ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21
Empowering Students to Shape the Future Since 1972
PHOTOS: Tony Murray Photography 2 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
CONTENTS 4 6 8 9 14
Who We Are Leadership Strategic Plan Impact of Giving Faculty
16 18 20 22 23
Students A Year in Review Class of 2021 Alumni Financials Annual Report 2020-21 | 3
WHO WE ARE
American Community School of Abu Dhabi Established in 1972, the American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is a non-profit, U.S. accredited college preparatory school serving a culturally Years of diverse student body of students between the ages of 4 to 18. Building on Excellence in a legacy of nearly 50 years of excellence, Education ACS empowers students to shape and define their futures by providing a balanced learning program in academics, the arts, athletics, and service learning.
48
MISSION Empowering all students to define and shape their futures for learning, service, and global citizenship.
VISION A compassionate, student-centered community of learners engages, prepares, and inspires.
CORE VALUES Courage Curiosity Compassion Integrity ACS LEARNERS ARE... Collaborative team members Responsible individuals Self-directed learners Global citizens
4 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
WHO WE ARE
ACS by the Numbers
9:1
92
72
48
Student to Faculty Ratio
2021 Graduates
National Honor Society Students
Years in Operation
134
Teachers
120
Course Offerings
47
IB Courses
10
AP Courses
712
2020-2021 TOTAL ENROLLMENT
1,205 STUDENTS 564
Elementary
270
371
Middle
High
Families
59
● 60% US
Nationalities of Students
20,118 Reach
● 7%
Canada
● 4%
UAE National Citizens
● 29% Other Countries
184,029 Reach
2,100+
12
Graduates
Volunteer Trustees Annual Report 2020-21 | 5
LEADERSHIP
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
Boldly Facing the Future As a parent, alumnus of the class of 1994 and chair of the ACS Board of Trustees, I am incredibly proud to be part of such a compassionate and strong community. Throughout the 2020-21 school year, ACS adapted to meet new challenges, while still preserving what is unique and special about our school. Our community handled these tumultuous times with compassion, resilience and courage. They say that adversity is a stepping-stone to greatness, and it remains our collective intent for ACS and its students to exit this pandemic stronger than ever. Led by Superintendent Monique Flickinger, the ACS team worked tirelessly to support our students’ academic growth and their social and emotional well-being. The Board is immensely grateful to our faculty and staff for their ongoing commitment and dedication to our school, our students and our community. Notably, our community exemplified our core value of compassion and played an important role in helping ACS meet the unexpected challenges of this global crisis. Their generosity coupled with prudent fiscal discipline enabled us to provide support to families facing financial hardships and avoid any staff or salary cuts. In a remarkable show of what it means to be part of the ACS, our community rallied to establish and launch the ACS Compassion Fund. This generosity allowed 9 students from 6 families to stay enrolled at ACS, including 2 families with seniors who graduated in 2021. While the pandemic tested our collective resolve, we maintained an unwavering commitment to implementing initiatives that further elevated standards across our whole-child curriculum and at every grade level. In 2020-21, the ACS Board of Trustees started the school year with four main priorities: • Finalize new campus and begin construction
MATT AYOUB Board of Trustees Chair
ACS BOARD OF TRUSTEES In a nonprofit independent school like ACS, the all-volunteer Board of Trustees ensures the long-term viability of the school through prudent fiscal governance and strategic planning by working in partnership with the Superintendent. This ensures ACS continues to serve and fulfill the school’s mission to empower future generations of ACS students.
• Strengthen community support for ACS • Review progress against the 5-year strategic plan • Effectively and transparently communicate to our community We are happy to report significant progress on all fronts, including a line of sight to opening our new US$100M campus on Saadiyat Island, next to NYU Abu Dhabi, in 2023. We completed the detailed-design phase, tendered the early works package, completed the foundation work with 483 pilings each 8 meters deep and installed ACS branded fencing around the site. Our new campus would not be possible without the Abu Dhabi government’s extraordinary support, and we continue to be grateful for this unique relationship that spans nearly 50 years. The inspiring new facilities will provide a range of new opportunities to empower students to thrive and will position ACS at the forefront of teaching and learning. Additionally, we are continuing to establish strategic partnerships with globally leading institutions that will unlock unique programs and growth opportunities for our faculty and students. I express my deep admiration to our students, parents, faculty and staff for their courageous spirit and care for our institution. I would also like to thank all members of the Board of Trustees for their tireless contributions toward achieving our ACS mission, as well as express gratitude to our prior Chair, Leslie Bellas, for her decade of distinguished service on the Board. How we choose to navigate adversity will define our time at ACS. 2020-21 taught us that ACS can weather any storm. We have emerged stronger and more resilient, ready to take bold steps toward greatness, both in terms of our facilities and, most importantly, what happens within them. Matt Ayoub ‘94 Board of Trustees Chair
6 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
Honored to serve the ACS community as trustees for the 2020-2021 school year: Matt Ayoub ‘94, Chair Jodi Lefort, Vice Chair Philippe El Bacha, Treasurer Christine Belanger, Secretary Salem Al Noaimi Omar Asfour ‘96 Miran Farah Kirby Lindsey Adib Mattar ‘95 Muhannad Qubbaj Robin Solomon, US Embassy Rep Villiers Terblanche
LEADERSHIP
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Emerging Stronger In a year like no other, 2020-21 strengthened our commitment to preparing our students to thrive in this rapidly changing world. Even in challenging times, we continued to be guided by our 5-year strategic plan, launched in 2019, that ensures ACS delivers on its mission to empower students to shape the future. By looking forward with clarity, ambition and purpose, we continued to make progress throughout the year on our priorities. I’m incredibly proud of this community and the many achievements made during the year: Growing stronger. Our students continued to give it their best – both in person and remotely – and became greater independent thinkers, creators and collaborators. Our families were our biggest champions and remained flexible, patient and supportive throughout all the changes. And our teachers quickly mastered an incredible amount of tech skills to continue delivering instruction in redefined and engaging ways. Adapting and persevering. Our entire community approached a mix of remote and on-campus learning with grace and positivity. We particularly remain in awe of our Grade 6-9 students and families. With a return to the classroom in February 2021, after a full year absence from campus, these students adapted so well to hybrid learning, a new schedule and reconstructed learning spaces shared with the High School. Our graduating class also continues to make us proud with their college admissions to top-tier universities around the world and millions of dollars in scholarships awarded. Leading the way. The health and safety of our students and faculty have always
been priorities, and during the pandemic, we developed innovative ways to face the changing concerns. ACS provided support for other schools by sharing our program, instruction style, resources and the system we built to contact and trace any positive cases. Showing compassion. Our parents, staff, faculty, corporations and friends gave 40 percent more in charitable contributions than in the previous year. This generosity made a tremendous impact by elevating the learning environment at ACS and launching the Compassion Fund for families facing severe financial hardship. Building relationships. We deepened existing and established new partnerships with nearly 30 corporations. The investment of our 2020-21 Corporate Innovation Partners enabled us to build an amazing new Elementary Innovation Library and expanded our technology curriculum for our youngest scholars, adding coding, electronics, podcasting, robotics, animation and more. Honoring commitments. I’m grateful for our board and their full support of the school’s leadership team during these tumultuous times. Showing integrity and compassion, the school honored contractual commitments to all staff even with changes to our enrollment numbers. I am personally grateful to our entire ACS community for their unwavering commitment to our school and am incredibly proud to be a part of this truly remarkable community. Warmly, Monique Flickinger Superintendent
MONIQUE FLICKINGER Superintendent
LEADERSHIP TEAM Victor Guthrie Assistant Superintendent Amy Greene High School Principal Karl Poulin Middle School Principal Heather Collins Elementary School Principal Jennifer Ricks Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning Kenny Macaulay Athletic and Activities Director Bobbi Donison Charles High School Assistant Principal Jonathan Diaz IB Diploma Programme Coordinator Rob Desormeau Middle School Assistant Principal Ann Peterson Elementary School Assistant Principal Derek Swanson Director of Learning Innovation and eLearning Waheeda Al Tamimi Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Mahmoud Bafagih Director of Government Relations Yvette L. Campbell Director of Institutional Advancement Zoltan Karaszy Director of Finance Manoj Kunnenoth Facilities Manager Penny Lopez Director of Admissions Marise Philip-Jayendran Director of Human Resources Lizabeth Weithas Director of Communications Annual Report 2020-21 | 7
STRATEGIC PLAN
Making Strides Forward The combined contributions of our generous community of parents, faculty, corporations, alumni and friends ensured ACS made significant progress toward achieving its ambitious strategic plan. In 2020-21, their charitable support enabled us to continue investing deeply in our innovative programs, talented faculty and inspiring spaces. As a result, ACS provided more learning opportunities for our students’ success and continued to offer the exceptional education for which our school is known.
ACS Strategic Plan
PERSONALIZING LEARNING
DELIVERING EXCELLENCE
• 50% more Global Online Academy (GOA) courses for High School students
• A new Elementary Innovation Lab for 500+ students to explore new ways of learning
• Math and Science specialists modelled innovative strategies for our teachers
• Prototyped new furniture to enhance classroom learning environment
• A fresh look for the auditorium, providing a safer, performance-ready space
• 180+ online professional learning opportunities for faculty
GROWING COMMUNITY
INSPIRING GLOBAL CITIZENS
• Supported families severely impacted by the pandemic
• Significantly increased the number of students choosing to study Arabic in Middle School
• Leveraged the expertise of our corporate partners to expand career pathways
• Developed cohesive social emotional learning programs for student success
8 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
IMPACT OF GIVING
A Direct and Positive Impact CORPORATE PARTNERS SUPPORT INNOVATION ACS thanks our Corporate Innovation Partners who supported the launch of a NEW! Elementary Library and Innovation Lab providing our students with the tools they need to become future-thinking innovators and leaders of tomorrow. The vision to re-imagine a section of our traditional library space into an innovation lab became a reality in fall 2020. The newly created Innovation Lab serves 500+ students, and is equipped with 24 new ipads, a TV studio, a podcasting studio, an animation lab and an innovative curriculum to greatly expand technology education for our students as young as 4 years old. We are confident that Elementary students will flourish in all academic areas as they approach problem solving and creativity with a newly discovered lens of the world. Annual Report 2020-21 | 9
IMPACT OF GIVING
57 donations AED 252,175 We are so grateful our family is part of such a supportive and caring school community. We hope ACS will continue to show their support of families experiencing financial crises with support and generosity through the Compassion Fund.
ACS COMPASSION FUND: EVIDENCE OF OUR CARING COMMUNITY
The fact that ACS truly cares about us as members of the community is something our family is deeply grateful and moved by.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted our community and the world. As ACS grappled with daily health and safety challenges, some in our community were facing the additional burden of financial setbacks. Our community rallied to establish and launch the ACS Compassion Fund for our families facing severe economic hardship. In addition to generous donations from ACS parents and alumni, Accenture, ACS’s newest corporate partner and globally leading information technology company, committed significant support. Their combined generosity allowed nine students from six families to stay enrolled at ACS, including two families with seniors that graduated last year.
BUILDING A GLOBALLY LEADING ARABIC PROGRAM An important part of our strategic plan is students gaining Accomplishments & Progress a greater understanding of the culture and language of our • Recruited and hired our first full-time host country and developing a greater global citizenship. The Director of Arabic Programs challenge is Arabic is one of the four most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers, according to the U.S. State • Strengthened and enhanced Arabic curriculum for Grades K-12 Department. • Arabic teachers engaged in collaborative In 2020-21, ACS continued to invest deeply in building a process of curriculum development globally leading Arabic program to inspire global citizenship. • Provided teachers with the latest ACS committed significant energy, expertise and resources software, materials and training into its Arabic program with the ultimate goal of pioneering a new approach to teaching and learning the Arabic language • Analyzed assessments and students’ work that will spark students’ passion and accelerate their learning. to ensure the best learning outcomes 10 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
IMPACT OF GIVING
150
student participants
32
corporations
40
speakers
61
virtual sessions
ACS students were invited to participate in the 2021 Harvard Global Women Empowerment Essay Contest. Congratulations to the winning essayists and thought leaders, Maureen and Zainab.
EXPANDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ACS provided an additional 25 students with 50% more Global Online Academy (GOA) courses than budgeted for due to student demand. GOA courses offer High School students the opportunity to study a variety of courses a school of our size simply cannot offer while being part of a global online classroom. Imagine being able to study Cyber Security, Neuroscience or Architecture in High School. Offering students more voice and choice accelerates their learning.
Benchmarks of Success • “Satisfaction with Arabic’’ significantly improved according to our annual climate survey • Expanded Arabic offerings based on student proficiency • 62% of rising Grade 5 students selected Arabic for Grade 6, up from 47% last year • Nearly half of all students in Grades 6-8 chose to study Arabic
In 2020-21, our career day was a true success! More than 60 virtual sessions covering 36+ career pathways were held for 150 High School students. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the 40 distinguished speakers including many ACS alumni from 32 major corporations/institutions that devoted their time, energy and valuable knowledge to help our students explore potential career paths and expand their thinking.
IMPACT OF GIVING
2020-21 Giving
228
donations
38%
increase over 2020
69%
Nearly
from parents
AED 1M
in total contributions
42% 1st time donors
33%
increase in donors
PHILANTHROPY BUILDS COMMUNITY Giving is at the heart of who we are and what we do. At ACS, philanthropy builds community and has helped make great strides in the strategic plan. One of our major goals in 2020-21 was to increase community participation in annual charitable contributions to ensure ACS has the resources it needs to deliver the very best education for students. The generosity of ACS families truly humbled us with their total giving increasing by 40%. And we are excited to report that ACS also saw a 33% increase in the total number of donors to the ACS Excellence Fund.
12 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
IMPACT OF GIVING
Thank you!
LEADERSHIP GIVING CIRCLE
We recognize the following friends, families, staff, corporations and alumni for ensuring ACS has the necessary resources to achieve an ambitious multi-year strategic plan. We are deeply grateful to the Leadership Giving Circle of donors within our community who have generously pledged significant multi-year commitments.
Anonymous (2) Khaldoom Al Mubarak ‘93 & Nadia Sehweil ‘97 Gautam Datta & Jodi Lefort George & Sara Lane Raymond Makhoul & Lizeth Maalouf Adib Mattar & Shireen Alameddine Luca Molinari & Serena Carnevale Muhannad Qubbaj & Roulana Jarrar Villiers & Louise Terblanche
2020-21 ANNUAL GIVING DONORS GOLD
(AED 50,000+) Khaldoon Al Mubarak ‘93 & Nadia Sehweil ‘97 Villiers & Louise Terblanche
SILVER
(AED 25,000+) Anonymous Accenture KBS Strategies George & Sara Lane Lockheed Martin Adib Martin Mattar ‘95 & Chirine Alameddine Luca Molinari & Serena Carnevale Muhannad Qubbaj & Roulana Jarrar
BRONZE
(AED 10,000+) Anonymous (3) Rami & Haya Abulaila Faiz Ahmad & Mahnaz Karim Matt Ayoub ‘94 & Ceci Ayoub Martin John & Mary Corrado Gautam Datta & Jodi Lefort* ExxonMobil Diego Felix & Gabriela Encalada* Kamran Sadiq & Bushra Kamran Mohamed Mahmoud Kuleib & Hania Ghassan Maraouch Raymond Makhoul & Lizeth Maalouf William & Susan Nash John & Bo Paik Mujeeb Qazi & Maria Ansari Leon & Leslie Shivamber*
PEARL
(AED 5,000+) Ahmed & Khuloud Al Nuwais Maryam AlMheiri Jun Sang Bae & Minjung Kwak Abdul Rahman Balfaqeeh & Meriem Marrouni Yvette L. Campbell* Markos Tibbo Dambi & Genet Hundie Mekonnen Michael & Oreen Ead Nabeel Hassan & Elena Asadova Brad & Caroline Heming Allison & Turner Herbert INJAZ UAE Nadim Koteich & Diana Nasrallah Kirby & Melissa Lindsey Theodore & Maatje Rencken Banna Sado & Ghada Kozak Rami Tarazi & Miran Farah Nicolas Turrin & Marie-Josee Caron VOX Cinemas
JADE
(AED 2,500+) Zahi Abu Hamze & Diana Rafeh Bassam Abu Yousef & Heba Musallam Garold & Birgitt Adams Amer Aidi & Lana Nassar Mohamed Hussam Akasha & Rania Abaza Naser Al Zaabi & Hanane Lahlafi Ahmed Alameri & Muna Aldhaheri Ziad Alasadi & Rana Baasiri Anton Bawab & Dana Kassissieh Salim Benmamar & Yasmina Bouzida Matthew Berger & Sara Verkest Ghassan Chehade & Anthi Manola* Massimo Cristaldi & Milena Crepaldi Roland & Annika Duerr Brad & Monique Flickinger* Stephen & Tonianne Grobmyer Neil & Sarah Jones Martin Kasa & Janka Kasova Issam Khoury & Nesrine Haddad Mingsheng Lv & Ran Li Daniel & Jane McCauley Mick & Mia McColgan* Mark & Sahika Minor Sadeer Munir & Aman Al Tawil Fatima Zahra Lasky Andreas Roth & Eva Bilz Rashid Sesay & Kadie Rashid Sesay George Shubeita & Hala Ouzon Raghu Veer & Sunita Nanda Singh Ali Mustapha Skhiri & Monia Kamzi Antonis Slicher & Kalli Kontozoglou* Thales Group Mateen Trimzi & Huma Shah Massimo Sanguinetti & Federica Vagnarelli Kendall Wilson & Linda Bukowski-Wilson Mohamad Yehya & Zeina Haidamous TieJun Zhang & ShuJun Jiang
FRIEND
(up to AED 2,500) Anonymous (7) Phil & Averi Abraham* ACS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Aysheh Ahmad* Ibrahim Ajami ‘93 & Marjon Ajami Azeem & Ayesha Akhtar Naaman Al Busaidy & Ahlaam Mubarack Nasser Al Nowais & Nadine Kaaki
Waheeda Al Tamimi* Abdullah & Mardeya Al-Maainah Ahmed Almahmoud & Huda Alsabbagh Omar Asfour ‘96 & Raya Asfour Jakob & Helena Askholt Samah Al Aker & Nimer Basbous Iqbal Binoj & Shermin Nageeb Paul Scott Sidlo & Gwyneth Bravo Drew & Leyla Bulluck* Israel & Crissy Calera* Kevin & Heather Collins* Kim Cottin* Mutasem Dajani & Muna Hindi Abeer Esmatallah Dajani* Nazim Dbichi & Feriel Megdoud Levent & Kirsten Edepli Mohammad Elramahi & Ahlam Al-Ramahi Samah Nour & Husham Gabralla Matthew & Kate Gallery* Emilian Marcel & Elena Marina Gheorghiu Danilo Giuliani & Indira Gusmanova Manlio Maurizio Massimo Giustiniani & Iva Riccioni Bryan Francis & Hengameh Heggie Grant Victor & Amber Guthrie* Jay & Jan Habayeb John & Carolyn Hackworth Marc & Mary Harrison Ali Hashmi & Angela Migally Nazih Hassanieh & Heba Chaya Syed & Uzma Hussaini Taesoo Jeong & Mijung Suh Karen & Stephen Jones Belal & Laurie Joundeya* Ku Chul Jung Rania Kablawi Zoltan Gyorgy Karaszy & Klara Tamas Gyorgyi* Mamta & Manish Kaushik Aytac & Burcu Kilincat Jason Kroll & Teng Cindy Khoo Marcella Kukulka Jessica Lamb Jones ‘02 John & Anissa Lickrish Suparna Mathur ‘02 Christina McDade* Kunal & Priya Medhekar Justin Miller & Lizabeth Weithas* Jason & Jennifer Miller Davor & Maida Miseljic
Akio & Maiko Mizukami Victor Parris Georg & Ulrike Petroianu Robert Pfeiffer & Amy Greene* Karl Poulin & Sabine Luckhardt* Jason & Laura Puryear Sanu Asokan Puthankatil ‘95 & Nivedya Prasannan Ernesto Ramos & Mercedes Avila* Sabah Rashid & Reza Shibli ‘99 Dr. Jennifer Ricks* Sascha Rodenberg & Anne Lange Jared & Mimi Rodgers* Jean Marie Rueckert* Atheel Sahel* Narmin Oshita Shahid Tejinderjit Sandhu & Lilianti Simon Abdellah Sbai & Kaoutar Benjebera Sandra Sfeirova* Jihad Skaf Halaby & Dana Bahri Lukas & Dominika Sokol Thomas & Miharu Stafford Elise Shivamber ‘13 Sara Shivamber ‘16 Walid Tabet ‘00 Paul Taylor & Zoryana Tsymbal Mark & Alina Thomer Jouni & Susanna Timonen Darleen Todd* Mike & Charmaine Traylor Paul & Reema Traynor David Weiler & Leslie Bellas James Weir & Jumana Salem Rachid Yalouh & Samia Abouri Amro Zakaria & Sawsan Abdel-Razig Manar Zarroug & Joelle Osias
Includes in-kind and cash contributions. * Indicates Faculty & Staff
We are so happy to support our children's school as these formative years will mold them into the individuals they will become, and ACS goes above and beyond just supporting them academically. – ACS Parent Donor
Annual Report 2020-21 | 13
FACULTY
2020-21 FACULTY FACTS & FIGURES
134
Faculty (lifelong learners & educators)
67%
Advanced Degrees (Master’s and/or Doctorate)
85%
10+ Years Teaching Experience
6
Average Years at ACS
181
Professional Development Opportunities
2
Faculty Earned Master’s Degrees
NATIONALITIES ● 51% US ● 29% Canada ● 20% Other
14 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
ACS FACULTY
Elevating Education In 2020-21, teachers all over the world were the true heroes. Marking the most dramatic year of growth in teaching and elevating education, our teachers nimbly and quickly mastered an incredible amount of skills to deliver instruction in redefined and engaging ways. Some families elected to keep their students in remote learning for the entire year, which meant our teachers had to learn to teach in a hybrid setting, with some students inside the classroom, and others online. Together teachers leaned on one another for support and continued to find ways to collaborate, experiment, reflect, grow and learn. Our teachers made us proud.
2020-21 Reopening Model ACS succeeded in remaining open, offering in-person learning for the majority of the school year. Collaboration, cooperation and creativity rose to the forefront as faculty and administrators solved challenging problems together and implemented our campus reopening model and guiding principles developed to safely return to campus. In compliance with Abu Dhabi government policies and guidelines for schools, ACS developed a reopening model that combined in-person, remote and hybrid learning due to class sizes, space configurations and complexity of schedules between the Elementary, Middle and High School divisions. The Middle School schedule was adapted to more resemble the High School allowing students from each division to share the same spaces on alternating days.
FACULTY
Elementary School In-Person Daily on-campus instruction with breaks for recess and outdoor activities
Middle & High School Hybrid Alternated their time on campus and in remote learning
Return-to-Campus Guiding Principles 1. Prioritize health, safety and wellbeing 2. Prioritize face-to-face learning 3. Act with fidelity to school mission and core values 4. Reduce risk of virus transmission 5. Develop processes and procedures for agility
2021 Principal of the Year Amy Greene Amy Greene, ACS High School Principal, was recognized as a United States 2021 Principal of the Year by the National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The Principal of the Year program recognizes 53 outstanding principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students, as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession. Each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. State Department of Overseas Schools and the Department of Defense Education Activity select one middle or high school principal to represent their regions. ACS is proud Ms. Greene was nominated and selected for this incredible achievement.
Annual Report 2020-21 | 15
STUDENTS
ACS STUDENTS
Defying Adversity Due to COVID-19, the academic year 2020-2021 began August 25 with every student in remote learning. The maintenance team transformed the school to allow for the new 2-meter social distancing requirement and to enable Middle School and High School to share spaces. Our Elementary School students were the first to return to campus, followed by Grades 10, 11 and 12. Gradually all students, except Grades 6-9, were reintroduced to in-person learning by the end of the first semester. The second semester saw the return to remote learning for a brief period. By February 28, the remainder of our resilient students, Grades 6-9, returned back on campus after a year-long absence commencing March 2020, the beginning of the pandemic. They exhibited extraordinary perseverance, adaptability and flexibility.
“2020-2021 was the year that for one moment the world realized that we are better together - something we have known for a long time at ACS. It was a year of learning at school, at home, asynchronous, synchronous, hybrid, and self-directed. Students were resilient, responsible, respectful and reflective, and always adapting.” – Heather Collins, Elementary Principal “On screens, with masks, and in new spaces, our school certainly grew through this experience. We learned so much about ourselves, our limitations, our patience, and about how we learn. During this unprecedented year, we uncovered unrealized potential, becoming more self-aware and self-directed.” – Karl Poulin, Middle School Principal “During this remarkable period in our school’s history, our students’ commitment to learning, to one another, and to our core values of courage, curiosity, compassion, and integrity never wavered. Despite long periods of physical separation and through remote and hybrid learning, students found a way to cultivate a capacity for connectedness.” – Amy Greene, High School Principal
16 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
ACS is known for its extensive co-curricular program based around four pillars: Academics, Athletics, the Arts and Service Learning. In 2020-21, the school's whole-child educational model was tested as most in-person group activities such as physical education, team sports, clubs and other extra curricular activities were canceled through June 2021. ACS students adapted by participating in The Hague virtual Model United Nations conference, staging live-streamed Grade 5 TEDx Talks, joining the physically-distanced golf team, and participating in the International Day of Code. Despite a year like no other, our students gained unimaginable skills and much more than anyone could have expected.
2020-21 Student Testing & Assessments In line with the UAE government’s priorities for learning and student wellbeing, ACS did not administer the Measure of Academic Performance (MAP), International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma Programme), or American College Test (ACT) exams remotely or in person. Additionally, due to reduced test offerings, ACS students have had reduced access to SAT. *Note: ACT was not available to our students in 2020-21 due to the disruption of COVID.
ACS 1259
World 1060
STUDENTS
Outperforming the World International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Due to the pandemic, students in the UAE were not permitted to sit for their IB exams unlike many of their international counterparts. Instead, the Class of 2021 was evaluated by independent assessments and predicted grades.
Advanced Placement (AP) The Advanced Placement (AP) May 2021 exams returned to the traditional style of exam that was 3-4 hours in length. Depending on the course, some students had a pen/paper exam and others wrote the exam online. All online exams start times were set in Eastern Standard Time, which meant students in the UAE began their exams at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight. Despite the challenges of these unexpected circumstances, ACS students continued to outperform the world in many areas.
2021 International Baccalaureate DP Results
ACS 5.4
ACS 97%
World 5.19
Average Diploma Grade
ACS 43
World 89%
Diploma Pass Rate
Out of 45
Highest Score
(achieved by less than 0.5%)
Average Points per Subject
Total Points Earned by ACS Candidates
Highest possible score: 7 ■ 40-45 points
ACS
WORLD
■ 35-39 points
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature in English
5.37
5.13
■ 30-34 points
Group 2: Foreign Language Acquisition
5.84
5.57
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
5.51
5.29
Group 4: Sciences
4.96
5.05
Group 5: Mathematics
5.40
5.14
Group 6: The Arts
5.36
4.6
■ 25-29 points
2021 Advanced Placement (AP) Scores ACS
WORLD
ACS
WORLD
US History [26]
3.20
2.52
Comparative Government & Politics [13]
3.00
3.16
English Language and Composition [25]
3.20
2.86
Computer Science Principles [12]
4.42
2.99
US Government & Politics [22]
3.30
2.62
Art 2D [12]
4.10
3.42
Computer Science A [19]
3.95
3.12
Statistics [10]
2.80
2.85
• Number in brackets indicates the number of ACS students who sat the exam • AP scores with fewer than 10 students are not reported. Annual Report 2020-21 | 17
A YEAR IN REVIEW
2020-21 Highlights ACS Social Innovators Partnership FEBRUARY 2021
INJAZ UAE Financial Literacy Workshops DECEMBER 2020
Nine ACS students successfully completed a 12-week course and earned certificates in Social Entrepreneurship from the Social Innovators Program in partnership with University of Pennsylvania, ACS and Schoolyard Ventures. Developing an entrepreneurial mindset while in High School gives students substantive advantages for the future.
5th #MyFreedomDay @ ACS
19 Elementary School, 31 Middle School and 17 High School students attended online workshops in financial literacy hosted by INJAZ UAE (a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide) in partnership with ExxonMobil, McKinsey, Oliver Wyman, and Deloitte. Students learned about wise spending, saving and being a smart consumer. The more advanced workshops covered the basics of investing in the stock market and the variety of jobs available in the financial sector.
MARCH 4-16, 2021 For five years, ACS has joined CNN #MyFreedomDay, a day of action to end modern-day slavery. ACS has incorporated #MyFreedomDay into its educational program. Today, all students of all ages learn about what it means to be free and how to advocate for those who are not. Segment shot live from ACS campus with CNN International news anchor and Managing Editor, Becky Anderson.
4th Recipient of Haitham Award APRIL 2021
2021 International School Award Winner JANUARY 2021 ACS won the Future-Thinking Innovators Award at the 2021 International School Awards for its innovative and cutting-edge Middle School technology program.
ACS on CNN FEBRUARY 23, 2021 ACS was featured by CNN as an example of how schools reopened safely and remain open during the global pandemic.
AWARD WINNER 2021
18 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
Taylor Campbell (Grade 11) named the fourth recipient of the Haitham Zamzam Al Hammadi Medal of International Friendship. Launched in 2018 by the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) in honor of a former ACS alum and trustee, the annual award recognizes a student for their contributions to positive and productive global citizenry.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) Competition JUNE 2021
Accenture Gen Z Panel Discussion MAY 2021
Two ACS students placed 3rd Place for ECO Tap, a product they designed to reduce water consumption and promote hand washing hygiene, compatible with any faucet for client, Dettol Arabia. Other ACS teams participated by submitting design proposals for client, Global Village Dubai.
In-Person 2021 Graduation
ACS students were invited to join a virtual discussion with Yale undergraduate and CEO of JUV Consulting, Ziad Ahmed, who shared how he created his own business just by being himself and leveraging his own skills. This panel discussion was produced in partnership with ACS corporate partner, Accenture.
JUNE 4, 2021
3rd Annual UAE Student Film Festival MAY 30, 2021
International Student Podcast Competition
The festival showcased the work of ACS’ budding filmmakers. 75 students attended in person to view short films in many categories. 35 awards recognized the students’ hard work. We are grateful to our corporate partner Vox Cinemas for annually supporting this event and to Randy Girdner, Festival Creator and ACS Film/TV Production teacher.
ACS held its 2021 graduation ceremony in person at the Emirates Palace Auditorium for a limited number of staff, families and invited guests. The event was live streamed to more than 3,000 worldwide, more than double those that tuned in for the 2020 virtual graduation.
MAY 2021 Hundreds of students from 42 schools and 26 countries around the world participated in ACS’ International Student Podcast Competition, envisioned by Jared Rodgers, ACS Tech Integrator. Students Grades 5 - 12 were asked to create a podcast submission on any topic that inspired them. The two grand prize winners were “The Diaries of a Third Culture Kid” and “Peace by Chocolate.”
Annual Report 2020-21 | 19
CLASS OF 2021
CLASS OF 2021
Beyond ACS In 2021, ACS returned to the Emirates Palace and hosted an in-person graduation for the Class of 2021, at 33% capacity, socially-distanced with a negative 48-hr PCR test requirement; the event was one to remember. Special guest speakers included Charges d’Affaires Sean Murphy of the US Embassy and one of our most esteemed alumni joined as the Commencement Speaker, H.E. Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman Department of Culture and Tourism and Class of 2000 ACS Alumnus, who encouraged the class of 2021 to “embrace the power of their own individuality and imaginations.”
2021 MATRICULATION
53% US 15% Canada 9% Europe 5% Netherlands
4% UAE 1% UK 5% Other 8% Gap Year/PG/Military Service
AMERICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES AND MATRICULATION FOR THE CLASSES OF 2018-2021 UNITED STATES
Allegheny College American University (3) Amherst College Appalachian State University Architectural Association School of Architecture Arizona State University (2) Auburn University Augustana College Bard College (2) Barnard College Baruch College of the CUNY Baylor University (2) Belmont University Bentley University Berklee College of Music (1) Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Boston University (2) Bowling Green State University Brandeis University Brigham Young University (3) Brigham Young University, Idaho Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University California College of the Arts California Lutheran University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State University, Long Beach California State University, Monterey Bay Carnegie Mellon University Carroll College Case Western Reserve University Central Washington University Chapman University (3) Cleveland State University
Cleveland College of Art and Design Coastal Carolina University College of William & Mary (2) Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Columbia University (3) Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Cornell University Cuesta College Dartmouth College DePaul University (2) DigiPen Institute of Technology Drexel University Duke University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elmhurst College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Emerson College Emory University (3) Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts Everett Community College Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Florida State University Fordham University (2) George Mason University George Washington University (4) Georgetown University (1) Georgia Institute of Technology Gonzaga University Grand Canyon University Grinnell College Hampshire College Harvey Mudd College Hawaii Pacific University
High Point University Hofstra University Hollins University Hunter College of the CUNY Illinois Institute of Technology (2) Illinois State University Indiana Institute of Technology Indiana University at Bloomington Iowa State University Ithaca College James Madison University John Carroll University Kent State University Lee University Leeward Community College Lehigh University Lesley University Longwood University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Lynn University Macalester College Manhattan College Marist College Marquette University Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount University Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Massachusetts College of Art and Design Michigan State University Middle Georgia State University Middle Tennessee State University Mississippi State University Monmouth University Montana State University Montgomery College Mount Holyoke College
New York University (6) North Carolina State University (2) Northeastern University (8) Northern Arizona University Norwich University Nova Southeastern University Occidental College Ohio Northern University Ohio State University Ohio University Pace University, New York City Pennsylvania State University (5) Pepperdine University Pratt Institute Principia College Purchase College, SUNY Purdue University (2) Radford University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Rollins College Rutgers University, New Brunswick Saint Louis University Salve Regina University Sam Houston State University San Bernardino Valley College San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design (2) School of the Art Institute of Chicago Scripps College Seton Hall University Shenandoah University
Skidmore College Smith College Southeast Missouri State University Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Southern Methodist University St. Edward’s University St. John’s University St. Mary’s College of Maryland Stanford University Stephen F. Austin State University Stony Brook University Suffolk University SUNY, Geneseo SUNY, New Paltz Susquehanna University Sweet Briar College Syracuse University Temple University Texas A&M University (5) Texas Christian University Texas State University Texas Tech University Texas Woman’s University The New School – All Divisions Towson University Trinity College Trinity University Tufts University Tulane University United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Akron University of Arizona (3) University at Buffalo, SUNY University of California, Berkeley (3) University of California, Davis (2) University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles (6) University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California,
San Diego (5) University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Chicago (2) University of Cincinnati University of Colorado, Boulder University of Colorado, Colorado Springs University of Connecticut University of Dayton (2) University of Denver University of Evansville University of Florida University of Houston University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (3) University of Iowa University of Kentucky University of La Verne University of Maine University of Mary Washington University of Maryland, College Park (2) University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Massachusetts, Boston University of Miami (2) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Minnesota, Duluth University of Minnesota, Morris University of Missouri, Columbia University of Nebraska at Lincoln University of Nebraska at Omaha University of New Hampshire at Durham University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CLASS OF 2021
ACS Class of 2021 Recognition & Accolades
92 graduates from 46 countries US$4.3M in scholarships 87% of graduates accepted into their Top 3 universities
55% IB Diploma Candidates (51 of 92) 29 graduates attended ACS since kindergarten (1/3 of the class)
19 AP Scholars University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of North Dakota University of North Florida University of Northern Colorado University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania (2) University of Pittsburgh University of Portland University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Florida University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Texas, Austin (2) University of Texas, Dallas University of Texas, El Paso University of Texas, San Antonio University of Texas, Tyler University of Toledo University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison University of the Pacific Utah Valley University Vanderbilt University Vassar College Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech (3) Virginia Western Community College Wake Forest University (2) Washington State University Washington University, St. Louis Wellesley College Wesley College
West Texas A&M University West Virginia University Western Michigan University Western Washington University Wheaton College IL Woodbury University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University
CANADA
Alberta College of Art and Design Bishop’s University Brock University Carleton University College of Makeup Art & Design Concordia University (5) Dalhousie University Grande Prairie Regional College Lakehead University Laurentian University McGill University (3) McMaster University (2) Memorial University of Newfoundland Mount Allison University Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Ontario Tech University Queen’s University Ryerson University Saint Mary’s University Sheridan College Institution of Technology Simon Fraser University St. Francis Xavier University Thompson Rivers University University of British Columbia (3) University of Calgary (3) University of Guelph (4) University of Ottawa University of Toronto (10) University of Victoria University of Waterloo Vancouver Island University Western University (3) Wilfrid Laurier University York University
UNITED KINGDOM
Anglia Ruskin University Arts University Bournemouth Aston University Bournemouth University Brikbeck, University of London Brunel University London City University of London Coventry University Durham University Edinburgh Napier University Goldsmiths, University of London Hult International Business School, London Imperial College London Keele University King’s College London (2) Kingston University Lancaster University London School of Economics and Political Science London South Bank University Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester University Newcastle University Northumbria University Nottingham College Queen Mary University of London Ravensbourne University Regent’s University London Richmond, The American International University in London Royal Holloway, University of London SOAS, University of London Ulster University University College London (3) University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Buckingham University of Central Lancashire
Our daughter Julia enjoyed 13 wonderful years at ACS. She would probably tell you that her favorite memories are of her soccer, volleyball and track teammates. As her parents, we will always be thankful for the many wonderful IB and other teachers who pushed her to reach her potential, especially the Arabic teachers and tutors who taught and guided her from KG2 through Grade 12. It was hard work, and we are incredibly proud of her Arabic fluency. Julia is now enjoying Columbia University and plans to double major in Economics and Political Science while continuing to focus on Arabic. ACS provided Julia with a great base upon which to build an exciting career and life. – Bill & Susie Nash, ACS Parents 2009-2021
University of Dundee University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Huddersfield University of Kent University of Leeds University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Nottingham University of Reading University of Roehampton University of Sheffield University of St. Andrews University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Westminster University of York University of the Arts London
EUROPE
American University of Paris BI Norwegian Business School, Norway CEU San Pablo, Spain Catholic University of Lyon, France College Universitaire de Sciences Po, France Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, Switzerland Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Netherlands (8) Erasmus University College, Netherlands (2) EU Business School, Geneva Florence Institute of Design International, Italy Fontys University of Applied Sciences Franklin University, Switzerland Hague University of Applied Sciences Hanzehogeschool Groningen, Netherlands IE University, Madrid Campus, Spain (2) Jyvaskyla University Applied
Sciences, Finland Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Maastricht University Mikkeli University Applied Sciences National University of Ireland, Galway NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
University of Twente, Netherlands University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Brussels Webster University, Geneva, Switzerland Zuyd University Applied Sciences, Finland
NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences Nord University Paracelsus Private Medical University Paris College of Art, France Ramon Llull University Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland (2) Saint Louis University, Madrid, Spain SciencesPo/Columbia University, France Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia Technische Universiteit Delft, Netherlands Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Universita Bocconi, Italy (2) Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands Universiteit Maastricht, Netherlands Universiteit Utrecht, Netherlands (2) Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands (2) University College Cork, Ireland University College Utrecht, Netherlands University of Groningen, Netherlands University of Limerick, Ireland Universidad Navarra, Spain University of Nicosia University of Tartu, Estonia
Abu Dhabi University, UAE American University of Beirut, Lebanon American University of Sharjah, UAE (4) Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Lebanese American University, Lebanon New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE (2) RAK Medical and Health Sciences University Royal College of Surgeons, Bahrain Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi University of Balamand, Lebanon Zayed University, UAE
MIDDLE EAST
OTHER
De La Salle University, Philippines Hong Kong University of Science & Technology NYU Shanghai University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Savannah College of Art and Design, Hong Kong Yale-NUS College, Singapore (2)
KEY
Listed = Acceptances Bold Type = Matriculation ( ) = Number of Students Matriculated
ALUMNI
ALUMNI
Making a Difference Delivering J&J Vaccine to the World BREE OLIVARI ‘96
Bree Murphy Olivari, ACS class of 1996, is the Senior Category Manager in the Global Strategic Insights category, responsible for the purchase of data science solutions at Johnson & Johnson. She was part of the team responsible for the development of one of the first COVID-19 vaccines! Bree credits her Grade 7 science teacher, Mr. Kovach, for igniting her sense of curiosity. She said that “ACS opened my eyes to the power of science, math and technology. It also helped me learn about the beauty of diversity, and how important it is to be inclusive.” While she has many wonderful memories of her time at ACS, playing Rizzo on stage in the production of Grease stands out as a favorite! “It helped me find a voice I didn’t know I had!”
Emirati Changemaker HADIF ZAMZAM ‘08
Launched in 2019 by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed, the aim of the National Experts Programme (NEP) is to establish a rich base of national expertise that will drive the country toward a knowledgebased economy. ACS Alumnus, Hadif Zamzam was one of 20 Emiratis from a range of backgrounds selected to train with a mentor to develop their assigned skill. Each skill falls within four main clusters: Social Development, Economic Development, Infrastructure and Environment, and Security and International Affairs. His mentor was Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties, the developers behind the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 22 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi
Helping Vulnerable Communities in Haiti LAMIA MAKKAR ‘16 & TAS ZARROUG ‘16
Best friends, Lamia Makkar and Tasneem (Tas) Zarroug, first traveled to Haiti to discover Tas’ family origins and to learn more about the country. In 2012, they started a service club at ACS called Haiti: Hands On to raise money for their trip. While there, they discovered Terre Froide, a small rural village with a population of about 2,000. Terre Froide had limited resources or infrastructure: no hospitals, no trash disposal, no electricity, no running water and the nearest school was 2 hours away. Their experience inspired them to return to Terre Froide and spend a month working with its community to build latrines, plant gardens, build erosion prevention systems and conduct English language classes. They would ultimately transform the service club into a vibrant nonprofit organization by the same name, partnering with the community to create the first school in Terre Froide and the first community-owned school in the region! They now have more than 225 students enrolled ranging from Pre-K to Grade 6. “Our personal trajectories, upbringings in Abu Dhabi, experiences at ACS and our journey with Haiti: Hands On are inseparable.” – Taz Zarroug ‘16 “Had you told me 10 years ago that we would still be working on Haiti Hands On 10 years later and that we would have a fully functioning school in rural Haiti, I probably would have thought you were crazy.” – Lamia Makkar ‘16 “Lamia and Tas presented a distinctive model for all other studentdriven initiatives; their efforts were not to fill in the gaps on a high school resume but driven by a passion to make a difference.” – Anne Russell, ACS Service Learning Coordinator 2007-2019 Haiti: Hands On is a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen vulnerable Haitian communities through innovative education and capacity building opportunities. To learn more about our alums’ amazing project, visit haitihandson.org.
FINANCIALS
2020-2021
Our Finances The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization registered in the United States and incorporated in the United Arab Emirates. ACS is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, responsible for ensuring the school’s long-term sustainability through fiscal responsibility and strategic planning. Current parents, faculty and staff are members of the ACS Association and participate in its governance by electing the Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for approving the annual budget and providing active oversight to ensure responsible fiscal management of the School’s finances. They also ensure the school’s finances are audited annually. KPMG were ACS’ auditors from 2011 to 2019. In May 2020, the ACS Board engaged Ernst & Young to conduct the School’s 2019-2020 audit and again performed the audit on the 2020-2021 school year finances. As always, ACS received an unqualified audit opinion. The Board and our Finance Committee continue to monitor the full extent and impact of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) on our School’s finances and operations. Despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic, we are pleased to report that ACS ended the 2020-2021 school year in a strong, fiscally sound position.
OPERATING REVENUE ● 95.52% Tuition & Fees ● 2.46%
Priority Seating Amortization
OPERATING EXPENSES ● 80.88% Staff (Salaries & Benefits) ● 5.83%
Materials & Activities
● 5.20%
Depreciation
● 1.60%
Contributions
● 4.97%
Other & Admin
● 0.42%
Other
● 3.11%
Plant Operations
ACS’s finances are stable, and continuity of operations is assured. Enrollment and enrollment-related revenue are the primary drivers of operations. In the 2020-2021 school year, COVID-19 significantly impacted enrollment and the subsequent related income. Year over year, ACS saw a reduction of roughly 7.4% of its student population. This reduction was directly attributable to the economic constriction within the country. However, fiscal prudence and strategic cost management allowed ACS to deliver its top-ranked educational program irrespective of the COVID constraints. Moreover, our attentive and costeffective pandemic response efforts yielded a 1% operational surplus for the year.
Overall costs were similar to previous years on a percentage basis. Salary and benefits accounted for 80.88% of the total expenses. COVID-19 mitigation efforts were noteworthy at 1.12% of the overall expenditures after accounting for a generous grant to offset the costs of our safety efforts. As the Abu Dhabi Education Council continued to prohibit student activities in COVID times, the school realized a 3% reduction in associated expenditures. The budgeted contingency was not used for this fiscal year. Additionally, progress on the new campus continued diligently in 2020-2021. Cash reserves from previous Capital Fee revenue facilitated the continued work on the project.
Recognizing Our Finance Committee The Finance Committee of the Board, aided by the school’s leadership, uses a framework for long-term financial management and forecasting. ACS would like to thank the Finance Committee members for their expertise, advice and support. Members included: Philippe El Bacha (Treasurer), Matt Ayoub (Chair), Monique Flickinger (Superintendent), Victor Guthrie (Assistant Superintendent), Zoltan Karaszy (Director of Finance), Adib Mattar ‘95, Muhannad Qubbaj and Villiers Terblanche. Annual Report 2020-21 | 23
AMERICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF ABU DHABI P.O. Box 42114, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. +971 2 681 5115 acs.sch.ae
ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS AAIE Association for the Advancement of International Education AISH Academy of International School Heads ASCA American School Counselor Association ASCD Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development GOA Global Online Academy IACAC International Association for College Admission Counseling IBO International Baccalaureate Organization MESAC Middle East South Asia Conference MSA Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools NACAC National Association for College Admission Counseling NESA Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools