Week Ahead December 1

Already December!  Wow!  Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Dec. 1
Day 5 CDAB
8:00 New Student Parent Mtg
1:30-3 Admin Team Mtg

Tuesday, Dec. 2
Day 6 GHEF
8:00 Learning Plan Mtg (Amy, Bonnie, Molly
10:30-11:30 HOS / MS Principal Mtg
4-7 GIN Event

Wednesday, Dec. 3
Day 7 DABC; Early Release
1-4:30 Vertical Alignment Meetings

Thursday, Dec. 4
Day 8 HEFG
8:15-9:15 Principal’s Coffee (Literacy focus led by Danielle Richert)
9:30-11:30 Admin Mtg
9:30-12:15 Dental Guest Speakers in PE
1:00 Gr 6 Learning Plan Mtg (please plan for advisory coverage)
3:30ish Boys B Team v. TIS @ SSIS

Friday, Dec. 5
Day 1 ABCD
7-9 PTA Adult Social (Hard Rock)

Saturday, Dec. 6
6-? Faculty Holiday Party

December Assessment Calendar
Thank you for completing the assessment compilation.  I have added the assessment calendar to the MS Divisional Mtg folder.  Take a look to see how assessments are lining up for our students.

Reflection at the End of Semester 1: Dec. 17 and 18?
As we wrap up the semester, this is a great time to have your students reflect on their progress so far this year (and for semester classes, this is your only opportunity).  We will have Student Led Conferences in April.  This is a great opportunity to have your students create a reflection while it’s fresh in the students’ minds.  I’ve added some student led conference reflection options to the MS Divisional Mtg folder.  Since grades are to be completed by Dec. 17 – Dec. 17 and 18 might be great days for this type of activity.

(Repeat) Future Planning for December
Please review End of Semester Logistics to see what is upcoming.  The document is located in the MS Divisional Meetings shared folder (so please do not move it … that would change the viewing settings).  Please add to the document if you think of things that impact our schedule.  Things for immediate attention:

MS Special Events:
December 1 – Hour of Code, Dec. 1 (in science; advisory too at some point)
December 2 – GIN Event (note date change)
December 5 – Drama production for ES, Dec. 5 (may have some rehearsal off timetable will confirm ASAP)
December 11 – Winter Concert rehearsal from 8-9:30; will require students in Grade 7 music, Grade 7/8 Choir to miss 1st block
December 12 – Winter Concert, Dec. 12
December 19 – Special schedule (Stacy, Stephen, Helen, Molly are planning committee)

Grading and Reports (please note, this is a slight change from my earlier estimated schedule):
December 10 (Wednesday) – 3:15-4:30 work time set aside for comments/grades
December 17 (Wednesday) – 3:15-4:30 work time set aside for peer comment review/corrections; (due at 8:00 AM on Dec. 18)
December 17 (Wednesday) – Deadline for grade entry and comment corrections
December 18 (Thursday) – Date for report card printing
December 19 (Friday) – Date for report card distribution

Cool Instruction / Assessment Tip of the Week
We are all heading into some of the busiest weeks of the school year.  Wrapping up the semester can be a stressful time for all of us.  Add that to the general stressfulness of the holiday, and these weeks can seem extra difficult.  Emma Waters, an elementary educator working in Sydney, provides us with some ideas in “self-nourishment” in her recent blog post.

These weeks are going to be stressful for our students as well.  Sarah McKibben, a writer for ASCD, gives some ideas for helping our students practice mindfulness.  While most of us enter the holiday season with eager and happy hearts, some of our students will not.  Let’s all be there for our students!