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As Salaamu ‘Alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,
There are two important reminders this week:(1) Picture Day is next Wednesday, and(2) Hybrid Instruction is scheduled to begin on March 22nd.
Please read on for details about each.
PICTURE DAY

The Picture Day form is attached here.  Please print the form, and fill it out, then send it with your child on picture day.  The schedule of student photo appointments has been sent by each teacher on Class Tag.  Instructions for picture day are as follows:- Bring your child and picture day form to the main door at your assigned time slot- You will be asked some COVID self certification questions at the door.  Once cleared, your child will be sent to the West Wing to be photographed.- Please wait in the parking lot, and we will call you once your child is ready to be picked up at the door again.- Reminder:  There will be no classes on Picture Day.

Note: All Lifetouch orders will be placed ONLINE. The information will be provided within one or two days.

HYBRID INSTRUCTION

InshaAllah, we plan to welcome students back to school on Monday, March 22nd.  Next week, please look out for the following important items:- New class schedule for in-person students AND continuing online students.- Waiver and Release of Claims document for in-person students- Instructions regarding pick up and drop off- Please note:  at this time only currently enrolled students have the option of hybrid instruction. Siblings waiting to enroll will be placed on a waiting list while we assess the new procedures during the first few weeks.
We pray to Allah SWT for protection and guidance in safely welcoming our students back to school, and we look forward to springtime and the blessings of Ramadan.  Have a wonderful weekend!

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As salaamu ‘alaikum ICN Noor Academy families,
InshaAllah we are excited about the switch hybrid instruction starting March 22nd, and are making preparations.  It is required that you indicate your child’s mode of instruction by tomorrow, on the form that was sent to you earlier this week. For your convenience, the form is linked here as well.  If you have already submitted this form, we thank you and you may disregard this request.  For your reference, the hybrid reopening plan that was sent earlier is also attached.  More details will be sent in the coming weeks.
Picture Day is on Wednesday, March 17th.  There will be no class on picture day.  Your child’s (or children’s) appointment time is scheduled with the Lifetouch photographer and will be sent to you by your class teacher via Class Tag, next week.  A picture day form will also be sent via Class Tag next week.  Please print and complete that form, and send it with your child on picture day.
Parent Teacher Conferences are approaching in April.  Spring conferences will be on a need basis only.  Unless the teacher or parent requests a conference, it will not be scheduled. 
Registration for Fall 2021 is open, and seats are limited.  Registration may be completed on the “Admissions” page of our school website, at https://fts.icnmasjid.org/admissions/

Please click HERE to view the Hybrid Reopening Plan

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

As salaamu ‘alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,
We would like to thank all families who completed the Hybrid Reopen Survey last week.  According to your responses, the preference to return to hybrid instruction was 60%, while a preference to stay online was 40%.  A summary of the reasons that were given is attached below. Since more than half of our families feel it is important for their children to return to in-person instruction in some capacity, the school is moving forward with its proposal to the ICN Board to reopen our doors to students for hybrid learning this spring inshaAllah. Families who feel it is not safe yet will have the option to continue online.  We will update you regarding the status and dates, as soon as the board communicates their decision to us.
PICTURE DAY is coming up on Wednesday, March 17th.  Spring pictures will be taken by Lifetouch and will be on site, at school.  Each student will have a scheduled appointment.  Parents will be instructed to wait in the parking lot after dropping their child at the door.  Parents will not be allowed in the building.  Please note that there will be no classes on Picture Day.  Please click on the link for a message from Lifetouch.
Click here for Lifetouch Picture Day Policy

Finally, we would like to remind everyone that registration is open for fall 2021.  At this time seats are limited to 12 per classroom.  For questions regarding registration please email ftsadmin@icnmasjid.org.

Survey results

As salaamu ‘alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,
Registration for next fall 2021 is open.  We look forward, inshaAllah, to returning in-person and seeing all our friends again.  Spots are limited, however, in order to maintain distancing, since we aren’t out of the woods yet.  Registration can be completed at https://fts.icnmasjid.org/admissions/
In fact, we are hoping to be able to offer the option for hybrid instruction as early as this spring if our families need it.  That is why it is so important that ALL families complete the survey that was sent last weekend.  Please submit one survey per family at the link below.
https://forms.gle/6Sy7dbu6Zex3eeGZ7

If you have already completed the survey, we thank you for your response.  We plan to submit the results to the ICN board over the weekend.
ICN’s School District Engagement Committee invites you to meet the school board candidates for districts 204, 203, and 308 in a virtual event on Friday, February 26th.  Please see the flyer and link for details.  The registration LINK for this event.
Looking ahead to March, we’re happy to announce that a socially distanced and in-person picture day is scheduled for March 17th.  Details will follow in the weeks to come.
Have a wonderful weekend, and please keep our school and community in your duas.

Muniba Ali

After careful deliberation over the past several weeks, our school is working on a tentative hybrid learning plan for this spring.  
There have been many things to consider, including the safety of our teachers and staff, the safety of our students, the effect of a schedule change on parents’ work schedules, and the impact on those families who wish to remain online this school year.  In addition there are limitations we face because we are part of a masjid and community center.
Pending the approval from the ICN board, the tentative date of a partial return to school is March 8th, or, if making all necessary arrangements take longer, March 15th inshaAllah.
Having said that, we recognize that each of you — our school families — also face a unique set of circumstances and needs, and have been doing the best you can to adapt to online learning.  We are truly grateful for the cooperation and trust you have given us.  This weekend a survey will be sent to all enrolled families.  Please be sure to complete one survey per family before the due date.  Your input is valuable to us and will also be a deciding factor.
Registration for Fall 2021 opens on Monday, February 15th.  Registration may be completed by going to the Admissions page of the school website.  The current plan is to open in-person with a limited number of seats.  Grades Pre-K through 3rd will be offered.
We rely on Allah’s wisdom and pray for His guidance and protection.
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

As salaamu ‘alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,

We would like to remind everyone that registration for Noor At Night will be open through next Friday, February 5th.  This program is open to all children, not just current students, so please share with family and friends everywhere who you think might benefit.  Please see the flyer and link below.
Another reminder for next week.  We are celebrating SPIRIT WEEK next week by dressing according to a different theme each day.  Please see the attached flyer from PTC for details.  We look forward to our students unleashing their creativity!
As stated at the beginning of the school year, we have been monitoring the situation around the pandemic every 6 to 8 weeks to determine if phasing in hybrid instruction in any capacity is feasible.  With Illinois moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan and DuPage County being in Tier 1, we are asking the ICN Board if they would accommodate onsite instruction.  We will keep you informed of anything we learn.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you and salaam,
—
Muniba Ali

Principal

ICN Noor Academy

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As salaamu ‘alaikum ICN Noor Academy families,
With the arrival of the new calendar year, we begin looking ahead to the new academic year as well.  Enrollment for Fall 2021 will open inshaAllah in the second half of February.  Although there is still some uncertainty, our intention is to resume school in-person next August, inshaAllah, barring unforeseen circumstances.  Grades that will be open for enrollment will be Pre-K through 3rd grade.  When enrollment opens we will provide you with a reopening plan that will include more details such as measures to protect students’ and teachers’ health, school timings, and so forth.

Noor Academy is excited to introduce an online evening program for children called Noor At Night. This is an eight week series, focusing on an introduction to the seerah through talks, games, and art.  In fact, Ms. Shazia will be one of the teachers.  Please visit https://fts.icnmasjid.org/noor-at-night/ for more information, and please spread the word.  This opportunity is open to all children and we hope it will be a fun experience that will increase the love of the prophet (S) in their hearts.

The School District Engagement Committee invites you to a special event about erasing the stigma around mental illness, and suicide prevention.  This is open for all parents and middle and high school students.  Please see the flyer below for details.

Thank you as always, and please keep our school and families in your duas.  Have a wonderful weekend.

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As Salaamu ‘Alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,
Due to addressing last week’s political turmoil I missed the chance to welcome everyone back to school after winter break.  To all our families, I hope you enjoyed the time spent away from school activities, and to those who may have experienced illness, whether COVID-related or not, may Allah grant complete shifa and protect everyone in the family.

For the remainder of January our school will continue to be online.  Although the districts 203 and 204 are returning to hybrid instruction in some capacity, it still appears to result in a fragmented school experience.  At this time we feel that our students and teachers have reached a level of comfort with the online routines and homework expectations.  Overall, students are demonstrating progress.  Despite the disadvantages of online schooling, we feel that the benefits of health and safety at home still outweigh the risks of gathering people for extended periods of time and exposing students and teachers to the virus.  The rate of illness and deaths continue to be very high, and the vaccination process is still slow.

Enrollment for Fall 2021 is just around the corner.  InshaAllah we hope to open registration in early February.  Once the decisions have been approved we will communicate with you regarding in-person instruction, which elementary grades will be offered, and important dates and deadlines.

The ICN School District Engagement Committee would like to invite all community families to an  online event called “Erasing The Stigma” (regarding mental illness and suicide prevention) on Friday, January 29th at 6:30pm.  Please see the flyer for information on joining.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Thank you and salaam,
—
Muniba Ali

Principal

ICN Noor Academy

fts.icnmasjid.org

As Salaamu ‘Alaikum ICN Noor Academy Families,

Yesterday we witnessed some unsettling events in our nation’s Capitol.  

As we process this, it is important for us to remind each other that although we may not have control over what happens at times, we do have control over how we respond.

As Muslims our iman reassures us that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has complete control over everything, and that nothing can happen without His permission.  We also know from the teachings of our Book, that with hardship also comes ease.  This teaches us to be optimistic that Allah will not let us down if we turn to Him.

No matter what the crisis, we are told to come together with Haqq and Sabr – truth and justice, and patience, as in Surah al ‘Asr.  We are fortunate to have been gifted with an authentic Standard of right and wrong through which we can navigate events such as this.

The faculty and staff of ICN Noor Academy realize that our students may have been watching the news with their parents or may hear family members alluding to these events.  We are happy to provide space for students to address this topic at an age-appropriate level.  Faculty and staff will refrain from including their own political opinions and personal judgements or labels.  They will use reminders of Haqq and Sabr to guide discussions, in hopes of empowering our students to seek out the truth as they grow.

Finally, we are grateful to have an Islamic school in which we can freely mention the name of Allah and teach our students that our values stem from our belief in Him and the example of His Messenger (S).
—
Muniba Ali

Principal

ICN Noor Academy

fts.icnmasjid.org

SubhanAllah, it’s been an unprecedented fall semester to say the least, but it’s already almost finished!
The last day of class will be today, and during the second week of winter break, you should receive first semester report cards.
Although ICN is reopening the Ogden building for Salah in a couple of days, our school will remain online through January.  By mid January, if we feel the board can support the school’s cleaning and safety plan, we will reach out to parents and ask your preference about online and hybrid instruction.
Also in January we will communicate information about registration for next fall, including elementary grades that will be offered.  We do intend to continue offering Pre-K through 2nd, and will inform you of a decision about 3rd grade.  Those who would enroll in 3rd grade if we are able to offer it please reach out to us and let us know. This is, of course, is one of the key factors in helping us make the decision.
Finally, today is PORTO’S FUNDRAISER DAY!  We hope to see many of our students between 5 and 7 pm today.  Below is the list of teachers who will be at each location during those times.  With this event, we can end the semester on a cheery note inshaAllah!
Aurora: Ms. Jabeen , Ms. Naila, Ms. Farah, Ms. Fatima
Bolingbrook: Ms. Shazia, Ms. Sakina (6:30 to 7 only), Ms. ZoyaMs. Mehmooda
Have a safe and wonderful weekend, a safe and wonderful winter break, and iA see you on January 4th, 2021!