August 17, 2009
WELCOME TO IWS 2009-2010
Dear Friends and Families of IWS,
The Islamic Weekend School (IWS) is pleased to welcome you all to our 2009-2010 school year. The location of IWS activities for this year will be at Westland Middle School in Bethesda, MD, the same location as last year.
Registration and first day of classes for the 2009-2010 IWS school year will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2009 from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Westland MS. Parents will be expected to submit registration forms and make the appropriate payment for their child(ren) on this date.
As in past years, our school hours will be from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, with Salat al-Zuhr incorporated into each day of classes. Participation in Zuhr prayers is considered to be part of the curriculum that children are expected to attend (and of course parents are encouraged to participate in). The classes available for registration this year include Levels 100 through 400 as well as three (3) different Advanced Placement (A/P) levels. Each level will include age-appropriate Religion and Quran/Arabic subject matter.
This year, we will also be offering an advanced Arabic class for high school students. The addition of the advanced Arabic class this year is to strengthen our students’ Arabic skills before they leave IWS. It is taught by Dr. Hatem Ghafir and is novel based.
The registration fees for the coming school year include the costs for the purchase of textbooks and workbooks (where necessary) for each registered student for the entire school year. Fees are listed on the attached Registration Form along with a suggested donation in order to help us maintain our IRS tax-exempt status. Please remember that all donations to IWS are tax-deductible. Additionally, as applied last year, a membership fee of $10 per family is still effective, as required by the IWS bylaws. .
To assist us in conducting a smooth Registration Process on September 6th insha’Allah, you are requested to:
1. Arrive at the school on time (10:30 AM), so we can complete the registration process on time. Since this is also the first day of classes, students should be prepared to attend classes and have with them a notebook, folder (for papers) and pen/pencil.
2. Bring the enclosed Registration Form to the school. Please do not fill in the section associated with placement of your children in specific levels, as this section should be completed with the assistance of a school administrator during registration.
3. Be prepared to make payment either in cash or by personal check for the full school year or in two installments. Alternatively, payment can be made via PayPal (on the IWS website, www.islamicweekendschool.org). Financial assistance will be considered where necessary. Please note that textbooks will only be issued to students after presentation of proof of payment (by the student or student’s parent).
It should be noted that we will be holding an IWS Back to School Orientation session for parents on September 13th from 11:00 to 11:30 AM in the Westland MS auditorium. We urge all parents to attend and participate in this event, as important information will be shared regarding this year’s approach to curriculum and teachers as well as an opportunity for exchange of information between parents and IWS administration staff.
We appeal to all parents to join the growing group of IWS volunteers and actively take part in school functions. Each of us who has been fortunate enough to participate in IWS over the years has received a great sense of satisfaction in contributing to the enrichment of all IWS students and to the growth of our community. We are all parents and unpaid volunteers with little or no professional training in school administration, teaching or otherwise, yet we all have the capacity to contribute. As our student population and programs expand, the need for committed parent participation increases. We cannot operate the school in a meaningful manner without your involvement.
For your convenience, we have enclosed herewith the IWS 2009/2010 School Year Calendar and Registration Form. Also, you may visit our web site for additional information, news, and future announcements at any time at www.islamicweekendschool.org.
We look forward to seeing you on September 6th insha’Allah.
Very truly yours,
Mariam Osman
Principal
