Weekly Update: December 4

This week marks the start of education surveys for teachers at SSIS.  A lot of important information can be gained from the insights of our students. I remember the first time I surveyed my students when I taught at Aptos High School in the Monterey Bay of California.  No anonymous Google Forms were available then, just a sheet of paper with some questions for my students to complete.  I remember being a bit anxious, as I began to review my data.  How well were they engaged in my classes, did I challenge them appropriately, did I create a safe environment where students would take risks, and did students feel I treated them fairly were a few examples from my first attempt to collect data from my students.  I knew that my questions were not perfect and some may have been flawed in some manner, but I got my first feedback from my students.

While much of the feedback reinforced what I thought I was doing right, some other unexpected themes emerged.  These unexpected themes began my focus for the next semester.  I asked students more questions to gain further clarity, I tried some new approaches, and reflected along the way.  This data helped hone my focus for the coming semester.  The most important byproduct from this process was that my students saw my explicit efforts to respond to their needs.  In the end, the time they spent on that double-sided hand written teacher survey became very meaningful to them…and also to me.

Have a great weekend,

Jacob

Staff Action Needed

• Education Surveys to all classes (Dec 3-8)
• Last call to join the AP Search Committee if interested
• Student Comments Completed in Google or Word Doc and shared with a Colleague: December 11 by 4pm
• Student Comments Reviewed by a Colleague: December 15 by 8am
• Exam and Semester 1 Grades Due: December 17 by 4pm

Friday, December 4
Day 2- EFGH
Educational Survey Administration (Script Here)
HS Drama Production “Shakespeare in Love”, 6:30 (Black Box Theater)

Saturday, December 5
Star Wars Marathon, 2-9pm (Auditorium)

Monday, December 7
Day 3- BCDA
Group Meeting Schedule
Educational Survey Administration (Script Here)
High School Leadership Team, 3:15-4:45 (HS Conference Room)  Agenda Here

Tuesday, December 8
Day 4- FGHE
Educational Survey Administration (Script Here)
9th Grade SOC Meeting, Lunch (Counseling Conference Room)
HOS/PTA Meeting, 7-8:30pm (Auditorium)

Wednesday, December 9
Day 5- CDAB

Thursday, December 10
HS Exam Day #1 (Exam Schedule Here)

Friday, December 11
HS Exam Day #2 (Exam Schedule Here)
Copies of Student Comments (to be shared with a colleague) by 4pm

On the Horizon
SSIS Staff Party: December 12, 6-11pm (Cham Charm)
HS Final Exams: December 10-17 (HS Gym)  final exam schedule
Colleague Comment Review Due:  December 15 by 8am
No HS Faculty Meeting on December 16
All Grades/Comments Final in PowerSchool: December 17 by 4pm
Grade/Comment Verification Signed and Returned to Thao:  December 18 by 2pm
Early Release Day: December 18
Grades/Comments Sent to Students and Parents: December 18 around 4pm

Education Surveys– Provide your students with 10 minutes to complete an education survey for each of your classes between December 3-8. Here is the script for directions and the link to the survey itself.

Important End of Term Dates– Here is the pertinent information for the end of the semester in regards to grading.  Please read and review carefully.  It is essential that everyone does their part to meet deadlines, so that grades and comments go out to students at the start of winter break.

Student Organizations– I am extremely impressed with the leadership of our students at SSIS.  These students are ambitious and are philanthropists at heart.  I spend a lot of time during the week with kids heading different ASA’s or organizations, as they pitch a variety of ideas for our school.  The challenge is that I do not know if their advisor truly knows what they are doing.  There have been a number of occasions where the advisor of the club had no idea what students were planning.  In the end, this process is not very efficient and at time frustrating to the students, advisor and me.  Starting this next week, I will only schedule appointments with student leaders if their advisor is also present.  This way we streamline our work and ensure that we are working together.