Dear Parents,

We welcome you to this edition of the What's Up Cobras

We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to join us for the inauguration we held on Thursday, November 16th for the renovation work performed over the summer to give us a new Reception/Admissions Building, Finance Building, additional Pre-School Classrooms and a staff bathroom and the Upper School Library which was dedicated to Jack F. Shepherd Jr. in 2006.  The Finance Offices were relocated to the front of the school where the Pre-School children previously had lunch and the Upper School Library moved into the space formally occupied by the Finance Team.

A special thank you is extended to our U.S. Consul General, Ms. Marissa Scott, who took the time from her busy schedule to attend the inauguration. Her speech said it all; It’s all about how important it is to create a vision/ an objective, follow it through and bring it to life, adding also how special it is for her to be part of the unique CAS Community. 

I would like to thank the Facilities and Construction Committee members, Chair, Mr. Rachid Chaoui, Mrs. Agnieska Bazus, Mr. Mamoun Ghaiti, Mr. Ghandi Najmeddine, Mr. Mohamed Es-Sagar, Mrs. Zaineb Sajid and Mr. Zakaria Anbaouy for the work which went into a very compressed period to finally bring us the renovations. Special thanks goes to Mr. Rachid Chaoui, our Board Vice-President and Chair of the Facilities and Construction Committee who dedicated his summer to ensure that the project was well underway and up to standards and also to Ms. Zaineb Sajid, our Admissions Officer and Mr.  Zakaria Anbaouy, our Facilities Manager  for staying and working late hours to make sure the work was complete and up to our expectations. The interior design of the Shepherd Library and the Reception Area are stunning due to the creative work of Ms. Zaineb Sajid who served as our special interior designer on this project. I would also like to thank our support staff for the long hours they have been spending. My deepest gratitude goes again to our Board President, Mr. Omar  Laafoura, for his dedication, availability and sound advice as we carried out this project. Our Kindergarten student, Zayna Al-Hazzaz, added her touch as she helped with cutting the ribbon for the Shepherd Library inauguration. Thank you Zayna. 

We were also pleased to have the virtual presence of  Mrs. Patricia Shepherd during the inauguration of the Shepherd Library. Mrs. Shepherd served as the school Librarian, among other functions, for many years, and is known to be an avid reader and a book lover. During her online session, Mrs. Shepherd expressed her deep connection to the CAS Community. One thing to be noted during her online session was her continuous support for the CAS spirit as she was wearing our CAS red color and her legendary Cobra earrings.  

I look forward to seeing parents and students enjoy spending time in the Shepherd Library and checking out the various array of available books! Remember it’s all yours. Please see below our photo gallery of the beautiful inauguration. Pictures speak for themselves!

With the opening of the new Reception, we would like to welcome on Board Ms. Hiba Faiz, and Ms. Sarah Abouayoub, our new receptionists. Their main role is to welcome parents, students and visitors and provide them with the guidance they need regarding school matters. When you visit the school for one reason or another, make sure to go through the reception, enjoy this cozy space while your request is being taken care of by Hiba or Sarah.

At the beginning of November, we had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Michael Emborsky, the new U.S Department of State Regional Educational Officer, who replaced Dr. Beatrice Cameron who retired at the end of last year. As a U.S. Department of State assisted school, we look forward to working closely with Mr. Emborsky for the Grants that will serve some of our  educational needs and have been doing so since 1973. 

Child protection and safety are of imminent importance to us as we thrive to offer an excellent education to your children. In this regard and following my email about the Community training on Child Protection that will take place from December 4th to December 7th by Dr. Ian Russell, I hope to see many parents joining in as this matter concerns all of us.  December 6th as mentioned is a non-instructional day for students as all staff will be taking part in the training. Students will be assigned work to do at home that day.

I would like to join with our Board President, Mr. Laafoura Omar, and welcome our two new Board Members: Mr. Farsakh Shakir and Ms. Fatima- Zahra Oukacha. Both have extensive expertise and have been very active members of our community by serving on Committees. Mr. Farsakh and Ms. Oukacha will be ratified during the fall Ordinary General Assembly. We wish them all the best!

Finally, I would like to present my condolences to our cleaning lady Ms. Bouchra Zanbi for the loss of her 15 year old son, who passed away unexpectantly from disease a couple of weeks ago. We also extend our condolences to Yassine Retnani, a CAS alumni for the loss of his father, Mr. Retnani who founded Carrefour des Livres, where many of our staff always found a precious book to buy. Again, our deepest sympathy to the Retnani family.

Sincerely

John Randolph

School Director

Things, as always, are movin' and shakin' in the Lower School.  Recently,  we held our first Legacy Rally and its focus was courage.  Congratulations to the 36 first-sixth graders who were nominated for displaying big and small feats of courage. They received a certificate and COURAGE friendship bracelet and lots of cheers from classmates.  As we progress through the Choose Love SEL program this year, the next unit is gratitude.  The next Legacy Rally will center around gratitude.

Report Cards will be published on December 6.  As mentioned in a previous parent communication, please take time to read and process the narrative comments with your child.

As announced in communication from the Director's Office, Wednesday, December 6 will be no school for students.  We are hosting a consultant to educate and train community members about child safeguarding.  The training is based on the International Center on Missing and Exploited Children standards.  Please take note of the exceptional date as it was not on the original instructional calendar but policies and training around child protection is vital.

Elizabeth Phillips

LS Principal 

TOK – History

How historians work

We are delighted to share a fun yet thought provoking activity done by our Grade 12 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) students. In their exploration of the nature of historical knowledge, students delved into the intricate world of Cubist art, particularly drawing inspiration from the works of the renowned artist Pablo Picasso.

The students drew faces of fellow students, cut into several different sizes and rejoined them randomly to make faces. This activity was followed by a thought-provoking analysis by students to connect the principles of Cubist art with the discipline of History as an Area of Knowledge. The activity centered around the idea that, just as Picasso's Cubism challenges traditional representations by breaking down and rearranging forms, historians similarly deconstruct historical events and narratives, rearranging them to offer a nuanced perspective. This connection between the artistic movement and the historical discipline raised profound questions about the nature of truth, interpretation, and the construction of historical narratives.

Students teaching students

Recently, one grade 11 IB Language & Literature class had the opportunity to hear grade 12 student Mhamed Ibnousinna deliver an analysis of a Gordon Parks photo. Parks is an American photographer.  

The grade 11 IB Language and Literature students are currently studying the conventions of Ansel Adams’ photography. Mhamed's presentation provided students with a model analysis of the photography text type, and insight into the IB Individual Oral assessment they will be expected to deliver in this class at the end of this year.  

Mhamed clearly communicated his interpretation of his selected photo, highlighting conventions such as the rule of thirds and use of color, as well as the significance and symbolism of elements of the setting. 

Students teaching students is a wonderful thing, and it is so nice to see CAS scholars supporting their peers.

Sincerely,

Derek Harwell 

John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth has been a nonprofit committed to nurturing extraordinary young minds since 1979. CTY is dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-college students around the world.

The Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University, established in 1979, specializes in providing exceptional academic programs for advanced learners in grades 2-12. CTY is committed to fostering intellectual growth in gifted students from diverse backgrounds and communities. As a leading entity in gifted education, advocacy, and research, CTY offers accredited, advanced online and on-campus courses, personalized instruction, and an inclusive community for students with a shared passion for learning. The center recognizes that advanced students flourish by accelerating their learning, embracing challenges, and pursuing their curiosities in a nurturing environment. CTY provides various experiences to help students advance in their studies, deepen their knowledge in subjects they love, and find a supportive community where they can truly be themselves.

CAS students who accomplished an outstanding performance in the October 2023 PSAT/NMSQT are eligible to apply to the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer programs.

These highly selective programs, which use the PSAT/NMSQT to qualify, will be offered either fully online or on-campus in the summer of 2024.

We are thrilled about the 60  CAS students who are qualified  this year for the Johns Hopkins Program: 

22 students in grade 11

14 students in grade 10

15 students in grade 9

5 students in grade 8

4 students in grade 7 

The College Counseling office is organizing an international university fair for students in grades 10, 11, and 12 on Wednesday, December 6, from 11:15 am to 12:50 pm. This is a great opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge about the Universities to which they are applying: 

The universities attending are:

1. EducationUSA

2. British Council 

3. Kaplan International Pathway 

4. Augustana college 

5. Depauw University 

6. Manhattan college 

7. EU Business School Barcelona 

8. Oxford International Education 

9. American Business School of Paris 

10. Aivancity 

11. ESSEC Business School 

12. l'ESCP

13. Glion

14. Les Roches

15. ESCA - Ecole de Management

16. Centrale Casablanca

17. LCI Education 

18. Al Akhawayn University

19. Université International de Rabat

20. University Mohamed 6 des sciences de la santé

Parents are welcome to join us as well, should they be available. We look forward to seeing you there.

Best Regards,

Rana Haroun, M.A., C.E.P.

College Counselor, Certified Educational Planner 

Dear CAS community,

As part of our ongoing commitment to educational excellence, our school is embarking on a re-accreditation journey with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). A pivotal aspect of this process is the Internal Reflection, which kicks off with the administration of NEASC-CIE Learning Surveys. These surveys, aligned with the ACE Learning Principles, will be administered to our learning community, including learners, teachers, parents, and leadership. The aim is to gather insights that will inform our educational strategies and align us more closely with NEASC's foundational standards.

Over the course of approximately nine months, designated committees will analyze survey results, discuss learning principles, and draft reports under the guidance of the ACE Design Team. The culmination of this process will be a Community Workshop aimed at building a shared understanding of our future educational direction. This workshop will present key findings and major learning plans that will significantly impact our community's learning experience. The final Internal Reflection Report will then be submitted to NEASC-CIE at least six weeks before the scheduled External Review Team Visit.

Best regards,

Abderrazak Behhar

N-12 Curriculum Coordinator

NEASC Accreditation Coordinator

Recently, Ms. Rana Haroun, CAS College Counselor,  earned the credential: Certified Educational Planner.

The American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP) awards the CEP credential to professionals who have achieved the highest level of competence in educational planning. Only the best and most experienced counselors qualify to become CEPs. To earn this credential, she had to take an exam in August, which she passed successfully.

This is her CEP profile: https://www.aicep.org/Sys/PublicProfile/69379910/5555850

As of today, only 245 educators worldwide are CEP-certified.

Congratulations to the new Student Council who got elected this week: 

Wiam Aichour- President

Myriam Mohemmane- Vice-President 

Officers - Rita Bennani, Layla Chaouni,Lina Chugani, Sara Benzakour, Kenzie Sekkat 

The purpose of the CAS Student Council shall be to “give students the opportunity to participate in various activities of school life, and serve as a sounding board for the expression of student opinions and provide opportunities for training in democratic processes”. CAS Board Policy Manual, page 8.7100

See link here Student Council 

Adopt Don't Shop

Meet Sweet Susie! This beautiful l and playful  puppy is fully vaccinated, sterilized, de-wormed, de-flead, crate-trained, great with kids and other animals of all ages and ready for adoption to a warm and caring family. Please contact Ms. Gi, LS Art, for  more information on how to adopt her and also if you are interested in sponsoring a street animal or helping the cause of street animals in Casablanca and at CAS and our environs.  ggruen@cas.ac.ma

As we celebrated World Teacher Day earlier this year, the US Student Council  wants to take a moment to express our warm gratitude to each one of our dedicated educators at Casablanca American School. Your unwavering dedication to developing our young minds, encouraging creativity, and helping mold our future is nothing but sweet.

In honor of this special day, StuCo has put together a heartfelt video as a way to show of our appreciation. This video was filmed by the student body to showcase the admiration and respect we have for our teachers and the incredible work you do day in and day out. We hope you take a moment to watch it, as it captures the gratitude and love the entire CAS community feels towards our exceptional teaching staff. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.

Thank you for everything you do and for putting a smile on our faces. Happy World Teacher Day!

Warm regards,

Sofia Ziane

Malak Louimine

Wiam Aichour

Abla Mounir

We seek to share information on our Alumni to our community and it is also an opportunity for the Alumni to stay in touch! Please email us pictures and updates and we would be happy to share them!

We are eager to hear from you! Email us at the following email address: alumni@cas.ac.ma