Issue #9: October 8, 2026
Issue #9: October 8, 2026
Embedded Files
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dr. Jeff Wilusz
This week’s WGO places a strong focus on Mid-Semester Progress Reports (October 13) and Parent-Teacher Conferences (October 15). These moments are designed to strengthen communication between home and school, helping families gain a deeper understanding of their child’s learning journey. While conferences are a wonderful opportunity for that dialogue, meaningful conversations don’t need to be limited to a single day, as we encourage reaching out to your child’s teachers anytime you want to learn more about their progress.
In that spirit, I’d like to share a paraphrased reflection from Alfie Kohn’s The Schools Our Children Deserve, which feels especially relevant as you begin seeing updates in PowerSchool, Google Classroom, and your child’s workbooks.
The next time your child shows you a grade on a test, project, or paper, imagine, just for a moment, that the grade itself is the most important thing on the page. (Spoiler: it’s not, but stay with me.) Ask your child which of the following they feel best explains that result:
Effort – Did they prepare thoughtfully and work hard?
Ability – Was this a reflection of their natural strengths or talents?
Luck – Did the questions or task happen to align with what they reviewed?
Difficulty – Was this assignment relatively easy, and did many others perform well too?
These four explanations often capture how students interpret their success or struggle. When they earn a high grade, they might point to effort, ability, or luck. When they don’t, they might say the task was too hard, unfair, or that they simply “aren’t good at” that subject.
Most educators hope students connect achievement to effort, the belief that learning comes from preparation, persistence, and hard work. This mindset reflects what Carol Dweck calls a growth mindset, emphasizing that ability is developed through learning rather than fixed at birth.
The challenge arises when the grade becomes the focus instead of the learning. As Kohn notes, “The more emphasis teachers put on getting good grades, avoiding mistakes, and keeping up with others, the more students attribute poor performance to lack of ability.” When students see grades as proof of being “smart” or “not smart,” confidence and motivation can quickly erode.
At its core, education is about growth, not grades. What students believe about their own learning capacity shapes how they approach challenges and opportunities. As parents and educators, we share the responsibility of keeping attention on understanding, curiosity, and improvement, not just numbers or letters on a screen.
So next time your child brings home a test or project, go beyond the grade. Ask about what they learned, what surprised them, and what they’d like to try differently next time. That’s where the real growth begins.
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.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We invite you to participate in the Fall 2026 Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 15. There are no classes for students on this date.
Please understand that the PowerSchool sign-up process applies only to Elementary homeroom, Learning Support, Counselor, and Arabic conferences.
In High School, we encourage your child to join you during PTC, as this is a great opportunity to assist them in taking responsibility for their own learning.
High School parents do not need to meet with Cohort advisors, but counselors will be available in their office throughout the day.
The following crossover teachers will be in the Sting Zone with MS - see MS information for break times.
Ms. Caroline Renaud
Ms. Claudia Pike
Ms. Sally Al Shaka
Ms. Allison Bailey
Ms. Frida Abi Fares
Ms. Asma Zidouri
Teachers will be rotating for breaks. Please see the table below.
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
HS Couseling Office Announcements - Ms. Kurdi & Ms. Touchton-Leonard
College Counseling Program
Junior Class: SAT Strategy & College Research
PSAT Wrap-Up & SAT Timeline: Congratulations to our juniors on completing the PSAT! Now is the time to map out your official SAT testing plan. We advise students to target either the December or March SAT, depending on how much prep time you can dedicate to SAT in the meantime.
Free Test Prep Resources: You don't need to spend money to prep! Take advantage of free, personalized practice on Khan Academy, or drop by the Counseling Office to borrow prep books from our lending stash.
Upcoming FLEX Session: Juniors will meet with Ms. Kurdi during FLEX soon to cover strategies on how to effectively conduct college research.
Senior Class: Canadian Applications Underway
Application Progress: Seniors met with Ms. Kurdi twice this week to launch their Canadian university applications.
Proactive Planning: Getting an early start, submitting applications promptly, and regularly checking applicant portals is the single best strategy to reduce stress across both semesters.
Coming Up Next Week: Get ready for more FLEX sessions with Ms. Kurdi, an upcoming College Fair, and another university visit.
College Visits & Looking Ahead
AUC Visit Recap: A big thank you to the students who talked to the representative from the American University in Cairo (AUC)—as always, your questions were insightful and engaging!
Social/Emotional Counseling Program
It was a dynamic and memorable week across the high school campus! Here is a recap of our key events and upcoming announcements from the counseling office:
Grades 9–11: PSAT Testing
This week, our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders completed their official PSAT administration. I want to commend all of our students for their focus, quiet maturity, and readiness on test day. Navigating digital testing environments and managing timing is an important skill, and they handled the morning with great care.
Score Information: Grade 9 score reports will be downloaded and emailed directly to students once processed. Grades 10 and 11 will be able to access their scores directly through their personal College Board accounts or the College Board app. Please note that ACS and the individual student are the only parties who receive these score reports—they are purely for internal feedback, identifying growth areas, and tracking college readiness.
Grade 12: Senior Connection & Break Day
While our underclassmen were testing, our Seniors enjoyed a well-deserved morning off from academic routines and college application drafting! Because Seniors no longer take the PSAT, they spent the morning building community and recharging together as a class.
The morning kicked off with a relaxed grade-level breakfast at a local restaurant, followed by a high-energy trip to a local trampoline park. It was fantastic to see our 12th graders laughing, jumping, and sharing time together outside the classroom during this busy autumn season. Taking intentional pauses to connect and decompress is a vital component of social-emotional wellness—especially during Senior year!
Announcing: "Coffee with the Counselor" (First Session: Sunday, Oct 11th)
I am thrilled to launch a new monthly event: Coffee with the Counselor! On the second Sunday of every month at 8:00 AM (right after morning drop-off), I’ll host an informal gathering for high school parents in the Parent Café to chat, answer questions, and discuss topics related to adolescence and high school life.
Our first gathering will take place on Sunday, October 11th at 8:00 AM in the Parent Café.
Sample topics & questions we might explore in upcoming sessions:
Adolescent Brain Development: "Why does my teen's mood or organization shift so quickly, and how can I best support them at home?"
Navigating Social Dynamics & Screen Time: "How can we partner to build healthy digital boundaries and manage peer stress?"
Balancing Academics & Stress: "What is healthy stress vs. burnout, and how do we foster true resilience?"
Preparing for Life After High School: "How do we support independence, emotional readiness, and self-advocacy before college?"
I will send out a sign-up link next week so you can reserve your spot—I can't wait to connect with you over coffee!
Upcoming Event: Annual Halloween Celebration
Mark your calendars! Our annual school-wide Halloween Celebration will take place on Friday from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. It promises to be a fantastic evening of community, fun, and creative costumes for the whole family!
As always, please reach out directly at ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.j if you or your student need any support. Wishing everyone a restful and refreshing 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
Upcoming University Visits
2026-2027 SAT Dates
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
Athletics/Activities Announcements: (Mr. Mo Hourani)
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 Soccer
Away Game - Saturday, October 10, 2026 - 1:30 PM - Friendly - U19 Boys Soccer vs ABS – @ ABS
U19 Girls Volleyball
Home Game - Saturday, October 10, 2026 - 11:00 AM - Friendly - U19 Girls Volleyball vs ABS – @ ACS
Home Game - Monday, October 12, 2026 - 5:30 PM - Friendly - U19 Girls Volleyball vs AA – @ ACS
U16 Boys Soccer
Away Game - Saturday, October 10, 2026 - 10:30 AM - Friendly - U16 Boys Soccer vs ABS – @ ABS
U16 Girls Soccer
Home Game - Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - 6:00 PM - Friendly - U16 Girls Soccer vs ICS – @ ACS
U16 Boys Volleyball
Away Game - Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - 5:00 PM - Friendly - U16 Boys Volleyball vs King's Academy – @ KA
U16 Girls Volleyball
Home Game - Monday, October 12, 2026 - 4:30 PM - Friendly - U16 Girls Volleyball vs AA – @ ACS
Away Game - Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - 5:00 PM - Friendly - U16 Girls Volleyball vs. King's Academy – @ KA
Go Scorpions!
Important Dates & Quick Links
Important Dates & Quick Links
Mark Your Calendars
Mark Your Calendars
Oct 8 - MAP Reports available on PowerSchool at 3:00 PM
Oct 15 - 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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