College Counseling Program

This week, our juniors were busy exploring MaiaLearning, where they completed an Interest Profiler to discover career matches, reflected on their results in journals, and began adding careers to their personalized lists and plans. Encourage them to share what surprised them, what felt like a good fit, and which attributes they’ve chosen to focus on as they start connecting their strengths to future opportunities. They also engaged in a session entitled “How Can I Shine?” which encouraged them to think about their strengths and interests both in and out of the classroom and about how this will be reflected in their applications next year. They enjoyed a highly interactive session in their cohorts entitled “Do I Need to Know My Major?” which encouraged them to start thinking of their current academic interests and how that relates to college programs across the globe. 

Our seniors have officially begun filling out the CommonApp and will continue to do so during some FLEX sessions in the coming weeks. Most students are finalizing essays and shaping well-balanced college lists, which they are discussing in individual meetings with Ms. Ruba. We’ll continue building on this momentum in the months ahead as they prepare their applications. Also, seniors were reminded to start the scholarship application process early. US citizens are reminded to fill out the FAFSA. 

Junior and senior families, got any college questions? Ask Ms. Kurdi directly (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo), or schedule a meeting by emailing Ms. Ellen (ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo).

Social/Emotional Counseling Program

Reminder About Teens and Sleep

While talking with students in classes and on-on-one, it is apparent that many of our high school students are not getting very much sleep. I know as seasoned parents you know this but here is a reminder that teens need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night to stay physically healthy, mentally focused, and emotionally balanced. Getting this sleep can be particularly challenging because the natural changes in teen body clocks often make them feel more awake later at night and they may struggle with early school mornings.

I cannot emphasize enough that lack of sleep can affect mood, learning, memory, and even physical health. Parents can help by encouraging consistent bedtimes, limiting late-night screen use, and creating a calm evening routine. Supporting healthy sleep habits now sets teens up for success in school and overall well-being.

One pattern that seems common is that teens stay up very late, get up early for school, and then take a long nap in the afternoon. While families need to make the behavioral health choices that work well for their families, limiting naps to 30 minutes ensures naps are restorative rather than disruptive to their overall sleep schedule. 

AP Exams Registration

We will be communicating more information regarding AP exams registration and fees on the week of September 14th.

If you have questions about sleep, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me at ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo.

You’re encouraged to visit our College Counseling website, where some highlights are:

* Scholarships and Competitions 

* Events and Virtual Sessions

* Camps and Courses

* In a Nutshell

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

ACS Activities Program: 2025–2026

Stay up to date with all athletics, arts, and activities information by visiting our ACS Activities Website Here

Getting Ready for SAISA & AAC Season!

As tryouts wrap up, we’re excited to see our student-athletes preparing for another amazing season of SAISA and AAC competitions! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be finalizing team rosters, sharing schedules, and making sure our athletes have everything they need to represent ACS with pride.

To help your child get ready:

• 1. 1. Make sure they have proper sports gear and shoes for their team.

     2. Stay on top of communication from coaches and the Activities Office.

     3. Mark your calendars, important dates and travel details as shared on the activities website.

We’re here to support our students every step of the way, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they compete, learn, and grow together as teams. Let’s make this season a great one!

New Uniforms. New Energy. New Season

Big things are coming to ACS Activities! We’re revamping our uniform policy to make sure our student-athletes represent ACS with pride, on and off the court. 

The highlight? The all-new ACS Travel Hoodie, designed exclusively by JoBedu. It’s bold, it’s sleek, and it’s something our athletes will wear with pride wherever they compete.

To make it even more special, we’ll be celebrating with a Uniform Celebration & Media Day! Students will receive their new gear, get professional photos taken, and be featured on ACS social media, showing off their team spirit and the pride of representing our school.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks as we roll out this exciting new chapter for ACS Activities. The energy is building, and we can’t wait to share it with you.