Week of 26 August--First Week! :)

Good Evening,

I hope you are all looking forward to tomorrow as much as I am.

The teachers have done an incredible job getting the classrooms ready and meeting with each other to plan high interest, challenging lessons for the students. In a nutshell, WE ARE READY TO GET STARTED!

It was great to see all of the new families today...thanks to all of you for attending our orientation. Our lines of communication are important and today was the first step in that process.

Notes are brief this week as the goal is to get the students settled and organized into a new school year. We will spend this week getting to know each other, ensuring various accounts are working properly, and establishing some basic routines.

The two most important items to bring tomorrow....

Please send your son/daughter to school tomorrow with their laptop--charged up and ready to go along with a positive, hopeful outlook.

Please send money with them so they can purchase food!

Students will report to Advisory straight away in the morning where they will receive updated schedules, locker assignments, and enjoy catching up with friends.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. In the above links you will find information on the daily student schedule, important dates for this school year, and important contact information.

Enjoy your evening and we look forward to seeing your son/daughter at school. Thank you again for sending your child to ACS....we consider it a privilege to be a part of their young lives.

Rhonda Isley
MS Principal
risley@acsamman.edu.jo

Welcome to the 2013-2014 School Year

Welcome to another new school year at ACS. I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing summer and enjoyed time spent with family and friends.

I would especially like to welcome all of our new families, our Grade 6 families, and all of our new MS teachers. This year marks a year of transition for all of you and we will do our best to ensure the transition for your son/daughter is a positive experience.

Throughout the school year I will post to this blog every Sunday evening. This blog is designed to help keep you, as parents, informed of the "happenings" in middle school during the school year. I welcome any requests for other types of information you would find helpful to be posted on a regular basis.

I attempt to keep the postings brief and user friendly but I do sometimes get a bit long-winded.....as I recognize I am beginning to do now! So.......to the important info to help everyone get started this year:

• New Family Registration is Thursday, 22 August from 9-12 and 1-4.
• New Student/Parent Orientation is Sunday, 25 August from 8:30-10:30
• First day of school is August 26. School begins at 8:00, students should arrive by 7:50.

Day 1

Students should bring their laptops(fully charged) with them and report to their advisory teacher upon arrival. Advisory lists will be posted at the front gate, at the bus drop off area in the back of the school, and on the 4th floor. Once attendance has been taken, students will receive their lockers and locks, check to see that their laptops are able to log onto the school network and have a brief welcome prior to starting their regular school day. 

Teachers will be sharing with students course content for the year and providing information on any necessary/specialty supplies (beyond traditional paper/pencil, etc.) that will be needed. 

Special Notes of Interest:

• Students will NOT be allowed to carry their backpacks all day. We recommend a sleeve or some type of computer case, possibly a messenger bag, but backpacks must be stored in lockers throughout the school day. (this is a change from past practice)
• Schedule change requests will begin on September 1. Schedules for all new students will be completed prior to addressing change requests for returning students. Students will receive more information regarding this on the first day of school.
• After School Activities will begin in mid-September. Students will receive information regarding the sign up process and offerings in early September.
• Methods of communication in order to stay informed about your son/daughter's progress include:

1. Emailing teacher (first initial last name@acsamman.edu.jo) *a teacher contact list will be included in this blog on the Contact page once all teacher email accounts have been established.
2. Power School (dates for required teacher updates will be posted throughout the school year)
3. Moodle (teachers will update information about assignments and class work on a weekly basis)
4. Contacting the MS office @ 06 581 3944

Enjoy your evening and I am looking forward to communicating with you this year. 

Rhonda Isley

MS Principal

risley@acsamman.edu.jo