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 August 7, 2007
Most were behind in reading; three spoke no English.
But mere weeks after attending a summer literacy camp, the dozen kindergarten and Grade 1 students are already reading better and learning to write sentences on their own.
The camp, held in a mosque in Maple, is giving these children – all Ahmadiyya Muslims whose families emigrated from Pakistan – the boost they need before school begins in the fall.
The twist? It's not run by the mosque, or even an Islamic group.
It's run by York Region's public school board.
"When you are serving diverse communities ... you (need) to do things differently," said Lisa Leoni, a teacher who runs the "summer institute" at Michael Cranny Elementary School and the mosque.
"We are truly meeting the needs of the community ... They don't have transportation, and they don't have access to (learning) resources," she said, noting there's no public library close by.
The unique program has gone into the heart of a religious community, a place within walking distance for families and somewhere they feel comfortable.
It's a sign of how school boards in Greater Toronto, facing waves of newcomers from around the world, are rethinking how they serve their changing populations.
"I've not heard of other boards going into a mosque," said Linda Aihoshi, a community resource facilitator with the York Region District School Board.
"It's an opportunity to build a connection with the community," she said. "Our board is one of the boards that is growing, more than others, and we have a huge ESL (English as a Second Language)population ..."
Maple's Ahmadiyya community is centred at the mosque, in a subdivision called Peace Village just east of Jane St. and north of Major Mackenzie Dr.
During the school year, students from Peace Village are taken by bus to Michael Cranny Elementary School. In the summer, Cranny is one of several schools in areas considered at-risk – academically, socio-economically or resource-wise – where the board runs a summer institute combining literacy and recreation.
But Leoni helped spearhead an additional class at the mosque location five years ago after realizing there was a need for some students in that community to keep learning during the vacation months, but no way for them to get to the actual school. Buses aren't provided and very few of their mothers drive.
She approached the imam and others in the community to explore the idea. The space was offered free.
In the past, makeshift classrooms have been set up in the actual mosque. This year, because of space, students are in the adjacent Mission House.
Twelve children – 10 boys and two girls – are enrolled at the mosque camp, which runs from 9 to noon each day, ending this week. The teacher is assisted by a number of community volunteers, many of them older sisters or local university students. Mothers also come in every few days to help out. Books and other resources are brought over from Cranny Elementary.
The instructor was key, Leoni said, so they hired a local mother who is a York University student just one semester away from becoming a full-fledged teacher.
Saima Dard, whose own daughter attended a summer institute at the mosque two years ago, said she has seen students go from not reading English at all to a level 10, which is where they should be when they finish Grade 1.
"My goal is to have them write sentences with no help," said Dard. "We practise sight words every day and they take two books a day home."
Click here for The Toronto Star news. | | | |
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 Calgary`s $15M not-so-little mosque on the prairie -- the largest of its kind in Canada -- will officially open July 5
June 23, 2008
The plan was to build an indoor basketball court for the kids.
The final result: Canada's largest mosque, a $15-million, 48,000-sq.-ft. centre of worship and community, due to officially open in 12 days.
"We wanted a simple hall for basketball -- that's how it started," said Dr. Safeer
Kahn, spokesman for Calgary's Ahmadiyya, the Muslim sect constructing the huge
mosque at 53 Ave. and 44 St. N.E. More | | | |
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 Maple`s Muslims Heed the Call to Prayer and So Did I (National Post)
September 26, 2007
At 5 a.m. it was pitch dark at Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive in Vaughan. More | | | |
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 Global warming on Muslim agenda (Sun News Edmonton)
Everyone welcome to attend conference
July 21, 2007
God does not love polluters. . . More | | | |
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 Mosque finally approved (The Brampton Guardian)
July 12, 2007
BRAMPTON - It has taken several years, but construction of a mosque in Heart Lake has finally been approved and the building’s project manager says it is destined to become a local landmark. More | | | |
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 20,000 at mammoth Amadiyya meet (South Asian Focus)
July 3, 2007
A mammoth gathering estimated by organizers at 20,000 community members got together for the 31st Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in Canada, held at the International Center in Mississauga over three days. More | | | |
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 Meet the Ahmadis (The News Mississauga)
June 30, 2007
There are the Sunnis, the Shiites and now, meet the Ahmadis.
In fact, meet thousands of them as they converge at Mississauga's International Centre for the 31st annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community over the Canada Day weekend. More | | | |
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 Muslims "reaching out" at annual gathering
June 30, 2007
20,000 people expected at weekend event in Mississauga More | | | |
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 Muslim convention will draw 20,000 (The news Mississauga)
June 28, 2007
Thousands of people will attend the 31st annual convention of Canada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community over the Canada Day weekend. More | | | |
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 Three-day conference on Islam faith to be held in Mississauga, Ont. (The Chronicle)
June 28, 2007
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (CP) - As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend a three-day conference in Mississauga, Ont. focusing on the Muslim faith. More | | | |
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more news . . .
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Sunday August 22, 2010
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at condemns plans to burn Holy Qur’an in United States more
Thursday August 19, 2010
US Citizen Killed in Religiously Motivated Attack in Pakistan more
Tuesday August 17, 2010
Another Ahmadi Muslim doctor brutally martyred in Karachi more
Friday May 28, 2010
Ahmadi Muslims Martyred in Sectarian Terrorists attacks on two Ahmadiyya mosques in Lahore more
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