Issue #1: August 13, 2026
Issue #1: August 13, 2026
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
The first week of school can often feel like the longest of the year for both students and teachers. But we made it through with grace and energy, and the weeks ahead will begin to settle into a steady routine.
We invite you to join us for High School Back to School Night on Monday, August 17, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the theater. After a brief introduction, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn more about course expectations and content. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with many of you and meeting others for the first time. We hope to see you there!
Please also take a moment to review your child’s first-semester schedule together. While we encouraged this at the end of last year, it’s a helpful refresher—especially for new families. If questions arise, please contact Ms. Kate (Grades 9/10) or Ms. Kurdi (Grades 11/12).
Finally, we encourage you to:
Read the WGO each week.
Monitor your child’s progress in PowerSchool and Google Classroom.
Review the HS Family Handbook together, especially sections on attendance and dress code.
Your involvement and partnership are essential to your child’s success and we look forward to working with you throughout the year!
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.
Reporting Absences - When your child is not feeling well, attending a family event, or taking care of personal business, please make sure to report student absences within PowerSchool. Here is a video of how to report a student's absence. This is another layer for us as a school to keep our community safe and lines of communication strong.
MS/HS Learning Commons - Welcome to the start of the 2026–2027 school year! My name is Ms. Lori Black, and I am excited to serve as your child’s Middle & High School Librarian this year alongside Ms. Kelli Harris in the Learning Commons. Our goal is to foster a vibrant, welcoming space where students can cultivate a love of reading, develop strong research and information literacy skills, and find the academic support they need to succeed.
Throughout the year, we will be working closely with teachers and students to:
Guide students in finding independent reading books that ignite their interests.
Teach effective research strategies, source evaluation, and database navigation.
Provide quiet study areas, collaborative workspaces, and access to key digital resources, including Sora, The New York Times, and The Economist.
We encourage you to ask your child about their visits to the Learning Commons and what they are currently reading. If you ever have questions about our library collection, digital subscriptions, or research tools, please feel free to reach out to us at any time.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us:
Ms. Lori Black: lblack@acsamman.edu.jo
Ms. Kelli Harris: kemtairah@acsamman.edu.jo
We look forward to a wonderful year of learning and discovery with your students!
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Welcome back! We’re thrilled to kick off another exciting school year and look forward to supporting our high schoolers as they navigate their post-secondary pathways.
Grade 11 - This year is all about laying the groundwork for the future. We will dive deep into exploring personal interests, researching potential careers, and building their balanced college lists taking into account admission requirements. Next week, juniors will take their first major step by reviewing their four-year plans to ensure they are right on track for graduation.
Grade 12 - Seniors, get ready—we will be seeing a lot of each other this semester! Having already audited their graduation requirements last week, our focus is now on application execution:
Individual Check-ins: All Grade 12 students are scheduled for a 1-on-1 meeting with Ms Kurdi over the next two weeks.
Flex Sessions: We will host targeted group sessions during Flex time focused on specific university destinations and application systems.
Senior Parents: College Night - Please join me for College Night during Back to School Night at 6:00 PM in the Theater. We will cover application timelines, expectations, and how we can best partner together to support your senior this year.
Here’s to a successful and productive year ahead!
Got a question or concern? Who can you contact?
Academic Inquiries:
Please begin by consulting your child and the subject teacher.
Regarding schedule management or academic planning, please begin by consulting the POS and then Ms. Kate (9-10) or Ms. Ruba (11-12).
Testing (SAT/AP/College Board): Reach out to Ms. Ellen Hindeleh. ehindeleh@acsamman.edu.jo
Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Ms. Kate. ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo
College and Career Guidance: Ms. Ruba. rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo
Tawjihi Equivalence Procedures: Ms. Khuloud Hajjiri. khajjiri@acsamman.edu.jo
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
Welcome back, ACS!
The high school hallways are buzzing again, and we could not be more thrilled to kick off a brand new school year. Seeing so many familiar faces return and meeting our new families has brought immense life and energy back to our campus.
Our new student orientation was a huge success, and we owe a massive thank you to our incredible student ambassador leaders, new student ambassadors, and student buddies. Your warmth and enthusiasm made our newest community members feel immediately at home. While we are missing our US Embassy students who remain on ordered departure, we hold them close in our thoughts and look forward to the day our entire community is reunited under one roof.
As we settle into the rhythm of the year, please remember that transitions take time. Whether you are stepping onto campus for the very first time or starting your final year as a senior, adjusting to new routines, higher expectations, and a fresh environment is a process. Be patient with yourselves and each other as we all find our footing.
As we dive into this semester, let’s ground ourselves in our three core commitments:
Take care of yourself: Prioritize your sleep, nourish your body, and reach out when you need a break.
Take care of each other: Lead with empathy, include someone new, and lift each other up.
Take care of this place: Respect our campus, our shared spaces, and the environment we build together.
As your High School Social-Emotional Counselor, my door is always open to both students and parents. I am here to support you through the highs, the lows, and everything in between, so please stay tuned for details on our upcoming social-emotional programming in the weeks ahead!
Here’s to a wonderful, transformative year together.
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 SAT Dates
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
PowerSchool sign-ups open on Tuesday, August 11
Sign up early to secure your spot and know your schedule for the season.
Activities & Tryouts Begin
The week of Sunday, August 16: SAISA Swim, SAISA Girls Volleyball, SAISA Boys Volleyball, Boys Volleyball (U18 & U16), Girls Volleyball (U18 & U16), AAC Cross-Country
The week of Sunday, August 30: U14 Soccer (Boys & Girls), U14 Volleyball (Boys & Girls), Boys Soccer (U18 & U16)
Stay in the Loop
All schedules and updates will be posted on the Activities Calendar — your go-to spot for the most current schedule information.
ACS Activities Program: 2026–2027
Curious about what’s happening in student activities this year? From after-school programs to performances and student leadership, the ACS Activities InfoBoard gives you a full overview of what’s planned across all grade levels.
You can also visit the Activities Page on the ACS Activities website, which will always have the most up-to-date details as things evolve. The InfoBoard offers a great starting point, while the website reflects ongoing updates throughout the year.
Let’s make 2026–2027 our best year yet. Bring your energy, your commitment, and your Scorpion pride!
Full Fall 2026 Tryout Schedule
After-School Exploration Program Dates
Important Dates & Quick Links
Important Dates & Quick Links
Mark Your Calendars
Mark Your Calendars
August 17 - HS Back to School Night; 5:00 - 6:30 PM
August 28 - Back to School Picnic
August 30 - HS Fall MAP Testing - Day 1
September 2 - HS Fall MAP Testing - Day 2
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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