Weekly Update: August 8-12

Relationships are the foundation for any fundamental change.  This week we had opportunities to connect and forge new relationships with each other both personally and professionally.  While it was great seeing our scavenger hunt in action on Tuesday, it was seeing the our division in action professionally during WASC and tackling assessment issues that makes me the most excited about the future.  We truly have a special high school staff in place to serve the needs of our students.  I am extremely eager for our students to reconnect with our returning staff and meet its newest members this coming week.

Have a great weekend,

Jacob

Friday, August 5
Full Faculty Inservice (Schedule Here)
All Staff BBQ, 4:00-6:00pm (Atrium)

Monday, August 8
Full Faculty Inservice (Schedule Here)
HS Faculty Meeting, 9:15-11:00am (MPR)

Tuesday, August 9
HS Orientation Day (Schedule Here)
9th Grade Link Crew Orientation, 8:00am-12:00pm (HS Gym)
10-12th Grade New to SSIS Orientation, 11:00am-12:00pm (MPR)
All School Orientation, 12:00-2:00pm (HS Gym)

Wednesday, August 10
Special A-H Schedule

Thursday, August 11
Day 4- FGHE
Group Meeting (9-11th StuCo Activities, 12th Senior Walk-through)

Friday, August 12
Day 5- CDAB

On the Horizon
HS Curriculum Night, August 31
Vietnamese National Day (no school), September 2
StuCo Dance/Social, September 9 (6:00-9:00pm)
PTA Family Fun Day, September 17 (9:00am-1:00pm)

Staff Action Needed

• Sign up for one chaperon duty with Thao starting August 5th
• Check your classrooms to make sure they are ready for opening (email help desk and cc Thao if there are any issues)
• Each department finalize their assessment plan by August 9th.

Adjustment to Monday’s HS Faculty Meeting Time– At our HSLT meeting this week, the department heads suggested that we change our PD plans to spend some additional time discussing PS grade book set-up ideas.  We also have adjusted our PD plans for Monday, August 8.  We were scheduled for an hour as a division from 9:15-10:15am.  The HSLT decided to extend this time into 45 minutes of departmental time on Monday.  Our meeting time will now be from 9:15-11:00am.  The focus of this meeting time will be our pastoral advisory program, house league scoring training and Week Without Walls.

Advisors & Committee Members Needed– There are a number of HS groups and clubs that need staff support.  Please contact the designated person if you are interested in supporting any of this extremely important groups in the HS.

• Week Without Walls Committee (Tim)- starts in October/November
• 11th Grade Lead Advisor (Jacob)- See description here
• StuCo Co-Advisor (Tim)
• Spirit Club Advisor (Tim)- organizes spirit days and 3 pep assemblies
• House Leagues (Chris S & Alison)
• National Honor Society (Jodi & Jacob)
• Sunshine Committee (William M & Bilal)
• Staff and Student Recognition (Jacob)

Air Conditioning in the HS this Weekend– Please complete this form (as requested by Mark) to determine the hours the school will be open with AC over the weekend.

HS Administrative Responsibilities– We have been working to develop our shared administrative load in the HS.  While we will be working closely together, this will provide the staff with a clear point person in a variety of areas.

Orientation Day– Students will come to school for the first time on Tuesday, August 9 for orientation.  The schedule has three distinct blocks and times of students.  Our 9th graders will be be on campus for their transition activities with their Link Crew Leaders from 8am-12 in the HS gym.  New students to SSIS will meet from 11-12 in the MPR.  All students will report to the HS gym for activities from 12-2pm.  You are welcome to drop into the Link Crew or New Student orientation if you’d like to see what’s going on.  All staff need to report to the HS gym by 11:45.  From 12-1pm we will do some house league and StuCo activities and introductions of new staff.  From roughly 1-1:30, Tim and I will be meeting with all of the students to share with them some of the changes to the HS this year.  From 1:30-2:00 you will have an opportunity to connect with your advisory.  More specifics to follow during the in-service day.