CAC High School Principal’s Notes
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of Highro-Glyphics!
Principal’s Notes Highlights:
● Ramadan Kareem!
● Wellbeing Weekly Message
● NESDA Speech and Debate Tournament
● High School Musical
● Campus Lunch Announcement
● NESA Parents and Partners 2.0 Webinars
● IB Exams Update
● Upcoming Holidays
● Skyward Gradebook
● Second Semester Exams
● Withdrawal Procedures
Ramadan Kareem!
Our students continue their hard work, many doing so with the added challenge and sacrifice of a daily fast. In anticipation of rising temperatures, we are adding more tents to the lawn for students to have shade. Please see the morning announcements for information about places students can go to rest or pray during school hours.
Wellbeing Weekly Message
This week’s message: Positive Health
Focused Attention Practices: When we are focused on paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and choices, we have a much greater opportunity to change those thoughts and feelings that are not serving us well in life and school. Link to slides
Wishing you a happy day,
PreK-12 Well-being Committee
NESDA Speech and Debate Tournament
Good luck to the Speech and Debate Team, who have been competing in the NESDA Virtual Tournament.
High School Musical
Next week a limited audience will attend the screening of the video of The Theory of Relativity, our High School Musical.
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.
NOTE: Sincerely V orders will be picked up from outside the HS Office. As for Coffee Bean orders, they will be picked up from the on campus vendor.
NESA Parents as Partners 2.0 Webinars
The next webinar is Tuesday, April 27, from 4:00-5:00pm on the topic
Promoting a Summer Stride, Diminishing the Summer Slide.
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.
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:
Teacher Letters of Recommendation: The majority of students will be in need of an academic recommendation(s) for university applications. This week, Class of 2022 students were emailed instructions and policies for requesting these letters of recommendation. Students are asked to request letters of recommendation from teachers by May 5, by following the instructions sent in the email. Students should contact their counselor if they have any questions or concerns.
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
Kansas University – Engineering. Tuesday, April 20, at 4:00PM. Learn about KU’s School of Engineering and opportunities to achieve academic and career goals through classes, research and internships. Registration can be found here.
*this event is not facilitated by CAC*
AUC Scholarships. Is your student applying to The American University in Cairo? Scholarship opportunities 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 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
CAC Private Swim Lessons
Friday & Saturday Mornings 8am-10am
30 min sessions- 200LE per session
Custom sessions for your needs.
For all ages and skill levels.
Contact the CAC Aquatics office for more details.
bcoles@cacegypt.org
Aquatics Office
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 PTO Grant
CONGRATULATIONS to Ms. Lisa Young, MS Science/Math Teacher, for being awarded the PTO Grant. Ms. Young will use the funds to plan, prepare, and have students enter the FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CHALLENGE, an international competition organized for ES and MS students.
First Lego League is an engaging, multi-disciplinary program. Students participating in the competition will design, build, and program a robot to complete a variety of tasks. In addition to the engineering and coding aspects, students research an assigned topic and create a solution for a real-world problem. Students prototype their solution and present their idea. This challenge also teaches them teamwork and collaboration skills. There is already an FLL program in Egypt, so students could compete against other schools. The competitions have a sports arena-like feel and this experience is an excellent opportunity for students that do not participate in sports to be apart of a team and compete. The club will take place after school in the 2021-2022 academic year.
PTO Monthly Meeting in April
Join our monthly meeting in April—date coming soon! PTO will discuss PTO Board vacancies for the next school year, the Virtual Auction of Art, our upcoming International Race (CAC Great Global Get Out) in May, and present the PTO Annual Report.
PTO Board Positions
Interested in impacting your very own CAC school community? Consider running for a position on the PTO Executive Board, if so. Contact cacpto@cacegypt.org for detailed job descriptions. Board positions: President, Vice-president, Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, and MS Liaison.
PTO