Issue #33: April 30, 2025
Issue #33: April 30, 2025
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
Good Afternoon
As we head into our second-to-last extended weekend of the school year, we find ourselves sprinting (or crawling) toward the finish line.
Recently, in conversation with my Cohort kids, we revisited an age-old debate: quantity versus quality in learning. Amid laughter and anecdotes, we explored two "what if" questions:
What if, in pursuit of knowledge, you prioritized depth over breadth?
What if immersing yourself deeply in a few classes proved more rewarding than racing through a crowded schedule?
As is often the case, we didn’t arrive at a definitive answer. But we recognized this: a lighter schedule might seem sparse, yet it can offer far greater enrichment, for both the mind and one's sanity.
With the academic year drawing to a close, this is as good a time as any to reflect, possibly nudging your child (or yourself) to choose pursuits (daily & long-term) that genuinely foster growth and fulfillment.
HS Assessment Week
May 28-June 2 marks our formal Assessment Week, with final unit assessments administered across all subjects. This will be students' only scheduled opportunity to demonstrate their learning before the semester ends on June 4. Please note that early assessments will not be offered. Students who miss assessments during this window will likely have limited evidence for teachers to evaluate, which may impact their final grades. During Assessment Week, students will be dismissed at 11:35 a.m. each day. Transportation will be available for students who regularly ride the bus.
How do we communicate concepts, emotions, and perceptions without words?
Come and experience Visual and Sound Art with our talented MS and HS students on May 14th in the ACS Theatre.
The HS Art exhibition with live music starts at 4:15 and Concludes with our Spring Concert at 5:30.
- All are welcome to attend.
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Collings
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Collings
A sincere thank you to all of the parents and students who were able to participate in our ES/ MS/ HS Family Transition Night on Wednesday. We know that this has been a challenging year for many of our families, and we were glad to have an opportunity to help families with these important conversations.
We’re looking forward to Rice University’s visit next week on May 15th. We want to remind parents that they are always welcome to join us when we have university representatives on campus. All students and parents are encouraged to check the university visits schedule regularly and take advantage of these opportunities to connect directly with admissions representatives.
Our Senior Transition Seminars culminated this week with Mr. Wilusz leading another Money Matters session. We have a lot in store for our soon-to-be-graduates in the coming weeks as we prepare for their last days of school and their transitions to the next phases of their lives. Most of our seniors have made their final decisions about their destinations, and they are literally going to be all over the world in just a few months! With destinations that span from Australia and Japan to the Middle East and Europe to North America, our seniors are going places!
Juniors are now done with finalizing their schedules for next year with Ms. Kurdi. They are all encouraged to continue to research university options and requirements, and we can still tweak the schedules if needed. Over the next two weeks, Ms. Kurdi will be offering a series of online presentations designed to support Grade 11 families as they support their students through the college application process.
Each session will cover a specific area of the world, and there will be time for Q&A at the end. These presentations are entirely optional but highly encouraged for those who would like to stay informed and involved.
US Application Process - Sunday, May 11 (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
Canada Application Process - Tuesday, May 13 (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
UK Application Process - Monday, May 19 (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
Europe Application Process - Wednesday, May 21 (4:30 – 5:30 pm)
You’re encouraged to visit our College Counseling website where some highlights are:
* Scholarships and Competitions
* In a Nutshell
Got more college questions? Ask Ms. Kurdi directly (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo), or schedule a meeting by emailing Ms. Ellen (ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo).
Our HS Counseling Team is:
Ms. Ruba Kurdi: College Counselor rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo
Ms. Christine Collings: HS Counselor ccollings@acsamman.edu.jo
Ms. Ellen Hindeleh: Administrative Assistant ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Jacob “Chip” Nielsen)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Jacob “Chip” Nielsen)
Athletics and Activities website - This is our central hub for athletics and activities information
NEW Calendar!!! https://sites.google.com/acsamman.edu.jo/activities/calendars
Awards Banquet
Mark your calendars for May 26th for the High School Awards Banquet at ACS
5-7 pm
AAC U16 and U19 Track and Field Meet
Date: May 9-10
Location: ABS
Time: TBD
AAC U12 and U14 Track and Field Meet
Date: May 17th
Location: IAA
Time: Will be posted on the Activities Site
Busing
If your HS child receives ACS busing transportation, they are also eligible for the HS Activities late bus which departs @ 4:45 pm. Please see the Athletics and Activities page for more information.
Medical
Be sure to update your child’s medical information with the Health Office (Nurse Hiyam) and in PowerSchool.
Important Dates & Quick Links
Important Dates & Quick Links
Mark Your Calendars
Mark Your Calendars
May 5-16 - AP Exams
May 18-22 - Service Week
May 25 - Jordanian Independence Day
May 26 - HS Awards Banquet
May 28 - Graduation
May 28 - June 2 - Assessment Week (School Dismissed at 11:35)
June 3 - Students Check out
June 4 - Last Day of School (Early Dismissal)
Quick Links
Quick Links
The HS Weekly Update is sent out to students each weekend and updated daily. Feel free to bookmark the link so that you can see what is going on in the HS from the students' perspective.
Help Navigating PowerSchool - The How to View Grades from Parent Portal is a quick reference to help guide you through the intricacies of PowerSchool. As always, if you notice something “off” or have questions, please reach out to teachers after speaking through it with your child(ren) and they can help.
HS Learning Series - The HS Learning Series folder contains each session that we conduct throughout the school year. Please feel free to access it at your convenience. We will also keep the feedback form live so that you can provide us with information on what you would like to learn/see at upcoming sessions.
Please find the HS PS Tutorial 24/25 recording to give you a quick guide to help you navigate PowerSchool and generate some fruitful conversations at home.
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