Montclair Family Newsletter

Posted April 8, 2022

April 8, 2022

A great, big, warm thank you to all of the families that were able to attend last night’s Art Walk and Welcome Back to School Open House. The hallways were filled with wonderful art that the students created and many families. We are hoping to invite more families and community members into the building and would love to know your thoughts.

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Important Dates

April 11 – April 15: Math CMAS for grades 3, 4, and 5
April 12 – 2nd Grade Field Trip to Bluff Lake
April 19 – 20: Science CMAS for grade 5
May 3 – No School – Eid Al Fitr

Ramadan Kareem

For all of our families that celebrate, we wish you Ramadan Mubarak!

The month of Ramadan started on April 2 and goes through May 3 (Eid al Fitr). To honor our muslim community, we will not have school on Eid al Fitr, May 3.

One of our staff members, Kia Davis, shared the following information to help our non-muslim staff, students, and community have more understanding of Ramadan.

A way of acknowledging Ramadan could be simply greeting your students “Ramadan Mubarak” which they would reply “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Ramadan Kareem”.

When is Ramadan ?

To know when Ramadan starts we go based on the phases of the moon, once the new crescent moon is revealed Ramadan will start that night. Fasting will start at next sunrise
Ramadan occurs once every year, In Islam our holidays are based on a lunar calendar so it’ll move about 10-12 days ahead every year

Why do we celebrate/ what is done during Ramadan?

Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to our Prophet Muhammad
It is a month of blessings, praying, fasting, and reading the Quran, our holy book
A month of charity, of self reflection and ridding of bad habits
Helping the poor and homeless, while being thankful to have food to eat once your fast is broken because they do not

What/How long is fasting?

Fasting in Ramadan is refraining from eating or drinking water, and during the month having the intention to abstain from bad habits (Taqwa)
How long you fast is different in each state and country, but it is based of off the 5 prayers Muslims pray everyday
There is a prayer at sunrise, noon, evening, sundown, and night. Fasting starts at the sunrise prayer(Fajr) and ends at the sundown prayer (Maghrib). Repeats everyday for 29 days

Are children fasting/ what age do kids start fasting?

Majority of children under the age of 11 aren’t fasting, if they are it’s usually 4-5thgrade and most times started with half days

What is Eid ?

Eid is a celebration our community has the day after Ramadan ends
During Eid, we come wearing our traditional clothing and pray as a whole community, this is so our fasts are accepted and we receive our blessings
At the festival, we do fundraising for charity, and the last part of the celebration is spent with your families to celebrate the children by giving them gifts (kinda like they would on Christmas)