CAC High School Principal’s Notes
We often talk about the four A’s of our educational program here at CAC. These A’s represent Academics, Athletics, Activities, and Arts. This week in the high school, we have seen excellence in all four of these areas.
IB Theatre Collaborative Performances
In the world of the Arts, last night we enjoyed some truly incredible performances from our IB Theatre students. Two groups of students worked collaboratively on their performances, a major component of their internal assessment for the IB Theatre course, and they presented them to an audience of parents, friends, and faculty. The two performances were starkly different in design, however, they were unified by a highly intelligent approach to theater making and very sophisticated use of the tools that they have learned so far in the course. Congratulations to them!
Season 1 Athletic Awards
In the area of Athletics, we celebrated the end of Season One with the Fall Athletic Awards on Monday evening. More than 160 student-athletes participated in the program this season. Our cross-country, volleyball, and soccer teams were all highly successful throughout the season and in their final international tournaments bringing home many medals and trophies. We are always very proud of our student-athletes, particularly how they balance the rigorous demands of the athletic program with the equally challenging demands of our academic program.
46th CACMUN Conference gets underway
HS/MS Band and Choir at CACMUN
Speaking of Academics and Activities, this weekend we welcomed more than 300 students to the 46th annual CAC MUN conference, an activity that is combined with academic rigor. Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations where students take on the roles of delegates representing countries or organizations. They engage in debates, draft resolutions, and work collaboratively to address global issues. Through MUN, students develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, research, diplomacy, and teamwork, all while gaining a deeper understanding of international relations and global challenges
Looking ahead to next week, we now have just two teaching weeks remaining before the end-of-semester exams begin. Now is a great time for you to connect with your students and ask them questions about the consolidation of their learning. How are they feeling about the topics they’ve studied? How have they found the assessments done so far? And how are they feeling about the upcoming exams?
For our Grade 9 parents and students, this is the first time they will experience semester exams, and some nerves or anxiety are to be expected. Our Grade 9 teachers and counselors will be working with the students over the next couple of weeks to help them feel prepared for these exams. While they are significant and important, it’s essential to remember that semester exams represent only one piece of the assessment picture for the entire semester. The exams themselves are weighted at no more than 20% of the total grade. We do this to ensure that students take the examinations seriously, without weighting them so heavily that an unfortunate performance on a single exam would compromise their semester grade.
If you’re interested in learning more about the exams and how to support your child during this period, please join us for the Parent Coffee Morning next week on Wednesday 27th of November, where we will be discussing this topic. Additionally, at this coffee morning we invite all parents of students taking IB courses to participate in a discussion as part of our IB authorization process. You’ll be hearing more about this opportunity from Mr. Mortelette early next week.
In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead. I hope you enjoy the beautiful weather as we move toward the winter season.
Upcoming
Wed 27 Nov – HS Parent Coffee (9:30 am, HS Meeting Room)
Thu 28 Nov – US Thanksgiving Holiday (no school)
Thu 5 Dec – CAC Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Sun 8 & Mon 9 – Exam Prep Days (no new content or assessments due)
Tue 10 – Mon 16 – S1 Exams (4 days + 1 day for makeups)
Tue 17 Dec – Winter Break begins
18 Dec – 7 Jan – Winter Holiday
Wed 8 Jan – First day of Semester 2. Will be an A Day
Andrew Buckman Rachel McCall
HS Principal HS Assistant Principal
Counseling Department Announcements
Week of November 21, 2024
All grades:
Thanks to SAIC Art College for the Portfolio Review Session: Thanks to Anita Bharwaj, admissions representative from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, who joined us Monday afternoon during the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) meeting to go over art portfolio techniques. She showed examples of how a student’s artwork can be represented through Slideroom and other portfolio software programs such that it will put the artwork in the best format to show the student’s skills and talents. She also talked about how to formulate an artist’s statement (philosophy and ethos of their artwork). Lastly, she talked about the excellent educational opportunities at SAIC for bachelor’s programs in the variety of art programs they offer.
Grade 11:
The counselors recently met with the 11th-grade students to reflect on their experiences during the first quarter and review their academic progress. This session held during their Flex provided an opportunity for students to set goals for the remainder of the semester and discuss strategies for continued success.
As part of our focus on future planning, we engaged in research about various colleges, considering factors such as selectivity, size, setting, majors, to help students identify institutions that may be a good fit for them. We utilized Maia Learning to assist in exploring these options and understanding the differences among colleges. Additionally, we reviewed PSAT score results and had valuable discussions about standardized testing, including developing a suitable testing timeline tailored to each student’s needs. We look forward to continuing to explore college and careers with students in January at our next Junior Seminar.
All Grades- Upcoming college visits (Parents are always welcome!):
Sunday, November 24th: Outside of the high school at lunch time (11:15-12 noon)-
University of Debrecen, Hungary: https://www.edu.unideb.hu/
Grinnell College, USA: https://www.grinnell.edu/
The College of Wooster, USA: https://wooster.edu/
Grade 12: Class of 2025:
1. Seniors who are applying to USA Regular Deadline (RD) or Europe rolling deadline universities should turn in their documents request forms to the HS counseling office two weeks prior to the actual university deadline (or by Dec. 8th, whichever comes first). Good luck to our seniors with their applications!
2. Counselors are holding drop in help sessions for seniors to help with essays and applications: the schedule is here. Your senior can also schedule additional appointments with their counselor to discuss college applications throughout the fall.
ACT test information
Below are the upcoming dates and times CAC will hold a test on campus.
Saturday, December 14th, 2024 8 am (registration deadline has passed)
Saturday, February 8th, 2025, 8 am (registration deadline is Jan. 3rd)
Saturday, April 5th, 2025, 8 am (registration deadline is Feb. 28th)
Saturday, June 14th, 2025, 8 am (registration deadline is May 9th)
Registration details here. Students can look up CAC by City: Maadi and center number 866070.
*Be sure your ID matches the name you register with or you may not be permitted to enter the test
ACT Test Prep Course at CAC:
Higher Ground ACT Test Prep company is returning to CAC this winter in time for the 3 spring test dates (February, April & June). The course will be held on campus on four days over two weekends: January 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2025. Please register here hgl.co/cac. The registration deadline is soon- December 5th. Class is capped at 16 students, so please save your spot soon! Please see these two flyers below as well. See your counselor if you have questions.
Flyer #1 Parent Letter CAC ACT – January 2025
Flyer #2 CAC ACT Prep Course – January 2025
Claudia Bean, Staci Petrich, Jody Stiles
HS Counseling
General Announcements
Stay Updated with CAC Activities & Athletics!
Curious about what’s happening in CAC Activities & Athletics? Want to cheer on your Eagles at an upcoming match, performance, or academic competition? Follow our live Google calendar for all the upcoming events throughout the year. Click the link below and be sure to bookmark it for easy reference!
Link: CAC Activities & Athletics Live Calendar
Kasey Semler
Activities Coordinator
Moving on from CAC before the winter break?
Please use the link below to let us know if you are withdrawing from CAC at the end of this semester. Please note that middle school report cards and the final high school transcript which includes this semester’s grades will not be available until mid-January 2025.
https://cacegypt.org/index.php/withdrawal-request
A few days before your departure, a withdrawal form that includes several signatures must also be completed by middle and high school students in order to clear any outstanding obligations, and turned in to the Admission/Registrar‘s Office to release records.
Registrar’s office
The Used Book Sale is back! November 24th-27th.
Starting November 24th, the MHS Library will be hosting a Used Book Sale. All books are 25LE. If you have any books that are in good condition that you want to donate to the sale, we are happy to take them! Proceeds from this year’s Sale will be donated to charity.
Volunteers Needed: The MHS Library is looking for parent or student volunteers to help with the Used Book Sale. If you are interested, please contact Meghan Ennis (mennis@cacegypt.org). Thank you!
Meghan Ennis
MS/HS Teacher Librarian
ES-CCA After-School Activities
We are incredibly proud to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of our high school students to the Elementary School Co-Curricular Activities Program. These remarkable individuals have gone above and beyond, sharing their time, energy, and expertise to enrich the experiences of our younger students.
Their dedication and willingness to support and mentor the next generation reflect the values we strive to instill in our school community. We are so lucky to have such inspiring role models who exemplify leadership, generosity, and a commitment to making a difference.
Thank you to all our high school contributors for showing that learning and growth are truly a two-way street. You remind us all of the power of giving back and how much we can achieve together!
Mahmoud Abdel Fattah
ES Activities Coordinator
The ES Toy Drive
November 24 – December 16
The Red Donation boxes
Facilitated by the ES Agents of Change to support the Health and Hope Oasis (H&HO). This is the first supportive care center providing and promoting nutritional, physical, and emotional well-being for children and their families in an environmentally healthy and safe setup. The H&HO is located in Wadi El Natrun on Cairo-Alex Desert Road. It serves low-income families providing their services completely FREE of charge. Our goal is to provide these children with 500 amazing gift bags!
Gifts Criteria! (All must be new or in excellent condition!)
• Toys, such as dolls, cars, legos, soft toys etc,…
• Coloring or craft books, stickers, etc,…
• Winter Warmers such as scarves, socks, small blankets, etc,…
• Individual Milk or Juice bottles
• Chocolate & candies are not welcomed for hygiene purposes
• Backpacks
• Bikes, scooters, and tricycles are welcome to be donated to the H & HO Bike’s Track
More details can be found in the ES Announcement
If you have any questions please contact the service-learning office:
Ms. Ereeny Gawdat
Service & CAS Coordinator
egergess@cacegypt.org
The Annual General Services Staff (GSS) Appreciation Lunch
The GSS Appreciation Lunch has been a CAC tradition since 2013 where the entire CAC community comes together to show appreciation for our hard-working GSS teams. These teams are the: security guards, janitors, gardeners, bus monitors, drivers, car washers, electricians, painters & carpenters. A total of 180 members. Without their hard work and dedication, CAC wouldn’t be the same! On that day, we organize the packing of delivered meals relying on the generous contributions of the CAC community.
Our annual GSS Appreciation Lunch is a chance to thank these essential team members and their families. We need your help to make it special. A well-priced meal costs around 1,200 EGP, but contributions of any amount and in any currency are greatly appreciated. Last year, your generosity was overwhelming, and with rising prices, we hope to make an even bigger impact this year. You can contribute in cash or use Instapay, Venmo, or Zelle.
For specific details, please refer to the flyer.
Thank you for your kindness and support in recognizing those who do so much for our community!
Contact: cacpto@cacegypt.org, egergess@cacegypt.org
Ereeny Gawdat
PreK-12 Service Learning & CAS Coordinator
Girls Get Stronger
This is an extended invitation to this year’s Girls Get Stronger event at CAC!
Since 2016 Cairo American College has hosted an annual health and fitness conference, Girls Get Stronger, where community-led workshops and fitness activities inspire girls to be socially, emotionally, and physically healthy. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, and again last year, we welcomed more than 250 students from the Egypt community to join us for a day of empowering activities.
On January 17, 2025, Girls Get Stronger will host its annual health and fitness conference.
The theme of this year’s event is The Queens Call Checkmate!
We are excited to be once again able to invite girls and young women from other schools to join us.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: January 17, 2025
Time: 8 am – 2 pm
Location: Cairo American College (Maadi, Egypt)
Grade Level: 5th-12th Grade
Cost: 800 LE* (includes lunch, snacks, and hoodie) – Payments are due by December 1st.
Participant Sign-up link: https://forms.gle/HsDTAuZoBfCeXo39A
If you would like to run a workshop or an activity for the event, please sign-up, before November 25th, via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGIfFfGH4PQvt5nh_j5eTO2ja_jC6k9hru6ve-CpxpWKkXwA/viewform
*Girls Get Stronger is a not-for-profit event. All activities are led by community members volunteering their own time.
CAC’s 80th Anniversary Winter Bazaar!
Tickets go live today, November 18th, at the Spirit Store! Secure your spot for this Magical Holiday Celebration!
Join us on Friday, December 6th, from 12 PM to 8 PM for a day filled with: Exciting Activities Fabulous Shopping Festive Entertainment Holiday Cheer for All Ages
Experience the season’s magic and make unforgettable memories with family and friends at this spectacular event.
Ticket Prices:
CAC ID Card Holder Adult: 300 EGP
CAC Students and Alumni Kids: 200 EGP
Non-CAC Adult (19+): 500 EGP
Non-CAC Child (3-18): 300 EGP
Spirit Store Hours: 7:45-10am, 11-12:30pm, and 2:30-4pm.
Grab your tickets today and let the festivities begin!
Sarah Nasr
Community Relations
Maadi Little League Baseball (MLLB) Season
PLAY BALL! Registration for the 2025 Maadi Little League Baseball (MLLB) season is now open. The 2025 season will run from February 16 to May 31, 2025.
MLLB is a youth recreational baseball league for boys and girls. MLLB is aiming to have four divisions this season. T-ball for ages 5-6, Coach-Pitch for ages 7-9, and Player-Pitch for ages 10-12, as well as re-introducing our Seniors Division for ages 13-16. Practices will be held at 5pm on weeknights and games will be played on Saturday mornings in Maadi. The three younger divisions play games on the CAC
campus, while the Seniors Division will play games at The Field.
REGISTER NOW ONLINE! For full details on the 2025 MLLB season and registration, click here: MLLB 2025.
CALLING ALL PARENTS! MLLB relies on the community and player families for its success. MLLB is currently recruiting for a range of roles, including head and assistant coaches, team parents, and league organizers to serve on the Board. Whether you’re a “baseball person” or not, MLLB has a role for you.
For more information on registering your player for the upcoming season, supporting MLLB as a parent, or paying your player fee, please contact MLLB Commissioner Pete Ilick at psilick1960@gmail.com.
Please help MLLB spread the word and forward this announcement to interested friends, families, and colleagues.
Nermeen Hamed
Activities & Athletics Office