Dear ACS Families,
This morning, we held Convocation, a ceremony in which we all come together to commemorate the beginning of the new school year. Convocation is a long-standing tradition in many American independent schools and universities, going back many generations. All Middle and High School students and faculty attended.
In my brief remarks to students this morning, I talked about the rich diversity at ACS, something that truly sets us apart from other schools in Lebanon. Not only does our student body represent 84 different countries, we are from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and have different religious affiliations, political views, interests, and other facets of identity. I think we all acknowledge the benefits of having a truly heterogeneous community; the opportunities to learn from each other, largely because of these differences, are endless.
If ACS has any "agenda" as a school, it is simply this: We strive to ensure that every student and all adults on campus feel welcome, feel safe, feel supported, and feel respected--nothing more but certainly nothing less. There is nothing that makes me happier than when our students convey that being at ACS is like being in a second home. Home is a comfortable place; school must be as well.
I am proud of the work that our teachers do at all grade levels, fostering critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and independent, original thought. It's an approach that makes learning exciting for students and one that capitalizes on students' innate curiosity, and this naturally leads to countless questions from students on any number of issues. This is a predictable outcome of our pedagogical approach, and, I think, an invaluable one.
The validity of an opinion, an argument, a point of view is never taken for granted by our students. Our students question many things. This can be frustrating at times—for teachers and also for parents—but it is a vital component of a student's academic and intellectual development. Questioning and being curious lead to greater knowledge and understanding.
I'm excited for what I am sure will be an amazing year at ACS. With 147 new students and enrollment approaching 940, we have taken another step in getting back to a pre-crisis sense of normality. I'm proud of what ACS has accomplished in the past few years. The future looks bright.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
