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A YEAR IN REVIEW
A YEAR OF RESILIENCE & GROWTH The 2019-20 school year was filled with unexpected twists and turns, but resulted in tremendous growth and innovation. At the start of the new year, among the many annual community building events our PTA organizes, the New Family Reception welcomed 100+ new families into our ACS community. Over 70 High School students participated in Kidzone to engage young children of our new families. 97% of our High School students experienced the power of beyond-the-classroom learning during Viper Venture 2.0 in November. Our youngest Elementary students welcomed visiting authors and world leaders and raised money for children in orphanages around the world at Holiday Extravaganza by selling their pre-owned, pre-loved toys.
The ACS Technology Team, led by our new Middle School Technology teacher, Brad Flickinger, had the idea to re-imagine the Middle School tech program to motivate students to be active creators giving them a voice and choice, inaugurating a new innovative space for technology in the Middle School – Backstage Techttoo Studios. The Techttoo Studios was one of three new spaces dedicated to Technology and Innovation including Ideaspace Studios, our new TV/Film Production studio and the Fab Lab 2.0, for design tech classes. And then in March 2020, following spring break, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ACS closed its campus for the first time in its history and faculty and students transitioned to remote learning. School events, athletic seasons,
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SEP 6
New Family Welcome Reception
organized by the PTA New Family Committee welcomed 160 new family parents to ACS. This year’s chairs Annika Duer and Sara Lane really outdid themselves.
SEP 14
UAE Ambassador of Chile, HE Jorge Andonie Daccarett
visited ACS and donated Prosa y Poesía Escolar book to the ACS library.
SEP 24 Excited guests joined us for the
2019-20 Excellence Fund Launch. Student ambassadors
welcomed guests inside the classroom to share how charitable contributions support their learning.
OCT 31
Fall Festival – A legion of volunteers
including our HS students organized a Spooky haunted house for the Elementary students, with lots of games and treats! Thank you PTA!
Honourable Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
challenged our students to be engaged global citizens to ensure a more sustainable future.
DEC 5
Holiday Extravaganza featured the
first-ever ACS Toy Drive organized by Grade 1 student Jeffrey Tachajain and his father Georges to inspire a culture of giving in children even at a very young age.
ENI Art Debate Competition in Rome, Italy – ACS High School
students were selected to compete in the ENI Contemporary Art Debate Finals in Rome, Italy as part of the 17th Quadriennale d’arte.
NOV 7
DEC 9-12
JAN 24 Picnic in the Park – A great day for raising awareness about great causes that our High School students are passionate about.
FEB 6
UAE Roots and Shoots Awards & Jane Goodall – Jane Goodall,
Primatologist and anthropologist praised our Grade 4-5 students for their “no car idling initiative” at the Roots & Shoots Award ceremony.
