New Student's Survival Kit by ACS Athens

Table of Contents

I. Note from the editors II. NSI Roster 1. Your first week of school: Laith Kalai 2. Prioritizing @ACS: Gaith Kalai 3. Settling in: Nikiforos Peterson 4. Academic Success: Nikitias G, Sophia Zachares, Nassos Abuel, Gaith Kalai 5. ACS Resources: Laith Kalai, Kelly Dodou, May Chai 6. Athletics @ ACS: Mahmoud Hmaidi, Alex Stelea, Isabel Ahoarian 7. Extracurriculars @ ACS: Nasos Abuel, Natalie Kourambenas, Ileana Kotini, Alex Klingert, Sara Samad, Lydia

Spassof, Theo Sareferas

8. Student Services 9. Conclusion

Note from the editors

The idea behind this handbook is that it is written by students for students in a way that you can relate to. Our aim is to help you get through your first year at ACS as smoothly as possible. Throughout our student-written handbook you will find a number of articles related to issues that you might face as you become part of our ACS community. As this handbook is written from a student perspective, we think that you will enjoy it more than an official school document. We (the editors) were new to ACS not so long ago, and therefore we are familiar with what you are going through as a new student. By helping your transition into our community, we hope that you will become a valuable asset to ACS. Without further ado, we present to you The Student Survival Kit â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Gaith and Laith Kalai

New Student Initiative Roster 2009-10

Foreword After publishing this booklet, we will be hosting sessions during the first couple weeks of school for new students. Unlike official school orientations, our sessions will be in a casual student-led atmosphere and will give you the freedom and opportunity to get to know us and the school while having a good time. As students and authors of this booklet, we welcome you to ACS and encourage you to talk to us when you see us around campus. We are willing to answer any of your questions or show you around campus if you need any help.

Best of luck, 窶年ew Student Initiative Group

Your First Week of School Laith Kalai Let‘s face it. It won‘t be easy. You will need to adapt to a new campus, new studies, new teachers, new friends, and much more. I was new to ACS two years ago; I know how you feel. Starting at a new school can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially if you‘re entirely foreign to the country as well...and the first day or two are usually the worst. However, there are ways to ensure you make the best of it. In ACS‘s case, it‘s the first two days, because it takes two school days to make a full rotation in the schedule. On the first day of school, all students will attend all eight blocks in order to receive textbooks and other materials. Here‘s a small list of tips that you should follow in order to survive your first week – or so, at ACS Athens. Get to know your teachers: The most important thing you must do is inform your teachers that 6

you‘re new to this environment. Introduce yourself politely and confidently. Your teachers can be your source of orientation or guidance, if you ask. Take a little while to look around the school prior to the first day if possible; Make sure that you know your way to all of your classes. Get to know the campus prior to your first day to minimize the stress and anxiety. Walk around, explore the buildings, ask a student/counselor for any clarifications. This will surely minimize the pressure and the confusion that you might stumble upon as you delve into our community. Next, get to know your classmates; This might be a rather difficult task, given that you might have a different set of classmates for all 8 blocks. Don‘t be too shy nor too pushy; just relax and act confident (or pretend to be). You can start by getting to know the person who sits next to you. Introduce yourself casually and be confident in class. As you ―test the waters‖ with your classmates, you will end up building friendships according to whom you feel the most comfortable with. If you ask me about introductions, I say confidence says it all. 7

Get to know other new kids. This wasn‘t very helpful for me because I came half way through the year, but it is a great tip that can help you and your fellow new classmates. Find other new students; you probably share mutual feelings and positions for the meantime. Stick together as you get to know more people. Talk to as many people as you can. Ask for help finding classes (even if you know where they are). Get to know your counselor. Each grade has a different counselor. The counselor‘s job is to help students, so don‘t think twice about introducing yourself. Our high school counselors provide social, educational, career and personal assistance to ACS students.

Priorities Gaith Kalai As part of transitioning to a new school, you would want to have your priorities and expectations straightened out before -hand. This way, you would have a plan to guide your efforts, and at the same time you would know at which levels different aspects of your new life stand on. In your new environment, you may not know exactly how to deal with the tons of homework you have from your classes, the pressure about college in the coming years, and your need for a social life.

This is why it is helpful to set some short-term and long-term goals for yourself, which will help you stay focused on what's important to you and will help you succeed in achieving your goals.

First of all, decide what's most important to you and commit to achieving it: To start off, a priority is something that has a certain level of importance to you at the moment. A high priority means something that means a lot to you and is important. Setting priorities means deciding which obligations you should fulfill first. For example, your priority could be to get your essay written rather than go to the movies. As the year progresses, your priorities become short-term goals. One person‘s goal might be to get all A‘s and another‘s might be to make a certain sports team. You try to reach those goals by accomplishing your priorities, which can be done in numerous ways. Commit to your schoolwork ahead of time; know 10 and make sure that you what is expected of you

are doing well in your academics before taking up demanding Extracurriculars. There‘s an old saying that goes like ―anything is possible as long as you are willing to sacrifice everything for it.‖ This also applies to meeting your goals; if a goal means a lot to you, then you might have to make some sacrifices to meet that goal. For example, I really wanted to make the track team so I spent extra hours on the field running and doing drills, thus sacrificing my time and effort. A short-term goal might be to get all A's and B's on your report card. How do you do that? You meet or accomplish your priorities: But what if you're involved in the school play or on a sports team with mandatory practice? A long-term goal might be to get into a top-tier college or embark on a satisfying career with a job that pays well. Exceptional grades, career-focused extracurricular activities, and plenty of selfdiscipline can help you achieve these long-term goals. Remember these are general guidelines written to guide you while you plan what you want to focus on—change 11

them up a bit, make them your own to fit your needs, priorities and goals.

Settling In Nikiforos Peterson/ Alexander Kostas “What are you doing after school?” This may be a question that new students may have. As I have experience living in Greece and I‘ve been at ACS for some years, I have learned about more places to go and have an enjoyable time after school. The easiest place for new students to hang out and feel safe is our very lively and active campus. You can stay after school with your friends, play a sport, go to the gym, relax somewhere, or just hang out on the comfortable couches in the library. 12

If you get hungry you have some options for food within walking distance of our campus near the school entrance: there is a Greek ―souvlaki‖ place; an Italian restaurant; and a shop like a kiosk that has snacks, drinks and sandwiches. When you want to go home you can either take the ACS late bus at 5:30, or take the metro back home. Another easy thing you could do is take the metro and go to ―The Mall‖. On the green line metro, it is located at a stop called Neratziotissa. The Mall is huge and it has literally almost anything you and your family might need. There‘s food, cinemas, shops, supermarkets, megastores, an arcade, a library/bookstore, a beauty salon, and more!

If you happen to live near the ACS campus, you can go to the Aghia Paraskevi square, where you can also eat, shop, or hang out somewhere etc…

As you adapt to the country more and more, you will get to know these places and many more!

Academic Success @ ACS Nassos Abuel Academic success at ACS may be very different from those at other schools. A new student will quickly learn that at ACS, he/she is expected to put a lot of effort into his/her work. This means always trying hard, even if the work is intimidating. (This will happen, but it must be dealt with.) It does not matter if you cannot get the right answer: all you have to do is show some effort and exhibit your dedication and will to learn. You will find very quickly that if you try hard and devote time to your

work, it will eventually pay-off and you will soon earn a good grade. On this basis, it is good for you to be attentive and rather active in class. It is unwise and unreasonable for you to simply sit in a corner and not participate at all in class discussions and procedures. Of course, in the beginning it may be hard to raise your hand and speak. But you must remember that the only way for you to acquaint yourself with others and for others to become acquainted with you is for you talk to people. And if you make a mistake, rest assured that it is no big deal: we all make mistakes. As a final word, if you have something constructive to say, even if you are not sure whether it is valid or not, just say it. As was previously mentioned, at ACS, effort is sometimes more important than the correct answer. Besides participating, you should also seek to make as much out of your class sessions as possible. This means asking questions about topics and subjects that you may have not entirely understood. Again do not be timid or shy. You are a learner and being an enquirer is more important than anything. In addition, consider that if you do not seek answers to your questions in 15

school, then homework will be very stressful, since you will not have adequately comprehended the material. If for some reason you do not feel comfortable in the beginning about asking questions during class, you should consult your teacher after class is over. This will not only give you the response that you are seeking; it will also allow you to develop a better relation with your teacher. So get to know your teacher, within the context of your subject, and show your concern for the lesson. Briefly, in order to ensure academic success, try to find some interest in all of your classes. Taking a class that you do not particularly like or understand will inevitably make you bored and impatient. The best way to combat this is to find something that will stimulate your imagination and your critical thinking. Be positive and prudent and success will come.

IB Program Prespective Nikitas Georgeakopoulos

Entering the IB program was a relatively easy decision to make. I knew that I wanted to follow a more advanced academic program, and also knew that the program would be rigorous, but with all honesty, no teacher could have described to me what the IB program would be like for a student. So take it from a person who knows a thing or two. The IB is rather challenging and takes up a lot of your time, which may include personal time. Timemanagement is an essential skill you have to master as you enter the IB Program. Now donâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t let that scare you off, but it may mean giving up that Friday night youâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;d planned to go out to that movie with your friends or 17

staying up till 2 am on the occasional school night. Those are things that will happen, but at least you can go to school the next morning and brag to your friends about how you were such a b.a. for staying up that late. The main thing is time-management. Set a balanced program each week of what you need to do and I promise you will have time for things outside of school. (That is one thing that teachers are right about.) And during those times come when the stress levels rise, take a break and do something you enjoy. Being new to this school and to this program, a good way that helped me relieve some stress was either playing or listening to some music or just complaining to my friends. That‘s the good thing about IB; no matter the lateness of the hour, you‘ll always find a friend to talk to. The IB unites students, as we all have mutual complaints; it‘s like having a common enemy that you‘re fighting against. And yeah,

sometimes the program will seem like a battle, but the results of the â&#x20AC;&#x2022;winâ&#x20AC;&#x2013; are undoubtedly, unimaginable.

Advice for All IB students Sophia Zachares First of all anyone doing IB should not do it just because their parents forced them to, or because they think it will look good on their college application. The IB program is honestly a grueling program. Only the most organized, ambitious, and well-rounded students get excellent grades. The IB expects you to be active academically, athletically, and communally. You must participate in sports, do community service, and carefully manage your school work. It seems as if there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t room for anything else, so time management is essential. Being an IB student myself, I did not realize till this year what you go through. In the beginning it seems manageable, but the minute you miss a deadline, things start to become hectic. That is why it is extremely important to manage your time, and know when you have tests and assignments due. The work that the teachers

give you takes time, not one afternoon, and that is why they often give you one to two weeks to work on it. Just by doing a little each day is good enough. Also, different teachers will often load you with tests and projects all due on the same day, or in the same week. It can be chaotic, but you eventually realize that everything can‘t be perfect, and if you focus intently on what you have to do you can produce excellent pieces of work in small amounts of time. My advice to any IB student is: 1. Be aware of what your teachers expect from you, and read the mark band descriptors for all your projects to make sure you have covered what you must do. 2. Do not try to be superhuman and have a billion extracurricular activities – because you will die 3. Organize all your notes once you make them, so when it comes to mid-terms and finals you haven‘t lost any and you are ready to study 4. Try to be involved in as many community service programs as possible in your first year 5. And make sure that AT LEAST one day a week you are not working at all or you go out – 20

THIS IS VITAL! Oh, and do not take Higher Physics or Math unless you need to. And if you have to, don‘t be afraid to ask questions – even if Mr. Tsokos seems scary!

International Baccalaureate Program Akhmed Ramadan Fatah Because the IB program had been previously described, this section will focus on IB students’ perspective regarding the program. International Baccalaureate, or IB, is a rigorous, college-level curriculum similar to Advanced Placement. Within the program, students have a choice between one of two options: Full Diploma IB and Candidate IB. Contrary to popular belief, the IB won’t kill you or drain your social life. You shouldn’t be intimidated by the IB program; it is indeed very rigorous, but its out21

come is highly satisfying. Here are some tips from a student who was new to ACS when he entered the IB Program.

Tips for “Surviving” IB: 1. Prioritize homework. Teachers usually give loads of homework starting in the second semester. You should always try to give homework in on time because usually teachers have closed deadlines and do not accept late assignments. 2. Time management is essential. If you know how to balance your studies with Facebook, then you have automatically won ¼ of the challenge. 3. Stay healthy! Yes, it counts. Speaking from experience, missing one day can make you freak out and not understand the lesson next class. If you‘re the constantly-ill-type, make sure you arrange a meeting with your teacher to go over what you missed! It‘s absolutely necessary. 4. Ask questions directly after class or as soon as possible if you don‘t understand. Don‘t let confusion pile up. The classes are like puzzles sometimes, for example Biology. The syllabus starts from the basic to advanced. If students don‘t know the basic, it is 22

logically impossible for them to know the advance. ―Even Einstein asked questions.‖ 5. Use the first semester of junior year wisely. Students in the first semester don‘t have as much work as they have during the second semester. So it is very useful for you to perfect your study habits and jump right into curriculum. Otherwise, during the second semester, you will panic and it will lead to catastrophe. 6. Be organized. Always organize papers, homework, test, handouts, etc… because not only will it help for studying but also they might come handy later on as a teacher might ask for a portfolio. 7. You are responsible for CAS: ―Creativity Action Service.‖ Start completing CAS hours. For full IB students, it is good to complete CAS hours, which are one of the requirements for IB, by the first year because the second year will be a busy year and doing things like community service takes time. There are many opportunities at ACS for CAS hours. Just ask your teachers or the IB Office. If none of the offered options interest you, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO START YOUR OWN. 8. Use the facilities available. Facilities such as the Writing Center and the Math Center are extremely helpful 23

for IB students. The Writing Center is beneficial for students who have trouble writing essays or anything else. For most of the IB classes, you will come across some writing assignment at one point of the year. The Math Center is also a new center opened for students who need extra help with any math topic.

If not IBâ&#x20AC;ŚThen What? Gaith Kalai

For students looking to challenge themselves in high school, enrolling in IB and/or AP classes is critical to prepare students for college-level courses. AP is the acronym for Advanced Placement. AP coursework and exams are developed and administered by College Board (the same organization that does the SAT) and include 35 courses and exams in 20 subjects. At ACS, the AP Program

covers AP English, Calculus, Chemistry and Art History.

AP courses, much like IB, offer a unique learning experience that will help students succeed in college. 24

Through AP's college-level courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, distinguish yourself in the admission process, and learn from some of the most skilled and motivated teachers ACS has to offer. If you work hard enough in your AP classes and earn top-grades, it is possible to receive college credit for your work. Many U.S universities offer credits for AP candidates and some even allow distinguished students to skip freshman year. To receive credit for the AP class that you took and skip a freshman level course, most schools require that students score a 4 or 5 (over 5) on the AP exam. One of the byproducts of taking an AP course is developing effective study habits. Typically the workload in AP courses is fairly heavy. Students often find themselves behind on their work because of poor timemanagement and therefore strive to develop efficient study habits. If other High school courses haven't 25

forced students to develop a study routine, the AP program certainly will. For students involved in a lot of after-school activities, AP may not be the best option. Before committing to an AP course, students should ensure that their schedule allows enough time and flexibility to make the most of the class. But the bottom line is this: If you are looking for a challenging high school experience that will also “The program hasyour been quite beneficial to me because of its can’t “look good” on college transcript, then you heavy workload. I have learned to manage my time more ef-

go wrong or IB. IB, although an enorfectively andwith to useeither it moreAP efficiently.

mous amount of work, is quite useful in making positive work habits for the future.” —Chris Monopolis—IB Candidate

“What I like about the AP program is FLEXIBILITY, as it allows anyone to come into the testing room, homeschoolers, selfstudiers, and high school students who have taken an AP course and those who have not. ” —Anonymous AP Student

ACS Resources

ACS Resources: Library Laith Kalai Our library is remarkable. It‘s not the library you‘d get lost in, but definitely the library you‘d want to be in all day. It is a jungle of resources; we have thousands of books, numerous encyclopedias, several computers, helpful people, learning centers, comfortable couches and much more! The library at ACS is divided into three floors. The first floor, or ground floor, holds the reception where our librarian is usually located. You can ask her anything about the library; she is always happy to answer questions. The ground floor also has a lounge area with couches, around 10 stands of books on display and a magazine stand. The bathroom or WC is also on this floor. It is next to the librarian‘s desk. As you climb up the stairs to the second floor, you will see several tables aligned with nice red chairs. You will find most students sitting around those tables doing 28

work or working on their laptops. On this floor, we have the following: A wide variety of books and novels that you can check out Around 15 computers with a relatively fast internet connection Wireless internet connection throughout the library. Ask the librarian for the password. The Middle School Computer Lab is to the back and left of the open table area Writing Center: This center is dedicated to helping

students with their writing. It is run by Mrs. Jasonides. If you need someone to proofread your essays with you, help you write something up or guide you with the writing process, then you may want to check out the Writing Center.

Mrs. Spilliot‘s Computer Lab: This is a friendly and supportive environment in which students can work and learn. If you are nice to her, you just may gain her hospitality. She has around 25-30 computers in her room and a printer. If you want to work in a more silent atmosphere than the open area of the library, ask her if you may use one of her computers. IIC** office and IB Counseling Area: Located on the third and final floor of the library are several round tables where students can go to work. There are additional computers there. You will also find the IIC Office of Mr. Medeiros and two classrooms along with a nice round lounge area where students usually gather to read books or quietly discuss schoolwork. Finally, you can find Ms. Mandy there. If you are in the IB program, she can guide you with your IB and college questions. Finding books: If you‘re looking for a specific book at our library, you should use the OPAC program found on all computers in school. It is a very simple program where you can search the title of the book or an author‘s name, and it gives you a code that 30

looks something like this: ―FIC 353.65‖ which means that the book is located in the FICTION (FIC) section under the number 353.65. These numbers are found on the spine of the books. If you have any questions or need assistance finding books in the library, you can either ask a student around you or the librarian. So there you have it. The ACS Library has the right people, the right technology and the right environment for you to conduct research, read a book, surf the web (NO FACEBOOK), or just simply relax on our comfy red couches. For any further information, please find me or contact me at laith23@gmail.com! I‘d be happy to clarify any confusion or answer any of your questions. **Institute for Innovation and Creativity

ACS Resources: Gym May En Chai & Markelli Dodou

We know that many of you enjoy playing sports in your free time during the school day, which is why we have provided you with a section just for this! The school offers you many opportunities to enjoy being an athlete and also having fun with your friends. It offers an indoor gym where you can play two of the most popular sports, basketball and volleyball, during the school passing time, when it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t used by a class, of course. We also recently built a climbing wall, but sadly, it can only be used during P.E class. Things can get dangerous up there. 32

In the gym you will also be able to find equipment rooms, the Athletic Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s office, and of course, you can at any time use the locker rooms. However if you ever need to ask a question and find out more about the gym you are always free (and encouraged) to find Mr. Dimitropoulos, our High School Physical Education coordinator, as he will be happy to help you out with almost anything you need related to Athletics! Of course that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t just it! Next to the gym you will find an aerobic room together with an indoor pool! Yeah you heard, indoor pool. The aerobic room is open anytime, but of course under teacher supervision, and you also need to inform a supervisor about the times you would like to use it. There might be people in there due to the after school aerobic clas33

ses that take place. The pool, on the other hand, is only open to students during their Physical Education classes and after school programs or at supervised sessions, which cost 90 Euros for a total of two months. Now, where are all the machos? There is another room that is open to students who want to lift weight under supervision of a professional. This is free of charge, of course, and is open only after school from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. The weight room is located next to the tennis courts, and is underground. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s a great chance to either gain muscular strength, lose weight or simply get in shape. Just make sure you talk to Mr. Dimitropoulos and inform him of your interest. What else do you want? No wait, rephrase. What else can you ask for?

Athletics @ ACS: Trying out for Varsity Sports! Isabelle Ahoarian

Participating in sports is an opportunity for you to make new friends and to devote yourself to

physical activity that you enjoy. Joining a sport, especially if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s on Varsity level, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t always easy, as sports involve a lot of competition and a great deal of challenge both with yourself and with your teammates. On the first day you might see no confidence in yourself as you hear from others about the starts and the chances of making it, but the truth is that at ACS, there is a chance for everyone. You, on the other hand, will never experience this moment if 35

you don‘t try out. Picking yourself up and trying out for a team is difficult, yes, but you will never have a chance if you don‘t come on tryout day. The athletes are all very encouraging and welcoming, as they are very open to new players. The first day of tryouts are usually based on physical capabilities with regards to a specific sport, and you as a character. Your character plays a big role in the selection process. The coaches want a player who could spread a positive vibe, contribute positively, add something to the team and have a good sense of sportsmanship. Everyone has an equal chance of making it and you shouldn‘t let the stars of the teams fool you because in the end we are a community, a team of athletes, not a community of individuals. Remember the hardest part of the process is showing up on the first day. ACS holds a place for every type of athlete. The JV teams hold no less importance than the Varsity teams. So come try out! 36

“ Try out. It’s going to be an experience you have never had in life. Even if you don’t make it! You never know, you might be the talent the coach is looking for!” —Coach Mikros: Boys Varsity Soccer

Track and Field Mahmoud Hmaidi Track and field is one of the most rigorous and competitive sports in the school. Even though it has the shortest season, during the three weeks that it lasts, the coaches are very demanding. Practice is required four times a school week, and you may come all five. Many try out, but only a few make the team because the coaches, Mr. Angelo, Ms. McCoy, and Mr. Mikros, can only handle a small group of students when travelling abroad. Pre -season exists, as it begins a month earlier for those who want to have more time to train; however pre-season is not mandatory. Track and Field is the only athletic trip 38

where you are not housed by a family; you stay in a comfortable five-star hotel. The hosting school is Cairo American College and last year it hosted the second largest international gathering in all of Africa, the world cup being the first. The competition is extremely tough and seldom does the school achieve a high ranking among its competitors. If you plan to join the track and field team, train hard, always be at practice on time, and never give up. “ Do not be afraid to fail. You can only learn from failure. You do not learn if you do not make mistakes.” —Coach Dimitropoulos, PE Teacher

Tennis Alex Stelea Tennis at ACS is on the rise and our team has gradually gotten better results in the ISST tournaments. The ACS Athens Tennis Team is currently the only school team that has a website and it is located at www.acsathenstennis.com; a link can also be found under the athletics tab on the ACS website. Exact dates and schedules are found on the website. Tryouts take place sometime in April; more exact dates will be given on the tennis website and through flyers located on campus. Competition varies greatly; the boys tend to have a much 40

stronger team than the girls. For boys‘ singles, competition is very strong, while doubles and mixed doubles also offer strong competition. The girls‘ team is constantly shifting, and it is generally much easier to make the girl's team. The tennis team travelled two years ago to Vienna and last year they played in Athens at the Olympic Stadium. It is strongly recommended that any players wanting to try out for tennis join the school's tennis academy. In 2009, the boys‘ team got second place, the girls fifth place, and overall we got third place. The best way to become informed about the ACS Athens Tennis Team is to check out our website listed above. “Trying out is fun and even if you don’t make the team, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t good enough. Take Michael Jordan who tried out for his high school basketball team in 9th and 10th grade. His coach said that he wasn’t good enough. Trying out is fun, you get to meet new people and if you make it, you get to travel!”

—Coach Chris 41

Extracurriculars @ ACS Overview: Clubs @ ACS Sara Samad and Lydia Spassof ACS offers a wide variety of clubs for students of ALL interests. Whether your interests are of artistic, literary, cultural, or anything else; we have it. ―It is hard for you not to be able to find something you enjoy doing at ACS.‖ - Anonymous ACS Student In October of every year, a ―club-fair‖ is organized for the lunch period, where students go around to tables and sign up for the clubs they think they‘d be interested in. Students are encouraged to start their own clubs, if none of those offered interest them, but of course they must get approval, and a teacher supervisor.

Spanish Club: In the Spanish club, which is run by the Spanish teacher Ms. Rocha, students learn about Spanish and Mexican 42

culture. Holidays such as Cinco de Mayo, DĂa de Todos los Santos, and Dia de los Santos Inocentes are a few which are commemorated. The Spanish club also takes part in school activities and conducts bake sales in order to raise money for an annual Spanish Club Trip. The Spanish club meets at least three to four times a month. Arabic Club: The Arabic club, led by the Arabic teacher Mr. Samad, is a club in which students from all around the world come together to celebrate the Arabic culture. The Arabic advisor makes learning about the different traditions and customs of the numerous Arab countries entertaining and exciting with his vivid portrayal of the topic. The Arabic club also takes part in several school 43 festivals in order to raise

money for the biannual Arabic Club party and the trip to an Arabic restaurant. The Arabic club meets at least one or two times a month. Yearbook Club: The Yearbook Club, run by Mrs. Argitakou and Ms. Basil, is a club in which countless students interested in graphic design, photography, and journalism come together to create a significant lifelong document which will remain valued by hundreds of ACS graduates. Creating the ACS yearbook is a vital job, and this club manages to make such an important job fun! The Yearbook Club meets weekly. Chess Club: The chess club, led by Physics teacher Dr. Hristakos, is open to all students who have a passion for chess. In the club, Dr. Hristakos teaches numerous tricks and strategies to make sure you win. However, Dr. Hristakos him44

self is said to be unbeatable, so if you think you have the skills to defeat him, join the chess club and have a go at it! Ethos: The Ethos, whose editor-in-chief is Ms. Desiree Michaels, is the school‘s magazine. The magazine, which is read by virtually every student in ACS along with most ACS Alumni, covers everything from school events and sports tournaments to student achievements and alumni news. The purpose of the magazine is to ―convey the essence of our beliefs and values as educators; to reflect the excellent teaching and learning taking place on our campus‖.

Additional Clubs @ ACS Laith Kalai National Honor Society (NHS): The ACS chapter of NHS has been running for a long time now. Ever since its establishment, students from grades eleven and twelve have been showing signs of great leadership and commitment by conducting various activities and events both on ACS grounds and off, under the NHS chapter. NHS is for students who meet and maintain high standards in areas of academics (at least a 3.5 GPA unweighted), leadership, service and character. A faculty council reviews student candidates for membership on a yearly basis. Some NHS goals are: To create awareness amongst the student body as well as the entire community Be involved in several charities rather than focusing on one Raise money and awareness to reach out to more people in the community and improve living conditions The NHS sponsors several drives annually including a food drive, clothes drive and other fundraisers for specific causes. For further information regarding NHS in general, the selection process or anything else, please see Mrs. Karvouniaris in the high school building. 46

Greek Club: Although similar to the other cultural clubs at ACS, the Greek club usually attracts the most students. It is made up of either native Greek students or dual nationality Greek students. The Greek club celebrates Greek holidays and sponsors events around the year for specific causes or occasions. One memorable event the Greek club usually hosts is the Souvlaki selling day, where members of the club prepare the famous Greek food Souvlaki and sell it to raise money for a specific cause. For further information regarding this club, please see Mrs. Pisanias in the Annex building.

Chinese Club: Unlike the other cultural clubs, the Chinese club rose to prominence not so long ago. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t have to be Chinese to join. Students learning the language or students interested in the Chinese culture are highly encouraged to join this club and take part in several bake sales and other events. Please see Mrs. Wang in the Annex for further reference.

Environmental Club: This is a brand new ACS club that also attracted a number of students last year. This clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s job is to look after the environment, make sure students are taking good care of their surroundings and make the ACS community as environmentally aware as possible. The group has shown clear signs of leadership, placing organized recycling cans all over our campus for students to use. This was completely student-led, as the students, not ACS staff, were the ones responsible for picking up the garbage bags, replacing them with new ones and dropping off the full ones in the blue recycling containers for the company to pick up.

Model United Nations (MUN): Laith Kalai

Model United Nations is an activity which aims to give students an experience near to that of being in the real United Nations. Students are assigned countries to represent and current international issues to try to resolve. The students write resolutions in an attempt to come up with solutions.

ACS Talent Show

Rami Mehio

The annual ACS talent show is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents in front of the ACS community. It doesn‘t take much to qualify; you could do anything! You could show your skills at playing an instrument, dancing, juggling, singing, or anything you feel you‘re really good at. There‘s no need to feel worried about competition: the talent show is just meant to be a fun way for students to express themselves through their talents. There are awards, however, but this is a friendly way of acknowledging students who really excel in what they do. Winners are selected by the participants of the show, AKA, you! The show is also hosted by students, so if you feel that‘s the right job for you, go for it! *Caption: Chris Kalleris (right) and George Seremetis (left) performed a humorous dance as they were the hosts of the 2010 show.

Forensics @ ACS Natalie Kourambenas For those who are better at expressing themselves through words then through sports, the Forensics Club is the right club for you. Forensics is an umbrella that comprises a choice of literary, analytical, and oral activities. We have: Debate Team is where you debate and discuss different topics and try to convince your audience why your side of the argument is more valid and accurate than the opposing side. Our diligent debate team in 20092010 worked really hard and got first place in the tournament. Duet Acting is where you and your partner team up and perform a 6-8 minute performance (skit) that is either dramatic or comedic. Oral Interpretation of Literature is where you read a chosen text that is 8 minutes long, either comedic or dra51

matic, and you interpret the story through creative use of voice gesture and movement, which allow you to bring the story to life. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s like acting, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re sitting on a stool reading. Thus, it is the art of dramatic reading. Impromptu Speaking is where you are given a list of topics on the spot and you have to talk about one topic to the best of your abilities in a time span of three minutes.

Oratory is where you write and memorize your own speech about any topic and present it to an audience. Group Discussion gives a group of 6-8 participants a problem to solve. Using polite conversational skills, the participants express their ideas on the problem at hand, and attempt to solve the problem.

There are meetings for these clubs individually with different coaches who are responsible for the specific events. Throughout the year the purpose of the coach and the meetings is to prepare participants for the Pan-Hellenic Forensics Association Tournament which is held by different participating schools every year. This tournament includes schools from all over Greece as they all come together and compete in each of the categories mentioned above. There are hundreds of students that participate in it and it is a wonderful experience every year to meet new people and to learn more about what this tournament is, by watching some of the most talented, brilliant and creative students from all over Greece. 52

Debate

Nassos Abuel

Debate is one of the most prestigious Forensics events. It combines great oratory skills with critical thinking and rationality. Debaters are expected to develop a coherent argumentation on an issue and cogently present it to a group of judges. Debate is conducted in teams, with each team consisting of three speakers. Of course debate requires a rather apt and proficient knowledge of the English language and a general awareness of world issues and matters. Our school competes in three debate competitions: two tournaments at Deree and the Panhellenic Tournament, which is hosted by a different school each year. Try-outs are in late October and the topic is announced a few days earlier. For more information check with the coaches, Mr. Confer and Mr. Pupovac. Last year, our school won the Panhellenic Forensics Tournament for the Debate category. This year we wish to defend our title and will require precocious and tenacious debaters. Come out and try out!

Model United Nations Iliana Kotini

If you love arguing, would like to work for a better world, or even feel like a leader this is the club for you. Don‘t let the official name scare you. Deep inside the doors of this club a great, fun, and inspiring experience awaits… Think of MUN as a very diplomatic ―dance.‖ In the club we attend conferences where we simulate the proceedings of a real United Nations summit. It‘s a lovely, carefully planned game of rules and formalities that within them hide limitless bounds of creativity. Personally, I love the activity because it gives me hope that young people, students with fresh perspectives, can take a stand on pressing global issues. Not only can we influence the world by sharing our ideas in MUN, 54

but we can also better our generation, so that when we begin our life as responsible adults we will have more knowledge and can deal with the hardships of life in a more open-minded way. As a newcomer, I was very enthusiastic when I heard about the club… but the enthusiasm jumped out the window when I heard about the tryouts! HORROR! I was given a country to represent, and was asked to make an opening speech at a mock ―conference‖ stating my country‘s policy on the topic we were given. (This could be anything from nuclear warfare, to ‗green‘ economy). The tryouts are really more fun than they sound- and the reward of becoming a member of the club makes it worth it. In MUN club, we learn about how a conference, and specifically a committee, functions, and how to act as diplomats of our assigned countries. There are a couple of things to get accustomed to, such as writing a resolution and debating in an MUN setting, but do not let these stop you! What the MUN conferences really come down 55

are meeting a lot of people, gathering valuable experiences and most of all changing your perspective. The MUN club attends various conferences throughout the year, including DIAMUN and AMUN (in Athens), as well as QMUN (Qatar) and THIMUN (The Hague). The THIMUN conference is one of the largest MUN conferences in the world- averaging 4000 participants- and takes place in the Hague, Netherlands. The city itself is a perfect venue for this event, as it is the ―home‖ of the International Court of Justice. I was amazed by how the city is overtaken by waves of students from all over the world, dressed in suits and ready to provide solutions to important problems. The Hague did wonders for me. It increased my confidence in my MUN abilities and exposed me to countless different perspectives of diplomacy. What‘s more, it made my dream of working for the UN all the more attainable.

Qatar Georgetown 2010 In early February of last year, five of my schoolmates and I, along with two supervisors, Miss Gournaris and Dr. Gialamas, left for an unforgettable trip to Doha, Qatar, to participate in the 2010 Georgetown Qatar Model United Nations. It was a very enriching experience, as well as a lot of fun. To start off with, we got to visit sites that were new for us, while also meeting people from ALL around the world! The friendships that we created during those four incredible days in Doha allowed us to learn more about other cultures and countries. The event was extremely well organized, and the organizers of the event spared no detail.

As a school delegation, ACS Athens was clearly among the best, receiving three awards for best delegates. The conference provided us with the opportunity to discuss social issues, debate and offer solutions to problems that affect our world today, as well as discuss past and possible future matters. The trip was without question an amazing experience, and I personally would encourage everyone to try out for it next year and for the years to come, as it is a trip that is truly memorable. Kotinis, Dimitrios

Humanities Online Mini-Courses and Field Study in France and Italy Thorbern Alexander P. Klingert and Theo Saraferas The Humanities online mini-courses provide an opportunity for students to research and study firsthand the influence of Greek civilization on European art and thought. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s course focused on Classicism and Romanticism in French art and thought in the 18th and 19th centuries. Students spent eight days in Paris visiting important sites and museums and made day trips to Versailles, Chartres as well. There also was time for sight seeing, and part of a day was dedicated to going to see the famous Eiffel tower. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s course will focus on the influence of Greek Humanism on the art and thought of the Italian Renaissance. Students will visit important sites in Florence, Siena, Arezzo, and Rome.

Each day of both trips is carefully planned to provide students with maximum exposure to the art treasures and historical artifacts that these cities have to offer. These online courses are optional, and so they are pass or fail classes, but students who choose to take them will receive an extra 0.5 credit for their graduation, which is equivalent to taking a semester of a regular class. For these online courses you will have to keep a field notebook in which you write all your detailed observations and notes about the places you visit. You will also have to finish a few homework assignments while reading books such as Story of Art by Gombrich and Learning to Look by J.P. Taylor. By the end of the course you should have done the following:

1. Created The Portfolio. This will be a record of your thinking throughout the course. It should include observations, notes, questions and/or responses to each assignment. 2. Done the Field Study Notebook which will be a record of your on-site experiences in France or Italy (as they both rotate each year.) This will include notes, pictures, sketches 3. Finished The Creative Project. This project must be based on your field study experience in France or Italy and may take a variety of forms, but it cannot be a research paper. Before beginning the project you must submit a proposal to the instructors for their approval. This course can be demanding, however, if you are a serious student who can spare time and effort, and has a strong interest in history and art, then this course can be rewarding and very fun at the same time.

Conclusion

Throughout this booklet, we have tried to offer you a unique foray into our school, community and lives from Our perspective as ACS students. If this booklet has been helpful to you, pass it on to your friends who might need it. Also, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;d like to be part of the 2010-11 edition of the booklet and our group: the New Student Initiative, find us at the Activity kick-off day or talk to Gaith or Laith Kalai. We would like to thank all our contributors who made this project possible and our administration advisors, Mr. John Papadakis and Ms. Peggy Pelonis for all their help and guidance throughout the year. 62

Contact Us: 129 Aghias Paraskevis Street & Kazantzakis GR Halandri 152 34 Athens Phone: + 30 (210) 639 3200 Fax: +30 (210) 639 0051 Web: www.acs.gr E-mail: acs@acs.gr