PRESCHOOL THROUGH SIXTH GRADE

hank you for your interest in New Horizon School, Irvine. You’ll find in these pages an excellent introduction to the school, but it’s just that: an introduction. I invite T you to get to know New Horizon by attending an Open House event, scheduling a tour, or talking with the families of current students and alumni. I know that you will discover, as I do each and every day, the qualities that can be described but not fully captured in print:

an extraordinary community of parents, teachers, and students who truly care for one another; Welcome who enjoy learning together; who are secure and proud American Muslims. You will hear the sounds of collaboration and laughter in equal measure with the silence of deep concentration, and the delighted “aha” when students master a new concept. There is no other school in Orange County that offers New Horizon’s unique model: the best of an independent school education imbued with Islamic faith and values. I look forward to telling you – and showing you – more of what New Horizon has to offer!

Dr. Dina Eletreby Head of School Excellence

ew Horizon offers the best of both worlds: addition to the outcome. A selective admissions process an independent school education grounded brings students together with peers who have demonstrated N in Islamic values for approximately 200 girls strength of character, the desire to learn, and academic ability. and boys in preschool through sixth grade. The school’s Small class sizes encourage student participation and enables highly qualified, credentialed teachers provide a challenging teachers to understand and support students as individuals. academic program - one that exceeds the California State Students develop a lifelong love for learning and essential Content Standards for Education - in a positive, nurturing leadership skills such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, environment which emphasizes the process of learning in effective communication, and problem solving. average in every category - consistently achieving special the country, NewHorizonstudentsscore betterthanthenational standardized assessmentusedbyindependentschoolsacross ness isshownbystudentoutcomes.OntheERB,arigorous Association ofSchoolsandColleges(WASC)itseffective N Independent Schools(CAIS)andtheWestern accredited bytheCaliforniaAssociationof ew Horizon’s solid,well-rounded program is -

graduates for thechallengesofhighschool,university, andbeyond. conscientious American Muslim citizens who are well prepared Most importantly, NewHorizonstudentsgrow intoconfident, qualify intothehonorsprograms attheirlocalpublicschool. school andtypicallyenterhighlyreputable privateschoolsor distinction in are prepared for a number of choices in secondary Mathematics andWord Mechanics.NewHorizon progressive Islamicenvironment. through livingina virtuous fosters adedicationtoGod and ethicalvalues.NewHorizon and firmgrounding inmoral excellent academiceducation to providing studentswithan New Horizoniscommitted Our Mission

Excellence eginning with preschool, New Horizon faithful American Muslim. Islamic values, such as honesty, students receive daily instruction in Islamic respect, responsibility, and self-discipline, are woven into B Studies, Arabic, and Quran. The aim of the all daily activities and interactions at New Horizon. Each school is to ensure that each child’s academic develop- month, the entire school community explores one value in- ment goes hand in hand with a growing understanding depth, drawing on stories from the Prophets and the Quran of God, Islam, and confidence in his or her identity as a as well as real-life examples to deepen their understanding. Religious Studies

Quran, Arabic, & Islamic Studies Technology computers thatare availabletostudents ofallgradelevels. is equippedwithtwentywireless, remote accesslaptop in newideasandhonetheirresearch skills.Thelibrary of textbooks and cutting-edge technology engage students A excellence andIslamicvalues.Current editions environment academic designedtosupport t New Horizon, students flourish in an t NewHorizon,studentsflourishinan

space, andtorecite QurantoaSheikh atAl-AzharUniversity. Canadian students,toaskaNASAastronaut questionsabout sessions havebeenusedtobookdiscussionswith and mentorsaround theworld; forexample,Skype tocreateopportunity andshare projects withpeers iPads and 1-to-1 laptops which afford students the In theuppergrades,classrooms are equippedwith

Technology What does it mean to be an independent Islamic school? Only 1% of all schools in the United States are considered ‘independent’, meaning they are non-profit and accredited by an affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools. These schools are among the nation’s most distinguished schools, most of them with long histories, strong reputations, and significant endowments. Independent schools receive no public funding; rather, they are supported solely by tuition and additional contributions from constituents - parents, grandparents, alumni, and community members. New Horizon is currently the only independent Islamic school in Orange County. Enrichment

• Art • Music • Physical Education • • Field Trips • Field Catalina Island,andBigRockCreek. Thesetripsallow Environmental Nature Center, California Science Center, advantage ofeducationalprograms offered atthe Study Program. Upperelementary studentsoftentake in the Trabucothe Bowers Museum, and participate Field has tooffer. Younger studentsusuallyvisitAmy’s Farm, N many resources thatSouthernCalifornia room learningwithregular fieldtripstothe ew Horizonstudentssupplementtheclass-

in thesocialstudiesandsciencecurriculum. hands-on demonstrationsofconceptsandideasintroduced lab experiments,andseehistorycometolife,providing in students to see animals in natural habitats, participate Students are alsochallengedtotakeresponsibil the uppergradesworkonplayingteamsports. roping are practiced atthelowergradelevels,while skills suchasdribbling,bouncingaballandjump to workcooperativelywithothers work todevelopgross motorskillsand learn In thephysicaleducationprogram, students Arabic calligraphy. and this helps students build a bridge to Islamic art alsoutilizesthesecomponents, Since Islamicart movement, harmony, variety, emphasis,andunity. suchasrhythm,balance, as theprinciplesofart colors, value,form,space,andtexture, aswell suchaslines,shapes, focus ontheelementsofart pieces.Throughoutartistic theyear, students history and cultureart through the prism of programThe art allowsstudentstoexplore band instruments. being abletoread usingtraditional andperform musical notereading, culminatingwithstudents each levelwithmore challengingchoralsongsand Using atiered approach, studentsare exposedat read, repeat, andcreate simplerhythmicpatterns. thinking andproblem solvingskills as theylearnto music instruction,studentspracticetheircritical andphysicaleducation music, art, in All studentsatNewHorizonparticipate ity fortheirhealthbyexercising andmaking dance, taekwondo, andmuchmore! enrichment coursesincluding chess,soccer, skills through awiderangeofoptionalafter-school to explore personalinterests anddevelop social New Horizonstudentsalso have theopportunity food choices. . Fundamental . During

wise -

Enrichment Leadership

t New Horizon, students learn about social responsibility and lead prayer on a daily basis and serve as mentors to the younger students, practice leadership in the classroom, in the school, and in the providing them with guidance on proper behavior and respect as they A larger community. New Horizon incorporates The Leader in interact with their peers and adults. Numerous events outside the school Me across all grade levels, a program that promotes leadership, respect, allow students to stretch their imaginations and strengthen their communication, and time management skills. Based on the well-known 7 relationships with a diverse group of peers. Each year, the Johns Hopkins Habits of Highly Effective People philosophy, it teaches the lifelong skills University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) performs a Talent Search to of self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-discipline, while also teaching stu- identify, assess, and recognize the academic abilities of highly able dents how to be become successful leaders. Also, beginning in third grade, students. Over a third of New Horizon students are chosen each year to classroom elections are held to select class representatives. The entire participate in this program, scoring in the top 5% on the CTP4, a national student body then elects a Student Council Board comprising of sixth standardized test taken annually in the Spring. In addition, students also grade students. Student Council members meet regularly during the school participate in an Academic Pentathlon, Science Fair, the Orange County Depart- year to organize activities that build the school community and raise funds ment of Education’s Spelling Bee sponsored by the Scripps National Spelling to benefit a charitable organization of their choosing. Older students also Bee, and the National Hassan Hathout Legacy Foundation’s essay competition. Leadership Community

he New Horizon School community - students, food and other items to the homeless, both locally and globally. teachers, parents, and alumni families - are New Horizon students have participated in interfaith projects T active participants in and contributors to local and with peers from Christian and Jewish private schools, building global communities. Students and alumni regularly participate in understanding while performing community service and charity community service projects supporting Islamic organizations together. Students regularly participate in civic and multicultural such as the UMMA Clinic and Islamic Relief, as well as local initiatives such as the Irvine Community Harvest Cup Soccer charities such as the Orange County Food Bank and distributing Tournament and the Irvine Global Village Festival. Community Friendship

ew Horizon encourages the formation of a strong population with over twenty nationalities represented, unified American Muslim identity. Our hope is to offer by the faith of Islam. Within our environment, young learners will N students and families the opportunity to meet develop a positive self-image as Muslims and a strong sense of peers who share similar values and visions for their future. With pride in being citizens of the United States of America. this foundation, lifelong friendships emerge with others who

share and support their beliefs. Students have a strong sense New Horizon opened its doors in Irvine in September of self within a school environment that is safe and respects 2001 and is the fourth New Horizon School to open their individuality. Our program caters to a very diverse student in Southern California. The first New Horizon campus was opened in 1984 in Pasadena, California. Like its predecessors, New Horizon was established by the Islamic Center of Southern California.

HUNTINGTON

NEW HORIZON SCHOOL

TRABUCO ROAD ROOSEVELT

SANTA ANA FREEWAY

5

JEFFREY ROAD IRVINE

New Horizon School, Irvine is a proud member of

1 Truman Street | Irvine, California 92620 | Telephone: 949-552-5411 | Fax: 949-552-5945 | www.newhorizonirvine.org