Issue #5: September 11, 2025
Issue #5: September 11, 2025
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
Two of the key programs in our high school are Cohort and FLEX, which occur four (Cohort) and five (FLEX) days a week, with Cohort lasting 20 minutes and FLEX 35 minutes. You’ve likely heard your son or daughter mention these programs, but we wanted to provide a bit more detail on what they involve.
Cohort is designed to ensure that every student has at least one adult mentor and advisor in a small group setting. These sessions focus on supporting students' social and emotional well-being, providing extra study time, covering essential high school information, checking academic progress, organizing assemblies, promoting team-building activities, and offering college counseling. FLEX time allows students to remain in their previous class to receive extra help, ask questions, or catch up on work. Students can also make appointments with other teachers for additional support, to complete assignments or assessments, or to meet with a coach or advisor. If they don’t need specific help, they can use the time to work independently or collaborate with their peers.
Yearbook Pictures - Yearbook photos will be taken on the following dates during FLEX:
Grade 9 - Sunday, Sept 14
Grade 10 - Monday, Sept 15
Grade 11 - Wednesday, Sept 17
Grade 12 - Oct 28
HS Weekly Update - 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, including activities, clubs, and future events.
Mr. K’s music classes are integrating technology to foster creativity, strengthen music practice, and support productivity. Students are also creating a podcast where they interview peers about the challenges of learning an art form.
We are using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) called Soundtrap. This platform allows students to record, edit, and create music with a wide range of instruments, synthesizers, and sound effects. It also supports ensemble practice by enabling students to slow down recordings, loop sections, and apply effects.
To learn more about Soundtrap, please visit: www.soundtrap.com/musicmakers.
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Our seniors are busy wrapping up essays, completing their CommonApps, starting their UCAS, and fine-tuning balanced college lists in their one-on-one meetings with Ms. Ruba. We’ll keep building on this great momentum as application deadlines approach! A gentle reminder: seniors should get an early start on scholarship applications, and U.S. citizens should make sure to complete the FAFSA.
We have lots of visits and fairs lined up in September, and you can visit our College Counseling website for the most up-to-date visits schedule as well as a lot more college information. Parents are reminded that they are encouraged to join visits and fairs!
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
The focus of the Social/Emotional counseling program this week was specific lessons on mental health and suicide awareness and prevention for 10th graders.
Mental Health Q&A
As part of their current unit in health class, 10th graders submitted questions about mental health and I came into class to respond and discuss. The students asked astute, thoughtful, and informed questions that focused on mental health disorder incidence rates, how to improve their mental health behaviors, the influence of friends and relationships on wellbeing, and the impact of social media on teen mental health. For more information about how I responded to their questions, please email me at: ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Unfortunately, suicide is one of the leading causes of death for teens worldwide, and, teens are most likely to tell a friend if they’re having thoughts of harming themselves. To be sure our students know the warning signs and risk factors of teen suicide, and, that they know how to respond if a friend discloses thoughts or actions of self-harm, I give a suicide awarenes and prevention lesson to all 10th grade health classes. The lesson covered the following topics: suicide myths and facts, worldwide data, recognizing suicide risk, warning signs, how to ACT (Act, Care, Tell), as well as a Q&A period.
The students were thoughtful and attentive and showed a great deal of care and respect for a challenging and heavy subject. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this subject further, please email me at: ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo
AP Exams Registration
We will be communicating more information regarding AP exams registration and fees on the week of September 14th.
Got more college questions? Ask Ms. Kurdi directly (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo), or schedule a meeting by emailing Ms. Ellen (ehindeleh@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
September University 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
High School Athletics – Upcoming Games
We’re excited to share the confirmed schedule for our U19 and U16 teams this season so far. Please mark your calendars and come out to support our Scorpions!
Monday, Sept 15
5:30 PM | U19 Boys Soccer vs KA (Home, ACS)
5:30 PM | U19 Girls Volleyball vs KA (Home, ACS)
6:30 PM | U19 Boys Volleyball vs KA (Home, ACS)
Saturday, Sept 20
11:00 AM | U19 Boys Volleyball vs ICS (Away, ICS)
11:00 AM | U19 Girls Volleyball vs ICS (Away, ICS)
Monday, Sept 22
5:00 PM | Cross Country (HS & MS) at KA (Away)
5:30 PM | U19 Boys Soccer vs KA (Away, KA)
5:30 PM | U19 Girls Volleyball vs KA (Away, KA)
5:30 PM | U19 Boys Volleyball vs KA (Away, KA)
Monday, Sept 29
5:00 PM | U19 Girls Volleyball vs ICS (Home, ACS)
6:00 PM | U19 Boys Volleyball vs ICS (Home, ACS)
Important Dates & Quick Links
Important Dates & Quick Links
Mark Your Calendars
Mark Your Calendars
September 14-18 - Yearbook Pictures
October 16 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
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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