Weekly Update: January 22

This week highlights the power of collaboration.  Our first semester forum, became a great opportunity for our division to surface strengths and growth areas.  I appreciated how the protocol allowed us to clearly define themes of strength and growth.  This will serve us well moving forward.  Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of serving on the Assistant Principal Search Committee.  This group created unique and relevant questions and engaged in an impressive dialogue about the desired characteristics.  Moreover, the collegial conversations as we debriefed and recommended finalists were very rewarding.  As a result, we have found some amazing candidates.  I look forward to more productive work together in the coming semester.

Have a great weekend,

Jacob

Staff Action Needed

• Enjoy your weekend

Friday, January 22
Day 1- ABCD
Last Day to Make Semester 1 Grade Changes
Informational Meeting with HoS for HS staff, 3:30-4 (MPR)

Monday, January 25
Day 2- EFGH
Special Schedule

• 8:00 – 9:15 Block C (75 min)
• 9:15-9:25 Break (10 min)
• 9:30-10:45 Block D (75 min)
• 10:50-11:50 Advisory (60 min)
• 11:50-1:05 Block A (75 min)
• 1:05-1:45 Lunch   (40 min)
• 1:45 – 3:00   Block B (75 min)

HSLT Meeting, 3:15-4:45 (HS Conference Room) Agenda Here

Tuesday, January 26
Day 3- BCDA
12th Grade SOC Meeting, Lunch (Counseling Conference Room)

Wednesday, January 27
Day 4- FGHE
AS Professional Development, 3:15-4:30 (Auditorium)

Thursday, January 28
Day 5- CDAB
Group Meeting Schedule. Meet in advisory groups to plan for a Tet potluck

Friday, January 29
Day 6- GHEF
StuCo Event, The Suffering 7-9pm

On the Horizon
Sunshine Activity, February 2, 4pm
Tet Assembly, February 3 (More info to come, but will be about 45-60 minutes)
Tet Break, February 4-14
English & Science Departmental Dinner: Jacob’s House, February 18
Author Assembly, February 23 (AM assembly)
Arts, SS, PE and Support Services Departmental Dinner: Jacob’s House, February 25
Maths, World Language, Counseling Departmental Dinner: Jacob’s House, March 3

Last Day For Grade Changes is January 22 (Today)– The last day to make any changes to semester one grades is Friday, January 22 at 4pm.  We need to be able to finalize and verify the first semester grades within PowerSchool.

Education Survey– I have started meeting with staff concerning the education survey results.  I have included a divisional summary of results here, so you may have context for you results.  These numbers are the average percentiles of the entire HS staff.  As a division, we performed strongly on the questions of Academic Excellence.  Our results were a bit lower in relation to the other core values, as we have not truly begun emphasizing these in the high school.  As a result, there is quite a bit of variation here.

Tet Assembly on February 3– We will be having a Tet assembly on our last day before Tet break on February 3rd.  More information to follow, but the classes will be shorter that day to the length of the assembly.  A schedule will be ready for viewing next week.

Author Visit Assembly– We have an amazing opportunity for our students on Tuesday, February 23.  We will be having an assembly with the award winning author S.A. (Stephanie) Bodeen. It will be a special schedule for a 45 minute assembly.  I just wanted to share this in advance for your planning.  Thank you Lara Keller for the information below about the author.

Sunshine Activity– The Sunshine group will be sending out a survey for an event on Tuesday, February 2 after school.  The options will be bowling or Bia Hoi.  Make sure to complete this survey and come out and celebrate the coming Tet break together.

First Semester Forum Feedback– Thank you for your careful attention, willingness to take risks, and thoughtfulness during our 1st Semester Forum on Wednesday.  The strengths surfaced reinforce why I am so excited to work in the high school from collegiality, professionalism and new initiatives like House Leagues.  Juxtaposed to this were our growth areas and potential next steps which included a few key themes like focusing on a smaller number of initiatives, class size reduction, creating a master plan for future growth in the HS, pastoral care and providing targeted professional development just to mention a few.

The leadership team will now digest this data and put a plan in place for our work in the second semester.  You can review all of the post it note comments left on the way out here.  Thank you Thao for typing these.

Assistant Principal Update– The assistant principal search committee has recommended four finalists for Mark and I to take to the next stage of the hiring process.  We have begun finalist interviews and reference checks this week and hope to have an offer out by the beginning of the week.  The finalists were all extremely strong and offer a unique variety of skills that will support our growth as a high school starting next year and moving forward.

Cafeteria Supplies– The cafeteria is missing a large number of plates and utensils.  If you have any in your room please return them to the cafeteria or kiosk.  The caterers would appreciate a quick return of these items in the future if you take them from the kiosk or cafeteria. Thank you for your assistance.

New Year’s Grade Book Challenge– As we start a new semester let’s remember our professional responsibilities around assessment.  Our students need frequent and timely feedback for their growth.  Some key agreements to remember:

• Update grades online to share progress (assessment data should be in gradebook within 2 weeks of being turned in)
• Consistent evaluation feedback for parents and students
  • Assessment data should be added to gradebook at least every 2 weeks
• Enter major graded assignments, tests, and projects into Moodle and PowerSchool at least 10 days before assignment due date
• Should avoid grade dumping at the end of each grading period that skews overall student data significantly