MCC Academy News
February 2017
 
Upcoming Events:











Mondays, 8:30-10am - Pearls of Wisdom from the Quran course for ladies only -


February 7, 6:30pm - School Night Featuring MCC Academy - MCCA teachers and staff will read to children at the Skokie Public Library. 

February 12, 6-8pm - Muslims on Stage and Screen - at the MEC (see below for more information)

February 14 - MCCA Annual Spelling Bee Elementary In-class Competition - The classroom spelling bee competition will take place on Feb. 14 to determine who will go on to the all-school (Skokie campus 1st-5th) competition. Kids can wear no uniform and dress up like bees or where the letter "B" on their clothing.  

February 19 - OMD Open Mosque Day - MCC-Elston location. (see flyer here)

February 22 - First Day of Drama Club and Performing Arts Club - First day of new session for both clubs. To register your child, please email donelle.bergeson@mccacademy.org

February 23 - Early Dismissal at 1:30pm - 
Please note early  dismissal  pick-up timing for your child for the following grades:
Pres, Prek, Kg: 1:15-1:30pm
1st-8th grades: 1:30-1:45pm  





 

REMINDER: TUITION PAYMENTS

Monthly tuition is due each month by the 10th.  Late payments will accrue late payment fee of $25 for each month payment is not received.

Please sign up for automated withdrawal if you have not yet done so.  If you have any questions about tuition payment, please email our accountant at salik.rehmani@mccacademy.org.

A Note from the School Council

Assalamualaikum MCCA Community,

Dear Parents,
Alhumdilallah, we have completed half the school year and have just begun the third academic quarter.  Time has flown by as we accomplished many goals and won some competitions. Our students are ever-striving to do better and better. MCCA appreciates your cooperation and hard work to keep us moving in the right direction. 

Please mark your calendars for the MCCA Annual Dinner on  Saturday, March 11, 2017.  This is our major fundraiser and your attendance with family and friends is very important. Our generous donors help us with financial support that is needed to smoothly run a school. This year's theme is "Our Families, Our Future."

PSG hosted the Family Roller Skating party. 400-500 people attended this fun event Masha Allah. Thank you PSG for giving us this special evening with family and friends of MCCA. You outdid yourself!

Congratulations to Mrs. Abeer Saleh, MCCA Science Teacher, on the success and astounding response to her book highlighting her original curriculum on Muslim Scientist and their discoveries. A major US publishing house will be distributing Mrs. Saleh's book among their 2018 science curriculum textbooks.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Musarrat Khan
MCCA Council Chairperson

PSG Update

Key Dates:
Feb 10 & 24 - PSG meetings at Skokie campus
Feb 17 - PSG Board meeting
Feb 7,14, 21, & 28 - Pizza Sale at Skokie campus. Pizza will be sold at two locations: Early Childhood entrance and Outside Gym.
Feb 1, 8, 15, & 22 - Pizza Sale at Morton Grove campus
Feb 1 & 15, Popcorn Sale at Skokie campus
Feb 2 & 16, Popcorn Sale at Mg campus

Alhamdulillah, half of the school year has already flown by. MCCA is in the 3rd quarter now.

Coupon Book:
Jazakallah to everyone who supported the school in purchasing this year's Annual Coupon Book. If you still have not had a chance to purchase your coupon book, please stop by the office. Limited number of books are still available. 


Family Roller Skating Event: 
The Muslim Family Roller Skating Party on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at Orbit Skate Center was a very successful event, we had over 300 people that came out. Thanks to all of the families and individuals who came to this event. Everyone had a very nice time.

Upcoming Events:
March 11, 2017 MCCA Annual Dinner
Please buy your tickets now online at www.mccacademy.org or from either campus office.

For more details, feedback or comments, please email MCCFTSPSG@gmail.com.

MCC Hosts "Empower Diverse Communities" Rally to a Crowd of Hundreds!

As various diverse communities around the North Shore, we raise our voices against bigotry. We have seen an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, misogyny, discrimination against African-Americans, immigrants/refugees, and those with disabilities. Together we can have our voices heard and make a difference when we collaborate to empower our neighbor. Our voices have power individually and even more so collectively.  People in the hundreds came for sign making and music; walked and talked together around Morton Grove, met back at the MEC for presentations; learn about social justice and civil rights opportunities; and had a chance to socialize and network. Many news organizations covered the event, including the Chicago Tribune.

Speakers:
Dilnaz Waraich, MCC Interfaith & Outreach Committee
Lesley Williams, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)
Reverend Michael Nabors, Second Baptist Evanston of Evanston, Illinois
Pastor Liz Munoz La Reve, La Iglesia Episcopal de Nuestra Señora de las Américas

This rally was co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace, the Muslim Community Center, Open Communities, Tzedek Chicago, Iglesia Episcopal Nuestra Senora de las Americas, and the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, Illinois. Stay tuned  for more action items to help empower our community. We can do so much more as a group than alone!!

-- Submitted by MCC Interfaith and Outreach Leader Dilnaz Waraich


MCCA Science Teacher  Mrs. Abeer Saleh Presents at ISNA Education Forum

MCCA Middle School Science Teacher Mrs. Abeer Saleh recently had the amazing opportunity to present the topic of "Reimagining the Science Classroom: One Verse at a Time, Islamic Scientists of the Golden Era, and their Impact Today" at the ISNA Education Forum in Anaheim, California. She shared with educators from across the country her original curriculum on this special unit that she has been teaching MCCA students for nearly a decade. She explained precisely how she brings to life some of the world's greatest Muslim scientists of all time while teaching the science behind their discoveries and contributions in a vast variety of scientific fields. Mrs. Saleh's book for educators on this topic, titled "Giant Step for Mankind, One Verse at a Time," articulates her curriculum and includes Quranic evidence and suggestions on science labs and experiments, helping students to connect some of the world's greatest scientific discoveries to the Muslims responsible for them. Her approach is so valuable and unique that a major Publishing company has taken notice and will be including Mrs. Saleh's book among their 2018 science textbook editions. MashAllah! Congratulations to Mrs. Saleh! 


Native Deen Nasheed Artists Perform Live at MCC Academy

So many from among our community - MCCA students, parents, high school and college students - came out to MCC Academy last month on a Friday night and Saturday morning to enjoy Native Deen Live in Concert! MashAllah, what an amazing treat to have these beautiful nasheed artists perform for our community! They treated the audience to many favorite songs from their three albums, paid tribute to the late Junaid Jamshed, and invited some of the children on stage. Our talented MCCA students and alumni opened the show with poetry and spoken word performances. Two groups from Mrs. Elmasri's English class performed as opening acts for Native Deen. What a great place to show case their talent as writers and performers. They used poems they worked on in class. It was a great hit! Mashallah. Hamza Ibrahim, Rayhan Mangera, Ibrahim Saleh and Isma Manzoor, Mya Nasser, and Mehreen Shah Khan. Everyone was truly entertained; there was a sea of happy, smiling faces all around!




MCCA Students Comfort Those in Need During the Holiday Season  And ABC7 News Chicago Takes Notice

Recently MCC Academy middle school students were featured by the ABC7 News for conducting a food drive and meal compilation to support people of other faiths who were in need during the holiday season. Our students' goal was to help provide food for the homeless in Chicago by putting together 750+ brown bag lunches. MashAllah, students worked non-stop for half the day in an assembly-line fashion to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, wrapping these each individually, and then placing them in brown paper bags along with snack items such as chips, cookies and other food items. "As Muslims, our students know that Islam believes in supporting humanity, regardless of faith. It is a part of our tradition to help those in need, regardless of race, color or creed. The act of feeding the hungry is something that is extolled in many passages within the Qur'an and builds a deep empathy and compassion for those that have less than us," said MCCA Social Studies Teacher and organizer of this event, Mrs. Sadiya Barkat.



MCCA Science Fair Winners Announced

Seventh and Eighth grade students showcased their science projects in the MCCA Science Fair on January 24.  Our thanks to the many parents and community members who volunteered as judges for this contest. While everyone put in commendable effort, the following students netted out as our top three winners among each grade. 
7th Grade
First Place:               Adam Djoudi
Second Place:          Usman Khan
Third Place:              Fariha Siyadath
Honorable Mention:  Manal Ghori

8th grade:
First Place:                Aadil Patel
Second Place:          Fizza Nasir
Third Place:              Umaimah Ansari
Honorable Mention:  Fatima Ahmed

All students who participated in our school science fair competition are highly encouraged to participate at the Regional Competition on March 4 at Niles North High School. Please contact Mrs. Saleh if your child is interested in participating. 





MCCA Crescent Athletics - Coach Kadir Oz

Boys Basketball/Regional Update:
 

The MCCA Crescents Varsity basketball team finished the month of January with a conference record of 8-1. Although the team has been fighting through adversity with injuries to their starting point guard and shooting guard, they haven't let that stop them from working towards their goal of reaching championship status once again. Coach Kadir said, "In order for us to grow, we had to be willing to change old habits". On Saturday January 21st, the boys shutdown Al-Siddiq with a 47-4 win at the newly finished home court in Morton Grove. Their next game will be against IQRA on Friday, February 3, at 6:30p.m at MCC Academy in Morton Grove.
 

Earlier in the week, the boys also found out that they would be competing in the IESA regionals on January 28 for the first time in school history. The Crescents took 3rd place in their Illinois regional bracket and played Riverdale Washington, who took the 6th seed and finished their regular season competitions. The MCCA boys did fall short to Riverdale in the game but this was a great opportunity for the Crescents to make some impactful noise in the regional competitions, while also boosting their confidence, as they will be heading into the final few regular season games in the Southwest Conference.
 
The first round of the Southwest Conference playoffs will take place at 5pm on February 10 at MCC Academy in Morton Grove. The second round will take place at Universal school on February 11.
 
Girls Volleyball:
 

Shortly after the MCCA girls basketball team finished their final competitions, many of the players had to put on a different jersey and get ready for yet another season. The Girls Crescents were on a mission this year to repeat as Southwest Conference Champions for volleyball. Led by Amereh Alkhatib, Amina Dzananovic, and Suha Moten, this trio of coaches guided the Crescents to an 8-1 overall season and back-to-back conference championships. The playoffs took place on Saturday January 28th at MCC Academy in Morton Grove where the Crescents defeated Universal in the semifinals and then took down IFS to win the championship.

MCCA Students Participate in Experiential Workshop to Teach about Life as Refugee

On January 26th, our MCCA middle school students participated in an immersive and experiential workshop lead by our very own eight graders! We collaborated with Zakaat Foundation to teach our students about various difficulties and struggles people around the world are facing. The eight graders lead five different activities and the students experienced each activity with their housemates. Our fifth graders also joined in for the day.
The activities included:
-        Live board games: Students participated in various games that allowed them to become a part of the game itself. The 8th graders created their own modified versions of popular games (such as battleship, life, and dodge ball) and added trivia to make it a learning opportunity for participants. Including an active component with the questions made the games fun and encouraged member participation. Students were also asked empathic questions and encouraged to think outside the box during these games.
-        A day in the life of: One of the activities simulated a day in the life of people living in war torn countries. The struggles and realities were experienced first hand by our students. Afterwards, participants had moments to reflect on what they saw, how they felt, and what challenges they faced.
-        Videos and speakers: A Zakaat Foundation representative came to MCCA to speak with our students about their efforts to help Muslims around the world. Students engaged in discussion and reflection. They also watched videos and participated in a rigorous trivia game to test what they had been learning all day.
-        Scenarios and budgets: To understand the realities of financial hurdles and family responsibilities, our students participated in an activity that provided a specific scenario, family roles, a budget, and various obstacles they could face. Students had to decide how to use their money wisely, and protect their loved ones.
This workshop was a successful opportunity for students to learn about struggles that humans are facing around the world. It was also a great way for our eight graders to hone their leadership skills and think critically and creatively. Our seventh graders got to pair up with a fifth grader for the day, giving them an opportunity for leadership and responsibility as well. Alhamdulillah, we had positive and constructive feedback from students, teachers, and Zakaat Foundation. 
-- Submitted by Ms. Sabaahath Latifi, MCCA School Counselor


Eight MCCA Middle School Students Head to National History Bee Regional Competition


On Thursday, January 12, MCCA had their annual National History Bee Competition. This competition, which is affiliated with the National History Bee, had ten contestants who were tested on their knowledge of World cultures and events. In order to make it to the top ten finalists, students had to take a fifty-question multiple choice exam along with the rest of their peers. The ten finalists were the top ten scorers. One of the students, Osman Mohammed, only missed nine questions on the preliminary exam, which is exceptional. Then, the ten finalists gathered before the whole school and battled it out among themselves in a verbal/written quiz competition. The questions spanned all forms of history from World to American, ancient to modern. After an hour and a half of intense history questions, three winners emerged. The initial ten finalists were: Osman Mohammed, Omar Siddiqui, Abdurrahman Ibrahim, Haroon Salahuddin, Rayhan Mangera, Taqi Junagadhwala, Adel Choubkha, Adam Yousef, Aadil Patel, and Hamza Ahmed. Hamza Ahmed deserves accolades for being the only 7th grader to make it into a competition dominated by all 8th graders. Masha'Allah, after a great deal of history, fun, and good-natured competition, the following three students emerged as the winners. Congratulations to Omar Siddiqui for winning first place, Hamza Ahmed for winning second place, and Osman Mohammed, for winning third place. Masha'Allah, congratulations to all of our amazing history scholars. It is an achievement to make it to the competition. Also, all ten finalists took the online exam to see if they qualify for the National History Bee Regional finals in March.
Alhamdulillah, eight of these students who took the test all qualified to compete in the regionals. We had only one student not qualify, and none of our students were placed on standby. Thus, on March 25th, eight students from MCCA will compete against students from other schools in North Chicago at the regional competition in Wheaton, IL. Congratulations to these students: Osman Mohammed, Rayhan Mangera, Taqi Junagadhwala, Adel Choubkha, Aadil Patel, Omar Siddiqui, Haroon Salahuddin and Adam Yousef.
-- submitted by MCCA Social Studies Teacher Mrs. Sadiya Barkat

MCC-Elston Masjid to Construct Mezzanine to Accommodate Growing Congregation of Sisters

Top View of Mezzainine

MCC administration is extremely happy to announce that the City of Chicago has approved the mezzanine construction project at MCC-Elston Masjid. The construction of mezzanine will reduce congestion and increase the view for growing congregation of sisters. Estimated cost for the mezzanine is $300,000. Please donate generously for this once in a lifetime opportunity of continuous charity (Sadqa Jaariah). 
Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said: "Whoever builds a Masjid for the sake of Allah, (even if the donation is only sufficient to build something like a bird's nest or even smaller), Allah will build for the person a house in Jannah." [Ibn Majah-Saheeh-738]

M. Sarwar Nasir                                   Mufti Nazim Mangera
MCC President                                     MCC Imam

MCCA Hosts Special Visitor in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, students were treated to a visit by special guest Ms. Leila Mohammed, daughter of the late Warith Deen Mohammed, the renowned African American Muslim leader, theologian, philosopher and Muslim revivalist, credited in 1976 with disbanding the original Nation of Islam (founded by his father) and transforming it into an orthodox mainstream Islamic movement.  Ms. Leila Mohammed stopped by both MCCA campuses to visit with our students and remind them of the great blessing each of them have in being able to attend a full-time Islamic school and be surrounded everyday by other Muslims and to be learning about Islam daily. She spoke of her late father and the work he did to help spread the deen. Along with telling her story, Ms. Leila sang nasheed songs with the students. Her visit was very special and our students really felt inspired by the story of her life.   



Middle School Students Donate Money to Build a Well in Ghana

Top View of Mezzainine

MCCA Alumnus Anwar Abdallah recently visited with our middle school students to share with them a presentation by the Zakat Foundation on countries and people who don't have pure water. The presentation was very detailed and our students were left heartbroken.  Immediately, we all decided to start collecting money to build a well in Ghana, one of the countries in much need of clean water. 7th graders especially went all out and collected about $1700 over one weekend. Other classes also participated and we were able to collect enough, roughly $2000, to build one water well in Africa.

-- Submitted by Mr. Imamovic, MCCA Islamic Studies Teacher
Girl Scouts Kick off Cookie Sales with Festive Event at All-State Arena


The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) hosted the Girl Scout Cookie Kickoff event on January 7, 2017 at the Allstate Arena marking the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookie sales. Among the various fun festivities, there were cooking and booth decorating competitions, games, and a Chicago Wolves hockey game. MCCA student and Girl Scout Aman Mahmood won the cookie recipe contest with her Chai-spiced biscotti recipe. Our MCCA Cadette troop, led by troop leaders Belinda Tayyabani and Sajida Khan, were well represented with their entry into the Bling-Your-Booth competition where girls used recycled materials to decorate. 

Girl Scouts Cooking Cabaret Showcases Kids Talent and Teaches New Skills

All three MCCA Girl Scouts troops came together last month to enjoy an afternoon of cooking fun at the first-ever Girl Scouts Cooking Cabaret, an event featuring five different stations including cooking demonstrations and cooking-related crafts! The girls each came to the event with a home-baked item to enter into the Cooking Cabaret Contest. Items were submitted to the contest from among five different categories: cake pops, brownies, cookies, cupcakes and appetizers. Girl Scout regional office leaders were on hand to select the top three winners from among a variety of prizes for each category. The girls then got to enjoy indulging from among the enormous buffet of fabulous home-baked delicacies! Each left with a goodie bag and a full tummy! 

Quarter Two Middle School House Competition Nets Second Straight Win for Baitul Ansaar


Baitul Ansaar wins the quarterly house competition again! Ansaar has been bringing the heat to competitions since the beginning of the school year, and their second victory in a row proves that they are still going strong, Mashallah! This quarter, we had a range of competitions and opportunities for all students to earn house points.  Mrs. Barkat organized a most rewarding activity in collaboration with Project Rizq.   Students were asked to bring in snacks for house points.  Baitul Ayubi earned 100 points for their astounding generosity, while the other houses earned points for their contributions as well. 

Ms. Latifi presented three opportunities for houses to earn points.  The first opportunity was the essay competition for which Baitun Nujoom earned the most house points for excellent creativity and detail.  The second competition was a poster contest where members of each house were asked to write a characteristic of our beloved Messenger Muhammad (S) and associate that characteristic with an observable action we can do to emulate his example.  Baitul LuLu made excellent connections to the Prophet (S)'s life, and won 100 points for their poster, followed by Baitul Intibah, Baitun Nujoom, Baitul Ayubi, and Baitul Ansaar.  The third opportunity was a comic strip about how to show good character.  Baitul Intibah submitted such detailed and creative comic strips and earned 150 points.  Baitun Nujoom earned 95 points, Baitul Ayubi earned 65 points, Baitul Ansaar earned 25 points, and Baitul LuLu earned 20 points.  

Mrs. Barkat held her annual History Bee for which the first place winner received 50 house points (Omar Siddiqui from Baitul Ayubi), the second place winner received 40 house points (Hamza Ahmed from Baitul Ansaar), and the third place winner received 30 house points (Osman Muhammad from Baitul LuLu).  Mrs. Elmasri held her annual Spelling Bee for which the first place winner received 50 house points (Hovan Pacheco from Baitul LuLu), the second place winner received 40 points (Salma Hassab from Baitul LuLu), and the third place winner received 30 house points (Zahrah Ahmed from Baitul Ansaar).  

Finally, the coupon book sale from PSG earned houses the most points to finish the competition this quarter.  Last year, middle school sold around 40 coupon books.  This year, with the added incentive of 20 house points per book, middle school sold over 200 coupon books!  Middle school worked very hard towards this effort, and Inshallah, the funds will go towards a future middle school library.  

Coming up this quarter are a few opportunities for houses to earn points:
 - Science Fair is January 24th, and students will be seated by houses.  The best house can earn points based on how well they manage each other during the event.  
 - January 26th is an early dismissal day.  Middle school is collaborating with the Zakat Foundation to bring awareness to the situations of many of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world.  8th graders will have the opportunity to earn house points based on creativity, management, and presentation of their group project.  7th graders will have the opportunity to earn points based on how well they perform as chaperons to their fellow 5th grade partners from the Skokie campus.  
 - Native Deen will be performing at the Skokie campus on   January 27th at 7p.m.   and   January 28th at 11a.m.   Tickets are available for purchase in the office or online at:   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/native-deen-concert-at-mcca-tickets-30566778056.   Students can receive 5 house points for each ticket purchased.  Please bring the proof of purchase and give to Mrs. Basith.   
 -  February 23rd is an early dismissal day.  More information will be provided closer to the date about how houses can earn points.
 - Look forward to Ms. Latifi's character building projects and opportunities throughout the quarter.
 - As usual, here are ways more ways houses can earn points:
  1. Doing good throughout the week - recognized on Fridays
  2. Participating in the morning dua
  3. Is present when it is his/her turn to lead the school in the morning dua and the pledge
  4. Trying his/her best to accomplish house competitions
  5. Receiving the highest points for Accelerated Reading in Mrs. Gomaa's class
  6. Memorizing surahs and Juz in Mrs. Musleh's class and from the Hifz department
  7. Impressing his/her teachers with intellectual comments, questions, and behavior
  8. Sending Mrs. Basith a receipt after attending family restaurant nights
  9. Winning the science fair in Mrs. Saleh's class
 - How house points can be deducted:
  1. Improper behavior during salah time
  2. Not participating in morning assembly
  3. Improper behavior during service days and general assemblies
  4. Improper behavior during house activities
Library Update from Mrs. Bergeson 


Asalaamu alalikum MCCA Families,
January has flown by and we are ready to go forward into February!  It's always important to be a partner in your child's reading and there are so many ways you can help!


EARLY CHILDHOOD, Preschool - Kindergarten
  • Ask about the story that was read during library time that week.
  • Read stories to them at home. Listening to others read will help your child with fluency, inflection, and you can identify new vocabulary together!
  • Look at stories and count how many sight words they can recognize in a story!

ELEMENTARY, 1st - 5th grades
  • Ask them about the stories/series they are checking out at the library. Ask them what they enjoy about that particular book or series. You may learn something new about your child!
  • After they complete their AR library book, ask them to tell you about the story they read. This will help them recall details while the story is fresh in their mind. If they have trouble retelling the details, you can suggest for them to review those pages or parts of the story.
  • If you have read the story or can read along, do an oral practice quiz with them by asking them basic questions about the content, plot, characters, setting, etc. of their story!
  • Finally, always encourage their reading. The important thing is to get them reading something they enjoy! They will build fluency and this will carry over into other literature they are required to read for school.
MIDDLE SCHOOL, 6th - 8th grades
  • Take your child to their local public library. Help them locate the youth services librarian to find a series or book type for which they have expressed an interest. If you have questions or concerns about content (mature themes, etc.) you can can ask the youth services librarian questions about this as well.
  • Ask student what they enjoy about a particular book or series. This is a great way to connect with your youth. If they don't enjoy reading, sometimes a favorite game or movie can connect them with a new book
  • If they don't enjoy reading, sometimes a favorite game or movie can connect them with a new book. The important thing is to get them reading something they enjoy or can relate to! 
  • Encourage them! Developing fluency and a love for reading has great potential for helping them with their personal and educational growth!
LIBRARY CALENDAR:
FEBRUARY - During February we will spend time learning about important individuals from our past and and present for BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
MARCH  - Mark your calendars for THURSDAY MARCH 2 nd , 2017 as we celebrate the NEA's "READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY!" Students will be invited to dress like a Dr. Seuss character or another favorite character from literature!
- In addition, March is WOMEN's HISTORY MONTH, so students will have an opportunity to learn more about the contributions of women throughout our history.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR! There is a 2-day Scholastic Book Fair scheduled for TUES & WEDS March 21st and 22nd! VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to run this fair. Ms. Bergeson will conduct training before the book fair. Please email
donelle.bergeson@mccacademy.org if you are willing to help for 2 hour shifts (set up, morning, midday, end of day and take down will require the most help).  I look forward to seeing your children each week for library! They make each day brighter and I love watching them develop a passion for reading!

All the best,  Mrs. Donelle Bergeson

MCCA Computer Science - Ms. Shafiq

During the second half of this past quarter, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders learned block coding using the Tynker coding site during a twice-weekly course.  Tynker is a complete learning system that teaches kids to code. Kids begin experimenting with visual blocks, then progress to text-based coding as they design games, build apps, and make incredible projects. Each lesson starts with simple basic block coding where students are introduced to recognizing coding patterns. They learned to code simple patterns, jump over aliens, and collect items. They also got to program how to make a rocket follow a path to reach the moon. They also drew simple shapes and used conditional loops and path detection to stay on the course. 

Students really enjoyed learning to code. Many expressed how they preferred coding over other projects. Some students even elected to do extra assignments at home for practice. Laila Ali, one of the students taking this class, assessed the course as both "educational and fun." 
-- Submitted by Ms. Asmaa Shafiq, MCCA Computer Science Teacher

MCCA Hifdh Core Academics - Mrs. Sherin Saleh



It has been an extremely busy month in Hifdh Academics. With the use of engaging activities and games using iPads, cards, dice and manipulatives, third grade students have mastered their multiplication tables in a very short amount of time-Alhamdulilah. 4th grade students completed a unit on figurative language. We read a humorous book titled "My Teacher Likes to Say" filled with idioms. Students illustrated some of the idioms presented in the book. To complete the reading unit, 5th grade students held class elections to "persuade" classmates to vote for them for president. Congratulations to our class president Zunaira Ansari. Middle school Hifdh students completed a research unit on a planet of their choice. They spent two class periods in the school computer lab to gather information. The culminating project was to create a "travel brochure" to promote travel to their planet. Students did an outstanding job presenting and creatively promoting their planets.
 

-- Submitted by Mrs. Sherin Saleh, MCCA Hifdh Core Teacher
Middle School Spelling Bee Showcases Talent - Hovan Pacheco to Compete at Regionals!

First Place Winner Hovan Pacheco

The MCC Academy Middle School Spelling Bee, led by Mrs. Elmasri, on Thursday, January 19, 2017, netted out three winners from each class among 6th-8th grades. Recently recognized at Friday assembly, these students went on to compete in the all-school Middle School Spelling Bee later in the month, and each received house points and trophies. All received a certificate from The Scripps National Spelling Bee, as well as a goody bag. The first place winner, Hovan Pacheco, will receive a free one-year subscription to Britannica Online for kids (a $69.95 value) from Encyclopedia Britannica and will go on to Regionals to represent MCC Academy and compete with other North Shore schools on 
February 7, 2017   at the 7th Annual North Cook ISC Scripps Spelling Bee at The Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth  (Snow Date:  Tuesday, February 14, 2017 ).  Please come support our winner!   Mabrook to the following winners of the in-class competition:

6B:
Aman Mahmood
Yaseen Mahmood
Ibrahim Muhammad
Runner Up: Marium Memon

6A:
Salma Hassab
Khadija Kerrada
Ibrahim Shaheen
Runner Up: Maryam Ikhlas

7B:
Ismael Darawsha
Habiba Siddiqui
Otmane Jbara
Runner Up: Umer Keriwala 


7A:
Hovan Pacheco
Hamza Ahmed
Fariha Siyadath
Runner Up: Abdul Samad Aqeel

8B:
Haaniya Ghiasuddian
Safoora Salman
Sami Ahmed
Runner Up: Osman Muhammad

8A:
Zahrah Ahmed
Fatimah Syed
Hajera Siddiqui
Runner Up: Abdurrahman Ibrahim

Hifz:
Maaz Haider
Zakariya Siddiqui
Runner Up: Yahya Siddiqui 


2nd Grade - Mrs. Sheikh, Mrs. Baig, Mrs. Bozai


Second graders have been busy learning about one of our favorite topics, dinosaurs! We learned what fossils are, how scientists find them, and what we can learn by studying them. We finished this chapter by completing research projects about over a dozen different dinosaurs!   We've also been studying the biography of an important figure, Helen Keller. It was interesting for us to think about the perspective of a girl who couldn't hear or see, and yet accomplished so much!  We ended the quarter with honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. We watched a video clip on him and Rosa Parks and appreciated them for wanting peace and equality. We each discussed what our individual dreams were as a class.   We look forward to starting a new quarter filled with more learning and fun!
3rd Grade - Mrs. Patel, Mrs. Aqueel, Mrs. Qureshi



Third grade teachers are so proud of their students for learning long division! When we started, students seemed intimidated. However, by the end of our lessons, kids were asking for extra long-division problems to do in their free time. We will now be moving on to doing two-step word problems using multiplication and division. We wrapped up science in the second quarter, and will now be diving back into social studies. The students have been having fun exploring our classroom globes and learning about the different landscapes around us.  
We are also excited to have started art and STEM Club this quarter. We will continue having art once a week until the end of the year. STEM club will end after quarter 3. 

1st Grade - Miss Malik, Miss Ademi, Mrs. Nabeel

First-graders have big dreams! We have been discussing the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how he made a difference in the world.
Here is a sample of 1A's work:

Middle School Social Studies - Mrs. Barkat


In Middle School Social Studies, our unit on Ancient China culminated with students compiling a Chinese Respect Diary. Within Ancient China and also within our own faith tradition, respecting and serving parents is a top priority and duty. Thus, in keeping with our school's motto of "Building Character and Developing Minds," students were asked to spend one week serving their parents through deliberate acts of kindness while recording their reactions and their parents' reactions. Students went out of their way to help out with chores, get along with their siblings, and tried to contemplate what they could do to serve their parents. Many students learned from this reflective experience what it means to serve others, and many students commented on how they don't help their parents enough and would do so more after this experience. In urging students to think about the comfort and benefit of their parents over themselves, students learned about the communal and familial loyalties that Ancient China expected of its people. But most importantly, they learned the value of serving their family, and Insha'Allah they continue to expand upon this lesson and think beyond themselves and their own needs. 

-- Submitted by Mrs. Sadiya Barkat, MCCA Social Studies Teacher
Middle School Science - Mrs. Saleh

"What elements exist in the stars of our universe?" The sixth grade class hypothesized the elements that may exist in stars depending on the color of light emitted from burning chemicals. They concluded that copper sulfate emits green, strontium emits red,and so on.  


"How do our kidneys function?" The seventh grade students were studying the excretory system and constructed a model on how the kidneys filter blood.  They were able to make connections with the model made in comparison with how our own excretory system functions. 

"What is the substance in baby diapers that aids in absorption?" MCC Academy eighth grade students observed the effects of a polymer called sodium polyacrylate. They witnessed the power of absorption as they mixed the polymer and water. It became instant snow!

- Submitted by Mrs. Abeer Saleh, 8th Grade Science Teacher 
Middle School Literature - Mrs. Gomaa  



In Mrs Gomaa's literature class, middle schoolers recently presented their amazing book reports. Each student read a novel of their choice and picked one of the following projects to do as their book report: 

*Artistic---drawing images that display major characters and events of their novel 
*Dramatic---acting out as the main character of their novel 
*Constructive---building a major scene of their novel
*Scrappy---creating a scrapbook made by the "main character" of the novel OR 
*Essay/PowerPoint. 

Presentations were graded on a number of categories, including originality, so students all worked hard to make sure their work exemplified their unique personalities.




Middle School English - Mrs. Elmasri

Mrs. Elmasri's English class recently entertained students with an Open Mic session featuring their original spoken word performances on subjects such as school, the MCCA house competitions, refugees, Islam, and the Prophet pbuh.



Physical Education Update - Ms. Umar



For this past month in P.E., students have been staying fit and active with new fitness/teambuilding games! In middle school, students completed a nutrition unit about the various food groups and the essential nutrients every person needs in their daily diet. As a culmination of the unit, students worked on poster projects in groups on an assigned food group, discussing the right foods to eat, portion sizes, how the foods and nutrients help the body and a recipe for a dish/snack that incorporates the foods in the assigned food group! Students enjoyed collaborating together and presenting their projects to their classmates to share what they learned. Inshallah, the posters will be displayed in the school for everyone to see! We ended the 2nd quarter with a fitness assessment in order to see how much progress students have made in their cardiovascular and muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. We look forward to starting basketball for our new sports unit in 3rd quarter, and continuing to work on our fitness skills!  
-- Submitted by Ms. Zeenat Umar, MCCA Phys. Ed Teacher

5th Grade - Ms. Barkat and Mrs. Rehman



Recently, 5th graders had a chance to get some major sawab! We took a field trip to Feed My Starving Children. This is an organization that sends dried food packets to countries all over the world in need of nourishment. Students did a wonderful job as we packed 60 boxes of food! This is enough to feed 36,000 people! A big thanks to our chaperones for helping us out and volunteering with us that day. 

Martin Luther King Jr. is an important role model for 5th graders. We spent time discussing his impact and his beliefs. Students had a chance to watch and analyze his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. They then took quotes that were important to them and created beautiful collages. Students also had a chance to write down their own dreams for themselves and for the world. Many spoke volumes about justice and equality, much of what is still relevant in today's world. 

Kindergarten - Mrs. Shariff, Mrs. Siddiqui, Mrs. Khawja
Students learned all about Martin Luther King Junior. They heard a story called "Martin Luther King Junior Day" which talked about who he was and what big dreams he had. After listening to the story, students wrote about their own dreams and also made an art project that showed his dream. 

Students worked on animal reports where they were assigned an animal and they were to research about their animal and make a craft. Students then presented their reports in class along with their creatie animal crafts!  

Students read a story called "Dear Mr. Blueberry" which was about a little girl named Emily who writes letters to her teacher telling him that she thinks there is a whale in her pond. Mr. Blueberry and Emily write back and forth to each other discussing facts about whales and Mr. Blueberry tries to explain to Emily that a whale does not live in a pond. After listening to the story students wrote their own letters to their teachers thanking them about something that they were thankful for in their class. 





PreK - Mrs. Fayyaz and Mrs. Metovic
PreK students worked on letters M and N, numbers 12 and 13, and enjoyed the Student of the Month Assembly.