Welcome to FOURTH Grade!
Welcome to FOURTH Grade!
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Assalamu Alaikum Fourth Grade Family!
Welcome 4th Grade Family! We are excited to be your children’s fourth-grade teachers this school year. We look forward to watching your little scholar grow and flourish as we develop their Islamic identity and help them excel academically. Our overarching theme for the year follows the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH): "The most beloved to Allah are those with the best character." We will instill the lessons from this prophetic saying into the curriculum to encourage the feeling of aspiring to be the best versions of ourselves in the eyes of Allah. We have lots of fun activities and exciting challenges planned for the upcoming school year and can’t wait to see the fourth graders’ achievements inshaAllah. Keep up to date with what’s going on in school through this Google Site, which we will be updating regularly with pictures and announcements.
General Announcements:
As the year begins, we recommend all students have a good night’s rest and eat a healthy breakfast before coming in to ensure they get the most out of their school day. Doors open at 7:45 am every morning and class begins at 8:00 am sharp. Please have your child label their supplies and bring them in on the first week of school. Please have textbooks in by the following Monday the latest. Please do not bring the classroom supplies (Clorox wipes, Kleenex, etc.) until requested so we can utilize the supplies throughout the year.
Hoping to see their bright, smiling faces on August 11th inshaAllah!
Meet the Fourth Grade Team!
Meet the Fourth Grade Team!
Ms. Hira
4A Teacher
My name is Hira Idrees and this is my fifth year teaching fourth grade at GIS. I was born and raised in Southern California and I received my education in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley. I have a passion for teaching and am excited to welcome our fourth graders as they discover what it means to be a tight knit community, sharpen their critical thinking, and blossom as well-rounded independent scholars. Prior to my time at Granada, I worked at Google, tutored high school students, taught islamic studies to the youth, and volunteered at a rabbit shelter. I love to travel, hike, play pickleball, take care of my cat, and drink matcha. I can’t wait to make amazing memories through this year’s fourth grade journey inshaAllah.
hirai@granadaschool.org
Ms. Nuray
4B Teacher
My name is Nuray Yavas, and I am pleased to welcome you and your children to my classroom this year. I have a Bachelor's Degree in American Culture and Literature and a Masters in History. I am a licensed teacher with a CA multiple-subject teaching credential and a CLAD certificate. I believe my role as an elementary teacher is to nurture and encourage the lifelong learning of my students. I hope to prompt my fourth graders to think creatively and explore their natural curiosity. This is my fourth year of teaching at the Granada Islamic School. Prior to GIS, I had been teaching 5th grade at a public school in Mountain View. My hobbies are reading, watching historical documentaries, and spending time with my family. I hope to make this academic year an educational as well as a fun-filled year for our fourth graders inshaAllah.
nurayy@granadaschool.org
Ms. Sarah
Islamic Studies and Quran Teacher
As-Salamu Alaikum, My name is Sarah Eldemrdash. I am honored to be teaching Islamic studies & Quran to 4th grade students. I have been working as a teacher in various classroom settings for over 17 years Alhamdulillah. I have been the head of the Islamic department at Al-Arqam for 9 years, and this is my 5th year teaching at Granada, Alhamdulliah.
I have a bachelor's in Accounting and Business Administration from Cairo University. I have a Political Science degree from the American University in Cairo, and I studied Child Development in California and graduated with honors in 2018.
I'm a proud mom of 3 children, Alhamdulillah. I love to spend time outside in nature, hiking, and biking. I am a swimmer so I love water :). I have a strong passion for the arts and love reading books about Islam. I love to learn more about the meanings of the Quran every day.
I strive to create a positive and fun learning environment, and to bestow love for Islam. I believe in a positive and holistic approach. I also believe in this saying “One of the hallmarks of a Muslim is to love for one’s brother/sister what one loves for oneself” My intention is to teach young kids about Islam, and the Quran so they grow with the love of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and his Prophet and be able to practice it throughout their lifetime InshaAllah.
sarahe@granadaschool.org
PE Teacher
My name is Coach Mubarak I will be the PE teacher for grades 4th through high school. I have a background in basketball and football. Coached AAU teams. I hold a BS in Management Information Systems. I also run a medical transportation company that my brother and I started in 2021. I enjoy motivating and helping the youth. I'm looking forward to a successful school year.
Mubarakb@granadaschool.org
Ms. Cha
Librarian
My name is Judy Cha, and this will be my 10th year as GIS librarian. In our weekly library classes, I will be sharing wondrous stories through read alouds with your child this year. When we read and recall text, we will be delving into the author's purpose behind their stories, as well as doing activities to reinforce learnings. My goal with each lesson is for your child to gain newfound life perspective from their point of view. We will relate relevant story themes to our deen, and students will share their takeaways, giving their insights to ties to a moral Islamic character as seen in the Prophet (saw). I have my BA in Sociology from UCLA, and my Master's in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. I love to do creative writing, listen to audiobooks, and hike in nature. I look forward to meeting new students in my class, and I hope to connect with your child on all levels at the GIS campus. Looking forward to another fantastic year!
judyc@granadaschool.org
Ms. Asmaa
Arabic teacher -Heritage class
My name is Asmaa Almannai, I will be your child's Arabic Teacher for the school year. As a mother of 3 kids, born in the US, I am fully aware of what challenges both parents and kids face when learning Arabic, that’s why I always try my best to make the learning experience as fun and as simple as possible. I have a B.A. Degree in the Arabic language from Tripoli University and this is my 8th year at Granada as an Arabic teacher. I will be teaching 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th grade this year. I am happy to meet all of my students and I look forward to meeting you all, Insha Allah!
asmaaa@granadaschool.org
Arabic teacher NH
My name is Sahar Wazwaz, I will be teaching Arabic to Non-Heritage 1. I am a mother of three kids. I have my B.A degree in English language and literature. I was born and raised in Jerusalem/ Palestine. I have been teaching Arabic as a second language in Granada for ten years. I enjoy teaching Arabic and creating new materials to help students understand the language. Looking forward to a wonderful year ahead of us.
Arabic teacher NH
My name is Mai Elsaman, and I will be your child's Arabic teacher for the non-heritage class ISA.
My BA is in fine arts from Egypt, and I worked for Cairo University for one year. I was A member of the ART CLUB OF Santa Clara and won the Artist of the Year 2012. I have been teaching Arabic for the past eight years. I worked with my kids in schools as a volunteer. I love cooking, working out, and swimming.
I am thrilled to be part of your child's educational journey and look forward to seeing the wonderful art they will create this year.
maie@granadaschool.org
Resources
The following are vital resources to ensure the best learning outcomes for your child:
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