Read about some of the celebrations that happened across our campuses
ACS is 50!
The 50th Anniversary of ACS as an organisation means we are the third oldest international school in the UK and provides the opportunity for us to engage our alumni, friends, students and parents in our journey from 1967 to today. We can reflect on how ACS has endured economic, societal and geographical changes from small beginnings to a truly international school with some 84 nationalities across 100 countries. Here below are a few of the 50th celebrations that happened across the ACS campuses.
ACS COBHAM
On 26 October 2017, as part of ACS turning 50 this year, Early Childhood at ACS Cobham celebrated with a special procession in hats with lots of balloons, whistles and tambourines throughout the school, singing Happy Birthday ACS and raising the school flag! They finished their tour at Heywood House, where the lower school kindergarten used to be in 1975, to the delight of all the staff! Back in 1975 when Cobham opened all 175 Kindergarten to Gr 9 students were all in the “white house”. When Jane Kullman, a long standing member of ACS staff started, it was called the lower school. Grades 2-4 were in porta cabins spread around the grounds and pre-K was in the West Lodge. The Head of School, Tony Eyles’s house at some point had 2 kindergarten classes. When lower school moved into what is now the LS building in 1995, kindergarten remained in the “White House” and Scramblers and Pre-K were in the village, where Early Childhood is to this day.
ACS Egham celebrates half a century of success at its annual International Fair, organised by the Parent Teacher Organisation, the annual ACS Egham International Fair brought together the whole school community to enjoy international cuisine and celebrate the diversity and cultures that have been a part of ACS for fifty years.
This year’s annual International Fair at ACS Egham, attracted over 1,000 people. Attendees were able to enjoy a range of international foods from over 30 countries, including Italy, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Latin America, Canada, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, China, 'The UK' and Japan to name but a few. Families got to experience new cultures and enjoy a variety of musical performances from students; in celebration of fifty years of ACS International Schools. The theme for the event, hosted at ACS Egham, explored the international cultures that make up the school community, through a variety of stalls representing different nationalities. The annual fair aims to promote the versatility of all the cultures that contribute to the strong academic achievement record seen within all ACS Schools. The opening ‘Parade of Nations’ featured students dressed in their national costumes and carrying their country’s native flag.
Verena Braga, PTO Multicultural Coordinator, said:
Throughout the day students from the lower, middle and high school put on music and dance performances showcasing their talents; the arts are an important focus for ACS and help to develop students to become well-rounded, balanced individuals.
Jeremy Lewis, Head of School, commented:
"Thank you to all of our parents that put on this wonderful day and to everyone who attended and helped celebrate fifty years of ACS.”
ACS EGHAM - 50TH DAY OF THE 50TH YEAR
ACS Egham also celebrated ACS's 50th day of the 50th year with a 1960’s Fancy Dress and yellow theme! All staff and students alike wore something to represent the 1960's from their own individual countries. In addition they had 1960s style food in the dining hall while playing music from the 60's, there was a staff vs student volleyball match and classroom activities. You can see more images here.
ACS HILLINGDON
At ACS Hillingdon, they put together a simple timeline as part of a classroom curricular piece for the 50th Anniversary. Cyndie Goodall is the teacher in the lower school who first joined the American Community School when ACS was in Knightsbridge and Marc Smith is the first grade student shown in the video who is now an ACS teacher himself! Here is the video.
Knightsbridge in its heyday
ACS Hillingdon also hosted the first ever all four campus inter school ACS Cup Tournament with 65 students and eight coaches from across the four ACS schools taking part. The all-day football tournament saw students at ACS Hillingdon and its sister campuses, Cobham and Egham, as well as Doha, Qatar, come together for the first time to compete in a friendly and competitive event. Each school sent one senior football team with students aged 14-18.
This was an exciting event and a great opportunity for the Boys Varsity Teams from each of the four ACS International Schools to compete against each other for the very first time. Well done to all four ACS Schools who took part and a special thank you to ACS Doha International School for making the trip to London!
The four ACS Schools Cup teams and Coaches
Jett Russell, Athletic Director at ACS Hillingdon who organised the event, commented:
ACS DOHA
ACS Doha asked what students want to be doing in 50 years time! You can see the video here. They also celebrated diversity and 50 years of ACS at their annual International Mindedness Fair in November 2017. The International Mindedness Fair took place on November 26 at the marking 50 years of excellence for the ACS International Schools group. Amongst the activities that took place around the campus, was a national anthem parade - where students from different nationalities sang each others’ national anthems, as well as the International Cafe food fest, which was segmented into continents - featuring a variety of different cuisines from more than 70 countries.
The Lower School students were assigned a host country per classroom, for which they had to research the assigned country’s history, cultures and traditions, and pass on the knowledge to their classmates through a variety of stimulating games and activities.
The full-day programme also featured multiple performances organized and presented by the student body - including a choir performance by the 5th grade, folklore and traditional routines inspired by a number of different cultures, as well as a closing performance by the Middle and High School ‘Music on Steps’ band.
CS student Mohammad Al Emadi’s mother, commented on the occasion saying:
You can see more about our first 50 years here!
The Peace Wall Project as part of the 50th Anniversary: Unity in our Community through Art. Marjorie Williams from the Middle School Art Department at ACS Cobham commented:
The completed project is mounted on the school walls near to the admissions office and is a fitting reminder of our international identity in our 50th year at ACS International Schools.
