Weekly Update: April 4-8

We have been working together on a couple of HS initiatives over the last few months since our first semester forum in January.  The focus of our work revamping a pastoral advisory program and retooling our group meeting times were clear priorities set from the staff.  Collectively, we have moved forward to set the stage for an improved program for our students in the 2016-17 school year.  While we have more work to do in the closing months of the year, we have made huge strides together.

This week our Week Without Walls committee rolled out our program for the fall of 2016.  I was struck by the collaboration at this week’s faculty meeting.  As departments brainstormed possible curricular connections to support our WWW program, I noticed a significant difference from collaboration at previous meetings.  Something was strikingly different.  Upon further reflection I think I may have surfaced the major difference.  I believe that our last few meetings we have identified a common vision about the direction of our advisory program.  Together we were looking in the same direction.  At our last meeting, I believe that we were not only looking in the same direction, but paddling together in unison.  I felt a distinct rhythm of our work, like we were hitting our stride together in sync.  I look forward to our continued growth in this area as we work to prioritizing student learning together.

Have a great weekend,

Jacob

Friday, April 1
Day 3- BCDA

Saturday, April 2
Family Fun Day, 2:30-5pm

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

Tuesday, April 5
Day 5- CDAB
SOC Meeting, Lunch (Counseling Conference Room)

Wednesday, April 6
Day 6- GHEF
AS PD/Assessment for Learning, 3:15-4:30 (Location TBD)
IB/AP Art Exhibition, 7-8:30pm (Auditorium)

Thursday, April 7
Day 7- DABC
Group Meeting Schedule
University University: Kent State and Northeastern University, Lunch (Library)
Theater Production: Amadeus, 6:30pm (Black Box Theater)

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

On the Horizon
Spring Break, April 9-17
WrAP Testing, April 19-20 (all 9-11 graders tested) Schedule here
Jacob Gone, April 24-28 WASC Accreditation (Pan Asia International School, Bangkok)

Planned Absence Forms– I have received a number of questions about the purpose and use of planned absence forms in the HS.  We met as a HSLT this week to clarify the purpose since I was fielding a variety of questions.  I wanted to clarify these to ensure we are all on the same page especially since we have new staff on board this year (me included).  The purpose of the form is to give teachers advanced notification (at least two weeks) for an absence of a student especially in the case of group absences for things like MRISA events where many students will be out at the same time.  When teachers get this notification, they can make adjustments to their planning if necessary like rescheduling an exam if many students will be gone.  I know that the two week notification window has not been consistently held this year.  I believe that a solution is now in place that will ensure coaches and advisors will get these forms to students in a timely fashion.  This however does not ensure that the student will get these forms to you.  Continue to read Shelley’s emails that include the dates and names of students and look for those forms.

What are planned absence forms? A way for a teacher and student to plan makeup strategy  together for the work that will be missed.  This would include when and how to make up quizzes, exams or a plan to make up work.  Please remember that when these students travel for MRISA and other events they have little to no time to do any school work and will need additional time.

What planned absence forms are NOT intended to do?  I have had a number of teachers ask me this year if they do not sign the form does that mean that they can keep them from going on the trip.  This is not and has never been the intention of the form.  If a student is behind in their classes, refusing to sign the form does not keep students from going on the trip.

Please talk to me or your department head if you have further questions.

Semester 2 Final Exams– The HSLT  discussed the final exam model for the second semester.  We will be doing arena style testing like we did in the first semester.  One major difference is that AP or IB (Year 2) classes do not take a final exam in their classes since they take exams for each of these courses during the month of May for IB and the College Board.  More details to follow and the dates for senior finals and 9-11th grade finals are listed in the student handbook and on the Google calendar.  The last day for classes for seniors is May 12th.  Senior finals will take place during the week of May 16th.  Final exams for 9-11th graders take place on June 2-8th.

HS Principal Survey Results– I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me feedback on the HS Principal Survey.  I just received my results late in the week and look forward to sifting through and  synthesizing my results.  I hope to share a summary of my results in the coming week.

Student Handbook Revision Underway– The HSLT has started the process of reviewing the student handbook for the 2016-17 school year.  If you have any concerns about a section(s) of the handbook, feel something should be amended, added or deleted talk to your department head in the next couple of weeks.  We will be discussing these issues in the coming weeks to finalize the document by the beginning of May.

Master Schedule Update for 2016-17– The HSLT has been given section numbers and asked to allocate the classes among their fellow department members.  They submitted their requests to me about a week ago.  The counselors and I reviewed these recommendations and talked to department heads if we had questions or concerns.  At this point, David and Nghi have started inputting teacher names and classes into PowerSchool.  A major priority of common planning for each department was surfaced during each of our departmental check-ins back in November.  This will be something that I hope will be a reality in the 2016-17 school year.  We hope to have a rough idea of how things will shake out by the beginning of May and finalized by the end of the same month.  I will continue to involve the HSLT in the process if there are hiccups or other problems along the way.

WrAP Testing– WrAP testing for all 9-11 graders takes place on April 19 and 20 after we return form spring break.  Please note the schedule here shared by Tina and that the classes are 70 minutes in length.

MS/HS Bell Schedule for 2016-17 Finalized– After much work by the HSLT, MSLT and both divisional staffs a common bell schedule has been finalized.  You can see it here.  I am extremely appreciative of the compromises reached by both divisions to meet the needs of both students and teachers.