Dear ACS Families,
As we begin the Easter break this afternoon, I would like to acknowledge the great work of our Middle School teachers and students in making this Week Without Walls such a success.
This was a week that wasn't without its challenges. First, because of the complications we experienced when we had to postpone trips that were originally planned for November, we had to schedule Week Without Walls during Ramadan. Second, because we had to re-schedule in March, we understood that weather might be an issue for trips that were occurring in Lebanon. Finally, with all the reshuffling of students and teachers on different trips, people were a little more anxious and unsettled than they normally would have been.
Week Without Walls is about getting out of your comfort zone, testing yourself in different ways, being self-reliant, learning about different cultures, and helping others. The trips our students embarked on, whether in Turkey, Sri Lanka, or here in Lebanon, combined elements of all of these. Equally important, these experiences teach students how to adapt when things aren't exactly as expected or don't go exactly as planned. Students at Laqlouq and Faraya, who dealt with a fair amount of rain, sleet, and even snow this week, learned how to make the most of a challenging situation. Being resilient, being adaptable, and being positive are attributes that we can't take for granted. I visited students in Laqlouq and Faraya on Wednesday, and I was proud of the way they managed conditions that would have challenged any of us.
Week Without Walls is also about bonding with each other and with their teachers and guides. Knowing that they are all "in it together" helps students manage difficult times; these lessons invariably help students navigate difficult situations that may arise in school.
I want to thank our faculty and staff for all the work they did behind the scenes to plan for these trips. I want to thank them for chaperoning as well. Ensuring that students are safe, interested, and happy is not an easy job, and our teachers do it exceptionally well. I hope they all enjoy a well-deserved rest next week.
Before closing this letter, I need to announce one important change to our calendar. Because we will have 60 faculty and staff participating in an important workshop on Friday, April 19, we are going to cancel school that day. In its place, we will now have a regular school day on Tuesday, May 7. This day was originally scheduled for professional development.
I hope all students, families, faculty, and staff have a wonderful spring break. We'll see you back in school on Wednesday, April 3.
Sincerely,
Tom Cangiano
