Issue #33: April 23, 2026
Issue #33: April 23, 2026
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
As we navigate another vibrant stretch of the school year, I wanted to share a quick update on some of the behind-the-scenes work our dedicated educators are doing to support your children’s growth. This past weekend and into the week, a group of our High School staff participated in an intensive Cognitive Coaching training. It was a privilege to be part of this group and see the transformative power of this work firsthand.
At its core, Cognitive Coaching is a non-judgmental, developmental process that focuses on enhancing a teacher's inner thought processes. Rather than simply evaluating performance, it provides educators with a set of tools and strategies to help one another reflect deeply on their teaching practices, building the capacity for self-directed learning and self-managed growth within our professional community. When our teachers grow, our students thrive. By refining our own thinking and reflection skills, we are better equipped to help our students develop the same, directly aligning with our vision at ACS to cultivate agency, agility, and tenacity in every learner. As we become more reflective practitioners, we can better support our students in becoming independent, compassionate learners who are ready to embrace challenges and value diverse perspectives.
Lastly, I must share how proud I am of our students. We are privileged to have a student body that can navigate their learning with such ease and maturity, even when professional development sessions occasionally clash with their regular daily routines. Their adaptability is a testament to the grit and tenacity we strive to instill here at ACS.
Attendance During AP Exams - AP attendance Procedures will be shared with students early next week and we wanted to ensure you all got to see what the expectations were communicated out to students. Please note, students will have a supervised space to be in the event that they choose to stay at school throughout the duration of the regular day:
You are allowed time out of class to prepare for AP exams. This preparation needs to take place off of campus. You may not leave class and remain on campus.
For morning exams
You can take your study leave the day before the test starting at 11:40 (Tuesday at 11:35)
1 - Go to the class you were scheduled to go to and inform them that you have a test the next day and you will be taking AP study leave.
2 - Check out with the HS office
For afternoon exams
You can take your study leave the morning before your test. You need to be at school in time to take your exam. Please check in the HS office when you arrive.
Seniors last day of school is May 14, so the following pertains to 11th and 10th grade students
Attending AP classes after the AP exam weeks are completed:
Work in AP classes will stop after the date of the AP Exam. These will become study hall periods.
You will be able to leave school if your AP class(es) take place at the end of the day. To do this you will need to go to your AP class and get a blue pass from the teacher. This will allow you to leave campus. (Teachers will enter APT into PowerSchool for any student they hand a pass to)
If you have two AP classes back to back you can leave at the start of the first one.
If you have a study hall adjacent to an AP class you do not have to attend study hall
You may leave at lunch if your AP class is after lunch
On Tuesdays, depending on our schedule you may leave at the following times: 11:20 (Adjacent to SH) or 1:15.
If your day starts with an AP class you may arrive at the start of your first non-AP class. When you arrive at school please check in at the HS or Counseling Office.
Spring Concert - ACS Families are cordially invited to an evening of music and talent at our annual Spring Music Concert.
Date: Monday, May 11
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Venue: ACS Theatre
Admission: Free
Performances are an essential part of the learning process in the Performing Arts. By attending, you are not only enjoying a wonderful evening of music but also providing our students with an authentic performance experience and a supportive audience. We look forward to celebrating their hard work and artistry with you!
ACS Book Talks - The Learning Commons invites you to watch the following:
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Juniors: Building the Foundation
Our Class of 2027 is officially in high gear! Juniors have been meeting one-on-one with Ms. Kurdi to refine and finalize their initial balanced college lists. Beyond the research, they’ve been proactively reaching out to faculty to secure teacher recommendations and logging those requests into MaiaLearning. It’s an organized start to what promises to be an exciting application season.
Upcoming Parent Sessions:
To support this transition, we invite Junior parents to attend three online sessions covering application processes across global destinations:
United States
Canada
UK & Europe
Stay Tuned: An email will be sent to all Junior parents containing the specific links and times for these virtual sessions.
Seniors: The Final Countdown
For the Class of 2026, the finish line is in sight. While many are busy making their final enrollment decisions, others are eagerly awaiting those last few notifications. With only a few weeks left in their high school careers, the energy on campus is electric. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and can’t wait to celebrate their final destinations!
All students and parents are reminded that they are always welcome to schedule counselor meetings. Grades 9&10 parents with Ms. Kate (ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo) and Grades 11&12 with Ms. Kurdi (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo).
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
Counselor’s Corner: Reunions and Leadership
As the academic year draws to a close, the pace of life in the High School is accelerating. It is a time of high energy, reflection, and—most importantly this week—some very long-awaited reunions.
Welcome Home and Missing Those Abroad
We were absolutely thrilled to welcome back our Canadian students this week. Seeing them back in our classrooms, walking the halls, and returning to the athletic fields has brought a wonderful sense of renewed energy to the campus.
While we celebrate these returns, we want to emphasize that our students who remain evacuated are still very much in our hearts and minds. To those of you still abroad: we miss you. We strongly encourage you to stay tethered to your community here. Please continue to reach out to your friends and maintain proactive communication with your teachers. If you have any questions regarding assignments or expectations, communicate quickly and often so we can support you effectively from a distance.
Grade 10: Navigating Healthy Relationships
This week, I had the opportunity to lead sessions with all 10th-grade students centered on the foundations of Healthy Relationships. Our discussions focused on four key pillars:
Communication
Boundaries
Trust
Equity
The 10th graders applied these concepts by working through various cyber-bullying scenarios. Together, we identified "healthy," "borderline," and "poor" boundaries in digital friendships and romantic relationships. Most importantly, students brainstormed concrete ways they can support their peers when navigating these difficult social situations. Their insight and empathy during these workshops were truly impressive.
Looking Ahead: Student Leadership
Even as we wrap up this year, we are already looking forward to the next. This week, students across all grade levels had the opportunity to apply for leadership roles as New Student Ambassadors and Orientation Leaders. Our New Student Orientation is a completely student-led and student-implemented initiative. It is inspiring to review the applications and see the passion our current students have for welcoming new families into our community. This brand of leadership is what makes the ACS spirit so resilient, and we look forward to finalizing our team soon.
As we move into these final weeks, let’s continue to take care of one another—both here in Amman and across the miles.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at: ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo
Our HS Counseling Team
Ms. Ruba Kurdi: College Counselor rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo
Ms. Kate Touchton-Leonard ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo
Ms. Ellen Hindeleh: Administrative Assistant ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on the acceptances that are continuing to roll in! We are so proud of your achievements and know that you will be stars wherever you go!
Upcoming 2025-26 SAT Dates
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Activities in Session: Location and Team Updates. To all Students and Parents. As our spring sports season is underway, we want to inform you of the protocols and adjustments we have implemented for all activities.
Location Update: All outdoor activities will continue to take place, noting that when we have the sirens, we move to Shelter in Place. Shelter in place for all outdoor activities will be the cafeteria.
Roster Updates: We are moving forward with our teams as "normal" while accounting for the departure of some of our student body. Coaches are prepared to adjust team sizes and positions accordingly.
Please check the ACS Activities Website Here for the final updated schedules, specific times, and locations for your sport. Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions.
Open Gym Opportunities — Spring Term
We have open gyms running for several of our sports programs and all students are welcome to join
Girls Basketball — Mondays after school
Boys Basketball — Tuesdays after school
Girls Volleyball — Saturdays
Cheer On Our Boys' Football Team at SAISA Mumbai!
Our Boys' Football team travels to Mumbai tonight to compete in the SAISA Boys Football Tournament (April 23–25)! We'd love for you to follow along and cheer them on from Amman.
You can watch the games LIVE at: http://www.asbindia.org/live
Here's when ACS is on the pitch (times listed in both Mumbai and Amman):
Thursday, April 23rd
1. Game 1 – ACS vs. LS | Field 1 | 9:30 AM Mumbai / 7:00 AM Amman
2. Game 8 – ASB vs. ACS | Field 2 | 3:45 PM Mumbai / 1:15 PM Amman
Friday, April 24th
3. Game 11 – ACS vs. AISD | Field 1 | 9:45 AM Mumbai / 7:15 AM Amman
Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon (2:00–4:15 PM Mumbai / 11:30 AM–1:45 PM Amman) will be determined by group stage results — stay tuned!
The full tournament schedule can be viewed here:
Let's show our boys some love from home. Go Scorpions!!!
For more information, reach out to the Activities Office at mhourani@acsamman.edu.jo.
ACS Activities Program: 2025–2026 - Stay up to date with all athletics, arts, and activities information by visiting our ACS Activities Website Here
HS Bus Riders Reminder - If you need to use the late bus but are not on the late bus roster, complete the form before 12:00 PM the same day.
Late Bus Sign-Up Form. - The late bus departs at 4:45 PM. Students not registered will not be accommodated.
Important Dates & Quick Links
Important Dates & Quick Links
Mark Your Calendars
Mark Your Calendars
April 27 - World Language Showcase (3:30 - 4:30 PM)
April 28 - HS AP Art Exhibition (3:15 - 4:00 PM)
April 29 - Senior Lock-In
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.
Please find the HS PS Tutorial recording to give you a quick guide to help you navigate PowerSchool and generate some fruitful conversations at home.
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