Madina Academy Upper School

Assalamualaikum everyone! My name is Minal, the new editor of our high school newsletter. I’m honored to take on this role and look forward to keeping you informed and connected with all the latest news, events, and student highlights. May this coming year be filled with growth, success, and barakah, insha’Allah. Thank you for reading and supporting our school community!

UConn Model United Nations

Every year, the University of Connecticut hosts UCMUN (UConn Model UN), a three day Model United Nations conference where hundreds of high school students come together to debate global issues, write resolutions, and experience what it’s like to be part of the United Nations. Model UN gives students the chance to improve their public speaking, teamwork, and problem solving skills while representing their countries/people and debating on real world issues. This year, from November 7-9, 26 students from Madina Academy’s Upper School attended UCMUN. It was an incredible weekend filled with exciting debates, teamwork, collaboration, and plenty of learning.

A huge congratulations to 10th grader Juman Tuffaha, who won Outstanding Delegate in the Crisis Committee: African Council on Conflict in Sudan for representing Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, MashaAllah! And lastly, we couldn’t have done it without our awesome chaperones and vice principal Mrs. Masuda, who organizes and prepares everything for us each year. Her hard work truly makes this trip possible. UCMUN was such a fun and educational experience for everyone, and we can’t wait to go again next year, Inshaallah!

Journalism Day

On October 24th, Mrs. Masuda took the 10th grade class on a trip to Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) for Journalism Day. On this day, students attended different workshops to learn about many different journalism related topics. Some of the workshops included Jeopardy, AI versus Real, Reel Video Tips, How to Cite Quotes, So You Think You Can Edit, and much more. There was also a keynote speaker who talked about his journey and experience of becoming a news reporter. Students learned about the importance of journalism, how to improve their writing skills, the importance of being aware of what’s happening around you, and how to tell the difference between real and fake news. They even served free food, snacks, and delicious hot chocolate for everyone!

After the journalism workshops, students went to pray Jummah Salah at Orange Masjid and then enjoyed lunch at Shah’s Halal before returning to school. As a 10th grader myself, I really enjoyed this experience, learned many new things and had a great time hanging out with my friends. I would definitely recommend next year's 10th grade students to go on this trip!

Art Field Trip

On October 30th, the 10th, 11th, and 12th graders went on a field trip to the New Britain Museum of American Art. The trip was organized and led by our high school art/history teacher, Mrs. Salwa. Students got to take a look at incredible pieces of art, some from older times and others from more modern periods. The artwork was not only beautiful but also full of history and meaning. Many of the paintings represented important events and movements, such as slavery, the Great Depression, and women’s rights movements. During the visit, students learned about how these artworks were created, the artists behind them, and the stories they told.

The museum also hosted a fun hands-on activity, where students made collages using newspaper and magazine scraps to create self-portraits that represented their personalities, interests, and what makes them themselves.

After the museum tour, students enjoyed lunch and smoothies at a local business near the museum before heading back to school. A big thank you to Mrs. Salwa for organizing this amazing trip and arranging transportation for us. Even though she already plans incredible history trips for every class each year, she still made sure we got this wonderful experience too.

9th grade Boston Trip

The 9th graders went on a trip to Boston with their history teacher, Mrs. Salwa, to explore the Freedom Trail. They followed the red brick line through several important historical sites, including old meeting houses, monuments, and landmarks from the Revolutionary era.

Throughout the walk, students learned about the early United States and major events that took place in Boston. They also visited one of Boston’s oldest graveyards, where they learned about the significant figures there who helped shape American history. Later, they went to the USS Constitution Museum, where they explored exhibits about sailors, ships, and early naval history. After the museum, the students went on a ferry ride across Boston Harbor, enjoying beautiful views of the city. For lunch, they visited Quincy Market and got their food from a variety of stalls and also explored shops. Overall, the trip was both fun and educational, and the 9th graders learned a lot while spending the day in one of the most historic cities in the country.

Journalism Day, which every 10th-grade class experiences annually, allowed us to interview this year's 10th-grade student, Zaynab Khawaja. Zaynab describes the day as “very good and informative,” explaining the new skills she learned: storytelling, creating engaging hooks, and how to keep the reader invested.

When asked about the most interesting session, Zaynab focused on her workshop about AI. We were surprised to know that tools like ChatGPT don't have access to constantly updated information but rely on data from only 2020. For Zaynab, this session was both unexpected and highly informative.

The trip even changed their perception of journalism: the student admitted that she previously viewed it as simple—writing articles and interviewing people—but later felt that journalism requires much more. “I really thought journalism was such an easy thing,” she said, “but you have to understand, and you have to have empathy and compassion for people.”

During the art trip organized by Ms. Salwa Collings, 10th through 12th grade students visited the New Britain Museum of American Art to explore a wide range of artistic expression. We interviewed 11th-grade student Mariam Haroun about her experience. Mariam described the visit as “a really good experience,” explaining that she enjoyed seeing “a lot of cool, different stuff” and the many ways artists “express themselves through their art.”

When asked about the piece that stood out most, she pointed to a painting of New Haven, describing it as “really gorgeous with nice clouds, nice sky, nice view.” She explained that a second piece, which showed the same scene destroyed with “branches coming out of it” and “dripping red everywhere,” caught her attention because it expressed how “nothing is kind of like how it was before.”

Although Mariam said the trip didn’t change her overall perception of art—“I’m someone who already really takes art on a very deep level”—she shared that it “opened my eyes to different art styles and different ways people paint.” Overall, she found the museum visit inspiring and rich with new perspectives.

As part of this year’s UConn Model UN conference, 10th-grade student Juman Tuffaha stood out among hundreds of delegates—earning the prestigious “Outstanding Delegate” award. We interviewed her to learn more about her experience and what advice she has for future UCMUN participants.

Juman explained that she is “in 10th grade” and that this year marked her second time attending UCMUN, with her first conference being “UCMUN 2024.” Despite the long, demanding weekend, she expressed her genuine appreciation for the event: “I personally love the experience and think it's definitely worth it because although it is tiring and a big commitment it easily makes up for it with experience & the friendships you make along the way.”

When asked whether she felt nervous competing against students who might have more experience, she responded with confidence and humility. “Not whatsoever,” she said. “At the end of the day even if they have more ‘exposure’ they’re still students and they’re also still learning and bettering their skills. And normally everyone is kind and understanding, especially if it’s your first MUN.”

Her final piece of advice to upcoming UCMUN members was especially memorable:

“Commit; I know that may seem like such an obvious thing but you’re going either way—there is quite literally no point of you just going and sitting there. You’re going to be bored and sick of it by Sunday. Just do it. Speak even if you think your point may be irrelevant or that the others are doing so much better. The only benchmark you should have is yourself and what you have previously done. You’re never going to see them again. It’s alright if you ask a question that may seem dumb, it’s alright if someone doesn’t like your position or your point—trust me, you’ll live. And lastly, always speak with confidence or at least always try to. Even if you have no idea what you’re talking about, confidence will either make or break your entire speech. Just believe in yourself.”

Jazakullahu Khairan to all the interviewees for sharing their experiences and inspiring us!

Mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing students today, yet it remains one of the most overlooked topics in many Islamic schools. Too many students deal with stress, anxiety, and pressure in silence because they fear being judged or misunderstood. Ignoring these struggles doesn’t protect students—it hurts them.

Islam teaches compassion, empathy, and caring for one another. So why shouldn’t our schools reflect that by teaching students how to recognize emotions, manage stress, and seek help when needed? Even simple steps—like teacher training, short workshops, or a part-time counselor—can make a huge difference.

Students spend most of their day at school, which means schools share responsibility for their well-being. Supporting mental health doesn’t weaken us; it strengthens our community. It’s time for Islamic schools to treat emotional health with the same importance as academics and faith.

Caring for the mind is part of our deen. Our schools should lead by example.

Question: “I keep falling behind because everything hits at the same time. How do I get better at managing my time?”

Answer: I understand what you mean because this is something most people go through. The best way to deal with loads of work due around the same time is to break it up and spread it out. Sometimes when you have so much to do, you just end up stressing about the work without even starting, which makes everything feel a lot worse than it actually is.

A good way to handle this is to first figure out which assignments will take the most time, and start working on them a little bit every day. Even doing ten or fifteen minutes helps more than you think. If you leave it for the last minute, you’ll definitely get overwhelmed and might even give up because it feels impossible at that point.

Setting small goals for yourself is an easy way to get things done without stressing. It feels way less intimidating when you break everything down instead of trying to finish a whole assignment in one go. And if you need to, don’t be afraid to put together a to-do list to help you visualize what you have to get done. Sometimes just seeing everything laid out makes it feel way more manageable.

Try doing things step by step. It makes a huge difference.

If you have any questions for the advice column, send them over to nooram@madinaacademy.org!

1. Why is gossiping and talking about others behind their backs considered harmful in Islam, even if “everyone does it”?
Though gossiping seems normal in school, it damages reputation and trust. In Islam, backbiting is compared to “eating the flesh of your dead brother,” showing how serious it is. It hardens the heart and breaks friendships, creating jealousy and rumors. Choosing silence or kind words protects the heart and strengthens relationships.

2. How does excessive phone use, especially scrolling for hours, impact our connection with Allah and real life?
Constant scrolling drains focus, making it harder to pray sincerely or reflect. It also wastes time that could be used for beneficial acts like dhikr. Islam teaches balance; technology isn’t haram, but being controlled by it is harmful. When life revolves around screens, we lose presence in real moments. Putting the phone down is an act of discipline that brings peace.

3. Why should we be careful with the language we use, even if swearing and rude humor feel “normal” at school?
Words shape character, even when they seem like “just jokes.” The Prophet ﷺ taught that believers are known by gentle speech, not harsh words. When swearing becomes normal, the heart grows desensitized. It also affects how we see ourselves and others. Replacing bad words with better ones purifies the heart and elevates our character.

4. Why is comparing ourselves to others harmful, especially with social media influencing our self-worth?
Comparison creates insecurity because we measure ourselves by others’ highlights. Islam teaches that each person has unique tests, blessings, and paths. True worth comes from taqwa, not appearance or popularity. Constant comparison leads to envy and sadness, but gratitude for our blessings brings confidence and peace.

5. Why is being rude to parents, even in small ways, so serious in Islam?
Islam gives great importance to respecting parents for their love and sacrifice. Even eye-rolling or sarcasm weakens the bond. The Qur’an commands believers to speak gently to parents. Treating them well brings Allah’s blessings and ease. Every soft word and patient act is rewarded, even when it feels small.

If you have any questions about our religion, don’t hesitate to reach out. Email faqihaf@madinaacademy.org today!

Ayah of the Month:

“So indeed, with hardship comes ease.”

Surah Ash-Sharh (94:6)

Why this ayah?

High school is stressful with grades, friendships, identity, and life decisions. This ayah reminds you that Allah never sends a struggle without tying ease to it.

Life in high school can feel like a nonstop test, with friendships shifting, academic pressure, and family expectations. However, Allah reminds us that hardship is never the final chapter, and the Prophet (SAW) adds that the harder the test, the greater the comeback.

If you are facing something heavy right now--whether it is stress, heartbreak, burnout, or uncertainty--this month’s theme asks you to remember:

• Your pain is temporary. Your growth is permanent.

• Allah is shaping you, not breaking you.

• Ease is already written for you, it’s just not here yet.

Let this month be about trusting Allah through the process, not only the result.

Recite Surah Al-Mulk every night.

It:

• Protects from punishment of the grave

• Gives peace before sleeping

• Resets your mindset at the end of a long day

• Creates a spiritual routine you’ll thank yourself for later

Even if you can’t read the whole surah, read the first and last 10 ayahs a night. Build the habit.