Weekly Update: May 1-5

Wow! May is almost here and race is almost on.  Tim and I hope you are able to relax a bit and enjoy some extended time off.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Jacob

Friday, April 28
Day 10- EFGH
Last day of regular classes for IB Diploma Candidates

Monday, May 1
No school: Reunification Day
PM IB Exam: Biology

Tuesday, May 2
No school: Reunification Day
AM IB Exam: Biology (MPR)
PM IB Exam: Economics (MPR)

Wednesday, May 3
Day 3- BCDA
AM IB Exam: Economics (MPR)
PM IB Exam: English A (Auditorium)
HS Faculty Meeting, 3:15-4:30 (C322)

Thursday, May 4
Day 4- FGHE
Advisory Schedule
AM IB Exam: English A (Auditorium)
PM IB Exam: Maths (Auditorium)

Friday, May 5
Day 5- CDAB
AM IB Exam: Maths(Auditorium)
AM AP Exam: US History (MPR)
PM IB Exam: Computer Science & Environmental Systems and Societies (MPR)
Complete the Club & ASA Google Form for 2017-18

On the Horizon:
Monday – Friday, May 1 – 19  AP/IB Exams
Thursday, May 11- Last day of classes and ASA’s for all Seniors       
Monday – Tuesday, May 15-16 Senior Exams in non-AP/IB courses
Friday, May 19 – 8am Final grades for Seniors submitted by any teacher of a 12th grader.

Staff Action Needed:

• Check your grade book as we are 5 weeks into the 4th quarter
• Start your report card comments for quarter 4
• Complete the Sunshine Committee Feedback Form by Friday, May 5
• Complete the club advisor and ASA Google form and make your intentions known (not binding) for the 2017-18 school year by Friday, May 5

Club Advisors 2017-18– Please complete the following Google Form, so we can collect information about clubs and ASA’s for the next school year.  Here is the folder of clubs and ASA’s that Shelley put together last year as well.  There is some shuffling of interests and responsibilities of our staff and we’d like to make sure we know where the changes are and can find other teachers that might want to step into these positions to support our students.  Please complete this by Friday, May 5.

IB Predictive Scores– Thomas Redfern has set up meetings with IB Y1 teachers this week to discuss how to share IB predictive grades with our students and parents.  Reporting this information to families is something that IB requires, but is also a best practice for university guidance.  Starting this semester, we will be reporting our predictive grades at the end of IB Y1, again around October and then again around March for final predicted IB grades to IBO.  The only thing that is new is the end of Y1 reporting in June.  This information is essential for families and our university guidance office to determine the right schools to research, visit and complete applications for.  Families need to know if their child is likely to get a 32 versus a 40 as a final score.  These predictions change the types of schools that are appropriate for admissions.  Thomas Redfern will be training the Y1 teachers this week on how to best make this predictive score and Thomas Galvez how to report this within PowerSchool for parents to access.

May 3 HS Faculty Meeting– Jason Bixby will be presenting information he and Mike Williams just learned at an IB conference on ATL (Approaches to Learning).  Part of this time will be informational, but a majority of the time will be how the ATL’s applys to your own teaching and learning.

Sunshine Committee Feedback–  The Sunshine Committee is seeking input from the staff to find out how we can improve for next year. The SC mission is to increase staff morale and cohesion by planning opportunities for us to come together outside of our normal work duties. Since we have had varying levels of success the past few years and have had issues with turnout at our events, we would like to hear your ideas. What works? What doesn’t? And, where would you like to see us focus our attention? Thank you for taking the time.  Please complete this form.  Sincerely, The S.C.

Faculty Work Room Closed– The faculty work room will be closed during IB/AP testing from May 1 to 18.  We will be using the room for IB conflict exams.  If you need items from the room, you will need to access them before or after school.  Thank you for your support.

HS Principal Survey Reflections– I have spent a lot of time already wading through the data from my HS Principal’s survey.  I am just waiting to have my meeting with the HoS before finalizing my reflections.  Between WASC and strategic planning it has been hard to find a common time.  My hope is to share my reflections with you by the end of next week.

Quarter 4 Comments– Please start writing your quarter 4 comments.  May is a super busy month, so the sooner you get started the easier things will be in June as you close out the year.

End of Year Important Dates– We have put together an end of the year important dates calendar for you reference.  While it does not have everything, it is a quick reference for you for planning purposes.

Grade 12 Issues with PowerSchool– Please pay careful attention to Thomas Galvez’s post in the Matrix section of the Dragon’s Lair about significant changes for grade 12 students this week.  Thomas, Tim and Jacob are also available to answer additional questions and/or provide technical support.