American Community School Beirut
| American Community School Beirut | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
67 Nigeria Street, Jal El-Bahr | |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Publication | ACS Matters |
| Tuition | ± $17500 |
| Feeder to | American University of Beirut |
| Website | http://www.acs.edu.lb |
The American Community School Beirut (
History
The school was founded by a small group of American parents from the
The school celebrated its Centennial on June 24, 2005, and in June 2011, ACS Beirut celebrated the graduation of its 100th graduating class. Dr. George H. Damon Jr. remained Headmaster of the school from 2003 till his retirement in 2013.[1]
ACS's history is described by Wade Morris Jr. in A History of ACS; The American Community School at Beirut 1905-2012.[2]
Academics
[3] ACS Beirut offers three types of a high school diploma. The American High School Diploma program prepares students for admission to colleges and universities in the US. All graduates will earn the high school diploma. Additionally, ACS offers the International Baccalaureate diploma as well as the Lebanese Baccalaureate diploma. Each of these three diploma programs has a slightly different course of study, but only in selected grade levels. For the IB Diploma Program, the course of study is differentiated in the last two years of high school. For the Lebanese Baccalaureate, the course of study differs in grades 9 and 12.
Campus facilities
The ACS campus is located within a short distance from the Mediterranean sea. The Lower School building consists of a library, computer center, auditorium, multipurpose hall, art room, as well as the Early Childhood and the Elementary Administrative Wing. The Middle School building houses all Middle School classrooms, science laboratories, lego robotics lab, High School student services, counselors, infirmary, special support personnel, college counselor, and community service advisor, as well as the Upper Library and the Middle School computer center. The building has its own auditorium and music room and houses the School Cafeteria. The Upper School Building, also known as BD Building, consists of a bookstore, Community Lounge, Print Shop, IT Department, High School classrooms, and laboratories, as well as administrative offices. The gymnasium, built in the late 1950s, stood as an architectural landmark for decades and includes a basketball court, locker rooms, a dance studio, and a fitness center. The faculty building was completed in April 2015. The first basement and ground floor host music rooms for elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Elementary language rooms and Grade 5 classrooms are located on first through the third floor. The residential part consists of 16 typical apartments starting on the 4th up to the 11th. The Head of School residence is located on the 12th and 13th floor with a rooftop that is used for social gatherings, as well as collecting solar energy to help become environmentally friendly.
Athletics
ACS Beirut is notable for its athletics program. The athletics program partakes in several sporting conferences, including NESAC along with locally held tournaments. The athletics department at ACS Beirut promotes a "student-athlete" relationship whereby the academic standing of a student is the prerequisite for a student's athletic standing.
There are several awards presented to student-athletes at different levels in Middle School and High School. While all team members are presented with participation patches, four outstanding athletes are presented with four awards respectively. These awards, determined by the coach, are the Fighting Heart Award, the Most Improved Player, Perfect Attendance Award, and Coach's Award. In a more holistic approach, there are three awards, the Spirit in Sports Award, Junior Knight Award, and Knight Award. The Spirit in Sports Award is presented to the athlete that displays outstanding school spirit, sportsmanship, and participation. The Junior Knight Award is presented to one male and one female from grades 9 and 10 who demonstrate outstanding dedication, skill, sportsmanship, and leadership. Likewise, the Knight Award is presented to one male and one female who demonstrate the same values described by the Junior Knight Award, however, it is presented to students from grades 11 and 12. Additionally, select seniors are recognized through two awards, The Blair Harcourt Award and the Farah Family Athletics and Leadership Award. The Blair Harcourt Award is presented to the senior with academic distinction, 3.3/4 GPA or higher, as well as athletic distinction, standing in parallel with the values of the Knight Award. The Farah Family Athletics and Leadership Award is presented to the senior who excels in the academic program at ACS Beirut, demonstrates leadership and commitment, and positively impacts the athletic and academic life at ACS Beirut.[4]
Notable alumni
- CIA station chief in Beirut[5]
- Malcolm H. Kerr, historian[6]
- Keanu Reeves, actor
- Bran Ferren, designer
- Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors
- Greg Kinnear, actor
- Omar Naim, director
See also
References
- ^ "Special dinner held recognizing Dr. George H. Damon, Jr., retiring head of the American Community School at Beirut". American Community School, Beirut; News Post. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- ^ "Børre Ludvigsen Web Archive".
- ^ "ACS Beirut".
- ^ "ACS Athlete Handbook" (PDF). acs.edu.lb.
- ^ Ken Micallef. "Stewart Copeland: Staring Down the Future". Modern Drummer. Archived from the original on 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Biography of Malcolm Hooper Kerr". Middle East Studies Association. Archived from the original on 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
