heart.”
Our Mission Statement:
We believe every student has an inherent potential to achieve great results.

PAGE 03 I August Newsletter
"We can compete with the best"
After a two-year break due to COVID-19, the
Australian Islamic Schooling Conference was
held on August 6 at Greenacre, in New South
Wales.
I was among a group of Islamic College of
Brisbane teachers and school leaders
privileged to have been able to attend, and
contribute to important discussions at the
conference, the fifth organised by the Centre
of Islamic Thought and Education (CITE) -
University of South Australia.
What’s clear is that Islamic Schools in Australia
are showing that academically, we can
compete with the best. ICB can also attest to
the fact, they are becoming increasingly
attractive, as enrolments increase.
This year’s theme was, ‘Islamic School Renewal
in Practice.’ In response to feedback from
previous years, the conference showcased
practitioners; teachers and leaders who are
leading renewed projects in their schools
rather than research and theory.
The presentations were most topical ranging
from behaviour education, student diversity,
integration, pedagogies of engagement,
wellbeing to assessment and these insightful
and impactful research projects provided
motivation and direction for everyone in
attendance.
It is most encouraging to both confirm and
affirm the progress of ICB and the
distinction we are landmarking. At ICB,
innovation is occurring every day in our
classrooms, as our diverse and inclusive
systems continue to evolve and adapt.
I’m proud to say we are currently meeting all
our goals by collaborating and renewing our
policies and practices (among other things). I’m
excited about what’s to come – and being able
to build on the momentum which will lead to
even bigger and better things in the years
ahead.
ICB Chief Learning Officer
Susan Scott

PAGE 04 I August Newsletter
August Student of the Month Awards
It gives us great pleasure to announce Yara
Abu Hussein, who is in Year 11 and Year 5’s
Tehreem Fatima are the winners of our
August awards.
Yara, 16, said she was “surprised” and
“shocked” to be crowned ICB’s Secondary
Student of the Month. “I certainly didn’t think
I’d win it, but it feels good to be appreciated,”
she said.
And she’s certainly appreciated by her
teachers and peers, who say Yara is an
“inspiration”.
A dedicated and enthusiastic member of the
debating team for several years, her hard-work
has helped create an in-school debating
competition, now in its third year. Yara is also
a mentor to younger students, with the number
of debating teams increasing – due largely to
her efforts.
“I have a lot of younger friends and I like to talk
to them, and help them get into debating and
adjudicating,” she said.
With Chemistry her favourite subject, Yara said
she aspired to do well in all her studies
because “getting a good mark is like an
adrenalin rush – it’s amazing”.
Primary Student of the Month Tehreem’s secret
to success is simple. The 10-year-old likes
helping people, they then start helping others –
sparking a feel-good domino effect.
“Once, I started working with another student
on a hard maths question, which I didn’t really
understand either,” she elaborates.
“So, we worked it out together, and we started
helping others in the class and after a while
they caught up, and those students began
helping other students.
“It was like this connection of kindness,
and everyone started encouraging each
other and making each other happy”.
Head of Primary Iram Khan said Tehreem – a
class captain for several years whose favourite
subjects are Maths, Science and Art – had
displayed exemplary behaviour.
“She’s recently qualified for a scholarship, and
continually demonstrates respect to her
teachers and her peers,” Ms Khan said.
“She always comes up to us with a big smile
and does things without having to be asked,
which is a wonderful character trait and sets a
good example to her peers”.
“I’m a better student now than when I started
here in Year 8, when perhaps I wasn’t as
focussed as I should have been,” she said,
adding she’d just endured an “all-nighter” to
complete a biology research assignment.
“My advice to other students would be
don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be
nice to the staff, because that helps
develop mutual respect – which goes a long
way”.

PAGE 05 I August Newsletter
Getting to know some new faces in the ICB
staffroom - and classroom.
Damon Venner
Mohammed Abdullah
In his first job since graduating from the
University of Queensland, Damon Venner, 22,
is relishing the “hands on” environment in the
classrooms of ICB.
“I’m so fortunate to get this job and in the six
weeks I’ve been here, it’s been so easy to
assimilate into the school community,” he said.
“The children are fantastic, and I’ve got a
wonderful support network around me which is
helping me develop my cultural and religious
knowledge”.
Damon, who is one of the non-Muslim teachers
at the primary school, said he had watched
some “educational videos” to help immerse
himself into his new surroundings.
“I’ve been warmly welcomed by the school
community,” he said. “Every day, I talk to other
teachers in my cohort, and just getting their
feedback has assisted tremendously.
“I’m loving it here, and ICB is incredibly
hands-on. For example, we had a Science
Day recently and the students really
enjoyed it, because they were able to
experience different activities with
different teachers, which I also believe
helps build respect - which makes
managing their behaviour somewhat
easier”.
11-year-old Mohammed Abdullah has
embarked on an amazing journey, since
recently arriving in south-east Queensland with
his family from Pakistan.
Having travelled from Lahore, the capital of
the province of Punjab and Pakistan's second
largest city after Karachi, jet-lagged
Mohammed was enrolled just 24-hours later at
our college.
And after three weeks of settling into a new
school, in a new country, he’s flourishing.
“I was a bit nervous, but I really felt welcome
at ICB,” he says, his English is amazing
considering that until a short time ago, it was
his second language.
“Compared to my old school (in Lahore), it’s
really big and there are a lot more students -
but I’m really enjoying it”.
Mohammed, whose favorite subject is Science,
is flourishing on the soccer pitch. He’s also
learning so much about life in Queensland,
outside class.
“For the first time ever, I went to a beach
on the Gold Coast and had a swim and it
was great,” he said.
Mohammed is now going with the flow
generally in life, as he moves in a new
direction and continues to embrace change –
and the uncertainty associated with it.

PAGE 06 I August Newsletter
Some important dates to remember:
(P) Primary (S) Secondary
September
1 September Year 4 and Year 1 Excursion (P)/ Parent teacher interviews (S)
2 September Student Free Day/Primary Planning Day (P)/ Parent teacher interviews
(S)/Year 12 Formal (S)
5 - 9 September Book Week and Parent-Teacher Interviews (P)
5 September Year 10 mentoring program
7 September Student-led assembly & R U OK? Day
8 September Year 10 Respectful Relationships workshop (S)
12 September Prep Readiness and Enrolment (P)/Year 3-6 Sports Carnival (P)
13 September Prep Readiness and Enrolment/Year 5 Excursion (P)
14 September CEO’s Awards (P)/Years 7 – 10 Talk Money workshop (S)
15 September Year 5 Excursion (P)/Prep Readiness and Enrolment (P)
16 September Term Ends/Prep Readiness and Enrolment (P)
Heartfelt thank you to teacher!
We’d like to highlight Rafay Qureshi’s passionate note to PE teacher, Nazeem Smith, who Rafay
says is the “best cricket coach ever”. Rafay, who is in 5C and dreams of becoming the “best
cricket player in the world”, says he appreciates the time and effort Mr Smith invests in the
students’ practice sessions. Rafay’s kind words were certainly welcomed by Mr Smith, who like
all our staff, works every day to help our students reach their full potential.

PAGE 07 I August Newsletter
A reminder we want you to share your story
ideas and perhaps send in some short articles
(150 word maximum) telling us about your
experiences at ICB, or some fun facts about
the college.
Please email us on ideas@icb.qld.edu.au
BEFORE the last week of each month!
Islamic College of Brisbane
45 Acacia Road, Karawatha QLD 4117
T + 61 (7) 3841 3645
Islamic College of Brisbane
@islamiccollegeofbrisbane
Islamic College of Brisbane
ICB Official 3
icb.qld.edu.au