Weekly Update: November 15 – 22

Thank you for trying to get the TriPod surveys done on the assigned dates. Unfortunately, the Tripod company servers are not working properly and many students have not been able to complete the surveys. Tripod is working not the problem. Tripod surveys do provide helpful data for teachers to use to improve their teaching practices so please bear with us as we work the problems out.

Please see the time line below for the Semester One report cards.

Please sign up and attend next week’s Block Party at Jacob’s house.

Friday, November 15
Saigon PD Day – Be Together
HS ISSC Science Competition

Saturday, November 16
HS ISSC Science Competition

Sunday, November 10
Outdoor Pest Control 

Monday, November 18
Day 7 DAB Adv C
Advisory Schedule

Tuesday, November 19
Day 8 HEFG
HSLT Meeting, 3:15-4:45 (Agenda Here)

Wednesday, November 20
Day 1 ABCD
HS Divisional Meeting, 3:15-4:30 (MPR)

Thursday, November 21
Day 2 EFG Adv H
Advisory Schedule

Friday, November 22
Day 3 BCDA
HS Block Party

On the Horizon

• Saigon International Schools PD Day- Be Together, November 15
• HS Block Party, November 22 (Save the date!!!!)
• HS Debate Workshop with Mr. Stefan Bauschard from Taipei, Taiwan. Friday, November 22 – 4:00pm-8:00pm.Saturday, November 23 â€“ 10:00am – 2:00pm.

Staff Action Needed

• Read the all school Wellness Blog from the WELL Core Team
• RSVP for the Sunshine HS Block Party, November 22
  Review Check important dates that impact instruction here
• Check your gradebooks. There should be a couple of data points for Q2 even if just formative.

Semester One Report Card Dates

• Semester One Exams, December 6 – 12th
• Share comments with a colleague by Friday, December 6 (some comments may need to be adjusted depending on how a student does on his/her exam)
• Review comments of colleague by Tuesday, December 10
• December 11 Quarter 2 Ends (Grades & Comments due by 3pm)
• December 12 Quarter 2 Grades and Comment Verification Reports due 2pm
• December 13 Quarter 2 and Semester 1 grades sent electronically by 4pm

Semester One Exam  Schedule 2019 – 2020

Observation, Visibility and Recruiting– Tim and I are more than half way through our observation cycle with you (teachers). Our plan is to finish the entire faculty by winter break. In addition to these formal 85 minute evaluations, we normally do our 10-15 minute learning walks. Due to recruiting season, the number of learning walks will likely be reduced. These will return in full swing during semester two.

Tripod Surveys: We will be giving student surveys from November 11-21. The first block of the day is designated for the survey.  We will be using the short version of the survey that takes about 5-10 minutes. Each teacher will have at least 3 of their blocks take the survey for them.  So some days you will be giving the survey and some you will not. Later you will receive individual survey tickets for your students and a script to read beforehand.  Here is the list of  HS blocks/courses that will be surveyed.  For more information about the Tripod Survey and the data you will receive, please read through the  Teacher Toolkit for Tripod.  Here is the actual block schedule for the surveys:

• Nov 11 – Block B / Block C
• Nov 12 – Block F / Block G
• Nov 13 – Block D / Block A
• Nov 14 – Block H / Block E
• Nov 15 – PD Day
• Nov 18 – Make-up Day for Blocks DABC
• Nov 19 – Make Up Day for Blocks HEFG

HS Staff Video
Every year, the staff in the C building make a hilarious video to showcase to the students before the Christmas break. Last year we did this video. 
This time, the chosen song for us to act out is You Need To Calm Down. Please have a look at this scripting file to know which lines of the script you are going to act out. Each department has been randomly assigned with some lines in script to act out. We need each department to arrange 15 or 20 minutes for filming between NOW and December 6th.
Department Heads, please discuss with other members in your department and fill in the last two columns of the “Lines and Casting” sheet to indicate the location and time for me to come and film your department. An example has been made for the Administrators. It won’t take more than 20 minutes for filming all your department’s lines.
All the filming must be done by December 6th so that the video editing afterwards can be done timely.

Sunshine HS Block Party– The fourth annual Sunshine HS Block Party is almost here on November 22.  RSVP for the Sunshine HS Block Party by November 15. In addition to amazing food and beverages we will have a distinct opportunity to connect with one another’s families and listen to some great bands (Shoe, Scott Berry and anyone else that wants to play).  The party is at Jacob’s House, 01 My Giang 1B at the end of canal street and is right near the Crescent Bridge and park along the river.  We will be starting at 4 and going until 9pm.  Stop by for as long as you can, but the bands will likely be playing between 5 and 7pm.  Please park your bikes and motorcycles on the sidewalk across from the house by the construction wall.  Special thanks in advance to Ms. Ha, Ms. Huyen and Ms. Tram for their logistical support of the event and Sunshine Committee members: Amy, Evan, Ted and William.