Salma K Farid Academy

Subhanallah, right after I reviewed an email stating that our finalized tuition fee schedule was posted online; I received a second email asking me to clarify the “rumor” that we’re going to be a tuition-free academy.

The answer is “No”.

Alhumdulilah, as you’ll see through the application process we’re positioning ourselves to be compared to private independent day and boarding schools with tuition ranging from $17,000 - $22,000/year for the elementary grades.

The schedule, curriculum, and “special classes” that will be offered at SKF Academy is as competitive and comparable to them as well; yet, we will also be debuting classes with national partners that is not presently available in *any* school nationwide (private, public, parochial, Islamic, or non-Islamic), insha’Allah.

While our website and blog do not publicize all our programs yet, insha’Allah, we will as time allows.

At the very least, I’ve shared all the details to each family who presently conducted their Family Interviews thus far.

Therefore, an annual tuition ranging between $3800 - $4200 per year is considered a huge savings and minimal investment towards the overall education of your child(ren) in all areas of their spiritual, academic, physical and social growth and development.

At any time, if you have any questions or concerns I am more than happy to discuss these issues with you. Feel free to comment below, call or email me directly.

Insha’Allah, our Calendar of Events include:

• Student Application deadline: August 1, 2008 (Pre-registration does not confirm enrollment. The Application for Admissions is a Two-Phase process, with a 7-9 page application, and Family Interview-By Invitation Only)
• Community Open House/walk-through: Saturday, August 16, 2008
• Community Iftars: Saturdays during Ramadan
• Opening Celebration: Saturday, September 20, 2008
• Official Opening: Community Eid-al-Fitr prayer, October 1, 2008 (TBA)
• 1st day of classes: Monday, October 6, 2008 (Day and After-School Programs)

** Yes, children will have the whole month of Ramadan off plus Eid vacation**

Since internet branding is one of my “claims to fame”, it’s time to go viral for Salma K Farid Academy.

While we’re literally setting the foundation by still constructing our building, we’re going to build necessary online buzz, insha’Allah, to hire the most innovative, passionate, highly-qualified staff who loves Allah SWT, our beloved Propher PBUH, and most of all children!

Thanks goes to my Facebook-addicted family, our internet-savvy assistant Aishah Hassan, and my Facebook-pioneer-PR-Genius Kristen Osolind. Yes, I’m finally joining the Facebook craze

I’m curious how our Return On Investment will be with this marketing method.

1. Please join our Facebook CT Muslims Group.

Since our facilities position us to be the 1st and only Islamic community center in CT with a full gymnasium, lunch room, youth lounge, conference rooms, separate daycare, musula, multiple classrooms, and much more–we’re trying to pull all Muslims together to maximize the potential of the Academy, insha’Allah.

2. If you network in LinkedIn, please link up to me!

Since this is the ideal online hub for business networking, I just sent all my entire network, a job recommendation posting. Please make du’a

3. We’re working very hard to stay in close contact with all the MSAs (Muslim Student Associations) in all the universities and colleges of CT. But, with the summer break, we’re not having great success on that front.

So, if you’re a MSA member or know the Advisors or Champlains in any of the schools, please share your contacts.

Honestly, I believe any recent or current Education graduate would be ideal for our Elementary grades because we are debuting classes & programs that are not offered anywhere else in the country (public, private, non-Islamic or Islamic).

Additionally, I’ve been a very successful business women by giving my staff the autonomy and creativity they deserve, while leading only by motivating them to reach their highest potential.

Insha’Allah, if you know any Muslim elementary teachers like this, have them contact me right away!

Alhumdulilah, we conducted our 1st Phase-2 Family Interview today; and we all left excited about the year ahead of us!

One very important recommendation that was made was our need “to update our website” with ALL the great work that is being done behind-the-scenes.

Alhumdulilah, I finally have a local webmaster. Insha’Allah, we will work closely this week to make the necessary changes; most importantly, to our “Curriculum” area.

For our core courses (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Sciences) we will be utilizing Time4Learning/Compass Learning curriculum.

They integrate “technology into research-based curriculum to meet today’s stringent federal and state requirements and to promote high student achievement.“

Some great things about this curriculum are:

(a) We will be able to personalize each and every subject specifically to a child’s individual level, progress and speed. Every child will have access to 3 different grade-levels for every class.

Therefore, one child can be in 3rd grade Science, 2nd grade Social Studies, 1st grad Math, and 3rd grade Language Arts.

(b) No one will know one’s grade-level except the instructor, the child, and his/her parents. Therefore, there will not be unnecessary peer pressure or competition.

(c) Assessments and tests are well-paced, built into these highly-interactive and FUN lessons (the children hardly even know when they are being “tested”), and grading is made online in real-time.

In order to offer this program we will offer a laptop-per-child!

Directly from their page:

CompassLearning® Odyssey or ChildU (previous name) is an innovative, research-based educational technology…..

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of research-based instructional technology, Child U or CompassLearning delivers standards-based assessment, standards-aligned PreK-12 curriculum, and comprehensive data reporting for improved student achievement.

Highly Respected
A member of the WRC Media family, Child U / CompassLearning’s sister companies include Weekly Reader®, World Almanac® Education Group, and American Guidance Service. Products from WRC Media companies are now found in 90 percent of school districts nationwide, in nearly all public and private libraries, as well as in nine million homes.

ChildU / CompassLearning and the other members of the WRC Media family are there, whenever and wherever learning occurs … to inspire students and educators to explore and achieve.

ChildU / CompassLearning continues to be on the leading edge of integrating technology into research-based curriculum to meet today’s stringent federal and requirements and to promote high student achievement. Unsurpassed professional development and technical services enable seamless integration into classroom instruction for maximum results. CompassLearning has programs in more than 20,000 schools and serves approximately 10.6 million students nationwide.

My family tried Time4Learning this Spring, and had Magnificent results! For a detailed review, please read the following:

• Time4Learning Review Part 4: Administrator’s review

• Time4Learning Review Part 3: Our 7.5 year old’s interview & review

• Time4Learning Review: Part 2: Our 6.5 year old’s interview & review

• Time4Learning Review: Part 1: Our 4.5 year old’s interview & review

Feel free to share your thoughts excitement, encouragement and support in the comments area below

Insha’Allah, I will share the rest of our cutting-edge, innovative, ground-breaking and advanced-placement classes and programs that has never been offered anywhere else in the country in our upcoming posts.

[Now, if that doesn't excite you, I don't know what will. ]

Alhumdulilah, yesterday we hosted our private Imam/Sheikh (Respected Board members, etc.) tours of the Academy.

We invited all masajids within a 45-minute radius of the Academy.

Subahanallah, we had a wonderful turn-out.

Insha’Allah, if your Imam and/or respected leaders of your masjid has not yet visited our facilities, please have them call or email me and I will conduct one for them, insha’Allah.

While touring the facilities 2 weeks ago for the first time, it was literally a dream in the making. Now, 2-weeks later, it’s hard not to let tears fill my eyes as I watch the speed and execution of the contractor’s work.

Even between the 2pm and 6pm tours there were drastic changes implemented, alhumdulilah.

During the tours were discussed the following:

• Our commitment to creating the Academy as a regional community center for all Muslims, in cooperation with all local masajids,
• The ability and range of services we will offer in the day, after-school and evening programs,
• The request of their support in cross-promoting each others programs and services, and to collaborate as often as possible, and
• Most importantly, the need for their spiritual and leadership advice, counsel and honest feedback that they have received and/or anticipate receiving from their community members.

Alhumdulilah, everyone honestly shared issues of concern.

Subhanallah, I was able to put their concerns to rest; and actually left them invigorated and proud of all the possibilities that lie ahead of us.

It’s our time to come together and move forward in faith that only Allah SWT will guide us all to success, insha’Allah.

As always, I am open to answer any questions. Please utilize the comments area below to share any of your concerns, such as our curriculum, programming, staffing, calendar of events, etc.

P.S. The building is approximately 30% completed, and we are right on schedule.

Salma K Farid Academy Highlights:
• The very first Islamic academy and daycare in the Greater New Haven area.
• Daycare and learning center for elementary school aged children in an Islamic environment with emphasis on Qur’an, Arabic, and Islamic Studies in addition to all core subjects (all 50 states approved curriculum).
• Optimal learning environment and design: 5000 square foot Gymnasium, 8 classrooms, separate daycare and pre-k facilities, Mosulla, Cafeteria, Conference room. (See floor plan here).

• Daily Physical Education, Recesses, Extended Family Lunch & Prayer Times.
• Ground-Breaking After-School Program available to the Community-at-large.
• Hamden, CT is 1 of the 2 cities in CT named in the “Top 100 Places to Live & Launch a Business, 2008″ by Fortune Small Business Magazine.

Important Dates to Remember, Insha’Allah.

• Open Registration has begun! Application for Admissions is due on or before August 1, 2008
• Saturday, August 16, 2008 Community Open House
• Every Saturday in Ramadan Community Pot Luck Iftar.
• Saturday, September 20, 2008 Grand Opening Event.
• Eid Prayer and Celebration October 1st (Date to be announced).
• Monday, October 6, 2008 First day of classes.

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities:
• Hafiz / Qur’an, Arabic and Islamic Studies Teachers
• Elementary Teachers (Certification preferred)
• Daycare staff and coordinators
• Executive Assistant/Program Director and Facilities manager

Send resumes to mail<at>skfacademy.org or call us at 203-230-1965.

Please print and distribute this flyer to family and friends both near and far:
skf_flyer

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu my dear brothers and sisters,

Welcome to the official Salma K Farid Academy Blog!

My name is Ponn M. Sabra, MPH (also known as Sr. Ponn, pronounced “pawn”), and I am the incoming administrator for SKF Academy.

If this is your first time here, I encourage you to first explore the following links:

View our awesome floorplan

Insha’Allah, I will keep you abreast of our progress as we bring SKF Academy to life.

Since our success depends on your active involvement, I highly encourage your comments, feedback, thoughts, input and recommendations in the comments areas below.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments area as well, and insha’Allah, I will work hard to answer your inquiries in the most timely fashion.

Wa salam,
Your sister in Islam Ponn