ACS Annual Report 2021-22

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22

Empowering Students to Shape the Future Since 1972

ACS Forever Remembers UAE Ruler The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) joined the UAE in mourning the passing of the late HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Under his leadership, the UAE witnessed accelerated development in a number of areas, propelling the nation to become what it is today.

His generosity to the nation and to our school will long be remembered. Just as his father before him (the late Sheikh Zayed, the first ruler of the UAE) had generously gifted land to ACS to build the first American school in Abu Dhabi in 1972, HH Sheikh Khalifa granted additional land to double the size of our existing campus in 1999.

More than 2 decades later, the Sheikh Khalifa Elementary School Building stands as a reminder of the incredible philanthropy of this legendary leader. With education being an important part of his visionary plans and a true friend of education, HH Sheikh Khalifa played an integral role in the history of our school.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Former President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi

SHEIKH KHALIFA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING

CONTENTS Who We Are

4

ACS Mission in Action

13

ACS By the Numbers

5

Student Achievement

15

Message from the Board Chair

6

Class of 2022 Impact

16

Message from the Superintendent 7

Alumni Shaping the Future

18

Celebrating a Culture of Giving

2021-22 Financial Report

19

8

Annual Report 2021-22 | 3

WHO WE ARE

49

Years of Excellence in Education

ELEMENTARY LIBRARY & INNOVATION LAB

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 diverse student body of students between the ages of 4 to 18. Building on a legacy of nearly 50 years of excellence, ACS empowers students to shape and define their futures by providing a balanced learning program in academics, the arts, athletics and service learning.

MISSION

Empowering all students to define and shape their futures for learning, service and global citizenship.

CORE VALUES Courage Curiosity Compassion Integrity

VISION

A compassionate, student-centered community of learners engages, prepares and inspires.

ACS LEARNERS ARE...

Collaborative team members Responsible individuals Self-directed learners Global citizens

4 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

ACS BY THE NUMBERS

2021-2022 TOTAL ENROLLMENT

1,153 STUDENTS

134

Teachers

510

261

Elementary

100+

Course Offerings

12

Volunteer Trustees

Middle

382 High

2,100+ Alumni

712

Families CHOIR PERFORMS AT EMIRATES PALACE

9:1

91

64

Student to Faculty Ratio

2022 Graduates

National Honor Society Students

Nationalities of Students

Faculty with Advanced Degrees

U.S. National Merit Scholar Finalists

● 54% US

67

63%

3

● 10%

Canada

● 4%

UAE National Citizens

● 32% Other Countries

85%

Faculty with 10+ Years Experience

19,537

46,968

Reach

Reach Annual Report 2021-22 | 5

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

A Year to Remember

MATT AYOUB ‘94 Board 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.

Honored to serve the ACS community as trustees for the 2021-2022 school year: Matt Ayoub ‘94, Chair Serena Carnevale, Vice Chair Philippe El Bacha, Treasurer Eric Hilgendorf, Secretary Salem Al Noaimi Omar Asfour ‘96 Nadia Bardawil Kirby Lindsey Adib Mattar ‘95 Muhannad Qubbaj Robin Solomon, US Embassy Rep Julie Thurston

EXPLORE OUR NEW CAMPUS Scan to learn more about our new campus.

As I review another remarkable year in our school’s history, and we look ahead to turning 50, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the progress we have made and the challenges we have overcome as an institution.

Our mission to empower students to define their futures for learning, service and global citizenship has never been more important, and I am pleased to report we have made great strides in progressing the strategic plan that enables that.

Launched in 2019, our plan outlines four priorities – each grounded in the school’s vision, mission and core values. We took a huge step forward in November when we celebrated the groundbreaking of what will be one of the most innovative and inspiring facilities in K-12 education globally.

Standing alongside Abu Dhabi and US government officials, strategic partners, alumni and school leadership – this was a significant milestone in our journey.

Sir Winston Churchill famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” I could not be prouder of ACS’s navigation of the COVID19 pandemic. We did not retreat into a bunker and wait it out. We did not cut back on people or programs. Rather we executed an ambitious strategy to transform our institution and exit this crisis stronger than ever. Our new Saadiyat campus, envisioned together as one community and built with the support of Abu Dhabi, continues firmly on its path to completion in the 2023-24 school year. ACS will have the facility it deserves and the foundation to grow as a globally leading institution.

Beyond the walls, our valued leadership team, led by Monique Flickinger, continued

6 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

to make thoughtful investments in leading faculty and innovative curriculum that underpin our strategic plan. This included the development of academic pathways in areas we see as critical to the future of work and the sustainability of our planet.

Importantly, these programs allow us to continue building relationships with the broader Abu Dhabi community, connecting academia with industry and providing even more opportunities for our students and faculty to grow. As a non-profit institution, these external partnerships, including generous donations of funds, resources and time continue to prove integral to our pursuit of excellence and our strategy to further differentiate ACS. Finally, we welcomed the return of so many of the programs, activities and interactions that define ACS. From our students and parents to our teachers, staff and friends, your collective contributions have been invaluable. My deepest gratitude goes out to all staff and all volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with during the past year. Our core values of integrity, compassion, curiosity and courage have shined throughout this journey. We never could have expected COVID, but we rallied together, emerging stronger with a future that is brighter than ever.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the leadership of ACS, you have our commitment to keep taking steps forward to ensuring ACS achieves its full potential.

With heartfelt gratitude, Matt Ayoub ‘94 Board of Trustees Chair

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Transformative Change Four years in, I remain humbled and inspired by our incredible ACS community.

As I think about the 2021-22 school year, I am awestruck by our school’s ability to adapt to whatever comes our way. This year was marked by transformative change, including the gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions, the regional shift to half-day Fridays and Saturday/Sunday weekends and the naming of new UAE President HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Despite the seemingly never ending shifts and changes, our community grew, remained flexible and adapted.

This is a moment to pause and reflect on why, how and what we were able to accomplish, prioritizing what was truly important, and time after time staying true to our core values. To say I am proud of our students, faculty, staff and families is an understatement.

continued to guide us, helping us to make decisions that furthered our mission and elevated the elements of four pillars where we could thrive as a school: Academics, Athletics, Service Learning and the Arts.

Our students excelled in ways we could not have imagined. Even after two years, with no outside valuation from external assessments such as IB, ACT, SAT and MAP, we saw little to no academic loss.

We even celebrated three National Merit Scholars this year, a first for ACS and the region. These achievements are due to the commitment from our students, and the flexibility and determination of the teachers and parents that supported learning at home.

We also made great progress in our commitment to enhance our Arabic language program across all grade levels.

We welcomed Dr. Hanadi Dayyeh, our new Director of Arabic, who is passionate about elevating Arabic at ACS and ensuring our students have the tools they need to be successful in learning Arabic at ACS. And a landmark event defining the year was a groundbreaking ceremony of our new campus on Saadiyat with the help of key stakeholders and our cornerstone corporate partners.

The need for a new campus has been a long-standing strategic priority, driven by the desire to provide students and faculty with an inspiring 21st century environment for teaching and learning. This milestone brought to life something that so many of our community members have worked toward, and I’m tremendously enthusiastic for what’s to come for ACS.

During this year our region was transformed as the UAE welcomed the world’s fair Expo 2020. Our students shared in the learning and innovation that was happening during this remarkable event in many ways, including our High School students producing a Model United Nations Summit live at the Expo that featured ACS alumni who joined virtually from across the globe.

I had the honor to attend, along with the regional CEO of Accenture, who generously supported the event.

2021-22 was also a big year for ACS. Throughout the year, our strategic plan

We have evolved and proved rapid change is possible and can happen instantly when required. I am thankful for the support of our Board of Trustees, families, staff and especially to our students who consistently rose to the occasion and gave of themselves to ensure our school’s success.

I am truly excited for what the future holds for our students, for our community and for our school.

Warmly, Monique Flickinger Superintendent

MONIQUE FLICKINGER Superintendent

LEADERSHIP TEAM Dr. Victor Guthrie Assistant Superintendent Amy Greene High School Principal Karl Poulin Middle School Principal Heather Collins Elementary School Principal Dr. 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 Dr. Ann Peterson Elementary School Assistant Principal Christina Devitt 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 Jodi Lefort Director of Admissions Marise Philip-Jayendran Director of Human Resources Joni Wills Director of Communications

Annual Report 2021-22 | 7

Celebrating a Culture of Giving The 2021-2022 academic year at ACS was marked by remarkable generosity within our community. Our dedicated PTA and Viper Club volunteers orchestrated community-building events like International Day and the New Family Welcome, fostering unity.

The tireless efforts of our volunteer trustees furthered our mission, while contributions to the ACS Excellence Fund ensured that our students had access to transformative experiences. Returning to campus as a united community, we witnessed a surge in charitable support, an indicator of a strong culture of giving and a reflection of who we are as a school.

1ST ACS GIVING DAY Our first-ever ACS Giving Day on May 19, 2022, exceeded our expectations. The goal was to increase participation and encourage new donations to the ACS Excellence Fund. Our community celebrated with popsicles for everyone.

ACS

GIVING

DAY 05.19.22

NEW CORNERSTONE PARTNERS Leveraging our cornerstone partners’ expertise and financial support, ACS is advancing the UAE’s strategic priorities for education and innovation and equipping students across the region with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive world.

Their investment is providing invaluable support for students today and will continue to have a sustained impact on our community for years to come.

Their leadership support of our new campus has been transformational.

8 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

• 150% increase in participation • More than 100 donations • 47% new donors • Nearly AED 200K in 24 hours

CELEBRATING A CULTURE OF GIVING

EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS: BUILDING ACS FOR THE FUTURE Propelled by nearly 50 years of institutional knowledge and an unwavering commitment to excellence, ACS is building a new state-of-the-art campus on Saadiyat Island. With early leadership support and generosity from a handful of families, corporations, alumni and friends who care deeply about the future of ACS, we are making strategic investments in our people and our programs to transform education for generations of future ACS students to come and to greatly enhance ACS ahead of its move to our new campus.

HISTORIC GROUNDBREAKING In November 2021, ACS hosted a special ceremony to break ground on its new, six-hectare campus. In attendance were His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, ACS alumnus, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala; Her Excellency Sara Awad Issa Musallam, Chairperson of the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK); Sean Murphy, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy Abu Dhabi; and other key stakeholders including Abu Dhabi and US government officials, strategic partners, ACS Board members, alumni and leaders of the school.

Annual Report 2021-22 | 9

CELEBRATING A CULTURE OF GIVING

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCELLENCE In 2021-2022, the generosity of our entire ACS Community provided more than AED 2.8 million in contributions to our school allowing us to take ACS to the next level in a way that is not possible with tuition alone. With the generous support of our community, even in a year of continuing COVID restrictions, ACS continued to thrive with exciting opportunities for our school: • A student-produced MUN Summit at Expo 2020 Dubai • A new engineering pathway in rocketry for Grades K-12 • New ES Innovation Lab supplies • Innovative and pioneering teacher training for Arabic educators • 50% more Global Online Academy (GOA) courses for HS students, including Neuroscience and Cyber Security

• Supplied essentials for members of our community through the Compassion Fund • Robotics table enhancement in MS Tech for our students to extend their learning in programming and robotics • Iftar for ACS campus workers sponsored by Barclays • Welcomed visiting Literature Advocate and Author John Schu to celebrate a love of reading with our students

• The first-ever Elementary School Art Exhibition “The UAE & Me” including 3 visiting artists

INVESTING IN ROCKETRY PATHWAY | THE SKY’S THE LIMIT! Led by teachers Erik White and Adam Cross, 12 students launched the new Rocketry Club at ACS. Supported by charitable contributions to the Excellence Fund, the teachers attended a week-long training in Texas to advance their subject matter knowledge and prepare for the club’s upcoming activities. Students first built a paper rocket (Generation Zero Build). The compressed air launcher was a success on the students’ first launch attempts. We had many learning opportunities, and the students are looking forward to refining their designs and conducting more launches. Our next mission: Prepare our students for the launch of a real rocket in Texas in 2023 with other schools in the U.S.!

10 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

CELEBRATING A CULTURE OF GIVING

ACS MUN SUMMIT AT DUBAI EXPO 2020 On February 25, 2022, the ACS Model United Nations (MUN) students organized an online conference with the theme of Peace and Justice - Goal #16 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The event was generously sponsored and hosted by Accenture at their lounge at the Dubai Expo 2020, Al Wasl dome!

Three ACS alumni, Tegene Kirubel ‘08, Nour Haidar ‘11 and Albert Gunnison ‘16, participated virtually as guest speakers sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Alexandre Bres, COO at Accenture Middle East, welcomed the attendees and students.

WORKERS IFTAR | STUDENTS GIVING BACK In observance of Ramadan on April 22, 2022, a group of 19 ACS students and 20 employees from our esteemed Corporate Partner Barclays united in a meaningful endeavor. Together, they distributed more than 700 meals to the dedicated construction workers at our new campus site on Saadiyat Island. The Ramadan Iftar initiative not only brought joy to the hearts of our exceptional workers but also left a lasting impression on our ACS students, instilling within them the virtues of compassion, understanding and collaboration.

This momentous occasion marked the students’ inaugural visit to the new campus, providing them with a remarkable opportunity to contribute and express their gratitude in the spirit of Ramadan. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Barclays for their invaluable support in making this significant initiative possible.

2021-2022 GIVING BY THE NUMBERS

275 Donations (21% increase over 2021) 100% Board Participation Nearly 50% Staff Participation AED 2.8 million in Total Contributions

AMOUNT DONATED

BY CONSTITUENT

■ 66% Parents ■ 25% Staff ■ 4% Alumni ■ 3% Students ■ 2% Other (Corporations, Former Parents, Friends)

Annual Report 2021-22 | 11

CELEBRATING A CULTURE OF GIVING

Thank you!

We are grateful to the following for their leadership support of our new campus and vision for the future:

LEADERSHIP GIVING CIRCLE Anonymous (3) Accenture Azeem & Ayesha Akhtar Barclays Mutasem Dajani & Muna Hindi Gautam Datta & Jodi Lefort

Brad & Caroline Heming Nadim Koteich & Diana Nasralleh John & Anissa Lickrish Raymond Makhoul & Lizeth Maalouf Luca Molinari & Serena Carnevale Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Oxy Mujeeb Qazi & Maria Ansari Muhannad Qubbaj & Roulana Jarrar Raytheon Emirates Ltd Villiers & Louise Terblanche

2021-22 ANNUAL GIVING DONORS GOLD (AED 50,000+)

Anonymous Nabyl Al Maskari Hase ‘91 & Najla Faisal Al Awadhi Nasser Al Nowais & Nadine Kaaki Gautam Datta & Jodi Lefort* Brad & Caroline Heming Luca Molinari & Serena Carnevale Rotana Villiers & Louise Terblanche

SILVER (AED 25,000+)

Anonymous Abdul Rahman Balfaqeeh & Meriem Marrouni Mutasem Dajani & Muna Hindi John & Anissa Lickrish Lockheed Martin Mujeeb Qazi & Maria Ansari Muhannad Qubbaj & Roulana Jarrar Leon & Leslie Shivamber

BRONZE (AED 10,000+)

Anonymous (2) Faiz Ahmad & Mahnaz Karim Ahmed Al Ahmadi’11 Ahmed Almahmoud & Huda Alsabbagh Matt Ayoub’94 & Cecy Ayoub Nadim Koteich & Diana Nasrallah Kirby & Melissa Lindsey Raymond Makhoul & Lizeth Maalouf Marwan Naaman & Rana Sidawi Naaman Northrop Grumman Kamran Sadiq & Bushra Kamran Banna Sado & Ghada Kozak Hadi Sha & Suzan Terzian

PEARL (AED 5,000+)

Anonymous (2) Zahi Abu Hamze & Diana Rafeh Rami & Haya Abulaila Mohamed Hussam Akasha & Rania Abaza Azeem & Ayesha Akhtar Ahmed Alameri & Muna Aldhaheri Mubarak Alnakhi & Mazoon Albwardy Keunsang Cho & Kyounghee Lee Mahmoud Elgizawy & Safa Ghamrawy Daniel Feldman & Nadia Bardawil Nabeel Hassan & Elena Asadova Turner & Allison Herbert Jeremy & Haly Johnson Mick & Mia McColgan* Okab Sakr & Nadine Fallah Bernardo & Luciana Sampaio Robin Solomon & Erlan Ibrayev

Michael & Julie Thurston The Zamzam Family

JADE (AED 2,500+)

Ahmed & Sallama Al-Sayegh Omar ‘96 & Raya Asfour Yvette Campbell* James & Maria Cowell Massimo Cristaldi & Milena Crepaldi Chris Rose & Christina Devitt* Philippe El Bacha & Nujoud Zuriekat Thomas Ettinghausen & Burul Kukeshova Brad & Monique Flickinger* Victor & Amber Guthrie* John & Carolyn Hackworth Yacoub Nuseibeh & Alexandra Jaar Gordon & Nada Prouty Andreas Roth & Eva Bilz Andrew & Joni Wills*

FRIEND (up to AED 2,500)

Ernest & Rachel Abelson Phil & Averi Abraham* Wael Abu-Adas & Maysa Tamimi Amer Aidi & Lana Nassar Yousri Al Amir & Hanadi Dayyeh* Lulwa A. (Grade 4) Khalifa A. (Grade 6) Yousef A. (Grade KG2) Waheeda Al Tamimi* Abdulla Mohamed Abdulwahed Almaainah & Aida Almanoubi Ibrahim Ben Jemia Mark & Kristina Amores-Hudson* Sherif & Poe Anis Rhoda Aquino* Ernesto Ramos & Mercedes Avila* Akram Ayoub & Suha Naffa* Sarah B. (Grade 4) Jun Sang Bae & Minjung Kwak Rajanish Balakrishnan & Deepthi Jayarajan* Rachel & Scott Baldwin* Anton Bawab & Dana Kassissieh Scott & Erica Benton Paul & Beth Bernards Richmond & Roseline Boaitey* Jonathan Bosch & Katmerka Kurtovic Bosch Leslie Bosch Nathan Bowling & Hope Teague-Bowling* Thomas & Nora Brannan* Kevin & Jamoie Bridges Matthew & Jerita Burreson

12 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

Taylor C. (Grade 12) Cristina Calera* Pietro Calugi & Eva Piazzolla Pietro Cerrone & Ewa Fiuk-Cerrone Jason & Bobbi Charles* Ghassan Chehade & Anthi Manola* Kevin & Heather Collins* Christophe & Kim Cottin* William & Casey D’Entremont Jucarlo & Cora Dagdagan Jordan Davis & Katy Hawkins* Joshua & Amy Davis Leonisa Dayang* Nazim Dbichi Jose Luis Del Prim Marcen & Parisa Habibi Jennifer Derby* Robert Desormeau & Amy Mulvihill* Jonathan & Hanny Diaz* Amira El Gawly Sherry El-Gawly Paul & Katherine Evans Hisham & Gaby Fadel* Mohammad Irfan Fazili & Kubra Mubashshir Davide Felugo & Chiara Maria Marongiu Lisa Ficek Matthew & Kate Gallery Daniel & Elizabeth Garbutt Ma’an Ghannam & Tamara Alkhateeb* Elena Marina & Emilian Marcel Gheorghiu Indranil Ghosh & Mahasweta Ghoshroy Andrew & Robyn Gibson* Neil Griffiths & Ann Peterson* Bill & Kimberley Harris* Alexander Harrison & Mary Brown-Harrison Ashton Hawke* Sandra Hay* Eric & Angelyn Hilgendorf Francis Ik Sing Ho & Rosaline Chek Tang Ting Joan Hugo* Wassim Jabbour & Nadine Abdou Neil Jones & Sarah Mavrinac Belal & Laurie Joundeya* Tariq Kantis & Liliane Hamed Kenneth Kim & Hae Jeon Fethi & Lara Kirdar Manoj Kunnanoth & Seema Alakkat* Joon Ho Lee & Yoon Hee Lee Nicola Lener & Giovanna Mastandrea Dana Louis* Wei Luo & Yan Zeng Sarah M. (Grade 4)

Francesco M. (Grade 4) Sofia M. (Grade 4) Paolo M. (Grade 8) Assem & Mona Mawlawi* Christina McDade* Kristian Mogensen & Trine Ljungstrom* Anthony & Lane Mohr Noureldin Mostafa & Robin Gabriel* Tony & Jenna Murray* Bernard Nasr & Doris Elia Françoise Nedellec* Suhail Nelliyullathil & Ayisha Kalluveettil* Christopher Neurinski & Rana Kobeisi* Ramon Palau Ginesta & Lisa Carse Maria Pereira* Bo Petersen & Lone Wennestad* Georg & Ulrike Petroianu Robert Pfeiffer & Amy Greene* Karl Poulin & Sabine Luckhardt* Melisa Pubil* Mariya R. (Grade 4) Madhvi Rana* Brent Raven & Lisa Paterson* Jennifer Ricks* Trond Håvard Glomnes Rudi & Anne Glomnes Rudi Jean Rueckert* Atheel Sahel* Saeb Salam & Shirine Solh Abdou Salloum & Nadia Tabarani Kelly & Jeanette Scholl Pieter Schoorel & Heather Sullivan Sandra Sfeirova* Mohammed Shehadeh & Manal Fraiwat-Shehadeh George Shubeita & Hala Ouzon Ali Mustapha Skhiri & Monia Kamzi Antonis Slicher & Kalli Kontozoglou* Thomas & Miharu Stafford Anderson & Adi Stanciole Matthew Stiger Hendrie Sukendro & Magdalena Dartono Aigul & Baglan Sultanbek Peter Syrenne & Tara Bradford* Fadia Terzian* Mark & Alina Thomer Darleen Todd* Jeremy & Amy Trescott Nicolas Turrin & Marie-Josee Caron William & Erin Watts Erik White & Priscilla Bade-White* Qun Xu Kyusung Yang & Hyeyoun Jung Hadif Zamzam Sharon & Roy Zentner

Includes in-kind and cash contributions. * Indicates Faculty & Staff

ACS Mission in Action The 2021-22 school year brought out the very best in our school. Teachers and students alike discovered how significant change can create opportunities to push themselves to grow beyond measure. As a school, we found new ways to extend learning, find performing spaces beyond our campus and reach new scholarly heights.

2nd Annual Arabic Summer Camp: Bakir Mohammad & Jamila Sinno, members of our Arabic faculty, spent the early part of their summer creating an incredible Arabic Summer Camp experience for 30 Elementary School students, focusing on enhancing their Arabic speaking skills while engaging in fun activities and handson experiences. Grade 11 students, Miriam and Noor, interned as camp counselors, helping the campers to build tents and desert terrariums, explore desert weather patterns and act as scientists using the UAE’s Circular Irrigation System.

ACS Middle and High School Choirs invited to Perform at Emirates Palace & Saadiyat Jumeirah at their annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies and holiday festivities. It was a wonderful opportunity for our young musicians to perform again and in such a beautiful setting for family, friends and the whole community.

Virtual After School Program: High School students from the ACS National Honor Society adapted to the limitations of COVID by offering fun and creative virtual after school activities to inspire and engage our Elementary students.

ACS Hosts Jr NBA Inaugural Season: The NBA’s official youth basketball program with more than 450 middle school student athletes from 30 Abu Dhabi schools, comprising 20 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams. NBA superstars and legends like Clyde Drexler, Tony Parker, Robert Horry and Paul Pierce all made appearances in support of the program. On May 28, ACS athletes achieved a double triumph, with the San Antonio Spurs girls’ team and Portland Trail Blazers boys’ team securing the championship titles. The Jr. NBA is the result of a pioneering partnership between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi.

The Exciting Return of Live Performances: Middle School and High School students took to the stage and behind the scenes for two in-person performances, 10 Ways to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse and A Kidsummer Night’s Dream.

Annual Report 2021-22 | 13

ACS MISSION IN ACTION

The Grade 5 Sustainable Business Fair gave students the opportunity to share their business plans for achieving economic growth and decent work for all workers. The fair showcased their work enabling them to share their advocacy and solutions with fellow students, staff and parents.

Developing a Globally Leading Arabic program takes strong leadership. Meet Dr. Hanadi Dayyeh, our new Director of Arabic Programs who joined our team in August 2021. Dr. Hanadi is a specialist in Arabic language and linguistics and has taught Arabic to native and non-native speakers for more than 14 years. She led and audited Arabic programs in International and American schools in 7 countries and has trained Arabic language teachers at international conferences and private schools.

UAE & Me First-Ever Elementary School Art Exhibition “UAE & Me”, in honor of the UAE’s 50th year, highlighting our students’ connections to the UAE and their communities. The exhibition featured the work of three exceptional visiting artists, Tariq “Rick” Sharif, Rabab Tantawy and Hanneke Reinalda-Poot, who worked with Grade 3, 4 and 5 students and art teacher, Scott Baldwin, to create this extraordinary exhibition and offer the students a rare opportunity to learn from and collaborate with these amazing artists.

1 National Merit Scholarship Winner and 2 Finalists: Taylor Campbell (winner), Madhav Ajaymohan and Sharif Hassen were named finalists for the 2022 U.S. National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among 15,000 finalists worldwide. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selected 7,500 scholarship winners from the finalists. Congratulations to these remarkable students.

STUDENT-LED SERVICE INITIATIVES Student involvement in their school community is crucial for fostering a positive and compassionate society. By actively participating in activities, clubs and events, students cultivate a sense of belonging, pride and personal development. Through volunteering, students gain essential skills in leadership, teamwork and social responsibility. Notable community engagements led by our students this year: • More than 100 High School students led after-school programs for younger students in various subjects.

• A mental health awareness club hosted workshops and conversations for students.

• More than 100 students volunteered for community events like Fall Festival and 50th Anniversary celebration.

• More than 60 Elementary students joined the Roots & Shoots program and campaigned against single use plastic.

• Students showed appreciation to 65 ACS security & cleaning staff with personalized gifts and donations during the holidays.

14 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT MEASURE OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS (MAP) Grades 2-9 MAP assessments are computer adaptive achievement tests that help ACS personalize learning for every student.

Assessments support growth and skill mastery to help students reach their fullest potential. In the 2021-2022 school year, ACS returned to traditional in-person MAP testing in the Fall 2021 and found no significant decline in student learning. Approximately 60% of our students score in the top 25% in both Reading and Math. Below are MAP results for ACS as compared to the North East South Asia Council (NESA).

MAP Results - Math

MAP Results - Reading

Note: Fall 2021 / NESA = North East South Asia Council

SAT / IB DP / AP Grades 11-12 ACS offers a challenging standards-based American curriculum Pre-K - Grade 12. All students work toward earning a High School Diploma. In Grades 11 and 12, students can choose to enroll in the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP), Advanced Placement (AP) courses and/or ACS High School courses.

ACS 1275

World 1051

2022 International Baccalaureate DP Total Points Earned by ACS Candidates

ACS 5.5

Average Diploma Grade

ACS 43

ACS 97%

World 5.1

Out of 45

Highest Score

(achieved by less than 0.5%)

■ 40-45 points

World 85%

■ 35-39 points ■ 30-34 points

Diploma Pass Rate

ACS 35

World 31

Average Total Points Earned

■ 25-29 points

• 88% of ACS IB students score above the world average of 30.91 • Nearly 20% of ACS IB students obtained 40-45 points (90% increase over 2021 and 38% higher than the world average)

2022 Advanced Placement (AP)

ACS

WORLD

Computer Science Principles [38]

4.1

2.9

US Government & Politics [15]

3.6

2.6

US History [33]

3.1

2.6

Computer Science A [14]

4.3

3.2

Comparative Government & Politics [28]

3.5

3.1

Statistics [11]

2.6

2.8

English Literature and Composition [26]

3.5

3.3

Calculus AB [10]

2.9

2.9

English Language and Composition [25]

2.9

2.8

• 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 2021-22 | 15

CLASS OF 2022 IMPACT

ACS Class of 2022 Recognition & Accolades

91 graduates from 46 countries US$5.7M in scholarships 86% of graduates accepted into their Top 3 universities

UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES AND MATRICULATION FOR THE CLASSES OF 2019-2022 UNITED STATES

Allegheny College American University (3) Appalachian State University Architectural Association School of Architecture Arizona State University (2) Auburn University Augustana College Bard College Barnard College Baruch College of the CUNY Baylor University (2) Belmont University Bennett College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Boston University (3) Brandeis University Brigham Young University (2) 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 Chaminade University of Honolulu Champlain College Chapman University (3) Cleveland College of Art and Design Cleveland State University

Coastal Carolina University College of New Jersey College of William & Mary (2) Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Columbia University (3) Cooper Union Cornell University Cuesta College CUNY Bernard M Baruch College CUNY Hunter College Dartmouth College DePaul University DigiPen Institute of Technology Drexel University Duke University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elmhurst College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Emerson College Emory University (2) Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts Everett Community College Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Florida State University Fordham University (2) Franklin and Marshall College George Mason University George Washington University (5) Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Grand Canyon University Hamilton College Harvey Mudd College Hawaii Pacific University High Point University Hofstra University Hollins University Hope College 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 Jefferson University John Carroll University Johnson C. Smith University Keiser University - Ft. Lauderdale Kent State University Lake Forest College Lamar University Lee University Leeward Community College Longwood University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University (2) 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 Manhattan College Marymount University Massachusetts College of Art and Design Michigan State University Middle Georgia State University Middle Tennessee State University Monmouth University Montana State University Montgomery College Mount Holyoke College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University (10) Nichols College North Carolina Central University

North Carolina State University (2) Northeastern University (9) Northern Arizona University Northern Virginia Community College Norwich University Nova Southeastern University Occidental College Ohio State University Ohio University Oregon State University Pace University Pennsylvania State University (4) Pepperdine University Pomona College Portland State University Pratt Institute Principia College Purchase College, SUNY Purdue University (3) Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Ringling College of Art & Design Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Rollins College Rutgers University, New Brunswick (2) Saint Louis University Salve Regina University Sam Houston State University San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design (5) School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of Visual Arts Scripps College Seattle University

Seneca College Seton Hall University Shenandoah University Skidmore College Smith College Southeast Missouri State University Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Southern Methodist University St. John’s University St. Mary’s College of Maryland St. Olaf College (2) Stanford University Stevens Institute of Technology Stony Brook University Suffolk University SUNY, New Paltz Susquehanna University Sweet Briar College Syracuse University Temple University Texas A&M University (3) 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 Union College United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Arizona (2) University at Buffalo, SUNY University of California, Berkeley (6) University of California, Davis (3) University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles (4) University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside

University of California, San Diego (3) University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Central Florida University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Colorado, Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dayton (2) University of Delaware University of Denver University of Evansville University of Florida University of Hawaii University of Houston University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (4) 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 Massachusetts, Dartmouth University of Miami University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (3) University of Michigan, Dearborn University of Michigan, Flint University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Minnesota, Duluth University of Minnesota, Morris University of Missouri, Columbia University of New Hampshire at Durham

CLASS OF 2022 IMPACT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

MATRICULATION

50% US 21% Canada 7% Europe 7% UAE 15% Gap Year/Military Service/Other

The graduating class of 2022 faced unprecedented challenges that disrupted their high school experience. Despite the setbacks, they demonstrated remarkable adaptability, developing the essential skills needed to navigate through constantly evolving circumstances. Instead of dwelling on the activities, sports and events they missed, this exceptional class dedicated themselves to serving others and making substantial contributions to their community. These young individuals transformed into activists, problem solvers, teachers, learners and exemplary leaders. The valuable abilities acquired during their time at ACS will undoubtedly shape their future endeavors. Take a glimpse at the remarkable impact the class of 2022 had within the ACS community, and in some cases, even across the globe:

• Founding a technology club that partnered with a local NGO to send hundreds of devices to refugees • Creating an organization to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging • Advocating for the importance of openly talking about mental health • Teaching coding online to students in Indonesia • Partnering with local NGOs to donate medical supplies • Beginning a tradition called the Gifting Project to give back to our workers during the winter holidays • Undergoing extensive training to tutor refugee peers around the world • Building a community website to further encourage and support literacy • Voluntarily organizing after-school activities for Elementary and Middle School students

The Class of 2022 has made their mark in ways that will long be remembered. Congratulations!!

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of North Dakota University of Northern Colorado University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania 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 (2) University of Tampa University of Tennessee University of Texas, Austin (3) University of Texas, Dallas University of Texas, San Antonio University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin Utah Valley University Valparaiso University Vassar College Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech (2) Virginia Western Community College Wake Forest University (2) Washington State University Washington University, St. Louis Webster University Wellesley College (3) Wesley College Wesleyan University West Texas A&M University West Virginia University

Western Washington University Wheaton College IL Woodbury University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University Xavier University

CANADA

Alberta College of Art and Design Bishop’s University Brock University Capilano University Carleton University (2) Concordia University (8) Dalhousie University Emily Carr University of Art and Design Grande Prairie Regional College Lakehead University Laurentian University McGill University (2) McMaster University (3) 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 Alberta University of British Columbia (4) University of Calgary (3) University of Guelph (3) University of New Brunswick University of Ottawa University of Toronto (14) University of Victoria University of Waterloo Vancouver Film School Vancouver Island University Western University (4) Wilfrid Laurier University York University

UNITED KINGDOM

Abertay University Anglia Ruskin University Arts University Bournemouth Bournemouth University Birkbeck, 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 King’s College London (2) Kingston University Lancaster University London School of Economics and Political Science Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester University Met Film School Newcastle University Nottingham College Queen Mary University of London (2) Ravensbourne University Richmond, The American International University in London Royal College of Surgeons Royal Holloway, University of London SOAS, University of London Ulster University University College London (2) University of Aberdeen University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Buckingham University of Central Lancashire 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 Sheffield University of St. Andrews University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Warwick University of Westminster University of York University of the Arts London

EUROPE

American College of Greece American University of Paris American University of Rome Amsterdam University College BI Norwegian Business School, Norway CEU San Pablo, Spain College Universitaire de Sciences Po, France Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Netherlands (7) Erasmus University College, Netherlands (2) ESADE Business School 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 Maastricht University Medical University of Gdansk Mikkeli University Applied Sciences

National University of Ireland, Galway NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences Nord University Paracelsus Private Medical University Paris College of Art, France Ramon Llull University Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland (2) Saint Louis University, Madrid, Spain Saxion University of Applied Sciences SciencesPo/Columbia University, France Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia Tilburg University Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Universita Bocconi, Italy Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands Universiteit Maastricht, Netherlands Universiteit Utrecht, Netherlands University College Utrecht, Netherlands University of Amsterdam (3) University of Groningen, Netherlands University of Liège University of Limerick, Ireland Universidad Navarra, Spain University of Nicosia University of Tartu, Estonia University of Twente, Netherlands University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Brussels Webster University, Geneva Zuyd University Applied Sciences, Finland

MIDDLE EAST

Abu Dhabi University, UAE American University in Dubai American University of Beirut, Lebanon American University of Sharjah, UAE (6) Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Gulf Medical University Lebanese American University, Lebanon Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE (6) RAK Medical and Health Sciences University Royal College of Surgeons, Bahrain Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi University of Balamand, Lebanon Zayed University, UAE

OTHER

De La Salle University, Philippines Hong Kong University of Science & Technology National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality & Tourism NYU Shanghai University of Hong Kong Savannah College of Art and Design, Hong Kong Yale-NUS College, Singapore

KEY

Listed = Acceptances Bold Type = Matriculation ( ) = Number of Students Matriculated

ALUMNI SHAPING THE FUTURE

ACS Alumni Power Couple Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala, and one of 12 students in the first graduating class of ACS in 1993 is featured in the 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2022, published by Gulf Business. The annual list celebrates influential leaders who are shaping and driving growth in the region.

Nadia Sehweil, ACS alum from the class of 1997, is co-founder of Bodytree Wellness Studio, Abu Dhabi’s original and longest running home of wellness, and Nectar Bites Café. Married in 2007, Nadia and Khaldoon’s three children currently attend the school. These two alums are true examples of ACS’s mission to empower students to shape the future.

UAE 50th Year Campaign Featuring Matt Ayoub ‘94

2022 Graduation Speaker Haif Zamzam ‘04

ACS alumnus Matt Ayoub, Chair of our Board of Trustees, was honored as part of the UAE Embassy’s “50 Years 50 Faces” campaign. This campaign celebrates the genuine and meaningful relations between Emiratis and Americans throughout the past 50 years. Matt’s selection recognizes his dedication to education, his advocacy for our ACS community and his commitment to our school’s future.

His feature highlights the pivotal role ACS played in his life, our shared history with the UAE and the US, and the exciting future ahead as we transition to our new Saadiyat campus.

ACS welcomed Haif Zamzam, a distinguished alumna from the class of 2004, as this year’s inspiring commencement speaker. Haif, alongside her three siblings who are also ACS graduates, exemplifies dedication and ambition. She holds the distinction of being the first Emirati to graduate with an MBA from INSEAD. It was a privilege to have Haif address our graduates, imparting wisdom on preserving passion and finding empowerment in their chosen paths.

Watch the Video

18 | American Community School of Abu Dhabi

The Zamzam family has long been influential supporters of our ACS community. In 2016, Haif and her family established the Haitham Zamzam Al Hammadi International Medal of Friendship Award in honor of her brother Haitham, who served on the ACS Board of Trustees. This prestigious award is presented annually to a Grade 11 student who embodies our school’s values of scholarship, community and character.

2021-22 FINANCIAL REPORT 2021-2022

Our Finances The American Community School of Abu Dhabi 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. They also ensure the School’s finances are audited annually. KPMG were ACS’ auditors from 2011 to 2019.

In May 2020, the ACS Board first engaged Ernst & Young (EY) to conduct the School’s 2019-2020 audit. EY again performed the audit on the 2021-2022 school year finances. As always, ACS received an unqualified Audit Opinion.

We are pleased to report that ACS ended the 2021-2022 school year in a strong, fiscally prudent position.

OPERATING REVENUE ● 95.22% Tuition & Fees ● 1.64%

Priority Seating Amortization

● 2.73%

Contributions

● 0.41%

Other

OPERATING EXPENSES ● 79.77% Staff (Salaries & Benefits) ● 7.18%

Materials & Activities

● 4.62%

Depreciation

● 3.70%

Other & Admin

● 4.74%

Plant Operations

The Operating Budget The American Community School’s finances are stable, and continuity of operations is assured. The financial results for fiscal year 2021-2022 are in alignment with the twin objectives of maintaining a disciplined budget while supporting and strengthening our academic and extracurricular programs, and safeguarding the longterm financial stability of the school.

Enrollment and enrollment-related revenue are the primary drivers of ACS’s operations. In the 2021-2022 school year, the school’s enrollment rebounded to pre-COVID levels. Year over year, ACS saw an increase of roughly 5% of its student population.

As a non-profit school, ACS reinvests all of our income into the school, recognizing that teachers have the single most significant impact on learning. This school year, 80% of the tuition income was allocated to salaries and benefits while maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 9 students to 1 teacher schoolwide.

Another critically important way we support student success is by tailoring the school environment to best support learning and growth. The 2021-2022 fiscal year saw the audacious and inspiring groundbreaking of our new ACS campus on Saadiyat Island. 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 ‘94 (Chair), Monique Flickinger (Superintendent), Victor Guthrie (Assistant Superintendent), Zoltan Karaszy (Director of Finance), Omar Asfour ‘96, Kirby Lindsey, Adib Mattar ‘95 and Muhannad Qubbaj.

Annual Report 2021-22 | 19

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