Let's go for a ride

Any one up for getting together towards the end of November?  The last bike ride was a success, with a wonderful turnout.

All we need is a dry sunny day.  We can always wrap up worm, don't you think?

Alternatively, we can just meet up and go for a stroll by the river (not sure which one yet).  Perhaps Cassiobury Park again? or Richmond Park?  or even in one of the parks in Harrow?

Come to thinkg of it, a park in Harrow where the kids can play in the play area where the parents chew the fat and solve he worlds problems is not a bad idea?

Oh, this is just a social - no fund raising required.

Anyway, if you are interested, just let me know at the school, leave me feedback here of email me.

I will update this blog next week when I have some feedback.

Take care and have a lovely week

Hassan

Only for a Sadka Jaria?

The reward in the after life, I mean?  The number of times I have heard this term on the past few weeks make me wonder whether people do good because they actually care or are they selfishly collecting "points" to give them sufficient credit in the after life?

Perhaps I am reading too much into it and human beings are naturally good caring people, and the sadka jaria is just a "bonus"?

Does it really matter what the intention is?  Surely, as long as that person is doing good is all that matters?

Having said that, what if I was not capable of helping someone out?  I want to do good, but my circumstances are preventing me from doing so.  Will I be punished for it?

We actually did 11K last Sunday!

We had  a great turnout!  Seven kids and two other dads cycled with us.  If I could post some pictures, you would be impressed.  Wait to see them on the screen in the school.

We were a bit evil by taking them up two steep hills, but it was worth it because the down hill ride was great fun.  Two additional families turn up to cheer us on, so th atmosphere was electric.  If only it was a bit hotter, the kids could have gone into the paddling pools - well, four did not care for the wind and just jumped in.

I am not sure about the other children, but my two, for the first time, asked to go to bet at 9:00 - so definitely worth it for me.

In terms of fund raising, we have pledges of £410, al-hamdulla.  Still over £300 away from our target, but, I can't complain.  Two more laptops is better than what we have now.

Take care
Hassan

Less than a week before the Junior Bikeathon

We have had one practice run, and, I, the grown up, had more pain in my legs than the kids!  Gosh, I am getting old!

Well, the park is beautiful.  It has a great paddling pool area, fantastic climbing frames and, if you are lucky, a couple of bouncy castles, lest not forget the famous ice cream van.  I am hoping that we have great weather so that we can have a relaxing picnic afer the event.

The plan is to meet up at 2:00 next Sunday, at the paddling pool area.  The kids and I, and any other keen rider, will then do our treck while the other parents will huddle in either a picnic area or on the benches baking in the sun, sipping their cola/juice drinks.

I am hoping that the cycle round the park will be completed in two hours, but, who is in a rush when the weather is beaufiful?  The kids are desperate to jump into the paddling pool straight afterwards, so, you may as well plan to be there for the rest of Sunday.  I know I am.

Just to avoid embarrassment, I will be practcing again this week, so that I can, at least, go ahead of the kids and stop to take photos as they approach interesting spots, such as the water falls, the canal boats, and, probably a few dogs following us.

And, don't forget to either sponsor us or get a sponsorship form, as the class rooms urgently need laptops to help them with their teaching.  The school currently shares two laptops between four classrooms as we are discovering that kids learn more from the interactivity that the computer can provide instead of the old fashioned black board.

Hassan

The parents were more nervous than the kids.

It is good to see how many parents preparing their kids for our assesment tests.  Masha Allah, you will be proud of the results that were attained.

I could not help but smile when I saw the parents asking questions and telling me about what they do and do not know, as if they were being tested themselves.

The kids, on the other hand, did not even blink.  They actually enjoyed the competitive atmosphere that I created in the classroom, especially with the recitation.

Two children stood out from the crowd, one boy and one girl, who were reciting with tajweed and tarteel, which encouraged me to get a competition going.

Now, I need to honour my promise and give out two special certificates.

Well, we have one more test next Saturday, in Islamic Studies.  I will then collate all the results and give the children their personal certificates to laminate and stick up on the wall.

I was told by one of the mums that, in India, weekly tests are the norm, so children grow up used to the idea, which strikes me as a better way than an end of term/end of year exam, when you cram everyting into an hour.  What do you think?

For us, we tend mark the children on an on-going basis, but, still wanted to give them an overall test to assess how muc they remember.

Until next time, when Level 2 will be tested

Oh dear, poor kids have a test

Well, the kids are too care free about the tests, as they just see it as a game, which is how it should be.

We tested the children in Beginners before the Easter break, with results that make us proud to teach these angels.  It is so cute hearing them recite the sura's with a hint of tajweed.  They are also so so eager to answer questions in Islamic Studies.

Now, it is time to do the same for Level 1.  I will be listening the the children reciting all the suras that we learnt in the past two terms, to see how much they can re-call.

The only writting paper will be the Arabic subject, as they have had a lot of practice on joining the letters, so, I pray to Allah that they do well.

We are blessed with the commitment of our teachers.  Eventhough one is stuck in Saudi following the volcano eruptions, we have still manged to get the rest of the teachers to fill in and continue teaching.  This is the beauty of having an electronic lesson/term plan that any teacher can just pick up.

Raising funds...

Well, I finally managed to find a venue and a date. I will be cycling a mini-bikeation with 4 kids round Cassiobury Park, in Watford.

The aim is to raise funds to buy the school three laptops, and, if possible, start a school library of books, CD's and DVD's that the children can borrow to use during the week.

I did the route myself yesterday and the scenary was so beautiful. You can come an watch, while enjoying a cuppa tea in the cafe.

You are even welcome to lend a hand and set up a BBQ for us, so that we can make a day out of it.