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(905) 566-8533 admin@safaandmarwa.ca

Staff Bio

Elham Abdel-Hamid

Principal
Working in the field of education for over twenty years, I have developed Safa and Marwa Islamic School to be a foundation that raises the next generation of aspiring, educated and inspirational Canadian Muslims. My ethos for education is managing and creating the best team that cares for, inspires and teaches each child in our school community the importance of academia and deen. Fun fact: I’m athletic by nature and absolutely love to swim!

Angie Hindy

Assistant Principal
Salam! I am the Assistant Principal at SAM and my role is to create policies, introduce programs, facilitate and support a positive experience for the school community. My intention is to raise the future Muslim Ummah and, through these students, earn a place in Jannat al-Firdaws inshaAllah. I love children and engaging with them in a positive manner, and feel like a child at heart. Fun fact: Alhamdulillah, I have eight children. love chocolate and golf. I love to play sports and workout and would love to skydive out of a plane one day.

ARSLAN ARIF

VP High School

As-salamu alaykum!I am the Vice Principal of the High School at Safa and Marwa Islamic School. I joined the SAM family in 2018, and I have always been dedicated to making sure that our students achieve success in their academics and personal lives.I started off my career as a Mechanical Engineer, however I found true passion in inspiring and educating the youth. I quickly gained experience as a teacher, entrepreneur, and a consultant within the education field. With over 6 years experience, I understand what it takes for high school students to achieve their academic goals and do my best to help set them upon a path to a successful life.

ANEESA KHAN ALI

VP Elementary School

Salaam. I am excited and honored to be your Vice-Principal of the Elementary School. I began teaching at SAM in 2017 as a Grade 4 teacher and have since obtained an MEd. These experiences have transformed my passion for teaching in every way. I have been teaching for a total of 22 years and it has always been my goal to ensure students succeed through quality experiences at school that would positively shape their lives. Fun fact: Apart from school, I am a very outgoing mom to 2 adventurous children, MashaAllah! We love exploring the outdoors and enjoying nature. I have a keen interest in traveling, sports, art, and puzzles.

HODA ABDELRAHIM

Executive Assistant

Salam 🙂 My name is Hoda Abdelrahim and I am an executive assistant at Safa and Marwa Islamic School. I grew up in London ON and I graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I am a mother of two beautiful children who are happily attending SAM School. I am skilled in coordinating a busy office flow and multiple pressing tasks. I am extremely adept at providing clerical support to executive meetings and working with administrators to plan effective agendas. Working in an office and seeing children everyday brings me great joy. In my spare time I really enjoy volunteering at any community services and helping those who are in need. I love spending quality time with my family & friends, walking and writing diaries. My goal in this life is to gain Allah’s pleasure.

JAMILA ELAHI

HS Administrative Assistant

Salam ! My name is Jamila Elahi. I am the Administrative Assistant at Safa and Marwa Islamic School secondary campus. I graduated from York University with Bachelors of Environmental Studies and a certificate in Sustainable Energy. I also studied at Al-Huda Institute and obtained two diplomas by completing both Taleem Ul Quran and Taleem Ul Hadith courses. I love doing outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends, and trying new restaurants/dessert spots/cafes. I like to consider myself an outgoing individual, so working at SAM and having the opportunity to meet and engage with so many people makes me very happy.

Saima Naeem

Administration

Assalamualaikum. My name is Saima Naeem and I have completed my Masters degree in Home Economics. I am the Admin Assistant at Safa and Marwa Islamic School and Alhamdulillah I have been working here for 6 years. In my position, I am responsible for looking after the Hot Lunch program, locker rentals, school supplies and electronic equipment. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and arts and crafts. I am a friendly person and enjoy meeting new people and spending time with friends and family.

Rachid Boumerdjan

Facilites Manager & Masjid Administrator
I am Rachid, I’ve been here for about 5 years cleaning and managing the masjid. I am originally from Algeria but call Mississauga my home now with my wife and daughters. I am usually the first person you will see if you visit the masjid, so stop by and say salam!

Swafiya Swaleh

JK Homeroom

My name is Swafiya Swaleh. I am a trained Montessori teacher certified by International Montessori Centre, UK. For the past 10 years, I have been working in early childhood setting in different roles and I am currently the JK homeroom teacher. Safa and Marwa has been my second home for the past 6 years and have enjoyed my time here. I am very committed to my family and after school hours are dedicated to them. My comfort food is a bowl of warm chicken soup and sorry I don’t have a sweet tooth!

Shagofta Imtiaz

JK Assistant

My name is Shagofta Imtiaz. I am a trained Montessori teacher certified by Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. I have also completed the Taleem Ul Quran (translation and tafseer) course at Alhuda International Institute. For the past 8 years, I have been working in early childhood setting in different roles and I am currently the JK assistant teacher. This is my first year at Safa and Marwa Islamic school, and I am thoroughly enjoying my experience here. I have a passion with working with kids and enjoy my time with them.

Salwa Siddiqui

SK Homeroom

Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Ms. Salwa Siddiqui. This is my 3rd year at Safa and Marwa Islamic school. I have almost 22 years of teaching experience with elementary and kindergarten students. I have taught 5 years in Pakistan and 15 years in Kuwait at a Bilingual and International School. I have done my Bachelors in Arts from Pakistan. I did my teaching certification (PGCE) i.e Professional Graduate Certification in Education from University of Sunderland, England. I have also done certification in Dyslexia from International Dyslexia Association, Direct Learning-U.S.A. Adding on to it, I also have a diploma in Child Day Care Management, Education Direct-U.S.A. I love doing art with young kids. I love cracking jokes. I enjoy meeting new people and definitely enjoy going out doing window shopping and eating.

Doha Horani

Arabic Teacher & SK Assistant Teacher

My name is Miss Doha Horani, I have been teaching Arabic for JK,SK students in Safa And Marwa for six years now and hamdulillah it is a good experience , I love kids and I enjoy teaching them. By the way I am a mother in law and hope to be a grandmother soon inshallah.

NEMA NAJAF

ES Student Counsellor

Assalamualaikum!

My name is Nema Najaf, and I am the Elementary School Counsellor. I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling Skills and I recently completed a Child and Youth Care Diploma from Humber College. I am passionate about helping students reach their full academic, social, and emotional potential. My philosophy is student-centred, and solution focused. I also believe in a comprehensive counseling program that addresses the academic, career and personal/social development of all students. My role as a school counsellor has truly been rewarding. I have the pleasure to work with students, teachers, administration, and parents who thrive for success. Fun fact: I love cooking, baking, and exploring the outdoors. I am very fun and adventurous at heart. 

ASMA AYAZ

Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher

As Salam Alaikum!I am Asma Ayaz and this is my first year at Safa and Marwa Islamic School. I am the Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher and very happy to be a part of this wonderful organization. I come with 9 years of teaching experience having taught British and Canadian curriculum. Teaching is my passion and I enjoy spending time with children. As an educator, I try to provide personal care to students by identifying their needs, selecting and using methods to promote learning.

OMEMA ali

Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher

My name is Omema Ali and I am the Grade 3 Homeroom teacher. It’s an honour to be part of Safa and Marwa Islamic School. I have been teaching for 9+ years now and I love my job. Teaching has always been my passion. It makes me happy to see my students learn, grow and succeed. My teaching philosophy is based on the fact that each child is different and unique with varying levels of strengths. As a teacher, I work with them to discover their strengths and reach their full potential. I have a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Behaviour Science and graduated from Guelph Humber with Early Childhood Education. I have worked as a Behaviour Therapist at Aim Pediatric Therapy and also as a coding instructor for kids. Currently, I am pursuing a Degree in Mathematics for Education. As an educator, I am always striving to maximize the learning of my students by making it more fun and hands-on. I am the mother of a 10 years old boy and love playing with him, especially building Lego!

Naglaa Kasbany

Islamic Studies Teacher / Librarian

I am honoured to teach at SAM since 2009. I teach Islamic studies and Quran. I graduated from University of Alexandria in Egypt in the Art of Arabic Language. I am passionate about learning Islamic knowledge and teaching it to others. My goal is to inspire students to love Allah and be proud of their identities as Muslims.

Shazia Qureshi

SK Green

Zoha Hassan

Grade 2 Green

Salaam! I’m a Pharmacist by degree but an Educator by passion! I’ve first started my career in teaching in 2013 as an I.B. teacher and have never looked back. I enjoy teaching and I feel it’s the most rewarding experience when you see a student achieve something new! I’ve completed additional courses in teaching and a masters degree in Psychology. Alhamdulillah! I’m a mother of four young children and our best times spent together are when we paint. I love to travel and have visited more than ten countries and I look forward to see the cherry blossoms of Japan soon! 

Eman Hardan

Quran/Dean/Arabic

Zakwan Alhalabi

Deen/Quran

Assalamu Alaikum. I was born in Damascus and grew up in Great Umayyad Mosque, where I received my IJAZA of Quran and Islamic studies. I graduated from Damascus University with a degree in electronic and communication, and taught there for 10 years. I have taught in many Islamic institutes and private Islamic universities, and even have experience in Islamic tourism. In 2012, I moved to Malaysia where I taught Quraan and other Islamic subjects. I am excited to join Safa and Marwa Islamic school as an Islamic Studies and Quran teacher. In addition, I am also working as an Imam and Khatib. FUN FACT: I like horseback riding.

Sana Tom

French/Art

“L’art est comme un miroir. Il reflète notre âme”. 

My name is Sana Tom, the french and art teacher. The quote said that art is like a mirror, it reflects our soul. 
I love teaching students, they are always full of life and spread positive energy in class. They are a great piece of art !

Maha Nouri

Islamic Studies Teacher

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biology Science from the University of Baghdad before moving to Canada in 2001. In 2010 I obtained another Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education from Charles Sturt University in Ontario and became an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT). In addition, I have 15 years of teaching experience in various schools in Canada and abroad. However, I consider my best achievement to be obtaining a formal Ejazah in the memorization of the book of Allah…Alhamdulillah. This is my second year teaching at SAM School teaching Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies. I consider myself a passionate teacher who enjoys working with children of different abilities and playing a role in their development. In addition, I like travelling and visiting new countries and learn about different cultures. I visited Japan, South Africa, Netherlands, UK, and Turkey. In my spare time I enjoy reading books and socializing with my friends.”

Souade El-Tounssi

Arabic Teacher
I have been teaching at SAM for over 18 years. I love every child that I have taught and hope to have instilled the love of Arabic and Quran in each and every one of them inshaAllah.

Amal Hafidi

French Teacher

I am Amal Hafidi and a French teacher working at Safa and Marwa Islamic School. French is my passion and teaching our Muslim youth is my privilege. My goal in teaching is to positively influence the future ummah, islamically and follow the intended curriculum using islamic teaching and values. I love anything chocolate, and it is always welcome 😉

I am experienced in teaching all grade levels. I’ve been one of the longest working teachers in this school for a total of 16 years. I’ve prided myself in my hard work and passion during my time and I hope to continue to give my all during the upcoming years, inchaAllah. I have watched this school transform into a beautiful, supportive, and professional environment.

I am proud of my current and previous students that I still meet today. I ensure all my students are driven towards excellence.

 

SAMIA RIZWAN

Grade 3 Green

Aalia Mehar Khan

HS English

“I am me, nothing more, nothing less and that is enough” (Harpreet Dayal) My name is Aalia Mehar Khan and I am a mother of two beautiful girls. I was born in Pakistan as a quiet, studious and stubborn child and spent most of my time there. I have recently moved to Canada and loving this country. Teaching is my passion and working at Safa and Marwa High School is a great learning experience for me. I love to cook and play games with my children.

 

Sana Azam

Grade 3 Blue

RESHMA MUKADAM

HS Science Teacher

Assalamu Aleikum My name is Reshma Mukadam and I am a high school science teacher at Safa and Marwa for 3 years. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science(physics) and Bachelor of Education from Mumbai University and holding license of Ontario certified teacher (OCT). I began my teaching career in the Star high school in Mumbai and then taught 7 years in Doha Qatar as a high school science teacher at Ruqayya Albayan Educational Complex and 2 years at American Academy. This year I am teaching grade 11 Biology and Chemistry, grade 12 Biology and Chemistry and grade 9 Science and grade 10 Science. Currently, I live in Mississauga with my husband and my 4 four children. I enjoy cooking, reading, shopping and spending time with my family.

 

Shamaaila Nooranne

Language Grade 6-8

Nawal El Mawed

Math Grade 6-8

Zeinab Abdultawab

Grade 4

NOBERA CHOWDHURY

HS Student Counsellor

“I am Nobera Chowdhury and I am the Student Counsellor at SAM. I am here to help the students with their emotions, social and behaviour concerns in an open and non-judgemental way. Together, we develop solutions, set goals and work really hard to resolve whatever issues they are facing, whether they are having stress at home or school, difficulty focusing in the classroom, understanding and managing emotions and more.

I have a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto in Psychology and Sociology, a diploma in Social Service Work and certification in Life Coaching. I have always been interested in the way people think, feel and solve problems so working at SAM has been the perfect fit for me, alhamdulillah.

In order to be healthy physically, mentally and emotionally, and to be an effective counsellor, I take self care very seriously. My personal combination includes working out, spending quality time with my family and friends, travelling, listening to audiobooks (doubling the speed, of course) and spending quiet time alone!”

 

AMER ALABED

HS Social Sciences/Islamic St

Salam! I am Amer Alabed, the teacher of Islamic and Social Studies at Safa and Marwa High School. I have a PhD in Educational Studies and worked in the educational sector for more than 10 years in international schools and universities in the Middle East. I am also interested in business and digital marketing studies and love photography and graphic design. For me, joining the SAM team is an exciting experience, and I am looking forward for a successful and productive school year for all.

Mohammed Shafiquzzaman

Math

Salam! In my last years of teaching in a diverse environment, I work to motivate my students and keep them on track. In that journey I found myself as a successful educator by making lessons interesting for those learning Mathematics. Alhamdulillah, I am an Instructor of Mathematics and Physics with over 10 years of experience. I am happy to teach at Safa and Marwa Islamic School. I enjoy travelling and spending time with my family.

Wilton Williams

Physical Education

Shakeel Noor Hassan

Technology