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Parent / Family
Malik Academy Handbook
2014-2015
100 Malcolm X Boulevard Roxbury, MA 02120
Phone: 617-427-0500
Fax: 617-427-0500
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] facebook.com/MalikAcademyAndAlBustan
twitter.com/MalikandBustan
www.malikacademy.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS Philosophy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Non-Discrimination Policy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Affiliations and Collaborations -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Family / School Partnership ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3
Parent Committee & Parent Support Organization 3
Parent Volunteer Commitment 3
Communication 4
Formal Parent/ Teacher Conferences 4
Orientation, Transition Period & Observations 4
Grievance Policy 4
Bulletin Boards and Website 5
Teacher Qualification -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Academic Programs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Curriculum 5
After School Program 6
Community Service
Assessment
7
7
Accelerating Students 8
Absenteeism Policy and Promotion 8
Enrollment Procedure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Required Enrollment Papers 8
Enrollment and Fees 8
Tuition Discounts 9
Delinquent Accounts and Withdrawals 10
School Operations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Hours of Operation 10
Late Arrival 10
Late Pick Up 11
Daily Schedule 11
Holiday Schedule 11
Snow Days 12
Outdoor Play 12
Lunch and Snacks 12
Free and Reduced Food Program 13
What Your Child Needs to Bring 13
Services for Students -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
Transportation 14
Field Trips 14
Library 14
Computer Use 14
Winter / Spring /Summer Programs 15
Pets 15
School Environment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
Rights and Responsibilities 15
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 16
Behavior Management and Discipline Plan 16
Discipline 17
Bullying 18
Plagiarism 20
School Policies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Birthdays 21
Photography and Video 21
Electronics 21
Social Networking
Uniform
21
21
Extra Clothes 22
Expelling a Student 22
Building 23
Special Needs Policy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
Safety and Security ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
Release of Children 24
Sick Policy 24
Allergies and Medication 24
Nut, Peanut and Sesame-Free School 25
Accidents 25
Frequently Asked Questions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
Resources for Families ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 25
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Philosophy
Malik Academy prepares students for future success by focusing on a
love for and understanding of Islam. Malik Academy stresses the
comprehensive nature of Islam by integrating it into all areas of
academic development, social interaction, personal growth, positive
values and moral behavior. Through this balanced focus, we hope
students develop a strong relationship with their Creator, healthy
connection with all parts of the community, and keen minds and
knowledge to excel in academic pursuits. We focus on multi-cultural
acceptance and understanding so our children can proceed forward to
represent Islam honorably within our society.
Our school aims at providing a warm, secure environment that
promotes the fullest possible development of the whole child. The
program is designed to nurture the social, spiritual, emotional,
cognitive, and physical development of children from the elementary
and middle grade ages. Children learn through a variety of settings
including socialization with their peers and through interaction with
adults. They learn from hands-on, active involvement with their
environment and, most importantly, they learn through play. Our staff
aims to invoke the joy of learning through a variety of educational
activities and learning experiences. We partner with parents and
families to help each child develop the ability to set high educational
goals, strive to follow the model of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH),
show progress in social and emotional development, and aim to be
active and productive member of society. We encourage
independence combined with a sense of responsibility to a larger
community, a love of service, an appreciation of order, a reverence for
nature, and a sense of inquiry and wonder.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Malik Academy and Al Bustan Preschool do not discriminate in
student admissions or staff employment. Malik Academy does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in
the administration of its educational policies, admission policies,
scholarship and loan programs.
Affiliations and Collaborations
Malik Academy has been recognized by the Boston Public School
(BPS) system. The office of the superintendent of Boston has officially
approved the school’s setting and program. As a recognized private
school in the BPS district, Malik Academy is always looking to build
bridges with a variety of educational offices and starting to appreciate
the opportunities that this great location offers.
Malik Academy is a project of the Muslim American Society-Boston
Chapter (MAS) and is a member of the Muslim American Society
Council of Islamic Schools (MASCIS), the educational branch that is
working to establish an effective network of Islamic schools
nationwide in order to exchange information and expertise.
Malik is a member of the New England Council of Islamic School
(NECIS), an organization which channels the Islamic school resources
and expertise into promoting the betterment of Islamic education in the
New England area. Malik Academy participates and leads NECIS
meetings. It facilitates professional development opportunities for
member schools and actively promotes an exchange of know-how and
support within the members of NECIS.
In addition, Malik Academy is affiliated with the ISBCC Health
Initiative Team. Based on the input of staff and families at Malik
Academy, this group of health providers provides a combination of
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supports including workshops for parents, health, social and academic
services for students, and administrative support and consultation in
addressing health and medical issues.
Malik Academy also participates in and shares resources with the
Islamic Schools' League of America (ISLA), which envisions and
works towards nurturing innate creativity and children’s inquisitive
natures in the pursuit of academic excellence while anchoring their
hearts and souls in a moral framework of a God-centered life.
Al Bustan is accredited by the National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC).
Family / School Partnership
Parent Committees & Parent Support
Organization (PSO)
Parents play a central role in the success of the Malik Academy
programs. Parents and teachers act as partners to ensure the success of
every child. Parents continuously support teachers by participating in
events and initiating / leading activities. In a manner consistent with
the Al-Bustan / Malik Academy by-laws, parents have organized to
form a parent support organization (PSO). Parents may engage in
school and classroom-specific matters through the regular meetings
and communication of the PSO and the committees that work with the
school staff and board. The committees include:
Recruitment/Marketing Committee
Fundraising Committee
Physical Plant Committee
Special Events Committee
PSO members work closely with the principal to formulate a calendar
of events and prioritize the services needed by the school. PSO
members focus on the work described by the four mentioned
committees. They may also help identify issues throughout the year
and communicate them to the administration.
Parents of Malik Academy participate in the election of PSO members,
which usually takes place in January.
Parent Volunteer Commitment
As part of an ongoing commitment to build the school community,
families are requested to contribute 75 volunteer hours over the course
of the school year to assist the school and its programs. Some of the
areas where volunteer energy is welcomed include:
Provide a guest appearance in your child’s class to share a skill or
artifact, read a book, speak about a culture or country, or to help,
generally
Accompany children on or organize field trips
Substitute for teachers when absent (if qualified)
Assist in planning special events (graduation, Eid party)
Make classroom materials (i.e. cutting, laminating)
Assist the administration in assigned tasks
Assist with maintaining or improving the physical plant
Care and maintain the classroom plants
Support school technology
Help with hot lunches
Take photographs and videos during school events
Maintain and repair library books
Lead fundraising projects
Help write grants
It is up to the parent to decide how and when to be involved. Parents
who wish to volunteer in the classroom or accompany children on field
trips will need to get a criminal background check (CORI). This is
expected by any state licensing or accreditation agency for anyone
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who works with children. All volunteer hours will be logged and
recorded.
Communication
Malik Academy believes in proactive, frequent communication with
families using a variety of methods.
Office Communication
The office administrator sends home the “Malik Mailer” in a hard and
electronic copy, every other Wednesday. This newsletter contains
glimpses at student work and news from inside the classrooms,
upcoming events, and other notices for parents. In addition, whenever
needed the administrator will send notes and reminders, usually on
Wednesdays, as well. All flyers and reminders are posted on the
school bulletin boards.
In case of urgent matters, the administrator contacts parents via phone.
Teacher Communication
Individual teachers provide classroom newsletters. The monthly
newsletters give updates on areas of classroom inquiry, reminders
about upcoming assessments or events, and other important
information such as spelling lists.
Malik Academy wants families to feel that the staff is accessible and
welcomes two-way communication. Due to the busy nature of the
morning drop-off time and afternoon pick-up times, these times are not
ideal to have student-focused conversations with teachers. If you want
to discuss any concern or a matter pertaining to your child in detail,
please make an appointment or email [email protected].
It is our duty to provide a comfortable and safe environment for
children, their families and staff at school; the school has a zero
tolerance towards verbal or physical abuse. Malik Academy reserves
the right to take appropriate action leading to the expulsion of your
child and/or reporting to authorities in the case of failure by a
parent/guardian to follow the school regulations in such a way that the
school becomes unsafe for staff and children.
Formal Parent/Teacher Conferences
Formal Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year by
appointment. Sign-up sheets will be made available to parents. We
will make every effort to accommodate your work schedules so that
both parents can attend. Teachers will discuss assessment information
and report cards with families at these meetings and give them any
relevant forms to discuss the progress and development of their child
in the classroom.
Additional teacher conferences may be scheduled any time during the
year per the request of the parent, teacher, or administrator. Please
contact your child’s teacher directly to make arrangements for an
additional conference.
Orientation, Transition Period & Observations
Parents may accompany a new child in the lower elementary to their
classroom for a reasonable period during their first week of school.
Once school is in session, parents and/or other visitors must make
arrangements through the school office to schedule school visits and
classroom observations, if needed. A meeting will also be set up with
the parents, child, and at least one member of the teaching staff in
order to assist in the transition.
Observations can be scheduled any time during the year. Visitors must
provide information on a Visitor Information Card. Visitors will
receive observation instructions and are requested to watch quietly and
not interact with the children, unless a child comes up to them.
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Grievance Policy
Malik Academy encourages parents to make suggestions and discuss
their classroom concerns with teachers. For issues related to classroom
practices, parents should speak initially with teachers and give them
ample time to address the discussed issues. Parents should also revisit
the issues with teachers if they have not seen any changes to make sure
there was no communication barrier.
If parents feel their classroom concerns were not adequately resolved,
they should directly communicate with the principal and allow for time
to resolve the concern. School wide concerns should be initially
discussed with the principal.
Issues which have not been resolved through the principal should be
discussed with a board member. We strongly discourage parents from
discussing school concerns with other parents, teachers not involved in
the situation, or community members because comments may be
misrepresented. Further, such discussions would not resolve the
situation. Instead, we would like to empower you to discuss the matter
with those who can be of help.
We also encourage parents to give the feedback as the issues arise and
not to wait until the matter becomes too old or too difficult to resolve.
Bulletin Boards & Website
Malik Academy staff posts new and relevant information on the school
bulletin boards, and on the walls located next to the classroom and the
office. School-related materials and resources are also available on
our web-site at http://www.MalikAcademy.org
Teacher Qualifications
All Malik Academy teachers hold a B.A. in education or in a field
related to their teaching assignments (Ex: B.S. in Science for science
teachers) and have previous work experience in teaching and child
development. Our staff development policy is very supportive towards
empowerment and advancing employees’ academic qualifications and
professionalism. Although it is not required for private school teachers
to be certified, our staff are either certified or are strongly encouraged
by the School Board to pursue teaching certification.
Each teacher has an individualized professional development plan
which is geared toward reinforcing his/her teaching skills and keeping
the teacher updated with the latest educational research and practices.
In addition to professional support provided to staff within the school,
teachers attend professional development workshops and conferences
through local, national and Islamic organizations. Furthermore,
teachers visit public and private schools in the area and Islamic school
to network with other educators and share expertise.
Academic Programs
Curriculum
Our teachers incorporate commercial and teacher-made instructional
materials to stimulate the development of children. We use a number
of publishers to support a strong and invigorating curriculum in
accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Education
curriculum frameworks and the Core Curriculum.
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Our curriculum is child-friendly, center-based, and designed to
facilitate exploration and free choice interaction with a variety of
learning materials as well as offering individualized, small group and
large group formal instruction in the following:
Arabic Language
Arts
Computer Literacy
Drama and Nasheed (Islamically inspired songs)
Islamic Studies
Language Arts (Reading and Writing)
Math
Physical Education
Sciences
Social Studies
Electives such as cooking and drama
The curricula build upon scholastic programs which give each student
the opportunity to excel in school. Teachers sequence activities
according to level of difficulty, so children are able to work at the
optimal level at which they are comfortable. Teachers facilitate
growth and learning by observing carefully, differentiating
instructions, and inspiring children to move to higher levels as soon as
the child exhibits readiness. Creativity and imagination are highly
valued and encouraged.
We value the cultural diversity that flourishes at our school and strive
to represent the students’ cultures through books, songs, or show-and-
tell presentations.
After School Program
The after school provides an enrichment program for any child ages 4
to 12. It is open to Malik Academy students as well as other students.
It fulfills the need to engage students in a variety of physical, artistic,
and educational activities in an Islamic environment. Group
enrichment activities and outdoor time is offered, as well as
individualized attention. Sample enrichment programs are:
Qur’an memorization
Homework help
Computer classes
Arts and crafts
Sewing
Physical fitness
Parents are encouraged to enroll their children in the after school
program on a yearly or monthly basis. This gives the staff the ability
to plan for the proper number of students.
Fees for the after school program are as follows:
5 days/week $200
4 days/week $175
3 days/week $140
2 days/week $100
1 day week/$50
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After school fees are covered by the voucher program for students of
all ages.
Any child who is enrolled in Malik may participate in the after school
program on an occasional “drop in” basis. Parents must make
arrangements with staff at least one day in advance to ensure that
there is space available on that day.
Community Service
While we encourage and support community services by all students,
Middle school students are required to perform community service
hours. At Malik Academy, we value helping others and make it a vital
portion of our school community aims. Prophet Mohamed (PBUH)
said, “Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his
brother.” While our students engage in opportunities to serve the
community, they also learn the social and interpersonal skills to build
strong spiritual community leaders.
Sixth grade students are required eight hours of community service,
while seventh graders are required 10 hours and eight graders 12
hours. The student performance is added to the Religion grade of the
third term upon completion of the service.
Malik Academy encourages its students to participate in the local
community by engaging in the many offered programs such as
volunteering at the local Muslim homeless shelter, participating with
the ISBCC clean-up day, recycling bottles (200 Cans or bottles/one
hour) to name a few
Assessment
Teachers use a range of formal and informal assessment techniques
that incorporate structured and unstructured observations of cognitive,
personal, and interpersonal activity. There are three report cards sent
home each at the end of a term. Two parent-teacher conferences are
scheduled in the year.
Teachers keep records of student performance during formal tests,
quizzes, projects, and compositions. In addition, teachers note
students’ classroom participation, homework effort, and the social and
personal habits during school.
At the end of each term, teachers summarize the marks and write
formal observations in a report card.
In addition, teachers observe and assess the child’s development
throughout the year. They build a portfolio for each student, which
includes samples of the work done showing the student’s progress
during the year and from one year to the next.
A formal assessment is also administered through the standardized
California Achievement Test (CAT), Terra Nova, during the last
quarter of each school year. Based on the results, individual and group
progresses are studied and plans for individual and school programs
are formed.
Accelerating Students
Parents or teachers may request a student to be promoted beyond the
next grade level or the expected grade according to the child’s age.
Malik Academy discourages accelerating students unless there is
exceptionally strong evidence the student will be able to successfully
navigate the academic adjustments in addition to social and personal
growth appropriate for the change. In order for a student to be
considered for academic acceleration, the student should have:
- A 3.90 grade point average or above.
- Report cards’ social development, behavior, and academic
habits should have grades indicating very good or excellent.
- Report cards’ teacher comments should indicate very good or
excellent behavior, social and academic progress.
- 2 recommendation letters from current grade teachers speaking
to the need of accelerating the student and the child’s ability to
be successful.
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The school office will take all of the above information into
consideration and will use any additional piece of information to make
the best decision for the student. The office decisions are final.
Absenteeism Policy and Promotion
Parents are requested to notify the school before 8:30 A.M. in the case
of an unanticipated absence. Please let us know as far in advance as
possible for any anticipated absences. Teachers are usually able to
assign necessary work assignment for the planned absence ahead of
time. Teachers will also try their best to help students make-up the
work they have missed while they were absent upon their return.
Ultimately, any work that is missed due to a prolonged absence (more
than 2 days) becomes the responsibility of the parent. Please keep the
lines of communication open with the staff so we can assist in working
out any problems regarding absences.
The school is unable to guarantee the promotion to the next grade level
of any student who misses more than 10 full school days. A decision is
made at the end of the year to assess the progress of the student and a
summer program may be required.
Enrollment Procedure
Required Enrollment Paperwork
The following documents are required before enrollment is complete:
1. Application form
2. Copy of the student’s birth certificate or passport
3. Medical and immunization records (within last year)
4. Previous school comprehensive academic records
(Include all transcripts, educational assessments, IEP
when applicable)
5. Signed Authorization of Transfer of Student Records form
6. Signed Enrollment Contract
7. Signed Provisional Agreement
8. Signed Emergency Card (both sides)
9. Signed Allergy Posting Consent form
10. Signed Field Trip Permission Slip
11. Signed Photo / Video Release form
All files will be handled only by authorized school personnel and will
not be shared without written parental permission.
Enrollment and Fees
In order to suit the various families with diverse needs, we offer a
variety of options for tuition fee payment plans. Our aim in all
monetary dealings is to make the tuition payment as simple and
convenient to the parents as possible.
New applications should be submitted with:
$100 non-refundable processing fee for every new student.
$400 non-refundable deposit, which is applied towards the last
month’s tuition payment.
We accept credit cards, money orders and personal checks payable to
Malik Academy. Tuition payments may not be made in cash. If the
bank returns your check due to nonsufficient funds, you will be
charged a $50 returned check fee.
There are four options for tuition fee payment plans. Parents must
commit to one in writing, at the time of enrollment.
Plan 1 – One payment – Payment of entire fees by Sept 1.
Parents receive an extra 5% for making a full payment.
Plan 2 – Two payments – Due by September 1 and February 1.
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Plan 3 – Four payments – Due by September 1, November 15,
February 15 and April 15.
Plan 4 – Ten monthly payments – Due by the 1st of every
month, September through June.
Tuition payments are due one week before the first day of the assigned
months unless other arrangements have been made through the school
office. A notice goes out to the families a week prior to due dates.
Tuition Discounts
Our school tuition policy is friendly towards families. We offer early
enrollment reductions, referral discounts, discounts to families with
multiple children enrolled during the same academic year, and
additional discounts for families with low-income. In addition,
families can use the voucher program to pay for the after school
program and full-day tuition of children up to 6 years old.
Early Enrollment
Application submitted before March 1st of the following academic year
will be processed with a $150 tuition reduction per student.
Referral Discount
Referral discounts are available and include up to $500 per
referred new family to any elementary and middle school grade.
Discount Rules:
- The referred student/family should mention the name of the family
referring them to school on the enrollment application.
- The referring family should have at least one student enrolled in
the school for the academic year for which a new student is referred.
- The referring family will receive a discount equal to 10% of the
tuition paid by all referred students by that family and up to a
maximum of $500 per referred student.
- The referred family is a family that has not enrolled a child in the
school before.
- The referring family can transfer the discount to other families they
designate attending the school.
- The referred student should be accepted in the school and his/her
family pays tuition without delinquency.
-The discount is for one academic year.
- Referring and referred families should be in good financial standing
with tuition payments. Delinquency in tuition payment would void the
discount.
- Malik Academy staff members are not eligible for the discount
program.
- Discounts may not be cashed out.
Sibling Discounts
When enrolling 2 siblings, each child will receive a 5% discount.
When enrolling 3 siblings, each child will receive an 8% discount.
When enrolling 4 siblings, each child will receive a 12% discount.
Families with financial hardships
Families facing financial hardships are encouraged to fill out a
scholarship application. After returning the application form and all
the necessary financial documents, a scholarship committee
determines if the family is eligible for a 10, 20 or 30% discount.
Voucher Program
The voucher program is a state funded program which covers most of
the tuition fees for children 6 years old or under and the after school
fees for all ages. Applications go through the voucher offices located
in your local city or town.
You may contact us at the school office to find out the contact
information of your local voucher office.
To qualify, parents need to show proof of financial need and should be
going to school or working.
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Reduced Deposit
A $100 non-refundable deposit per child should be submitted with the
application for families applying for a scholarship.
Delinquent Accounts and Withdrawals
Malik Academy depends on the steady income from tuition to honor
its financial commitments. Any delinquency in payments may have
negative consequences on the smooth running of school operations.
We ask all parents to be diligent in abiding by their school contract
commitments.
Delinquent Accounts Policy
The student account is considered delinquent if a payment is more that
30 days late. Students with delinquent accounts may not be allowed to
attend classes. Student report cards will not be released until payment
is made in full. Students with delinquent accounts will not be eligible
for readmission for the next academic year. In cases of extreme
financial difficulty, the school may consider the family’s economic
situation and account history on a case by case basis in order to avoid
disruptions to the student’s learning while ensuring the family fulfills
its financial obligation to the school.
Withdrawal Policy
$450 deposit for new students ($400 deposit for returning students
or $100 for families on scholarship) is non-refundable.
Parents are liable for 25% of annual total tuition / fees if student
withdraws during September.
Parents are liable for 50% of annual total tuition / fees if student
withdraws during October-November.
Parents are liable for 100% of annual total tuition / fees if student
withdraws after November 31st.
There is no tuition reimbursement for sick days or other related
absences. For a long break in services due to personal family matters
that require absence, parents may present their case to the Board of
Directors in order to determine, on an individualized basis, if there will
be a reduction in tuition. Additional factors taken into consideration
may include the enrollment demands of the child’s class.
School Operations
Hours of Operation
Malik Academy is open from Monday through Friday (except during
school holidays), from 7:45 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. After school program
is provided from 3:15 to 5:30 P.M. Parents can drop off as early as
7:30 A.M. if need be, but students should not arrive later than 8:10
A.M. Classes start promptly.
Late Arrival
The following procedures will be used to record and document late
arrivals:
Students are expected to be inside the school building at 8:00 A.M. A
tardy is defined as any student not in their seat in their classroom
by 8:10 A.M. Unexcused absences and tardies will result in reduced
participation points for the class. In addition, chronic tardiness will
result in the teacher and/or the administrator contacting the parents.
Tardies will be documented per trimester and marked on the report
cards. Students from grades 4 to 8 who exceed 10 tardy days per term
will be subject to after school detention equal to the approximate time
that was lost through tardiness.
Parents need to call ahead of time to inform about a planned tardiness.
Excused tardiness includes a visit to the doctor / dentist, family
emergency such as an accident or health related emergencies, road
constructions, or inclement weather.
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Late Pick-Up
Daily school dismissal is from 3:00 to 3:15 P.M. The after school
program ends at 5:30 P.M. If an emergency occurs, and you are unable
to pick up your child on time, please call and notify the school. A fee
of $1.00 will be charged per each additional five minutes PER child, if
children are picked up later than 3:15 P.M., $2.00 later than 5:30 P.M.
Repeated late pick-ups after 5:30 P.M. will result in a parent
conference and possible dismissal from the school.
In cases of unexpected tardiness and if the parent calls ahead of time
and explains that they may be late for pick-up, it is up to the
administrator’s discretion to charge the late parent. In case of
emergency such as an accident or health related emergencies, road
constructions, or inclement weather, the fee is waived.
Parents who have children at Al Bustan need to make
arrangements with the school ahead of time to coordinate between
the pickup times at both campuses.
If a student has not been picked up by 3:30 P.M., s/he will join the
after school program. Depending on the situation, an administrator
may start calling the numbers on the student’s emergency card to make
sure the family is on its way to the school. The family will
automatically be charged $15 per hour (even if the student is picked up
before the full hour is over). The fee will go toward the after school
program.
After school fees will be waived in case of uncontrollable
circumstances (family emergency such as an accident or health related
emergencies, road constructions, or inclement weather). The
administrators on site shall be the sole judge of what constitutes an
uncontrollable circumstance.
Daily Schedule
The daily schedule is planned based on the recommendations made by
the Massachusetts Department of Education. Students receive the
following instruction:
A minimum of 2 hours of Language Arts daily for elementary and
1.5 hours for middle school (Massachusetts DoE recommends
45minutes for middle school grades)
A minimum of 1 hour of Math daily for elementary and 45
minutes for middle school (Massachusetts DoE recommends 45
minutes for middle school grades)
A minimum of 45 minutes of sciences daily for elementary and
1.5 hours for middle schools
45 minutes of Arabic daily
45 minutes of Islamic Studies daily
45 minutes of electives 2 to 4 times / week. These change and may
include: physical education, library, drama, arts, computer class
and others.
45 minutes of break including snack, lunch and recess, outdoor
weather permitting.
15 minutes of congregational prayers.
Each teacher plans the schedule with the goal of maximizing the
learning and makes the necessary changes after an initial period of
observation at the beginning of the year.
Parents receive their child’s classroom daily schedule from teachers
during the first weeks of school.
Holiday Schedule
Each year, parents will receive an academic calendar that includes the
following major holidays:
Labor Day
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Columbus Day
Thanksgiving
Eid-ul Fitr
Christmas/Winter Break
New Year’s Day
Eid-ul Adha
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Winter Break
Spring Break
Memorial Day
For working parents who may not be able to take off long holidays, the
school will provide a winter and spring program for children.
Snow Days
Weather-related cancellations will follow the Boston Public School
(Roxbury campus) and the Cambridge Public School (Al Bustan
campus) closures. Whenever both cities are closed due to inclement
weather, Malik Academy will close. When 1 city closes while the
other does not, Malik Academy will assess the need for closing
independently.
Based on the discretion of the principal and Board members, there may
be other weather-related cancellations based on the schedules of other
public and private schools in the area and on the road conditions
around the campuses.
In addition to radio, television, email and internet postings related to
weather cancellations, you may call (617) 868-2322. In case of
cancellation, a message will be left on the answering system by 6:30
A.M. on the day of the snow emergency.
Outdoor Play
Weather permitting, children play outside as part of their daily
activities. Please provide appropriate clothing such as sweaters, hats,
and mittens during the cold winter months and light uniform t-shirts
and pants when it is warm. Please avoid dressing your child in shorts
and short skirts to avoid injuries. If a child has forgotten the
appropriate clothing, the child may need to stay indoors with a staff
member.
In the event of snow, rain or extreme temperatures such as higher than
90º F or lower than 20º F, including the wind-chill factor, children will
play indoors. We will check www.weather.com to monitor current
temperatures and air quality.
Lunch and Snacks
Eating is a big part of every child’s day. Please feed your child a
substantial breakfast before they come to school. In most elementary
grades, children learn about nutritious, healthy foods through their
health and science program and they may have cooking activities in
class. During snack and lunch times teachers will sit and eat with the
children and engage them in conversation about nutrition and about
their food selections.
To comply with quality standards regarding food, the school cannot
refrigerate or warm food; please use ice packs and thermoses and label
your child’s lunchbox. If your child does not bring a lunchbox, please
label all containers individually.
A variety of finger foods cut into child-size portions are best. Fresh
and dried fruits, raw vegetables, whole grain breads, meats and high
protein foods, dairy products and other healthy foods are suggested.
Please do not pack foods that are high in sugar such as cookies and
donuts. Water is recommended given that juice is high in sugar
content. At times, it may be necessary for teachers to limit students
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from eating some of their packed foods if they find their learning to be
affected by the consumed high sugar or calorie food.
Children will be encouraged to eat what is in their lunch box. No food
sharing is allowed. Any remaining lunch will go back into the lunch
box, so parents can be aware of the amount and types of foods their
child actually ate.
Free and Reduced Food Program:
Malik Academy offers free and reduced breakfast, lunch and snack
(snack is offered for students who participate in the after school
program.) Food is catered from a Halal restaurant and lunches are
delivered daily.
Malik Academy follows the USDA requirements for healthy and low
calorie meals. A meal menu is sent to parents at the beginning of each
month to inform them of the planned meals for the month.
Families may apply for the program at the beginning of the year or any
time after that. Families who qualify for the free or reduced prices will
have their child/ren receive the meals daily for the reduced price or for
free, accordingly. Families who are not eligible for free or reduced
meals can still participate in the program for the minimal fee that the
school has assigned per meal.
Any family which has received approval for free or reduced meals will
continue to receive the service throughout the school year, even if the
financial state of the family changes.
Meal Cost:
Breakfast: Regular Price: $1.50 - Reduced Price: $0.15
Lunch: Regular Price: $3.00 - Reduced Price: $0.40
Snack: Regular Price: $1.00 - Reduced Price: $0.10
Parents or other adults who purchase meals will be charged as follows:
Breakfast: $1.75
Lunch: $3.50
Snack: $1.50
What Your Child Needs to Bring
Before the beginning of every academic year, Malik Academy parents
receive a list of supplies to purchase for the following academic year.
The list includes personal items, such as:
Lunchbox or lunch container marked with child’s name
Backpack marked with child’s name
Notebooks and binders
Folders
Pencil pouch
Painting smock
The list also includes items which are shared with the rest of the
class, such as:
Erasers
Glue sticks
#2 pencils
Scissors
Colored pencils
Gallon-sized, Ziploc® bags
Clorox® wipes
Tissue boxes
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Services for Students
Transportation
Malik Academy offers free transportation through the Boston Public
Schools (BPS) to the following towns:
Allston
Back Bay
Brighton
Charlestown
Downtown
East Boston
Mission Hill
South End
Students must reside at least 1 mile from the Malik Academy location
within the listed towns. The Boston Public school defines residency as
the home where the student lays his head at night.
Malik Academy students share the BPS busing with other students
from other neighboring schools.
Malik Academy also provides assistance to parents to help find
families to carpool with and to facilitate transportation between the
elementary and the preschool campuses.
Field Trips
Field trips are a significant part of the school curriculum. They give a
child a sense of community, ignite the child’s interest, and provide the
fun and proper exposure to new ideas. Many of our field trips are
walking distance from our campus. Whenever we need to drive to
field trips, we will utilize buses or vehicles with appropriate seat belts
and parents will be asked to volunteer to accompany us. A consent
form needs to be signed for each of the long-distance field trips. A
field trip fee will be charged based on the admission cost and
transportation arrangements.
Library
The school is maintaining a library to benefit students. A committee of
parents organizes the books and ensures their proper levels and
subjects. The library is divided into genres and includes a variety of
topics of interest to children. The library also includes a small
selection of Arabic books. Students are allowed to borrow up to 2
books and are expected to return the borrowed items within 2 weeks.
Students from grades 1 and 2 keep the borrowed books in their
classrooms. Late fees and lost book reimbursements are in effect as
follows:
Books not returned after 2 weeks will cost a fee of $.50 per book
for each week they are late.
Damaged or lost books can be replaced or their cost can be
reimbursed to the school.
Computer Use
Students are expected to use the school's computer equipment both
responsibly and productively. Students must have a faculty member's
permission before operating a computer, before using any specific
software, or before uploading or downloading information. They must
access only those files that they have created or ones that have been
created for their use. Rules and guidelines regarding the operation of
school computers will be detailed by the homeroom teacher. Parents
are urged to monitor their child's use of the computer at home - make
use of the "Parental Controls" options to prevent access to
inappropriate web sites and chat rooms.
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Winter / Spring / Summer Programs
During each of the week-long breaks, Malik Academy offers an
extended program as a service to families and to enrich the children’s
experiences.
Even though Qur’an memorization and some Arabic Language
Acquisition is intertwined in the programs, the main purpose of these
programs is to offer a fun and safe environment for children where
their positive self-image as young Muslims is reinforced and a warm
and friendly social environment is made available.
Sample activities offered during these programs are:
Arts and crafts
Stories from the Sahaba / Qur’an
Swimming
Memorization of the Qur’an
Field trips
Physical activities
Cooking
The extended programs cost an additional fee.
Pets
Part of the care of the environment involves care of animals (and
plants). If teachers wish, they will adopt classroom pets such as a
rabbit or a fish aquarium and the children will share responsibility for
their care. We require a note from the veterinarian stating that the pet
is safe around children, in good health and fully immunized.
Household pets are also appropriate for “sharing” or show-and-tell, but
the parent must remain at school and take the pet home right after the
child has presented it at circle time. Please, only bring gentle,
housebroken pets that are used to young children. Reptiles are not
allowed because of the risk for the salmonella infection. If a child is
allergic to a type of animal, he/ she will not be exposed to that animal.
School Environment
Rights and Responsibilities
The Student's Rights:
The child has the right to be treated with dignity and respect at
all times.
The child has the right to be spoken to and spoken about with
respect at all times.
The child has the right to learn at his/her own rate.
The child has the right to confidentiality of records.
The child has the right to the opportunity to engage in any
activity that does not interfere with the safety and rights of
others. This activity should be observed and channeled so that
it meets the child's interests and needs.
All children have the right to participate in all aspects of the
curriculum provided by the school.
The right to be safe
The responsibility to help, comfort and protect people
The right to work
The responsibility to cooperate and to use good manners
The right to use materials in good condition
The responsibility to choose work you know how to do
The right to listen in a group.
The responsibility to raise your hand in a group to talk
The right to talk
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The responsibility to use a quiet speaking voice
The right to walk around
The responsibility to walk slowly and carefully
The right to concentrate
The responsibility to let people work and play undisturbed
The right to a clean environment
The responsibility to help clean and maintain the environment
The Parents’ Rights:
Parents have the right to work with teachers and staff to
determine any special services their child may need.
Parents have the right to access their child’s records.
Parents have the right to have important documentation kept
private. All records will be kept strictly confidential at all
times and will be shared with you upon request.
Parents have the right to speak directly with their child’s
teachers for questions or concerns about their child or the
school. Please check with teachers regarding the best time for
them to meet with you and schedule an appointment.
Furthermore, please contact the principal if you would like to
speak with her. We value the involvement of parents and
believe that parent-teacher collaboration is critical and
imperative to the growth and development of your child.
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy
As caretakers, we are entrusted with ensuring the care and well-being
of the children we serve. To ensure that we do not violate such a trust
and to protect the welfare of each child in our care, Malik Academy
has adopted a Child Abuse and Neglect Policy consistent with the
provisions laid out in Mass General Laws and the Department of
Social Services. All staff and volunteers, are mandated reporters and
therefore suspected non-institutional child abuse and neglect shall be
reported. Similarly, if you ever have questions or concerns about the
care of your child, please speak directly with your child’s teacher or
with the principal of the school. The safety of your child is Malik
Academy’s utmost priority and the staff and administration will work
their hardest to ensure their wellbeing.
It is our duty to provide a comfortable and safe environment to
children, their families and staff at school and the school has zero
tolerance towards verbal, emotional, or physical abuse. Malik
Academy reserves the right to take appropriate action leading to
expulsion of your child and/or reporting to authorities in the case of a
parent/guardian failure to follow the school regulations in such a way
that the school will become unsafe for staff and children.
Behavior Management and Discipline Plan
The role of Malik Academy and Al Bustan Preschool is to encourage
each child's developmental growth in a positive way. We believe each
child should be treated with honesty and respect in a caring manner.
Children deserve the opportunity to learn from their experiences. Our
role, as educators, is to nurture their learning using a variety of
techniques, methods or strategies.
At no time will a child be subject to physically or verbally demeaning
punishment nor will withholding of food be used as a form of
discipline in compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Early
Education and Care. Guidance and discipline will be achieved through
varying forms, such as:
Providing age-appropriate and safe environments
Modeling appropriate behaviors
Stating developmentally appropriate expectations
Reinforcing positive behaviors
Helping children to problem-solve
Using classroom rules
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Presenting natural consequences
Offering motivational techniques
Redirecting the misbehavior
In case of persistent disruptive behavior, the child will be removed
from the immediate area to calm down. The teacher will remain close
by and would discuss the situation with the child, setting a positive
tone for re-entry. Whenever necessary, the principal will be involved
to provide the child with a neutral and positive setting and to further
discuss the incident with the child.
If a child's behavior becomes detrimental to the child, other children,
or the classroom environment, the situation will be discussed with the
child's parent or guardian. A behavioral plan will be developed to
address the behavior. Progress will be monitored and reviewed by the
staff and parents or guardians of the child. If needed, outside sources
may be utilized with parental permission.
Whenever all attempts at resolving the behavior have been tried and it
is determined that the child's needs cannot be met by this program;
alternative settings will be considered, including transferring to
another program or termination from this program.
Discipline
Students are always treated fairly and with respect. They are guided to
behave according to Islamic etiquettes throughout the day and are
given many reminders. Whenever situations occur, they are given the
benefit of the doubt.
Positive Consequences:
Each classroom will use a marble jar incentive. Marbles will be earned
for individual behavior / initiatives from students and for group efforts.
The class will try to earn the highest number of marbles in a single day
in an effort to fill up the jar. Once the jar is full, the class will enjoy a
group reward.
Negative Consequences:
Grade 1 and 2
Students will follow a color-coded system, green, yellow and red. The
“Rule Checklist” includes signs for talking, moving around, not paying
attention, being loud, and bothering others. Students will be given
reminders for minor infractions.
Third warning, a student will color the “Rules Sheet” with a red
pencil and sit on the “Reflection Chair” for 5 minutes.
Students in grade 2 will also write a sentence to reflect on the
situation.
Grade 3, 4, and 5
Students will be given reminders for minor infractions.
Second warning, the student will write a reflection sheet and sit
separately from the group.
Third warning, the student will write a reflection sheet and lose time
from an elective or recess.
For any student who continues to have trouble following rules, further
consequences will be implemented at the discretion of the teacher. The
parent / guardian and/or the Principal will be notified. A behavior plan
may also be drafted with the help of the student’s parent / guardian.
Visiting the Office
Students who have trouble controlling their behavior will be removed
from the group immediately. Such behaviors include biting,
scratching, kicking, bullying, using foul language, disrespecting school
staff, or any other harmful act. Consequences will fit the misbehaving
actions and will be at the discretion of the Principal.
Middle School Merit System
Purpose: The purpose of the Merit System is to help students develop
healthy academic and professional habits, as well as to enhance
aspects of the Islamic character. It is not to police students, but rather
to recognize their positive contributions to classroom culture and
amend their poorer professional habits. The merit system will maintain
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consistency and fairness by holding standards for each child, while
also recognizing in what areas each child needs to grow. The school
reserves the right to make judgment calls with regard to students
needing a quick check-in versus a consequence. The Middle School
Merit System hopes to allow students to feel more mature as they
prepare for the next phase of their educational experience.
Explanation: Merits are issued to students who are meeting and
exceeding behavioral and academic expectations by following class
rules and contributing to a positive classroom culture for learning. In
the beginning of the school year, as teachers are setting up classroom
norms and expectations, merits will be issued to those students who
are meeting expectations. Once routines have been established, merits
will be issued to students who are going above and beyond what is
expected of them. Demerits are meant to serve as a quick piece of
feedback for students to alter their behavior immediately.
Consequence Ladder: Students can earn merits and demerits
throughout the school day from any adult. Non-middle school teachers
will report their merits/demerits to homeroom teachers to be logged.
During class, a student can earn three Tier As as warnings and a
check-in before earning a Tier B for continued disruptive behavior.
However, for extreme egregious behavior, a teacher can issue an
automatic Tier B without Tier A warnings. All merits and demerits
will be logged at the end of each school day, so that students can see
their updated merit count the following morning.
If a student receives a Tier B, s/he will serve detention after school
with his/her homeroom teacher. During detention, students will fill out
a reflection and then sit quietly to ponder their behavior for the
remainder of the period or will be given an additional assignment. For
every two Tier Bs that a student earns, parents will receive a phone
call home to discuss the behavior and brainstorm solutions for
improving it. For every three Principal’s office send outs that a student
receives, s/he will be asked to stay home for a day.
Bullying
Bullying (including cyberbullying) is the repeated use by one or more
students of a written, verbal, or electronic communication, or a
physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target.
Bullying results in the outcomes that:
o cause physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to his
or her property;
o place the target in reasonable fear of harm to him or herself or
of damage to his or her property;
o create a hostile environment at school for the target;
o infringe on the rights of the target at school; or
o materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the
orderly operation of a school.
Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of technology or any
electronic means, and includes the distribution of electronic
communications or the posting of electronic material that may be
accessed by one or more persons.
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment against
a person who reports bullying, provides information during an
investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information
about bullying.
Bullying can include any form of repeated behavior, either in person or
via electronic means, that involves an imbalance of power or strength
and a pattern of behavior which interferes with another person’s sense
of safety, dignity, comfort or productivity in the school environment.
Possible behaviors may include, but are not limited to, the following:
o Physical intimidation or assault
o Name calling (verbal/written), teasing, mimicking, slurs, or
other derogatory remarks
o Displaying materially and substantially disruptive graffiti,
symbols, posters, pictures, cartoons/caricatures, notes, book
covers, or designs on clothing
o Phone calls, and/or electronic communications
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o Touching of a person or person’s clothing
o Words, pranks or actions which provoke feelings or
embarrassment, hurt, or intimidation
o Stalking
o Threats, threatening gestures or actions
o False accusations or rumors
o Social isolation
The above behaviors are not necessarily bullying in isolation, but they
constitute bullying when they occur in a repeated context and they:
have the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive school or work environment;
have the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably
interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance; or
Otherwise adversely affect an individual’s educational
opportunities.
Scope of School Responsibility
Malik Academy is a free-bullying school (including cyberbullying):
At school and at all school facilities;
At school-sponsored or school-related functions, whether on or off
school grounds;
On school buses and school bus stops;
Through the use of technology or an electronic device owned,
licensed or used by a school; and
At non-school-related locations and through non-school
technology or electronic devices, if the bullying affects the school
environment.
A. Reporting Obligations
Reporting by Staff: All faculty, staff, independent contractors or
school volunteers who become aware or have a reasonable belief that
bullying has occurred shall immediately report any instance of
bullying or retaliation orally or in writing, to the principal, this not
limiting staff members from responding to behavioral or disciplinary
incidents consistent with Malik Academy policies.
Reporting by Students, Parents/Guardians, and Others: Any
student, parent/guardian, and others who becomes aware of or has a
reasonable belief that bullying or retaliation may have occurred is
strongly encouraged to promptly report the incident(s) to the principal.
A student who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying or
retaliation shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Reporting to Local Law Enforcement: In the event that bullying or
retaliation is substantiated, the principal will notify the local law
enforcement agency in writing if suspecting criminal charges may be
pursued against the aggressor.
Anonymous Reporting: Anonymous reports may be made utilizing
the bullying reporting form or in any other written format. Anonymous
reports may be left in the suggestion box of the school hallway. The
school will investigate such reports to the extent that sufficient
information is provided to do so. Formal disciplinary action may not
be based solely on the basis of an anonymous report.
B. Investigation
The principal will promptly investigate a report of bullying or
retaliation, giving consideration to all circumstances at hand, including
the nature of allegations, ages of the students involved, and whether
any behaviors are related to a student’s disability. The report will
include all interviews of the involved parties and all the details that
relate to the incident.
Upon receiving a complaint, the parents/guardians of all parties (both
the target and the aggressor) involved will be notified of an incident in
a timely fashion.
Even before fully investigating allegations of bullying or retaliation,
the principal will consider whether there is a need to take immediate
steps to support the alleged target and or/protect the alleged target
from further potential incidents of concern. In taking any such action,
however, the rights and safety of the alleged target, alleged aggressor,
and bystanders will be considered.
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Confidentiality: During an investigation, the confidentiality of the
target and the other witnesses will be maintained to the extent
practicable given the school’s obligation to investigate and address the
matter.
C. Determination and Intervention Outcomes
Malik Academy works on creating a safe and productive environment
free of any bullying through its Tarbiya program. Students who are
found to be engaged in bullying or retaliation will be subject to
disciplinary action; however, action taken will balance the need for
accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior. Many
times, the school will initiate a school program as a preventive
measure against bullying or to ensure patterns are not forming.
The range of disciplinary actions includes, but is not limited to, verbal
or written warning, reprimands, detentions, short- or long-term
suspensions, or expulsion from school, as determined by the school
administration and/or school committee.
As with the investigation, the response will be individually tailored to
all of the circumstances, including the nature of the conduct and the
age of the students involved.
In addition to taking disciplinary action, the following are examples of
steps that may be taken to prevent the recurrence of bullying or
retaliation:
Monitor and assure the continued safety of all parties. Develop
and implement a safety plan for the target and witnesses as
needed.
Provide necessary supports for the target.
Require relevant educational activities for individual students or
groups of students.
Refer to psycho/social educational groups or workshops.
Develop an action plan directed toward helping the aggressor
recognize and correct behaviors.
Conduct parent conferences.
Monitor behaviors and, as needed, develop a behavioral contract.
Work with bystanders to empower them in becoming part of the
solution.
Require classroom or school transfers.
Exclude from participation in school-sponsored or school-related
functions, afterschool programs, and/or extracurricular activities.
Determine with the families whether a family member of the
involved students (target, aggressor, bystanders) would be well
served by counseling or referral to services. Referrals are made to
local agencies.
Plagiarism
Malik Academy encourages group collaboration and peer support.
However, whenever students are assigned work, they are expected to
be the sole authors of the work. Use of another person’s effort or ideas
must be accompanied by specific citations and / or references. The
teacher will dictate which format should be used and what the
guidelines are for the class.
The following are some examples of dishonesty or unethical behavior:
to that person or giving the impression that another person’s work is
the student’s own work
ing an assignment that was partially or wholly completed by
another person
any document without giving due credit to the source of the
information
one teacher without
enhancing and refining the assignment and without receiving the first
teacher’s permission
student intends to commit any act of academic dishonesty.
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In essence, plagiarism is the theft of someone else’s ideas and/or work,
whether a student copies verbatim or simply rephrases.
School Policies
Birthdays
In Islam, we celebrate achievements, not people. Therefore, birthdays
will be marked by asking families to share the child’s achievements
during the past year as well as goals for the upcoming year. Parents
may wish to make a special snack for their child’s classroom; this is
optional. There will be no birthday singing or celebration otherwise.
Photography and Video
We expect to be documenting the school and your children’s growth in
a yearbook, and on our Internet website. We request your written
permission to take photographs and videos. These images are
predominantly used to document your child’s engagement and
learning. They may also be used as recruiting tools in future years,
and to document the history of the school. If parents have any
objections, please let the school know the nature of the concern and
accommodations will be made.
Electronics
Students’ use of cell phones, personal laptops, pagers, walkman radios,
CDs, tape players, electric games and / or other electronic devices is
not allowed unless directed to do so by an adult in an emergency.
All electronic devices must be turned off and put away once entering
the building. Such items will be confiscated if used during the school
day, and will be returned at a later time to the student or the parent.
Social Networking
Students should display Islamically suitable words and proper
behavior on their personal networking sites. They should remember
that words and actions will represent them no matter where they are
displayed.
Malik Academy has the right to monitor student behavior over the
internet and to hold them accountable for it. Actions including
inappropriate inter-gender interactions, bullying, swearing, backbiting
the school, its students or personnel will be investigated and given a
consequence similar to the same action done on the school premises.
Uniform
Malik Academy has set a uniform policy that seeks to create an
environment of unity and promotes the ability to focus on learning,
personal development and growth.
When parents find it difficult to comply with any of the listed items for
financial reasons or unavailability, the school asks that they share their
concerns/difficulties with the office administrators. Special
considerations are sought whenever necessary.
Malik Academy Uniform Policy:
The Malik academy uniform is mandatory. If there are problems
finding the right uniform (i.e. older girl’s skirts) we expect the students
to try as best as they can to follow the school policies. In our
interpretation of Islamic dress, we follow the opinions of our local
Imam. Our uniforms are meant for Islamic and professional student
presentation and to help the children better focus on academic
performance. The school will work on providing a seamstress during
the months of August and September for families who want to have
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uniform skirts made. Anytime students are not able to be in uniform,
parents need to send a notice to the office to have the child excused.
Girls:
Plain white or light blue shirt (polo style or dress shirt). NO T-
shirt
Shirts for girls in Grade 4 and up must be long to cover the hips
and back.
Navy blue skirt / pants (not jeans) may be worn with long shirts
to cover hips. Middle school girls need to wear skirts/ jumpers
only.
White or navy blue socks/ stockings/ leggings and black shoes
or sneakers (closed toe-shoes only, no sandals).
Girls in Grade 2 are encouraged to wear the headscarf during
prayer and Qu’ran class. Girls in Grades 3, 4, and 5 are
encouraged to wear the hijab throughout the day.
Girls in Middle school are expected to wear long sleeves and
Hijab.
On gym days, girls are required to wear long and oversized
Malik Academy gym shirts over loose black or navy pants,
along with sneakers. No terry cloth pants.
Girls in grade 3 and up are not allowed to wear nail polish or
make-up.
Excessive accessories are not allowed.
Boys:
Plain white or light blue shirt (polo style or dress shirt). NO T-
shirt
Navy blue pants (not jeans). No shorts.
White socks and black shoes or sneakers (closed toe-shoes
only, no sandals).
On gym days, boys are required to wear Malik Academy gym
shirts over loose black or navy pants, along with sneakers. No
terry cloth pants.
Chains and other accessories are not allowed.
Fridays: Students may wear Islamic clothing such as Thobes and
Abayas.
Students need to have clean and pressed clothes at all times. No shabby or ripped clothes will be allowed. Malik Academy staff has the right to make
decisions about the students’ attire and the student may be asked to modify
his clothes. A gracious period will be allowed. Please refer to the parent
handbook for consequences of not complying with the school uniform policy.
Extra Clothes
In preparation for the inevitable wet clothes from accidents, water
play, or inclement weather, we ask each parent to provide a full set of
clothes (including underwear and socks) for each first grader. The
labeled sets will remain stored at school until they are needed and will
be returned at the end of the year.
Expelling a Student
We make it our policy to work with families so children are happy and
comfortable at our school. There are three reasons a student may be
asked to leave:
- Non-payment of tuition fees on a timely basis (within 30 days
of due date).
- When a student presents such a discipline problem, that with
counseling and family collaboration on a behavior modification
program, we still feel that this child presents a danger of harm
to him/herself or to other children, or gravely affects the
learning process to himself or others in the school.
- Repeated late pick-ups beyond the allotted fifteen-minute grace
period can also result in a child’s discharge from school.
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Building
Malik Academy is housed in the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural
Center and is privileged to have students interact directly with the
Imam and the Muslim community.
- It is very important that our students learn early on the
importance of keeping the Masjid building clean and in top
shape.
- Students should not be left unsupervised in the building before
and after school.
- Elementary students should not ride the elevator by
themselves.
- Students should always be courteous to other community
members and should be careful not to create any distractions to
the people in acts of worship.
- There is no gum allowed in the building.
- No selling is allowed without prior permission from the school
or building management.
Special Needs Policy
Malik Academy and Al Bustan Preschool will make all reasonable
accommodations to serve children with special needs, including
adaptations and using assistive technologies, where feasible. We will
work with local referral agencies and providers to attempt to give the
child the extra help they need to fully include them in the class, give
them full access to the curriculum, and to provide parents and the
children referrals for services that we may not provide directly.
We will also be very honest about any restrictions our facility may
have in accommodating special need students. Whenever necessary,
we will make a suggestion, recommendation, or request the child be
transferred to a special need equipped facility.
A student who is suspected to need special education will be observed
by the teachers and administration. Once the observations are
complete, the school will meet with parents to discuss the
observations. The teachers and the parents will then decide if they feel
the child may benefit from additional assessment in any of the
following areas: speech and language, cognitive development, motor
coordination, vision and hearing, memory retention, etc.
This process can also be initiated by parents. Parents should contact
their child’s teacher or the school principal if they have concerns with
the learning abilities or skills of their child.
After parents have agreed to further assessment, the parent will fill out
a request for assessment through their local city or town. The school
will offer to support the parents through this process.
Once all of the assessments are complete in your local city/town, you
will be called to a meeting to discuss the results. Your child’s teacher
or a school representative will also attend this meeting. In this
meeting, the team of educators and the parent will determine a course
of action for the child. Based on the recommendation of this meeting,
the child might be able to remain in his class and receive special
accommodations to support his learning. If the team decides further
actions are necessary, including providing special need services to the
child unavailable at Malik, the school may recommend or request the
child be transferred to a different institution.
Malik Academy will always strive to make decisions which will
benefit the academic and overall well-being of the child. In addition,
the school is willing to accommodate and help navigate schedules to
address the child’s needs.
Safety and Security
Security is a high priority concern of our staff and Board of Directors.
All efforts will be made to create a secure and comfortable
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environment, free of danger. All toxic substances, medications, sharp
objects, and other hazardous objects are kept in a secured place and
out of reach of children. All electrical outlets are covered. We follow
all government regulations regarding fire safety, disposal of hazardous
waste, and related topics. A proportional number of adults will always
accompany children who leave school for the playground or on field
trips. All adults who work with the children have criminal background
checks.
No smoking, controlled substances, or weapons are allowed in or near
the school premises. If a child or adult is found with cigarettes,
controlled substances or a sharp object on premises, we will confiscate
the item immediately and take further steps at the discretion of the
principal and with the collaboration of the building manager, if
necessary.
The center will hold four fire drills per year, in accordance with the
recommendations of the Boston Fire Department chief, to ensure that
children are prepared to evacuate in case of an emergency. Children
will be lined up in an orderly fashion and led outside to designated
areas away from the building. In the event of an actual emergency
children and staff will evacuate the school as practiced during fire
drills and they will walk to the playground area.
Release of Children
Children will only be released to persons that are approved and
designated by the parents on the emergency card. Please provide the
school with the full names of all designated persons and their current
phone numbers. No child will be released without a valid proof of
identification.
Sick Policy
Children with potentially infectious diseases (vomiting, diarrhea etc.)
or a fever must be kept home until symptoms are resolved for 24
hours. If a child does not have a fever but cannot participate in regular
school activities due to illness, the child must be kept home as well. If
a child becomes seriously ill while at school, the school will keep the
child isolated from the other students and inform the parent to pick up
their child immediately. We do not allow ill children or ill staff
members to remain in the program. The child will be made
comfortable in the office. A staff member will be responsible for the
supervision of the child that was excluded from the classroom because
of illness while waiting for pickup. Malik Academy also reserves the
right to call 911, if deemed appropriate. The ill child will be isolated
from the other children, until the parent arrives. In cases of possible
exposure to highly contagious illness, all parents will receive a written
notice from the school outlining the risk and suggested precautions.
Each child must have an annual physical exam including up to date
immunizations and lead screening. Parents should bring a copy to be
filed in the student’s school file.
Allergies and Medication
Please inform the office if your child has specific food or other types
of allergies. We will then notify the rest of the parents regarding the
lunch and snack items to avoid sending to school. Parents must
complete a Medicine Authorization Form every day there is
prescription medicine to be administered, in order to ensure their
child’s medicine is properly dispensed. The instructions on how to
dispense the medication from the health care provider are required. A
staff person will administer medicine to the children at the appropriate
times. Medicine will be secured and refrigeration provided, if
necessary. All medicine must be in its original container, and labeled
with the child’s full name, name of the clinician, expiration date and
manufacturer’s instructions. Prescription and non-prescription
medication (Tylenol, Motrin etc.) need written authorization from the
child’s physician.
Nonprescription medications, like sunscreen or ointments may be
administered to a child only with a written parental authorization.
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Nut, Peanut and Sesame-Free School
Currently, Malik Academy is a nuts, peanuts and sesame-free school.
Parents are kindly requested to abstain from sending foods which
contain:
- Tree nuts. Examples include: walnut, almond, hazelnut,
cashew, pistachio, pine nuts and Brazil nuts - Peanuts - Sesame, including sesame oil found in Tahineh.
Please read the ingredients before you send snacks with your child and
make sure to exclude these items from anything that’s cooked and
brought to school.
Accidents
Our staff has current First Aid and Pediatric CPR training and will be
the first responders in the case of an accident. Teachers will carry cell
phones and a first aid kit with them when they go to the park or on
field trips and if needed, they will call parents and the appropriate
emergency medical personnel. Should a child be injured at school or
on a field trip, teachers will fill out an Accident/ Injury Report
describing the injury and first aid procedures administered. These will
be kept in the child’s file, and forwarded to any physicians or
appropriate government agencies. A copy will be given to parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: I am not a Muslim. Will my child be comfortable to attend
Malik Academy or will the school attempt to affect his/her religious
beliefs?
Answer: Islam is the official taught and practiced religion of Malik
Academy. We intend to maintain a quality, supportive multi-cultural
school environment where every child can thrive and grow and be
comfortable. A quality education, moral values and good behavior are
the desire of every parent. The primary concern for some parents may
be the Muslim holidays that are celebrated at the school and the focus
on Islamic studies. As for the Islamic studies, they highlight qualities
such as respect and honesty. The school also acknowledges that other
religions and cultures have different holidays and cultural practices.
Malik Academy attempts to make each of its students comfortable
regardless of the family’s religious background. Individual
accommodations may be exercised per the principal’s discretion.
Question: Are there going to be tuition refunds if the child leaves
school mid-year?
Answer: Enrollment constitutes a contract between the families and
the school. Families who sign the yearly contract are responsible for
paying the fees until the end of the school year. If you are not sure that
your child will be attending the school for the whole academic year,
you have the option to speak with a School Board member before
signing the contract to look into possible special circumstance
accommodations.
Resources for Families
The following is a list of additional resource offices in the greater
Boston area. Parents and guardians should feel free to make use of the
listed resources as needed.
Al Bustan Preschool:
Al Bustan is a division of Malik Academy. It is a NAYEC accredited
and an ECC certified program.
Address: 808 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139
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Phone: (617) 868-2322. The school phone has a voicemail. Leave a
message and someone will return your call.
Fax: (617)-395-8200
Email: [email protected]
Economic Opportunities:
Summer Food Services Program 1-800-645-8333
Boston Housing Authority (617) 988-4200 or (617) 988-4549
Massachusetts Energy Assistance (617) 349-6252
Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Programs (WIC)
1-800-WIC-1007
United Way’s First Call for Help 1-800-231-4377
Department of Transitional Assistance (617) 348-8500
Roxbury’s voucher office 105 Chauncy St. Second floor.
Educational Resources:
The No Child Left Behind Family and Student Engagement
Training Center 617-635-7750.
Parent University http://bpsfamilies.org/parentuniversity
North Zone Family Resource Center
75 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury 617-635-9010
Entrance is closer to Roxbury Crossing MBTA, at play space
entrance to Madison Park.
Special Education Office, 617-635-8599
Federation for Children with Special Needs, 1-800-331-0688
Library:
Boston Public Library Directory 617-536-5400
Parker Hill Branch Library 617-427-3820
1497 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120
Safety Resources:
Boston police 617.343.4200
Boston Fire Department 617.343.3415
Anti-bullying hotline: (617) 592-2378
Keep your child safe on-line
http://www.bpscybersafety.org/familyresources.htm
Dept. of Social Services (DSS) Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline
(617) 1-800-792-5200
Transportation:
Boston Public School Transportation Department, 617-635-
9520
