June 2014 - Edmonton Islamic Academy

Volume 2 Issue 3
June 2014
Edmonton Islamic Academy
High School Newsletter
Read in this issue
ISLAM Awards
Galois & Hypatia
Math Competition
Winners!
Artworks Foundation
of Alberta Contest
MLA for a Day
Quran Competition
results
Speak out
Banff Trip
Art Option Class
The Ar-Rihla Club
EIA High School
14525 127 Street
Edmonton, AB T6V 0B3
(780) 454-4513 (Phone)
(780) 454-3498 (Fax)
Editor: Ms. Saleh
On May 2nd, Edmonton
Islamic Academy held its
first annual ISLAM Award
celebration. This event
recognized
students’
achievement in Quran,
Academics,
Sportsmanship and Leadership. “It
was a fun and great day
for all of us, I enjoyed every part of it” a student in
grade 10 declared. There
were beautiful trophies–
the best ones yet– there
were great door prizes and
an excellent food menu
and to top it all, our students in high school received scholarships from
our supporters in the community. The Top two students in each category,
previously mentioned, in
the High school division,
received a scholarship:
$250 for grade 10 students, $500 for grade 11
students and $2000 scholarship for grade 12 students. We thank all our
sponsors who made this
possible.
Jazakum Allah Khair!
Volume 2 Issue 3
June 2014
Congratulations to all our Stars!
Thanks for all your support and contribution!
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School
Volume 2 Issue 3
Page 3
June 2014
Galois and Hypatia
Math Competition Winners!
On Wednesday, April 16,
2014 students in grades 10
and 11 participated in the
Galois and Hypatia math
contest. This is a contest
that consists of 4 questions
for a total of 40 marks. The
test lasted 75 minutes
where the students answered questions that are
based on curriculum outcomes common to all Canadian provinces. The contest
problems tested their logical
thinking and mathematical
problem solving.
We are proud to announce
that the following students
successfully completed this test:
Congratulations to all our participants!
In the Galois level:
Huda Alshamali,
Sundus Mahdi,
Eman Moussa,
Mohamed Igal,
Sarah Sweneya,
and
Norman Murray.
In the Hypatia level:
Yomna Mohamed
Winning 3rd Place in Art
On March 15th,
2014 the high
school art class
participated in the
Environmental
Artworks Foundation of Alberta Contest. Through a
poster medium the students were
invited to demonstrate the concept
“ Earth and Sky: Mine to Discover”
We proudly announce that the image above by Hawra Khalaf won
Third place in the grade 10-12 division.
Congratulations Hawra!
3rd place winner poster by Hawra Khalaf
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School
Volume 2 Issue 3
Page 4
June 2014
MLA for a Day
the topic of our Albertan government system.
High school students from across the province
were given the opportunity to visit the MLAs
place of work and reenact their everyday dealings.
On the 5th and 6th of May, the Royal Canadian
Legion offered a program for all promising politicians in Alberta. The point to this assembly
was to help bring awareness of the jobs and
the responsibilities of the MLA and touched on
Huda Al-Shamali, a student attending the EIA
high school, was accepted to participate in this
MLA for a day program. She had an exceptional experience as she met with fellow students
and learnt more on the behind the scene actions that keep our province in check. She said,
“This program has greatly added to my
knowledge of the roles of an MLA. I feel as if I
have gained an unforgettable experience, and
met with great open people who seek for
change.”
Huda Al-Shamali
Grade 10
Quran Competition — High School Division
Prophet Mohammad (SAW)
said:
responsibilities and pleasing
Allah (S.W) and working for
their Akhirah.
“O people I am leaving
behind among you the
Holy Book (Quran) and
the Sunnah (way of
Prophet (SAW)), if you follow these in letter and
spirit you will never be
strayed.”
We are proud and fortunate
to have a group of youth in
our High School division
who work hard to balance
between Worldly
During the month of March
our students competed in
the final Quran competition
stage. Students were required to memorize Surat Al
– Hijr. Tied for first place for
gold were: Khadra Said and
Mohamed Igal. The silver
medal went to: Shia Diane
Strowbridge.
Heart warm congratulations go out to
all our participants !
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School
Volume 2 Issue 3
Page 5
June 2014
Speak Out Conference
were encouraged to meet new
people and create new relationships" Says Sundus, "this
would've been a challenge to a
socially confined person like me,
but this push to network with
other students just like you really bring the risk taking leader out
of you. And this is what the conference was all about, it was
about making you an involved
leader not just at the conference, but also at school, and at
home."
On April 11th to 13th four students from the EIA high school
participated in the 6th annual
Speak Out conference, a province wide conference held at the
Edmonton plaza hotel to get students involved in the education
system.
Sundus Mahdi, Yomna Mohamed, Mohamed Igal, Yosef
Ali, and Mr.Chang attended the
three day long youth leadership
conference. On Friday, after
everyone was welcomed to the
conference, dinner was served,
followed by a presentation from
the keynote speaker Sunjay
Nath. Author of "the ABCs of
Student Leadership". On Saturday, after having breakfast and
listening to spoken word art presented by Ahmed Knowmadic,
the students were sent to several workshops which discussed
different topics such as creating
the perfect option class, how to
make post secondary resources
more available, integrating technology in education, the process
of making and marking diploma
exams, creating and maintaining
good social relations in school,
and much more. In each session all
student input was written down and
considered. Later that night the students participated in the "Student
Engagement Olympics" in which
everyone was separated into different teams and competed against
one another through team building
exercises. On the final day, a live
interview was presented featuring
authorities from Alberta Education.
After closing remarks from the MCs
the students were sent back to
their hometowns with the initiative
to get more involved in education."
Throughout the conference we
The four students, inspired by
the conference, plan on holding
their very own speak out fo-rum
at the Academy Inshallah. We
hope that more students will be
able to participate in the conference and/or forum and become
great leaders not only in
the future but also in the present, because if this conference
proves anything, it is that no one
is ever too young to make a difference
Sundus Mahdi
Grade 10
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School
Volume 2 Issue 3
June 2014
Page 6
Is there any better way to spend the last long
week-end of the school year, other than with your
friends and teachers?
Alhamdulillah, for the third year in a row, the
Academy has provided it's high school students
with the opportunity to attend a weekend get away
to Banff. The trip was a phenomenal experience
for all, as we battled together against the wilderness and the harsh weather. However, we were
able to stay optimistic and enjoyed the company
of each other. The trip consisted of many activities
which included, horseback riding, hiking, mountain
biking, as well as an intense soccer game, in
which the girls won (thanks to Mr. Craig). We also
got the opportunity to go shop around downtown
and explore the small city and enjoy it's beautiful
scenery. As the trip came to an end, we decided
to have a barbecue, and play games such as capture the flag and home base. It was sad to see the
trip end, for we all became rather closer as
friends, but we will forever have the memories to
keep. The fact that we were able to
spend four days together, not as classmates, students, or teachers, rather as
friends, made the trip worthwhile. InshaAllah, the Academy will keep this
tradition as the high school grows, and
that future high school students get the
opportunity to make memories together, as did the classes of 2014.
Israh Thraya - Grade 12
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School
Volume 2 Issue 3
GATHERING FOR
THE SAKE OF
ALLAH (SWT)
In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “Those that
remember Me in their
heart, I remember
them in My heart; and
those that remember
Me in a gathering (i.e.
that make mention of
Me), I remember them
(i.e. make mention of
them) in a gathering
better than theirs.”
RAMADAN
Abu Hurairah related
that the Prophet said:
Allah the Majestic and
Exalted said: "Every
deed of man will receive ten to 700 times
reward, except Siyam
(fasting), for it is for
Me and I shall reward
it (as I like). There are
two occasions of joy
for one who fasts: one
when he breaks the
fast and the other
when he will meet his
Lord" (Muslim).
June 2014
The Ar-Rihla Club’s Closing Halaqah
On Friday, June 10th, Ar-Rihla: The Journey Club brought its first functioning year
to a close with a final Halaqah themed Ramadan: The Traveler’s Treasure. This
theme was chosen because it beautifully incorporates the club’s main message—
the hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) which states: “Live in this
world like a stranger or a traveler.” As well, it included preparation tips for the best
time of the year that is around the corner: Ramadan!
During its first running year, the Ar-Rihla Club accomplished much, Alhamdulillah.
Apart from the scheduled Halaqahs and distributed pamphlets on certain topics, the
getting together of girls, sitting together and engaging in such beautiful gatherings
where we built upon our Islamic values individually as well as collectively was truly
the highlight of the Ar-Rihla initiative.
Now that we are equipped with more experience, we will be able to even further our
outreach inside our High School in the upcoming academic years, Insha’Allah. May
Allah (‘Azza Wajjal) accept all our efforts and may He grant us the ability to live,
learn and lead through Islam. Ameen!
Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri
(May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said,
"When a group of people assemble for the
remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah's)
mercy envelops them,
Sakinah, or tranquillity
descends upon them
and Allah makes a mention of them before
those who are near
Him.'' [Muslim].
Edmonton Islamic Academy High School