School News

NUI Goes Hybrid - The New Normal

A shift to normalcy is what everyone wants in this age of the pandemic. For corporate America, that means going back to work in offices, for business owners that means opening doors to customers once again, and for children that means going back to school. However, as we move from our homes back into the real world, that also means embracing the “new normal” which involves masks, social distancing, and sanitizing.

For schools across the country, students are also adjusting to this “new normal” that has taken the form of hybrid learning - a mix of in-person and online instruction. Noor Ul Iman has also adopted this approach by offering its students a choice between remote learning and hybrid learning. This process of transitioning into a new form of learning began a month ago on February 8th. Students and their families were sent surveys to help assess the preferences of the student body. Across the board, there were students who chose to attend school in-person two days a week and those that chose to remain completely virtual for the entire school week.

“I think I have really gotten comfortable and used to online school. It’s a convenient option for me and my family and it gives me a lot of flexibility in terms of planning my day around my classes,” said Yasmeen Sakr, a 12th grader who opted for remote learning.

On the other hand, several NUI students have found the transition to hybrid learning a particularly refreshing one. The new hybrid model is definitely a change from the in-person schooling experience NUI students had prior to the pandemic. Hybrid students are required to fill out health surveys every morning to ensure that they have no symptoms or signs of sickness. Only after being cleared by the surveys and having their temperatures taken each day are they allowed to enter the school.

If one takes even a step inside of the school building, they can see the visible changes in the school that are reflective of the considerations and safety precautions that NUI has taken in light of COVID. The hallway floors have one-way arrows encouraging students to walk distanced from one another and minimize contact in the hallways. Desks are positioned six feet apart and most students learn with the help of laptops rather than books. Yet all of these changes are things most hybrid students are more than happy to adopt.

“I really enjoy coming back to school and interacting with my friends in a way that I haven’t been able to for so long. It’s the closest thing we could get to normal and thanks to all the safety measures I can still enjoy my senior year while being safe”, said another high school senior, Anisah Mahmood, who is currently attending school hybrid.

So far, the transition to hybrid has definitely been a successful one for most students thanks to the work put in by the NUI administration, teachers, and staff. Hopefully, as time goes by we’ll only see more positive change and a safe shift to onsite learning.

Student Council Elections

Elections are a fundamental part of our community’s progression and an exciting, nerve-wracking time for all of America. While American citizens are put through this experience once every four years, the students of NUI experience it annually through student council elections. While a majority of students may not be of legal age to vote for the country’s president, they can vote for the President of their student body.

This year, however, the elections have been very different from before. Due to the transition to online school, students can no longer vote between classes and in-person like they used to. However, like most aspects of COVID-19, the NUI elections have also found a way to adapt to our new circumstances. This year, candidates delivered their speeches online via Zoom, as dozens of students logged on to listen and watch virtually. The positions up for election included President, Vice-President, Officer positions, and Class Representative positions. Important issues discussed by many of the candidates involved various aspects of online school, the new schedule, and student council virtual events.

This year, voting took place through an online google form. After votes were cast and counted, results were announced later that week. For the 2020-2021 school year, the elected officers included Rehan Baig (12th grade) who serves as President, Saad Farooqui (11th grade) who serves as Vice-President, Ali Yousry (11th grade) who serves as Treasurer, and Zainab Rahman (12th grade) who serves as secretary.

Everyone elected to this year’s Student Council has experience in the NUI student government, making them great candidates for the role. When asked about this year’s student council elections and future plans for the year, student council President Rehan Baig said:

“This year has been one of uncertainty in all aspects. From job safety to healthcare, everything has changed in the last couple of months. Our little bubble at NUI has changed too, and with that came the change in student council elections. Obviously, I wish it could have been in person... my life would have been much easier. But Allah knows what’s best and we had to adapt and change the way that Student Council, and every club is run this year. The transition for last year’s Student Council officers (Saad Farooqui, Ali Yousry, and I) and our advisor (Mrs. Maria) was one that required a lot of work but in the end paid off with a smooth transition into the new school year. Alhamdulillah, I have become President for this year of uncertainty and I hope that the whole council as well as the student body can make a positive impact on the students and the greater community. Expect some big, yet different, things from us this year!”

Traditionally, the student council has played an important role in bringing the students’ voices and opinions to the NUI administration. Working side by side with the high school office and Head of School and High School Head, Student Council has helped to raise student concerns and make changes. They also organize a variety of enjoyable events for students including Snowflake grams, food sales, and Spirit Week all with the help and guidance of the Student Council advisor Ms. Maria Largacha-Spencer. Inshallah this year will be an even greater one as we look forward to the work of our new student council officers!

Youth Voices

The National Council for Social Studies recently held an event called Youth Voices: A Student Town Hall for the 2020 Election. NUI Chapter Junior Rho Kappa members had the opportunity to virtually attend this Town Hall on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 7 PM. Middle and high school students from all over the world were able to participate in it. The moderators were the President of the National Council for Social Studies, Stefanie Wager, and New York Times best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis.

The event included a student panel on the topics of citizenship, the methods of voting, and civics. Students were able to voice their concerns regarding democracy, social studies, and citizenship. They answered questions such as “What civic topics are most important to you?” and “What do you think becoming a citizen means?” Students exchanged thoughts, shared reflections, and proposed possible solutions to problems faced by the youth today.

Another idea that was discussed included how media literacy affects and changes people’s views on the candidates during the election. In addition, supervisors, as well as students, discussed how the election process should be adjusted, and if the electoral college should be abolished or reformed and other topics that largely impact American people. This event gave Junior RHO Kappa members around the world a closer look into the election process as well as American politics in general.

Middle School Clubs!

Middle School clubs have now begun! Middle school students have the option to sign up for a variety of clubs.

Members of the Drama Club, which is coached by Ms. Ann, participate in improv, creative writing, and spoken word. As part of the Inkling Club, coached by Ms. Alia and Ms. Nageen, students can attend in-person meetups, a virtual coffee house, open mic nights, and much more. Ms. Nageen also coaches the Nature Studies club, where students learn about nature and environmentalism. Middle school students can also join the “We The Students” podcast team, which is coached by Ms. Zakia. In this club, students from different schools compete by creating a mini-podcast and then submitting it to the NPR Podcast Team to have it featured on their podcast. Members of the Science Bowl Team, coached by Ms. Saima and Ms. Rabab, explore the topics of Math and Science and have the opportunity to compete in the Regionals with other schools.

The Junior RHO Kappa Team is made up of middle school students that had been selected for their interest in Social Studies and activities in Community Service. Students have the opportunity to attend conferences and meetings where they discuss current events and global issues. Similar to this, the Middle School Model UN team, which is also coached by Ms. Zakia, gives students the chance to learn about international policy and debate about crises occurring worldwide. Students simulate the real United Nations through diplomacy and public speaking.

Competitions will be modified to abide by all the safety protocols because of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, middle school clubs this year will be something to remember!