Dr. Jeff Wilusz
Good Afternoon
We wanted to take a moment to share an experience from the recent NESA Leadership Conference, which our administrative team had the privilege of attending during Fall Break. This event highlighted the latest innovations in education, reaffirming that our high school remains at the forefront of relevant, practical, and engaging educational best practices.
At the conference, we connected with educational leaders, creative thinkers, and dedicated professionals from schools both within our region and beyond. We were impressed by the depth of talent and the shared commitment to enhancing students' educational experiences.
Our high school’s dedication to excellence was evident as we participated in sessions and discussions on the latest trends and methodologies in education. The conference provided valuable insights, new ideas, and networking opportunities with like-minded professionals who share our passion for fostering an outstanding learning environment.
What stood out most was our school's proactive approach to staying ahead of the curve. We are continually implementing current, effective teaching methods and technologies to ensure your child(ren) receives the best possible education. This commitment to innovation and ongoing improvement sets us apart and equips our students to succeed in today’s world.
Grades 9-11 PSAT Testing - ACS will once again provide the opportunity for students in grades 9-11 to take the PSAT on October 29. This test allows students to get an idea of where they stand in a variety of subject areas and acts as great practice for future standardized tests.
NGO Fair - The NGO Fair is an annual event dedicated to fostering connections and empowering students to embark on their Service Learning journeys. The fair brings together a diverse range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners from various fields, providing students with the unique opportunity to explore and engage with causes that resonate with their passions and values. We will be hosting 12-14 NGOs and community partners on October 29th to present to our students and teachers.
Senior Event - We are excited to inform you about a special Senior Class event coming up! On 10/29, our seniors will have their cap and gown pictures taken in the morning. After the photos, we will take them off-campus for a fun and memorable day. The Senior Council has planned an exciting outing to Gravity Trampoline Park, followed by lunch at Khashoka Restaurant in Dabouq. Students will be chaperoned by ACS senior class cohort teachers throughout the day, and they will return to campus by 2:45 p.m. Please note that students who do not want to participate will still be required to attend school and if they stay home, this will result in an Absence for their classes that day.
HS Assessment Week - We wanted to inform you about some changes regarding the end-of-semester school week at the high school based on valuable feedback from both our students and teachers.
This year, the high school will be implementing an assessment week during the final week of classes. During this time, students will have school from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Tuesday). The focus will primarily be on end-of-unit assessments for two classes each day.
We believe this system provides a more focused and productive environment for our students as they wrap up the academic semester.
Students in grades 9-11 will be taking the PSAT during school next Tuesday. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT, as well as an opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition for juniors who hold a US passport. Scores are not sent to colleges, but give students an opportunity to practice their standardized testing skills, as well as determine which areas of academic strengths and challenges they may have. Ninth grade students met with Ms. Collings during Cohort earlier this week, so that they have a better understanding of what the test involves, and to feel more prepared.
Our seniors are working incredibly hard this week to meet Early Action and Early Decision deadlines for U.S. universities. There are countless details to finalize and many essays to write! We’re proud of all the effort they’re putting in and will continue to be proud of them, no matter where they go or what they do next year. Go ACS Class of 2025!
All seniors’ families are reminded to submit the CSS profile to US universities that require it for financial aid. Also, the following came into Ms.Kurdi’s inbox from UC San Diego and is a good reminder for all US citizens regarding their applications: “The Department of Education has delayed the release of the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to December 1, 2024. This delay provides extra time for students to gather necessary documents and ensure a smooth application process once the form becomes available. Students and families are encouraged to prepare early. Mixed-status families, in particular, should consider starting the process to obtain their FSA-ID now, as it is required to complete the FAFSA.”
Juniors will attend a college session with Ms. Kurdi next week as they prepare for the more in depth college application process in the second semester. Juniors’ parents will also be invited to the first of a series of presentations on Sunday, November 2nd at 5pm. The first session will be general and in person, with more targeted online sessions in the second semester. More information to follow.
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
We hosted a college fair and a virtual visit this week! The fair included over 12 institutions from the US, UK, and Switzerland. They ranged from small liberal arts colleges to large public institutions to specialized ones. Meeting with representatives is really helpful to students as they approach university applications in general, so we press upon our high school students to take advantage of these great opportunities and to connect directly with universities. Often, the university representatives are the admissions officers that will be the first reads on the application, so it’s great that our students have the opportunity to impress them in person. We put great effort into nurturing our relationships with universities and offering meaningful experiences for our students.
Here are the dates and registration deadlines for the upcoming SAT test for those who are planning on taking the tests. Please note that there is no late registration.
SAT registration link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/international
School Code: 54202
ACS Amman is the testing center and will not show up in the drop-down list. You must enter our code, 54202, in order to select our school as a testing center.
Athletics and Activities website- This is our central hub for athletics and activities information
SAISA tournament dates October 24-26th (Below are the live sites/links)
Upcoming
AAC U19 Girls and Boys Football Tournament
October 31-November 2nd
See Activities Site for more details
Busing
If your HS child receives ACS busing transportation, they are also eligible for the HS Activities late bus which departs @ 4:45pm. 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.
Oct 24-26 - SAISA Season 1
Oct 29
Online PSAT (9-11)
Senior Cap/Gown Yearbook Photos
NGO Fair
Nov 2
Spooktacular
ACS Triathlon
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.