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National
Blue Ribbon Award by the U.S. Department of Education in recognition
of our overall academic program and our students’ scoring in the top
10 percent of the nation in reading and math;
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Full-term
accreditation by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)
and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC);
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Alignment
with California State Framework and use of textbooks correlated to
this curriculum;
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Matriculation
of graduates to prestigious independent schools;
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Highly
qualified faculty of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds with
over 75% having a master’s or teaching credential and an average of
ten years of experience;
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Use
of curriculum consultants to work closely with faculty on specific
objectives such as writing and math to develop consistent standards
across the grade levels;
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Emphasis
on the foundational elements of learning (reading, writing, and
mathematics) and the use of supplemental tools to address different
types and levels of learners (Accelerated Reading and Math
programs);
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A
religious studies curriculum and philosophy, developed internally
and independently over the past fifteen years, which emphasizes the
values of compassion and respect for all humanity and includes a
comparative religion component involving visits to other religious
institutions (Skirball Cultural Center, Wilshire Temple) or schools
(Weizmann School, St. Mark’s School);
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A
character education program that teaches universal values through
critical thinking and daily application;
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Extensive
use of technology in the classroom and by the faculty and
administration in teaching and school matters;
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Finalists
at the LA County Science Fair every year since its first entry and
first place winners at the LA County and State Science Fair levels
in the past three years;
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A
civics program that fosters responsibility and citizenship and
culminates in an eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. through the
Close-Up Foundation;
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Continuous
professional development provided through in-services and outside
workshops regularly throughout each year;
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Collaboration
with institutions such as the LA County Museum of Natural History
and the LA County Office of Education’s Multimedia Services to
provide teaching resources to the faculty;
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Presentations
by our Arabic Language Faculty at several national foreign language
conferences (ACTFL and NCOLCTL) and participation in the development
of national foreign language standards through George Washington
University;
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Models
of Unity Award given by the Pasadena Human Relations Commission for
the school’s participation and leadership in interfaith activities;
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Valley
Interfaith Council Music Director of the Year awarded to the
school’s Performing Arts Club Director;
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Community
service emphasis through students volunteering at local public
schools, performing at convalescent homes, collecting canned foods
for the local homeless shelter, fund raising for national and
international causes such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami, and
organizing community activities such as parent education workshops
and Red Cross blood drives;
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Inter-scholastic
activities between other private and public schools in the spirit of
peace and compassion (Daniel Pearl Music Day, Tri-Peace Day,
tree-planting, visits to the school);
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Membership
in educational organizations such as the National Association of
Elementary School Principals, the National Middle School
Association, Educational Records Bureau, and the Council for
Spiritual and Ethical Education;
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Transparency
in all matters including an annual financial report listing all
donors and the availability of the school’s curriculum, textbook
list, and handbooks on its website;
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Financial
status based solely on student tuition and the generous support of
our local American Muslim community.
