Dear parents,

Assalam Alaikum! I pray that your family is enjoying these blessed days of Eidul-Adha. We are looking forward to the Eid field trips planned on Monday 10/29. Students are going on four field trips and all teachers and administrators are participating in the fun. Please note:

• Monday is a regular school day in terms of timings: drop-off  at 8am and pick-up at 3:15pm. 
• Uniform is not required on Monday for the field trips. 
• Students will start the day by enjoying potluck breakfast in their classrooms then they will go on their designated field trips. 
• If you are a chaperone for any of the field trips, please arrive to school at least half an hour before the departure time.

Last Wednesday our students participated in the Hajj Simulation organized by our Islamic Studies team and supported by many parent volunteers. The goal of the event was to help our students better understand the Hajj rituals. It was also an opportunity for our older students to practice presentation and leadership skills. Finally, it was an activity where older and younger students interact as "buddies."

We concluded the day with an assembly for grades 5-8 where 8th grade students presented the collected Udhiya/Qurbani money to Br. Humayim, a representative from Islamic Relief, and Br. Feras Alhlou, a representative from Syrian American Council. The final sum was more than $9700, alhamdulillah. May Allah reward you for your participation as volunteers or donors. Together we make our students' school experience enriching.

Sincerely,

Nihad Mourad

Principal

Dear parents,

Assalam Alaikum and good morning!

Today is an In-service day for teachers, and a minimum day for students (dismissal time is 12:00 noon). We do have an extended care service until 6pm ($7/hour).

The first progress report was sent home on Friday. Please make sure to review it with your child and check with his/her teachers if you have any questions. The first trimester ends on November 30th.

Today is the last day for udhiya/qurbani donations. We are very grateful of the generosity of GIS students and parents; we exceeded our goal of sending 40 udhiyas ($4200), and we raised more than $6K. May Allah reward you greatly!

The October newsletter was due to be mailed home last Thursday. However, it is delayed and, insha Allah, should be mailed today or tomorrow. We are understaffed in the office due to the absence of Office Specialist, Sr. Humera Haq, on medical leave.

Have a great day and keep dry in the rainy weather.

Sincerely,

Nihad Mourad

 Principal

Dear parents, 

Assalam Alaikum!

 

Tomorrow is insha Allah the first of Dhul-Hijjah, the start of the "best days of the year," as described by prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. May Allah help us worship and serve Him as best as we can on these days, and may Allah grant us forgiveness on the Day Arafat!

We have a drive to collect udhiya/qurbani and send it to Syria through Islamic Relief. We have been raising between $3,000 and $4,000 for the last few years. Can we beat our record? For more info, check this letter to parents.

Did you notice that the work on the grass area started last weekend? The area will be blocked off for 3-4 weeks. Looking forward to beautiful turf for our students to enjoy.

The board invited the parents for a meeting next week on Tuesday 10/23 at 7:00pm in the school library to share updates about the school expansion plans, which includes acquiring a building next to the current facility. Please join us!

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Nihad Mourad

Principal

Eid Celebration - Monday, October 29

Dear parents,
Assalam Alaikum. Next week we have the following events taking place:

• Monday to Friday: Spelling Bee activities in the classroom
• Thursday 10/18: Earthquake Drill (Great California Shake Out)
• Thursday 10/18: Visit by the Fire Department (PK to 4th grade students)
• Friday 10/19: 1st Progress Report sent home

Please mark your calendar for Monday, October 22, as minimum day (8am to 12pm) for students and in-service for teachers and staff.

Please read below a message from PTSO and have a great week!

Sincerely,
Nihad Mourad
Principal

Eid Celebration (Message from PTSO) 

On Friday, the permission slips for the Eid Celebration have gone home with your child.   The cost of the field trip, the bus, and the lunch is approximately $20/student.  The PTSO is sponsoring the trip by covering 50% of the cost.  Thus, if your child plans to join us for the Eid Field trip on Monday, Oct. 29^th, we are kindly requesting parents to please return the permission slip and $10 CASH.  I would like to collect all of the permission slips and the money by Friday, Oct. 12^th, so please submit the form and money to your child’s HOMEROOM teacher this upcoming week. 

If you can volunteer for the field trip, please sign up on the online sheet below:

http://www.volunteersignup.org/RECX7

Michelle Lee

Assalam Alaikum dear parents,
Masha Allah we are already starting our second month of school. I have a few of reminders for you.

Indoor Dismissal

Temperature today is expected to be around 90 degrees at 3:00pm. If this is the case we will have an indoor dismissal.

Pick-up Placards

Parents who use the drive-thru option for Pick-up need to use the placard provided by the school. If you lost your placard or if you need an additional one, please contact the Vice Principal, Lian Jeeawoody. If you carpool with another family, make sure to also have their placard.

Parents who are picking up students other than their children should not use the drive-thru. Please stop at the front desk to ensure your name is on the Emergency Form of the student and then you may pick up the child.

Punctuality

I would like to remind parents to drop their children to school on time. Our classrooms are open at 7:45am. Please help your child get a good start of the day by being in class on time.

For pick-up we allow parents 15 minutes to pick-up their children (3:15 to 3:30pm). Students who are not picked up at 3:30 are sent to Extended Care. An hourly fee is charged starting at 3:30.

Clubs (Message from Fadwa Musleh, Director of Student Activities)

After School Clubs begin this week on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and Wednesday, Oct. 3.

On Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 we have Aeronautics and Drama clubs

On Wednesdays from 2:15-3:15 we have Basketball for 1^st-2^nd grades, Sewing, Chess, and Physics Mechanics clubs

Students will be escorted by a staff member to their club destination after the day school is dismissed.  Parents do not need to drop off their child at the club.  However, parents are requested to pick up their child from the club class at its dismissal time.   If the student is not picked up within 5 minutes of the dismissal time, the student will be escorted to the extended care.  The family will be charged an hourly extended care fee.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Nihad Mourad
Principal