Parent/Student Handbook

Michigan Islamic Academy Parent/Student Handbook

Michigan Islamic Academy

2015/2016

Parent/Student Handbook

2301 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor MI 48105

PHONE [phone] FAX [phone]

http://www.mia-aa.org

Table of Contents

Parent/Student Handbook 1

SCHOOL OVERVIEW 2

Mission: To provide excellence in education while nurturing Muslim Character. 2

Our Goals Are: 2

School History 2

Parent/Student Handbook Revision Process 2

Admission 2

School General Information 4

SCHOOL PERSONNEL 5

1.Letter from the Principal 5

2.Board of Education Members 6

3.School Leadership 6

4.Teachers 6

PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION 7

1.Parent communications 7

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT 7

1.Rights and Responsibilities 7

2.This Code of Conduct will be in effect: 9

3.Grievance Policy 9

4. Behavioral Infractions 10

5. Prayer Hall Etiquette 12

6. Progress Reports and Report Cards 13

7. Parent-Teacher Conferences 13

8. Volunteering 13

9. Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) 14

ACADEMICS 14

Curriculum Overview 14

Instructional Programs 14

Reading Philosophy 15

Elementary Instructional Program 15

1.Preschool Program 15

2.Kindergarten through Second Grade 15

3.Third through Fifth Grades 16

Middle School Instructional Program 16

High School Instructional Program 17

REGULAR COURSES: 17

HONORS COURSES: 17

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES: 17

ONSITE COLLEGE COURSES: 18

Academic Policies: 20

Homework Policy 20

Grading Policy 20

Midterm and Final Exams 20

Achieving Honors 21

SCHOOL POLICIES 22

1)Attendance Policy 22

Health and Safety Policies 25

SCHOOL EXCLUSION POLICY 25

General School Policies 26

Candy & Gum 26

Lost and Found Items 26

Hot Lunch Policies 27

Pre-Kindergarten Snack 27

EXTRACIRRICULUAR ACTIVITIES 27

FIELD TRIPS 27

STUDENT ACTIVITIES 27

CODE OF CONDUCT 29

Definitions & Rationale 29

DUE PROCESS RIGHTS 29

THE RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF MIA STUDENTS 30

CONTRACT (PARENTS & Students SIGN AND RETURN) 30

APPENDICES 32

Appendix A: School Calendar 32

Appendix B: School Uniform 34

Appendix C: High School Graduation Requirements 36

Appendix D: Communicable Disease Reference Chart 38

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Mission: To provide excellence in education while nurturing Muslim Character.

Our Goals Are:

• 
  To teach in a way that educates spiritually, physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
  
• 
  To provide skilled instruction at an academic level necessary for worldly success.
  
• 
  To strive for excellence, social awareness, and responsibility through involvement in the community.
  
• 
  To instill the attributes of integrity, citizenship, service, and diversity in our children by providing Islamic Character Education.
  

School History

Founded in 1985, Michigan Islamic Academy has proudly served the greater Ann Arbor community for many years, graduating its first senior class in 1996. MIA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, approved by the Michigan State Board of Education and meets all the requirements for non-public schools. MIA provides a learning community which encourages students to develop their personal interests and inspires them to reach their potential. Outstanding faculty place the needs of the students first, making use of creative and effective styles and strategies that capitalize on the different ways that students learn, individually and collaboratively.

Parent/Student Handbook Revision Process

MIA has the right to amend this handbook as the need arises. Parents will be informed of amendments through the weekly newsletter. A revised handbook or an insert to the handbook will be provided as needed at the beginning of each school year. This handbook may be read or downloaded from the Michigan Islamic Academy website – www.mia-aa.org.

Admission

Admission to Michigan Islamic Academy is open to all students from Pre-K to 12th grade. The school does not discriminate in enrollment on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, handicap, or national origin. MIA reserves the right to decline admission to students for the following reasons, which are not inclusive of all reasons justifying denial of admission: (1) if a student requires special education instruction beyond MIA’s capability or capacity, and (2) if a student requires English as a Second Language beyond MIA’s capability or capacity. To be admitted, students in grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1^st must be of a certain age by the cut-off date. There are no exceptions to this policy.

• 
  A Pre-K 3 student must be 3 years of age when he/she starts school.
  
• 
  A Pre-K 4 student must be 4 years of age by September 1st.
  
• 
  A KG student must be 5 years of age by September 1st.
  
• 
  A 1st grade student must be 6 years of age by September 1st.
  

Enrollment opens during the month of May and continues until all available spots are filled in a given grade. Priority in enrollment is as follows:

1. 
   Students already enrolled at Michigan Islamic Academy
   
2. 
   Staff children
   
3. 
   Siblings of students already enrolled at Michigan Islamic Academy
   
4. 
   All others
   
5. 
   Students may not enroll after September 15 unless the family is newly moved from out of state or country.
   

For a new student to be considered for admission to Michigan Islamic Academy, the following must be completed and in the student’s file at MIA:

1. 
   A completed and signed online application form, including registration fees.
   
2. 
   Results of MIA placement exam and spoken English Language Assessment for all potential students, including personal interview/essay for students entering Kindergarten through Grade 12.
   
3. 
   Copies of student's academic records for the past two years.
   
4. 
   Copies of student's standardized exams for the past two years.
   
5. 
   Copy of the student's Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.), if applicable.
   
6. 
   Documentation of passing the admission interview.
   
7. 
   Vaccination and Birth Certificate.
   

The admission committee will not start reviewing a file until all of the above items are completed. The school reserves the right to deny or revoke admission to students if records show that false or misleading information was provided on the application form. All admission decisions are communicated in writing.

A student will be allowed to attend classes only after he or she is fully registered in the school. In order for a new student to be considered fully registered at Michigan Islamic Academy, the following steps must be completed:

1. 
   Submit an admission form to the office.
   
2. 
   Fill out and sign all required registration forms. This includes an acknowledgement that the parents have read and will abide by the policies included in the parent-student handbook.
   
3. 
   Sign up for SMARTUITION (all tuition and fees will be paid through Smart Tuition).
   
4. 
   Sign a release letter for the student's records.
   
5. 
   Provide up-to-date health records, including immunizations and birth records.
   

Due to limited availabilty and the desire of many families to join Michigan Islamic Academy, parents of returning students must fill out and sign intent of enrollment before the Open House. Failure to do so may result in loss of enrollment privileges for the family for the following school year. Signing the intent of enrollment does not constitute full registration. Parents must complete the following to fully register a returning student by the deadline set by the school:

1. 
   Complete, sign, and return the short registration form, with fees.
   
2. 
   Update health records, addresses, and any other information on file.
   
3. 
   Update information on SMARTUITION as necessary.
   

Students who withdraw prior to the beginning of the school year after being fully registered will lose their registration fees. Students who withdraw after school begins will lose registration and supply fees, and will also be responsible for tuition until the end of the month in which the withdrawal occurred.

Visitors

For the safety of our students and staff, all visitors must obtain a visitor’s pass from the office before proceeding to any classroom or other area in the school. Therefore, teachers are requested to redirect individuals without passes back to the office. Parents who would like to pick up a student before dismissal must come to the office to sign out the student before picking him/her up.