News From The Nest:
May prayers in
the holy month
of Ramadan
bring you more
prosperity, faith,
satisfaction, and
divine love for
Allah.
Ramadan
Kareem!
5905 E. 130TH AVE. TAMPA, FLORIDA 33617
www.ayatampa.org ● (813) 987-9282
Message from Br. Souheil...
Dear AYA Community,
Assalamu alaikum wa rahamtullah. Ramadan Kareem & Eid
Mubarak!
We have had quite a summer this year! We have been diligently
preparing for our students to come back and find their beloved
school ready to serve them in the best of manners. Many of our
elementary students participated in the summer school/camp
activities and enjoyed them thoroughly masha'Allah.
We are certainly looking forward to an excellent beginning of the
2014-2015 school year. You will be happy to notice a brand new
modular building next to Building D between the second and third
week of August insha'Allah. This building will include 5 classrooms
and an office and will serve both the Hifdh and IB programs
insha'Allah.
We are very excited and will, insha'Allah be prepared for the final IB
Verification Visit that will be scheduled this coming fall.
We look forward to seeing everyone energized and ready for
another school year filled with great accomplishments insha'Allah.
Br. Souheil
Graduation - Edition 9
Summer Events
August 14: CTP Re-testing for
the students who did not pass
August 16: Parents’ Meeting
August 19: First Day of School
for Students
August 19-22: Half-Days
(Dismissal at 12:45 PM)
September 29 & 30: IB
Verification Visit
Look Inside
Community News…………………..2
Teacher Interviews…..…………….3
K5 Graduation…………….............4
5th Grade Graduation...……...….5
8th Grade Graduation…..............6
Senior Trip and Graduation………7
Thank You and Future Events…...8
Please email submissions to:
ayanewsletter@ayatampa.com
Business Ads Welcome!
1/4 Page Ad+ $100 for 1 month
AYA hosted two
community Iftars this
Ramadan, one at
Masjid Al-Qassam,
and one at the Morris
Bridge Masjid,
Dar-us-Salam. We
thank
everyone
who helped
make both
Iftars such
a success!
Wishing Everyone a Blessed & Joyous Eid!
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News from the Nest
Page 2
Spring & Summer Community Graduates 2014
We would like to congratulate the following AYA Alumni & Staff (former) on their recent graduations:
Sr. Alicia Hawari
Graduated from USF with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
AYA Parent & Teacher (2004-13)
Tara Alzubaidi
Graduated from USF with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature
AYA Alumnus
Class of 2008
Noor Tamari
Graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing
AYA Alumnus
Class of 2010
Omaya Zeineding
Graduated from USF with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing
AYA Alumnus
Class of 2008
Ayesha Nasr
Graduated from LECOM with a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy
AYA (IAF) Alumnus
Class of 2002
Adeeb Saleh
Graduated from LECOM with a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine
AYA Teacher & Coach (2007-2014)
We would also like to congratulate the following families on their children's/family-member's
graduations:
Congratulations!
Today is
your day.
You're off
to Great
Places!
You're off
and away!
(Adapted by
Dr. Seuss’ Oh,
The Places
You’ll Go!)
Br. Said & Sr. Asma Rum [AYA Parents]
Their daughter, Ruba, graduated from USF in May.
Sr. Remah Ahmad [AYA Islamic Studies Teacher]
Her daughter, Salam, graduated from USF in May with a Bachelor's Degree in Math Education.
Her other daughter, Islam, graduated from high school.
Sr. Maha Alrihawi [AYA Director of Early Childhood] & Br. Marwan Soukieh
Their son, Rudwan, graduated from King High School.
Sr. Shaheena Satter [AYA VPK Assistant]
Her son, Sabbir Mirza, graduated Valedictorian from Tampa Bay Technical High School.
Br. Majid Hawari [AYA Parent]
His niece, Lama Barakat, graduated from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School.
Our sincerest congratulations to the students and to their families. May Allah continue to
give them and all of our children continued success in this life and the next.
The following AYA Families and Alumni
Congratulations! welcomed new children into their families....
Wael Hijaz, (c/o 2008) , and his
wife, Sarah Ashour, (c/o 2009) ,
welcomed their first child, Jalal
Hijaz, July 9th.
Br. Khaled and Sr. Rama
Alhamzawi on the birth of their
baby boy, Omar. Their son, Youssef,
is a student at AYA.
Hashim & Areej Sullaiman on the
birth of their son, Yousef, June 12th.
Sarah, c/o 2002),Sr. Eman Mitwalli's
daughter, and Ahmad Maaty, had a
baby boy, Zayneddin, July 23rd.
Maysa Hamad, a former AYA
student, and her husband, also
welcomed their first child, Adnan ,
July 9th.
Br. Jamal and Sr. Abir Alhasan, on
the birth of their new baby girl,
Inshirah. Their children, Mariam
and Eyad, are students at AYA.
Br. Shadi and Sr. Samar Sarsour, on
the birth of their new baby boy,
Adam. Their daughter, Dalia, is a
student at AYA.
Kathim & Maysa Sullaiman on
the birth of their son,
Mohammed, June 2nd.
Br. Ahmad & Sr. Samah Fatayer
welcomed a baby girl, Maryam
Fatayer, into their family July 11.
Sr. Sassia Eldefrawy, on the birth
of her grandson, Abdullah. Sr.
Sassia is our K3 Assistant.
Rana Abu Khalil (c/o 2005) and
Suhail Rifaie (c/o 2003) on the
birth of their daughter Alena,
July 14th.
News from the Nest
Page 3
Meet AYA s New
IB Coordinator
With your head full of brains
and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down
any not-so-good street.
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
Michael Matthew, Ed.D
1. What is IB?
Firstly, the International Baccalaureate is known all over the world,
making the full scope of the program difficult to capture in few
sentences. However, AYA has deciphered and articulated the main
points of the IB program, and we intend to use this upcoming school year
to begin the process of gradually introducing/integrating the main
concepts throughout the school. In a nutshell, the IB program is
philosophically a preparation for life in mind, body, and spirit developing
key leadership attributes, aligned from our perspective with Islamic
values, that is recognized as peace promoting and respecting the world's
diversity. ..A perfect match for AYA!
2. What will you be doing as IB Coordinator?
My understanding is that essentially the coordination comes from
keeping track of IB curriculum updates, workshops, timely submission of
documents, monitoring student progress, and facilitating faculty best
teaching practices grounded in the IB philosophy. There is so much
more! But, one-step-at-a-time :)
3. What are you most excited about with regards to working at AYA?
I am excited about the "newness" of certain elements, although AYA has
been through a lot of development over the years - and we are
determined for continued success. Elements such as this year's new
faculty/staff/students, the IB program, new projects, and a genuine
positive outlook for our future, make this an exciting place to work.
4. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?
I am an "observer" by nature, but being "involved" makes all the
difference:) Although, "optimistic" may be a good descriptor!
5. Which characteristic of an IB learner embodies you
most, and why?
If I understand this question correctly, the one IB attribute
that I whole-heartedly connect with is "reflective". I am
constructively self-critical, and there is always room for
improvement.
My First-Year Teaching Experience
Many of my students may, or may not have known that this was my first year as an
official teacher. Why would I withhold such information?! Students smell new
teachers from a mile away, and if you give them that inch, they will surely take a
mile! Needless to say, teaching middle school Language Arts and Newsletter has
opened my eyes to the potential that the students at AYA have to succeed. I have
seen some of the most creative writing from every single student, as well as some of
the most creative concepts that the students apply to each and every newsletter.
AYA has a lot of talent at this school, and it is important for the staff,
administration, students, parents, and supporters to be recognized for their
hard work and dedication to education.
Overall, I wouldn’t replace my first year of
You'll be on your way up!
at AYA for anything; every joke
You'll be seeing great sights! teaching
from an endearing student, smile from a
You'll join the high fliers
generous staff member, and compliment
from a grateful parent made my first year a
who soar to high heights
phenomenal one!
By: Ahmad Hack, 8A
News from the Nest
Page 4
A look into Graduation!
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the
lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
K5A and K5B Graduation
K5A Class of 2014
Nofan Ahmad
Hammad Ahmed
Youssef Alhamzawi
Ali Alremeithi
Rufaydah Altoubah
Malak Ellababidy
Adam Faria
Shahad Fatayer
Hamzeh Hamed
Talia Hamil
Ayub Ibrahim
Tasneem Kayed
Taqwa Mashali
Ibrahim Mohammad
Sameh Quneibi
Leila Samhan
K5B
Hoda Abou Elnadar
Hadi Alhadidi
Eyad Al-Hasan
Nasser Al-Nashir
Tejon Camarabent
Ghazel Faroun
-
Rayan Filali
Lujayn Hamdan
Shahd Ibrahim
Awad Khan
Radi Mohammad
Aqib Nasir
Ammar Shihadeh
Saarah Siddiqa
Sidrah Sidddiqui
Anisah Taha
Rita Tazi
Obada Washah
Abdelrahman Yasin
Raed Zieneldien
Class of 2014
Aryam Safieh
Fares Samhouri
Jenna Sarsour
Hiyah Shihadeh
Hamzah Taha
News from the Nest
5th grade
Page 5
Graduates
Firas Abdelhafes
Yazen Alkhyyat
Abdallah Bayarri
Zakareya Elsayed
Muhammad Falah
Bilal Gomaa
Laith Hamil
Hasan Harake
Khader Herbawi
Muhammed Khaled
Malek Khawaja
Adam Mansour
Abdullah Omer
Nader Sarsour
Noah Shehata
Kowsae Sullaiman
Nehal Ali
Mona Almomani
Alina Atiq
Sabrina Atiq
Dana Barakat
Selma Bensaid
Shaam Daaboul
Noor Elfaouatih
Hager Kamel
Hedaia Mohammad
Janna Rahim
Jasmin Sabir
Azeeza Sarour
Samya Soukieh
Meryam Tazi
Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
Page 6
News from the Nest
8th
Grads
grade
Lina Abo Koura
Mariam Alasfour
Menatallah Daashoush
Sarah Elbasheer
Ala El-Dahla
Aya Mari
Bissan Mustafa
Esraa Nofal
Suhad Rifaie
Ghadh Soukieh
Sarim Akram
Ahmad Ali
Amine Benkirane
Zaid Chefchaouni
Omar Elmekabbati
Osama Gurwala
Sheik Ahmad Hack
Hussein Harake
Yousef Ismail
Areeb Khan
Step with care and great
tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous
and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with
your left.
Shaahid Khan
Yoonus Khan
Amin Nasr
Arian Rafhat
Anas Rahim
Usama Ravat
Adham Sulliaman
Taha Taha
Khaled Yousef
Tarek Zieneldien
Student work
News from the Nest
Page 7
Senior Graduation
Nadine Alashker
Serene Mostafa
Isra Aisheh
Jasmine Albadawi
Nadine Albadawi
Sally Ashour
Sarah Elfaouatih
Juwairiah Mohammad
Dania Rum
Mohammed Alasfour
Omar Altoubah
Emre Arslan
Obaidah Fariz
Hamad Fetais
Faris Hawari
Musa Khaled
Sami Mari
Osamah Nofal
Ahmad Qasem
Nael Rifaie
Wael Rifaie
By: Rahma Elmekebbati, 6A, Jasmine Abdel, 6A, Aliya Hack, 6A
KID, YOU'LL MOVE
MOUNTAINS!
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
What to Look
Forward to in
2014-2015,
insha' Allah.....





Over 500 Students
Hifdh Program
IB Authorization
New Classrooms
Amazing Academic &
Extra-Curricular Programs
Congratulations to Our
High-Achieving High School
Students!
By: Amin Nasr, 8B and Adham Sulliaman, 8B
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate
our High School students on their outstanding
accomplishments this year. Masha'Allah, many of our
students did very well on both their SATs and their AP
Exams this year, and they all deserve to be congratulated.
The students below are receiving special recognition for
their outstanding achievements.
AP Scholar with Honor:
Perfect Scores in Calculus AB:
Sabrina Awshah
Sabrina Awshah & Amer Abdelaziz
SAT Scores of 1350 or Higher:
Emre Arslan, Serene Mostafa &
Abraham Irshaid
Perfect Score on SAT Writing:
Juwairiah Mohammad
Valedictorians, Class of 2014:
Nadine Al-Ashker & Serene Mostafa
National Achievement
Scholarship Recipient:
Serene Mostafa
(Also an AP scholar with a perfect score in AP Calculus AB last year as a Junior)
Thank You Very Much! Merci Beaucoup! Muchas Gracias!
ً ‫شكراً جزي‬
!‫ال‬
!‫شكرية‬
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad SAWS said:
"Whoever does not give thanks to the people does not give thanks to Allah."
We thank all of the individuals and businesses that have supported AYA this year by:
Sponsoring AYA's Staff Breakfasts and Lunches
Sponsoring AYA's Students' Tuition Balances
Sponsoring our IB & Hifdh Programs
Donating to AYA's General Operating Fund
Donating their time & effort volunteering at AYA events
We thank Allah for blessing AYA with such a caring and involved community , and we ask that Allah
SWT reward all of our parents, staff-members, students, alumni and community-members greatly in
this life and the next for their generous support.
It is with Allah's support and yours that we are able to grow and excel each year!