Dear ACS Families,

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Emergency Financial Relief Fund for Faculty and Staff. Since my last letter, we have raised close to $30,000 fresh dollars! We have a long way to go to fully fund the 20% fresh dollar salary portion we are paying all employees, but we are off to a very good start. If you haven't contributed yet, I do hope you'll consider doing so. This will definitely require a community effort!

I have some news to share about two of our administrative staff. First, Karim Abu-Haydar recently informed me that this would be his last year at ACS. Karim started at ACS as the Middle School Principal in 2005. In 2014, Karim was promoted to Deputy Head of School. Last year, Karim served as Interim Head of School during simultaneous crises, helping to navigate the school through one of its more challenging periods. This year he is doing double duty as Deputy Head of School and Middle School Principal. Karim has been an outstanding leader at ACS, and he is someone who cares very deeply about our school and especially our students. We are grateful for everything he has done for ACS over his long and impactful tenure.

Second, Mo Hourani, Director of Athletics and Activities, has decided to return to his former school, the American Community School of Amman, where he has been named Director of K-12 Service Learning, Wellness, and Environmental Awareness, an exciting leadership opportunity. Mo taught at ACS Beirut from 2002-2006 before leaving to teach internationally. Mo and his family returned to ACS in the summer of 2020, just while Covid was raging and the economic crisis was worsening. Although we are sad to see him go, we want to wish Mo and his family the very best. Mo's spouse, Zeina El Kouzi, who teaches Grade 1 at ACS, will also be missed.

Karim and Mo will be here until the end of the school year in June. We will be posting the Director of Athletics and Activities and Middle School Principal positions immediately and will begin screening internal, local, and international candidates. We will provide updates on the searches as they unfold.

Finally, I will be in New York next week for our fall Board of Trustees meeting. I will be back in the office on Tuesday, November 23.

Sincerely,