Logging on to your Blackbaud account allows you to contact any of your child’s teachers through email. Ask the office for your login information, if needed. You may also call the office, who will direct you to the teacher if class is not in session. Appointments should be made with teachers and administration for face-to-face meetings. Many teachers will also set up WhatsApp groups for communication purposes between school and home.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

Principal

Sr. Somayyah Nahidian, M.Ed. (snahidian@alimacademy.org)

Office Administrators

Sr. Zahra Nahidian (znahidian@alimacademy.org

Sr. Fatima Rizvi (frizvi@alimacademy.org)

Sr. Nurjis Fatima (nfatima@alimacademy.org)

FACULTY AND STAFF

Sr. Greisa Apparisio (gtorres@alimacademy.org)....................................................Daycare

Sr. Greidy Valverde (gvalverde@alimacademy.org)......................................…….Daycare

Sr. Lule Burrow (lburrow@alimacademy.org)..........................................................Preschool

Sr. Khadija Khatun (kkhatun@alimacademy.org)….……………..…………..……..Preschool

Sr. Irda Nurwahyuni (inurwahyuni@alimacademy.org)...................................................PreK

Sr. Maryam Esmailpour (maryam.tajan@alimacademy.org)...……………….…………Pre-K

Sr. Zohreh Atarzada (zatarzada@alimacademy.org)..……….…..……..……..Kindergarten

Sr. Hasina Nabeel (hnabeel@alimacademy.org)...………………..………..……….1st Grade

Sr. Marissa Gandaermaya (mgandaermaya@alimacademy.org….......……….2nd Grade

Sr. Sumayyah Taylor (sumayyah.taylor@alimacademy.org…………….3rd Grade Teacher

Sr. Anum Zahra (azahra@alimacademy.org)…………………...…………4thGrade Teacher

Br. Jeffrey Ali (jali@alimacademy.org)………………….…...…5th /6th English/Social Studies

Dr. Mohammad Hedayati (mhedayati@alimacademy.org).....5th/6th Math/Sci; Physics

Sr. Samaneh Mohammadi (smohammadi@alimacademy.org)..............Comp. Sci. K - 5

Sr. Fatemeh Rahmatabady (frahmatabady@alimacademy.org).....……Comp. Sci. 6 - 8

Br. Mohamad Fouladi (mfouladi@alimacademy.org)...........................Innovation Lab 6-8 Br. Sina Mirnejad (smirnejad@alimacademy.org)..........................Computer Science 9-12

Sr. Marzieh Nooraddini (mnooraddini@alimacademy.org).….…7th -10th Sci & SAT Math

Sr. Shahnaz Baten (sbaten@alimacademy.org)………………………...……7/8/10th English

Sr. Farideh Imani (fimani@alimacademy.org).….…………………………………………….Art

Coach Yassine Moslah (ymoslah@alimacademy.org)......………………………..PE, French

Sr. Marjan Shariatmadari (marjan.shariatmadari@alimacademy.org)………..7 - 11 Math

Sr. Nafiseh Moshir-Ehteshami (nmoshir@alimacademy.org).……..…5 – 10 IS & HS English

Sr. Safiyyah Abdullah (sabdullah@alimacademy.org……………………………..SAT English

Br. Salahuddeen Abdul Kareem (skareem@alimacademy.org)…..…..7th – 10th SS & 11 IS

Sr. Nadia Roghani (nadia.roghani@alimacademy.org)………...…PreK – 4 Islamic Studies

Sr. Saira Mehmood (saira.mehmood@alimacademy.org)……….……K-10 Islamic Studies

Sr. Nadia Alwawi (zalwawi@alimacademy.org)...….……....Quran and Arabic Language

Sr. Zahra Sizar (zahra.sizar@alimacademy.org)................................................Teacher Aide

Sr. Hamideh Tavakoli (htavakoli@alimacademy.org)..………..…..…………..Teacher Aide

Br. Ahmed Elsherif (a.elsherif@alimacademy.org……………….…………….Security Guard

Sr. Sabera Husain (shusain@alimacademy.org).……...….HS Career and College Advisor

ACCREDITATION

MCS-AA was awarded the State of Maryland Certificate of Approval in 1989, allowing it to operate as a Kindergarten through eighth grade school, and then expanded in 2006 to include a high school. We also provide an Early Childhood Department of Montgomery County-licensed daycare, preschool and PreK program for young infants to children aged 4. In the summer of 2022, we earned accreditation by Cognia, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts and education service providers.

PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES

Philosophy

We believe that the source of all knowledge is Allah (swt) and that knowing Him and His message is the most important knowledge man can obtain. The educational philosophy of MCS-AA is deeply rooted in the Quran and is shaped around the prayer of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him):

My Lord! Grant me knowledge that is useful (beneficial to mankind).

Vision Statement

The vision of Muslim Community School aka Alim Academy is to produce well-educated, moral, confident, and innovative global citizens. We are committed to academic excellence and Islamic values and strive to develop these in a safe, vibrant, and diverse environment.

Mission Statement

Growing up Muslim in a non-Muslim society can be difficult for the young, impressionable lives of our youth. As their educators, it is our responsibility to:

Enlighten our students with an excellent academic program within an Islamic environment to foster their spiritual growth,
Develop the students’ abilities to analyze and solve problems they may face as Muslims growing up in America,
Educate the students so they become active and productive members of society and build their confidence and abilities to take on leadership roles,
Empower them with the knowledge of current events and make them aware of how such events impact their lives,
Encourage students to cherish their own religious values and respect those with other religious backgrounds, and
Create a nurturing environment resulting in the optimal learning of all students.

SCHOOL PROFILE

Community

The Muslim Community School aka Alim Academy (MCS-AA) was established in 1984 to serve the needs of the local Muslim community. It was one of the first certified Islamic schools in the Washington, D.C. metro area and was the first Islamic school to graduate high school students. It is located in Potomac, Maryland, in one of the state’s fastest growing areas. MCS-AA enjoys a diverse ethnic population from all over the world, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, Iraq, and many more.

School

MCS/AA is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian education system that serves the educational needs of daycare and preschool children, and students in grades pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade with its college preparatory curriculum consisting of honors and AP courses, as well as dual enrolment in college for its high school students.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of the State of Maryland that all public and publicly funded schools and school programs operate in compliance with:
(1) Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
(2) Title 26, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code, which states that public and publicly funded schools and programs may not:

i. Discriminate against a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;

ii. Refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or

iii. Discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

ADMISSIONS POLICY

Upon admission to MCS-AA the following forms must be completed and submitted to the office:

Copy of student’s report card and standardized test scores from the most recent grading period
Immunization records
Copy of birth certificate
Signed release letter for student’s records
Where applicable, a copy of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)

MCS-AA reserves the right to decline admission to students for the following reasons, albeit not an inclusive list:

If a student requires special education instruction beyond the purview of the school’s capability
If a student requires English as a Second Language (ESL) beyond the purview of the school’s capability
If a student is academically weak
If a student has had serious discipline problems at a previous school or at MCS-AA

ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

It is extremely important that the administrators and teachers are aware of any type of allergy or special accommodation a child may have/need. We need to be informed If a child is allergic to any substance, whether it be food, an insect, or medicine.

In the case of any allergy or special accommodations, it is required that the parent obtain and submit to the office a doctor’s note stating the child’s name, the allergy or condition, the recommended or required accommodation, and the procedures to follow in case of exposure. MCS-AA will cooperate with the family to the best of its ability to ensure the safety of the child.

MCS-AA is a peanut/cashew free school. Any peanuts/cashews and/or products containing peanuts/cashews are not allowed in school or at any school activities.

PARENT-SCHOOL AGREEMENT

Parents are expected to support and uphold MCS/Alim Academy’s policies for more effective and proper student development. If, at any time, misunderstandings develop between the school and home, it becomes the obligation of both to seek clarification and explanation.

All suggestions and comments from the parents will be examined fully and are welcomed and encouraged for the overall strengthening of the school.

The school agrees to work closely with the parents in the education of the child. This includes provision of competent teachers, a full and developmentally-appropriate curriculum, regular reporting of student progress, proper student supervision, and communication with home.

In light of the educational research demonstrating how parental involvement is critical to the well-being and success of both the school and its students, parents are expected to:

check grades in Blackbaud frequently,
to read and respond as needed to emails sent from school,
check for proper uniform compliance before leaving home,
attend Parent/Teacher conferences,
and actively support other planned activities.

MCS-AA reserves the right to dismiss a student, parent and/or staff member whose presence in the school is considered detrimental to the best interest of the students, or of the school in general.

MCS-AA also reserves the right to terminate or not renew a student’s enrollment if the school concludes that the actions of a parent or guardian make a positive and constructive relationship impossible, or otherwise interferes with the school’s mission.

MCS-AA also reserves the right to dismiss any student, parent, and/or staff member who knowingly goes against any of the school’s published policies and/or promotes negative advertising against the school verbally, in writing and/or on any published medium, including social networking sites.

SCHOOL / HOME COMMUNICATION

MCS-AA believes in the importance of keeping a continuous line of communication with its parents and community. Emergency contact information for each child must be available and up to date. It is imperative that the office has the parents’ cell phone numbers and also a number where a relative, neighbor, or friend can be reached.

Means of communication will include, but may not be limited to:

Phone calls and/or emails from teachers or administration to update parents of their children’s progress
Parent/Teacher conferences
Surveys
Scheduled appointments and meeting opportunities with staff and administration
Updates on the school’s website: www.alimacademy.org

Parent/Teacher Conferences are conducted twice each school year. Other conferences can be scheduled by appointments through the office or by contacting the teachers directly.

Surveys help us assess the strengths and weaknesses of the school. Satisfaction surveys will be completed by parents, students and staff and the school will share the results of those surveys. For these surveys to be effective, it is very important that everyone responds to these surveys as honestly and as completely as possible.

TUITION and ATTENDANCE POLICIES

Tuition and Fee Payment

All families must complete the tuition contract as part of the enrollment on Blackbaud. Applicants to our early childhood classes for daycare, preschool and PreK must complete the Brightwheel intake form and application as explained on our website.

Tuition can be paid in one or two payments or through a monthly payment plan, or in an arrangement agreeable to the school and the family. All school fees are due by the first day of school and monthly tuition payments are due by the 5th of each month. Failure to pay the tuition by the 5th may result in a $50 late fee. Payments can be made on Blackbaud, by check, money order, or cash. Credit card payments are accepted with an additional 3% charge to cover fees deducted by the financial institute. A $35 NSF fee will be charged for all returned checks. Once a check is returned, the school may decide to only accept future payments in the form of a money order, automatic debit, credit card or cash. Failure to pay on time may result in families being unable to check grades, and/or children being kept out of class.

Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 are enrolled on a full-time, ten-month basis and parents are responsible for the entire tuition amount regardless of student absenteeism due to illness, vacation, suspension or truancy. There are no refunds of fees if a student leaves school for any reason.

Attending school regularly and on time is the responsibility of both the parent and the student. Every student is expected to be in school every day and on time except in the case of an emergency.

School Hours

School begins at 8:00 a.m. with morning assembly. Parents should drop students off at the ramp near the building’s entrance or in the roundabout at the school’s entrance side. Parents cannot drive or park beyond that point in what is the teachers’ parking lot. This is in the interest of the students’ safety where we want to avoid backing out to leave while students are entering or leaving school.

Students are expected to be present in the morning assembly for Surah Fatiha, du’a, and various announcements. Classes end at 2:55 p.m. For pick up, parents can wait for students to come down from classes in the ‘drop off’ parking lot, or as arranged with teachers of elementary students.

Please note: the speed limit on the driveway and in the parking lot is 5 mph and requires all drivers’ full attention and care.

Early-Drop Offs

The school does not provide supervision for students arriving before 7:45 a.m. Such arrangements must be made independently between that student’s family and teachers willing to take that responsibility, clarifying the drop off time and location.

Elementary Aftercare

Any Kindergarten through 4th grade students remaining after 3:00 p.m. will be taken to our after-school program in the lunchroom for a fee. After school coverage ends at 4:00 p.m. All students in the after school care must be picked up before 4:00 p.m. or the family will be charged an additional amount for every minute after 4:00 p.m. Information regarding the after-school supervision program (from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.) and its associated fee can be obtained from the office and from the tuition chart on the website. No aftercare is provided for students in grades 5 and above. MCS/AA is not liable for students in those grades after 3:00 p.m.

Morning Tardiness

By definition, tardiness for any student is the failure to be seated in the assigned class area at the proper starting time for class.

Any student who is tardy for school must present a note signed by his or her parent or guardian explaining the reason for tardiness. The tardiness will only be excused if it is because of illness, doctor appointments, or other family emergency.

Excessive tardiness may be translated into an absence, a lowered grade in the missed class, and/or administrative intervention, including not being admitted the following year.

Mid-day Tardiness between Classes

Arriving late to class will result in a deduction of points from their class participation grade. A pattern of repeated mid-day tardiness may result in recess detention, and in extreme cases, suspension.

Absences

Parents should always notify the school by 9 AM when their child will be absent. A written excuse from the parent or guardian must be presented to the school the day the child returns to school. If the absence is because of a communicable disease, a statement from a physician confirming that the student is not in the contagious phase of the disease must be presented to the school. A child will not be allowed to return to school without a physician’s statement.

An absence will only be excused in the case of illness, a family emergency, or the death of a family member. Travel plans are not excused absences. For students who will be missing more than 5 days of school due to travel plans, it is required that they (or their parents in the case of younger students) communicate with each teacher and design a plan BEFORE leaving that explains how and when missed work will be made up before the end of the quarter. Furthermore, it should be understood that it is not the teacher’s responsibility to reteach missed lessons but rather it is on the family to see to it that necessary instruction or tutoring takes place so the child can join right back into class and complete current work successfully upon their return.

Note: Any student who has more than 5 unexcused absences in any class risks falling behind on material, failing that subject, and thus not earning credit for it. A student with more than 20 absences risks not being promoted to the next grade level.

Make-Up Work Policy

Students are expected to make up work missed due to absences. Students are responsible for asking teachers about what was missed during their absence. Once students reach out, teachers will inform them about what needs to be made up, what announcements were made, deadlines, etc.

Each teacher will have their class-specific policies and directives regarding make-up work clearly stated within their syllabi. Students are responsible for adhering to those policies.
The grading policy for work submitted after an absence may depend on whether the absence was excused or unexcused.
Missing assignments, including tests, due the day(s) of the absence and announced prior to the absence are to be completed the day the student returns to school unless scheduled later by the teachers.
Tests and quizzes should be made up as scheduled by the teacher, not during class time, but rather during lunch, recess, or after school.
A zero will be given for any work not made up.

BELL SCHEDULES

Typical Bell Schedule

8:00 – 8:15	Morning Assembly
8:20 – 9:00	1st Bell
9:05 – 9:45	2nd Bell
9:50 – 10:30	3rdBell
10:35 – 11:15	4thBell
11:20 – 12:00	5A Elementary Lunch
12:05 – 12:45	5B Middle/High School Lunch
12:50– 1:30	6th Bell
1:35 – 2:10	Salat
2:15 – 2:55	7th Bell

Half-Day / Early Dismissal Bell Schedule (No Afternoon Classes)

8:00 – 8:15	Morning Assembly
8:20 – 9:00	1st Bell
9:05 – 9:45	2nd Bell
9:50 – 10:30	3rd Bell
10:35 – 11:15	4th Bell
11:20 – 12:00	5A Bell
12:05	Dismissal

One-Hour Delay Bell Schedule

9:00 – 9:15	Morning Assembly
9:20 – 9:55	1st Bell
10:00 – 10:35	2nd Bell
10:40 – 11:15	3rd Bell
11:20 - 11:55	4th Bell
12:00– 12:35	5A Bell
12:40 – 1:15	5B Bell
1:20 – 1:45	Salat
1:50 – 2:25	6th Bell
2:30 – 3:00	7th Bell (30 minute class)

Two-Hour Delay Bell Schedule (No Morning Assembly)

10:00 – 10:40	1st Bell
10:45 – 11:10	2nd Bell
11:15 – 11:40	3rd Bell
11:45 – 12:10	4th Bell
12:15 – 12:40	5A Bell
12:45 – 1:10	5B Bell
1:15 – 1:40	Salat
1:45 – 2:20	6th Bell
2:25 – 2:55	7th Bell

Two-Hour Delay Bell Schedule (FRIDAYS)

10:00 – 10:40	1st Bell
10:45 – 11:10	2nd Bell
11:15 – 11:40	3rd Bell
11:45 – 12:10	4th Bell
12:15 – 12:40	5A Bell
12:45 – 1:10	Salat
1:15 – 1:40	Salat
1:45 – 2:20	5B Bell
2:25 – 2:55	6th Bell

CURRICULUM

Common Core State Standards

MCS-AA adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) beginning with the academic year 2013-2014. In addition to the CCSS, MCS-AA believes in implementing the best practices of all educational philosophies and initiatives that are currently being implemented throughout the world.

Curriculum

Our class periods for grades 7 – 12 are 40 minutes long. Elementary grades (K - 5) have more flexibility with their schedules since they do not have to comply with the bell schedule, except for non-core subjects like P.E., art, and religious electives. We emphasize active learning environments and the effective use of technology in instruction that enable students to learn and grow while taking responsibility for their learning.

With appropriate preparation, we encourage our students to participate in honors level courses and AP courses followed by completion of the AP exam, as well as the dual enrollment option for juniors and seniors. In the past, we have utilized online courses for some of these classes. MCS-AA courses are taught only if there is sufficient enrollment and staff. Online courses may be used in such cases.

Pre-Kindergarten

MCS-AA provides a supportive and nurturing environment in which children are active learners, self-confident, and respectful of adults. In this welcoming atmosphere, important lifelong attitudes of school and learning are established.

In a structured setting, pre-Kindergarten teachers effectively teach readiness skills in English language arts, number sense, Islamic studies, Quran, and social skills, thus providing a solid foundation for the full Kindergarten curricular program.

Elementary: Kindergarten – 5th Grade

MCS-AA provides students with a challenging, standards-based curriculum, which emphasizes fundamental skills. Subjects include reading, English, mathematics, science, social studies, Islamic studies, Quran, art, and physical education. School field trips, as well as co-curricular, Islamic, and cultural activities are provided for all classes.

Middle School: 6th – 8th Grade

The middle school program is designed for a student’s personal growth and is structured to provide consistency and support, while fostering each student’s evolving sense of academic responsibility and independence. The curriculum consists of English language arts, pre-algebra, algebra, life and earth sciences, ancient, medieval, and American history, Islamic studies, Quranic Arabic, computer literacy, art, physical education, innovation lab and a foreign language. Qualified 7th and 8th grade students may have the opportunity to take high school level courses for credit.

High School: 9th – 12th Grade

The MCS-AA high school program follows a four-year college preparatory curriculum with the addition of Quran and Islamic studies courses that are taught as survey electives. This provides students with the opportunity to be well prepared for the demands of higher education and life, to think and act critically, to solve problems independently, to cooperate with others, and to collaborate and contribute responsibly with our global society while being mindful of religious values.

4 Year High School Course of Study

English – 4 credits (sequence of below courses may alter from year to year)

9th World Literature

10th Genre Studies

11th American Literature

12th British Literature

(Optional) AP English Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition

Mathematics – 4 credits

9th Geometry

10th Algebra II

11th Precalculus

12th Calculus or Statistics

Science – 3 credits

9th Biology

10th Chemistry

11th Physics

12th Choice of online or college course

(Optional) AP Physics, Biology, or Chemistry

Social Studies – 3 credits

9th U.S. History Industrialism through Modern Era

10th National, State, Local Government

11th World History

12th Choice of online or college course

(Optional) AP World History, Government, or Psychology

Foreign Language – 2 credits

Whenever possible, students will be given a choice of a foreign language.

Islamic Studies – counts towards 3 elective credits

Instruction in practical law, history, beliefs, and ethics

Quran – counts towards 3 elective credits

Instruction in recitation, memorization, and tafsir

Technology – 1 credit

Instruction in HTML 5, JAVA, Python and/or web design

(Optional) AP Computer Science

Islamic Health – ½ credit

This course must be taken at some point during the high school years.

Physical Education – ½ credit

This course must be taken at some point during the high school years.

Fine Arts – 1 credit

Instruction includes foundations of art, studio art, and drawing and design.

Graduation

To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of the 22 credits as outlined in the above course of study. Course credit is awarded when all coursework and exams have been successfully completed. One credit is equal to 180 minutes of instruction per week throughout the year, or its equivalent.

Additionally, all financial obligations and any grades of F or I (incomplete) on the transcript must be satisfactorily remediated before receiving a diploma.

Service Learning

As per the Maryland State Department of Education, students will complete upon graduation, “seventy-five hours of student service that includes preparation, action, and reflection components.” Special recognition will be made of students completing 300+ hours of service learning at the time of graduation.

Middle school students, upon entering the 6th grade and in good academic and behavioral standing may begin accruing hours toward the graduation requirement.

Official forms for documenting hours can be found in the main office.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSEWORK

AP courses are those for which a College Board Advanced Placement examination exists. A qualifying score on an AP exam may give the student college credit or advanced standing in the subject in many colleges. These courses include concepts and skills that help prepare students for the AP exams. The courses offered depend on enrollment and interest. The following are prerequisites for the typical AP courses offered, contingent upon the individual teacher and administrative decisions:

Class

Prerequisite

Calculus AB

Should have taken and passed geometry, algebra II, and pre-calculus with scores of B or higher in all quarters
Minimum 3.0 GPA

Biology

Completion of biology and chemistry with scores of B or higher in all quarters
Completion of algebra II with a B or higher in all quarters
Should have B in English
Minimum 3.0 GPA

Chemistry

Should have a B in English
Should have completed chemistry with an A in all quarters
Concurrently enrolled in or completed with pre-calculus or higher mathematics course
Minimum 3.0 GPA

English Language and Composition

Should have taken English 9 and 10 with As in all quarters or Bs in honors
Must complete summer coursework
Minimum 3.0 GPA

World History

Must have earned a B in all quarters in American history
Must have earned a B in all quarters in English 9 & 10
Minimum 3.0 GPA

Government

Should have earned an A in all quarters of American history
Should have earned a B in all quarters in English 9-11
Minimum 3.0 GPA

GRADING SYSTEM

At MCS-AA, we view evaluation and assessment as an ongoing process. Students will be evaluated according to their daily performance and progress. Means of evaluation will include projects, reports, and performance assessments as well as school exams.

Each individual teacher will inform his or her classes of their grading breakdown, which has been approved by administration.

Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Grading Scale

O (90 – 100)	Outstanding
G (80 – 89)	Good
S (70 – 79)	Satisfactory
N (60 – 69)	Needs Improvement
U (0 – 59)	Unsatisfactory

4th Grade – 12th Grade Grading Scale

Symbol	Percentage	GPA Weight
A+	95 – 100	4.00
A	90 -94	4.00
B+	85 – 89	3.00
B	80 - 84	3.00
C+	75 – 79	2.00
C	70 - 74	2.00
D	65 – 69	1.00
F	0 – 64	0.00

Grade Point Average

Grade point averages (GPAs) are computed at the end of each quarter and each year for high school students using cumulative quality points. GPA is computed both as unweighted and weighted. Every general class is based upon the 4.00 GPA scale, un-weighted. Honors classes will be weighted on a 4.50 scale with an A earning a 4.50, a B a 3.50, etc. AP classes, both online and physical, will be weighted on a 5.00 scale, with the grade of A earning a 5.00, the grade of B earning a 4.00, and so forth.

Promotion and Retention

Promotions will be based upon a student’s class performance, participation, projects, and final grades, where applicable. For students in grades Pre-K and Kindergarten, promotion is mostly based on age. Those struggling to perform according to expectations will be provided additional assistance.

For students in Grades 1 through 5 to be promoted, they must:

Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in reading/language arts; and
Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in mathematics.

Students receiving a failing grade in one core subject will be permitted to retake their final exam at the beginning of the next school year. A passing grade of 80% or higher must be achieved on the retake exam to be promoted to the next grade level, if not, the grade must be repeated. Any student who receives a failing grade in two or more core subjects will automatically be retained and the grade level must be repeated the next school year.

For students in Grades 6 through 8 to be promoted, they must:

Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in mathematics;
Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in English;
Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in science; and
Earn a passing grade of 65% or above in social studies.

From Grade 9 to Grade 10:

To be promoted from Grade 9 to Grade 10 a student must demonstrate that he/she is proficient in the core academic areas (English, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics) by receiving a passing grade in each subject. If a student fails 3 or 4 of these core subjects for the year the student will repeat grade 9 with no option to “make-up” the course(s) in summer school. If the student fails 1 or 2 of these core subjects the student will be given the opportunity to “make-up” the courses(s) in summer school, but must receive a passing grade of 80%.

From Grade 10 to Grade 11:

To be promoted from Grade 10 to Grade 11 a student must demonstrate that he/she is proficient in the core academic areas (English, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics) by receiving a passing grade in each subject. If a student fails 3 or 4 of these core subjects for the year the student will repeat grade 10 with no option to “make-up” the course(s) in summer school. If the student fails 1 or 2 of these core subjects the student will be given the opportunity to “make-up” the courses(s) in summer school, but must receive a passing grade of 80%.

Grade 11 to Grade 12:
To be promoted from Grade 11 to Grade 12 a student must demonstrate that he/she is proficient in the core academic areas (English, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics) by receiving a passing grade in each subject. If a student fails 3 or 4 of these core subjects for the year the student will repeat grade 11 with no option to “make-up” the course(s) in summer school. If the student fails 1 or 2 of these core subjects the student will be given the opportunity to “make-up” the courses(s) in summer school, but must receive a passing grade of 80%. Furthermore, the student must have accumulated enough credits such that it will be possible to satisfy all graduation requirements by the end of their senior year.

No student will be promoted if he or she has not met the minimum attendance requirements. During the school year, if any student is having academic difficulty, a conference must be held with the student and parents to take necessary steps to remediate the problem. By mid-May another parent meeting will be held to discuss the student’s progress and make a final recommendation concerning retention. The principal, in consultation with the teachers of the student, has the final responsibility for promotion and retention decisions. Parents will be sent notification in writing of the final decision.

Weighted Grades

Every general class is based upon the 4.00 GPA scale, un-weighted. Honors classes will be weighted on a 4.50 scale with an A earning a 4.50, a B a 3.50, etc. AP classes, both online and physical, will be weighted on a 5.00 scale, with the grade of A earning a 5.00, the grade of B earning a 4.00, and so forth.

Honor Roll

High honor roll involves quarter GPAs 3.8 and above.

Honor roll involves quarter and final GPAs 3.50 – 3.79.

Please note that any child with disciplinary issues may not qualify for the honor roll.

Blackbaud

At the beginning of the school year, each family (in grades K-12) will receive login information for our online grading service, Blackbaud. This online grade book will be the easiest way for parents and students to keep track of progress. It is the responsibility of the families to utilize this service to stay on top of achievement and notifications. The main office can assist in the case of a forgotten password or difficulties logging on.

Report Cards

Report cards are distributed four times a year at the end of each quarter. All financial obligations must be met to receive a report card, transcript, or standardized test scores.

HOMEWORK

At MCS-AA, we believe homework is important to our students’ overall academic program. The purpose of homework is to enrich and reinforce what was learned in class. It helps students learn to be responsible and also allows the parents to see what is being learned at school. These assignments are at the discretion of the individual teachers; however, a good estimate of time needed to complete homework is as follows. Keep in mind this estimate does not include the time needed for pleasure reading, which hopefully all students are doing for at least 20 minutes a night:

Kindergarten	20 – 30 minutes
1st& 2nd	30 – 45 minutes
3rd	45 – 60 minutes
4th	45 – 60 minutes
5th	60 – 75 minutes
6th – 8th	60 – 90 minutes
High school	1 ½ - 3 hours

Students are responsible for writing down their assignments and making up assignments that are missed. If a student is unclear about an assignment, it is his or her responsibility to ask the teacher for clarity.

Parents are responsible for providing a quiet place for studying and to encourage their children to complete all assignments, offering support and suggestions. Under no circumstances should parents complete a student’s homework for him or her or make so many adjustments it ceases to exemplify the student’s true knowledge level. If a child is spending too much time on an assignment and shows signs of frustration, the parent should stop the child from finishing the assignment and communicate with the teacher in written correspondence. Working together, we can help our students develop good study habits and feel successful in school.

LUNCH

Should the school decide to offer a hot lunch program, monthly menus will be sent home for each family to indicate days they wish to purchase lunch from the school. Pre-ordered and paid lunches are sold for the fee designated by the restaurant they are purchased from per day. Credit for unused pre-ordered lunches may not be carried over.

Students who are not on the list for the day’s lunch but who wish to purchase one are not guaranteed to receive a lunch since they must be pre-ordered and we do not order extra lunches. Students also have the option to bring lunches from home. Refrigeration is not provided, but microwaves are. We do not have a free or reduced lunch program.

FORMAL/STANDARDIZED TESTING

Our students in grades K through 8 take the NWEA MAP Growth test twice a year. It is also given to high school students in the science subject only each spring. This test is a computer adaptive assessment where test questions dynamically adapt throughout the test in response to student performance. This progressive approach allows the test to challenge top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level and provide the school and families with more accurate assessment of a child’s actual level of performance. These tests are used as a diagnostic tool for overall student, teacher, and school performance. High school students also take the PSAT and possibly a practice ACT test at school to prepare them for the actual SAT and ACT tests they take outside of school.

CLASS PARTIES

All parties must have prior office and teacher approval. Food items for such events must be nut-free and on the healthier side and gift bags must include items free of dyes and perfumes, and any artificial colors and flavors. The set up and clean up after all parties are the responsibility of the parent as well as the purchase of needed paper products. Parties must include all members of the class and should take place in the lunchroom at the end of the day, unless the classroom teacher prefers otherwise.

DRESS CODE

In order to maintain an Islamic environment, it is essential that the administration require a modest dress code policy for students. Uniforms are required of all students in grades 1 – 12. The uniform gives a professional look to our school and helps break down the social barriers that can sometimes affect the youth of today.

Students are expected to wear shoes that are appropriate for physical education or bring proper shoes on P.E. days. High heel shoes, Crocs and flip-flops are not allowed.

All Boys (except college dual-enrolled high school students)

Three-button long-sleeved royal blue shirt (can be short-sleeved during the warmer months) and navy or black pants. Loose-fit jeans are allowed. Uniform shirts can be ordered from the French Toast website (https://www.frenchtoast.com/long-sleeve-pique-polo-toddler-2t-4t/p/1009). Another option for the boys is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M2P47W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. On PE days this can be worn with black or navy blue workout pants: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071J388CK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. Boys should maintain appropriate hair length and style.

Girls in 1st – 5th Grades

All female students should wear the navy blue jumper from the French Toast website or the vine plaid jumper found on Target’s website. A long-sleeved white shirt is to be worn underneath the jumper (can be short-sleeved for the younger girls in grades 1 and 2, during the warmer months). Pants worn under the jumper can be navy blue or black. Loose-fit jeans are allowed. Students in grades 1 and 2 are highly encouraged to wear hijab in class and are required to wear one for salat time. Hijabs can be of any color and style as long as they (a) are fastened and not just draped, (b) cover the neck, ears, and all hair, and (c) are not see-through. On picture days and other school formal functions the school might ask the student to wear a certain color scarf. Excessive jewelry (that calls attention to oneself), any type of make-up, and nail polish are not permitted.

Girls in 6th – 12th Grades (except college dual-enrolled high school students)

Middle and high school girls are to provide their dress size to the office who will in turn place the order for their blue tunics. Hijabs can be of any color and style as long as they are (a) fastened and not just draped, (b) cover the neck, ears, and all hair, and (c) are not see-through. Open abayas on non-uniform days are not allowed unless they are fastened closed. Pants under the uniform top must be loose-fitting, navy blue or black. No skinny jeans, skinny pants, or leggings are allowed. Excessive jewelry (that calls attention to oneself), all types of make-up, and nail polish are not permitted.

The uniform requirements also apply to off-campus activities, unless the administration decides to lift such requirements. Parents will be contacted to bring the proper uniform for any student that comes to school dressed inappropriately or the school will provide them with special uniforms.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are a student privilege, not a right. MCS-AA students are invited to attend various educational field trips throughout the school year. Permission slips are sent home with each student when plans for field trips are made. Parents must sign and return these slips promptly. Students will not be allowed to attend the field trip without permission slips signed by parents. When applicable, there will be a fee for transportation and/or admission.

Parents are often needed to assist in chaperoning the students during the trips. If you are available, kindly notify your child’s teacher. As a rule, parents with infants or toddlers are not permitted to chaperone students.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Fire Drill Procedures

Fire drills will be held at least ten times per year, as required by Maryland law. Students will be informed of exit routes and expectations during a fire drill during the first week of school. Students are to treat each fire drill seriously and focus on exiting the building in the fastest, safest, and most orderly fashion possible. It is essential that all backpacks and other belongings be cleared from the hallways to ensure safe and easy exits at all times.

School Security

Whenever possible, a security guard is on duty during school days. A team of teachers and administration are also involved in the school safety committee as part of our emergency preparedness plan. It is important for all of us to be diligent in maintaining the safety of our school. We should all be aware and on the lookout for anything questionable. Such concerns should be brought to the attention of the administration immediately. Furthermore, it is imperative that students are picked up daily on time and not left to wander the property, unsupervised, and without a security guard on duty after school hours.

Medical History

It is the parents’ full responsibility to provide students’ medical histories to the school, including but not limited to learning disabilities, mental illnesses, chronic illnesses, food or medication allergies, genetic or metabolic illnesses, etc. Parents should update the medical information form periodically. MCS-AA will not be liable for any incident that may happen because of a lack of medical information in a student’s file.

Immunizations

All students are required to be fully immunized according to Maryland state law. Students without documented state-required immunizations may be excluded from school.

Medications

Students are not allowed to keep any kind of medication, including over-the-counter medication, in their backpacks, desks, lockers, or other personal belongings. Parents are encouraged to administer medications to their children at home whenever possible. If not, the following is the procedure for dispensing medication by school personnel:

Parents should have filled the prescription medication permission form at the time of registration for the school to give medication to their child. Additional written permission should be filled with each new medication. Instruction about the medication and its administration should be clearly stated. The written permission should include the student name and grade level, parent’s name, prescribing doctor’s name, name of medication, dosage, interval, and timing.

The school will keep all medication in a central locked location. If the medication should be kept at a cool temperature, it should be brought to school in an appropriate container that keeps it cold. The school cannot place the medication in the school refrigerator.

The school will designate one staff member to administer medications. No classroom teacher will be allowed to administer medication in the classroom.

The school will keep a log of all medication given out.

Over-the-counter medication may be given to a student in case of minor headaches, allergies, etc., only if parents have given such permission on the medical emergency form at the time of registration.

When to Stay Home

We request that children not be sent to school if they are sick. This helps to prevent the spread of viruses and/or infections to others. If a child comes to school sick, or if they develop any of the symptoms of a contagious or other disease, parents will be called and expected to come immediately to take them home. An important note about fevers: a child must be fever-free, without medicine, for 24 hours before they can return to school. Other reasons to stay home or to be sent home include, but are not limited to, the following:

Excessive runny nose
Stomach ache
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Fever
Pink eye
Croup

Skin rashes
Respiratory illness
Influenza
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Chicken Pox
Lice that has not been treated

Parking Lot

To ensure the safety of all, the following expectations are in place for parents in the parking lot:

Obey the speed limit (5 MPH) at all times.
Remain in the main or flat parking lots in the front of the building or on the school side up to the roundabout. Drive, exit, and turn around with caution. Avoid turning into the fountain area and teacher parking lot as these areas require driving in reverse.
In the mornings, students can be dropped off at the roundabout near the school entrance (not in the teacher parking lot on the ‘hill’), or at the IEC entrance side and enter one door down to get into the school side closer to the lunchroom.
If parents wish to have conversations with each other, please park in the middle of the main parking lot, leaving the quicker drop off and pick up lane free of parked or stalled cars.

Playground Rules

Students are to play safely while on the blacktop and school grounds. The playground equipment is for elementary aged students who can only be there with supervision. Any student found within any fenced off area will receive appropriate punishment. Small riding toys are for the early childhood department’s use only. No students may be outside without a designated adult for supervision, including after school hours. We expect parents to be watchful of their children who wish to play after school.

Inclement Weather

In the case of inclement weather, be it extreme heat or cold, or icy and snowy conditions, the school follows all MCPS announcements and on rare occasions makes a decision on its own. Parents can learn about delayed openings (either one or two hours late), early release (closing school before the normal 2:55 time), or school closings by signing up to receive text alerts from the county and/or by watching for an email sent from the school (assuming there are no widespread power outages). Another method is to follow what Montgomery County does. Regardless of county decisions, or school announcements, parents are expected to use their best judgment in such situations and do what they feel is most safe.

In cases of delayed openings, if the announcement is a one-hour delay school will start at 9:00 AM and if a two-hour delay is announced, school will begin at 10:00 AM. The schedule for those days will be adjusted and students will go to all classes they normally have on those days, but for a shorter amount of time. Therefore, students should come prepared for all classes.

Drug and Alcohol Use Policy

Possession and/or use results in immediate expulsion and notification of authorities.

Weapons/Dangerous Objects

Possession results in immediate expulsion and notification of authorities.

MASJID BEHAVIOR

The learning of proper salat etiquette begins at home. Families must be praying together at home in order for the students to be able to easily follow the rules and etiquette of the school’s salat time. Students in grades 1 – 12 must attend the daily salat in the masjid from Monday through Thursday. All students are expected to enter the masjid in wudhu, quietly, and with proper masjid etiquette. All students must join for salatul dhuhr, and those who wish to sit out of salatul asr must have written parent permission to do so.

Students are not permitted to do homework or any reading outside the Quran while in the masjid. Students in grades 4 – 12 must also attend Friday prayers. They will be instructed on specific Friday prayer rules as this is a congregational prayer open to the public where student behavior is directly linked to the school reputation in the community.

All students are expected to perform Salat unless they have a legitimate excuse.
The masjid should be entered with wudhu and in a calm, respectful manner knowing one is entering the house of Allah.
All shoes go on the shoe rack.
Students sit quietly in salat lines while waiting for it to begin.
Once it begins, remain in control of self – no talking or fidgeting.
Once finished, remain seated until dismissed.
The masjid is not a place to read books, do homework, or use headphones. These items may be confiscated and kept until the end of the year.
It is recommended that students read the Quran while waiting for salat to begin.

SCHOOL PROPERTY

Lockers

Lockers are property of MCS-AA and can be inspected at any time. Students may not store loose food in lockers and should clean out lunch leftovers every day. There may be a locker check once a quarter. Students may only use the lockers assigned to them, and any damage accrued on the assigned lockers will be the student’s responsibility.

Classrooms and Hallways

Students are to treat all parts of the building with respect, which involves not dragging furniture, writing in appropriate places, placing trash in the correct bins, and keeping personal items stowed in lockers.

Textbooks

All textbooks are property of MCS-AA or the state of Maryland and as such, students must have all books that are removed from the classroom covered to extend their use. The textbooks assigned to the student become the student’s responsibility; any damage accrued will lead to the student replacing the textbook.

TECHNOLOGY USE POLICY

Computers and Internet

MCS-AA is pleased to offer its students access to its computer resources and the internet. Although the school’s computer network is designed for educational purposes and all precautions to eliminate controversial and obscene material are taken, parents/guardians should be warned that some materials accessible on the internet might contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some people. MCS-AA hopes to work with parents to instruct our children regarding the responsible use of online and computer resources.

The use of the computer, including internet access, must be consistent with the educational objectives of MCS-AA.

To input, transmit, or knowingly receive any materials in violation of any United States, state of Maryland, or school regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted materials or threatening, harassing, or obscene materials.

Internet usage must involve:

Proper user ID and password to log onto the system
Exiting the system and windows fully before leaving the workstation
The knowledge that email is not guaranteed to be private and network storage areas will be treated as school property
Appropriate language at all times in all transmissions
No revealing of personal details such as full names, phone numbers, addresses, or photos of one’s self or others
Reasonable amounts of time in using the system

Students must not vandalize the network by harming or destroying the data or hardware on the system. Software will be installed or removed from the network and individual workstations by the system operators only. Students are not permitted to alter any of the system configurations.

Security of the computer system is essential. Access to electronic resources is intended for the exclusive use of authorized users. Any problems that arise from the use of an account are the responsibility of the account holder. Misuse may result in suspension of account privileges. Misuse may include, but is not limited to:

Trespassing in someone else’s files
Giving out passwords
Attempting to log in someone else’s account
Failure to notify a staff member regarding a security problem

Personal Devices

The use of mobile phones, smart watches (calling, texting, surfing the internet) or airpods are prohibited in the school. Any such device should not be brought to school and if needed to be in one’s possession for after school pick up reasons, the device must be turned into the office upon arrival at 8:00 a.m. Any requests from the office to access phones during the school day will be denied. Any needed phone call can be made from the main office. Confiscation of a student’s device will result in a fine to be paid to the office in order to retrieve the device.
Students cannot use school WI-FI unless they are using the net for schoolwork and unless they have obtained the teacher’s permission in advance.
The use of calculators is subject to the teacher's approval and regulations in the classroom.
Calculators that have memory or can be connected to the WI-FI are prohibited during quizzes, tests, and exams.
The use of tablets and laptops is subject to the classroom teacher's approval and class regulations.
The school will not be held responsible in any capacity for physical damage, loss or theft of any personally-owned device.
Student use of a personally-owned device must support the instructional activities currently occurring in the school environment.
Student devices with camera and video capability must not be used to impose upon the privacy of students and staff.
Elementary students may use personally-owned electronic devices after 3:00 p.m. Middle and high school students may use devices before 8:00 a.m. and after the school day ends. Students may use their personally-owned devices only for instructional purposes and only in adult-supervised areas and with their teacher’s permission.
By bringing personally owned devices to school, students and their families accept that school authorities may confiscate the items.
Students use the guest wireless network at their own risk. The school will not be held responsible for any damage that may occur as a result of connecting to the guest wireless network or any electrical power source.
The parents and/or guardians of any student bringing personal technology to school are responsible for and will be required to reimburse the school for any damage that their child may cause through the use of guest wireless network with his/her personally-owned device.

TRANSPORTATION

MCS-AA does not have its own form of transportation to or from school. Families can let the office know if they are interested in offering or receiving carpool opportunities with other families living in the same zip code.

VISITORS

Visitors to the school, including alumni and former students, must first be granted permission to come into the school or classes. All visitors are required to sign in at the main office and a visitor tag will be issued to them. Anyone seen in the hallways without a visitor’s badge should be asked to go to the main office. Parents are also asked not to visit hallways or classrooms during the school day without the explicit permission of the main office.

GRIEVANCES

MCS-AA takes all concerns or complaints by students, parents, teachers or others seriously. A grievance is defined to be a question, problem or a disagreement which arises. In such instances the following grievance procedures should be followed:

It is unacceptable for any parent to confront another MCS-AA student for any concerns and that parent must let the student’s teacher handle any interactions with that student.
General complaints and concerns about a teacher or other MCS-AA employee should first be directed to that teacher or employee. Oftentimes, this first step alleviates any misunderstandings or concerns.
Parent concerns regarding a teacher that remain unresolved after speaking to the teacher should be brought to the principal’s attention. At that point, an investigation will initiate with the principal deciding on the nature and scope of that investigation and whether to include the board.
Unresolved complaints or concerns may be brought before the school board by notifying them in writing. It is acceptable to have a brief conversation regarding the topic with a school board member but it should be understood that the school board members do not have the power to resolve conflict outside of the board acting as a whole.

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CONTACT

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