www.unitygrammar.com.au1800 4 UNITY

Weeks 3 - 4 Term 2 2020

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Message from CEOAssalamu Alaikum Warahmatu-Allahi Wabarakaatuh

Congratulations to all our students who were able to maintain their fast-ing through the month of Ramadan. I’m guessing fasting would have been a test when online learning from home, especially with the fridge and food pantry in such close proximity. Well done to our Unity students!

I hope you enjoyed our social media posts over the past month. Congrat-ulations to our Islamic Studies team on their great work, with Gems, quiz-zes and engaging interviews.

I would like to wish everyone Eid Mubarak. When listening to our stu-dents it is clear the joy they have re-garding Eid, and the opportunity to spend quality time with family is so important in these challenging times.

We invested a lot of time and money into the online learning program and there is no doubt in my mind it was worth it. We all learnt how to adapt to a new way of learning and many of the new skills we learnt will continue to be used in our teaching and learn-ing programs.

Not only that, if we experience any of the major events such as fires, floods or viruses again, we will be ready, and we know we have a successful online learning program that can en-sure learning continues with minimal disruption. If you have any feedback,

questions or if there is any way we can support our families, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are so excited to be getting back to full-time face-to-face teaching next week!

It has been awesome seeing our stu-dents returning to school. The smiles on their faces clearly showed how happy they were to return. A clear memory I will keep was from one of our Junior School boys when he jumped out of the car, with a big smile on his face, and said “Mr Boyd, I’m Free!”. I can’t help but wonder if his mum was thinking the same thing…

Lastly, I would like to again say thank you to all our Unity Grammar community for your ongoing sup-port. Our Unity family continues to demonstrate care and compassion, which has been our key focus during Ramadan. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

Aaron BoydCEO Unity Grammar

Spiritual MessageOne of the pillars of faith is the belief in divine decree. So much has hap-pened in the past months. We are proud to say that the Unity Grammar community has shown reliance upon Allah in times of difficulty. Our online learning was a great success and another reason for us to be proud of the competent staff at Unity Grammar. As our beloved guest Ramadan departs, we want to send a warm congratulations to our community for their tireless efforts in worship and devotion in this blessed month. Remember to enjoy your Eid regardless of the restrictions you may face and stay safe.

Eid Mubarak.

Sh Wasim Tarsissi - Junior School Islamic Studies Coordinator

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Message from Junior School

Transitioning back to face-to-face Teaching and Learning

Assalam Alaykom dear parents and community members,

Ramadan Mubarak! I pray that Allah accepts our fasting and our duas in these final days of this Holy Month.

This week we are slowly transitioning back into our classrooms to resume face to face teaching. We have been delivering high quality education whether it is online or face to face. We are constantly evolving our practices to ensure a high standard. In return the students have been submitting excellent work samples and their resil-ience and growth is shining through.

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu,

Junior School teachers were thrilled to welcome students back to cam-pus last week. We have been care-fully planning this transition and have asked ourselves, “What can we do to support our students in their transition back to school?” Our transition plan includes the following priorities:

1.WELLBEING

At Unity Grammar, we value educat-ing the “WHOLE” child and see well-being as the foundation for teaching and learning. We want to ensure this

foundation remains strong. We under-stand that returning to ‘normal’ may be easier said than done for many of our students. With this in mind, we have strategically embedded wellbe-ing strategies that will develop our students’ spiritual, social, emotion-al, physical and cognitive wellbeing. This will help our students build the resilience necessary to flourish in these uncertain times and provide a smoother transition back to campus.

2. ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES

Islamic and Arabic Studies will be lev-eraged as key priorities in our return to face-to-face teaching. Being a faith-based school, we have the advantage of creating a sense of community and belonging, critical to our students so-cial and emotional wellbeing, espe-cially after prolonged isolation. Our faith also provides our students with a safe, positive, and spiritually inspiring learning environment. The learning environment is a force that plays a key role in academic success.

3. LITERACY AND NUMERACY

For Literacy and Numeracy, we will focus on teaching critical content and

reviewing prior skills and knowledge. We will maximise the learning with:

• differentiated small group instruction • guided support and practice to achieve mastery • immediate constructive feedback, support or extension.

4.COLLABORATIVE LEARNINGOPPORTUNITIES

It’s time to re-connect, face-to-face. Learning partnerships can give stu-dents agency over their learning.

Teachers have developed collaborative opportunities, intentionally attuned to student needs and interests. Students will build on each other’s knowledge and understanding, self-evaluate and peer-evaluate their learning, and give and receive constructive feedback. We believe that a focus on these 4 priorities will help our students thrive in their return to campus, inshaaAllah.

Kind Regards,

Marwa LazkaniK-6 Teaching and Learning Coordinator

In HSIE, we are constantly exploring innovative ways to ensure excellence in delivery of the subject areas. Virtual excursions have been organised in or-der to enable our students to access external resources while adhering to social distancing laws. I look forward to the year ahead and pray that we only grow and learn from our current circumstances.

Eman ZaarourJunior School HSIE coordinator

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Recently, I have heard a lot of discus-sion in the Twittersphere about the one unintended beneficial conse-quence of COVID19 being “educa-tional reform”. While it is too early to comment on the nature, quality and longevity of this educational reform,

I am astounded by the capacity of both our teachers and parents to nor-malize learning in the digital world so quickly: parents for engaging with learning activities, sourcing technol-ogy and having more hands-on in-volvement in their children’s learning, particularly in our Junior School.

In terms of meaningfully integrating technology in teaching and learning, our teachers have smashed our origi-nal goals and objectives and are truly transforming the learning experienc-es of our students. Using Microsoft Teams and Onenote, our teachers are:

• Seeing students working in re-al-time and providing encourage-ment, correcting misunderstandingsand checking for completion of work

• Engaging students in increased andvarious types of feedback

• Offering students voice and choicein learning tasks

• Extending learning into solving re-al-world issues.

We are missing our students and can’t wait to see them back at Uni-ty Grammar. Upon their return, our students will have the best of both worlds: our amazing teachers face-to-face, as well as the best that tech-nology has to offer.

Ruqqiya DeanHead of Teaching and Learning

Teaching and Learning

Deep Learning in ActionAt Unity Grammar, our vision is to create the finest 21st Cen-tury citizens by shaping their minds critically and creatively. Collectively, we promote positive learning and appreciate student achievement via showcasing their exceptional abil-ities across the Junior School. Last week, Layann Hamowi in 6M, the talented author and illustrator of the children’s book ‘The Crow that Wanted Colours’ inspired K-6 students to par-take in a Deep-Learning session facilitated by Miss El Kassir.

The project was consolidated by integrating Literacy, Numer-acy, PDH and CAPA to provide students with a holistic learn-ing experience centred upon Layann’s book. The students

expressed their understanding of the text both critically and creatively by recreating the characters in an artistic manner to design an outstanding collage that depicted the overall moral that Layann aimed to elucidate throughout her book.

Layann’s collaboration with the K-6 students displayed her incredible sense of initiative and leadership in facilitating a learning experience that engaged a dynamic range of stu-dents. Her exceptional talent in being able to inspire, en-gage and entertain young minds is to be applauded. Tabar-akAllah, Layann! The Junior School eagerly awaits your next book, InshaAllah!

Miss El Kassir

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Junior School

Student Voice Assalamu alaykom wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu,

My name is Yasmin Elkouzi and I am the Junior School Faith Prefect for 2020.

Although we’ve been going through some tough times, we must keep in mind that with every hardship comes ease.

This year’s Ramadan is definitely one to remember. It has been a unique experi-ence at Unity Grammar. While we have been doing our online learning, we have been confined to our homes and have been unable to see our relatives and visit the masjid as we usually would.

Although all these measures have been put in place, at Unity Grammar, we have overcome these difficulties and united as a school. However, none of this could have been possible with-out our amazing staff members, whom we are so grateful for.

All our spirits are about to be lifted with Eid rapidly approaching and cer-tain restrictions being lifted by the government inshaaAllah. We hope we can now enjoy the company of our fel-low peers and teachers. I make duaa that everything goes back to normal as soon as possible.

Yasmin Elkouzi2020 Junior School Faith Prefect

Kindergarten have transitioned back well into face to face teaching and have been partaking in a variety of group and pairwork activities.

Year 2 have been engaged in collaborative learning in our deep learning unit, inquiring into issues around healthy and unhealthy practices.

Year 1 has been working hard on descriptive writing this term. They have engaged both off campus and on campus and produced some amazing descriptions.

In Writing this week, Year 3 students have been using their research to construct and write their body paragraphs in writing. In Maths this week, students are identifying the features of 3D objects whilst comparing and contrasting their properties.

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Year 4 learnt to measure the area of shapes and spaces using square centimetres and metres.

On the last day of this week’s face to face learning, Year 5 students received an early Eid treat from their teachers.

Year 6 held online Zoom sessions from home with their class teachers and Senior School English teachers as part of the Year 6 Transition into Senior School Program.

Al Humdulilah Unity Grammar Junior School students have put in outstanding effort throughout the weeks with their online learning. Here are some pictures of our students submitting their weekly tasks in subjects like Quran, Dua/Hadith and Islamic studies. Even though online learning can never replace face to face learning we are happy to say all staff and students have surpassed all expectations.

Islamic Studies

Junior School

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Robotics

Our Senior School robotics team STEM Cells Y are back in action and ready to compete. They will be competing at an exclusive event where they will go head to head with Australia’s top 20 teams. This event will be held virtually on the 7th and 8th of June. All the best team!

Message from Senior SchoolAssalamu Alaikum Warahmatu-Allahi Wabarakaatuh,

An early Eid Mubarak to our school community, I hope it is a joyous time spent with your family. Year 12 are about halfway through their final year at school, it is an exciting time ahead. As such, it is now time for our stu-dents to start finalising their career aspirations. We have several resourc-es at our school to help our students make these important decisions. One of my roles is also to sit with students and help them filter through all the different options available and then apply for these courses via UAC.

After our Eid break students will sit through another workshop once again informing them about how the HSC works, how it is not too late to do better and about the university application process. We will show them how to apply for university, dif-ferent pathways to enter university and also scholarships available.

I am excited to help our wonderful students in achieving their career as-pirations.

Thank you,

Mr Khaled AjamHead of Academic Studies

Senior School

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Weeks 3 - 4 Term 2 2020

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Senior School

Welcome Back

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Weeks 3 - 4 Term 2 2020

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Senior School

Community Engagement - Ugg Boots for Orphans! Our orphan program coordinators Isaac Houda and Belal Hus-sein recently visited Australian Leather who have donated export quality Ugg Boots to be sold at school with 100% of all proceeds going to the schools orphan fund! Follow the steps to order.

1 - Email okarolia@unitygrammar.com.au to place order andensure item is available

2 - Click on the link and pay $30https://www.humanappeal.org.au/unity-grammar/

3 - Send snapshot or receipt to okarolia@unitygrammar.com.au and collect your item from Mr Karolia at the UG front office

Size guide (estimate)Size 4 8yo/9yo, Size 5 10yo/11yo, Size 6 12yo/13 yoAvailable Ugg Boots

Ugg SlippersSize 4 Brown, Blue, Purple

Ugg Boots (Low Cut/above ankles)Size 4 Blue, Beige, Grey, Brown, Size 5 Blue, Size 6 Blue

Ugg Boots (High Cut/knee high )Size 6 Pink

Ugg Boots donated by https://www.australianleather.com.au/

“To save one life is to save all humanity” Al Maida

Please purchase support the 72 orphans we as a school spon-sor in five countries with an Ugg Boot purchase or general tax deductable donation on the following link.

https://www.humanappeal.org.au/unity-grammar/

Unity Grammar and Amity College – Joint Virtual Iftar

Students, staff and families of Unity Grammar and Amity Col-lege held a joint virtual iftar via Zoom and were joined by mem-bers of the community including faith leaders from the Jewish and Christian faiths. The event was opened by the captains of the two schools and was closed by the principals of the two schools including our very own Mr Boyd. It featured families from both schools who contributed recipes toward the Recipes for Ramadan series by Jane Jeffes.

Joining the iftar was Jihad Dib MP, counsellors from Canter-bury – Bankstown, Fairfield and Parramatta council, Jewish and Christian faith leaders, various community groups and former Socceroo captain Craig Foster.

For 6 years the student leaders of Amity College and Unity Grammar have been attending each others iftar dinners and even Covid 19 couldn’t prevent it this year even though it was in the virtual sphere!

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Senior School

Visual Arts

With the introduction of Photography in stage 4 – Year 8 students have excelled in producing technical and challenging imagery.

Year 11 Visual Arts have been working with earthenware for the past few weeks – combining art, design and functionality.

Over the passing term, Year 10 students have shined with technical ability in watercolour painting and morphing reality and the subconscious mind into surrealist inspired paintings.

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Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatu-Al-lahi Wabarakaatuh,

If you have a child commencing school next year it is natural to feel overwhelmed with what you need to do to prepare your child for BIG SCHOOL. With the help of our Junior School team there are several strategies that you can work on.

IndependenceSupport your child to be more independent. This can be some-thing as simple as putting on their own jacket, packing up their own toys after play time or ensur-ing that they pack wet wipes into their bags when you are leaving the house.

Reading TimeReading time can be fun for you and your child. It is a sure way to connect with your child and build a strong emotional bond. Re-search has proven that children that are exposed to reading and books in the younger years devel-op a lifelong passion for learning.

ArticulationStudents who are articulate can build larger vocabulary and es-tablish social relations. Help your child articulate what they are see-ing or how they are feeling by

asking them to describe an ob-ject’s shape, size, feel and other characteristics.

At Unity Grammar, we empow-er the young minds by focusing on all aspects of wellbeing and a thorough understanding of how children develop.

Applications for Kindergarten 2021 are now open. I encourage you to apply to secure your child’s posi-tion by calling 1800 486 489 or visiting our website

www.unitygrammar.com.au

WAsalaam

Mr Muhamed SaeedBusiness Development Manager

www.unitygrammar.com.au1800 4 UNITY

70 Fourth Ave, Austral, NSW 2179

www.unitygrammar.com.au

1800 4 UNITY

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