Weekly News & Learning

Assalam Aleikum!

Dear NISL Families,

We’re off to a wonderful start, alhamdulillah! Today we have officially wrapped up our third day of school, and what an amazing beginning it has been! This year, we welcomed 212 students in grades K–12. We sincerely thank all of our families for entrusting NISL with their child’s education and for being such an important part of our school community.

Thank you to our amazing PTO for decorating the school for the big day, assisting our younger students as they walked to their classrooms, and helping carry school supplies during the first few days. Your support has made our start to the year smooth and even more exciting. We encourage all parents to consider joining the PTO and becoming part of the wonderful work they do to support our students and staff.

We are also grateful to our dedicated staff, who worked tirelessly to prepare classrooms, curriculum, and activities to welcome our students back.

Our beloved mascot, Barakah the Bee, also made a special appearance in the carline and hallways on the first day, bringing smiles to students and parents alike!

Mark your calendars:

• Thursday, August 14 – Back-to-School Night for High School (8005 New LaGrange Rd)

• Friday, August 15 – Back-to-School Night at our Elementary and Middle School (6500 Six Mile Lane)

May Allah SWT make this 26th school year of NISL be our best year yet!

Sincerely,

Aisha Blagaia

Principal

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4811

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ‏ لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لاَ يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ

4811 سنن أبي داود كتاب الأدب باب في شكر المعروف

• PTO and their families for creating a smooth, efficient, and memorable transition to the first couple days of school. Parents commented that PTO escorting students to class and hauling supplies made a huge difference this year. PTO members also decorated the entrance and interior hallways with welcoming balloons and banners. Way to go, PTO! (Sr. Zainab)
• All the students that walked quietly through halls this week! Your safety is important to us and your families.
• All teachers & teacher assistants for a wonderful start to the 2025-2026 school year. Parents should know that their children's teachers are heavily invested in your child's education and well-being. Please keep the teachers and TAs in your duaas! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Mebarka for superior work ethic. From arriving on time to meetings, to preparing instructional documents, to fulfilling her daily duties; she sets the bar high for all of us and is always aiming for perfection, mashaAllah! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Rubeena for excellence in planning two separate curricula for nine grade levels. I am constantly amazed by her diligence and ability to juggle art and technology coursework, mashaAllah! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Lobna & Sr. Bothaina for stepping up and helping move furniture on the first day of school. They put the "work" in teamwork, mashaAllah! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Walaa for thorough and aesthetically superior materials! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Noor for super active engagement with the Amplify science trainer.
• Ms. Wofford for conscientious planning and going the extra mile to get Amplify's ELAR curriculum ready for student learning! (Sr. Zainab)
• Ms. Kristen for incorporating some common terms and phrases used by Muslims. She even wears abayas and a hijab to supervise during Jumuah salah. We really appreciate your effort and cultural sensitivity! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Nour for always finding ways to perfect her work. The addition of times to her weekly newsletter is a helpful addition! (Sr. Zainab)
• Sr. Amani, Sr. Nour, Sr. Walaa, Sr. Bothaina, and Sr. Lobna for making others feel cared for through sacrificing their time and energy! (Sr. Zainab)

• Aug. 14: High School Back to School Night (@3:30 Lagrange Campus)
• Aug. 15: Kindergarten - 8th Grade Back to School Night (@ 4PM Six Mile Campus)
• Aug. 18-22: 1st Assessment & Screeners Window
• Sept. 1: No School - Labor Day

...inshaAllah

Reminders/Notes

Reminders for Parents

• Snack & Lunch: Please pack a healthy snack and lunch daily. No items that need heating.
  

• Water Bottle: Send a reusable water bottle labeled with your child’s name.
  

• Extra Clothes: Make sure your child has a full set of extra clothes in a labeled Ziplock bag (shirt, pants, underwear, socks).
  

• Headphones: Send labeled headphones in a Ziplock bag for classroom use.
  

• Communication Folder: Please return your child’s folder every Friday morning. It will be sent back home Friday afternoon with their work and any homework.
  Arrival Time: Please arrive between 7:45–8:00 AM to ensure your child has a smooth start to the day.

• ClassDojo: Keep checking ClassDojo for updates, points, and photos of classroom activities!

🕗 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

• Practice sitting properly and using materials at the ELA table
  

• Learn how to hold a pencil correctly
  

• Trace uppercase and lowercase letters
  

• Listen during read-alouds and raise hands to share

Science & Social Studies

🔬 Science – How to Be a Good Scientist

• Learn how to observe and ask questions
  

• Practice taking care of science tools
  

• Learn to clean up after science time

🏫 Social Studies – Classroom & School Community

• Practice taking turns and sharing
  

• Learn classroom helper jobs
  

• Discuss how to be kind and respectful in class

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Technology

Unit 1: Introduction to Technology

Lesson 1: What is Technology?

• Discuss and identify various types of technology (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.)
• Video | Activity

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Photo Frame Card

• Decorate Get to know each other, Name!
• Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens

REMINDERS & NOTES

• Please make sure to label all personal belongings your child brings to school (water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, etc.).
• Homework packets are sent home every Friday and are due back the following Friday.
• Spelling tests will be conducted every Friday.

📝 Next Week’s Spelling Words
bed, jet, yes, peg, gem, get, red, ten, them, when

📚 English Language Arts & Reading

• Practice classroom expectations, routines, and procedures.
• Get students familiar with how language arts class is structured.
• Introduce the flow of the day: phonics, grammar, writing, reading, and comprehension.
• Build understanding of whole group and small group instruction.
• Introduce Amplify Skills and Knowledge routines.
• Explore books and materials used for language arts.
• Establish classroom expectations and setups for future language arts lessons.
• Spelling test on Friday.

🕌 Islamic Studies

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Technology

Unit 1: Introduction to Technology

Lesson 1: What is Technology?

• Discuss and identify various types of technology (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.)
• Video | Activity

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Photo Frame Card

• Decorate Get to know each other, Name!
• Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens

REMINDERS & NOTES

Dear Parents,

As we settle into the school year, a quick reminder to please encourage your child to use the restroom before coming to school and during breaks. This helps minimize classroom disruptions and keeps learning time focused.

Math

• Practice routines and behavior every day.
  

• Review classroom procedures.
  

• Reinforce daily routines.
  

• Set behavior expectations.
  

• Preview the year’s curriculum.
  

• Do a general review.

English Language Arts & Reading

Back-to-School: Basic Code Review

• Listen and follow along as the teacher reads “Kate Visits Doba” aloud.
  

• Practice reading aloud with accuracy, good speed, and expression.
  

• Answer multiple-choice questions about key details in the story.

• Review what was previously memorized from the Holy Quran.
• Practice classroom procedures, routines, and expectations.

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Technology

Unit 1: Introduction to Technology

Lesson 1: What is Technology?

• Discuss and identify various types of technology (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.)
• Video | Activity

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Photo Frame Card

• Decorate Get to know each other, Name!
• Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens

REMINDERS & NOTES

• Homework will start next week, inshallah.
• Bring a family picture to school for our family tree. (if possible)

English Language Arts & Reading

Unit 1 Classic Tales

Lesson 1: The River Bank part 1

• Determine the main idea and supporting details of a text read aloud.
• Compare and contrast the two characters from The Wind in the Willows.
• Review short vowel sounds and multisyllable words.
• Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for their answers.

Lesson 2: The River Bank part 2

• Determine the main idea and supporting details of a text read aloud.
• Use descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to rewrite a scene from Rat’s perspective.
• Review long and short vowels and write multisyllable words.
• Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for their answers.

• Recount the events of the story using images.
• Identify the themes of the story.
• Review long vowel sounds and practice reading multisyllable words.
• Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for their answers.

• Discuss the main idea and supporting details of a text read aloud.
• Write collaboratively to produce an alternative ending to a story.
• Review long vowel sounds and practice writing multisyllable words.
• Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for their answers.

• Describe how characters in a Read-Aloud demonstrate the story’s theme of hospitality.
• Explain how characters’ actions demonstrate specific story themes.
• Review sounds and syllables with ‘le’ and practice reading multisyllable words.
• Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for their answers.

Math

Unit 1 Lesson 1: Using place value to round 2- and 3-digit numbers to the nearest 10, 100

• Session 1 Understanding Place Value
• Session 2 Rounding to the nearest 10
• Session 3 Rounding to the nearest 100
• Session 5 & 6 Review for Quiz

Social Studies

• Review what was previously memorized from the Holy Quran.
• Practice classroom procedures, routines, and expectations.

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

REMINDERS & NOTES

English H.W: RazKids 2 Stories

• Assigned: Monday, May 19
• Due: Thursday, May 22

English Language Arts

Science

Math

• Review what was previously memorized from the Holy Quran.
• Practice classroom procedures, routines, and expectations.

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

REMINDERS & NOTES

• Check Google Classroom for videos and support for all subjects.
• Please purchase a total of 2 binders 1.5 inches for student.
• Amplify and i-Ready can be accessed at home.

English Language Arts

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

REMINDERS & NOTES

.

• Collecting signed forms
• Continue to explain and rehearse: General classroom procedures

• Procedures during Instruction: Hand signals; pair and group work; turn and talk; clean-up

• Worktime Procedures: Heading work; handing out/turning in work; Late work; Unfinished work; Early finishers.

• Lab Procedures: Lab groupings; safety rules

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Name Tag/Card Decorate Get to know each other, Name!

Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens, paint etc.

Kids can sign each other!*

1. Draw you name in an interesting creative Way!

2. Use different colors that reflect YOU!

3. Add different lines, colors and patterns!

4. Add little drawings of your hobbies! Ex. Soccer Ball?

5. Fill the Page!

REMINDERS & NOTES

Lesson 0: Overview

• Thinking through problems
• Discussing math, and listening to each other’s ideas
• Using hand signals and simple routines
• Get comfortable sharing and showing their thinking

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Name Tag/Card Decorate Get to know each other, Name!

Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens, paint etc.

Kids can sign each other!*

1. Draw you name in an interesting creative Way!

2. Use different colors that reflect YOU!

3. Add different lines, colors and patterns!

4. Add little drawings of your hobbies! Ex. Soccer Ball?

5. Fill the Page!

REMINDERS & NOTES

Lesson 0: Overview

• Thinking through problems
• Discussing math, and listening to each other’s ideas
• Using hand signals and simple routines
• Get comfortable sharing and showing their thinking

• Collecting signed forms
• Continue to explain and rehearse: General classroom procedures

• Procedures during Instruction: Hand signals; pair and group work; turn and talk; clean-up

• Worktime Procedures: Heading work; handing out/turning in work; Late work; Unfinished work; Early finishers.

• Lab Procedures: Lab groupings; safety rules

Coach Nouna will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday, August 18, so students will have a substitute for all of her classes until she returns, inshaAllah.

Art

Getting to Know Each Other: Name Tag/Card Decorate Get to know each other, Name!

Materials: Half sheet paper, markers, crayon, pens, paint etc.

Kids can sign each other!*

1. Draw you name in an interesting creative Way!

2. Use different colors that reflect YOU!

3. Add different lines, colors and patterns!

4. Add little drawings of your hobbies! Ex. Soccer Ball?

5. Fill the Page!