NORTHAMPTON - Arabic Supplementary School
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History
The Northampton Arabic supplementary school was founded in 1998 by a small group of people from the local community to fill a gap in the needs of this community.
By the end of 1999 classes were held for about 2 hours on Sundays at Kingsthorpe Community College and later at Malcolm Arnold Academy. Today the Arabic supplementary school takes place at Northampton Academy, still on Sundays, with 3 hour sessions.
When the school started it catered for around 15 students. Lots of families got involved in the beginning and the school continued to grow. The school has now 50-60 students, from infants (4yrs) to A-level students, and offers adult classes as well.
By the end of 1999 classes were held for about 2 hours on Sundays at Kingsthorpe Community College and later at Malcolm Arnold Academy. Today the Arabic supplementary school takes place at Northampton Academy, still on Sundays, with 3 hour sessions.
When the school started it catered for around 15 students. Lots of families got involved in the beginning and the school continued to grow. The school has now 50-60 students, from infants (4yrs) to A-level students, and offers adult classes as well.
Northampton Arabic supplementary school
We teach the Arabic language - reading, writing, speaking and listening.
But the school isn't just about teaching. There is a break between lessons to the children and young people time to play together and to get to know each other. We try to make learning fun so that students want to come to the school - they have been at mainstream schools all week , therefore lessons need to be enjoyable as well as educational.
The main focus of the Arabic supplementary school has always been the Arabic language. As the school had developed, the teaching focus has expanded as well and now includes more about culture, festivals and traditions of the Arabic communities connected by a common language.
After 9/11 the Arabic community faced a big test and people were nervous. To counter this, the school started to teach an introduction to Islamic studies to explain Islam and the Islamic experience, religion and faith to both students and the wider community.
But the school isn't just about teaching. There is a break between lessons to the children and young people time to play together and to get to know each other. We try to make learning fun so that students want to come to the school - they have been at mainstream schools all week , therefore lessons need to be enjoyable as well as educational.
The main focus of the Arabic supplementary school has always been the Arabic language. As the school had developed, the teaching focus has expanded as well and now includes more about culture, festivals and traditions of the Arabic communities connected by a common language.
After 9/11 the Arabic community faced a big test and people were nervous. To counter this, the school started to teach an introduction to Islamic studies to explain Islam and the Islamic experience, religion and faith to both students and the wider community.
Festivals
The Arabic supplementary school organised the celebrations of Eid al Fitr, Ramadan and Eid al Adha.
For Ramadan the wider community can see why we fast. One really good thing about the variety of different nationalities represented in the Arabic community in Northampton is that when we celebrate Ramadan everyone contributes a different dish. There are lots of different flavours and food, creating a wonderful mix of cultural tastes and there is something for everyone.
Eid al Fitr, which is on the first day of the Islamic month, marks the end of the month' long fast of Ramadan. This is an important festival for the Arabic community. Eid al Fitr is a time when friends and family get together. People dress in their finest clothes and decorate their homes with lights and other decorations and attend the mosque. The Arabic supplementary school and community organise an event for this and invite the Arabic and wider community.
The other Eid festival that we share is Eid al Adha. This is an Islamic festival to remember Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to god.
Over recent years the school's students have given presentations to other schools about Ramadan and Eid and some of the mainstream schools have asked the Arabic teachers to give talks and to arrange visits to the mosque.
For Ramadan the wider community can see why we fast. One really good thing about the variety of different nationalities represented in the Arabic community in Northampton is that when we celebrate Ramadan everyone contributes a different dish. There are lots of different flavours and food, creating a wonderful mix of cultural tastes and there is something for everyone.
Eid al Fitr, which is on the first day of the Islamic month, marks the end of the month' long fast of Ramadan. This is an important festival for the Arabic community. Eid al Fitr is a time when friends and family get together. People dress in their finest clothes and decorate their homes with lights and other decorations and attend the mosque. The Arabic supplementary school and community organise an event for this and invite the Arabic and wider community.
The other Eid festival that we share is Eid al Adha. This is an Islamic festival to remember Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to god.
Over recent years the school's students have given presentations to other schools about Ramadan and Eid and some of the mainstream schools have asked the Arabic teachers to give talks and to arrange visits to the mosque.
Events & Projects
We also arrange summer barbeques in Northampton, a trip to a local lake, sports and other activities to give families a chance to get together - the school is in effect the social network for the Arabic community.
The Arabic supplementary school took part in a Commonwealth project which included a visit to see the Queen at the Commonwealth Observance in Westminster Abbey.
We are also part of the Connecting Classrooms project - a government project that supports every school in the United Kingdom in having a partner school outside the UK, so that students become aware of the wider world. The Arabic supplementary school has established partners in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and has also helped six mainstream schools in the UK to connect with six schools there.
The Arabic supplementary school took part in a Commonwealth project which included a visit to see the Queen at the Commonwealth Observance in Westminster Abbey.
We are also part of the Connecting Classrooms project - a government project that supports every school in the United Kingdom in having a partner school outside the UK, so that students become aware of the wider world. The Arabic supplementary school has established partners in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and has also helped six mainstream schools in the UK to connect with six schools there.