Issue #9: October 9, 2025

Home

MS Updates

HS Highlights

PTG

Calendars

Main Contacts

From the Principal

Ms. Michelle Alzamora

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe we are already approaching our fall goal-setting conferences. The start of the school year has been full of energy, growth, and new routines, and we are so grateful for the strong partnership between home and school. Conferences are a special time for us to pause, reflect, and set goals together so that each child feels supported and confident as they move forward in their learning journey.

Next week we look forward to our fall goal-setting conferences. These meetings are an important opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to come together to reflect on the start of the year and set both academic and social goals. It is especially important that students are present and involved in these conversations. When children have a voice in the process, they better understand what they are working toward and how we can all support them.

To make the most of your conference, you might consider asking questions such as:

What strengths and areas for growth do you see in my child academically and socially?
Are there any learning habits or behaviors we should work on together?
How can we extend my child’s learning in areas where they are already confident?
What can we do at home to support the goals set at school?

If you have information you’d like to share with the teacher without your child present, please let the teacher know so a separate time can be arranged. Our teachers are always happy to connect with you to partner in supporting your child.

Please note that Thursday, October 16 is a conference day and there will be no classes for students. We are excited to share this time together and look forward to setting meaningful goals for the year ahead.

Warmly,
The ES Admin Team

Goal Setting Parent Teacher Conferences

We look forward to our student goal-setting conferences on October 16th. These conferences bring together parents, teachers, and students to identify learning and social goals for the year. Student participation is essential, as it helps them understand what they are working toward and how we can all support them. Be sure to sign up to attend! We look forward to partnering with you in this important process.

We invite you to participate in the Fall 2025 Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 16. There are no classes for students on this date.

** Please understand that the PowerSchool sign-up process applies only to Elementary homeroom, Learning Support, Counselor, and Arabic conferences.

ES Information

Our Fall Conferences are student goal setting conferences. ES Students are expected to attend conferences with their parents.
For Conference Manager support please contact Ms. Farhan
For PowerSchool support please contact Ms. Khuloud
Conferences with elementary classroom teachers, elementary counselors, elementary learning support teachers and Arabic teachers are by appointment only; parents/guardians must book through the Conference Manager which opens for sign-ups on Saturday, September 27th at 12:00 pm and closes on Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 pm. Click here for instructions.
Ms. Rita Madi (Music for G1, G2, G3 and G5) and Ms. Dana Kayyali (Art for EYP, K, G1, G3 and G5) look forward to meeting with you. They will be available to speak with children and their parents in their classrooms for walk-in conferences.
Ms. Heba Khoury (Art for G2 and G4) will be available to meet with you in The Sting Zone for walk-in conferences.
The PE teachers will be available to meet with you in the ES LC breakout rooms for walk-in conferences.
Ms. Lindsey Cayer (Music for EYP, K and G4) will not be available to meet with parents, please contact her for more information.
All teachers have scheduled breaks. The specialist teachers’ breaks are when classroom teachers are meeting with families. To help you plan your time effectively, please note the following break times:

Morning Break:

PE Teachers 9:20 - 9:50
Art and Music Teachers Break 10:00 - 10:30
Arabic Teachers 9:20 - 9:40 and 11:40 - 12:00
HR Teachers, SS Teachers and Counselors 9:00 - 9:20 and 11:20 - 11:40

Lunch Break:

PE Teachers 1:30 - 2:15
Art and Music Teachers 1:00 - 1:45
Arabic Teachers 2:00 - 2:40
HR Teachers, SS Teachers and Counselors 1:20 - 2:00

Afternoon Break:

PE Teachers 4:00 - 4:30
Art and Music Teachers 3:30 - 4:00
Arabic Teachers 3:40 - 4:00
HR Teachers, LS Teachers and Counselors 3:00 - 3:20 and 4:40 - 5:00

Day of Play

Our students had an amazing time on Thursday during our Elementary Day of Play! The event was organized and led by our Elementary Student Council, who worked hard to plan a variety of fun activities for all age groups to enjoy. From creative games to friendly competitions, the energy and laughter across the field were contagious!

It was wonderful to see students of all ages collaborating, taking risks, and celebrating the joy of play together. This annual tradition continues to remind us how play strengthens our sense of community and helps students practice cooperation, creativity, and care for one another.

Messages for Peace

This week, our students shared beautiful messages for peace with children around the world. Over three days, students wrote heartfelt notes filled with kindness, hope, and empathy. Their words reminded us that even small voices can carry powerful messages of peace.

We’ve loved seeing the joy and care our students put into their writing! Enjoy a few photos below that capture their creativity and compassion in action.

Grade 5 Stray Impressions Auction

The Grade 5 Stray Impressions auction is now live! Students created expressive cat artworks inspired by artist & illustrator Emma Carlisle, while also supporting The Basboos Project, a local initiative that helps care for stray cats through TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return). Proceeds from the auction will go directly to Basboos as well as Al Rahmeh Association for Animals.

Auction is open now and closes on October 27 at 4:00 PM!

Please visit the auction site to view the artwork and place your bids.

The artwork is currently displayed in the atrium and will be available for viewing during Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Your support empowers our students as young artists and changemakers, while helping to improve the lives of vulnerable animals.

From the Counseling Department

Welcome to all our new students and families!
It has been a joy getting to know your children over these first two weeks of school and to see them settling into their new spaces and building connections.

We’d also love to share with you a video that was shown at our Back to School Morning Meeting. In it, last year’s leaving students offer words of wisdom and advice for our newest scorpions... and there’s even a special cameo from our beloved ES mascot, Wadi! This video gives you a glimpse of the spirit of ACS, and we hope that before long, your family will feel right at home here too.

Wadi - Back to School Video

From the ES Learning Commons

🔎 Grade 3 Exploring PebbleGo!

Students are discovering how to use PebbleGo to research animals, take notes, and learn fascinating facts—all while becoming confident young researchers