Middle School Principal’s Letter
Dear Parents,
Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s version of the News and Views. It was another terrific week of teaching, learning, and having fun in the middle school.
I want to congratulate the PTO on a successful International Festival. This event brings together our community to celebrate our differences. The festival seems to grow each year due to our families and volunteers who enjoy showcasing their cultures.
Kudos! To Mr. Kasal for leading the way as an MC. It isn’t an easy task, but he makes it look easy. I also wish to thank Ms. Nibal and the janitorial staff for their efforts with the setup and clean up of the campus after the event.
Once again, Ms. Badr and Ms.Genidy are helping their students reach their creative heights in the Mixed Media and General classes.
We held our first Career Fair today, which was a huge success. This event was only possible due to the commitment of parents who volunteered their time to give back to our school community. We extend our deepest gratitude to the presenters who took the time to share their knowledge, experiences, and career journeys with us. We hope our students will take the steps to start preparing for their future. Success is built on learning, persistence, and the willingness to explore new opportunities. Bravo to Ms. Spencer for coming up with the idea, and with Mr. Miller’s help, they collaborated and made it seamless for the students and presenters involved.
Our Middle School readers put their literary knowledge to the test in this year’s Battle of the Books! Over the past few months, students read six incredible books—History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People, A Single Shard, Wingbearer, A Wish in the Dark, Attack of the Black Rectangles, and More to the Story—and competed in teams to answer challenging questions about them.
We started with 20 teams, battling through four exciting rounds until only four remained: Bippity Bobbity Books, Got Any Grapes? The Boomers, and The Musical Books. In a nail-biting final match, The Musical Books emerged victorious! Congratulations to team members Aurelia Yuan, Aura Colmenares, Olivia Tanner, and Tianying Zhao for their impressive book knowledge and teamwork!
Up next in the library—our author visit with Hena Khan in April! To prepare, students can participate in the Hena Khan Reading Challenge by diving into her books. Let’s keep the reading excitement going!
Thank you for your continued support of the Middle School.
In Partnership,
Courtney Bailey
The Middle School Principal
Announcements
Spirit Week is Next Week! (Sunday, February 23 – Thursday, February 27)
Check out the Spirit Week 2025 Schedule and Spirit Week Presentation to see the dress-up themes and activities for each day.
Remember to practice Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, and good sportsmanship.
Dress code expectations apply to the dress-up day outfits. Let’s show our school spirit, have fun and win some awesome prizes!
Fundraising and Activity Competitions during Spirit Week:
1. There are TWO ways to contribute donations and compete for points:
- Cash Donations to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza: Our goal is to reach 30,000 LE to be able to contribute to an NGO that helps contribute to supplying food.
This is a grade-level challenge. - Ramadan Food donations for our GSS: Our CAC goal is to collect enough items to make 180 Ramadan Boxes. This year we are collecting 1 liter bottles of vegetable oil from all grade levels. Please bring in your donation each morning to your advisory for a final count. The winning advisory across each grade level will receive a special prize. The winning grade level will receive added points to overall grade-level competition.
8th Grade – oil
7th Grade – oil
6th Grade – oil
2. Sunday, Monday & Wednesday – Lunchtime Advisory Competitions: Advisories will rotate through each activity daily during lunch.
The winning advisory will receive Krispy Kreme Donuts.
Basketball Shootout
World Knowledge Challenge
Tricycle Relay
3. Thursday Morning Challenge and Thursday Afternoon Assembly– Grade Level Competitions: Students will sign-up during advisory for the preferred challenge during Thursday’s extended advisory and if they want to participate in the assembly on Thursday afternoon. Be sure to pick something that you can earn points for your grade!
Over 16 challenges and competitions to earn points – sign-up during advisory
Opportunities to earn individual prizes in each competition (King and Queens) and most spirited!
Thursday’s final Assembly will have several performance challenges and announcement of winners – sign-up during advisory
Call for Parent Participants
As shared in the Board’s winter email, we officially launched a new strategic planning cycle in November.
Strategic planning is essential not only for aligning the school’s vision with its long-term goals but also for ensuring that resources, curriculum, and community engagement are effectively utilized to provide the best educational experience for students.
We are grateful to the faculty, staff, parents, students and Board members who have already met with our strategic planning consultant, Dr. Alex Wiseman.
In order to get more community feedback, we are seeking four parent volunteers to attend the following planning sessions: Academic Excellence, Faculty and Staff Excellence, Financial Excellence, and Facility Excellence. The time commitment is two hours over the course of two weeks. Additional information will be given upon selection. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to our Board secretary, Nawal Gamal, at ngamal@cacegypt.org by Sunday, February 23.
Arabian Nights
This year’s HS production
February 20th @ 6.00
February 21st @ 2pm.
It’s the wedding night in the palace of King Shahrayar.
By morning, the new queen, Shahrazad, is to be put to death like a thousand and one young brides before her. But, Shahrazad has the one gift that can save her: the gift of storytelling.
With a mischievous imagination and silver tongue, she begins to paint a dazzling array of stories and characters, summoned forth from strange and magical worlds populated by giant snakes, bloodthirsty thieves and cunning maids.
Can the power of storytelling save her life?
The talented HS Theatre ensemble have taken on this challenging and imaginative story for you to enjoy. Join us to witness the stage version of this well known work- Alf Layla w Layla
Tickets on sale from the HS office, 300 EGP.
****Running time approx 2 hours minutes including a 15 minute interval****
****Please note- strobe lights, loud noises and references to violence are used during the show****
****Suitable for MS and up****
From Fresh& Co.
Varsity Dance Festival
Finance Workshop for MS Parents
Mounir Nakhla will be speaking about his financial experiences and journey to success.
Register now to reserve your spot on Tuesday, February 25, 5-6pm in MS Room 116.
Three Cheers
Three Cheers to Ms. Spencer and Mr. Miller for a successful Career Day Fair.
Three Cheers to all the parents who have volunteered to share their expertise with our students on Career Day.
Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.
Three Cheers to our grade six students for the fundraiser they are doing.
Three Cheers to Ms. Fides, Ms. Genidy, Ms. Torky, and our STUCO students for planning Spirit Week.
Three Cheers to Ms. Amira Youssef for the training on AI Magic School for students.
Three Cheers to Ms. Ennis for organizing the Battle of the Books.
Three Cheers to Ms. Spencer and Mr. Fadi El Duweini for presenting to the rising sixth-grade parents on course selections.