CAC High School Principal’s Notes
Dear parents,
With Spirit Week and Spring Break behind us, students returned to campus this week with renewed energy for the final push towards the end of the year. At this week’s parent coffee, we discussed what that looks for each grade: freshmen work towards solidifying their learning as they complete the first year of high school; sophomores prepare for upper level courses; juniors grapple with more challenging course material and start their university searches; seniors try to finish strong, reviewing for IB exams and readying themselves for life after high school.
With Ramadan starting next week, some of our students will embrace the additional challenge of fasting, which becomes especially difficult as the weather gets warmer. Our students haven’t experienced regular school during Ramadan in a long time, since last year we were online during the entire month. We have added more tents to the lawn to provide shade. Please make sure they keep a regular sleeping schedule and look after their health.
Even in this unusual year, the next two months will be very busy. Season 3 sports will continue their conditioning, the speech and debate team will compete in a virtual NESDA tournament, NHS will induct new members, the high school musical will be presented as video, student council candidates will campaign for office, the music classes will prepare for lunchtime performances, and we will get things ready for our traditional end-of-year ceremonies, concluding with graduation at the Pyramids.
Thank you for doing your best to keep yourselves and your children safe so that we can make all these great events happen.
Have a wonderful week. Ramadan Kareem!
Principal’s Notes Highlights:
● CAC Talks this Saturday: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
● Wellbeing Weekly Message
● Campus Lunch Announcement
● NESA Parents and Partners 2.0 Webinars
● IB Exams Update
● Upcoming Holidays
● Skyward Gradebook
● Second Semester Exams
● Withdrawal Procedures
CAC Talks this Saturday: Diversity,. Equity, and Inclusion
Do you want to help our community create a safe environment where all members are seen, heard, and feel a sense of belonging? Are you committed to achieving equity and a learning environment at home and at school which elevates and values all? Do you simply want to learn more about what diversity, equity and inclusion means and how it impacts you and others? Then join us Saturday, April 10 at 5pm for our upcoming CAC Talks: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Sagda and Amin from Indigenius Teaching and Learning for their seminar The Balance of (Cultural) Power:
“The ideal 21st century education understands the importance of valuing the multiple ways of knowing (cultures) that exist within a learning space. Yet, many learning communities are unsure of how to de-center the dominant culture in order to equitably represent, honour, and value the cultural wealth they have.
In this interactive workshop, parents explore classroom inspired anecdotal scenarios to understand the impacts of the dominant culture within international school settings and recognize the urgency of embarking on a cultural proficiency journey as a learning community.”
To help our facilitators better prepare please sign up here so they can know the approximate number of attendees. You are still welcome to join regardless of signing up! As always, please send questions ahead of time to cacpto@cacegypt.org or through this anonymous link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JRT97VX
Join Zoom Meeting
https://fundforteachers.zoom.us/j/98585005479?pwd=Z1dUNm1sV0dQQUg5RkFmS0g5U0h4QT09
Meeting ID: 985 8500 5479
Passcode: 428268
In Partnership,
Your PTO
Wellbeing Weekly Message
CAC continues to incorporate well-being activities throughout our school year.. The PreK-12 Well-being committee chose to begin a whole CAC community focus on well-being through weekly messages.. This is an invitation to join in our new weekly messages promoting well-being. The same message will be delivered throughout our CAC Community: ES/MS/HS, parents, faculty, staff, and general staff. If you would like to send in any reflections, activities, or responses you are invited to do so. Please send it to wellbeingreflections@cacegypt.org
HS classroom teachers will share the activity on Sunday at the beginning of their first Block. Those who wish to share their experiences, will have an opportunity to do so on Thursday at the beginning of their first Block.
“Make Gratitude a Habit”
Suggestions:
● Pause during the day to think about something you’re grateful for.
● Start your days with 3 things you’re thankful for.
● End your day with an entry into a gratitude journal or your planner.
● 30 Day gratitude challenge – one a day
Wishing you a happy day,
PreK-12 Well-being Committee
Campus Lunch Announcement
Sincerely V and Coffee Bean now available for pre-order via Spare
We are happy to inform you that your son/daughter can now pre-order healthy items from Sincerely V, using the Spare App. CAC, in partnership with Spare Payments, provides a cashless system for these items.
The Spare system uses smart technology connected to a mobile application on which you will be able to recharge your son/daughter’s balance and set a limit for their spending. Accounts may be recharged via credit card in-app or with cash on campus at Booster Club and at CSA Maadi at Power Plant Store. Please find the stores working hours at the end of this letter.
The menu of pre-order items from Sincerely V will be available in the Spare app starting April 8 at 7:00 PM. To view the menu, click on “Online Store”. Sincerely V have their menu available one week in advance. Orders for the same day are accepted till 7:30 AM.
Coffee Bean will also be available in the Spare app. To view the menu, click on “Online Store” in the app; then select the items you wish and purchase. Pre-purchase will be available 3 pm – 9 pm the day before pick up. Please note at this time, Coffee Bean will limit online selections to pre-ordered salads; other items may still be purchased on site using cash or with IDs linked to Spare.
If you still haven’t activated your Spare account, please follow the instructions here.
NESA Parents as Partners 2.0 Webinars
The next webinar is Tuesday, April 13, from 4:00-5:00pm on the topic
Behind the Screens: Digital Well-Being During Tough Times.
The full schedule of upcoming webinars in this helpful series can be found by clicking here. You can register by clicking here. Webinar recordings, materials, and feedback forms are available here.
IB Exams
The International Baccalaureate has confirmed that schools in Egypt will administer exams in May as planned, with the first exams scheduled for April 29. Students in Year 2 IB classes should plan to attend those classes through April 28. All students taking exams must attend Flex meetings with Mr. Williams on April 18-19. Mr. Williams has sent specific information to all students taking exams.
Upcoming Holidays
There will be no school April 25 in recognition of Sinai Liberation Day. There will be no school on May 2-3 for Eastern Easter and Sham El Nessim.
Skyward Gradebook
Skyward gradebook is open for student and parent viewing. Students are encouraged to reach out to the teachers if they have questions about assignments.
Second Semester Exams
Second semester exam dates are May 31 – June 1 for seniors (in non-IB/AP core courses) and June 2-7 for grades 9-11. Please keep in mind while you plan your summer travels that seniors are able to depart after graduation and underclassmen after their final examination.
Withdrawal Procedures
Moving on from CAC at the end of the year?
We are in the process of finalizing plans for the next school year. If you already know that you will be moving on from CAC at the end of this year, it would be much appreciated if you could let us know at this time. You can use the link below as a withdrawal notification.
https://www.cacegypt.org/index.php/cac-withdrawal-request
Jerry Duggan Rachel McCall
HS Principal HS Assistant Principal
Counseling Department Announcements
Juniors: Be sure to schedule your university planning meeting with your student’s counselor to occur by April 15th. Contact your student’s counselor or the admin. assistants in our office to set your meeting day and time (45-60 minutes).
All grades:
Counseling resources in the MHS library:
See this link for the counseling resources housed in the MHS library that are useful for both students and parents. Topics include teen health and wellness, mental health, third culture kids, parenting, self-help and college resources.
Covid-19 Anxiety Handbook: This is a challenging time for all of us, so we want you to have some helpful resources on hand as you deal with these unusual times. This workbook contains tips, reminders, and resources for self-care and wellness. Please click on this link to view the handbook that may be helpful for your student.
Upcoming Virtual Events & Opportunities
Bard College Berlin Open Week Spring 2021. From April 9-17, Explore Bard College Berlin through a range of virtual events such as student panels, info sessions, and Q&A. More information can be found here.
Essay Competition: Cambridge Centre for International Research (CCIR) is looking to invite students to document, to investigate, and to reflect upon the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about this essay competition, please visit https://www.cambridge-research.org/essay-competition. Deadline for submission is July 15, 2021.
Other Upcoming Virtual Events, Available Scholarships, and Summer Opportunities
See the CAC HS Counseling Resources Webpage to see upcoming virtual events, available scholarships, and summer opportunities: CAC HS Counseling Resources Webpage – Events
Appointment system: As usual, students can schedule appointments with counselors from the QR codes posted around campus.
Claudia Bean, Kasey Semler, Cameron Simon
HS Counseling
General Announcements
Moving on from CAC at the end of the year?
We are in the process of finalizing plans for the next school year. If you already know that you will be moving on from CAC at the end of this year it would be much appreciated if you could let us know at this time. You can use the link below as a withdrawal notification.
https://www.cacegypt.org/index.php/cac-withdrawal-request
Thank you
Registrar’s office
Transportation Office Announcement
After School Activities 4:20 p.m. buses are suspended till further notice due to the Covid 19 situation.
Transportation Office
CAC Libraries Saturdays in April
The libraries will be open on April 10, 17 and 24. Here is a document with all the open Saturdays for the year.
Please note that all library materials must be returned by May 26 in order to be able to start summer checkout on June 3.
Sora is open 24/7
Our ebook and digital audiobook library is open 24/7 to our CAC parents, students, faculty and staff. Download the Sora app, find our school by typing “Cairo American College” and use your CAC single sign on to log in. Books are checked out for 2 weeks and automatically returned so you never have to worry about overdues.
Ms. Gramolini’s grade 11 English class will be starting a unit called “Mental Illness and Literature,” and the first collection you will see on the Explore tab if you are signed in as an MS or HS student or a parent will be “Mental Illness.” You may be interested in one of those titles, but please do not check out for another two weeks, as Ms. Gramolini’s class will need those.
Tutorial for accessing Sora is here. When you are asked for your Follett account, use the CAC single sign on.
If you have trouble with your CAC single sign when logging into Sora, please contact Ms. Amira Youssef, ayoussef@cacegypt.org.
Josianne Fitzgerald
MHS Head Librarian
Booster Club Spirit Store – Cash Payments for Spare Account
The Booster Club Spirit Store will now be accepting cash payments towards your child’s SPARE account. Payments can be made any day during Spirit Store hours (8:30-10 and 1:30-2:45). Please review the following details before arriving at the Store:
1. You must have set up your account with the SPARE app to make a payment
2. Payments are accepted in EGP only
3. Please bring correct change
Booster Club Spirit Store
The Booster Club Spirit Store has resumed regular weekday hours, from 8:30-10:00am and 1:30-2:45pm. Entrance is at Gate 7 (next to the ATM). All transactions will be through the window with one customer at a time allowed inside the gate. Properly worn masks are mandatory when entering campus through Gate 7 (next to the ATM), with valid CAC ID. Temperatures will be taken at the gate. Customers will need to exit campus as soon as their store transaction is finished.
Please note that the payment methods accepted are only EGP and USD cash. No USD checks accepted.
Booster Club
CAC Talk about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are thrilled to host a CAC Talk on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Education. Please attend in person – it’s one of those things that can only be achieved if we all learn and grow and persist together as a community.
Important to note: this CAC Talk will not be recorded, and no transcript will be available.
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Time: 5 PM
To join, please follow this link and use the password below:
https://fundforteachers.zoom.us/j/98585005479?pwd=Z1dUNm1sV0dQQUg5RkFmS0g5U0h4QT09
Meeting ID: 985 8500 5479
Passcode: 428268
PTO