Volume 4, Issue 4 | January, 2013

Principal Diana Abdi

5110 Manor Rd.

Austin, TX 78723

Phone: 512-926-1737

Fax: 512-926-9688

principal@apacademy.org

There may be an unexpected benefit to involving your child in household chores: your child’s

reading success! A study linked tidiness, routines and schedules to a variety of improved reading

skills. Experts aren’t sure why. Orderly homes may have fewer distractions. Being organized may

also make it easier to encourage reading. D.L. Whelan, “An Orderly Home Affects Early Literacy Skills, Study Says,”

School Library Journal, www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6638990.html.

Parenting Advisory

Educators agree: parent involvement works, both at school and at home! Not only does it

improve discipline; it also contributes to academic success. Joyce Epstein, a top expert in

parent involvement, has identified the most important ways parents can be involved:

• Stay educated about the best ways to raise a successful student. Austin Peace Academy

hosts events to keep parents informed and can also provide helpful materials.

• Communicate with the school about your child’s progress. Learn what teachers observe

about your child’s behavior in class.

• Volunteer in rewarding ways. Offer to help your child’s teacher prepare materials for class,

or help out with a special activity day. Show your child that school is a family priority.

• Support learning at home by supervising homework time, reading with your child, and

establishing rules for respectful behavior.

• Help make decisions by joining PTO and the Parent Council.

• Encourage community involvement. Talk with your child about what it means to be a good

citizen. How can you both help the community? How can the community help the school?

TIP

Logical consequences

improve discipline

—page 2

Elementary classes

enjoy field trip to Para-

mount Theater

page 5

Hadith of the Month:

Caring—page 4

PRINCIPAL SPEAKING

Work with the school to help your child succeed

VO L UME 4, I SSUE 4 P A G E 2

R esearch shows that routines promote children’s health, good be-

havior and success in school. They also make life easier for par-

ents! When kids learn the discipline of routines, they become

more responsible—an important attribute to have at school and in life.

When creating routines:

• Keep natural habits in mind. If your child moves slowly in the

morning or loves reading at night, for example, factor these tenden-

cies into your scheduling.

• Plan for improvement. Pick routines that will have a big impact on

life. Many families find it helpful to prepare school supplies at night

by packing lunches, homework and backpacks.

• Reward success. If a task is especially difficult for your child, such

as finishing homework, motivate him with a reward chart as he ad-

justs to new routines. Source: “Family Routine,” Supernanny.co.uk, www.supernanny.co.uk/

Advice/-/Parenting-Skills/Family-Routine.aspx.

You’ve just celebrated the start of the New

Year, but if your child is still stuck in winter

break mode, it’s wise to make a commitment

to stick to important school habits.

As you head into a stretch of holiday-free

school days, make a point of enforcing before-

school and after-school rituals, including:

• A healthy breakfast. • Daily study time.

• A regular bedtime. It’s tough to get back to business after vaca-

tion, but the sooner you do, the more smoothly

Recommit to school habits

Routines & responsibility go hand-in-hand

Your child left his homework all over the floor. Again. What’s an ap-

propriate penalty? One that relates to his behavior. Tell your child, “I

cleaned up your mess. Now you can straighten up the family room

every night this week.” By choosing a logical consequence, you’re

giving your child:

• A concrete example of how his behavior affects others.

• An opportunity to make amends. Source: T.B. Brazelton, M.D. and J.D. Sparrow, M.D., Discipline the Brazelton Way: Advice from America’s

Favorite Pediatrician, Perseus Publishing.

Employ logical consequences

VO L UME 4, I SSUE 4 P A G E 3

I t’s hard not to react to a child’s misbehavior. But by acting out

their frustrations, parents can sometimes draw out the problem.

Discipline should not be a battle between you and your child. The

key to improving your child’s behavior is to model what proper behav-

ior looks like.

So if you get angry and yell, she’s more apt to do the same. But if you

stay calm and cool, no mat­ter how flustered you are on the inside, she

may learn to follow your lead—and carry her proper behavior into the

classroom, too! Source: B.B. Sizer, “Seven Tips for Practicing Positive Discipline,” PBS Parents, tinyurl.com/

btfu55v.

Are you stumped by a discipline issue? The answer may be as close as

your child’s school.

To figure out if your child’s behavior is “normal,” talk with your

child’s teacher.

You can also gain important insights from your child’s teacher. Ask

what you can do at home to help with proper behavior at school.

Source: M. Hieneman and others, Parenting with Positive Behavior Support: A Practical Guide to Resolving

Your Child’s Difficult Behavior, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Seek advice & support

Exemplify proper behavior

Foster self-reliance in children

Assigning chores is an excellent way to

teach your child to be self-sufficient—at home

and at school. Although kids are all different,

by 10 or 11 years of age, they are probably

mature enough to:

• Get themselves up for school.

• Prepare simple meals, including packing

lunch for school.

• Use a calendar and planner to make sure

they are on track with school assignments. Source: K.J. Kvols, Redirecting Children’s Behavior,

VO L UME 4, I SSUE 4 P A G E 4

Hadith of the Month

N arrated AbuHurayrah: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Who will

accept those words from me and act upon them, or teach people who will act

upon them?" When he replied that he would, he took him by the hand and counting

five characteristics, said, "If you guard against the things which are forbidden, you

will be the most devout of men; if you are pleased with what Allah has allotted, you will

be the richest of men; if you are kind to your neighbor, you will be a believer; if you

like others to have what you like for yourself, you will be a Muslim; and do not laugh

immoderately, for immoderate laughter causes the heart to die." Ahmad and Tirmidhi

transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition. - Al-Tirmidhi, Number 1334

I n this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) teaches us about our responsibili-

ties to other people. Each of the five characteristics he emphasizes can be related to caring

for each other and being good neighbors.

It is forbidden for us to harm our neighbors; moreover, we should be mindful of their needs and

share what we have with them. Part of being pleased with what Allah swt has allotted is not being

afraid to give of your wealth, which is entrusted to you by Allah swt. Those closest in proximity

to you, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, have a right to your help and care.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) says, “if you are kind to your neighbor, you will be a be-

liever.” We can interpret this as a blessing from Allah, as well as a natural consequence. When

you are kind to people, your heart is softened by your actions, and that makes belief easier for

you. Allah swt can make belief as easy for you as he wills, but your reward is commensurate with

the effort you put forth. Kindness to others naturally opens the heart to belief.

Liking for others what you like for yourself means caring about other people enough to want

good things for them, as well as sharing the best of what you have. When you make dua for your-

self, make dua that your neighbor will receive the best of this world and the hereafter.

Finally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) warns against immoderate laughter. This does not

mean that laughing is always bad. A sense of humor is important. However, if you are always

distracted by hilarity and entertainment, you can lose sight of your goal, which is to seek the

pleasure of Allah swt. In your distraction, you may neglect your responsibilities to the people

around you. Success is in moderation, so be moderate, and be good to your neighbor!

CARING

Junior student Osman Noor delivered a

khutbah entitled “Establishing a Relationship

with Allah swt” on Friday, December 7. Noor

spoke about the importance of being thankful

to Allah swt for blessings we enjoy everyday,

including attending an Islamic school, and the

ability to make dua. He stressed that we will

only find happiness with Allah swt.

On December 12, the elementary school held its "Donuts with Dad"

program. The Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first grade performed the song

"Peace Like a River," complete with hand motions. The second and

third graders sang "Fifty Nifty," which names all the states in the

U.S. The fourth and fifth grades presented poems about things that

their dads like.

After the presentation, children and their fathers went to the cafeteria

to enjoy donuts from a local bakery, as well as conversation and con-

gratulations. The students were pleased to perform for such an impor-

tant audience.

Donuts with Dad

VO L UME 4, I SSUE 4 P A G E 5

School ConnectionSchool Connection

On December 4, the Pre-K, Kindergarten,

first grade, and second grade classes visited

the Paramount Theater to see a play based on

the children's books "Guess How Much I

Love You" and "I Love my Little Storybook"

in connection with learning about scripts in

class. The play, created for small children,

was a "no shh-ing" play and students were

encouraged to participate in the story telling.

All the kids were impressed with the his-

toric theater building as well. After the play,

students went to Bartholomew Park to enjoy

a picnic lunch and play on the playground.

Elementary classes enjoy field trip to Paramount Theater

Teachers say farewell

to Ms. Jenny Burdett Teachers enjoyed an appreciation lunch pro-

vided at P.F. Chang’s on Wednesday, Decem-

ber 19. They took this opportunity to send off

fifth grade teacher Ms. Jenny, who will be-

come a mother for the first time in March. Ms.

Jenny taught at APA for five years and she

will be dearly missed.

January Calendar January 7 – Classes resume

January 21 – No school—Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 23-24 – Science Fair

January 19 – UIL Competition at Burnet , TX

January 29 – Picture Retake Day

January 31 – Girls basketball game at Hoop Zone

High school khutbah