Assalamu alaikum parents,

Welcome to the new school year.

We are thrilled to be starting another year of learning, growth, and community at Meezan School. Teachers and staff are excited to welcome both returning and new students to this academic year. As we embark on this journey together, we are committed to ensuring that you have all the essential information to make this year a resounding success. Get ready for a year filled with fresh opportunities, new friendships, and remarkable achievements.

The first day of classes is Tuesday September 5 with a drop-off time at 8:30 am in the back parking lot.

As your family prepares for the new school year, there are a few things that you could do at home to help get ready for school, described below.

School News & Calendar

Attached to this mail/letter is a calendar for the first month (September). At the start of each month, we will share a monthly calendar with important, upcoming dates and activities ahead.

At anytime, please visit our website (meezanschool.com/category/news) for updates and news, also you can find us on Facebook for quick information at meezanschoolguelph

School Hours

Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM – 3:20 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Daily Timetable

Drop off: 8:30 – 8:40

Period 1: 8:40

Period 2: 9:20

Period 3: 10:00

Brake/Recess: 10:40

Period 4: 11:10

Period 5: 11:50

Period 6: 12:30

Zuhr prayer and Break/Recess: 1:10

Period 7: 2:00

Period 8: 2:40

Pickup: 3:20 – 3:30

Fridays: Please remember that Friday is an exception. The day finishes at 2:00 PM with a pickup time between 2:00 – 2:10 at the front door. Parents must pickup children at this time.

Location for Drop-off and Pickup

For your convenience and safety, drop-off and pickup will be at the back parking lot only. Please enter and exit the parking lot from Denver Road.

Drop off: between 8:30 and 8:40 AM. Please ensure that your child arrives during this time to prevent your child from missing time in class. Students arriving after 8:40 AM will be marked ‘Late’.

Pickup: between 3:20 and 3:30 PM. Please arrange to have your child picked up during this time.

Attendance

Regular, daily attendance is essential for a meaningful education. This includes arriving at school, on time, ready to learn.

If your child will be absent on a given day, please contact the school prior to 8:40 AM. To do so, leave a message with the student’s name and reason for absence either through the school’s email (main.office@meezanschool.com) or through the main office phone number, (519) 265-0306.

If a student is absent for a prolonged period of time, or a student is often late to class, a student’s learning might be negatively affected.

Monthly Tuition Fees

Meezan School is a non-profit, private school that provides a healthy and fun learning environment. The school operates entirely on monthly tuition and the generosity of community donors. Please help us to keep the school running effectively by making sure to pay monthly tuition on time. All monthly tuitions fees and other fees should be paid directly by an e-transfer to finance@meezanschool.com

Monthly tuition fee rates:

• 1 Child: $ 375
• 2 Childs: $ 675
• 3 Childs: $ 900
• 4 Childs: $ 1050

If your family requires a reduction in monthly tuition fees for the 2023/2024 school year, you will need to submit a bursary application form as soon as possible. The form can be accessed using the following link: forms.office.com/r/vG7F1mM8n0 

Before and After School Programs

This year we are excited to start before and after school programs. While operated at the school, this non-profit program is run independently.

The Before School Program is available from Monday to Friday, while the After School Program is from Monday to Thursday.

Part time: For occasional need at $10/hour.

Full-time: For each day need of the week at $6.00/hour.

Because this program operates independently of the school, all fees should be paid on time to avoid interruption of the service. Rates are rounded up by the hour.

Examples for cost calculation:

• A brother has an urgent need to drop his child earlier, before 8:30. He reached to school at 7:45 and dropped his child, he must arrange for a payment of $10 for the time before school.
• A sister called and told the school that she will be late for pick-up. She arrived at 4:30. She is required to pay $10.00 for the hour of service and $10.00 for each hour after that.
• A brother requested a daily service for his child, before school and after school service. Each day, he requires a combined time of 2.5 hours. As such, he is required to pay $18 per day at the end of the week.

Lunches and Snacks

Please make sure your child brings healthy food, each day, for both snack time and during lunch.

Students will be required to bring everything home (including wrappers and containers). This is known as a “boomerang lunch” that supports both the environment as well as public health. Try to minimize wrappers and maximize reusable containers. Make this an activity in which your child takes the lead!

Lunches and snacks should not require the use of a refrigerator or microwave, as the school is not able to provide access to these. Students are also not able to share food and snacks with friends or siblings.

Please ensure that food brought to the school contains no peanuts. We also strongly discourage students from bringing caffeinated drinks to school.

Pizza Day

We are glad to bring back Pizza Day at the school. The information on the cost and schedule, along with the form, will be shared during September. The program will start in October, and it will be for one day each week.

School Supplies

Shopping for back-to-school items, consider purchasing the following:

All Grades:

• Back-pack: must be able to fit over both shoulders and with enough room for all supplies and lunch bag.
• Lunch bag/box
• Refillable Water Bottle: must be durable and able to close in case it is dropped.
• Running Shoes: used throughout the day, both indoor and outdoor. They should be comfortable, secure, and appropriate for gym classes. During the winter, these shoes will be your child’s indoor shoes.

Grades 1 to 8:

• Pencil case: keep it simple but able to store all writing supplies.
• HB Pencils: try to bring at least 4 (avoid mechanical pencils).
• Eraser for use with pencil (white erasers are strongly recommended).
• Pencil Sharpener: must be self-contained so the student does not have to leave his/her desk to sharpen a pencil.
• Scissors.
• Ruler: units in metric (centimeters and/or millimeters); No metallic rulers are permitted.
• Glue stick.
• Colouring pencils: try to get a pack of at least 18 different colours.
• 1.5 inch or 2-inch, 3-ringed binder: must be simple with no soft materials or zippers.

Grades 1 to 2:

• Crayons: a pack of at least at 8 different colours

Grades 5 to 8:

• Protractor: measuring 180 degrees.

Please label everything with your child’s name. Do not send bulky zip-binders or an excessive number of items. Students will only have space within their desks or cubbies to keep required supplies and will be required to take most items home at the end of each day.

Should you have any concerns or difficulties in acquiring any of these materials, please contact the school or your child’s homeroom teacher during the first week so we can help.

Students are not allowed to bring electronic devices from home to school.

During the first week of school, your child’s teachers will provide further details and might request other items be brought to class.

Clothing

Students are required to come to school with appropriate clothing. As part of our guidelines, students must ensure that:

• Clothes worn must be clean, well-maintained, and free of holes;
• Shirts must not have any political or social messaging beyond those pre-approved by the school;
• Clothes must be worn properly, in a formal manner, and be adequately loose-fitting;
• Shorts and skirts are not permitted;
• Comfortable shoes should be worn at school (closed toe and secure fit);
• No sandals or high-heel shoes are permitted;
• Jewelry (i.e., necklaces, long earrings, rings, bracelets, bangles) are not permitted;
• Clothing must be appropriate for physical education;
• Clothing must be appropriate for performing salat and participating in Quran classes. For girls, a hijab must be brought to school each day.

If a student does not regularly bring appropriate attire, parents will be contacted.

Communication with School and Teachers

As a school, we greatly value the partnership between teachers and parents in ensuring students get the best education possible. At the start of the school year, your child’s teachers will reach out to you, sharing their own expectations and provide their emails for ongoing communication.

During the first two weeks of September, teachers will also be connecting with you through Google Classroom. It will be a tool to connect with students and parents on a regular basis, including posting information about upcoming activities, events, and assessments.

During the school year, teachers will be reaching out to provide opportunities to meet to discuss your child’s progress. If you would like to meet with a teacher, please be sure to send them an email to book a date and time.

Homework and Assignments

Homework is an important part of reinforcing what your child is learning at school. Homework might consist of assigned practice work reinforcing what is already learnt at school; or it might be an opportunity for a student to complete assigned work that he/she was unable to finish in class.

In terms of amount of homework, for each grade a student is in, you can expect about 10 minutes of homework each day. For example, in Kindergarten to Grade 1, this could be about 10 minutes each evening. It might take the form of reading an assigned book with them. A student in Grade 2 could expect about 20 minutes of homework. By Grade 6, a student might receive up to an hour of homework each weekday, although much of this work might be completed independently at their grade level.

Please help your child with being organized and helping them remember to review and complete assigned work each evening. Ensuring a regular time and a quiet place to do homework is greatly appreciated.

School-night Routines

Another important way to prepare for school is to restart daily routines such as going to bed on time, waking up on time (no screens an hour, at least, before bed), brushing teeth, hand-washing, etc.. Try to have healthy breakfasts early in the day, before school, with your child well-rested and ready to learn in the morning.

Student Activities and School Trips

Throughout the year, teachers will be arranging different activities to enhance student learning. This might include field trips. We endeavour to ensure that all students can participate and that any cost of participating is equitable for all families. Should there ever be a financial concern about participating in a field trip, please let the school know so that we can help.

We hope that you continue to stay healthy as you enjoy the last few days of summer. We also want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we plan and organize for the safe return to school, insha’Allah. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.