September Newsletter

Principal’s Message

September 15, 2017

Australian International Islamic College

Excellence in

Education

Character & Service

Please consult with your teachers, they are

more than happy to assist you.

I would also like to thank all parents for

their continuous support in assisting us to

enforce the uniform policy. Almost 90% of

our students are compliant and come

neatly attired to the college. We are still

trying very hard to get families arriving to

school on time. We need our parents to sup-

port us in this regard.

This term has been a busy but very

productive one. I would like to extend a

huge thank you to all our staff that made

this term so successful.

I wish you all an enjoyable vacation and we

look forward to seeing everyone eager and

ready for the last term of the year.

Mariam Banwa

Dear Parents / Caregivers,

As we reach the end of a busy and successful

term, I wish to thank all families of AIIC for

their continuous support. The end of this

term is a good opportunity for students to

reflect on what they have achieved so far and

start planning for Term 4.

Our staff have been focussing on Literacy

and Numeracy for the past three terms and

have worked diligently in assisting students

achieve the best they can. Hands-on

literacy activities followed book reading

sessions and students participated in a range

of writing and creating activities to extend

their imaginations and broaden

their understandings

The support of parents and teachers was

amazing, thank you!

Our teachers have prepared students very

well for the NAPLAN Tests and therefore we

have received promising and outstanding

results. These results will be analysed and

areas for improvements will be identified

and addressed. A significant improvement in

student outcomes is evident. The students of

years 2, 4, 6 and 8 are currently preparing

for NAPLAN next year.

End of Term 3

Friday

15th September

2017

Start of Term 4

Tuesday,

3rd October 2017

Years 5/6 classroom

Assalamu alaikum Wr Wb.

Dear Parents/ Caregivers,

At the end of term 3, the year 5/6 class have come a long way in both their academic learning and personal

growth. This term there is been an emphasis on teamwork, problem solving and learning from mistakes.

Our class has been working extremely hard learning a new computer language within the Digital Technologies

curriculum to compete with 19 private and state schools around the region at

Dreamworld on 14th September. The students have built a Lego EV3 robot and are

require to write code so the robot is able to understand and follow their instruc-

tions. There are two challenges:

1. Seen: In classroom practiced to be performed on the day; and

2. Unseen challenge : Code on the spot.

These challenges help develop essential skills including:

* systems thinking

* the programming mindset,

* active learning

* applied mathematics,

* judgement

* decision making

* good communication

* complex problem solving

* persistence and endurance technological design

As a lead up to this event, students have also been coding with scratch,

ozobots, andflying drones. Students also took part in “an hour of code”.

The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of

students in 180+ countries. It is dedicated to expanding

access to computer science and increasing participation by women.

Their vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science, just

like English, Science or Mathematics. As we live in a technological world and the digital age, it is an integral

part of learning for students to have a competitive edge in technologies for their future careers.

At the end of August, Year 5/6 students also took part in the

Bebras challenge online. The Bebras challenge is a biannual

event. The Bebras challenge contains 15 computational

thinking problems from around the world to be solved. They

are presented under levels of difficulty depending on their

year level of Easy, Medium and Hard. Each consisting of 5

questions. The questions get progressively more difficult as

students advance upwards through the school system.

Besides from technology we also worked on two inquiries

(Sharing the planet and How the world works). Students in-

quiries were about:

* How all living things adapt to different environments.

* How sustainability of energy is dependent on human behaviour.

* C21st technological inventions impact our lives.

* The design of sustainable buildings and structures are dependent upon environmental factors, human

ingenuity and available usable materials.

Flying a Drone with the Queensland Chief

Scientist during the challenge.

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Years 5/6 classroom

September Newsletter Page 3

Students also became poets during English, writing a range of different

poems and understanding the structure, rhyme and rhythm required to

write the different types poetry. They wrote:

Acrostic poems

Cinquain Poems

Shape Poems

Limericks

Students also analysed structures and themes of different anthems

around the world.

Our class also took part in the science competition. Students created

posters related to energy in science and micro-organisms. Students had

to write reports and procedures related to their science investigation on

how mould growth differs on bread in different environments.

In Maths, Year 5/6 students have been building a mathematical mindset. In many classroom settings,

mathematics students feel that they fail because they have made a mistake in a calculation. This term

we have been reflecting more on the mistakes students have made and growing their mindset to take a

positive view on mistakes. These mistakes they are making are helping them gain more understanding

into complex mathematical concepts. Students have also been drawing various visual representations of

their Maths. Many students have been brought up thinking that drawing pictures is a “baby” thing to do

in Maths, however, the best mathematicians in the world are still using pictures to guide their

understanding to Maths. In our Mathematical inquiries, students had to draw visual representations,

convert the visuals into numbers, create reasoning behind the maths and understand how it applies to

the real world. Students become more engaged while creating a deeper understanding through these

problems: It was nice to watch the students become skeptics and to challenge one another on how they

understood the concepts.

How many 2 groups of 24 dog biscuits can you make?

15/24 + 4/7 = ?

1 divided by 2/3 = ?

Egyptians had to divide their bread into rations for their

workers, how can they divide the bread evenly so everyone

gets a fair share of bread?

It is important your child spends quality time on their home-

work. Homework, will require internet usage as it helps with

inquiry skills. It also teaches them to become responsible inde-

pendent learners. From next term, homework will be submitted

on the internet through the google platform.

Insha Allah with the learning the students do at school and spending the extra efforts at home I’m sure

your child will reach their utmost potential. Please do come in and see if you have any concerns about

your child’s learning.

Mrs Bay

Year 5/6 Class Teacher

At the Marvel experience in GOMA,

Brisbane.

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Dear Parents / Caregivers,

After another very busy term, with work being

completed as well as participation in

extracurricular activities we now find ourselves

preparing for the last term of the year.

In SOSE, the grade 9’s and 10’s have been

investigating, through visual and written texts,

the impact of World War Two on the world.

Students listened to, read and viewed different

points of view regarding the happenings during

this period in history and then evaluate how

these occurrences have impacted on the world as

we know it today.

Next term we will be studying the geographies of

‘Human Well Being’. What makes a good Life?

Are we better or worse off than other areas of the

world? Does ‘wealth’ equal ‘wellbeing’? In

conjunction with this we will be studying a

‘Pictorial History of Australia’ as seen through

the pictures on stamps over the last 100 years.

We will study how stamp content was and is

related to what is happening at that time in

history.

In English, the grade 9s and 10s were studying

the impact of media and movie content in

highlighting what is Australia and what defines

the ‘typical’ Australian person.

English next term, for the grade 9’s and 10’s, will

be to analyse musical messages [poetry] and

their social impact. They will then create their

own musical text for social comment and/or

change today.

In SOSE, the grade 7’s and 8‘s have been

studying ‘Famous Australians’, the origin and

name of Australia, what is Australia Day, the

reasons for British settlement of Australia,

Australian population and distribution, as well

as manmade and natural geographical features

of Australia.

Next term the 7’s and 8’s will be investigating

Ancient Civilisations of Greece Rome, Egypt and

other Mediterranean cultures as well as Chinese

and Indian peoples. With these ancient

civilisations we will be studying who, where,

when, achievements, what remains of the civi-

lisation, as well as the impact on present-day

life.

Art and Health and Physical Education have a

different face but we will communicate more

about the format when the structure is totally

finalised.

In English this term the 7s and 8s investigated

what language features and text structures writers

use in creating texts in different genres, as well as

what skills contribute to an interesting and

effective piece of writing. Students have developed

an understanding of, and ability to use, language

features and devices to shape meaning and

influence an audience. They have also developed a

knowledge of recognising supporting evidence from

texts to promote a point of view.

In English next term, we will be using ‘persuasion

for change’. Our objective will be to persuade a

local authority of the need for practical change at a

local Gold Coast venue. We will discuss, visit and

decide upon an area/place that needs change

within the area of the Gold Coast. Students will

work in groups to achieve their goal. Presentation

of persuasive argument/s will then be made to the

appropriate recipient/authority. We will then

analyse the success/lack of success with the

persuasive techniques used.

We also hope to have more news about the high

school extending to grades 11 and 12 next year.

From the Maths and Science Classroom…

This term got off to busy start with students

getting stuck into Earth and Space Sciences and

Algebra.

The Year 7-8s recapped fractions, did a rigorous

unit of percentages, and began their exploration

into the world of Algebra. Students learnt about

using variables to represent unknowns, construct-

ing algebraic expressions to represent situations

and calculate for a variety of situations using

algebraic equations. They thoroughly enjoyed their

Maths assignment which involved using Algebra to

solve a CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) mystery.

Students grew to enjoy using Algebra by applying

it to real life situation such as number games and

riddles. Science comprised of two units this term:

Earth and Space Sciences. In Earth Sciences,

students learnt about the water cycle, rock cycle,

types of rocks and how they form, and how process-

es of the Earth give rise to changes. They particu-

larly enjoyed the experiment on making metamor-

phic rock crayons, and using skittles to simulate

erosion and weathering. In Space Sciences, myths

were busted on how seasons occur, what happens

during eclipses, and how the phases of the moon

affect tides. They were shocked to find out that we

NEVER see one side of the moon! (And not because

of Transformers being on the dark side)

September Newsletter Page 5

The term began with trigonometry for the Year 9-

10s and once this unit was completed,

understanding more advance algebraic

techniques ensued. This included the different

methods of factorisation, linear inequalities

and deducing simultaneous equations via

substitution, elimination, and graphing. Students

also began their inquiry into Earth Sciences

which included the understanding of the various

spheres of the Earth, theory of plate tectonics

and how interactions of plates give rise to

natural disasters and new landforms. In

getting to know about the Earth, they observed

current global phenomena on small scale through

experiments involving volcanoes and acidification

of water by dissolved carbon dioxide. The

numerous factors that contribute to climate

change were also studied and they really grasped

the concept of the Greenhouse Gas Effect.

This term students worked exceptionally hard to

cover all the content that was necessary, all while

working independently on their inquiry projects

which were submitted to the Griffith University

Science Competition. This was the first time

students at AIIC Gold Coast entered, and I am so

proud of

students at AIIC Gold Coast entered, and I am

so proud of how our students managed their

time and embraced the challenge with positivity.

Our budding scientists were also a huge

help to school, assisting

with the coordination of

the rest of Science

Week activities and

getting really hands on,

regardless of the

messiness.

High School even had

the opportunity to visit

the St Thomas Brisbane Planetarium this

term. A thoroughly enjoyable day was had

by all, which included an educational tour of

the night sky in the 360 degree sky dome, as

well as an information video on the

expansiveness of the universe and the journeys

of discoveries through time.

Well Done High School! Another successful

term!

Sandra Morgan/ Fathima Abba Omar High School teachers

PRINCIPAL AWARD—TERM 3

Primary School Secondary School

Name of student Year level Name of student Year level

Ahmed Ouheda Prep Year Emir Torlak Year 7

Zaina Miller Year 1 Zinaida Bacic Year 8

Ibraheem Muhammad Year 2 Emina Celahmetovic Year 9

Laith Krasniqi Year 3 Ayesha Ahmad Year 10

Luqmaan Muhammad Year 4

Anisa Celahmetovic Year 5

Mubarak Mohamed Year 6

MESSAGE FROM YEAR 1

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa

Barakatuhu.

Even though we are at the end of Term 3, it is still

full steam ahead in the Year One classroom. Our

last week this term has been focused on reflecting

upon all the exciting learning that has taken place

over the past 10 weeks. Whilst we have spent

most of the term writing information reports, this

week we were back to writing recounts as we

remembered all our favourite events of the term.

Some of the events the Year Ones wrote about

enjoying most were our Hajj re-enactment, the

Quran competition, our school Fete and all the

activities we enjoyed leading up to Eid-ul-Adha.

Of course, we mustn’t forget the excitement of the

Titan’s visit, the visit from the Nerang Library,

Silat self-defence lessons and our most recent

endeavour in sports through Auskick. An

action-packed term indeed !

However, it wasn’t all just fun and games. Much

of the second half of Term 3 was dedicated to an

inquiry into Our Earth and its natural cycle.

Students worked hard to learn about the

difference between natural and man-made

environments, how we as a species depend upon

these environments and, of course, what we need

to do to ensure these environments are managed,

sustained and cared for. They noted every aspect

of this learning through the creation of some very

detailed scientific journals. The learning was then

culminated in an Environmental Action Plan

poster which formed part of an entry into the 31st

Annual Griffith University Science Competition.

I would like to congratulate all our students for their

incredible efforts in this immense undertaking. I was

incredibly excited about the level of engagement in

scientific learning. However, nothing excites me more

than the comments from parents about ways in which

students are actually following through with learning

outside of school. Students became extremely aware of

the negative impacts of being wasteful when it comes to

Earth’s precious resources. They were beginning to

remind others about how minor changes to our everyday

routines can have a major impact on our Earth. Some

have been inspired to take their learning even further.

When setting goals for next term, one student stated “I

want to learn everything about science because I want

to be a scientist when I grow up!”

As we delve further into the inquiry process in Term 4, I

cannot wait to see where our learning will take us next.

Of course, we mustn’t forget that Term 4 will likely be

even busier. As the weather heats up next term, we will

be back in the pool for our next round of swimming

lessons. At the same time, please ensure your student

is ready for the change in temperature by ensuring he

or she has a hat for outdoor activities. In the meantime,

I wish you all a safe, relaxing and fun school holiday.

Mrs M. Celahmetovic—Teacher

Silat—

self

defence

class

Quran

competion

Visit from the

Titans

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