NEWS FROM THE NEST March 2016-Edition 4

April Events 1- AYA Community Dinner

7-IPTA

14- PK4 Student of the Month

15-KG-5th

Student of the Month

6th

-12th

Student of the Quarter

5th Grade Bake Sale

20-Meet the Administration

22-No School for Students

Staff Workday

Look inside...

Artist Highlight 2

Yobi Fundraiser 2

Spelling Bee 3

NHS 3

Spring Break 4

Career Day 5

Moral of the Month 6

Best Friends 7

Art Club 8

AYA Siblings 8

Student of the Quarter 9

IXL Success 10

Poetry Corner 11

AYA VIP 11

Field Trip Fun 12

Spirit Week 13

Science Fair 14

Fun Corner 14

5905 E. 130

TH AVE. ●TAMPA, FLORIDA 33617

www.ayatampa.org ● (813) 987-9282

After spending the last few month speaking with the staff, parents,

students, and community members of AYA, I have come to realize that no matter

what our shortcomings are as a school, as a leadership, as individuals; we can

overcome the obstacles, as long as we work collectively as one Ummah, for the

common purpose. The AYA school community has a strong sense of brotherhood

and sisterhood towards one another, and I pray that Allah (SWT) continues to

strengthen those bonds.

Education is a partnership between the school and the home; each playing

a supportive role for the other. All children are more successful when we work as a

team to achieve academic goals, meet emotional and social needs, provide spiritual

guidance, and instill Islamic values. As the Head of School for AYA, my intent is

to work with you to strengthen the institution that will reflect a unique

collaboration between the parents, the AYA administration, and the school staff, to

continue to provide our students opportunities for success.

To that end, I would like to invite you to AYA’s Community Dinner,

where we can come together to recognize the dedicated efforts of all who continue

to be a part of AYA’s future. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 1st 2016

from 6:30 pm, at the Embassy Suites. All AYA families are encouraged to attend

and take an active role in the future of their children’s education. The goal for the

evening is to provide you with a brief glimpse into the future of AYA, as well as to

share the efforts of our teachers and students through their performances. While the

adults are busy enjoying the event, children between the ages of 2 to 8 years will be

taken care of by the AYA staff with entertainment, games, activities and food. Tickets can be purchased through the business office.

Together, with the blessings of Allah (SWT), we will strive to provide the

best for the students of AYA. I look forward to meeting all of you.

Sincerely,

Farhat Siddiqui, M.Ed.

Head of School

Suhayla, Fatima, and Basmala recite the “Farewell Speech,” the Prophet’s last speech.

Br. Adulmajid, Br. Mamdouh, & Br. Hasan listen as Mustafa Elsayed recites from Surat Al-Baqarah.

Muzdalifah awaits the hujjaj. Hujjaj rest in Mina. AYA Seniors made this wonderful plane to fly the hujjaj to Mecca.

Message from Sr. Farhat……

Assalamu Alaikum AYA parents and supporters,

Welcome to the New Newsletter Staff

Firas Abdelhafes Kamar Abuosba Baraa Ahmad Nehal Ali

Lamees Almomani Sara Alsharif Omar Awad Sarah Ayyad

Dana Barakat Shaam Daaboul Aisha Dahduh Rahma Elmekabbati

Heba Hamed Ayat Hasan Hager Kamel Kamilah Kermalli

Nour Malone Rejam Mustafa Hiba Othma Janna Rahim

Leeyana Saed Sondus Saed

Each year, the Tampa Museum of Art holds an exhibit of student artwork called "Young at

Art.” It allows area art teachers to select one piece of art from K-8th grade students to

represent their school. This is the second year that AYA has participated. Our 2016 entry was

Halah Idahmed's "Under the Sea” piece. The watercolor painting used a wax resist technique.

The exhibit opened on Jan 10th and was on display at the museum for a month. There was also

a reception and presentation of certificates for the honorees.

“Cubism Rooster” “Under the Sea” Halah Idahmed, 2A

Yobi Fundraiser

MashAllah, the AYA fundraising event at

Yobi was a great success! Many AYA staff,

parents and students came out to show their

support. They enjoyed amazing frozen

yogurt and helped out their school!

Page & image created by Ayat Hasan

Image created by Ayat Hasan

Family, fun, & frozen yogurt!

Sr. Bothayna, Sr. Shabeah, & Sr. Nijma show their support!

AYA School Spelling Bee by Shaam Daaboul & Hager Kamel

1st and 2

nd grade winners: Shahd Ibrahim & Dalia Sarsour (1

st

place), Leila Samhan (2nd

place) and Magdi Sarour (3rd

place)

3rd

-5th

grade winners: Vaniza Atiq (1st place), Jenan Al-Saeed

(2nd

place), and Yasmine Belkherroubi & Iyad Khaled (3rd

place)

6th

-8th

grade winners: Sidra Chowdhury (1st place), Danya

Awshah (2nd

place) and Kamilah Kermalli (3rd

place)

Congratulations to all the students who won the AYA Spelling Bee!!

By Baraa Ahmad & Rahma Elmekabbati

National Honor Society is an organization designed to honor high school students who excel in the areas of

scholarship, leadership, service, and character. AYA’s NHS is led by Sr. Heba Atiyeh, who serves as the

organization school advisor. Congratulations to this year’s inductees!

Ahmad Abdulmagid Shehed Almomani Mohammed Al-ogaidi Rahaf Alsouqi

Layal Barakat Raneem Birjas Menatallah Daashoush Sumeyye Erdem

Dana Fetais Jihad Gomaa Nadene Hijaz Zainab Jamal

Shaahid Khan Lucille Malone Samarah Mohammad Bissan Mustafa

Ahmed Nofal Zena Omer Leya Rum Razan Saad

Ronza Saad Leali Shalabi Adham Sulliaman Naida Sulieman

Danya Toubeh Tarek Zieneldien

Spring Break Fun by Kamar Abuosba & Rejam Mustafa

What are you planning to do during What are you planning to do during

AZEEZA SAROUR CELINE OMRAN

What are you planning to do during What are you planning to do during

spring break? I’m going to Chicago. spring break? I’m going to California.

How do you expect it to be? Phenomenal! How do you expect it to be? Amazing!

AMJUD HAMDEN ADAM SHADA

What are you planning to do during What are you planning to do during

spring break? I’m going on a cruise with my family. spring break? I’m going to have a sleepover.

How do you expect it to be? Really fun! How do you expect it to be? Exciting!

SADEEL HIJAZ HUSSEIN HARAKE

What are you planning to do during What are you planning to do during

spring break? I’m going to Cancun, Mexico. spring break? To Lebanon.

How do you expect it to be? Exciting! How do you expect it to be? Really fun!

By: Lamees Almomani, Sara Alsharif, and Kamilah Kermalli

This past month, our first graders learned about different occupations and participated in AYA’s annual Career Day event. They dressed up and made presentations about their future professions.

No need to worry about our health when we have all of these dedicated medical professionals available to help!

Our cities will be safe and sound with these civil service workers serving on our behalf!

Be sure to watch the AYA halls for these future teachers!

These future photographers, artists, fashion designers, and chefs will enrich our lives!

It is very important for us to remember that Allah is the one who has made our hearts and He

is aware of what lies within. Keeping this in mind will remind us that while we can lie to

ourselves, we cannot lie to Allah [swt]. Lying is among the acts not only considered wrong by

all faiths, but also by all of mankind. Interestingly, no one likes to be lied to, yet we all still

lie. Without being truthful to oneself, one cannot find or receive the truth.

The path to Allah is through knowing yourself; you want others to be honest to you

because that helps you know the truth and this is what should motivate you to be honest with

yourself--to know the truth.

Many times, people will do something unlawful, even when they are well aware that it

is haram. So why do they do this? The answer is that they avoid confronting themselves, and

merely continue to commit the deed. While remembering that Allah knows what is in your

hearts, ask yourself, “Am I lying to myself about these excuses?” We know that for us to solve

any problem, we must face it. This is also the case with our wrong doings.

Some of the excuses that we might come up with when doing something we know we

are not supposed to be doing include: “I do not have the ability to stop doing it,” or “I cannot

see why I should stop.” These two excuses are very weak. Allah will not require us to do

something we cannot handle. Hence, He says in the Holy Quran, “We do not impose on any

soul a duty except to the extent of its ability” (7:42). Since that is the case, who are we to

argue Allah’s laws? We might not see or understand it but we know that our knowledge is

nothing compared to that of the One who has created us. It is important to understand our

religion and not just follow blindly. However, when we don’t fully understand the reason why

something is haram, we should trust Allah’s knowledge about what is good for us.

For instance, when a woman refuses to wear hijab, she knows inside her the

importance of wearing hijab; yet, she does not wear it because she does not want to cover her

beauty. It would not be easy for her to admit this, so she might make an excuse like, “I don’t

understand why we should wear hijab” or “It is hard to wear it in this community and in this

area.” Unfortunately, for many this is the case because they lack the ability to be honest with

their own selves. Even if you can lie to yourself about this, Allah knows what is in your heart.

Imam Ali [as] has said, a person is in loss if his day is the same as the day before. We

should think how we can improve ourselves so that tomorrow we are better than today. In

order for this to happen, the first thing we need is to be honest with ourselves.

Moral of the Month by Nour Malone & Hiba Othman

Honesty is the Best Policy

by Br. Mamdouh Elsayed

AYA Honesty

On the way into school,

Sabrina Atiq (7B) happened

to spot a $20 bill on the

sidewalk. She immediately

turned it into the office.

After Salatu Thuhr, Adam

Faia (2A) was picking up

his prayer mat, when he

found a big lollipop. He

took it to his teacher and

said, “I found this on the

carpet.”

Masha’Allah Sabrina &

Adam! May Allah reward

you the best for your

honesty. Ameen.

AYA Best Friends by Rahma Elmekabbati & Baraa Ahmad

hfgf

Where did you first meet?

We first met in the forest.

What do you have in

common?

We both like pets, dancing,

Starbucks, and social media.

What is something

you bond over?

In 6th

grade,

Lina came to

class late on

the first day of

school with a

giraffe bag.

The best day

was when we

went to

Howl-o-

scream.

What is your

most

memorable

experience

together?

What’s

your

favorite

place to

hang out?

Our favorite

place to hang

out is the mall.

What differences do

you have?

Rahma eats healthy,

and Baraa likes

unhealthy food.

What goals do you have

in common?

Go to South Korea

together, go to USF, go

see a BTS concert,

become doctors, and

work together.

What’s your

funniest

memory

together?

Lina Abo Koura & Menatallah

Daashoush, 10A

Sarah Ayyad & Layla Ali, 8A

Ahlam Namrouti & Aya Mehmli, 8A Rahma Elmekabbati, 8B & Baraa Ahmad, 8A

Nehal Ali & Janna Rahim, 7A

Rayan Kaloti,

Bekzod Azadov, &

Hasan Shalabi, 3A

We bond over

soccer.

Laith Alsouqi and Rafi Ali, 10A

The AYA High School Art Club students wanted to create something special for the younger students that

would be both playful and inspiring. The butterfly is a symbol of change and growth, which perfectly

represents the educational experience. We were all so excited to see how the children would react to standing

in front of the mural and "wearing" the wings, and it has been such a pleasure to see and share in their joy.

--Sr. Ameena Khan

Making a Masterpiece by Nour Malone & Hiba Othman

AYA Siblings by Nehal Ali, Dana Barakat, & Janna Rahim

LAITH ALSOUQI:

What do you like most

about each other?

We are united.

What do you like to do

together?

We play video games.

What is your favorite

memory together?

Road Trip to New Jersey

OSAYD ALSOUQI:

What do you like most

about each other?

We are united.

What do you like to do

together?

We play video games.

What is your favorite

memory together?

Road Trip to New Jersey.

RAHAF ALSOUQI:

What do you like most

about each other?

We are chill.

What do you like to do

together?

I enjoy eating together.

What is your favorite

memory together?

Road Trip to New Jersey.

SUHAIB ALSOUQI:

What do you like most

about each other?

They are related to me.

What do you like to do

together?

Play outside together.

What is your favorite

memory together?

Trip to Disney World.

OMAYR ALSOUQI:

What do you like most

about each other?

We stick together.

What do you like to do

together?

We like to talk together.

What is your favorite

memory together?

Road Trip to New Jersey.

Q2

Q1

6A Nour Malone, Jana Kaloti,

& Omar Shahwan

8B Danya Yousef &

Rahma Elmekabbati

8A Ahmad Ali &

Omar Awad

7B Abdrahman

Idahmed

7A Fatmeh Ali, Kamar

Abuosba, & Malek Khawaja

7B Azeeza

Sarour

6B Leena Elbasheer

& Kamilah Kermalli

11A Fatima Bouarfa 10B Esraa Nofal &

Tarek Zieneldien

10A Ghada Soukieh

& Sennad Ahmad

9B Layal Barakat &

Danyah Toubeh

12A Mohammad Ahmad 11B Lucille Malone

8A Ahmad Ali 7B Samya Soukieh &

Hedaia Mohammad

7A Mona Almomani

& Rejam Mustafa

6A Lydia Ben Bourennane

6B Lana Shada

11A Fatima Bouarfa

11B Iman Ahmad

12A Ahmad Museitef

12B Subhi Quneibi

10B Sarah Elbasheer

& Osama Gurwala

10A Taha Taha

9A Lobna Kamel

9B Rahaf Alsouqi

9A Shehed

Almomani

Student Of The Quarter

In other IXL news, both Br. Jeff (4th grade) and Br. Mohammad (2nd Grade) won

an award. They were among the top 100 teachers to give IXL. Congratulations!!!

Daughter to Mother by Iman Ahmad

AYA V.I.P.

This month’s AYA V.I.P. is Sr. Sarita. She served as our school counselor for the

last three years and recently had to make a difficult decision to leave AYA. She will

be greatly missed and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!

What was the most important aspect of your job?

The most important aspect of my job was helping students.

What compelled you to work at AYA?

AYA’s Islamic environment compelled me to work here. Islam is very important to me.

by Aisha Dahduh & Heba Hamed

My mother is very beautiful to me

She reminds me of an ancient tree

Her roots never-ending dig deep into the earth

Her branches shelter and have so much worth

Her branches are big strong and supportive

Above and under they are very active

Where animals and children play underneath her shade

Her branches intertwined together like braids

Her shade is cool; her sap is thick

Her leaves colorful, bright, and rich

She might be ancient but still blossoming

My mother is brilliant, vibrant and loving

She supports me and shows how much she cares

Nobody loves me more than my mother I swear

And the hollow inside her trunk

She fills hers with so much love

Seasons do pass and loved ones do leave

Winter comes and blows a frosty breeze

Her branches bend as her leaves are torn away

But there she is ever-blooming as she stays

And when the snow thaws life returns

Spring appears bringing newborns

Her trunk is thick her roots are deep

My mother is very beautiful to me

But no matter how strong, you do have your weaknesses

Which for her is illness and sickness

What will I do then if she isn't there?

From experience it is a living nightmare

But no matter what I promise my mother will be with

me in my heart forever

Because she is deserved to be known and remembered

My mother is very important to me.

1st Grade Field Trip to Lowry Park Zoo by Heba Hamed and Aisha Dahduh

Student Reflection by Dalia Sarsour from Sr. Samah’s 1B Class

My class and I went to a field trip to Lowry Park Zoo at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. It was a

cloudy rainy day. I was hoping to ride in Safanah’s mom’s car, which I did. That made me

happy! When we arrived at the zoo, we lined up in a line. At that point, I was so excited to

see animals and ride on all the rides. First, we saw animals like parrots, elephants, and

monkeys. The parrots have really colorful feathers and the monkeys were very loud. Next, I

saw more animals like manatees, flamingos, which are pink (my favorite color) because they

eat lots of shrimp. I also saw bald eagles. Bald eagles eat mostly fish and have white heads.

Finally, we sat somewhere to eat. Thank God because I was starving. After we ate, we went

on the carousel, but my favorite ride was the Banana Flyer. I had a very good time at the zoo

with my class. I learned a lot about animals on my trip. My favorite animal of all is the

rhino. It’s strong and cute just like me!

Wildlife Adventures!

Color/Twin Day

Sports Day

Character/Superhero Day

Patriotic Day

Cultural Day

Cute but

deadly

~

asmine Benbourenane