Weekly Update: February 19

After a long and emotionally draining day on Thursday, I returned home to spend some time with my family.  After I put my children to bed I decided to re-write the intro to the Dragon’s Lair.  I had attempted to be proactive and write the blog on Wednesday night, as I knew we would be hosting a faculty social at our house and later a parenting book club at the school.  Little did I know that a student tragedy would engulf our HS and greater SSIS community making my message somewhat meaningless.

I cannot ignore what I saw today from a staff that continues to impress me in deep and meaningful ways.  I know today had to have been one of the most challenging days in your careers.  While I mentioned to you how proud I was of your role as surrogate parents on Thursday for our 313 students, I was not as specific as I would have liked.   On Thursday, you listened to students, hugged, wiped tears and provided perspective.  What I witnessed was unconditional compassion, as you compartmentalized your own feelings as best your could.  Your efforts provided safe spaces for our students to process their grief and emotions.

Moreover, you supported each other.  You checked in on your colleagues and covered classes for teachers that needed an emotional break just to mention a couple.  On this day, our staff became family not only to our students, but each other.  I will forever remember this day in my career for a number of reasons, but I will always hold this one closest to my heart.

You are all in my thoughts,

Jacob

Staff Action Needed

• Begin Writing 3rd Quarter Comments and Update Gradebooks for Quarter 3, March 23 (see section below)
• The “Pulse”: Complete the following Google form about Office Hours and Lunch Time for the 2016-17 school year by Friday, February 26. (see section below)
• IB teachers, please compile your examination papers, attach the form (attached to this email) modified to your specific subject paper and print enough copies for each student in the class plus an additional two for proctors. Please hand these in to IB office by 3 pm, Friday 26th
• IB teachers please take 30 seconds to fill out the MOCK DETAILS (paper 1, 2 etc and timings) BY MONDAY 22nd

Friday, February 19
Day 6- GHEF

Monday, February 22
Day 7- DABC
Group Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, February 23
Day 8- HEFG
NO Assembly- Regular Bell Schedule
11th Grade SOC Meeting, Lunch (HS Counseling Conference Room)

Wednesday, February 24
Day 1- ABCD
Class Meetings in the MPR

• 9th Grade: 9:45-10:00
• 10th Grade: 10:05-10:20
• 12th Grade: 10:25-10:40
• 11th Grade: 10:45-11:00

Please come with your class at the designated time.  If you have mixed grade level classes please send them to the MPR at the designated time above.

AS Professional Development, WASC Groups 3:15-4:30 (Auditorium)

Thursday, February 25
Day 2- EFGH
Arts, PE and SS Departmental Dinner, 4-6pm (Jacob’s House)

Friday, February 26
Day 3- BCDA
Spirit Assembly (Alternative Schedule)
SSIS Idol, 7-9pm (Auditorium)

On the Horizon
IB Mock Exams, 1st-4th March MPR IB MOCK EXAMS SCHEDULE 2016
Maths, World Language, Counseling Departmental Dinner: Jacob’s House, March 2 (4:45-7pm)
Comments and Grades Finalized for 3rd Quarter, March 23 at 3pm
3rd Quarter Report Cards Emailed to Parents, March 24
Parent Teacher Conferences, March 24 (4-8pm) and March 25 (8am-1pm)

The “Pulse”: Info Needed about Office Hours/Lunch Time– One of the tasks the high school leadership team is completing now is the 10-day bell schedule for 2016-17.  We are considering a number of options as we build the bell schedule for next year.  One option includes embedding office hours into the regular school day.  The HSLT would like you to take this survey to evaluate office hours for the 2015-16 school year and consider some different options that will help us create a draft schedule to share with staff later this year.  Please complete this form by Friday, February 26.

Grade Book Comments and Grades– Wednesday, March 23 is the end of the 3rd quarter. All grades and comments are to be posted on PowerSchool by 3pm on this day even though they are still “grades in progress”.

All work is to be graded prior to October 8th in order to be inputted to PS by this date.  There are to be summative assessments recorded by this date, as well as any formative work.

If students are missing a summative assessment then it is OK to use “I” (incomplete) as a final grade (as per assessment policy in the high school). Zero may be used as a grade only for formative work not completed.

Comments for each student will be necessary on PowerSchool reports as has been the practice.  Comments are to be personal and learning-focused and should allow for parents and students to understand areas of strength and areas in need of growth. As this is an official school report, official PowerSchool names are to be used to reference each student.

For example: If mentioned in the formal way (“Quang Liu Tuan Gip), then (“Derek”) would be fine at the beginning of the comment and subsequent mentions may be the nickname, or formal name, only. This will conserve valuable character space.

If an “I” is given (see above paragraph) then the circumstances should be referenced in the comment for that student. Comments should appear in the S1 column in PowerSchool and should not exceed 500 characters.

NO Author Visit Assembly– Assembly was cancelled due to logistical issues.