Dr. Jeff Wilusz
As we close in on Assessment Week, I want to highlight what’s ahead. The last week marks the culmination of a long year of hard work, growth, and community and we’ve planned events to reflect and celebrate that journey.
Wednesday
Students will attend all classes in a condensed schedule (approx. 25 minutes each). The purpose: ensure all materials are returned and check-out forms (distributed that morning) are completed. Once the day wraps, students will return to their Cohorts to receive their yearbooks.
Thursday
We begin with a high school potluck breakfast and take time to say farewell to students who won’t be returning to ACS next year. This moment is always bittersweet, as it is an international school reality that reminds us of how dynamic and global our community is. We’ll follow with our End-of-Year Assembly, recognising students across subjects and Student Profile categories. The day concludes with time to connect, reflect, and sign yearbooks.
Thanks for your continued support this year. Let’s finish strong and send our students into summer on a positive note.
AP Summer Assignment - If your child is scheduled to take an AP class next year, they may have a summer assignment that needs to be completed prior to their arrival to school in August. Please make sure to have your child check the AP@ACS Amman website for all things AP to ensure that they will be ready for the upcoming school year.
Please note that if the Summer Assignment is not completed upon arriving at school in August, your child will be removed from the class.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the specific teacher of the AP class(es) your child is taking.
Non-ACS Student Group Chats - We want to bring to your attention a growing trend of student-generated, non-ACS-affiliated Instagram groups claiming to be official "class pages." While these groups appear to be helpful communication tools on the surface, they lack oversight and can quickly spiral into unfriendly dialogue and digital citizenship issues. Because these are personal accounts, we kindly ask that you have a conversation with your child about their conduct if they choose to engage in these online spaces. In the event that conflict comes from these group chats and it impacts the learning environment of the school, we will step in. Thank you for partnering with us to remind our students about the importance of kindness, respect, and safety in the digital world.
Assessment Week Bussing - School bus transportation will be available for registered bus riders during assessment week. Please note the specific departure times below. Students who choose to leave campus earlier than these scheduled times will need to arrange their own alternative transportation home..
Sunday, May 31st - 1:30 PM departure
Monday, June 1st - 1:30 PM departure
Tuesday, June 2nd - 1:15 PM departure
Assessment Week Update - Please note below that there have been a couple of adjustments to the schedule for assessment week (last week of school):
ACS Book Talks - The Learning Commons invites you to watch the following:
College Counseling Program
Seniors: The Final Piece of the Puzzle
As you prepare for graduation, don't forget that many university acceptances are conditional. To finalize your enrollment, most institutions will need your final transcript and diploma, so make sure you have indicated where you are attending in your MaiaLearning account. A pdf with your transcript and diploma scan will be sent to you on June 4th. Also, you are responsible for sending your official scores to the university from CollegeBoard if needed.
Action Item: Log in to your College Board account to order your AP scores.
Action Item: Log into MaiaLearning and check that you have indicated Accepted-Attend for the institution you are attending.
Deadline: Ensure they are sent directly to your chosen institution as soon as possible to avoid any registration delays.
Juniors: Looking Ahead
While summer is nearly here, this is a pivotal time for your college journey. We want you to head into senior year feeling confident and prepared!
Refine Your List: Continue researching and polishing your balanced college list. Aim for a healthy mix of "reach," "realistic," and "reasonable" schools that truly fit your interests and goals.
Draft Your Essays: Use this time to get those first drafts on paper. Your future self will thank you for having the "heavy lifting" done before classes resume after the summer holiday.
Request Recommendations: If you haven’t done so already, make sure both requests are formalized in Maia.
Finalize Summer Plans: If you haven't set your summer plans yet, now is the time. Whether it’s a part-time job, a volunteer project, or a local internship, aim for a productive summer. Look for opportunities where you can learn something new about yourself or the world around you.
Keep up the great work, everyone—the finish line is in sight! 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: Celebrations, Farewells, and Well-Deserved Rest
As we publish our second-to-last WGO of the year, the shift in seasons at ACS is undeniable. We are navigating a week of major transitions, concluding significant chapters while preparing to celebrate our community's resilience.
A Campus Transition and Finishing Coursework
This has been our very first week without our Seniors on campus! Their absence is definitely felt, and while we miss their energy in the hallways, our excitement for their next steps and upcoming graduation remains high.
Meanwhile, our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders have been working diligently to cross their own academic finish lines. Students are wrapping up their final assignments and will have completed all regular coursework by the end of this week, May 21.
Honoring Our Remote Students
This week also marks a profound milestone: the official conclusion of remote learning for our students on ordered departure.
To our evacuated students: we have missed you immensely this semester. Navigating your schooling from a distance has required a unique brand of independence and strength, and we are so proud of how you held onto your connection to ACS. For those of you who will be returning to Amman, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome you back to campus in the fall. For those moving on to new horizons, you take a piece of the ACS spirit with you.
Looking Ahead: Holidays and Assessments
For our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders here in Amman, a significant and well-timed break is ahead. School will be closed next week as we celebrate Jordanian Independence Day and the Eid holiday. When we return, we will head straight into Assessment Week. Because of this, my primary advice to every student is to use this upcoming week off for much-needed and well-deserved rest. * Disconnect: Step away from the screens and school stress.
Recharge: Prioritize sleep, family time, and the things that bring you joy.
Taking care of your well-being over the holiday is the best way to ensure you have the energy to finish strong during the first week of June—our final week of the school year! Have a wonderful, restful holiday break, ACS.
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
2026-2027 - Activities Department Preliminary Information
Dear ACS Families and Students,
This guide covers everything the ACS Activities Program has to offer for 2026–2027 – from competitive athletics and aquatics to drama, MUN, robotics, and beyond. Use it to plan ahead, understand what's available, and find the right fit for your child.
Activities are a core part of learning at ACS, not an add-on. This is your starting point.
Click here to access the 2026-2027 - Activities Department Preliminary Information
END OF AEPs and Feedback Form
Just a quick note to let you know that AEP Session III is wrapping up with programs concluding on Saturday, May 10. This has been a wonderful session, and we are especially grateful to our students, coaches, and program leaders for pushing through what has been a season with its share of uncertainty. Your continued support and flexibility have made a real difference.
We would love to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our feedback form using the link below — your input goes a long way in shaping future sessions.
Here is the form for reference.
For your planning ahead, here are next year's AEP session dates:
Session I: September 13 – November 12, 2025
Session II: November 29 – February 11, 2026
Session III: March 14 – May 10, 2026
More details on Session I sign-ups and programming will be shared at the start of the new school year.
Thank you again for being such a supportive AEP community - we look forward to another great year ahead.
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.
May 31 - June 2 - Assessment Week (School Dismissed at 1:15)
June 3 - Students Check out (all 8 classes)
June 3 - Commencement Ceremony
June 4 - Last Day of School (Early Dismissal - 11:30) / Semester 2 RC Distributed
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.