CAC High School Principal’s Notes
Happy New Year to all of you in our CAC community! It’s great to see everyone back and for our campus to be buzzing with student learning and activity once again. We hit the ground running with sports practices and activities in full flow as well as teachers passing back students’ semester exams, providing feedback and cracking on with the learning for semester two. Many students are beginning new courses this semester, including those enrolled in our newest offerings: Disruptive Innovation and Technology and the Future of Finance courses.
Disruptive Innovation and Technology Lab
Next week, you will receive notification that your student’s semester one report card is available in Skyward (Tuesday). Please do take some time to review your child’s grades and read the teacher’s comments. If you should have any concerns or questions, of course, you are welcome to email teachers directly to set up appointments for conversations.
We know there’s a busy semester ahead. We have a group of students heading to the Netherlands in two weeks’ time to represent CAC at The Hague Model United Nations (THIMUN), an extremely prestigious MUN event which attracts students from all around the world. Students on sports teams will be looking forward to the upcoming tournaments hosted here at CAC and offsite in February. And, of course, varsity teams will travel to Europe in March to represent CAC at the ISAA championships which conclude season two.
We also have two new international travel opportunities for students this year—the Compassion Summit, a service-learning oriented experience hosted by the American Community School in Amman in February and the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) festival in Geneva in April. This inter-arts ISTA festival will be for student-artists who are passionate about exploring and developing their creativity and passion for the arts. More information about these two new opportunities can be found in the morning announcements this week.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
English Department Wall Design
New mural to promote sustainability
Dates for your Diary
• Tue 16 Jan – Semester One report cards issued
• Thu 25 Jan – Holiday, no school
• Wed 31 Jan – Early Release Day – 11:30 dismissal
• Tue 6 Feb – IB & Subject Selection Fair 3:15 – 6:30 pm (for Grade 10 parents and students)
• Wed 21 Feb – HS Parent Coffee Morning. 9:30 am
Andrew Buckman Rachel McCall
HS Principal HS Assistant Principal
Counseling Department Announcements
Week of January 11, 2024
All Grades- schedule change requests: Any schedule change requests must be completed by Sunday, January 14th, 2024.
Grade 12 Deadlines and Decisions
First of all, congratulations to those of you who have already received university offers! For those still in the application process or awaiting decisions, here are some important reminders:
Netherlands: If applying to Numerus Fixus programs in the Netherlands, remember that the Studielink deadline is January 15th.
UK Applications: For UCAS applications with a January 31st deadline and any other applications due by February 1st, make sure to complete them by January 17th to meet the CAC internal deadline.
Monitoring Applications: Students should keep a close eye on application portals and email, including the spam folder, for any updates. Don’t forget to inform counselors about any decisions you receive.
Mid Year Reports on Common Application: Rest assured that counselors will send midyear transcripts to the universities you’ve applied to by the end of January. There is no special request for this. We’ll also send you a courtesy copy when they are ready.
Grade 11 Families:
Join us for our University Kick Off Night on Tuesday, January 30th, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm in the Theater. This event is crucial for juniors and their parents as it provides an essential overview of the college application process. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from current seniors who will share their experiences with the university application journey.
Keep an eye out for the RSVP form, which will be sent to you soon.
ACT Prep Course with Higher Ground Learning – March 2024
We’re excited to announce a collaboration between CAC and Higher Ground Learning. Join us for an intensive in-person ACT prep course, spread across two weekends in March, right here at CAC. There now must be at least EIGHT people enrolled for the course to take place. For details on registration, dates, fees, and more, click here.
Grades 9-11 families:
Already thinking about summer??? Why not consider signing up for a summer program, course, internship or other extracurricular opportunity? As counselors, we are always getting emails about summer opportunities, and will continue to update an internal list. Opportunities are available globally across various subjects. We will update this list regularly, so keep an eye out for new additions! Click here to look at the list of summer programs and opportunities that our office has been made aware of thus far.
ACT test information:
The registration for the remaining 23-24 test dates are as follows:
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Saturday June 8, 2024
Registration details here!
Claudia Bean, Jody Stiles, Kasey Semler
HS Counseling
General Announcements
Core Values Award – Every Year the Board of Trustees honors individuals who have exhibited CAC’s Core Values contributing exceptional and varied voluntary service to the CAC Community in which CAC students are engaged and/or of benefit to the broader CAC community. All members of the community not currently on the Board of Trustees are eligible to be considered for this award. If you know of someone who has made a difference in the lives of our CAC community while exhibiting the CAC core values, please nominate this person for the Core Values Award. The nomination form is available here. Nominations are due no later than 3:00 pm on February 11, 2024.
Board Community Representative Elections – The CAC Board would like to encourage parents to actively participate in the upcoming Board elections. The CAC community elects two board members biannually. CAC parents and guardians who are not employed by CAC and who are not relatives of CAC employees are eligible to apply for a two-year term for the academic years 2024 – 2026. Interested community members are encouraged to get in touch with the Board Election committee at elections@cacegypt.org or request the election information packet to get familiar with the roles, responsibilities and duties of trusteeship.
Board Election Committee
Dustin Harrison, Karim Alaa and David Chi
Embark on a Journey of Compassion at ACS Amman’s Compassion Summit!
Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Compassion Summit, hosted by the American Community School in Amman, Jordan from February 28 to March 1.
“When there is no Compassion, there can be no peace. When we know Compassion, then we might know peace.”
This transformative event is not just a summit; it’s an opportunity to cultivate compassion, foster connections, and make a real impact!
Here’s why you should be a part of this event:
• KEYNOTE ADDRESSES: Be inspired by experts in the field who will share their insights and experiences, guiding you on the path to understanding the power of compassion in fostering peace.
• COMPASSIONATE ACTION PLANNING: Collaborate with like-minded individuals to develop actionable plans that bring compassion to life. Make a difference by turning empathy into tangible change.
• WORKSHOPS: Hone your skills and collaborate with peers to address real-world challenges. Gain valuable knowledge and tools that will empower you to make a positive impact in your community.
• CONNECTIONS SESSIONS: Break down the barriers between schools and connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Expand your horizons and build lasting friendships that transcend borders.
• COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS SESSIONS: Immerse yourself in the local culture by connecting with the community in meaningful ways. Learn, share, and contribute to projects that make a real difference in Jordan.
• BUILD COMMUNITY: From team-building activities to shared experiences, the Compassion Summit provides numerous opportunities to build a strong, global community committed to creating a more compassionate world.
Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of a movement that believes in the transformative power of compassion. Join us at ACS Amman’s Compassion Summit and be the change you wish to see in the world!
Check the below links to know more:
• The Compassion Summit: https://sites.google.com/view/compassion-summit/home
• Keynote Speakers: https://sites.google.com/view/compassion-summit/home?authuser=0
If you are interested to join, please sign up here The Compassion Summit Student Interest Form
For more information or to register your interest. See Ms Ereeny, Mr Buckman or Mr Goetz.
The Sphinx Run – January 13, 2024
Run for a Cause at the Great Pyramids of Giza
Click here for details
Mark your calendars for January 13th, and join the Sphinx Run, a charitable event set against the captivating backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza! Immerse yourself in the spirit of adventure and contribute to a meaningful cause in collaboration with Al Nas Hospital. This initiative is dedicated to making a lasting impact in the community, and your participation is crucial to its success. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a first-timer, the Sphinx Run offers an extraordinary opportunity to be part of something bigger. Each step you take symbolizes solidarity, community, and the potential to leave a lasting legacy for those in need. Take action now to secure your spot and become a part of this impactful journey.
Link for registration: http://stamina-sports.com/sphinx-run
Link for more information:
https://www.cairo360.com/article/health-fitness/sphinx-charity-run-a-purposeful-stride-towards-impact/
Youssef Mekawi
Parenting Together With Positive Discipline (Tweens & Teens) – Starts Jan. 15, 2024
Join Carey Harris & Amira Hashem for a parenting course designed for all CAC parents.
The 8-week long course meets weekly to…
• address real issues for parents of today’s tweens & teens
• learn over 50 long-term, take-away tools for parenting during the adolescent years
• create a support network for parents of the Cairo American College community
Space is limited! Save your spot –REGISTER HERE
To learn more about the course visit: https://parentingtogether.edublogs.org/
Carey Harris
ES Guidance Teacher/ School Counselor
Positive Discipline Parent & Classroom Educator
All Pro Dad
Happy holidays! Our next All Pro Dad event is scheduled for 18 January (7:00 am in Middle School Room 115) and the topic is Confidence. When we have confidence in something, we don’t doubt its reliability. Confident people believe they have what it takes to do what they set out to do, and they trust that they’re going to succeed.
Breakfast, donuts and beverages, will be provided.
If you plan to come, please RSVP here: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/13407
For more information or questions, contact our team captain, Craig Tippins, at this email: AllProDadCAC@gmail.com
Craig Tippins
From the PTO
We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the families who are new to CAC and a welcome back to our returning families! Communication is key to keeping our community strong, so CAC PTO has several channels to keep in touch. Please follow our Instagram page and join our Facebook Group group for announcements and community conversations. We also maintain WhatsApp groups for divisions and grade level parents. Please contact your PTO Liaison in order to be connected with the relevant groups; contact information for PTO liaisons is linked on this Google Doc.
The biggest CAC PTO event of the year is just around the corner, and we are excited to share it with you! The highly anticipated International Festival is on February 16th, 2024. It is the moment where we come together as a community of fifty-five nationalities to embrace our diversity. We currently have booths for the following countries:
We’d love to have even more! If you’d like to add your country to the list, or to support your country’s booth, please fill out this Google Form and join our WhatsApp group dedicated to the planning of this signature event. Please feel free to email internationalfestival@cacegypt.org with questions, we’ll be happy to help you get involved!
#loveCACPTO
CAC PTO