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

Week of 16 June

Good Evening,

Our last MS Missives for this year I am sorry to say. Thank you for your efforts to read this blog each week. I know I sometimes like to ramble.....I will work on that along with "tweaking" the blog a bit to make information more readily accessible.

Thank Yous:

• to Gr 8 students who organized the Memory Night. Emcees, DJs, and Slide Show folks...well done. 
• to MS students who helped out with the ES Field Days. It was a proud moment when so many of the ES teachers were commenting how impressed they were with the MS students. I wanted to say, "well of course they are impressive, they are MS students!" 

Updates:

• Today's Dead Sea trip was quite the success. I understand the food was plentiful and tasty. I also understand our students represented ACS quite well! 
• MAP information was sent home with students last week. If you did not receive it, check the bottom of the backpack....if still missing, let us know. 
• Students are completing their check out forms today and tomorrow. If you see any library books or textbooks around your house, please remind your son/daughter to return them. 
• Reminder: report cards will be sent via email on Wednesday morning. The format will be a bit different as we focused on providing summer suggestions for each class in preparation for next school year.
• At our Awards assembly this week, along with recognizing Presidential Physical Fitness awards and Honor Roll awards, we will introduce some new awards. They are described as follows:

1. Sadiqi/Sadiqti Award:

One boy and one girl from each grade level who demonstrates kindness, compassion, willingness to help others, is a good group member, friendly to others. This would be voted on by the students.

2. Recognition of Student Profile Traits: 

Respect/Integrity

• Students who act with integrity and respect the dignity of individuals and groups. Who take responsibility for their own actions and are aware of how their actions impact others

Global Awareness 

• Students who appreciate their own culture and the values and traditions of others. Who are committed to acting in ways that make a difference in the lives of others and to the environment

Reflective Thinker

• Students who give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experiences. Who proactively address problems, set goals, and take intellectual risks

Critical/Analytical Thinker 

• Students who exercise initiative in applying thinking skills to recognize and approach complex problems and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Creator/Innovator 

• Students who possess intellectual curiosity that enables them to demonstrate innovation. Who face new situations with openness and flexibility.

Communicator/Collaborator 

• Students who confidently express ideas in a variety of ways, often in more than one language. Who work effectively with others to solve problems and achieve common goals.

3. Bridge Award

Two students, from different nationalities, who bring others together in a positive way. These are students who welcome diversity, are accepting of others, acts as a bridge builder or uniter of different groups.

Heads Up on Purchases for Next Year

In an effort to "tidy up" our classrooms AND prevent back pain of our students, next year we will not allow backpacks to be carried around all day from class to class. Students will still be able to use a backpack to and from school but not carry them packed full all day. 

For example, we are trying to avoid:

this creates too many obstacles in the classroom 
                                                                                                         

too many bags for one back! 

 
     laptops on floors scare us-they are easily stepped on 


And are trying to encourage:

stylish, manageable, and better for the back! 

Thank you again for all of your support this year. I cannot wait for next year to start!

Please have safe travels this summer and we will see you on the first day of school:

MONDAY, 26 August

Rhonda Isley

MS Principal

risley@acsamman.edu.jo

Week of 9 June

Good Evening,

Before things get lost in the end of year "hub bub" let me take this opportunity to thank you as the MS parent community. You have been incredibly patient and kind to me this year as I transitioned into ACS  and I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed my first year here. You have been a welcoming community and it has been thoroughly enjoyable working with your sons/daughters each day. I am thankful for the opportunity to be at ACS.

Thank You:

• to our Gr 6 Student Panel who spent time with the Gr 5 students on their Fly Up day. The Gr 6 students were patient and informative with all questions the Gr 5 students had for them. 
• to all those who put themselves out there for Student Council office. Elections were held last week and our new StuCo Officers for 2013-2014 are:

President-Marwan Abdelhamid

Vice President-Amin Al Khaleel

Secretary-Nasser Alami

Treasurer-Hamzeh Zubi

Updates:

• A message from two Gr 8 students:

Dear Parents,

My friend and I are hosting a movie night in the hopes to cut down on obesity rates. We will be hosting it on Tuesday free of charge. It will last past the 4:30 bus so if your children wish to stay longer they will need a ride home. I hope to see as many kids as possible.

Sincerely, Travis and Declan

• Dead Sea end of year trips to the Holiday Inn Resort payments  are due on June 12 to the Business Office. This is to facilitate an accurate number of participants for the buffet lunch. A reminder, trip dates are as follows:
• June 16-Grade 6
• June 17-Grade 7
• June 18-Grade 8
• June 12 students will receive their check out forms. These forms are necessary for each student to complete an official check out process of returning books, etc. so we can ensure e-report cards are sent in a timely manner. Forms are due no later than 17 June. 
• Grade 8 Memory Night is June 12 from 6:00-8:00. Gr 8 students have organized their evening and have voted to have a casual picnic style atmosphere. Students will emcee the evening, organize the music and pizza. Each student will take a moment to share their thoughts, memories of their time in middle school. 
• e-Report cards for quarter 4 will be sent on June 19. The format of the reports will focus on providing you with information on summer suggestions to help your son/daughter prepare for classes they will take next year. It is our hope these suggestions will help the learning process continue throughout the summer. 

Next week will be the last blog posting for this school year. I will be sending a survey requesting feedback on various areas of our MS program to give me food for thought throughout the summer. This will help with making plans for next school year. Your time for feedback will be greatly appreciated. 

I will also post any relevant information for the following school year to help you with summer "to do" lists. 

Enjoy your evening, 

Rhonda Isley

risley@acsamman.edu.jo

Week of June 2

Good Evening,

Again, I cannot believe it is now officially June! We will do our best to maintain a sane amount of balance for you and your children as we bring this school year to a close.

Thank Yous:

• to students and teachers who participated in all of the evening events last week. Lots of confident smiles as students had an opportunity to demonstrate their learning progress this year. 
• to all the Gr 8 students who are finishing up their GBD projects in these last couple of weeks. They are doing a good job of raising awareness levels among their peers on a variety of issues. 
• to the MS students who are responding to our requests for making our day to day environment a positive, kind environment. We are all doing our best to keep each other mindful.

Updates:

• Grade 8 students received their Naviance account information on Thursday. Please ask them about accounts and we encourage you to look at the site with your sons/daughters during the summer. This is a helpful site as our Gr 8 students look towards college planning.
• Grade 8 students are in the process of organizing and planning their Memory Night activities. Parents are invited to this evening event. Please check within the text of this email to find the time and location of the event. 
• ALL students will receive check out forms on 12 June. Students are required to seek signatures from each teacher to indicate all resources have been returned. All resources must be returned in order for students to receive end of year report cards through Power School.
• MAP results will be shared with students during advisory next week so they may reflect on their own learning progress. Once that reflection has taken place, students will bring home their results. 
• Report Cards will contain suggested websites and activities from each teacher for students to peruse during the summer in preparation for next school year. 
• End of Year grade level day trips. This is the time of year when many students are making transitions to far away places and many students are going through the need to say good bye to friends. We are working to provide a day for each grade level to have an opportunity to say their good byes and facilitate the emotions of transition through an end of year field trip. As the information becomes available I will send the details. As of now, the plans are in the tentative planning phase. 

Of Special Note:

Let the construction begin!Over the weekend safety walls went up in the back parking lot around the construction site for this summer's big project. There will be 6 classrooms added above the PK1 and Pk2 classrooms.  Support pillars will be placed  in what is now the bus parking lot. In order to complete the work over the summer holidays, the first steps must be taken now. 

For the final weeks of school, bus riders will be dropped at the back of the current bus lot.   Students will walk a bit further to get into the main building and the path will lead along the school wall. There will not be any cars or buses in this area.  The wall that is being built will shield children from the construction area. Please let your son/daughter know about this change, and encourage them to help our younger students find their way.

Thank you for your patience with my rather lengthy blogs of late. It all seems to be important information, but I know it can be overwhelming and easy to miss the details. We will all get through these last few weeks in one piece........let's all just hang in there!

Enjoy your evening, 

Rhonda Isley

MS Principal

risley@acsamman.edu.jo 

Week of 26 May

Good Evening,

It is official, we are now into the last month of the school year. That thought causes me incredible stress...I really do not want it to be over...but I do not think I will be able to convince anyone to stay longer. So, I will do my best to be as inclusive as possible with what is going on in this last month so we can all attempt to get through this last month feeling like we are "on top of things."

Thank You:

• to the time and energy of the Gr 8 teachers while on the Adventure Jordan trip with the Gr 8 students. I huge commitment and responsibility but the experiences of the students are well worth it...life time memories, indeed.
• to a group of Gr 7 students who enthusiastically demonstrated a wonderful act of kindness today by placing post-it notes expressing words of kindness on every locker in the middle school. Gave us all a nice feel of positive energy as we walked down the hall today. 

Updates:
Gr 6 parents---ask your son/daughter about today's toothpaste activity during advisory
Gr 7 parents---ask your son/daughter about tomorrow's toothpaste activity that will take place during advisory

We are continuously working with the students to understand the importance of respecting peers AND nationalities of their peers when interacting with each other. We have seen an increase in negative comments amongst students relating to nationalities. This is not a part of our student profile and not what ACS is about.

Any support you can provide at home in reminding students what a fortunate opportunity it is to  interact with a diverse group of peers each and every day would be appreciated. Our students are our future leaders who will unite us all in the coming years......they need our guidance, you as parents-us a educators, right now to be mindful of this purpose. This is something too valuable to let it slip away.

MUN students will sponsor a bake sale in support of raising awareness towards child soldiers. Just wanted to let you know in case you hear that dreaded phrase at 10:00 pm the night before..."mom, can you bake cupcakes for the bake sale tomorrow!"

GBD Movie Night
Dear Parent,

Maddy, Mikayla and Farzona of 8th grade would like to host a movie night after school on Wednesday this week (the 29th) for their GBD Project where they need to make a difference towards depression. 

The movie is Cyberbully about a girl who becomes depressed after being cyberbullied. It is rated as PG-13 due to some language use. 

It is in Mr. Spensley's room on the fourth floor and starts from 3:10 and will end at 5:10. Parents will need to pick their children up or organize a ride home for them with another student. 

To watch the movie, the students will need to give one JD to either their advisor or to Maddy, Mikayla or Farzona and it will cover the pizza and drinks that will be provided and handmade bracelets that will show their support towards depression. They should give us the JD by Wednesday morning if they would like to watch the movie.

This movie night is to spread awareness among our teenage peers. 

Thank you,

Mikayla, Maddy and Farzona  

A note from the HS Principal regarding Gr 8 Fly Up Day:

Dear Parents of 8th Grade Students, 

We have come to the time of year when we need to begin to discuss the transition your son or daughter will soon make from middle school to high school. ACS is a small school with caring teachers who have brought your child to a level of preparation – academically, emotionally, and socially – that will serve them well in high school. The ACS High School teachers will continue with this tradition of facilitating academic and personal growth as they spend the next four years with your child. 

On May 30, we will have a series of meetings with the 8th grade students that include a Student Panel, Teacher Panel, Naviance training, and other information sessions that will better prepare them for the leap to high school. Eighth graders will also join us for HS lunch that day to meet some of their future school mates. 

I would like to invite you to attend a very important information session on Thursday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. in the MPR. We will discuss the differences between middle school and high school, give you information that will help you and your son/daughter navigate the transition, and arm you with some strategies to successfully parent a high school student. 

8th Grade High School Orientation – Part 1 

WHO? 8th Grade Parents 

WHEN? Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 2:00 to 3:00 

WHERE? Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) 

WHY? 

•To learn about High School at ACS 

•To ask some questions 

•To get lots of answers! 

If you have any questions, please email me. I am happy to help. 

I hope to see you all there! 

Sincerely, 

Steve Mancuso, Ed.D. 

High School Principal 

smancuso@acsamman.edu.jo 

Week of 19 May

Good Evening,

Two big thank yous to start tonight's post.....

Thank you to the MS StuCo students for organizing the 8 Ball Dance. They did an outstanding job and were quite self directed in their organization. What a group of organized collaborators they have become...my hat is off to them.

Thank you to you as parents for your responsiveness during the chaos of the evening. I am sure many of you know we lost power half way through the dance which was incredibly unfortunate. After a half hour the power company communicated with us that it would be a minimum of another hour before power would be restored. At that point, based on the information we had, we determined it would be best for the students to go ahead and take their departure rather than sitting in the dark for another hour.

The students were cooperative and attentive as they received information...very mature on their part and we were happy to have had the time we did to see them all dressed up and enjoying themselves.

Updates:
Gr 8 Adventure Jordan departs tomorrow. Please do not forget your water, sunscreen, sack lunch for the first day, and mosquito repellant. We have a couple added surprises for the trip we think the students will enjoy so I am anxious to hear all about it when they get back.

Any necessary placement test in Math and World Languages for next year will begin in early June.  These are not tests that can be "studied" for and are only one part of the placement process. Teacher recommendations and past academic performance are also part of the process. Communication will be forthcoming regarding date and results of the placement process.

Reminder:
Students were reminded today of the importance of coming to school with their laptops charged up and ready to go. We have designated "charging times" for them throughout the day so they do not need to charge up their laptops during class time. We are encouraging students to communicate with you if the battery in their laptop is not functioning at optimal level.

Have a good evening,
Rhonda Isley
MS Principal
risley@acsamman.edu.jo