Dear elementary school parents,

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent Parent Coffee! We went deeper into our elementary school student experience, exploring how we support language development in literacy learning, how the design process is used in STEM and across subjects, and the exciting opportunities our Genius Hour provides for upper elementary students to pursue their passions. Our next Parent Coffee is scheduled for January 17, featuring our literacy consultant, who will share insights on current literacy research, its connection to student development, and practical ways parents can support literacy growth at home. We will also have an extended coffee time that morning to welcome new families to ASH. Save the date and join us if you can!

Our students have enjoyed the celebrations of Sinterklaas today. As we are approaching the last week of school before winter break,  here is a look at some events next week:

Upcoming elementary school events include:

• Wednesday, December 11: ESSE Ice Skating
• Wednesday, December 11: Holiday jumper/sweater day
• Friday, December 13: Pajama day 
• Monday - Friday, December 14 - January 5: Winter Break

In a recent Director’s Desk email, attendance requirements were highlighted, as we often receive requests to take children out of school for different reasons. ASH must comply with Dutch guidelines, based on this linked document from the Municipality of The Hague. In the Netherlands, all children aged 5 and up are legally required to attend school. Missing school without a valid reason is considered truancy and can have consequences for both parents and students, whether they attend a public or private school. We are required to comply with specifics outlined in the linked document above. If your child will be absent from school, you should contact our respective offices Early Childhood Center and/or Upper Elementary. If requesting a leave for your child, you will hear a decision back according to the Dutch attendance guidelines. 

In partnership,
Michelle deKam Palmieri, Principal

Dear ASH Middle School Families, 

Thank you for joining us for the Middle School Winter Concerts! What a delight to hear the growth and progress of our students in such a tangible way. Please make sure to celebrate with your child as we could not be more proud.

Important Dates: Mark your calendars! 
December 11: Grade 5 Field Trip to Het Scheepvaart National Maritime Museum
December 11: Festive Wear Day (Holiday, Seasonal, Ugly Sweater)
December 13: Color House Shirt Day (or a shirt of the same color as their house
December 13: Last day of school before Winter Break
January 6: First day of school after Winter Break

News and Notes: 

St. Baldrick's ASH Community Event is back for 2025!
Save the date for Tuesday, March 11 to join us for our 2nd annual event. There are many ways to get involved to help raise awareness about childhood cancer and raise funds for Princess Maxima Cancer Center, our local children's cancer hospital. Please use this form to see how you can get involved. Signing up now indicates your interest in being involved in the event. We will reach out to you after winter break to confirm your participation.

Spotlight on Grade 7 Math
“Ms Galante turned 7th grade Math into a candy shop for curious minds! After learning about surface area and volume, students faced an exciting challenge: designing candy packages for young, energetic audiences- kids!” Thank you to all the parents who participated in judging and with general support. This project was a huge success and helped make math come alive. Read the social media post here.

Follow up! Middle School Parent Coffee
If you were not able to attend our last parent coffee on Wednesday, November 27, but you are still curious about our topics. Here is a link to the slide decks. We offered four short sessions to help address some of the topics that have been brought forward by parents.  Topics include: Bullying/Restorative Justice; Bringing balance to your child’s schedule; Resilience; The Changing Teen. 

Dark mornings and nights! Help your child be safe. 
The dark mornings and early evenings can feel a little scary. You can help your child feel safer and more prepared by checking in with them about the following: 

1. Check those bike lights! Are they working? Are they bright enough?
2. Do they know what to do if they are in an accident? Make a plan.
3. Ride to school/home with a buddy. If they don’t have a buddy, set up a plan to have them check in when they arrive. 
4. Know the routes they take to places. (Have them avoid areas that are not well lit.) 
5. Avoid strangers and always empower them to call and push past. 
6. Remind them to lock their bikes.

Upcoming Dates

• December 6 - Progress Reporting - Grades & Habits for Learning updated for all students by 16:00
• December 7 - SAT Testing
• December 11: Festive Wear Day (Holiday, Seasonal, Ugly Sweater)
• December 10-13 - Assessment Week 
• December 14: ACT Testing
• December 16 - January 3: Winter Break
• January 6: Classes resume

Dear Parents,  

Happy Holidays! 
As the winter holidays approach, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family. This season is a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect, and cherish quality time with loved ones. We hope you find moments of joy, rest, and rejuvenation amidst the festivities. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. May your holidays be filled with peace, warmth, and happiness, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year refreshed and ready for the exciting journey ahead.  

Assessment Week - December 10-13
Assessment Week is an opportunity for your high schooler to showcase their learning, and your support can make a big difference. Encourage them to create a study schedule, breaking their revision into manageable chunks and prioritizing their most challenging subjects. Provide a quiet, well-lit study space free from distractions, and ensure they take regular breaks to stay focused. Remind them to eat nutritious meals, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep to perform at their best. Lastly, offer words of encouragement and be available to discuss any concerns they might have, helping them approach the week with confidence and a positive mindset.

We will have a special schedule over the course of Assessment Week and students will be able to come and go from campus when they do not have a class. All classes will run a two-hour block over the course of the four days and regardless of whether a class will have an exam or not, students are expected to attend ALL classes

Full attendance is expected to be in attendance during Assessment Week. It is important that you prioritize this as there will not be make-up opportunities. We appreciate your understanding and support with this matter.

From the High School Counseling Office
Parents of Seniors: Please ask your students to inform their counselor and update their MaiaLearning accounts when they receive and make university decisions. Seniors should make an appointment with counselors as soon as possible if they have a university application that needs to be reviewed or uploaded before the break as the High School Counseling Office will be closed and counselors will not be available during the winter break. 

Parents of Juniors: This week we met with 11th graders to introduce the university application process. In addition to an evening University Information Session on January 16 for families of current 11th grade students, we have multiple in-school meetings planned for the second semester with the class of 2026.

Please see our Upcoming University Events document for university events (visits at ASH, Open Days, webinars), summer programs, and more.

Upcoming Dates: 

• November 28 - 29 - No Classes, Thanksgiving weekend
• December 4 - High School Strings, Choir, Band Winter Concert, 18:00, Theater
• December 7 - SAT Testing
• December 11: Festive Wear Day (Holiday, Seasonal, Ugly Sweater)
• December 10-13 - Assessment Week 
• December 14: ACT Testing
• December 16 - Jan 3: Winter Break
• January 6: Classes resume

Parent Assessment Working Group - Call for Volunteers
We have shared with parents in our first parent coffee that we will be moving towards Standards Based Assessment and Reporting in the 2025-26 school year. We like to share some of our thinking with you and gather your thoughts and feedback on some of the proposed systems. If you are interested in giving us feedback and working with us please sign up with this form. We will report feedback back to our parent coffee in February to give you further information. Thanks and we look forward to your feedback. 

High School Attendance Requirements
For details on attendance requirements, please refer to the Director’s Desk update shared by Dr. Lowe on November 25, as well as our Student Handbook. To report absences in the High School, please email hsattendance@ash.nl

Recording Presentation Prevention Solution
Please use this link to access the recording of our Parent Coffee session from October 31, featuring a presentation by Prevention Solutions.

Assessment Week - December 10-13
Assessment Week is an opportunity for your high schooler to showcase their learning, and your support can make a big difference. Encourage them to create a study schedule, breaking their revision into manageable chunks and prioritizing their most challenging subjects. Provide a quiet, well-lit study space free from distractions, and ensure they take regular breaks to stay focused. Remind them to eat nutritious meals, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep to perform at their best. Lastly, offer words of encouragement and be available to discuss any concerns they might have, helping them approach the week with confidence and a positive mindset.

We will have a special schedule over the course of Assessment Week and students will be able to come and go from campus when they do not have a class. All classes will run a two-hour block over the course of the four days and regardless of whether a class will have an exam or not, students are expected to attend ALL classes

Full attendance is expected to be in attendance during Assessment Week. It is important that you prioritize this as there will not be make-up opportunities. We appreciate your understanding and support with this matter.

From the High School Counseling Office
Please note that the High School Counseling Office will be closed and counselors will not be available during the winter break. Make an appointment with counselors as soon as possible if you have a university application that needs to be reviewed or uploaded before the break. 

Bookmark our Upcoming University Events document for university events (visits at ASH, Open Days, webinars), summer programs, and more.

Hello Trojan Families,

Our Winter Sports Season is in full swing, and we’re excited to kick things off with our first home games of the season! This weekend, we’ll be hosting the varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball teams from the American School of Paris.

Additionally, we wish our Swim Team the best of luck as they travel to the International School of Luxembourg for their first meet of the season.

We’d love to have your support this weekend—whether as fans in the stands or as volunteers in the concession area. Join us and be part of the excitement!

Concession Sign Up and please find the Concession Volunteer Guidelines here.

Go Trojans!