Learning Commons Studios

Math, Writing, Research & Media Studios

The Sabbagh Learning Commons is the center of learning, research, knowledge construction, and student/faculty collaboration. This learning space provides our students and faculty with state of the art facilities, such as a Media Studio, a Math & Science studio, a Writing & Research studio, a Library, an Incubator of Students’ Creative Ideas (ISCI) and much more. These spaces are staffed with professionals having expertise in the fields of Mathematics, Sciences, Writing, Research, Literacy, STEAM education, and Media. Students and faculty function as architects of their own learning, as they pursue their intellectual curiosities. The Learning Commons is known as the heartbeat of education at ACS Athens.

Academy/Middle School Learning Commons

  • Books available targeted to the needs of student and faculty for their project research and for their independent reading

  • A selection of databases and e-books targeted to the needs of students and faculty for their project research

  • Quiet spaces for individual student research and study

  • Collaborative spaces for student and faculty group project work

  • Research skills courses targeted to the needs of students of different grade levels.

  • Individual and group guidance for researching individual or group topics

Research Support Program

  • A research skill-building program/curriculum, for grades 6-12 that connects with existing research initiatives, but also introduces new and innovative ones

  • The program will provide expert consultation, focus, coherence, and continuity to the research training of the students and faculty across MS and Academy through classroom instruction and support as needed and individual student and faculty support as needed

  • Important goals of the program are to support, guide, and inspire students and faculty in the process of creating and disseminating new knowledge through engagement with research

Math Studio @ 3rd floor of the H.J. Sabbagh Learning Commons

  • Regular drop in (class connected activities)-One on one learning (to meet individual student needs)

  • Small group whole class instruction and activities

  • Students work in small groups with the teacher as the facilitator

  • Creating educational games

  • Hands on activities

  • Providing students with online quizzes/ tests

  • SAT prep classes

  • The ideal place for students to visit in order to learn and exchange ideas on mathematics.

  • An inquiry approach to learning. Math inquiry- an exploration into things the students are interested in finding out and /or solving.

  • Subscription to a variety of websites which will enhance learning.

  • Hands-on group games available to students

  • Supplies available for better introducing certain topics (3d shapes, boards with grid lines, etc.)

  • Math Game Sessions

  • Young Mathematicians Groups

  • Sharing sessions for faculty

Writing Studio @ 2nd floor of the H. J. Sabbagh Learning Commons

  • Regular drop in (class connected activities) One on one learning (to meet students’ individual needs)

  • Small groups whole class instruction/workshops

  • Students work in small groups with the teacher as the facilitator

  • Hands on activities

  • Online and face to face mini lessons in specific editing/ proofreading skills

  • Writing workshops

  • SAT prep classes

  • Support for writing assignments in all disciplines, grades 6-12- collaborative with classroom teachers to guide students through all stages of the writing process: pre-writing drafting, revising, editing, proofreading

  • Scrabble: collaboration with Math Studio once a week to engage students and have a tournament on a monthly, semester or annual basis

  • Writing Groups

  • Learning Commons

  • Publications- Literary Magazine

  • Book Club for adults

Media Studio @ 2nd floor of the H. J. Sabbagh Learning Commons

  • Audio, print, video, media design and production

  • Film/Media Festivals Events (sponsored by the entire library team)

  • Film Media Club (sponsored by the entire library team)

  • Film Nights (sponsored by the entire library team)

  • Accommodate interdisciplinary project development

  • Guiding the use of the Media Studio across all disciplines

  • Media Productions (class productions, individual projects)

  • Studio Courses (to be developed)

  • Production of student and faculty media projects and showcasing work

The Math, Writing and Media Studios can accommodate individual students, small groups or an entire class. Individual students can walk in at any time with a pass from their teacher or on their own during lunch, before or after school.

Academy students should be bringing their laptops and personal devices.