Weekly Update: January 8 – 12 (Winter Break Edition)

• 10-15 min of music
• Staff video to students
• Messages from Mark S and Jacob

Grade Level Potluck 11:25-12:15

Winter Break Social, 1:30-4pm (2nd Floor of HS by Art Room)

Monday, January 8
PD Day (No students)
Breakfast Treats, 8:00am (Auditorium)
Mandatory PowerLearning Training, 8:15-9:00am (Auditorium)
Optional PowerLearning Support, 9:00-10:00am (Auditorium)

Tuesday, January 9
Day 2- EFGH
Additional AP/HL Hours Block H
First Day of Quarter 3
HSLT Meeting, 3:15-4:45 (Counseling Conference Room) Agenda Here

Wednesday, January 10
Day 3- BCDA
Additional AP/HL Hours Block A
No HS Faculty Meeting due to PowerLearning Training on Monday

Thursday, January 11
Day 4- FGHE
Advisory Schedule

Friday, January 12
Day 5- CDAB
Additional AP/HL Hours Block B
Senior Lock-in, 7pm-7am (HS Gym and Basement)

Staff Action Needed

• Relax and enjoy some time with family and/or friends over winter break
• Overseas order due to department head by January 12 (work on this list on Jan 8)
• Review new duty roster for second semester and add to your calendars
• Make sure to review the new bell schedule for AP/HL classes
• Review Tripod Survey Data (see below)

On the Horizon

• Save the date for Sunshine’s Plastic Chair Event on January 19 after school

Last Grading Deadlines for Semester 1– Please review the time line below, so we can release report cards to parents on Friday, December 15.

• December 14th 7:00am Grades need to be finished
• December 14th – verification reports printed at 8:00am
• December 14th – verification reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 3:00pm
• Semester 1 Reports released  on December 15th 2:00pm

Tripod Survey Results/Reflection–  Results from the Tripod Surveys have been shared with you.  Some of you might want to look at the results over break; and others might want to look at them when they return.  There are a few things that will be useful to you for when you decide to review your feedback.  Tripod Reflection Protocol: This is created by Tripod and will be especially helpful for those who have never done a Tripod survey before.  The information is valuable and there is a reflection worksheet you could use.  Here is a shorter reflection form that we used last year (you’ll need to make a copy).  If you want to use this one, I recommend using it in conjunction with the information in the Tripod Reflection Protocol.  Here are  2016-17 and 2017-18 Divisional Results for comparison.   As you can see our division results are improved in almost every category.  Great work all!  Huyen will schedule a 20 minute meeting with each of you to talk about your analysis and reflection on the data in January before Tet break.  

January 8 Professional Development Day– January 8 PD day is organized to give you additional time to prepare for semester two.  See Tina’s email for specifics but below are some items that are time sensitive.

• PowerLearning Training at 9-10am
• Get overseas order to department head (due to Huyen on Jan 12)
• Meet as department
• Work on PowerLearning migration
• Prep for student’s return

Semester Two Duty Roster– We have been working on a new duty roster for semester two that limits the duties of those AP and HL teachers that have additional hours during lunch or after school on Mondays.  We know this is not scientific, but it is an attempt to provide teachers with multiple AP/HL classes some relief.  This has also been shared with and discussed on the HSLT.  Teachers that have 3 or more AP/HL classes they will not have any lunchtime duties, 2 AP/HL classes (one duty) and 1 or no AP/HL classes (two duties) per week during the second semester.

Change Tardy Procedure in the Morning– We are switching back to the old system of marking tardies for first block when we return in January.  We recognized this was a difficult task for teachers to take attendance 15 minutes into the block once teaching momentum started.  We will be returning to past practice of only allowing students into classes for first block that are late if they have a pass from the office.  It is essential that you DO NOT let students into your classroom late during FIRST BLOCK if they do not have a pass.  Instead, send them back to the office for a pass.

Uniform Enforcement– All three divisions are making a concerted effort to improve the compliance of our students in regards to our school uniform.  Tim and I will be making a concerted effort to hold students accountable to the dress code.  However, for dress code to be successful it takes all of us to support the policy.  If you see a student that is out of compliance you are encouraged to send them to the office or send an email to Tim and Jacob with the student’s name and violation (i.e. wrong shoes, PE shorts worn to class, etc).

Question and Answer Departmental Time– We recognize there is a lot of change coming in January.  Unfortunately, we did not have sufficient divisional time at the end of the year to discuss many of these changes.  Tim or I will be coming to meet with each of your departments to answer questions and clarify changes during the first two weeks of school during your common prep time.