Messages from the Secondary Principal

Dear parents, Presentations of Learning There are now less than two full weeks to go in this school year! Students are busily completing final projects and preparing for presentations for learning, some of which already started last week. We appreciate your efforts to make sure that students are at school every day so that they can finish the year well! Course Schedules As was shared at last Friday's parent presentation, students' requests for next year's courses are now being used to build schedules. Students will receive their course schedules in late July or early August, and will have an opportunity to meet with our counselor before school starts if changes are needed. Summer Reading With the exception of some AP classes, students will not be assigned class work to do over the break. However, it is important that students stay engaged in learning, and one of the best ways to do this is to keep reading! Students are welcome to check out books from our library to read ove...

Dear parents, With only a few weeks to go in the school year, students are busily preparing for end-of-year presentations of learning. Although it will look different in each class, these presentations and projects are an important way for students to pull together their learning in a meaningful way. Presentations of learning, project completion, and some exams will occur during the last days of school, including Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4. Please be sure that your child is at school and ready to learn every day until our last day of the year, Wednesday, June 5. This time of year is always busy, with performances and activities celebrating the end of a productive year. Unfortunately, due to some logistical complications, HS Prom, originally scheduled for this Friday, has been canceled. Our student leaders hope to improve and bring this event back next year. However, we are excited to be sending off our seniors during our Senior Farewell event next Wednesday, and are busy planni...

Dear Parents, Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You As many of you know, last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Many of you contributed food and other items to thank our teachers for their commitment and dedication to their students. On behalf of our teaching team, please accept a genuine thank you for your kindness and generosity. Effective learning for our students requires a partnership with parents, and we are grateful for your support in our efforts. We return our appreciation back to you! Classroom Without Walls Thank you to all those who responded to the Experiential Learning/CWW interest survey. The committee met again last week to review progress and continue planning, and reaffirmed that CWW will continue next year - no plans to cancel CWW or remove trips were made. Instead, the focus has been on providing choices where possible, including offering engaging learning opportunities for those unable to travel. In Middle School, trips to Isla del Sol, Senda Verde, and Sucre &...

Dear Parents, This is a busy and stressful time for many of us. Middle School students are finishing up MAP testing, and many High School students will take AP exams over the next two weeks. To help students do well on these important assessments, be sure that they get plenty of rest and eat healthy meals. Our students have worked hard to get to this point and we want them to feel prepared and able to do their absolute best! As we near the end of the year, students are starting to pull together their learning for final projects and presentations. Please help them be successful by ensuring that they arrive at school on time every day. Students should arrive at school no later than 8:10 to be in class on time. All teachers will be providing critical learning opportunities right up until the last full day of school (Tuesday, June 4), and being absent or late to class makes it difficult for them to make good use of their time.  Be sure to mark your calendars for two student performance...

Dear parents, As you know, a group of parents and teachers have been working to expand the current Classroom Without Walls model in an effort to incorporate: A focus on meaningful, experiential learning Increased student choice Increased student engagement Community involvement Based on the group's input, teachers are now in the process of developing 3-6 day learning experiences that incorporate these factors. Current proposals include both travel and non-travel learning options from which students (and parents) will be able to choose. Before we proceed further with the proposals, your input is needed. Please respond to one or both of these surveys based on your child's grade level for the 2024-2025 school year. For families with multiple children, please complete one survey for each child. The purpose of the survey is only to indicate interest; choices are not binding at this point. Middle School CWW Parent Interest Survey High School CWW Parent Interest Survey End-of-Year Eve...

Dear parents, Last Friday ACS celebrated Earth Day. After lunch students joined together in the courtyard to meet with representatives from local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and learn about initiatives addressing some of the needs in our community. Some students may build on these new connections to help them develop community service projects focused on their interests. Students also enjoyed live musical performances from their peers. It was a worthwhile event that helped build awareness of local efforts to resolve some of our most challenging social and environmental issues. As is the case in every school, as we near the end of the academic year, many students and families plan celebrations and social gatherings. These celebrations are well-deserved, important opportunities to recognize the completion of a successful year or to prepare for a transition to the next step. We are aware that some of these events include the consumption of alcohol by underage students. While the...