Pleasant View School’s Family Fall Event Unites the Community

On November 18, 2023, the Pleasant View School Board organized the first Fall Family Event. The school-wide program was held at the Memphis Islamic Center from 1 PM to 4 PM. Families were invited to participate by responding to an RSVP, allowing organizers to prepare food arrangements, seating, and activities for the day.

In preparation for the event, elementary teacher Mrs. Afaf Obid organized a group of Pleasant View School students to serve as presenters and volunteers. The Family Fall Event showcased student performances from different grade levels and included presentations on school updates from Principal Mohammed Malley and PVS Board of Directors President Soyab Malani.

The event kicked off after the Dhuhr prayer, with food served by student volunteers at the MIC Banquet Hall. The food was catered from the Memphis restaurant Queen of Sheba, and featured a diverse array of options such as kabob sandwiches, shawarmas, and burgers. The event drew an impressive attendance of over 400 people, including PVS students, parents, and families.

As the emcee of the event, Yasmeen Mannan ‘24 explained the format of the event. “We wanted to showcase the talents of our students through various presentations from elementary to high school.” The event began with a beautiful Quran recitation from Ahmad Abu-Khraybeh ‘29 and a Dua for Palestine by Hala Odeh ‘25. The audience enjoyed the Kindergarten song performance, led by Ms. Aasiyah Kirk, the elementary school Islamic Studies teacher. The song was titled “In Paradise” and the lyrics described the beauty and enjoyment of heaven. Another class performance was done by third graders Sama Khmous, Zaara Yahya, and Rubab Ali, in which they shared what they love about PVS. 

The event also included presentations led by Dr. Malley and Mr. Malani on updates regarding school enrollment, school financials, and infrastructure improvements. 

Mannan ‘24 explained that the following student presentations were centered around the theme of Palestine because of the recent humanitarian crisis in Palestine that has deeply impacted the Pleasant View community. Students Musa Sheriff ‘25, Mesbah Sadat ‘24, Reem Mohammed ‘25, and Fayadh Chowdhury ‘24,  recited original poems. Sadat’s poem, titled “My Country,” was based on his love for his homeland, Afghanistan, and the struggles and beauties of the country.  

“An institution that is expanding rapidly each year, PVS has an incredible volume of talent amongst its situation,” Mannan said. “It’s important that we take the time to reflect and showcase the growth of this community - how far we have come since the school’s fruition almost 30 years ago.”