CAC High School Principal’s Notes
Dear Parents,
Three weeks ago we experienced a cataclysmic storm with rain, wind, and flooding on a scale seldom seen in Egypt. The government wisely and preemptively cancelled classes everywhere in Cairo. So, in the midst of that storm, we ran a test of our e-learning platform, not knowing at the time that it would be the last time we held classes on campus for at least a month. We didn’t realize that it wasn’t a test, but the beginning of the new reality of how CAC would be teaching and learning, at least for a time.
I have been quite amazed by how quickly teachers and students have adapted to that reality. Teachers have reshaped existing lessons and assignments, and begun teaching in entirely new ways. Students have been attending virtual classes, taking notes on screencasts, and diligently keeping up with their learning. There have been glitches, as there will be with any transition. It is important to remember we have had only two weeks of e-learning, and we will need to keep making adjustments. But our community continues to demonstrate perseverance and resilience.
We plan to return to classes on April 13. As we all know, changing circumstances could prevent us from doing so, but we do hope to see students on campus again soon.
We came through that storm together, and though the novel coronavirus has caused far greater disruption, we will come through this crisis together, too.
Principal’s Notes Highlights:
● Student Virtual Meetings with Mr. Duggan
● Virtual Parent Coffee
● Silent Art Auction
● E-Learning Reminders
● Skyward Gradebook
● Graduation
● CAC Alumni Unite
● Second Semester Exams
Student Virtual Meetings with Mr. Duggan
I have begun holding 30-minute virtual meetings with groups of students by grade level during Flex blocks, to give them a chance to ask questions and share their perspectives. I am hosting these meetings at different times on different days, and over time I will try to offer every student the chance to participate. Participation is optional. If your child receives a Google Meet invitation, please encourage them to join in.
Virtual Parent Coffee
I will host a virtual Parent Coffee on Wednesday, April 8 from 9:30-10:30 am using Google Meet. To participate, you will need to use Google Chrome and login through your CAC parent email address. You will then need to click here for the meeting link. If you do not know how to access your parent email, contact Mona Abdelhady at mabdelhady@cacegypt.org.
Silent Art Auction
Manshiyat Naser, dubbed “Garbage City”, is where its inhabitants, Zabbaleen garbage collectors, are trying to create an economy out of recycling waste material. The Association for the Protection of the Environment (APE) is an NGO that works to benefit underprivileged children and their families, improving their living conditions whilst preserving the environment and, in the words of UNESCO, do everything possible to restore some of their human dignity. Seniors Kinda A. and Maria S. have worked with APE in providing art lessons to Zabbaleen children, producing a total of 21 artworks which you can buy in a silent auction, thus directly supporting their underprivileged community. The auction will close Thursday, April 9 at 3:05 pm.
To participate in the silent auction and support this worthy cause, click here.
E-Learning Reminders
● We will continue the 2-day rotation of ABCD/EFGH for as long as we are using the e-learning platform.
● During e-learning, it is important that students try to maintain a regular schedule.
● We have had good feedback regarding live Google Meet sessions. Though e-learning remains asynchronous, students should make every effort to attend live sessions. When possible, teachers will record live sessions for the benefit of those who have connectivity problems or other issues.
● Remember that if you see an “N” in your student’s attendance in Skyward, it means their participation has been below expectations during that week. Please see the note below regarding the Skyward Gradebook.
● Teachers will continue to be available for office hours for a given class during the block that class would meet according to the two-day rotation. Of course, students may contact teachers by email at any time, but they should not expect to receive replies outside of regular school hours.
● It is very important that students also check email and respond to emails within 24 hours.
Skyward Gradebook
The gradebook section of Family Access on Skyward will remain open as long as we are engaged in e-learning. This will provide students and parents a way to track completion of assignments. Be aware that teachers may post assignments that have not been graded, or even collected, therefore a mark with of * (asterisk) is not cause for concern. However, a mark of “0” means that the work is overdue, and that it has been factored into the semester grade.
We are planning on updating Skyward with the latest addendum on Friday, April 03, 2020, from 1 am onwards. The update needs a 24-hour downtime, so Skyward won’t be available from Friday 1 am to Saturday at 1 am. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Ms. McCall.
Graduation
At present, we plan to hold our graduation ceremony as scheduled June 5 at the Pyramids of Giza. We recognize circumstances may force us to alter those plans, so we are working on contingencies. I have been and will be soliciting input from seniors during our virtual meetings.
#CAC Alumni Unite Around The World
Many of our parents are CAC Alumni. Today this message is for you:
You are blessed to be part of a global alumni community of more than 17,000 alumni in over 90 countries. This means that in difficult times that everyone of us are facing in light of the evolving impact of Corona Virus (COVID-19) around the world, you don’t have to face it alone.
Home is where the heart is, and CAC will always be home for our alumni. Saying this, we want to encourage you to share a “virtual” coffee, lunch, or snack with an old CAC friend or teacher and hangout like old times to revive old memories, stories, and catch up and thus find comfort in each other’s company. When you do this, take a photo/video of yourselves during your “virtual hangout” and share it on your social media accounts and on ours using the hashtag #“CAC Alumni Unite Around The World”. Let’s support each other and show the world our “eagle spirit”.
Best Regards,
CAC’s Advancement Office
Second Semester Exams
Second semester exam dates are scheduled for June 1-2 for seniors (in non-IB/AP and year 1 IB classes) and June 3-8 for grades 9-11.
Jerry Duggan Rachel McCall
HS Principal HS Assistant Principal
Counseling Department Announcements
April Coping Calendar
We are sharing this April Coping Calendar with you so you can take a moment each day to try these actions which may help you cope with some uncomfortable feelings during this time. Please take time out for yourself every day for self-care. The ideas on this calendar are meant to help ourselves while we are in this crisis together.
Families in Global Transition Reflections
We know that the sudden change in daily routine has resulted in us not seeing the same faces every day at school, work and in the neighborhoods. We also know some families may no longer be in the same location right now from when the crisis started. Some family members are separated from each other. The change in the daily structure to our lives and who we are used to seeing every day can create a lot of stress and anxiety. This article may help you with how to understand and process some of your thoughts and feelings as these transitions happen:
Juniors
Our university planning meetings have moved online! If you haven’t already scheduled yours with your counselor, be sure to do so ASAP to occur by the end of April. Have your packet from Junior College Night handy so we can discuss your transcript, your testing strategy, and your timeline for university applications.
Claudia Bean, Stephanie Barker, Cameron Simon
HS Counseling
General Announcements
Library Books Curbside Service
The CAC Libraries instituted a service this week whereby patrons can place holds on books they want and we deliver them to the front gate for curbside pickup. See here for details on the service. We will continue this service for as long as the campus stays open for teachers.
We use gloves to handle all check outs and book returns. Books that are returned are set aside for a 48 hour quarantine, as recommended by the American Libraries Association. The COVID-19 virus can live up to 24 hours on cardboard, and so we’ve decided to double that time for our returned books.
Once the 48-hour period has passed, books are checked in. If you have returned library books to the front gate and they are still on your library account, it’s because of this 48 hour wait.
Apologies to parents who may have received overdue notices this week. We thought we had suspended those notices and we’re checking to see that they are indeed turned off. If you received an overdue notice, you can email us to request a renewal or you can drop off the books at the front gate between 12 and 3 pm each work day.
Josianne Fitzgerald and Nan Miller
CAC Librarians
Athletics:
Season 3 tryouts are TBD based on arrangements to return to school later in April.
Season 2 Athletic Awards information will be sent to season 2 athletes during the week of April 5.
We will keep you updated on any changes.
CAC Athletics