College Counseling Program

Conversations continue around course selections for next year. Students are still attending sessions with subject-area teachers as well as counselors to make sure they understand all the options and are building four-year plans with the plethora of resources available to them. Parents are reminded that they are always welcome to schedule counselor meetings as well. Grades 9&10 parents with Ms. Kate (ktouchtonleonard@acsamman.edu.jo) and Grades 11&12 with Ms. Kurdi (rkurdi@acsamman.edu.jo).

Seniors

• Final credit checks towards graduation were underway this week. We wish all our seniors the very best in their last semester of school. Congrats, Class of 2026, on all the offers of acceptance that are continuing to roll in! 

Juniors

• Stay in touch: Juniors are continuing to schedule their own one-on-one meetings with Ms. Kurdi, via Google Calendar, to make course selection decisions for their senior year.

• Mark your calendars: We hosted a university fair this week, and we have several more visits in store! ALL students are encouraged to talk to university representatives who have come a long way to help you understand your options. Take advantage of the opportunities and ask those great questions!

Social/Emotional Counseling Program

Getting Through the February Fog

Let’s be real: February in Amman can feel like a marathon where someone forgot to put out the water stations. The initial "new semester" energy has faded, the weather is still a bit moody, and the academic pressure is starting to ramp up.

When things get heavy, the first thing we usually sacrifice is the one thing our brain actually needs to stay afloat: Sleep.

The Science of the “Zzzs”: I’ve said it many times before, but let’s look at the numbers for where you are right now, and what you need:

• Ages 14-18: your brain requires 8-10hrs of sleep to function at “Peak Performance.”

• The reality: most highschoolers are currently running on 5 or 6 hrs. 

Think of your brain like a phone. If you only ever charge it to 60%, it’s going to hit "Low Power Mode" by lunchtime. In humans, "Low Power Mode" looks like irritability, brain fog, and a much higher sensitivity to social stress. Everything feels harder when you’re exhausted.

The Balance Myth: "Balance" doesn't mean spending exactly equal time on math, friends, and sleep. It means listening to your internal battery. If you’re staying up until 2:00 AM to study for one test, you’re actually making it harder for your brain to remember that information. Sleep is when your brain moves what you learned from "temporary storage" to "permanent memory." No sleep = no storage.

Three Small Shifts for Better Balance:

1. The Digital Sunset: Try to put your phone in "Do Not Disturb" mode 30 minutes before you want to be asleep. That blue light tells your brain it's morning in the middle of the desert—it's confusing your internal clock.

2. The "Social Jetlag" Rule: Try not to sleep in too late on Fridays and Saturdays. Shifting your schedule by more than 2 hours "jetlags" your brain, making Sunday morning feel like a nightmare.

3. Micro-Breaks: Between classes or study sessions, take 2 minutes to breathe or stretch.

You don't have to do it all perfectly. You just have to be a little kinder to your future self by getting that extra hour of rest tonight.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at: ktouchtonleonard@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

Spring 2025 Tryouts & Activities Sign-Up - Note that sign-ups for SAISA Girls Basketball, SAISA Boys Football and SAISA Badminton starts on the week of March 1.

SAISA Sports Coming up - We are buzzing with excitement as our student-athletes prepare for several upcoming SAISA tournaments!

Following closely behind, from February 4–8, we have three more teams heading into competition:

• SAISA Track & Field

• Boys Basketball

• Girls Football

We are incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship these athletes have shown throughout the season. A project like this is truly a team effort, and we want to extend a massive thank you to our parents. Your unwavering support—from early morning drop-offs to cheering from the sidelines—makes these opportunities possible for our students. - Good luck to all our competitors!

ACS Activities Program: 2025–2026 - Stay up to date with all athletics, arts, and activities information by visiting our ACS Activities Website Here

HS Bus Riders Reminder - If you need to use the late bus but are not on the late bus roster, complete the form before 12:00 PM the same day.

Late Bus Sign-Up Form. The late bus departs at 4:45 PM. Students not registered will not be accommodated.