High School Week Without Walls

Statement of Purpose

The primary goal of the American Community School’s High School Week Without Walls (WWW) program is drawn from the ACS Mission Statement, ACS empowers students to solve problems with creativity and integrity, to lead well-balanced lives, and to serve Lebanon and the world community with understanding and compassion.

Week Without Walls courses will:

Promote experiential learning and educational opportunities for students to develop stronger connections and understanding between the classroom and the wider world.
Provide opportunities for students to develop the attributes of the ACS High School IB Learner Profile.

Week Without Walls courses may do one or more of the following:

Foster physical, empathetic, academic, and personal growth
Reinforce self-esteem and provide a sense of achievement
Offer opportunities to engage in service learning
Encourage the conservation, preservation and appreciation of nature
Cultivate respect for local communities and international mindedness
Allow for positive interactions/relationships among their fellow students

Student expectations for Week Without Walls courses:

Attendance is mandatory and WWW courses are regarded as being in school and on campus and therefore all school rules and regulations apply to the students.

Exceptions to dress code and other rules may apply.

Successful completion of a WWW course is a graduation requirement for grades 10, and 11.

Grade 12 will be testing or involved in test prep during this time period.

Criteria for Week Without Walls courses:

Any WWW course shall emphasize at least two of the following:

Experiential Learning
Cultural Interaction/Immersion
Service Learning
Link to the ACS Core Curriculum

Wide range of course offerings for all budgets
International and local courses
Minimum of 5 days during school hours with daily reflections/blogs/dairies
Small class size of approximately 20 Students

Grade 9 Curriculum Course may exceed class limit

Timeline for Week Without Walls:

Course proposals due mid to late September
Presentations to parents and students in early October
Sign-ups, deposit collection, and approvals completed in late October
Preparation, education, training, research, and planning from November to April
2017 WWW – May 8-12 - may include the weekend before and after

All students will return to Lebanon on Saturday May 13^th