Messages from the Secondary Principal

Dear Parents, It was nice to see so many of you at the Academic Excellence awards ceremony last week. Students who earned Honor Roll status during the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year gathered in the Theater to be recognized and receive certificates. We believe it is important to recognize and encourage high grades as this is one way that colleges and universities evaluate potential for post-secondary success.  However, grades are only one indicator of success. One of the hallmarks of our program is our celebration of differences and encouragement of individuality throughout our school community. Each of our students has unique interests and aptitudes, and we strive to encourage and develop growth in a variety of ways. While some students are captivated by scientific discovery or logical reasoning, others may be passionate about artistic exploration, creative design, or dramatic exhibition. Our holistic approach to learning embraces a wide range of qualities and interes...

Dear Parents, It was great to see so many of you last week at Back-to-School Night. Effective learning is the result of a strong partnership between teachers, students, and parents. Your commitment and support for your child's learning is critical, and getting to know their teachers is an important first step. As the year progresses, please contact teachers directly with any specific questions about your child's learning needs, assignments, or classroom activities. Thank you for your efforts to develop that partnership and thank you in advance for your commitment throughout the coming year. Regular attendance at school also is important for learning. Please plan appointments and trips around the school calendar. While it is possible for some work to be made up, important learning happens in the classroom every day, and that in-class learning cannot be made up. If an absence is unavoidable, be sure that your child is in contact with his or her teachers and monitors class progres...

Dear parents, We have reached the end of our first week of the 2023-2024 school year! I am very happy to have joined the ACS Secondary School team as Principal and look forward to an exciting year. Having served as a leader in schools in Colombia, Morocco, China, and back home in Washington State, I am honored to have been asked to serve the school here in La Paz. My wife, Diane, will be joining me soon, and we hope to have visits from our adult children, both of whom live in California. The ACS community has been very welcoming as I adjust to life here, and I look forward to getting to know our students and becoming involved in school life. I would like to invite all of you to Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, 15 August, at 5:00 pm. Our teachers look forward to meeting you and answering your questions about what the students can expect this year. Parents are critical partners in learning, so it is important that you know your child's teachers and how to get accurate information abo...