Now that you are a parent at the American Community School at Beirut we hope that you will feel not only welcomed but also excited to become a member of our active community. Many of your friends will ask why ACS. "What makes ACS special?" We believe we are unique.

A relatively small student centered school offering excellence from early years through secondary, ACS takes pride in its class sizes and the dynamic interaction of its foreign and local teachers. Our high school student faculty ratio is as low as one faculty member for every seven students. In the Middle School the largest section is one faculty member to seventeen, and in Elementary the largest group is twenty-two. By the time students graduate from ACS they will be fluent in English and Arabic, have worked in our four science labs in Middle and High School and have become extremely computer literate. They will have participated in regional academic, athletic, and fine arts competitions, Model United Nations, the Globe environmental program, outdoor education, and have been involved with student council, our publications and concert bands. They will have had extensive physical and health education and been very involved in service in the community. They will be involved in a highly integrated curriculum that offers the American College Preparatory Diploma as well as a choice of the Lebanese Baccalaureate or the International Baccalaureate program. They can be assured of strong support throughout from counselors and they will be ready to compete in a fast-changing and competitive world.

What can you as a parent do to help? Get involved in the school. Attend your child's special events and know their schedules. Get to know their friends and don't hesitate to volunteer for the many activities that need parental support. Most importantly teach your children to budget time effectively and to take responsibility for their work. Teach them to love reading and get to know their teachers. Parents make a difference when it comes to a child's learning, motivation and choices.

Yes, we are a community and look forward to your participation and involvement in your child's career at ACS. Once again welcome. We are eager to have you become an integral member of our community.