Highro Glyphics Newsletter Week of October 6, 2021

CAC High School Principal’s Notes

Faculty, staff and parents getting ready to play the varsity girls volleyball team last weekend

The Cross Country Team in Wadi Degla

 

We had another successful Principal’s Coffee Morning for our parent community yesterday, with more than 50 people attending. At the meeting we reviewed the myriad of upcoming events for high school and also spent some time looking at the CAC Strategic Plan. If you would like to see the slides shared at that meeting, you may click here. In our next meeting (November 10) we will be workshopping with parents to get some input and ideas about how the high school can forward its work on the strategic plan pillars–it would be great to have many parents there for that and we value feedback and ideas from multiple perspectives.

On October 13, we are running a special schedule for all high school grade levels. Grade 10 and 11 will be taking the PSAT tests while Grade 9 and 12 will be engaged in special sessions tailored specifically for their current needs and situations. The Grade 9s will have a Wellbeing Retreat focussed on their transition from middle to high school. Topics covered will include: Healthy Habits, Mindfulness, Organizational Skills, Screen Time & Digital Citizenship, Managing Stress and a Q & A with a panel of seniors. We will also get them moving and being active with sessions of Frisbee, Juggling, Spike Ball, Yoga and some time in the weight room. It will be a dynamic and enjoyable learning experience for them all.

We understand our Grade 10 and 11 students may have questions or anxieties about the upcoming PSAT tests. As such, we have organised an informal and voluntary drop-in Q&A session for students on Monday 11 October. HS counselor, Mr Simon, will be there to help students understand what to expect and how to manage any worries they may have about the PSAT.

On this same morning, our Grade 12s will also be off their regular timetable and have the option to sign up for a variety of seminars such as: How to Travel Safely and Economically during a Gap Year, Study Skills, Post School Financial Planning, as well as extended subject specific seminars, workshops and conferencing time. We are hopeful that this change of pace and style of learning will be engaging and relevant for them, and provide them with a much needed opportunity to catch up on some important coursework.

As you are likely aware, we are fast approaching the end of the Quarter 1 and will be issuing the first progress report for your child on October 18. Next week, the Skyward grade book will be open for families to view from Sunday to Thursday before being closed over the weekend. On Monday 18th, it will open again with the Q1 report posted.

On October 25 and 26, we look forward to welcoming parents to our first round of Parent Teacher Conferences of the year. There will be regular school for students on Monday 25th with face-to-face conferences taking place after school. However, there will be no school for students on the 26th as this is a full day of online conferences. Students are highly encouraged to attend the conferences with their parents. More information will be sent home soon.

Dates for your Diary

● Armed Forces Holiday: School is closed on October 7
● Booster Club Monthly Meeting: Tuesday 12 October, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Cairo Room, Library)
● PSAT Test (Grade 10 & 11): Wednesday 13 October (morning)
● Grade 9 Wellbeing Retreat: Wednesday 13 October (morning)
● Grade 12 Seminar/Conference: Wednesday 13 October (morning)
● CAC MUN: 14-16 October
● Quarter 1 Progress Check Reports posted on Skyward: Monday 18 October
● Virtual College Fair: Monday 18 October, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
● Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday Holiday: October 19. Please be reminded that this holiday may move to Thursday 21 October (school closed pending government announcement).
● Parent-Teacher Conferences: 25-26 October (no school for students on the 26th)
● Early Release Day: Wednesday 27 October (11:30 dismissal)
● Principal’s Coffee: Wednesday 10 November, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Yours in partnership and learning,

Andrew Buckman               Rachel McCall
                HS Principal                  HS Assistant Principal

 

Counseling Department Announcements

Week of Oct. 6, 2021

PSAT October 13

Grades 10 and 11. Next Wednesday, October 13, Grade 10 and 11 students will sit for the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test). As a result these students will not attend their A Block and B Block classes on the 13th. More information about timing and locations will be sent next week. To learn more about the PSAT, please visit here. Students should also pick up a Student Guide to the PSAT from the HS Counseling Office.

For Grades 9 and 12. Grades 9 and 12 will not be sitting for the PSAT on October 13. As a result, students will have a range of sessions to choose from during their A and B blocks. More information will be sent to students soon.

Upcoming University Visits

The University of California System – October 13, 6:00-7:00 pm
UC Davis will lead us in a discussion about the 9 campuses that are part of the UC System; some of the most popular destinations for international students in the USA. In the past few years, many aspects of their applications have changed. Join this online session to learn more about the application requirements and the changes that could impact your application. Register here!

Cairo Virtual University Fair, October 18, 6PM. This event is in an attempt to replicate CAC’s typical annual in-person college fair. Currently 55 universities from Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, USA, and the UK will be participating. This will be a great opportunity for students and parents to explore a wide variety of universities and programs. The Novva platform allows for great interaction between the universities and students, so you will be able to ask questions and meet the counselors who would eventually read your applications.

SCAD Visit. Last week SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) visited our AP 2D Art and IB Visual Arts classes!

Other upcoming virtual events happening around the world can be found here.

 

Claudia Bean, Kasey Semler, Cameron Simon
HS Counseling

General Announcements

From Swimming

CAC Swim-A-Thon Fall 2021

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G1m_u22AuP6pE8DN0eHvf-NDgakLqvjaOqM7Ge5a0KI/edit

Aquatics Office

 

From the Library

October is the month of COURAGE
In collaboration with the PTO, the MHS Library is promoting book connected to the theme of Courage during the month of October. The books are intended for MS students, HS students and parents. Please come check them out!

Read Books Online with the Sora App, our digital library open 24/7
All CAC patrons with a CAC google account can access our online collection of books. Read on your computer by going to soraapp.com or download the Sora App on your phone. Here are more detailed instructions on how to access Sora (note that Kindle books are not available to us in Egypt because of digital rights management). If there is a book you would like to request for Sora, please email Ms. Ennis (mennis@cacegypt.org)
o When you are asked for a Follett account, use your CAC single sign-on

Free Subscription to the New York Times
CAC patrons with a CAC Gmail account can access our school subscription to the NY Times online. Follow these detailed instructions here. Subscriptions must be renewed every year.

Parent Hours for the MHS Library
Parents are welcome in the MHS library just before and just after school to come check out books Sunday-Thursday. If you would like to spend more time in the library, please visit us on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Thank you.

Meghan Ennis
MHS Librarian

From the PTO

• The faculty and staff DEI design team are asking all parents to complete the AIM focus group survey. See the PTO Blog for more information and let’s support our teachers and staff.
• Please submit a recipe for the PTO cookbook, Family Favorites: Celebrating CAC’s Culinary & Cultural Diversity The deadline for submissions is October 31.
• For students interested in earning service hours as PTO language liaisons, please sign up here.
• Mark your calendars for the first PTO DEI Discussion Circle next Wednesday 10/13 @ 1:30. The focus will be on wellness and the conversation will be facilitated by our PTO Wellness committee head, Shayanne Salama. Location to be announced
Please visit the PTO / Booster Club Blog for current updates.

CAC PTO