College Counseling Program

It has been an exciting and productive few weeks for our high school students! We recently had the pleasure of hosting representatives from the Lebanese American University, American University of Beirut, RCSI Bahrain, Carnegie Mellon Qatar, Northwestern Qatar, Georgetown Qatar, and the University of Calgary. Our students were highly engaged, asking insightful questions about admission requirements, academic programs, and scholarship opportunities.

Senior Class Updates - Our Seniors are keeping up the momentum as they begin their second round of one-on-one meetings.

• Essays & Applications: We are aiming to have all personal essays finalized by the end of the month. Students applying for early deadlines in the UK and the US will also be finalizing their university lists and supplemental materials in the coming weeks.

• Standardized Testing: Seniors are currently signing up for standardized tests and mapping out their individual testing timelines for the semester.

Junior Class Updates - Next week, our Juniors will begin looking at different standardized tests for different destinations and understanding which tests they might need to start planning for.

Upcoming Visits & Parent Invitation - Next week, we look forward to welcoming IE University to campus. As a reminder, parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend any of our university visits!

Social/Emotional Counseling Program

It has been another productive and purposeful week in the high school as students across all grade levels continue to dive deeper into both academic planning and personal wellness. Here is a summary of our focus areas from the counseling office this week:

Grades 9 & 10: Academic & Career Advising

I have continued our academic advising sessions with our 9th and 10th graders, focusing on self-discovery and future pathways. Using the Maia Learning platform, students completed personality assessments grounded in Myers-Briggs personality theory.

These sessions help students:

• Identify their unique personal traits, strengths, and work style preferences.

• Link those individual traits to potential career fields and real-world work environments.

• Understand how self-awareness now helps inform course selection and future post-secondary planning.

It has been inspiring to watch students connect who they are today with potential career paths they might love exploring down the road!

Grades 11 & 12: Well-Being & Stress Management Spotlight

Late September brings unique demands for upperclassmen—from heavy AP workloads and testing preparation to college application deadlines and personal statements. Supporting social-emotional health during this season is key to maintaining focus and resilience.

To help our 11th and 12th graders (and their families) navigate stress, comparison, and mind-body balance, here is a curated list of recommended resources:

• Podcasts for Mindset & Stress:

  • • The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos: Explores the science of well-being, managing expectations, and reframing self-worth beyond academic outcomes.

    • Ten Percent Happier Podcast: Short, practical episodes on handling anxiety, taming your inner critic, and sleep hygiene.

    • Unlocking Us with Brené Brown: Insights on navigating perfectionism, handling fear of failure, and managing big transitions.

• Articles & Grounding Tools:

  • • Grounding Techniques for High Anxiety Moments (Greater Good Science Center): Quick, evidence-based practices (like box breathing and 5-4-3-2-1) students can use directly at their desks during moments of test or application anxiety.

    • How to Spot and Stop Comparison Fatigue (Psychology Today): Practical strategies to avoid the "compare and despair" trap when peers talk about scores or college choices.

• Books for Upperclassmen:

  • • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia Nagoski: Explains the physical biology of stress and how teens can complete their "stress cycle" daily.

    • The Imposter Cure by Dr. Jessamy Hibberd: Cognitive tools for students struggling with self-doubt or the pressure to perform.

Please reach out anytime if your student needs a quiet space to chat, decompress, or work through their goals. Wishing everyone a peaceful, restful weekend!

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

Activities Schedules

All schedules for all sports and activities, as well as updates, will be posted on the Activities Calendar — your go-to spot for the most current schedule information. After-School Exploration Program Dates

ACS Activities Program: 2026–2027

You can 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!

Scorpion Athletics Weekly: Upcoming Friendly Fixtures

It’s going to be an action-packed week for our Scorpions as our soccer and volleyball teams take the court and field for a full lineup of friendly matches! Mark your calendars and come out to show your support.

U19 Boys Volleyball

1. Mon Sep 28, 6:30 PM – vs King's Academy (Away, @ Kings) – Friendly

2. Wed Sep 30, 6:00 PM – vs MIS (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

U19 Girls Volleyball

1. Mon Sep 28, 5:30 PM – vs King's Academy (Away, @ Kings) – Friendly

2. Wed Sep 30, 5:00 PM – vs MIS (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

U19 Boys Soccer

1. Mon Sep 28, 7:00 PM – vs King's Academy (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

U19 Girls Soccer

1. Mon Sep 28, 6:00 PM – vs King's Academy (Home, @ ACS)

U16 Boys Soccer

1. Mon Sep 28, 5:00 PM – vs King's Academy (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

U14 Boys Soccer

1. Wed Sep 30, 5:00 PM – Team A vs MIS (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

2. Wed Sep 30, 5:00 PM – Team B vs MIS (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

U14 Girls Soccer

1. Wed Sep 30, 4:00 PM – vs MIS (Home, @ ACS) – Friendly

Go Scorpions!