Weekly News
August 24-28, 2015

In This Issue...
 New Calendar    |     Calendar Effects     |     Parent-Student Handbook   |    Connect with Us  
 Orbund Login    |    Schedules and Teachers    |    Tardies   |    Incomplete Enrollment    |    Karate 
Resources
August/September 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
23 24 25
Karate class begins
26 27 28

29
30 31 1

2
Teacher in-service (morning)

Late student arrival at 9am
3 4
Bullying awareness workshop for parents TBC
5
6 7
Labor Day (Student Holiday)
8 9 10 11
Singapore math info session for parents TBC
12
Important General Information
oneNew Calendar Confirmed

We have updated this year's academic calendar to reflect the changes we had to make due to the delayed school opening. This calendar can be accessed by clicking here. It will also be available throughout the year in the "Resources" section of this weekly newsletter. A hard copy will be sent home with your eldest child this week for you to keep at home. The major changes to it are:
  • Monday, January 4 will be a regular school day instead of a staff in-service/student holiday.
  • Monday, February 15 will be parent-teacher conferences. (We expect to have our annual fundraiser the weekend prior.) It will remain a weather make-up day.
  • Monday, February 22 will not be a parent-teacher conference day. It will instead be a regular school day.
  • Friday, April 15 will not be a student holiday/staff in-service. It will be a half school day with dismissal at 11:45am. It will no longer be a weather make-up day.
  • Tuesday, May 31 will be a weather make-up day and therefore the last day of school in the event of having to use that day.
twoEffects of Calendar Change

If you had already planned for vacations on days that had previously been noted as student holidays in the academic calendar and are now going to be school days, we will excuse those absences for students as long as documentation can be provided showing that your trip had been planned prior to us announcing the delayed school opening.
Parent-Student Handbooks

Please click here to view the parent-student handbook for this academic year. Though the entire handbook is important to read, please especially review the policies for medical regulations, attendance, uniform, pick up and drop off, technology, behavior and discipline, communication, volunteering, and roles and responsibilities. This handbook will be linked in the Resources section of these weekly newsletters for the remainder of the year so you can always access it.
Connect With Us

Get updates faster throughout the week by connecting with us via social media. Here are the links for our accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Also, join the Facebook PTA page where you can connect with other school parents by clicking here.
threeOrbund Login

Orbund is our school management system on which you can track your child's grades, attendance, etc. and view important documents like the Parent-Student Handbook and Academic Calendar. If you don't remember/know your Orbund login username and password, please request it by responding to this email.
Schedules and Teachers

Linked at the top in the Resources section is the class schedule for 1st-8th graders. Additionally, there is a list of teachers according to which subjects/grade levels they teach.  Use the schedule and teacher list to see who all of your child's teachers are. The best way to get in touch with a teacher is via email, even if needing to request a phone call so she can call you when she's not teaching.

For 1st-8th grades, the consistency is that PE class is on Monday for all, karate class is on Tuesday, and art class is on Wednesday. Montessori level 3 also has karate on Tuesday.
News for This Week
fourTardies

Tardies will continue being excused for elementary and middle school students through this week as you adjust to the routine for school and traffic. Please note that colleges start tomorrow so you may encounter more than usual traffic. Though tardies are not counted for ECC and Montessori students, we encourage you to bring your children on time so they can participate in the classroom routine.
Incomplete Enrollment

If you received an email stating that you are still missing some parts of your children's enrollment, please complete the necessary items by Monday. If you cannot for any reason, please respond to the email to communicate that. The items we may have requested include:
Karate Class Beginning

Last week, we informed you karate class would not begin until the first week of September. This has changed and now karate class will begin from this Tuesday. If your child has a karate uniform, send your child in it. If he/she does not or has grown out of it, then you will have the opportunity to purchase one soon.
fiveKhateebs Request

Every day, our 1st-8th grade students pray dhuhr in congregation, with one of the students leading them. On Fridays, one of the school dads or community members come to give a short 5-10 minute khutbah on a topic relevant to our students and lead prayer. We are in need of more khateebs for this year as it is difficult for the same brothers to volunteer frequently due to other commitments. Please respond to this email if you can sign up for even one Friday this semester. Thank you!
Spirit Shirt Orders

The order for the spirit shirts is being sent in this week. There was a delay due to receiving some orders later. You will receive your children's spirit shirts by October, if not sooner, insha'Allah. For the time being, your child is welcome to dress in regular uniform or wear last year's spirit shirt for PE class on Mondays.
Hijaabs and Uniforms

Please remember to send your 1st-8th grade daughters with a solid white or navy blue hijaab every day to wear during prayer. This is a uniform requirement. 

Also, please review the uniform policy in the parent-student handbook and ensure your 1st-8th grade student is following it. Friday uniforms are excused until you receive the shipment. PE uniforms are excused until spirit shirts come in. The regular uniform is not excused.
After School Programs Sign Up
sixSoccer Shots

Soccer Shots is a third party company which introduces soccer to your child by teaching him/her basic skills and teamwork. This program is open to 3-5 year olds. It will be held every Tuesday at 3:30pm from September 8-November 17 at ILM Academy. Parents will need to pick up their children from school and walk them to the playground for the program. The program is $121/11-week season. Children will also receive a t-shirt and certificate. Register at soccershots.org/houston.
Yoga and Gymnastics

A third party, called Stretch-n-Grow, will be leading our PE classes for 1st-8th grades this year. Additionally, they will hold after school classes (Monday gymnastics for 1st-4th graders and Wednesday yoga for 5th-8th graders). Classes will be after school at ILM Academy from 3:15-4:00pm. To register for the entire academic year:
  1. Click on this link.
  2. Click "I agree and want to register now."
  3. Click "Register" on the right in the new screen.
  4. Fill out your contact info. Save your email and password for future registrations.
  5. Go to next page and fill out your child's info. 
  6. Then either click on the link to add another student to your account or search/enroll in classes.
  7. When enrolling, sign the next page and click Next.
  8. Then click on ILM Academy when it shows you a list of locations/classes.
  9. You will then click on Monday Gymnastics for 1st-4th graders or Wednesday Yoga for 5th-8th graders. 
  10. Checkout with the class you have selected.
  11. Review your cart.
  12. Enter payment info.
  13. Pay $45 per child.
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