From left, second grader Yahya Qureshi with third graders Ayla Ademi, in pink, Dalia Fattah and Muhamed Alali listen to their Principal Habeeb Quadri lead the morning assembly at the MCC Academy's campus in Skokie, Illinois, on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The school holds a daily assembly where students have a chance to be recognized and take leadership roles.
Principal Habeeb Quadri wrote an essay detailing how the MCC Academy has built character and fostered community among students at the Chicago-area Islamic parochial school. Quadri has structured the school to recognize students for achievement, making a point to visit with individual students and to recognize them for their contributions to the student body.
Photo by Alyssa Schukar