CAC High School Principal’s Notes
Welcome to the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, and to the inaugural edition of this year’s Highro-Glyphics weekly newsletter. I will be sending a newsletter every week on Thursday highlighting campus events, showcasing learning and celebrating the full life of the high school. Thank you for taking the time to read.
The year has started off on a positive note, and the sense of energy from the initial days on campus is still palpable. The return of students with refreshed faces after the break is a wonderful sight. Over the next few days, the academic routines will fall into place, with students having attended all their classes, met their teachers, and gotten a grasp of what their courses will entail for the upcoming year (or two years for the IB students). Add/Drop is in progress and we anticipate all student schedules settling down next week.
New Families Orientation
We are happy to welcome more than 60 new families to our community this year bringing our student numbers in the high school above 400! Our enthusiastic Student Ambassadors extended warm CAC greetings to the new arrivals, first during the New Family Orientation on Monday and on through the first few days of school. The orientation on Monday was a nice opportunity to connect with new families and extend our community’s welcome. The returning CAC students and other members of the community are all working collaboratively to make our newcomers feel at ease.
I’d like to extend a warm welcome also to our new faculty members who have joined the HS team. I am pleased to introduce 12 new accomplished and dedicated educators hailing from various parts of the world:
Ms. Megan Berkle – Science / Biology
Mr. Philippe Saratsiotis – Math
Mr. Paul Skadsen – Math
Mr. Josh Henderson – English
Ms. Rebecca Daley – English
Dr. Noah Billig – Social Studies
Mr. Anthony Loveday – Social Studies
Mme. Dalal El Madade – French
Ms. Maia Bassett – Digital Arts / Yearbook
Ms. Mirian Kotzikas – English Language Learning
Ms. Staci Petrich – Counseling
Dr. Theron Mott – Dir. of Teaching and Learning
Mobile Device Expectations for 24-25
We are introducing new mobile device expectations in the high school this year to support our students’ academic success and well-being. Research has consistently shown that unrestricted use of mobile devices in schools can significantly hinder focus, reduce academic performance, and negatively impact students’ mental and emotional health. As such, we are limiting device use during the school day. Specifically, no mobile devices may be used in the classrooms during learning times. Devices will need to be stored in students’ bags or in the storage space provided in every classroom.
By limiting device use in this way, we aim to foster a learning environment that prioritizes education and encourages meaningful interactions. We ask for your support in reinforcing these expectations at home by discussing the policy with your child and avoiding non-urgent communication during school hours. In case of emergencies, please contact the school office directly rather than calling / texting your child.
Together, we can help create a focused and productive learning atmosphere where all students can thrive. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Week Without Walls Updates
WWW is just 8 weeks away! Soon the course teachers will be in touch with more information. Here are a few reminders and upcoming dates to remember:
• Visa Letter Requests by Sept 1st – send Visa documentation requirements via email to Mr. Semler, cacwww@cacegypt.org. Families are responsible for applying for visas themselves. The application should be submitted/accepted in the relevant embassy/immigration office for processing by September 1 at the latest.
• Check Skyward for WWW Registration – If there is no placement indicated for WWW in your child’s schedule, please email Assistant Principal Ms. McCall directly: rmccall@cacegypt.org. All students in high school must be enrolled in WWW.
• September 15 – deadline for final payment for WWW. For balance information and payment details, please contact the Finance Office.
• Waiting Lists – The waiting lists for international courses will remain open until September 15. Students who wish to inquire about their status, should email Ms. McCall.
Andrew Buckman Rachel McCall
HS Principal HS Assistant Principal
Counseling Department Announcements
Week of August 22, 2024
Seniors/Class of 2025! Save the Date- Senior College Night. Tuesday, Sept. 10th. Details coming soon.
Schedule change requests: If you have a schedule change request, you can fill out the schedule change request form starting Aug. 21 through the 27. No changes are guaranteed as many classes are full. Follow your current schedule until you hear back from your counselor.
ACT test information:
Registration opens mid-June for the 2024-25 ACT test. Below are the dates and times CAC will hold a test on campus. Please reserve your spot now.
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 8am (full at CAC)
Saturday, October 26th, 2024, 8 am
Saturday, December 14th, 2024, 8 am
Saturday, February 8th, 2025, 8 am
Saturday, April 5th, 2025, 8 am
Saturday, June 14th, 2025, 8 am
Registration details here.
*Be sure your ID matches the name you register with or you may not be permitted to enter the test
Claudia Bean, Staci Petrich, Jody Stiles
HS Counseling
General Announcements
From the Library
Return all overdue books!
We hope you had a great summer of reading! If you still have books from last school year or summer checkouts, please return them!
New Books have arrived!
Come check out our new books on display and ready for check out at the MHS library!
Meghan Ennis
MS/HS Teacher Librarian
From the Aquatics
The Athletics and Activities Fair will take place August 25, 2024. Please use this link for more information:
Aquatics Office
From the PTO
What a week! We hope you’ve had more highs than lows in this first week of school!
We are delighted to invite both new and returning parents to a relaxed and informal Coffee Morning. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents, meet the PTO team, and learn more about our upcoming events. We hope you can join us for a cup of coffee and some light refreshments. It’s a great chance to get to know each other better and discuss the exciting year ahead. We look forward to seeing you there!
CAC PTO