ABU DHABI // As the American Community School of Abu Dhabi prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary this week, it is not only taking stock of what it has accomplished but also of what lies ahead.
"We are facing an interesting period in our history," said principal Bob Gross, who kicked off a week of celebrations, today, amid a gathering of 500 former students, their families and teachers.
"The school will see a bright future, in line with what Abu Dhabi wants to achieve in the coming years. Now is the time to substantially upgrade our facilities. We are setting ourselves up for the next 40 years.
The US curriculum school was founded in 1972 on a campus near the Japan Oil Company off Sheikh Zayed the First Road, by the US diplomatic mission and representatives of major oil companies.
In 1975 the campus moved to its current location on Sultan bin Zayed Street - a site donated by President Sheikh Khalifa and further extended by him in 1989. This allowed ACS to add a high school and more extra-curricular offerings, including media centres, a theatre, a dance studio and multipurpose rooms.
Sohail Jashanmal, an artist and founder of the art show Green Abu Dhabi, was among the first 12 to graduate from the new high school in 1993.
"We were a very tight group in school and the bunch of us are still very good friends," said Mr Jashanmal, 37. Among the group was Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the chief executive of Mubadala and a guest speaker at Friday's event.
"A particular reason we are together is because we went through this education experience together and then went to Boston University together as well," said Mr Jashanmal.
"I was very lucky that the school expanded at the time I joined because before that families had to send their children abroad to complete high school."
The school has grown from educating 50 pupils in the 1970s to 1,040 children today. Over the past few weeks, ACS staff put in extra hours revisiting the past and re-establishing ties with those who once walked the school's hallways.
Old records were pulled to create a timeline, photographs were collected to create an archive and former pupils were tracked down.
"We want to set up a strong alumni base, which is currently missing," admitted Mr Gross.
Makram El-Zyr, 36, is now the corporate vice president of development of Rotana Hotels. He studied at ACS from 1990 to 1993 and is very pleased about efforts to bring old classmates back together. "It was like a family back then," he said, "a small-knit class that did everything together. It made us appreciate friends growing up and also pushed us to succeed."
The US Embassy, which funds the school, is highly involved in safety measures on campus. A regional security officer does regular checks and suggests security upgrades.
The State Department extends an annual grant to run the school and has funded the installation of CCTV and fitted bulletproof windows around the campus.
But while the facilities are good, they can no longer accommodate their plans for growth, according to Mr Gross.
"All our facilities are getting old and space has become a problem," he said.
The school's last renovation was undertaken in 2000, when a new elementary school building was constructed in a record time of eight months.
"It was a real community project, with everyone - teenagers, parents, teachers and staff - helping to empty the old building before demolition," said Valerie Cox, the director of communications at the school.
The next step, Mr Gross said, is to either upgrade the current campus or move to a new location. "It depends on the funds we can raise," he said.
Famous personalities who have visited the American Community School in Abu Dhabi:
1975 Santa Claus arrives at ACS by helicopter. Breakfast with Santa has been a tradition at ACS ever since.
1976 Astronauts Vance Brand, Thomas Stafford and Donald Slayton of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
1982 Alex Haley, author of Roots, visits ACS – one of many authors who have met with pupils.
1983 Mohammed Ali
aahmed@thenational.ae
This article has been amended. It incorrectedly stated that Queen Elizabeth II of Britain visited the American Community School in 1979. The error was made due to incorrect information supplied.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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How to avoid crypto fraud
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
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'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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LIST OF INVITEES
Shergo Kurdi (am)
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan
AbdulRahman Al Mansour (am)
Matteo Manassero
Alfie Plant
Othman Al Mulla
Shaun Norris
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
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If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
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