Weekly Update (Spring Break Edition): April 18-22

Spring break falls just in the knick of time this year.  After just finishing 3rd quarter grades/comments and parent/teacher conferences, we immediately turned our attention to some significant IB deadlines.  This explains why many of you are feeling exhausted, as we approach the end of the year.  I hope that the week away from school provides you with the rejuvenation that you deserve to finish the year strong.

Have an amazing week off!

Jacob

Friday, April 8
Day 8- HEFG
Theater Production: Amadeus, 6:30pm (Black Box Theater)

Saturday, April 9 – Sunday, April 17
Spring Break

Monday, April 18
Day 1- ABCD
Group Meeting Schedule
HSLT Meeting, 3:15-4:45 (HS Office Conference Room) Agenda Here

Tuesday, April 19
Day 2- EFGH
Special WrAP Testing Schedule
Grade 10 SOC Meeting, Lunch (Counseling Conference Room)

Wednesday, April 20
Day 3- BCDA
Special WrAP Testing Schedule
AS PD WASC, 3:15-4:30 (location TBD)
HS Spring Concert, 7-8:30pm (Auditorium)

Thursday, April 21
Day 4- FGHE
Group Meeting Schedule

Friday, April 22
Day 5- CDAB
Mr. Tsien 1o Year Anniversary, 4-6pm followed by reception (Auditorium)

On the Horizon
Jacob Gone, April 24-28 WASC Accreditation (Pan Asia International School, Bangkok)
HS MAP Testing, April
Career Fair, April 25 (Schedule Here)
Last Day for Full Diploma Seniors, April 29
Spirit Assembly, April 29 (Alternative Schedule)

Principal’s Survey– I have begun to wade through my survey data and synthesize themes of celebration and growth this week.  I am waiting to share these with you after I conference with Mark about them in the coming days.

Final Exams–  The HSLT began to discuss the final exam testing schedule for the spring semester.  We will be using arena style testing again in our HS gym.  The dates of the exams are June 2, 3, 5 & 6.  The HSLT (with Thao’s support) has made its best effort to balance testing windows for students and for teachers and grading.  The draft of the schedule is here.  If there is a significant issue that we may have missed please see Ms. Thao ASAP.  We would like to publish this to students by the beginning of May.  Please remember, for those of you that are new (like me), we do not give final exams to students taking AP or IB exams, most world language classes, PE, and the arts in semester two.

Senior Grades/Comments– There received a question recently about PowerSchool comments for seniors in the 4th quarter and I wanted to share my answer with everyone.  Grades and comments for seniors are due by 8am on May 20.  As we have done in the past, we only require comments to those seniors that have received a C or lower in the 4th quarter or second semester grade.  If you’d like to share positive feedback with students that is great, but not required.

Mr. Tsien 10 Year Anniversary– There will be a celebration of Ferdinand Tsien’s Life on April 22 from 4-6pm with reception following in the auditorium.  Ticket information should be coming from Mark about this.  Mr. Tsien was one of the founders of our school and was extremely influential and passionate about SSIS.  If you are free, we’d love to see you at this event.  You can request a ticket(s) here.

Department Heads 2016-17– We will be starting the process of selecting department heads for the 2016-17 school year shortly after spring break.  I want to thank Nomer, Kris, Bill, Andrew, Nick, Mike, Colin and Alison for representing their departments this year.  Many of them stayed on for a third year to support the high school during a transitionary time.  Their ideas, advice, thoughtful feedback, and candor have been invaluable to me in my first year.  More information to follow, but this document describes the qualifications, roles and responsibilities of HSLT members.

Important Dates Shared with the Class of 2016– Heather and I shared some important dates with seniors about the end of the year and graduation this week.  The HSLT and counseling department reviewed these and believe they are accurate.  This letter was shared with seniors and their parents this week.  I thought you might want to have access to this.

Career Day– Career Day takes place on Monday, April 25.  We have a special schedule this day to provide our students with opportunities to investigate a number of career choices.  Classes will be 60 minutes in length on that day.  The schedule is here.