The Cupertino Courier

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The Ramadan tradition comes alive for seventh-graders from Miller school

By LAURA RHEINHEIMER

Fifty students from Miller Middle School in ate dates and drank water shortly after sunset with Muslims and community members Oct. 7--the 15th day of the month-long observance of Ramadan.

This is the second year, the school, part of the Cupertino Union School district, has participated in the open house at the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara The students, along with their seventh-grade teachers and a handful of parents, took part in this traditional way of breaking the daytime fast of Ramadan. During the daylight hours of the fast, Muslims reflect on God.

More than 420 members of the community attended the open house meant to share the traditions and customs of Ramadan and Islam, according to Dian Alyan, the center's outreach director.

Some students said they had never been to a mosque before and didn't know much about Islam.

Observing Ramadan with local Muslims was a new experience for seventh-grader Marcus Schorow.

"It was interesting to see another religion," Marcus said.

The Miller seventh-graders attended the open house a week before their school curriculum covers Islam, says teacher Patrick Walters.

The outing served as a way for students to experience Islam first-hand, whereas some seventh-graders may only read about it in school, says Nicole Gasparik, who, along with Walters, teaches seventh-grade at the school.

"It makes the tradition come alive," Walters said.

Students heard from Muslim community members who talked about the fundamentals of Islam and explained that during Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from food, water and marital relations during daylight hours and reflect on God.

Ramadan serves as a time for the community to come together and pray, said Suhaib Webb, an imam at the mosque.

Mei Chung, whose son Alan attends Miller Middle School, said she wants her son to "understand religions are supposed to gather people, not divide them."

The teachers also believe learning about different religions can build bridges between faiths.

"It's an important responsibility for educators," Gasparik says.

Also among the speakers was Patty Cortese, the wife of San Jose's District 8 Councilman Dave Cortese, who told the crowd that she had pledged to fast every Ramadan until the war in Iraq stops. She said "breaking bread together" helps to break down stereotypes.

Students in the seventh-grade study the history and influence of Islam as part of their history and social studies curriculum, in compliance with a California Department of Education standard set shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.