BALANCING ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

WITH THE
RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL
NEEDS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
 A VOCABULARY QUIZ:

DEFINE IFTAR.
WHAT IS FASTING?
WHO WAS MUHAMMAD?
WHY DON’T JEHOVAH WITNESSES SALUTE THE FLAG?
WHAT HOLIDAY DO JEHOVAH WITNESSES CELEBRATE?
WHAT IS EID AL-FITR?

DISCUSS YOUR ANSWERS WITH A PARTNER.

THE ANSWERS:

• Iftar: is the meals Muslims eat to break their fast.

• Fasting: a period of time when a person goes without food, usually
done for religious or medical reasons.
• Muhammad: a prophet and righteous person believed by Muslims to be
the final messenger of God, whose predecessors are believed to
include prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus,
among others.
• Why don’t Jehovah Witnesses salute the Flag? Since they believe that
only Jehovah should be worshipped, they are also against pledging to
the flag.
• What holiday do Jehovah witnesses celebrate? They do not celebrate
any holidays.
• Eid- Al-Fitr: Festival at the end of Ramadan, in celebration of completing
the month of fasting. This takes place on the 1st day of the next month.
NADIA’S RAMADAN

• (
https://nj.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/c242a960-8ebc-43c3-a155-b9
85b78a719d/ramadan/#.W1Za00xFxYc
)
• Discuss with your partner what you learned from Nadia.
• Be prepared to share your discussions with the group.
• Did this video help you to understand our Muslim students more?
 INCREASING OUR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

• We need to be more understanding of all of over students’ religious,

cultural and personal beliefs.
• These beliefs may require our students to participate in special days of
fasting or not participate in selected school wide activities that may go
against what they believe.
• We need to understand these beliefs in order to understand the needs
of our students.
• We also need to be flexible in providing modifications to accommodate
the needs of our students.
• We do not need to believe what our students believe, but we do need
to understand them.
 ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS
OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND EXPECTATIONS

• Mission Statement:

• Our mission at Don Bosco Technology Academy is to provide a high quality, rigorous, and
meaningful education for all students. Through the collaboration of all stakeholders, each
student will be expected to succeed and encouraged to achieve a standard of excellence
while working toward chosen career goals.

• Each student will be treated as an individual, given the tools to be a lifelong learner and
taught to be a productive member of society.

• How do we fulfill these goals while respecting the needs of our students?
HOW CAN TEACHERS, AND STAFF MEMBERS, BE MORE CULTURALLY ACCEPTING, AND
AWARE, OF A STUDENT’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WHILE MAINTAINING ACADEMIC STANDARDS
AND EXPECTATIONS?

• We, as teachers, need to understand what our students’ believe.

• We need to be Color Blind and see students for who they are and not what they believe.

• We need to take into consideration how these believe may sometimes interfere with a student’s
academic success.
• Our own teacher practices need to be adapted to address the needs of these distinctive beliefs and
cultures.
• We need to recognize that races and ethnicities and beliefs do have different learning styles.
• These learning styles need to be addressed, acknowledged and modifications need to be addressed.

• On a case to case basis we need to make modifications that take into consideration some of these
beliefs.
• We need to make sure that such a policy is considerate and fair to all members of the community.
HOW CAN STAFF MEMBERS ASSURE FAIRNESS, AND EQUITY, TO ALL STUDENTS
IN RESPECT TO RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS?
• All exceptions to the school policy regarding classwork, homework and testing need
to be offered to all students participating in a religious or cultural observation.
• Teachers may contact a parent with any concerns regarding a religious or cultural
obligation.
• Test times can be modified to test students in the early morning when fasting.
(Teamwork!)
• Students who can not participate in a school event will be allowed to sit in
designated classrooms during the special event. Teachers will be assigned to these
rooms to watch the students.
• Students not participating will be allowed to play games or watch a movie.
• Teachers will have “food free” zones in their classrooms during lunchtimes so our
fasting students have someplace to be during their lunch times; if they so desire.
  
IS THERE A REAL NEED TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WHO ARE FASTING DURING THE SCHOOL
DAY?

• No, not all students need an accommodation during fasting. Some students do prefer to
have an option during Ramadan. For these students, “Food Free Zones” will be provided.
• Teachers will volunteer to open their classrooms during lunch to accommodate these
students. (No additional compensation will be provided.)
• Students who abuse the privilege will not be allowed to participate in the future.
• Only fasting students will be allowed to enter these rooms.
• There will be a limit to the number of students allowed in each room. Students will be
allowed in a “First come, First serve basis.”
• All students must have a pass from a staff member to enter the room.
WHAT RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL EVENTS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED OR
ACKNOWLEDGED?

• Ramadan
• Holiday Assemblies
• School Dances
• School Luncheons
• Award ceremonies held during cultural or religious holidays or
obligations.
• Flag Salute
HOW IS THE VALIDITY OF A REQUEST BALANCED REGARDING SCHOOL NORMS AND
EXPECTATIONS?
HOW DO STAFF MEMBERS GUARD AGAINST ABUSE BY STUDENTS ABOUT SUCH A POLICY?
HOW WILL WE INVOLVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND PARENTS, IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
SUCH A POLICY?
• All requests that are made can be verified by contact with the parents.
• If the parents do not want any special modifications made their request will be honored.
• While modifications may be made; all students will be expected to complete all work. Any
missing work will be marked incomplete or given a zero at the end of the term.
• Any students who abuses this policy will be referred to an administrator for a possible
parent-student meeting and/or disciplinary action as deemed necessary by the
administrator.
• All community stake holders will be involved in the formal establishment of this policy.
 MANDATORY BREAKOUT SESSIONS- CHOOSE ONE.

• Understanding Islam and Ramadan

* Presenters: Gokhan Balaban and M. Karim room 221
• Jehovah Witnesses: Beliefs, Practices and Exclusions.
• Presenter: Vivian Reyes room 222
• Christian Beliefs and Practices
• Reverand Marcus Debnam: Media Center
 CULMINATING ACTIVITY

• At the end of your sessions, you will complete a Short Evaluation

Survey regarding this professional development.
• Upon completion of the anonymous survey you will receive your
Certificate of Participation.