Issue #23: February 5, 2026
Issue #23: February 5, 2026
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
I hope your week has been as vibrant and full of energy as it has been here in the halls of ACS. As we dive deeper into the semester, I wanted to share a few reflections from our side. We’ve all been there: the dinner table conversation where the question “How was school today?” is met with the classic, short-and-sweet, “Fine.” While it’s often a sign of a routine day, we know that as parents, you sometimes want a bit more of a window into their world. If you find yourself hearing that "everything is fine" for the 100th time but still have questions about your child's progress, please know that our doors (and our inboxes) are always open. Whether you’ve been looking over work in Google Classroom or PowerSchool and have a specific question, or you just feel like a quick check-in would be helpful, reaching out to teachers is a great way to stay connected. We value these collaborative partnerships and believe that staying in the loop helps us all support our students' growth.
Our students truly are "global explorers," and right now, many are representing us across the region. We have several teams participating in their respective SAISA tournaments: our Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, and Track & Field teams are currently competing in Muscat and Chennai. While we can't all be there in the stands, we are certainly cheering them on from afar. We are so proud of the agency and tenacity these students show both on and off the field. Best of luck to all our Scorpion athletes!
ACS Book Talks - The Learning Center invites you to watch the following book talk, specifically curated for High School.
Junior/Senior Prom (reminder) - The Prom Committee is excited to announce that Prom will be held on the 16th of April from 7-9:30 at Segreta in the St. Regis Hotel. The theme is Secret Garden, so people can wear any dress or suit as long as it is correlated with the theme.
The Prom Committee will be selling tickets every day in the LC during lunch from 1 March until 15 April. Tickets will cost 65 JD, and are only open to 11th and 12th graders. Seniors can invite students from younger grades as their plus one as well as people from outside of ACS, provided that they give I.D. in advance. As prom is a school event, we will be filtering songs, checking bags, and making sure that there is no alcohol.
Our team kindly asks for you to encourage your children to attend so we can have the best Prom possible!
Lastly, we wanted to bring to your attention an annual tradition that has occurred after the prom in the past, known as the "post-prom" event. Please be aware that this event is not in any way associated with ACS, and we do not endorse or condone it.
In previous years, students have organized this independent event, selling tickets off-campus at an additional cost. The event typically extends into the early morning and includes an open bar. We want to emphasize that ACS neither promotes nor supports the "post-prom" event.
We strongly encourage you to have an open conversation with your children before giving them permission to attend any such event. It's essential for everyone to be well-informed about the nature of the activities and potential risks associated with independent post-prom events.
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Your cooperation and support are crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.
Senior Sunrise (postponed) - Due to the rain on February 3, the Senior Council has rescheduled the annual Senior Sunrise to Tuesday, February 10. This meaningful rite of passage for the Class of 2026 is designed to bring the entire grade together to bond and build class spirit before they enter their final semester. The event will begin at 7:00 AM on the field. A full breakfast that includes pancakes, manaeesh, coffee, and juice will be provided. Please remind your seniors to dress warmly for the cold morning weather!
Assessment Week Calendar - Please note that our assessment week will look a little different this time around than in previous years, as we are having to navigate through some awkwardly placed breaks and EOY commitments. As always, students are expected to attend/complete all scheduled classes/assessments. Teachers will not be making special accommodations for absences, and missed assessments represent a lost opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning, which may negatively impact their semester grade.
Ramadan Hours & HS Schedule - As we approach the Holy Month of Ramadan, our school day will shift to 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM for all students. To ensure we make the most of our time together, we have modified the daily schedule for High School. You can find the updated class timings for Ramadan here:
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Conversations continue around course selections for next year. Students are still attending sessions with subject-area teachers as well as counselors to make sure they understand all the options and are building four year plans with the plethora of resources available to them. Parents are reminded that they are always welcome to schedule counselor meetings as well. Grades 9&10 parents with Ms. Kate (ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo) and Grades 11&12 with Ms. Kurdi (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo).
Seniors are continuing to receive offers of acceptance from universities across the globe. Congrats to the Class of 2026 on all the offers that are continuing to roll in!
Juniors continued to schedule their own one-on-one meetings with Ms. Kurdi, via google calendar, to make course selection decisions for their senior year. Starting next week, juniors will be taking a closer look at building their balanced college lists depending on location.
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
Charting the Path: 2026-2027 Course Selection Begins!
It’s that time of year again! While it feels like we just settled into the second semester, it is already time to look ahead and begin designing your schedule for the next academic year.
Choosing your classes is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of your education, but we know it can also feel a bit overwhelming. To help you feel prepared and confident, here is your roadmap for the next week.
Step 1: Consult the "Map"
Before our registration assemblies next week, we ask that all students and parents spend some time reviewing the 2026-2027 HS Program of Study. Think of this as your essential guide to high school; it contains everything you need to make informed decisions, including:
Course Offerings: Detailed descriptions of every class available next year as well as typical, subject area specific progressions our students can take.
ACS Graduation Requirements: Our Four Year Plan details the courses and credits required to graduate from ACS.
University Recommendations: the Four Year Plan also details recommended courses and subject-area credits recommended for students to be competitive candidates from colleges and universities.
Please be assured that we have provided all HS students with key information about graduation requirements, university recommendations, strategies for creating a balanced schedule, and thought exercises for helping them build a schedule that will support their overall success and wellbeing in HS.
All HS students have attended an assembly at which we shared the 26-27 Program of Study and Four Year Plans, have reviewed their personal Four Year Plans with their cohort teachers, and had cohort Q&A presentations to answer any questions they might have.
Step 2: Attend Your Assembly
Next week, we will hold grade-specific Registration Assemblies. During these sessions, the counseling team and administration will walk through the logistics of how to sign up, highlight new course options, and answer any remaining "what-if" questions.
Step 3: Keep a Healthy Perspective
While these decisions are important and help shape your high school experience, remember: this is not the end of the world. Sometimes a student signs up for a class in February and realizes by August that their interests or academic needs have shifted. We aim for a "measure twice, cut once" approach to keep our school's master schedule stable, but please know that we are here to support you. If you realize you need to request a change later on, we will work together to find the best possible path forward.
Next Steps:
Download/Open: Access the 26-27 HS Program of Study [Link Here].
Discuss: Students and parents, take 20 minutes this weekend to talk about goals and "must-take" classes over the weekend if you haven’t already done so.
Prepare: Bring a draft Four Year Plan and any remaining questions to the assemblies next week!
We look forward to helping you build a schedule that balances your academic ambitions with your personal well-being.
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
We hosted two university visits this week, and one of them included a presentation about studying in Scotland. The students who attended were able to better understand their options and asked great questions. We have the following upcoming visit:
Upcoming 2025-26 SAT Dates
SAT registration link
Note: ACS Amman is the testing center and will not appear in the drop-down list. You must enter our code, 54202, to select our school as a testing center.
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Spring 2025 Tryouts & Activities Sign-Up - Note that sign-ups for SAISA Girls Basketball, SAISA Boys Football, and SAISA Badminton start on the week of March 1.
Go Scorpions! SAISA Bound & Ready to Sting!
The energy on campus is electric because it’s finally time! Our student-athletes will be representing the Scorpions at the February 5–7 SAISA tournaments.
We have three powerhouse groups:
Girls Football @ TAISM (Muscat, Oman) - Coached by Mr. Alzamora and Mr. McCoy, accompanied by Ms. Black
Track & Field @ AISC (Chennai, India) - Coached by Ms. Shez, Mr. Fouchy, Mr. Stevens, & Ms. Bailey
Boys Basketball @ TAISM (Muscat, Oman) - Coached by Mr. Wilusz
Our Scorpions have been training tirelessly, and we couldn't be prouder of the dedication they’ve shown. Whether they are sprinting for gold in Chennai or battling it out on the pitch and court in Oman, we know they’ll represent us with grit and sportsmanship.
Follow the Action - Don't miss a single play! You can follow the schedules and watch the games live through the links below:
Boys Basketball TAISM, Oman - Schedule Here - Livestream Here
Girls Football TAISM, Oman - Schedule Here - Livestream Here
Track & Field AISC, Chennai - Schedule Here - Livestream Here
Tip: For the live streaming - Oman is 1 hour ahead and Chennai is 2.5 Hours ahead.
Let's show our Scorpions some love as they travel this Tuesday. Best of luck to all the athletes and coaches bringing it home!
Go Scorpions!
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
Senior Sunrise - Feb 10
11th Grade Course Selection - Feb 9
10th Grade Course Selection - Feb 10
9th Grade Course Selection - Feb 12
February Break - Feb 13-15
Ramadan Hours (8:30 - 2:30) - Feb 17
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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