Updates for the week of Jan. 7, 2024

Hadith: Prophet Muhammad (S) said: Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek
refuge in Allah from knowledge without benefit. (Sunan ibn Majah)

Welcome to week seventeen of Sunday School . 

Upcoming Calendar Events:

🏫Jan. 7th: School reopens
📑Jan 14: Midterms: Tajweed & Seerah
📑Jan 21st: Midterms: Quran & Theology


🧥 MEC SS Winter Coat Drive: from Dec. 17th-Jan 28th we will collect new coats and winter gear only. Please refer to the attached flyer for more information. There is also a Sign-Up Genius link. Please add your student’s name and grade to the comments section. This is mandatory: http://tinyurl.com/MEC-SUNDAYSCHOOL-WINTERDRIVE. Remember, please enter your student’s name and grade in the “comments” section.  ***Since we will be closed Dec. 24th & Dec. 31st, you can still provide monetary donations through the link.***

🏫Jan. 7th: School reopens – please contact the Principal for any book requests and contact your student’s teachers for study guide questions. Dress for the weather! 

📑Jan 14: Midterms: Tajweed & Seerah 
📑Jan 21st: Midterms: Quran & Theology
***Please contact your student’s teachers for help with study guides.***

Coming Prepared
For students to be successful, they must be equipped with the proper tools, such as pencils and notebooks. It is unfortunate how many of our students come to school with nothing. When it is time to write notes, they scramble for pencils and paper. As with public school students, please have your students come to school with pencils and notebooks. 

Parking Lot Safety
Unfortunately, we have recently seen a number of near-misses in the parking lot because parents are speeding and not paying attention. We must remind everyone to follow proper protocol for dropping off and picking up students. Do not speed. Pay attention and slow down. Come to a complete stop when dropping off or picking up students. When parking your car, be mindful of who and what is around you. Show some patience. 

Google Classroom
A substantial number of students have not yet accepted their Google Classroom invites. Not doing so will prevent them from participating in Google Classroom, the main communication mode for teachers. All school work, homework, and information is posted there. Please have your students log in to their Google school accounts and accept the invites so that they may be updated. 

Charity
We are partnering with Helping Hands Chicago to provide relief funds for the following:
Morocco https://hhrd.org/MEC4Morocco
Libya https://hhrd.org/MEC4Libya
Palestine https://hhrd.org/MEC4Palestine

We will be launching a winter coat drive shortly. More information will be shared soon. 

Snacks
Students are provided pizza for snacks. If your student requires additional snacks, please send nutritious options from home. Students are not allowed to share snacks due to food allergies in a portion of our student body. The vending machine is off-limits to students. 

Phone and Electronic Devices
We have had a number of incidents where students have used phones during their school day. Phones are not allowed unless specially required for a class assignment or project. If a student is using their phone without permission, it will be confiscated for the duration of the school day, and they will need to retrieve it from the office. Repeated offenses will result in detention. We have also had students bringing in Switch devices and other electronics. These are not permitted during school hours. MEC Sunday School will not be liable for the loss or theft of any electronic device. Please have your students refrain from bringing in any such devices. 

Tardiness
We are now beginning the season of events at MEC Sunday School. Some events might affect assembly or gym times. It is imperative for parents to make every attempt to get students to school on time so we can make announcements about upcoming programs and expectations from our students and families.  Students are expected to arrive at 10 a.m. in the gym. First-period classes start at 10:15 a.m. 

Book Sales
The online MEC Sunday School bookstore is available for you to purchase your student’s book. The updated booklist is attached. Please use the following link:

https://secure-api.net/v/Go/bookstore

Reusable Water Bottles
We are slowly phasing out plastic water bottles and have limited quantities to encourage our students to use reusable water bottles. So please send a reusable water bottle with your student. 

Please contact Br. Abubakr Al-Aidroos, MEC Sunday School Registrar, for any questions or issues regarding registration. abubakr.alaidroos@mecsundayschool.org.

Jazak Allah Khairan,
Principal