Issue #15: November 26, 2025
Issue #15: November 26, 2025
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
While friendly debates may arise over the merits of various holidays, Thanksgiving holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans. In my own home, there’s an ongoing dispute with my Canadian wife, who is not exactly thrilled when I refer to this as the “real” Thanksgiving.
Part of the holiday’s charm is its simplicity: few expectations beyond gathering with loved ones, sharing a meal, and reflecting on the thankful aspects of our lives. Since 1983, ACS has celebrated this spirit of gratitude with a beloved tradition, a community potluck organized by students and guided by the Student Council.
The term “potluck” originated in the 16th century and referred to “the luck of the pot,” a meal provided for an unexpected or uninvited guest. This year, our celebration extended that spirit of hospitality to include individuals from CRP and key members of the ACS community, such as maintenance staff, drivers, and beloved staff alumni! Together, we shared a meal and enjoyed performances by our talented students.
Expressing thanks to everyone who contributed to this event would be an endless task, but on behalf of the High School community, we are deeply grateful for your support and wish you a restful, joyful long weekend.
Homecoming - The high school Student Council is hosting its annual Winter Homecoming for grades 9 and 10. The goal is to create a fun evening where students can connect with friends, dance to music, and enjoy some food. The event is on Thursday, December 11th, from 7:00–9:00 PM. Students can purchase their tickets from Student Council members.
Assessment Week Busing - If you have a child who regularly rides the bus and would like them to have access to this during assessment week (Sunday - Wednesday / December 14-17), please take a moment to fill out the Assessment Week Bussing Form before Sunday, December 7, @ 12:00 p.m. Please note that students will have a supervised space for them to be in the event that they would like to take the regular bus home at 3:10.
Attendance Clarity - In light of recent illnesses, I want to reassure you that we continue to fully support your decision to keep a child home when they are unwell. With that said, the last thing we want is for our attendance procedures to create anxiety. As a school, we are required to track all absences, including those due to illness, because of “Carnegie credit” expectations tied to time in class and how we report successful course completion to colleges and universities. Please keep in mind, a recorded absence does not mean your child is automatically at risk of losing credit. When a student nears our attendance threshold, we look at each case holistically, considering reasons for absences, overall progress, and communication with home, so that any next steps are grounded in clarity, transparency, and a plan for success.
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Over the past week, more of our seniors received their first offers - congratulations!! Also this week, Ms. Kurdi has been meeting individually with each member of the junior class to discuss their academic progress, plans for next year’s courses, emerging areas of academic and career interest, potential university destinations, and their testing timeline. These one-on-one meetings are an important first step as students begin building a clear and personalized path toward the university application process. Ms. Kurdi will continue these meetings in the upcoming weeks leading to the holiday.
We were also pleased to welcome a representative from the University of Calgary to campus this week. Students had the opportunity to learn more about academic programs, admission requirements, and life in Calgary. We are grateful to universities that take the time to connect with our students and support their exploration.
A big thank-you to all the junior parents who attended our online information meeting. Your engagement and questions help strengthen the support system around our students. For anyone who was unable to join, the presentation from the session will be emailed to all juniors’ parents. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our juniors and their families throughout the year.
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
One-On-One Minute Meetings
This week I started one-on-one minute meetings with 11th and 12th grade students. The aim of these meetings is for me to be sure I’ve connected, one-on-one, with every high school student at ACS. These meetings give me insight into the academic and emotional lives of students. Though these meetings are brief, students have the opportunity to request a longer meeting with me.
November Break
As we head into the November break, this is a wonderful moment for our community to pause, reflect, and recharge. Whether your family celebrates Thanksgiving or simply enjoys a few days of rest, we hope this break offers time to reconnect, breathe deeply, and reset before the busy weeks ahead.
For students, the end of November can feel demanding—deadlines, exams, university applications, and social pressures all tend to pile up. Taking intentional breaks, spending time offline, catching up on sleep, and doing things that bring joy can make a real difference in energy and motivation when classes resume.
For parents, this is a great opportunity to check in with your teen in simple, low-pressure ways: share a meal, ask about something they’re proud of, or make space for conversations that don’t focus on academics. Small moments of connection go a long way.
As counselors, we are grateful for the resilience, kindness, and diversity that our students and families bring to our school community. We wish everyone a restful and restorative break—and look forward to supporting you throughout the rest of the semester.
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 Visits
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)
ACS Activities Program: 2025–2026
Stay up to date with all athletics, arts, and activities information by visiting our ACS Activities Website Here
Afterschool Exploration Program – Session II
We’re excited to launch the Afterschool Exploration Program (former ASA program) for Session II! Sign-ups will open this Thursday November 20 at 12PM and will be available through PowerSchool till November 30th at 9AM. All sign-ups are through PowerSchool. To view all available opportunities for ES, MS & HS, click here.
As a reminder, please note the timeline below:
December 4: Final placements shared
Week of December 7, 2025: Session II begins
February 12, 2026: Session II ends
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
November 26 - HS Fall Potluck
December 14-17 - HS Assessment Week
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.
Page updated
Report abuse