Table of Contents Regulars: 3 Principals Message 4 Staff 5 History of Suffah 6 Motto, Vision, Mission ... 7 Stars of the year 2016 .a mercy to mankind ;(ﷺ) From the workbooks of our learners: Prophet Muhammad 8 Grade O & R: I love my grandfather because ... ... because (ﷺ) Grade 1: I love Nabi 9 11 Grade 2: My hero is ... because ... .birth and childhood (ﷺ) Grade 3: Nabi 12 .marriage and children (ﷺ) Grade 4: Nabi 13 .(s nabuwat and preaching (inviting to Islam’(ﷺ) Grade 5: Nabi 15 .s hijrat to Abyssinia & Taif’(ﷺ) Grade 6: Nabi 16 .s hijrat to Medina’(ﷺ) Grade 7: Miraaj & Nabi 19 21 Conquest of Makkah. .(ﷺ) Grade 9: Demise of Nabi 22 General: .love for children (ﷺ) Grade 4: Nabi 23 .(ﷺ) Grade 5: Smiles and tears of Nabi 24 .(ﷺ) Grade 6: Names (Asmaa) of Nabi 25 .s beauty’(ﷺ) Grade 7: Nabi 27 .(ﷺ) Grade 8: Miracles of Nabi 28 29 Farwell sermon. 30 – 37 Highlights of 2017 38 Prefects 2017 39 Community Outreach 40 Spelling Buzz Bee 41 Fun Page 42 School Anthem 2 All praise is due to Allah (SWT), the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah(SWT) from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomsoever Allah(SWT) guides, cannot be lead astray and whomever Allah(SWT) does not guide, none can guide him. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah(SWT), alone and I bear witness that Muhammad(SAW) is His Servant and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah(SWT) be upon him, his household, his companions and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment. No duty is more important to our future than the work of great teachers and proactive parents, and make no mistake, it takes both. Despite the constant drumbeat of criticism, students with parents who are seriously involved in their education will more likely perform excellently. We suspect that one of the biggest problems in our schools is that too many parents – sometimes for legitimate reasons – are not involved enough. Schools are not meant to be education factories where we insert children into kindergarten and then wait for an educated teenager to emerge. Education is a long process and requires a tremendous amount of work and commitment from parents as well as teachers. That’s not to say that there are no unproductive schools and teachers, however they should not be given a free pass. We think, however, that when students are not performing at their best, it’s a failure of the wider education system, not just the school and by the wider education system we mean schools, parents and the larger community. What if we were to take the schools and teachers we have and instead of focusing only on what’s wrong with teachers and the school system, let us also focus on how parents can assist and supplement the education of their children. Studies consistently show that parental involvement in education is linked to higher student achievement. For decades, research has shown that children whose parents participate in their schooling get better grades, attend more regularly, have higher self-esteem, are more motivated and are less inclined to use drugs and alcohol. This should come as no surprise. But what may be surprising, studies say, is that family participation is a greater predictor of academic achievement than household income. In other words, it's not how much money a family has, it's the time and effort spent on supporting education that counts. Despite suburban successes, not every school is a hive of interaction between parents and teachers, and in some buildings a small pool of volunteers do most of the work. It's a challenge for parents with demanding work schedules or single parents working two jobs to assist in the classroom or plan activities. Here are some simple ways: Encouraging your child to read, independently or with you. Reading together not only supports what is happening in the classroom, it creates family bonds, the way only time well spent with children can. Monitor homework and set a regular time for it to be done. Set realistic expectations, and then talk frequently with your child about them. Realistic is the key word, as every child is different, but remember that kids can stretch a bit. Read letters sent home from teachers in their entirety. If they are important enough for them to write, they're something you should know. Call or visit the teacher if something doesn't seem right with your child; act before a problem gets out of control. If you cannot help in the classroom during the day, consider attending a PTA meeting, attending a fund raiser or contributing to a bake sale. Kids know when their parents take an interest in their schooling, and -- though some wouldn't admit it -- they like it. But if involvement isn't a priority, it's not going to happen. Make the commitment. The hugs at graduation time will come before you know it. 3 Teachers are responsible for the core functions of the school, providing both education and moral instruction. To this end, our teachers are sourced carefully to ensure that they meet acceptable standards in relation to the following criteria: Bachelors of Education or equivalent from a reputable institution Teaching experience Solid references as to moral character Demonstrable understanding of the moral principles of Islam South African Council of Educators (SACE) registration is essential Principal: Ml Junaid Moolla Deputy Principal: Apa Zaheera Moolla Heads of department: Fatima Mayet Foundation Phase Mohsina Lockhat Intermediate Phase Munira Minty Islaamiyaat Secretary: Fahmida Fakir Support Staff: Fatima (Barbara) Ncubr; Mulliam Zowani Grades Secular Islaamiyaat Pre-school Fiona Amodjee Apa Fatima Dickson 1 Al Hadia Fortune Apa Zahraa Khota 2 Shameema Joulay Apa Fatima Dickson 3 Aamirah Jinoo Apa Munira Minty 4 Karima Kathrada Apa Ragheema Carlinsky 5 Raeesa Dawood Apa Munira Minty 6 Zakiyya Jamal Apa Aamirah Jinoo 7 Wafaa Ramdin Ml. Zakariyya Mansoor 8 Ahmed Cajee Ml. Imraan Suleman 9 Ml. Junaid Moolla Ml. Zakariyya Mansoor Fatima Vanker (English Grade 7, 8,9) 4 Suffah Learning Institute History of our school Suffah Learning Institute is registered with the Gauteng Department of Education and has been in existence for 10 years. It first catered for Grade 0 to Grade 3 learners from its premises at 24 5th Avenue in Mayfair, Johannesburg. Over the years, however, it had grown to a point where its location was no longer adequate to cater for learner requirements and hence there was a need for new space. New premises were purchased and the school has, since January 2014, relocated to its new, spacious premises on 18 Dunboyne Avenue, Crosby. The school offers affordable, values-based Islamic education to Muslim boys, living in and around Johannesburg. It has done so in response to a perceived lack of quality educational offering for boys to lower and lower-middle class families living in the area. The school is also particular in offering a platform to instil a strong Islamic moral foundation in its learners, helping them to avoid the increasing incidence of drugs, crime and other social issues and to give them the tools to become successful contributors to the overall society and economy. We started with 25 learners in 2007, and now the school has grown to 160 boys in 2017. Significance of the 'Suffah' name: Symbolism: Suffah Learning Institute is named after the ‘Ashaabus Suffah’. Suffah means ‘platform’ in Arabic. Attached to and immediately outside the Masjid-un-Nabawi, there was a sheltered platform where those Sahabah (RA), who had migrated from Makkah Mukarramah and had no means of earning neither a livelihood nor any home or family with whom to stay. These Sahabah (RA) who lived on the Suffah were called the Ashaabus Suffah. Today this platform still exists inside Masjid Nabawi. About the Ashaabus Suffah (RA): would spend a great (ﷺ) and Allah Ta’ala had great love for this Sahabah (RA). Nabi (ﷺ) Nabi would not leave their company until they got up and (ﷺ) amount of time in their company and Nabi used to treat them with great respect. He would spend a lot of time teaching them the (ﷺ) left. Nabi Deen and instilling in them the love for the Aakhirah. .told them that they would enter Jannat 500 years before the wealthy people (ﷺ) Nabi Allah Ta’ala has revealed many Aayaat of the Holy Quraan, referring to these pious Sahabah (RA). they would (ﷺ) The Ashaabus Suffah (RA) were extremely poor. At times, while standing behind Nabi collapse, due to extreme hunger. They used to survive by trying to make ends meet in various ways. (he would send it all to the Ashaabus Suffah (RA ,(ﷺ) Whenever sadaqa used to come to Rasulullah without taking any of it. The Sahabah living in Medina Munawwarah used to also take special care of them. Just as the Ashaabus Suffah did not have sufficient food, they also did not have enough clothing to wear. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) says: ‘I saw seventy Ashaabus Suffah (RA) and none of them had a sheet or blanket (large enough to cover his whole body). They used to wear cloth made from wool .in Arabic. They are therefore referred to as Sufis صوف ’which is called ‘Suf 5 Our Motto: Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Our Vision: A Muslim youth with an Islamic personality, strong in Imaan, Taqwa and Ummah consciousness, fully equipped to begin the quest for a role in the community and thoroughly prepared to worship Allah Subhanahuwa-Ta’ala.