Issue #28: March 12, 2026
Issue #28: March 12, 2026
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
This week's WGO has a strong focus on our upcoming Mid-Semester Progress Reports (March 17) & Parent-Teacher Conferences (March 19), as we believe in the importance of reaching out to your child's teacher for a better understanding of their learning progress. While PTCs are a great opportunity for this, these conversations don’t need to be limited to conference days.
In that spirit, I want to re-share (from last October) a paraphrased message from Alfie Kohn’s book The Schools Our Children Deserve, which feels particularly timely as you begin seeing various pieces of evidence in PowerSchool, Google Classroom, and your child’s workbooks.
Here’s something to try at home: The next time your child shows you a grade on their latest test, project, or paper, pretend for a moment that the grade is the most important thing on the page or screen. (Spoiler: It’s not, but bear with me for this exercise.) Ask your child if they think their grade reflects one of the following:
Effort – Did they study hard for this test, and does their grade reflect that effort?
Ability – Do they believe their success is due to their natural talents or abilities?
Luck – Was it simply a fortunate day where the questions aligned with what they happened to study?
Difficulty – Was the task easy, and did many other students receive high grades too?
These four reasons cover most explanations your child might give for their grade. If it was a good grade, they might credit effort, ability, luck, or the task’s simplicity. If the grade was low, they might say they didn’t work hard enough, the test was too hard, the teacher asked unfair questions, or even, “I’ll never learn this, it’s too difficult.”
When educators are asked which explanation they prefer, nearly all advocate for effort. Regardless of educational philosophy, most educators strongly believe that success should come from preparation and hard work, not external factors. This belief is rooted in the idea of a growth mindset (Dweck, 2017). Similarly, when students don’t perform well, we like to think it’s due to a lack of preparation, something that can be addressed with time and effort.
The problem comes when the grade itself, rather than the learning process, is given priority. When grades are emphasized, children often start to attribute their results to how "smart" they are, rather than how hard they tried. As Kohn (1999) states, “The more emphasis teachers put on getting good grades, avoiding mistakes, and keeping up with others, the more students attribute poor performance to lack of ability.” When students feel they’ve failed because they’re not smart enough, they can begin a downward spiral, losing confidence and motivation.
That’s why it’s so important to focus on learning rather than grades. In real learning, the grade is not the goal. What students believe about their own abilities matters deeply. Both parents and educators play a vital role in keeping the focus on growth and understanding, rather than a number or letter on a page. So next time your child brings home a test or assignment, make sure to ask about more than just the grade.
Cohort/Flex - As a reminder, the final 30 minutes of the school day is designated as essential instructional and advisory time. We use this period to communicate important updates and provide students with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with teachers for extra support. While we understand that early dismissals are sometimes necessary, please be aware that students leaving during this time will be marked absent for the period and all attendance policies will apply. We encourage all students to remain for the full duration to ensure they don't miss critical information.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences
We invite you to participate in the Spring 2026 Parent-Teacher Conferences on March 19. There are no classes for students on this date.
Please understand that the PowerSchool sign-up process applies only to Elementary Homeroom teachers, Learning Support teachers, and Counselors.
In High School, we encourage your child to join you during PTC, as this is a great opportunity to assist them in taking responsibility for their own learning.
High School parents do not need to meet with Cohort advisors.
Ms. Julie Rihani will be available from 8:30 - 12:00 pm.
The following crossover teachers will be in the Sting Zone with MS - see MS information for break times.
Jason Kennedy
Claudia Pike
Riley Battaglia
Allison Bailey
Frida Abi Fares
Teachers will be rotating for breaks. Please see the table below
For any questions, please contact Ms. Iman
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
We provided two opportunities for our juniors this week to attend a resume workshop. A copy of the guidelines was shared with all juniors. Along with their resumes, juniors are expected to also create their first balanced college list and to share it with their parents by the end of the month. Next week we will have two opportunities for juniors to attend Part B of Creating the Balanced College List. Parents can see their student’s list directly by using their parent MaiaLearning login credentials. Not sure about your credentials? Email Ms. Ellen (ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo).
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
ACS Amman: One Community, Resilient and Connected
ACS Amman: One Community, Resilient and Connected
This has been a week of profound shifts for our ACS family. Last week, after Sunday’s closure and three days of rapid transition to remote learning, we find ourselves navigating a landscape that feels vastly different than it did just a few days ago. Whether you are back on campus in Amman or one of our students currently logging in from abroad following evacuation, the sound of sirens and the uncertainty of the skies have touched us all.
To our students here in Amman: we see your strength as you balance your studies against the backdrop of regional tension. To our students now learning from a distance: we see the challenge of being physically separated from your peers while your thoughts remain tied to your school home.
Regardless of your current GPS coordinates, you are a vital part of the American Community School family. Our community is not defined by our physical presence in a building, but by the way we show up for one another when the world feels unpredictable.
Support for Every Student
Support for Every Student
We recognize that "business as usual" feels different right now, and the adrenaline of this week’s transitions can take a toll. The High School Counseling Office is fully committed to supporting your mental and emotional well-being through this period of uncertainty.
Daily Check-In Slots: I (Ms. Kate) am offering individual check-in slots daily for all High School students—both those on campus and those learning remotely. Whether you need a space to process the week’s events or just a moment to breathe, my door (and my Google Meet link) is open. If you can’t find a timeslot that works well for you, please email me and we will find a time to talk.
Grade-Level Processing: We know you have questions. Starting next week, I will lead dedicated grade-level opportunities to talk, process, and ask questions in a supportive group environment.
Post-Spring Break: These sessions will continue and expand after the break as we work toward a steady transition back to campus for our entire community.
Finding Your Balance in the Noise
Finding Your Balance in the Noise
Curate Your Feed: In a high-conflict environment, the "doomscroll" is real. Try to limit your news intake to specific times of the day, from verified and trusted news sources, to avoid constant sensory overload and exposure to misinformation.
Reconnect with Your Routine: After a week of "emergency mode," reclaiming small habits—like a morning walk, a specific playlist, or a nightly call with an evacuated friend—can help ground your nervous system.
Bridge the Distance: If you are in Amman, reach out to a friend who is remote. If you are remote, check in on your friends on campus. A simple "How are you holding up today?" is the strongest tool we have for staying "one community."
A Note to Our Families: Parenting through regional instability and sudden evacuations is incredibly taxing. We are here to partner with you. Please reach out to the counseling team if you need resources or support for your student during this transition.
Space to Process: Community Loss
Space to Process: Community Loss
In addition to the regional stressors of this week, we are also aware that many of our students may be grieving or processing the heartbreaking news of the recent suicide of a 10th-grade student at a neighboring school in Amman. In a tight-knit community, these losses are felt deeply by us all.
We believe it is essential for students to have a safe, calm, and informed space to process this news, share their feelings, and ask questions. To support this:
Dedicated Flex Sessions: Ms. Kate will be offering specific Flex sessions for all grade levels to discuss this loss. These sessions are designed to provide a supportive environment where students can talk openly, learn how to support one another, and understand the resources available to them.
A Safe Environment: Our goal is to ensure that no student feels they have to navigate these complex emotions alone or in an echo chamber of social media speculation.
We are so proud of the resilience you've shown this week, ACS. We are one community, and we are in this together.
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
Upcoming 2025-26 SAT Dates
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Spring Season Tryouts: Schedule and Safety Protocols
Activities in Session: Location and Team UpdatesTo 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.
Note on Travel: We are closely monitoring the situation. A final decision regarding travel for SAISA Season III events will be communicated by March 16. Our priority remains the safety and mobility of our student-athletes.
Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety and well-being of our community.
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
MS/HS Community Iftar - March 12
Parent-Teacher Conferences - March 19 (8:30 - 3:30)
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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