From the Secondary Principal

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 these events are private and not under the direction nor control of the school, we want to express clearly that ACS does not support nor condone the serving of alcohol to underage students under any circumstances. In addition to underage consumption being illegal, research has identified numerous dangers to developing brains caused by alcohol consumption. An example of such research is available here: https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2022/05/001.html


Please monitor your child’s activities closely and make decisions about their attendance at social gatherings with caution. Private events for students where alcohol is served may be portrayed as “traditional,” but attendance is not expected nor encouraged. Under no circumstances should a parent feel compelled to allow their child to attend a social gathering if they are unsure about their child’s safety. Concerned parents are encouraged to organize alternative events or activities that are fun and that allow for monitoring and oversight. 


For more information and guidance about the risks and dangers of underage alcohol consumption, this site may be helpful: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From the Secondary Principal

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...
Read more

From the Secondary Principal

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...
Read more

Augeri Welcome Message

Dear ACS Community, My name is Steve Augeri, and I am pleased to be joining the community as the interim Secondary School Principal for the remainder of this academic year. Just a bit about me:  My wife, Tiffany, and I are originally from Connecticut and have been international educators for the last 19 years.  We both cut our teeth as secondary social studies teachers for several years in Connecticut and Virginia before making the momentous decision to join the international teaching ranks way back in 2004.  In that year, we took up teaching posts at the American International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and life, as they say, has never been quite the same.  Following 4 years in Dhaka, we accepted teaching positions at Dubai American Academy, where I also served as the head of the social studies team. In 2009, I made the transition out of the classroom and into school leadership at the American International School of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I served as the Dir...
Read more