NEWSLETTER TERM 3EDITORIAL
“Four traits lift a person to the highest ranks, even if their works and
knowledge are little: forbearance, humility, generosity, and good
character. This is the perfection of faith.” Imam Al-Ghazali
It has been an enriching term at Al Ghazali, made more positive by
seeing the above traits.
We also paid tribute, in Term 3, to our very own, Shaakir Kalla.
close your eyes and
make a wish…
there’s a place in the sky where
all dreams rise and the sun makes
Your wishes come true.
it’s the wishing-place, and your dreams go
there when you wish on a rising balloon. if you
want to give it a try,
just close your eyes and make a wish, as
dreamers do. and as the balloons go by like the
years, remember the sky…
♥♥♥♥♥We miss you, Shaakir ♥♥♥♥♥
PAGE 02
All
Things
Sports
On the 4th August, we participated
in the AMS Round Robin Table Tennis
Festival hosted by TMS. The AGC Team
was represented by - U10 Hud Sima,
U11 Aamir Tarki, U12 As’ad Bassier, U13
Muhammad Naiko, U14 Wazeer Ballim,
U15 M Zayd Antulay, U16 Fayyaz
Carrim, U17 Adnan Darki and U18
Zaakir Carrim. The boys performed very
well, despite the tough competition.
BOYS
The Primary and High School Internal Table Tennis
tournament concluded during the term. Fayyaz
Carrim (Gr 9) and M Zaakir Carrim (Gr 11)
dominated the round robin phase of the
tournament. They were unbeaten and went to the
final without dropping a set. The final was a tense
affair as the match ebbed and flowed. Fayyaz
scraped through, 3 sets to 2.
We had a total of 25 participants in the Primary
School section. Players were divided into 4 groups
of 6 and 7 where they played against each player
in their group. The top 2 players in each group
went through to the knockout phase. All matches
were contested over 3 sets with the finals the best
of 5. The finals was contested between Hud Sima
(Gr 4) and Muhammad Naiko (Gr 6). Muhammad
Naiko was crowned champion with a dominant
display winning in straight sets.
SOCCER TOURNAMENT
The Primary School Internal Soccer tournament was
won by Real Madrid. They beat Liverpool 1 - 0 in the
final. Salman Mohideen (Gr 7) was awarded the
Golden Boot award for scoring 13 goals in 8
matches. The Golden Glove went to Daiyaan
Antulay (Gr 4) and Player of the Tournament was
awarded to Muhammad Naiko (Gr 6).
On 4th August we played a series of
friendly matches against Al Asr at TMS.
The following age groups were catered
for - U9, U11, U13 and U17. We lost all
our matches but it was good exposure
for the boys.
On 1st September we played against
TMS at TMS. The following age groups
were catered for - U7 (0 - 0), U8 (0 - 7),
U9 (0 - 11), U11 (0 - 4), U15 (3 - 4) and
U17 (1 - 4).
FATHERS ’ AND SONS ’
TABLE TENNISOn 3rd August, we hosted a Fathers’ and
Sons’ Table Tennis Festival. We had 28
fathers and sons who attended. All the
fathers were placed in 2 groups and all the
sons were placed in 2 groups. Each
participant played 6 matches. The scores
achieved by a father and son combination
were added together to determine the final
champions. As’ad Bassier (Gr 6) and his
dad were crowned champions for the
festival.
“With sons and fathers, there’s an
inexplicable connection and
imprint that your father leaves on
you.”
PAGE 03
The Girls AMS tournament was
held on the 1st September. The
following players represented the
AGC Team - U10 Hadia Gomba,
U11 Lameez Osman, U12 Zahraa
Mahomed, U13 Almaas Mahomed,
U14 Tasmiyah Osman, U15 Zuhaira
Latib, U16 Mariam Jacobs, U17
Zaria Ebrahim and U18 Zarreen
Ebrahim. The girls did exceptionally
well with quite a few of them winning
their matches.
On the 9th September, we participated in
the Laudium Secondary School Table
Tennis tournament. Our team comprised of
14 participants. This tournament also
served as trials for Gauteng North. The
following learners did exceptionally well and
progressed to the district level - U13
Muhammad Naiko, U13 Zahraa Mahomed
and Hania Azeem. U15 Zuhaira Latib, U18
Mariam Jacobs.
PAGE 04
GIRLS
The U9 mini cricket team (boys and girls) entered in the Laudium Cricket Club league.
Matches are played on Wednesday afternoons between 1pm and 2pm at the Laudium Oval.
The girls team is currently unbeaten. The boys have won 3 and lost 3 thus far.
On the 8th September the U9 Boys and Girls teams attended the Northern’s Cricket Union
Provincial festival at Tshwane University of Technology. Schools from all over Pretoria
attended the event. There were approximately 1400 learners from the various schools. The
learners had the opportunity to meet Protea players Mangaliso Mosehle and Dwaine
Pretorius.
KFC MINI CRICKET
PAGE 05
When a selection of Grade 10’s and 9’s were informed that we would be visiting
the Turkish Embassy in Brooklyn, Pretoria, (to be addressed by the Turkish Ambassador
to South Africa, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen and guest of honor, the Turkish President, Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan) they initially did not think much of the excursion, expecting political
rhetoric.
However, after doing some research on exactly who the Turkish President was, they were
fascinated and looked forward to listening to him. As they set out on the crisp, clear
morning of July 26th to the Turkish Embassy, there was a sense of pride that President
Erdoğan stood not only for his people, but also stood against oppression, especially
where Muslims were facing injustice. The Turkish President has done a lot for the plight
of the Palestinians and when certain Arab countries, with the help of the U.S wanted to
bring Qatar to its knees, Turkey supplied Qatar with many basic needs including food.
Grade 10 student, Imaad Noormoahmed said, “I then recalled, when, during our visit to
Turkey in December, our Turkish driver told us that Islam has flourished more in Turkey
since Erdoğan had taken office. Back in Brooklyn, we were part of history in the making
as we stood in a row, waving the Turkish and South African flags to welcome the Turkish
President’s motorcade.
AGC at the Turkish Embassy
We found the President’s speech very
interesting, with him touching on trade
between South Africa and Turkey and
speaking about the contributions that
Turkey has made to the world.”
A scrumptious lunch was served after the
speeches, leaving all impressed with the
warmth with which they were received and
definitely leaving learners looking forward to hopefully visiting Turkey one day.
AGC
DAY
TRIPS
The beautiful hot summer’s day of
September 26th was definitely a day to
remember. It was a day where troubles
were left behind and kids could simply
enjoy being kids again. On this day, our
Foundation Phase learners took a bus
trip to the Pretoria Botanical Gardens.
This outing was nothing short of epic!
On arrival , learners were met by very
friendly tour guides who vibrantly
explained the activities for the day. The
learners were divided into their grades,
each grade with their own facilitator.
Learners completed activities whilst on
tour around the western side of the 76
hectare garden. They enjoyed learning
about the different areas such as the
wetlands; cycad, succulent, medicinal,
plant and enabling gardens.
Some learners compared it to a forest
adventure! After all the planned
activities were completed, the teachers
and learners enjoyed a delicious picnic
in the shade of a massive tree. To cool
off from the blazing sun, learners
played ‘catch’ games with the teachers
in the garden sprinklers. It was indeed
a fun filled day, full of enjoyment,
laughter and pleasure.
Foundation Phase excursion
The Ellen Pakkies Story
The Grade 10 and 11 class along with Mr Blennies and
Muallima Amina had the opportunity to watch an
Afrikaans movie called the Ellen Pakkies Story at the
Mall@Reds on 18 September. The experience
touched each learners’ heart as they witnessed the
brilliant portrayal of the real-life story of a Capetonian
mother who murdered her drug addict son. Our
learners were treated the following day to a Skype
session with the lead actor, Jarrid Geduld, who
portrayed the son, Abie Pakkies. We urge our AGC
family to go out and support this local movie as it has
earned critical acclaim in South Africa, as well as
overseas.
Local is lekker! PAGE 06
Eco-Club Session
September 21, Muallima Nazira along with her
green-thumb troop visited the Silverstone Estate
gardens where our learners enjoyed an afternoon
breathing in fresh air amongst nature’s beauty.
The Pretoria News High School Quiz was one of the events on the bucket list for Term
3. Under the guidance and tutelage of Muallim Javeed Ebrahim, a total of eight
students from grades 11 and 12 went up against various high schools from Pretoria.
Taha Arshad Mohamed, Mariam Jacobs, Radiyah Regal and Imaad Noormohamed
represented the grade 10 class while Shehzaad Patel, Riyaad Ayob, Mohamed Ali
Mukadam and Adnan Darki represented the grade 11’s whilst Mohammed Azam
Joosub was the designated substitute.
The students were required to read the Pretoria News daily over a period of 2 weeks as
questions from the quiz were based on these articles. While the participants from Al
Ghazali College did not make the next round, their dedication and hard work did not go
unnoticed. This was the first competition of this nature and our learners did us proud.
The staff of Al Ghazali College would like to thank the participants for their effort and we
hope that, Insha Allah, we bring home the trophy in 2019.
Pretoria News Quiz
PAGE 07
Al Ghazali College
Presents:
Our newest addition to the AGC family -
Muallim Muhammed Javeed Ebrahim.
Muallim Javeed has a background in
Media Studies and Journalism with a
Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
He is currently studying his B Ed: Hons in
Management and teaches English to the
grade 6, 7 and 8 learners. Muallim has
already shown us his passion for the
English language and his dedication to
school events.
Al Ghazali College hosted its annual
cancer care day on Thursday, 6
September 2018. This year, the focus
shifted slightly -the event was planned
with the rationale "By the kids, for the
kids.“
Having lost one of our brightest and
most prominent learners, Shaakir Kalla,
to cancer in April of this year, the
decision by the AGC learners to host the
Childhood Cancer Foundation (CHOC)
and Kids of Faith, was indeed a fitting
way to pay tribute to Shaakir. As a
national organisation, CHOC provides
support for cancer-stricken children, and
children with life-threatening blood
disorders.
A short programme was held before the
festivities, with Al Ghazali principal, Mr
Suleman Khan, addressing the guests.
Ms Ina Schomper from CHOC, Pretoria,
was on hand to explain the holistic
approach used by CHOC in cancer
treatment and Ms Fiona from Kids of
Faith spoke about her personal
challenge when dealing with kids with
physical challenges.
Once again, the generous Al Ghazali
community, worked tirelessly to plan and
execute an excellent function. The Al Ghazali
hall was set up with different stalls, ranging from
a pamper station to food stations and even a
colouring station for the kids.
One of our grade 10 learners, Radiyah Regal,
paid tribute to Shaakir in a speech that perfectly
captured his brilliance, his potential and the
impact he made on all those he met. Members
of Shaakir’s family attended the function and
participated in the balloon release.
The generosity of the Al Ghazali community
made it possible for us to present a cheque for
R30 000 to CHOC, handed over by Adam Kalla,
father of Shaakir.
Our culmination of the function was the release
of balloons as a fitting salute to Shaakir and all
those who have lost the battle to cancer.
Our learners at AGC must be commended on
their spirit of giving. Without their generosity and
hard work, this function would not have been
possible.
PAGE 08
Al Ghazali College held an Expo for the Young
Scientist on Wednesday, the 15th of August.
Learners from grades 7 -9 participated.
Learners had to present their investigations to
their peers and teachers. The main aim of the
expo was to encourage excitement, awareness
of science as a subject and promoting self-
discovery learning. Learners were also awarded
marks for their presentation and overall
experiments which will count towards their term
4 Natural Sciences SBA mark. The
investigations ranged from creating underwater
volcanoes to obstacle-avoiding robots. The
expo was a grand success where learners and
teachers all enjoyed the displays and left,
learning something new. Al Ghazali College
would like to thank the Science Department,
particularly Mr Karsan for his organising of the
expo; not forgetting all the learners who
participated and made the day one filled with
fun learning, confidence-building and sharing for
a love of science. Arnold Edinborough once
said, “Curiosity is the very basis of education
and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I
say the cat died nobly.” The key to education is
to stimulate the curiosity of learners, so that
ultimately, they will desire to learn, rather than
forcing knowledge onto them.
Science Expo
PAGE 09
Our Al Ghazali Debating Society is now in its second year. Our senior learners meet for
debating practice every Friday afternoon at the school.
Last week the team entered the prestigious Hemlock Cup. Round 1 took place at St
Teresa’s School in Rosebank. Learners were commended on their debating styles.
Round 2 of the Hemlock Cup will take place on 14 October.
Our learners also engaged in a series of friendly debates against Pretoria Boys High and
St Dunstan’s College.
DEBATE TOURNAMENT
Learners, educators and the public were
fortunate when a Palestinian delegation
visited the College. The delegation
comprised of Usamah, a famous cartoonist
who uses his drawings to depict the plight of
Palestinians on a daily basis. It also included
Roula Tamimi, cousin of the now famous
Ahed Tamimi who both spent time in Israeli
prisons and Umm Shadi, mother of a 12 year old son who has been in prison for 3 years.
PAGE 10
Three of our learners took part in the
MODEL UN Debate at Wits University on
15 September. Taha Arsha Mohamed,
Mariam Jacobs and Imaad Noormohamed
represented Japan and presented their papers to the council.
MODEL
UN 2018
Free free Palestine
On the 16th August we had our Annual Arabic Day. This year
our theme included Palestine and Masjid al-Aqsa. So in
addition to promoting the Arabic Language various items
related to Palestine were also presented. Learners from
Grades R to 7 participated and presented different items that
included Arabic Nasheeds, plays and verses from the Quran
as well as Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad. This was a
wonderful event that even had two Grade 9 learners serve as programme directors for the event.
ARABIC DAY
To Come Term 4: School Opens - 08 October Gr 7 – 11 Excursion - 10 October Hijrah Day - 11 October FP Poetry Festival - 12 October Al Asr Soccer
Tournament U15 & U18 - 13 October Gr 10 & 11 Speech Contest – 13 October APAX AMS Soccer
Tournament U9 & U11 - 20 October