American Community School Beirut

Counseling services are an integral part of ACS. The SEL Counseling Program places emphasis on an integrative SEL approach aligned with the American School Counselor Association and the International School Counselor Association. It uses a proactive, student-centered, global approach to work with students, parents, and teachers from PreK through 12. Counselors provide prevention and interventions, help students develop executive functioning and interpersonal skills, offer individual, group, and family counseling, run parent and student workshops, manage transitions, and coordinate with Learning Support Services and the College Counselor to link families with ongoing therapy and community supports.

The Learning Support Team enhances the learning experiences of students with diagnosed learning challenges who can attend regular classes with minimal support. They help students develop study habits, time management, organization, and self-advocacy; develop support plans that build on strengths; and coordinate with teachers, parents, and outside professionals to implement intervention strategies. They use a diverse range of assessments, including NWEA MAP and WIDA, to identify needs, target support efficiently, and monitor progress. They cannot provide individualized educational plans (IEP) or modify the curriculum for individual students.

The English Language Learning (ELL) program enables students whose first language or prior language of instruction is not English to develop language skills and study at grade level. The ELL program is offered in grades 1–5; in grades 6–12, ELL is offered on an as-needed basis. The ELL team identifies students through proficiency assessment, provides differentiated support, and regularly reports progress to parents. An ELL Specialist plans and delivers the ELL services, which may include individual or small group instruction.

Promoting health and well-being is a vital component of ACS Student Services, taking a holistic approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. School nurses collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to provide a safe and supportive learning environment, promote health education, manage chronic diseases, conduct health screenings, respond to crises, support mental health, and monitor nutrition services and physical education. ACS has three certified registered nurses on campus during regular hours, two health centers fully equipped with medications and first-aid supplies, and an on-site doctor available three times per week.

ACS Beirut has adopted a Child Protection Policy based on international law, Lebanese law, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of which Lebanon is a signatory, with key articles on protection from abuse and sexual exploitation. ACS partners with local institutions such as Himaya and AUBMC to support safeguarding. The school provides age-appropriate personal safety lessons for all grade levels, information sessions for parents, and annual faculty training on safeguarding. The Safe Schools program and related safeguarding resources are in use, along with a Code of Conduct and additional materials.