56 Bakers RdNorth Coburg VIC 3058Subscribe:Subscribe: https://aiamsc.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email:Email: aiamsc@aia.vic.edu.auPhone:Phone: 03 9350 4533

Fax:Fax: 03 9354 4731

25 May 202125 May 2021

Affirmation of Democratic Principles andPractices

The Australian International Academy ofEducation declares and affirms that schoolprogrammes and leading practicesembrace the following important principles:

Ms Gafiah DickinsonExecutive Principal

Head of Campus

Assalamu Alaykum Wr. Wb.,

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Eid Mubarak to you and your family

Scholarship Applications for 2022Opened on 10 May 2021

The school has enlisted the services of EduTest to manage the online applications for scholarships in allfour categories at AIA (Quran, Academic, Visual Arts andSports). Please visit our school website to make yourapplication for 2022. Scholarship applications will close onFriday 25th June.

https://msc.aiahome.net/

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTIONAGAINST BULLYING ANDVIOLENCE BULLYING. NO WAY!TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY.

During Semester one Australian InternationalAcademy joined with over 6276 schools across Australia for the2021 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. AtAIA, we want to encourage our students to act with care andrespect at all times. We are continuing to empower ourstudents to be part of the solution when addressing bullying inour school community by providing an opportunity to focus onbullying and the changes we can all make to help create safercommunities for everyone.

1. The promotion of peace, harmony andunderstanding through interculturalinteractions.

2. All Australians have equal rights beforethe law. We reject any form(s) of discrimination basedon race, religion or gender.

3. The rule of law and respect for the rights of others.

4. The values of fairness, openness, sharing and givinga hand, looking after neighbours, tolerance,understanding and acceptance.

5. People are free to choose and practice their religions.But we reject those who preach violence and hatredin the name of any religion.

6. The right of individuals to enjoy the freedom ofspeech, expression and association. But we rejectverbal and written abuses and transgressions againstothers under the cover of freedom of speech andexpression.

7. The Australian system of democratically electedgovernments and councils is the best that serves theinterest of all Australians.

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UNIFORM REMINDER

Australian international academy students are expected to bein uniform every day, both at school and when travelling to andfrom school. This includes wearing our compulsory Blazer aswell as conforming to the dress code for other items.

During the cold winter months students may wear navy bluescarves and gloves. Fingerless (cut off) gloves are notacceptable. For added warmth, students are also permitted towear plain white t-shirts or white thermals under their shirt.

What to do if your son /daughter .........Is unwell and unable to go to school:

Is late to school:

Needs to leave early:

Unexpectedly needs to be picked up early:

Feels unwell at school:

Needs to be contacted during the day:

Please contact your child’s Student Management Coordinatorif you have any other questions or concerns

Ms Michelle ShearsHead of Campus

Head of Senior School

Semester one Exams starting onthe 2nd of June

Semester One senior school exams beginon Wednesday the 2 June this year. Theexamination timetable was sent to studentsand parents in the first week of May and canbe found on Compass for those whomissed it. As we have been fortunate

enough to have an interruption free semester this year, examswill return to their usual format. During 2020 students satshortened exams, however in 2021 exams will return to their120 min format. All exams will begin at 8:45 and conclude at10:55, at which point students will be dismissed from school inorder to prepare for the following days examination. Parentswho are unable to collect their children from campus at 10:55need to notify their relevant year level coordinator so thatarrangements can be made for students who are stayingbehind. Students will not be in the hall for exams this year, withall exams being conducted in classrooms.

Hair and Uniform Reminders

Students and parents are reminded that AIA has a clear uniformpolicy that is agreed to before enrolment. This term we havehad to send many students home for missing uniform items.Disappointingly, some students choose to focus on thenegative aspects of uniform and have seemed to lose sight ofthe fact that uniform encourages a shared identity; it createsequality among students and relieves them from the stressand competition they would otherwise find themselves in ifthere were no uniform; it encourages discipline and preparesstudents for life beyond school, where they will in all likelihoodbe asked to dress in another uniform or conform to a dresscode.

• Log on to your parent Compass portal that morningand let the Academy know the student is away bygoing to the attendance section and marking themon the Compass attendance as absent for that daywith parent permissions.

• If he/she misses a SAC they will need a medicalcertificate

• Log onto your Compass parent portal and explainwhy your child will be late and what time they willarrive or

• provide your child with a note explaining why they arelate and remind your child to sign in at the CompassKiosk at Student Reception as soon as they arrive atthe Academy and show the Office Staff the note

• If your child's late arrival is not planned (eg due totraffic) and he/she does not have a note it isexpected they bring one the following day. They muststill sign in at Compass Kiosk at the Student Office

• Log onto your parent portal on Compass and explainwhy your child is leaving early and at what time theywill be leaving or

• Please provide your child with a note explaining whythey need to leave early and at what time they will beleaving

• Your child needs to take their note to the StudentManagement Coordinator who will complete theCompass leave section so that teachers will beaware of when they are leaving

• At the appropriate time your child needs to ask theclassroom teachers to check her Compass homepage for their leave

• They pack their bag and sign out at the CompassKiosk with the office staff’s permission, located at theStudent Office

• Please go to or phone Student Office and we willarrange for your son/daughter to meet you atreception at the nominated time

• Student must sign out at the Compass Kiosk whenleaving

• Student needs to let their teacher know who willsend them to the school nurse

• The nurse will assess your child and if it is deemednecessary for your child to go home you will becontacted by the School Nurse

• Students are not permitted to carry or use theirmobile phones during the day. If a child needs tocontact a parent, they can go to the Student Officewhere they can make a phone call home.

• If the conversation could possibly cause distress weask that you call the Office and we will arrange forsomeone to be with your child when you speak withthem

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Attendance

From time to time I remind parents about the importance ofconsistent attendance at school in my newsletter articles. I dothis because evidence shows that high attendance levels atschool correlates directly to success in education. It ensuresthat students don’t fall behind both socially anddevelopmentally. Parents are legally required to ensure theirchild attends school every day, and to provide an explanationfor their child's absence from school unless an exemption fromattendance has been granted, or an exception to theirattendance applies. This must be done via the Compass portal,preferably the day before the absence or on the day of theabsence. The law provides a framework for school’sattendance, exemptions and exceptions from attendance, andparents’ obligations relating to ensuring attendance. The lawsare an effort to promote and improve student attendanceacross schools. The following are guidelines as to hownon-attendance is classified:

In Senior School it is particularly important that students whodo not attend school on days of assessment provide a medicalcertificate upon their return in order to be able to sit thatassessment later.

Ms Nese OzcelikDeputy Head of Campus- Senior School

Head of IBDP Teaching & LearningThis has been another busy term for ourDiploma Programme students. Our Year 12IB students have been occupied withcompleting all their internal and externalassessment requirements, while six of ourstudents have had the additional stress ofsitting their Arabic B examinations on the29th of April. This term has also been

productive for our Year 11 IB students who have been workingon developing a research question for their extended essay,planning for their TOK internal assessment, participating in CASexperiences as well as working towards their end of semesterexaminations.

One of the core components of the IB Diploma Programme isCAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). This essential element of theprogramme “enables students to demonstrate attributes of theIB learner profile in real and practical ways, to grow as uniqueindividuals and to recognize their role in relation to others.Students develop skills, attitudes and dispositions through avariety of individual and group experiences that providestudents with opportunities to explore their interests andexpress their passions, personalities and perspectives” (IBO,2017). Some excellent examples of CAS experiences ourstudents have participated in during this term include Earth

Hour, Year 6-9 Mathematics afterschool tutoring service,participating in Galway debating, running the science club,volunteering to tutor at the Fawkner Neighbourhood HouseHomework Program as well as help organising a schoolfundraiser dinner.

CAS involves the wider community, therefore, as parents/guardians and members of our community we all need toencourage our students to enhance their personal andinterpersonal development by helping the less fortunate, beingmore creative, and physically more active members of society.

Ms Berna YusufHead of IBDP Teaching & Learning

Head of VCEDear Parents and students

Eid Mubarak, May May Allah accept yourTaa’a and Ibadah.

Please be informed about the upcomingassessments that will be conducted atschool:

The GAT for all studentscompleting any VCE Unit 3/4 studies or IBprograms in 2021

All students completing at least one Unit 3 and 4 VCE studyMUST sit the GAT (General Achievement Test) on Wednesday9th June. All students involved have received a personalisedprintout outlining this examination expectation. Students withSEA (Special Examination Arrangements) will also receive acopy of their approved SEA over the next couple weeks. TheGAT begins at 10am and runs through until 1.15pm.Students sitting the GAT are to attend school from periodone.

NOTE: All VCE students completing at least one Unit3 and 4 study MUST sit the GAT even if:

On Thursday the 6th of May, a GAT information session wasconducted at school, where students were addressed aboutVCAA exam guidelines and received a brochure to inform themabout the content, timing and exam rules in place for the GAT.Hardcopies of the 2020 GAT are available for students and VCEteachers, however, students can also access PAST GAT exampapers on VCAA website. It is in every student’s best interest toensure that they:

• Habitual non-attendance: where a student has 5 ormore absences for any reason in a term (average of 1day per fortnight)

• Chronic non-attendance: where a student is absentfor 10 days or more days in a term for any reason(average of 1 day per week)

• They’ve done the GAT before (for example, in2020).

• They are completing an unscored VCE (i.e. notsitting other subject examinations).

• Perform as well as possible on the GAT

• Do not breach VCAA examination rules

• Arrive on time and have the correct equipment withthem (a blue/black pen, pencil, eraser, dictionary– NO thesaurus allowed)

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The closing date for Special Examination Arrangements forknown illnesses, learning difficulties etc. passed in March.However, we are still able to make applications for newlydiagnosed conditions throughout the year, but otherwise weare expected to have met this deadline. If you have anyquestions or concerns at all, please contact me.

Emergency Examination Special Arrangements

Students who become ill or experience accident or personaltrauma at the time of the GAT (or End of Year exams) maybe eligible to apply for Emergency Special ExaminationArrangements. Please make sure that all concerns are reportedto me asap so I can advise you on the options available andnote for you any documentation that you may need to obtain.

The VCAA recommends that you should attend everyexamination session you have scheduled unless this isagainst medical advice. Students absent without adequatereason will have the words “unauthorised absence from theGAT” on their VCE Certificate.

Note: Students with ongoing issues may also be eligible tocomplete a VTAC SEAS Application at the end of the year(further details about this when it opens).

Mid-year Examinations for Year 11 students

Year 11 Mid-year Examinations begin on Thursday the 3edJune and conclude on Friday the 11th June. Details about theYear 11 Examinations, including the examination timetable, hasbeen issued earlier this term.

Year 12 classes will be running as normal during Year 11Exam Week accept on GAT exam day

Change of Subjects for Unit 2

On the 14th of June we will commence VCE Unit 2 studies.There will be an opportunity for students to make changes totheir Year 11 program in advance of this time. Any studentswho would like to enquire about changing their program shouldspeak with me as soon as possible.

Note that our school-based cut-off date for Unit 1 and 3subject changes passed some time ago now. As all VCEcourses require a minimum of 50 hours teaching, there is nochance now to catch up on what has been missed.

End of Unit 3 Practice exams.

All students undertaking unit 3 VCE subjects will sit an end ofunit 3 practice exam between the 15th June 21st June. Theseexams are an initiative that has been introduced this year toenable teachers to have enough data to indicate the indicativegrade and the for students to demonstrate their understating toconcepts covered in this unit. This will enable students to realiseareas of strength/ weaknesses and to work with their teacherson areas of concerns.

SAC Absence Reminders

Just a reminder that parents must notify the VCE/ or the Yearlevel coordinator as early as possible on the day their daughter/son is absent from school – this includes all senior students.Senior students who will miss a Unit 3 and 4 SAC or SATdue to absence MUST have a Medical Certificate (or

similar) and present it to me as soon as they return toschool so that Special Provision arrangements can be putinto place. Students who know they will miss a SAC becauseof sport, excursions etc., MUST see me prior to the event toorganise a change of date and to complete the required VCAApaperwork.

Illness and the VCE

Whilst vaccinations are most definitely family decisions, I’d liketo give a timely reminder that flu vaccinations are now available,and families may consider this as being a sensible decision ina year when missing time can create additional stress. Whenstudents are unwell, we can reschedule tasks, so pleaseencourage ill students to stay at home and (hopefully) recovermore quickly.

Ms. Sama AL-AshiHead of VCE Teaching & LearningTel: (03) 9350 4533 Ext (256)

Head of Middle SchoolAsalaamu aliakum Parents and Students,

Eid Mubarak!

May your deeds be accepted and actionscontinued after Ramadan, Ameen.

I would like to personally thank thosestudents who attended the school Iftar anda special thanks to the students who served

the food and helped with the event. It was great to see staff andstudents work together. I would also like to thank the staff andparents who made meals for the students. A special thank youto Mr. Khan and his famous butter chicken, Mrs. Baarini and hersoup and chocolate ripple cake (Yum!). I would also like tothank Tiba’s Restaurant – Roxburgh Park and My Mates Pizza –Glenroy for their generous donations.

Throughout this term results from the year 8D and 9D classeswill be thoroughly reviewed and changes will be made at theend of the semester. I encourage all students to work hard andseek assistance regularly on topics they don’t understand.

All uniform items are available at the uniform shop. School skirtlength must be at the ankles and long socks must be worn.Please be mindful of haircuts that are not school compliant. Iwould like to thank you for your support as we seek to raise theoverall standards of the school.

Thank you for parent feedback via email and on the phone.It is imperative that we communicate to help improve studentsuccess. If you would like to have a meeting, please phonethe school and organise a time. If there is any information thatthe school needs to know regarding your child, please keep usinformed so the school can be mindful.

Parents please spend time with your children. It is veryimportant to spend quality time with your children and email thecoordinators or myself if you have any concern. Small focusedand consistent interactions to build a bond is very important.Ask your child how they are feeling and discuss strategies tohelp regulate their emotions. Also composure in the heat of the

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moment will create security where your child will begin to makeyou the first point of any issues they face. Smile regularly, pointout positives in your child’s behaviour, academic success andappearance. These are small but significant strategies to useto reconnect with your child. The safety and well-being of yourchild is our priority. Please let the school know how we can helpas your child is our future.

Feel free to contact me regarding any issues in upper middleschool.

Wa alaikum asalaam

Mr. Moustafa ElakkoumiHead of Middle School

Head of Lower Middle SchoolWhere does time go?

“Education is our passport for the future, fortomorrow belongs to the people whoprepare today,” said the onceAfrican-American Muslim minister andhuman rights activist Malcolm X

Eid Mubarak for the passing of Eid AlFitr toall stakeholders. We are near a very busy time of the term. OurYear 7 and 9 students are completing their online Naplan testsbetween 17 - 28 May.

Our Teachers are busy correcting and assessing their studentswork in the form of CAT’s, Tests, presentations or/andpublications.

It is of utmost importance for students to complete their workto the best of their ability. Teachers have informed me that agrowing number of students are not submitting their work ontime. The problem is greater than we think. Many students haveconfirmed that they simple misjudge the time required or eventhe commitment needed to complete the task on time as theydo not start early enough, generally the night before.

I’ll start tomorrow- Beating Procrastination

Most of us tend to do what we like first, and leave the lessinteresting tasks for later. We all do this, it’s calledprocrastination.

Why do many students leave assignments until the last minute?

a) not interested b) not knowing where to start.

You are denying your chance to become more responsible andto develop effective time management skills. These skills areessential to everyday living and future employment. A way toovercome the procrastination is to develop a system that suitsyou so that you do not fall into the trap of “I’ll do it later or I’llstart tomorrow”. Here are some basic tips that will help you getthe ball rolling:

We would all like to reach our potential- both academicallyand personally. Most of us develop these skills of planning andprioritising by trial and error. The Junior Middle Years is theperfect time for parents and their young adolescents to talkabout how to develop and perfect these skills. These are lifeskills, not just skills for school.

Constantly delaying work ‘until tomorrow’ is a recipe for stress,anxiety and frustration and unrest at home. Life can be somuch simpler and more rewarding if you learn how to plan andprioritise.

Be in Control!

It makes a difference.

Collectively, we will make a difference.

Ms Shirin Sezer-GunesDeputy Head of Campus- Lower Middle School

Year 6Eid Mubarak to all our dear students andparents. Inshallah you had a blessedRamadan and wonderful Eid. It passes toosoon!

We are now well into Term 2.

This term we begin the well-receivedToastmasters program. Toastmasters

promotes communication and leadership development throughthe focus and enhancement of public speaking skills. Theprogram begins in June and runs till mid-October. Sessions areheld afterschool on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. We

1. Read the assignment on the day you receive it. Alack of interest or a lack of understanding of the taskare major obstacles in making a start on assignmentsor projects.

2. Highlight important key words on your first read. Usea highlight to identify the key words in the assignment

words such as ‘analysis’, ‘map’, ‘label’, ‘word length’etc, will help you better understand the task you arebeing asked to complete. Highlighting these wordsgives meaning and context to the task.

3. Define what the task is asking you to do. This addsclarity to the task as well as direction. Highlightingand redefining helps you break down the assignmentinto smaller and more manageable ‘chunks.

4. Plan is very important for completing your work. Seta timeframe for the different parts of your task. Startby chucks of research, drafting, editing, mapping etc.Taking small planned steps are more likely to helpyou complete assignments or projects on time.

5. Track what is done and what is still to do. Someassignments are sequenced, others are not. It’s agood idea to use a planner to mark off what hasbeen done. A section you have ‘ticked’ as completecreates a sense of achievement and progresstowards completion- a good feeling!

6. Control the workload. Those students who fail todevelop a system of managing the workload in themiddle years run the risk of feeling increased stressand pressure as they move into senior years. Theamount of work can’t be controlled, but bydeveloping effective time management skills early youcan control HOW you manage your workload.

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encourage our Year 6s to avail of this opportunity and reap thebenefits of this wonderful program.

The Winter Interschool Sports Program also begins this term.This term’s sports are Boys Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccerand Girls Netball. Students are required to attend after schoolsports training to be selected for interschool sports on Fridays.Students are also reminded to keep their AIA bucket hat ora plain navy cap at school so that they may take it along forSports on or off campus.

I would also like to remind the year 6s to maintain consistencywith work and task requirements. Formative and summativeassessments have begun. It is imperative that students’complete tasks in small steps as opposed to waiting until theend of the week or due date to finish work. The drawback withdoing so being that it lacks effort and is not of a standard thatreflects actual capability. Inshallah with good work ethic and apositive attitude, the year will continue to move along smoothly.

Ms Shahana SiddiquiYear 6 Coordinator

Year 6 winner of the Ramadan poetrycompetition

Congratulations to our Year 6 winners for writing an amazingpoem about Ramadan. Our winners Insha Mawiyah (6A),Zainab Ali (6B), Jaida Hammoud (6C) and Humabano Nadeem(6D) have won an Office Works gift card.

Ms Manar EltchelebiYear 6 Islamic Studies teacher

Year 7Dear Students, Parents & Guardians

Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Wb.

Eid Mubarak and may Allah accept yourgood deeds,

Importance of Etiquettes and Manners inIslam

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala (SWT) has so much love and mercyfor us that He granted us so many opportunities to gain rewardand be sin free through the blessings of Islam. One of theunique aspects of being a Muslim is that we cannot only fulfilour obligations towards Allah to gain reward, but we are alsoobliged to fulfil our roles and responsibilities through our actionsand dealings with ourselves and the people around us.

We're dealing with ourselves, the people around us and Allahswt on a daily basis, but the manner in which we do should bedetermined by the guidelines Islam has set for us as it will simplymake us unique individuals in society.

The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: "The believers who havethe most perfect faith are those who have the best manners."(Abu Daawood)

The Prophet PBUH also said: “The most beloved of Allah’sservants to Allah are those with the best manners.” (At-Tabarâniand Albani).

Etiquettes of being truthful, honest, trustworthy, patient, relyingcompletely on Allah, being conscious of Allah's presence,always taking the initiative to do good no matter how small thedeed is, being conscious of one's own actions and constantlyasking for forgiveness from Allah and from those whom wemay have wronged is vital to establishing a healthy attitude andgaining good manners. This will be reflected in our dealings withthose around us and most importantly with Allah SWT.

Islam has set manners and etiquettes for all the details andaspects of our lives. In this issue, we will focus on generalmanners for Children in the Home and School:

The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said in a hadith that he wassent to the world to perfect manners. And if we think aboutit, no wonder etiquettes equate to so many rewards simplybecause they are the tools that beautify our actions.Alhamdulillah for the blessing of Islam.

Let us take the words of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH asour motto when he said: “If one has good manners, one mayattain the same level of merit as those who spend their nights inprayer.” (Al-Bukhari). May Allah SWT to make us amongst them

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of thefollowing

1. Respecting a person's privacy regardless of howyoung they are

2. If the door is closed, it is respectful to knock and waitfor permission to enter

3. If you want to borrow something, don't just helpyourself. Always ask permission and make sure youreturn whatever it is you borrow. Make sure youreturn it in the same or better condition.

4. Never go looking through another person's privatepossessions without their permission.

5. Your family's affairs are private and should be keptthat way. What happens in the home, stays in thehome.

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Student portfolio

All students in year 7 will be working on their portfolio duringthe Term; the portfolio contains a collection of students’assessment tasks across all subjects.

After School Class’s

The school is offering after School Classes for the followingSubjects: Please encourage your Son/Daughter to attend theseclasses

Quran: Mondays Mr. & Mrs. Saleh

Maths: Monday to Friday Math teachers

Homework

Parents please ask your children on a daily basis if they haveany homework, or simply ask them to log on to their Compassaccount to check if they have homework.

I advise all parents to monitor their children’s devices and tohave parental control over the social Apps they are using.

I appreciate your cooperation in of the matters mentionedabove. May Allah accept your deeds and bless you and yourfamilies & again Eid Mubarak

Kind regards,Ms Sawsan AlshakshirYear 7 Coordinator

Year 8Term 2 has been an intense term for theyear 8s. As we now approach the closingquarter of the semester, the year 8 studentsare faced with consistent tasks to completefor their subjects. These tasks will test theirabilities their understanding and theirpersistence.

Too often it is easy to just give up orcomplain that the workload is overwhelming, however I urge fora mindset change at this moment. Rather than retreating at thispoint, develop strategies in time organization, and anachievement-based mindset. In a world that it is growing to bemore and more competitive we cannot afford to give in tocomplacency. What better time to develop these habits than atthis delicate age the year 8 students are in. The habits we learnat those ages are the hardest to break.

In personal development classes, these topics are beingcovered, in hope for the students to act upon them. We arenow approaching the end of semester results, let us give it ourbest, to really see improvements. Never forget the story of thetortoise and the hare! The hare might give bursts of energy, butthe tortoise is consistent and eventually wins the race. Whatbetter story to symbolize the consistency that is required toachieve in the academic field and later in the work force.

I have been pleased with the year 8s as a cohort, watchingthem mature during the year, and even growing a fewcentimeters. We are nearly halfway, let’s keep strong before the

mid semester break where in you will get a 3week chance ofswitching of and recuperating

Mr Daniel AbrahamYear 8 Coordinator

Year 9This month I would like to introduce theConnections Middle School Initiative. Theprimary objective of this on-site workshop isto encourage participants ability to engagewith others as well as themselves in order toenhance social and personal growth withthe intention of complimenting their ongoingacademic achievement and success. The

programme endeavours to foster emotional intelligence andself-awareness by enabling connection, communication, andempowerment through relationship building. Students will beexposed to skills that are integral to personal success both nowand well beyond the classroom. All of these elements addressthe needs of AIA students, particularly those in Year 9. Leadingeducational research suggests there is a strong connection withEmotional Intelligence and career success and the ConnectionsMiddle School Initiative seeks to target this as a key life skill.This is reflected in the programme as it centres on EmotionalIntelligence skills and forming good relationships with students,teachers and adults. These skills and objectives as targeted bythe Connections Middle School Initiative are invaluable to ourstudents, particularly at this time where community,connectedness, identity and communication are suchimportant skills to possess as the students move forward to beleaders of tomorrow in a contemporary, multinational,multicultural world.

Mr Gerald WalkeyYear 9 Co-ordinatorIB Diploma and VCE Senior Teacher

Year 10Dear Parents/Guardians

Term 1 commenced with the blessedmonth of Ramadan. Although our schoolday has been shorter, students have beenbusy preparing for exams, organizingfundraisers, attending Iftar evening andcompleting the first part of their PersonalProjects.

Iftrar Night

An Iftar night was organized during Ramadan for Year 8 to Year11. Students gathered in the hall to break their fast, pray incongregation, played a fun game of kahoot and concluded theevening with Taraweeh prayer, led by Shiekh Abdel Naser. Theevening was a pleasant experience for all who attended. I wouldlike to thank our Year 10 students who assisted in setting upthe hall for the evening and attendees for making it a success.

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Personal Project and Service as Action

As part of the MYP, students are required to completenumerous Services as Action activities. Since Service as Actionis student initiated and driven, they choose the community theywould like to provide a service for. Mashallah many of our10’s opted to work with charity organisations, proving to beinnate leaders and outside the school community. Among theseorganization was The Egyptian Orphan Fund.

In only a span of a few weeks our Year 10’s raised over $500for the Egyptian Orphan Fund which equates to $6269 EGP.Sherine Elfakahani , founder of the EOF sent the Year 10’sa video message expressing her gratitude for the collectionof donations to feed 150 homeless a day for the 30 daysof Ramadan. Donations were transferred to the EOF prior toRamadan. Well done Year 10’s!

Alhamdulilah Year 10’s completed the first part of the PersonalProject. Students have produced a variety of products rangingfrom informative videos, instructional books, to creative artpieces. The caliber of work produced is at a high standardone that I proudly commend the Year 10’s for achieving. Oneparticular student, Leyaan K opted to donate her product (apainting of the blue mosque located in Turkey) to an auctionconducted by mycentre for their expansion project. Her paintingwas sold for an amazing 4.5K. May Allah reward Leyaan forher donation and congratulations for receiving such a highprice. May Allah reward the efforts exerted by the Year 10 andexercising International mindedness.

Youth in Philanthropy

The Youth in Philanthropy program was established by LordMayor’s Charitable Foundation in 2002 to help young peoplelearn about philanthropy, current community issues andcommunity leadership.

The aim of the program is to inspire young people to usetheir enthusiasm, creativity and energy to begin a life-longengagement in philanthropy and social change, and todevelop the necessary skills and abilities to work with adiverse range of people from all cultures and social groups.A key part of the Youth in Philanthropy program is toencourage young people to develop awareness anddeepen their knowledge of the charitable sector, and buildrelationships with the charitable organisations they areworking with. Ayatilla Endarzarad 10A, Zaynab Elkheir 10B,Younis Salman 10B, and Ihram Muzayen 10D from MSCand Firas Osman, Jana Zeidan , and Manar Oman fromCSC have formed the AIA YIP team.

Road Smart

On 18th May students attended the Road Smart program atVictoria University Werribee Campus. Funded by the VictorianGovernment, Road Smart is an initiative that supports andenhances Victoria’s Graduated Licensing System. The programis designed to build the knowledge, skills and behaviours ofYear 10 students (or equivalent) and features:

Students were engaged in the program and particularly enjoyedthe driving component.

Year 10 Destress Before Exams

A Destress evening has been organized for Year 10’s on theFriday 28th May. The boys will participate in BJJ (BrazilianJujitsu) class at Nexus adjacent to the school and the girls willpartake in a relaxing yoga class in the campus hall. Pizza’s willbe delivered to the campus for dinner, followed by a separatemovie night for the boys and girls. The objective of the eveningis to give students an opportunity to wind down before thepressure of exams commences.

Uniform

I would like to remind parents of the AIA uniform policy and theimportance of encouraging your child to attend in the correctuniform. It is important students take pride in the presentationof their uniform as an AIA student. Uniform items can bepurchased from the uniform shop on the following days andtimes.

Punctuality

In order for students to gain the most of a lesson, it is imperativethat they arrive to class punctually and equipped with correctmaterials. I ask parents for their support in getting their childto school on time since attendance play a vital role in theiracademic progress. This year is a deciding year for the year10’s and a preparation for their last two years of their seniorschool. Punctuality and organaisation are key to academicsuccess.

Exams

Since exams are fast approaching. Students should havehabitually begun revising Term 1. If student have not begunthis practice, I encourage students to begin revising contentcovered in Term 1 and Term 2. I encourage students to usethe attached study schedule and read the below study tips tomanage their time and prepare for exams. Exam timetable hasbeen placed on compass and a printed copy in their rooms.

7 TIPS TO HELP YOU STUDY SMARTER, NOTHARDER

1. Fake it ‘til you make it

Call a friend, relative or well-wisher and chat their ear off for10 minutes explaining whatever it is you’re trying to learn. Bylecturing on the subject you’re studying, you’ll do two things:first, it’ll identify any gaps in your understanding you need towork on; second, you’ll come away feeling more confident inyour own learning.

2. Treat it green, keep it keen

Research has shown there’s something about the colour greenthat helps with human concentration. With that in mind, investin some green highlighters, flashcards and sticky-notes.

3. Bigger is not always better

When you finally get a chunk of time to sit down and focus,it’s tempting to simply close Facebook and try to think deepthoughts about what you’re studying for hours on end.

• An interactive classroom session with a Road Smartfacilitator

• eLearning for students and supervising drivers

• An free in-car session with a qualified instructor

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Unfortunately, that’s not the most effective way to study. It’sway more beneficial to have many smaller study sessions ratherthan a couple of big ones. That’s because your brain is like amuscle in that it can get fatigued over time, especially when it’sdoing something demanding.

4. Rinse, repeat

Your brain doesn’t have just one database it stores informationin – it’s got a whole bunch. Information is copied between themas is travels from your short-term memory into what you canrecall long term (such as on exam day).

The important bit is to give your brain clues that the studyinformation is really important, and that it needs to stick around.The best way of doing that is going over the information atdifferent intervals: a day after learning it, three days, a week, amonth. Once just doesn’t cut it.

5. Find your happy place

It’s definitely important to be comfortable while you study, butit’s also a good idea to keep your study environment similar toyour exam environment. It’ll help you recall information on thebig day.

So, for example – don’t listen to music, wear the same clothes,try to find a similar temperature and wear the same perfumeor deodorant. That last one’s doubly relevant; the part of yourbrain that processes smells, the olfactory bulb, is alsoconnected to your hippocampus, which is important forrecalling memories and information. That’s why smells so oftenevoke memories.

6. Embrace the dryness

The sad truth is you’re not going to be interested in everythingyou have to learn, but there are still ways of pushing through.Find something in the subject you’re learning that you findinteresting and dig into it. You might find it opens pathways upinto the less than enthralling stuff as well.

7. Get with the century

Writing out notes by hand is incredibly important for memoryformation and recall, but there are apps that can help with otheraspects of study too.

One such is Anki, a free flash card service that’s available forWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.

Visit the link below:

https://clueylearning.com.au/study-timetable-planner/

For further study tips.

Ms Hend EissaYear 10 Coordinator

Year 11Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Asalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi WaBarakaatuhu,

It is amazing how fast time passes by. I canrecall the first assembly with the year 11students as if it was yesterday and now weare almost half-way through the year. We all

remember the immense challenges that 2020 presented uswith and the struggles that we went through to get to where weare now. Yes, it was a challenging year indeed but we have allrisen from this trial with the opportunity to become betterindividuals. I would like to commend the year 11 cohort forsettling in so well into their VCE and IB courses despite theobstacles. May Allah allow them to achieve academic andspiritual success and may He allow them to maintain theresilience that they have shown.

As the year 11 coordinator, a central focus of mine has been thedevelopment of leadership in all year 11 students. An importantelement of leadership is the ability to overcome obstacles onan individual level firstly, then guiding others to overcome thoseobstacles. My message to the year 11s from that first assemblyto the most recent one has been that they are all capable ofbeing leaders. They are all capable of changing and developingthemselves firstly, then contributing to positive social changeas young Australian Muslims. I have reminded my studentsover and over that “education is the passport to the future, fortomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today” (MalcolmX). I have reminded them that education and good conduct iswhat will lead to good leadership; to positive self and socialdevelopment.

In light of what I have written already and as the year 11s feelthe stress of their assessments and upcoming exams, I wouldlike to finish with a few simple words as a message to thestudents: persevere and you will succeed, or, persevere andyou will be good leaders.

Mr Moustafa ChehadeYear 11 Coordinator

Earth Hour – Solar Buddy Fundraiser organizedby Year 11 CAS students

Year 11 D

What is it to live a life where electricity is atone's disposal? What does it feel like to turnon the light with no more than a switch orcharge our phones when needed? We arefortunate enough to not have to ponder onthis but for some children in Papua NewGuinea, these are questions they don't have

the answers to; because they don’t have the means to answer.Currently, only 13% of Papua New Guinea's population havereliable access to electricity. With the entire population being8.7 million this means approximately 7.6 million people do nothave access to electricity. These children living in these areasare currently deprived of the basic need of electricity. Becauseof this they have no access to wifi, lighting, heating, cooling,

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refrigeration, usage of any technological devices or machinesand so much more.

The World-Wide Fund for Nature is an internationalnon-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works inthe field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of humanimpact on the environment. They created a movement initiatedto unite people into acting on environmental issues and protectour planet. The centre of Earth hour is to switch off all lightsat the given hour to show commitment in participating in thelargest global environmental movement.

The WWF collaborated with an innovative Australian charitycalled Solar Buddy to work together in aiding the kids in PapuaNew Guinea. The aim of this project is to allow the children tohave access to electricity by raising money for Solar Panels. Thegift of solar light can bring hope and opportunity to the life ofa child living in energy poverty and help them to reach their fullpotential.

At AIA we participated out of our own volition. We decided toraise money for this movement however in order to encourageand motivate students to engage with the initiative, the pizzaday was proposed. The students were informed about the pizzaday that was to happen on the 24th of march. They couldpurchase a box of pizza as well as one soft drink for the priceof 12 dollars.

For the students at AIA, anticipation grew as the day loomednearer. The year 11 CAS students spent early mornings makingtheir way around the school collecting names and money fromthose who desired to procure a pizza.

The pizzas were then ordered and arrived on the day. Studentswho put in an order raced into the cafeteria to collect their pizzaand drink. The elation and excitement that beamed on their facewas as good a reward as any but knowing that this event willnot only bring joy to the kids here at AIA but also provide forbetter lives and opportunities to the kids in Papua New Guineawas another gift in itself. Teaching the children here that thereare kids like them unable to obtain the bare necessities thatwe take for granted is especially important, allowing them tounderstand the fortunes they have and the significance of aidingand helping those in need of it. It is for those reasons thatevents and lessons like this are crucial and need to take place.

Hajer OmerYr 11D

Year 12Assalamu Alaykum Wr. Wb.

Term Two is moving at a rapid pace for theYear 12 cohort. They have been inundatedwith many assessments coinciding with themonth of Ramadan which may havepresented its own challenges. I have nodoubt students have been working hardduring the past weeks and deserve to be

commended for their efforts. However, the journey is not overyet. At this point, some students may be struggling to keep withthe work demands and lack the motivational drive to see themthrough. I would like to remind students that this is not the time

to give themselves a break nor let the negative thoughts to playa role, but to persevere with their studies and acknowledge thatthe efforts and sacrifices they make now will return the desiredsuccess inshaaAllah. I urge parents to aid with relieving theirstress and encourage conversations with their child about theirthoughts and feelings.

Progress Reports are out for Term Two outlining strengths andweaknesses the student may have. Careful examination of thefeedback will help students to eliminate potential problems andrealign their study habits. I advise students to be responsive tothis feedback and approach teachers about any concerns theymay have.

Iftar night

Earlier on in the term the Year 12 cohort spent an iftar dinnertogether at Old School Pizza. A glimpse of the dinner can beeseen in the images.

Reminders for students and parents:

I appreciate your cooperation in the matters mentioned above.

Kind regards

Ms Yasemin BozkurtYear 12 Coordinator.

DebatingOn Thursday 22nd April 2021, selectedstudents from Year 8 to Year 11participated in Round 1 of Galway Debatinghosted at Sacred Heart College in Kyneton.On the day, each team participated in twodebates and deliberated on argumentssuch as “whether the internet was aregrettable invention” and whether

“university tuition should be universally free”.

AIA students displayed outstanding teamwork- workingtogether in a collaborative and constructive manner. Membersof the debating programme demonstrated their capacity forcritical thought- exploring a range of perspectives on numerousdebating topics and consulting various forms of research tosupport their respective arguments. Students are to be

• School uniform policy – any non-school items ofclothing are not permitted to be worn such ashoodies.

• Boys haircuts must be appropriate according to theschool policy.

• Students must be at school by 8:25am

• Absenteeism without a medical certificate is highlydiscouraged.

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applauded for their efforts on the day- as they faced fierceopposition.

The Academy would like to extend its congratulations to theYear 8 team for winning Round 1 of their debates. It is afantastic achievement for one of our year 8 teams, who debatedfor the very first time. Round one signified an optimistic startto what will continue to be a very successful Galway DebatingExperience.

On Wednesday 5th May 2021, AIA students attended Round2 of Galway Debating at host school, Sacred Heart Collegein Kyneton. We had two junior teams, one intermediate teamand one senior team in attendance- debating a wide rangeof significant global issues. Team 2 of the Junior Division(comprised of Fatima Nur, Rayaan Assaad, and Tasneem Khan)won their debate- deliberating on whether languages shouldbe a compulsory subject in high school. Both teams of theJunior Division displayed outstanding qualities of teamwork andcollaboration. The intermediate team, comprising of IsraAboueid, Leyaan Kapisiz , Baha Ali and Tasneem Saad alsowon their debate- exploring whether COVID vaccines should becompulsory for all Australians. Baha Ali is to be commendedon being awarded Best Speaker Award- a terrific achievement.Finally, the senior team, comprising Hajer Omer, Eman Ouaida,Fadi Merhi and Mostafa Muladawilah are to be applauded fortheir outstanding efforts. Although not victorious in all of theirdebates- they faced fierce competition, and despite this,worked conscientiously together to achieve their best. Theydisplayed excellent leadership qualities and worked cohesivelydespite the challenges they faced as a team. Overall, this roundof debating was a successful and educational one, withstudents learning that true success doesn’t just come withwinning- true success comes from working together as friendsand a team.

On Thursday 6th May, AIA students attended Round 2 of DAVDebating at Epping Secondary College. The Year 9 teamdebated whether “animal testing should be banned” andcomprised Samira Khodr, Ryan Taouti and Sajid Fanham. TheYear 10 team debated whether “national service should bemandatory” and comprised Maryam Sahi, Sid Taouti andIbrahim Turemis. Both Year 9 and Year 10 teams won theirdebates and are to be congratulated for their diligent efforts.Students presented their speeches in an articulate andconfident manner, and a special congratulations is to beextended to Samira Khodr and Sajid Fanham on both beingawarded Best Speakers for the night.

Ms Nabiha Jamal MerhiHead of Debating

Student LeadershipDuring the April school holidays, somestudents participated in a goal settingworkshop and made their own visionboards. Vision boards are tools used bypeople all over the world to assist withclarifying, concentrating and maintainingfocus on specific goals. The aim of makinga vision board is to motivate people to work

towards their goals.

Mindset strategist, Fatima Raad facilitated the engagingParticipants enjoyed the workshop immensely and I hope theyaccomplish their goals.

Ms Manar EltchelebiStudent Leadership Coordinator

Iftar Night

Last night I was given the privilege of being the guest speakerat Australian International Academy - MSC (AIA)‘s Annual IftarDinner. Thank you Mr Belal Assaad for inviting me and givingme this wonderful opportunity as well as the lovely teachers andstaff for making me feel welcome. I’d also like to thank ABCNews for their amazing crew who spent time with me to hearmore about our work in #Lebanon.

It’s always important to remind our youth on the importanceof charity and how they can be involved. We need to makeit more understandable for them that they don’t have to bebuilding mosques and so forth to be doing charity. It could besomething as simple as a smile. #Charity starts at home, andas parents, we need to ensure our children are knowledgeableon this topic. Always remind them that every act of #kindnessby your own free will, is charity.

It was incredible reminiscing the memories of a school I onceattended 10 years ago.

Keep an eye out for AJF - Al Jannah Foundation with #ABCNews!

Ms Hafsa Elmi

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Library

Resource Centre Update

What a fantastic term 2 we have had in the library! Please askyour child to show you the library website and have a lookat all the great resources available to support their learning.This year, we have purchased many new fiction and non-fictiontitles and have recently bought a school subscription to TheAge newspaper so that students can keep updated with globalissues. Students have been utilising Britannica School fortheir research tasks and we are looking forward to a staffprofessional development on this incredible resource later in theterm. The library website can be accessed via the star dropdown menu on Compass or through the AIA MSC website.

We are happy to announce a new initiative beginning this termand continuing throughout the year. The library will be runninga new seminar series called Study Hacks. These afterschoolsessions are open to all Year 10-12 students that would benefitfrom additional support in evaluating sources, how to researcheffectively and referencing. They are going to be held in thelibrary from 3.30-4.20pm on select days. Please check thebulletin, Compass or posters around campus for dates andmore information. If these sessions are successful, a programwill be devised for our middle school students too.

Term 2 signals the start of the Victorian Premiers ReadingChallenge. Over the last few weeks we have loved hostingeach class from Years 6-9 in the library for their introductorysession. Students are now logged in and have begun to selecttheir books for the challenge. It is a 15-book challenge butstudents can also set a personal target with their Englishteacher if this target is not realistic. We want students to bereading challenging, interesting and age appropriate books fortheir challenge, rather than short ones just to reach the target!The aim of this wonderful program is to engender a love ofreading fiction for enjoyment. The challenge finishes on the10th September. Please encourage your children to read athome daily, even 10 minutes a night can really improve literacyoutcomes. If students need any help logging in, navigating thewebsite or searching for books on the library website pleaseemail library@aia.vic.edu.au.

Ms Nafisa Miller & Ms Norhayati CaseyLibrary & Teaching Resources

Student Counselling-

Dear Parents, Students and Staff

Counselling and psychological services are available forstudents who may be experiencing any form of hardship or aparticularly challenging time. I encourage all students to seeksupport from the counsellors at the school either contact MsTugba or Mr Belal as we are available if you need help orsomeone to talk to. Parents and all staff are encouraged tosupport any student who they feel might benefit from talkingabout their situation to a professional.

The student wellbeing department has been keeping activearound campus in various student-centred events. Incollaboration with the physical education department, femalestudents from year 7 to 9 were involved in “This girl can week”campaign. During the last week of term 1 students reflectedon their positive experience of a high intensity fitness boxingworkshop that promoted inclusiveness, respect andcompassion amongst the girls.

Motivational speaker and author Aisha Alim enlightened thesenior school with her experiences of hardship and gavestudents some practical ways to deal with adversity. Studentswere fascinated by Aisha’s life experiences and her journey toIslam. Her book can be found in the library for those who areinterested.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the parentswho took time out of their day to come into the school formorning tea to meet the wellbeing team last term and prioritizetheir child’s wellbeing at school. We will be gathering parentinterest to hold another meeting in the upcoming weeksinshAllah.

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Parents are encouraged to contact the student office or emaila member of the student wellbeing team if any concerns are tobe raised.

Ms Tugba Buday, School PsychologistMr Belal Asaad, School CounsellorMs Mujgan Gocmen, Special Education and EAL

AIA- Sports

ACADEMY UMPIRES GOLDENOPPORTUNITY

On 11th April during the half-time break ofthe Melbourne Demons v Geelong CatsAFL match, four academy umpires had thechance to umpire auskick matches on thefamous MCG in front of 34,000.

In cold conditions the students did a magnificent job! Welldone Ibrahim Baarini, Omar Khalaf, Amin Ouaida and HamzaMourad.

Mr.Adam NahalHead of AIA Health, Physical Education and SportsMarketing and Promotions ManagerAustralian International Academy

ACADEMY NURSEDear Parents and Guardians, I hopeeveryone’s Ramadan went well and all ourprayers and duas are accepted Insha Allah-Hope you all have a wonderful Eid - EidMubarak.

During winter we will see a rise in studentswith sore throat so it is very important to beeducated on what sore throat is and how to

prevent it from occurring.

A sore throat also known as pharyngitis is pain, scratchinessor irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow.The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viralinfection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a

virus resolves on its own. Strep throat (streptococcal infection),a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requirestreatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other lesscommon causes of sore throat might require more complextreatment

Symptoms

Get immediate care if your child hassevere signs and symptoms such as:

Treatment

Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also causemost sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sorethroats.

A sore throat caused by a viral infection usually lasts five toseven days and doesn't require medical treatment.

To ease pain and fever, many people turn to acetaminophen(Tylenol, others) or other mild pain relievers.

Consider giving your child over-the-counter pain medicationsdesigned for infants or children, such as acetaminophen(Children's Tylenol, Fever All, others) or ibuprofen (Children'sAdvil, Children's Motrin, others), to ease symptoms

Kind regardsMs Mhalya WaliyzadaAcademy Nurse

• Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat

• Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking

• Difficulty swallowing

• Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw Swollen, redtonsils

• White patches or pus on your tonsils

• A hoarse or muffled voice

• Difficulty breathing

• Difficulty swallowing

• Unusual drooling, which might indicatean inability to swallow

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AIA- NEW MOSQUE

For nearly 40 years AIA has proudly educated young MuslimAustralians, helping them to advance our society withdetermination and faith and become global citizens.

Now the Australian International Academy is proud to announcethe construction of a new Mosque. It will be constructed at theMSC located at 56 Bakers Road, North Coburg 3058.

At a cost of approx $2.5 million, the project will enable us tocontinue to provide our students with a safe haven to practicetheir faith, hold religious classes and recite the Quran.

We need your Sadqa Jaaryiah (good deeds) to help turn thisdream into a reality.

This can also contribute toward your Zakat in the coming monthof Ramadan.

"Verily, those who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat and alms, etc.),men and women, and lend to Allah a goodly loan, it shallbe increased manifold (to their credit), and theirs shall be anhonourable good reward (i.e. Paradise)." Q57:18

Direct donations can be made to the following account below:

AIA Academy MosqueBSB 083-004 Acc No. 505589973

We thank you for your support and generosity.

Yours Sincerely, Fundraising Committee.

2021 Term Dates

Term One Friday 29 January – Wednesday 31 March

Term Two Monday 19 April – Friday 25 June

Term Three Monday 19 July – Thursday 16 September

Term Four Monday 4 October – Friday 10 December

Calendar Events 2021

May 2021

Monday 24 May Year 10 Immunisation –(Meningococcal)

Monday 17 – 28 May NAPLAN Years 3,5,7 & 9

June 2021

Wednesday 2 – Friday11 June

Year 10 & 11 Semester Exams

Wednesday 9 June Year 12 GAT 10.00am – 1.15pm

Monday 14 June Queen’s Birthday (public holiday)

Friday 25 June Scholarship Applications Close

Friday 25 June Last Day of Term Two

Term Three Break –Week 10

Year 10 Work Experience

July 2021

Monday 19 July Term Three Commences

Wednesday 21 Friday23 July

Year 11 Camp

August 2021

Monday 9 August Darebin Regional InterschoolChess Tournament

Monday 9 –Wednesday 11 August

Year 7 Camp

Wednesday 11 – Friday13 August

Year 9 Camp

Thursday 19 August Year 11 2022 Subject Selection

AIA Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop Operating Hours

Every Wednesday 9.30am - 11.30am

Every Friday 2.00pm - 4.00pm

First Saturday of each month 12.00pm 2.00pm

Open First Day of each term 09.30am – 3.30pm

Note: Ms Reem can be reached on WHATSAPP on0448734468

Parents can book an after hours appointment with Ms Reemfor uniform items

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