Week Ahead Mar. 9

It’s the blitz!  MRISA AX and ImaGINation in Singapore, then WWW, then GINSaigon, then Student Led Conferences … We are truly unleashing the awesome as we head into these amazing events.  Keeping on top of dates, reminding each other, and asking lots of questions will help us all keep it awesome!

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Mar. 9
Day 1 ABCD
1:30-3 Admin Team Mtg
6pm GIN Singapore parent Mtg

Tuesday, Mar. 10
Day 2 EFGH
10:30-11:30 HOS/MS Principal Mtg

Wednesday, Mar. 11
Day 3 BCDA
*MRISA AX schools arrive, home stays begin
3:15-4:30  All Faculty Mtg, Focus: Curriculum Framework

Thursday, Mar. 12
Day 4 FGHE, Special Schedule (see below)
*MRISA AX Begins, many locations (class relocations begin)
*Luka Lesson visit begins
*MS GIN (5 students, Robert and Stacy) to Singapore
9:30-11 Admin Mtg
12:15-12:55 MS Bake Sale for Orphan Impact

Friday, Mar. 13
Day 5 CDAB, HL Schedule (but no HL)
*MRISA AX, Luka Lesson
11-12:15  Grade 7, Luka Lesson Workshop, Library
11-12  SRT (may need rescheduled)
12:55-2:15 Grade 8, Luka Lesson Workshop, Library
2:20-3  Advisory (Grade 8, online course registration)

Saturday, Mar. 14
HS Rock Out
Last day of MRSIA AX, performance 4:45-6pm (all welcome)

Special Schedule for Thursday

MRISA AX and Luka Lesson
With over 150 extra people on campus for 2 school days, we can all help keep things running smoothly.  Please note the special schedule for Thursday and the HL schedule for Friday.

Heads Up on Student Led Conferences and Q3 Grades/Comments
Bonnie has updated and shared all forms related to SLCs.  It was very successful last year with each Grade Level Team working together for a shared grade level experience for students.  Please be working with your Grade Level Team to ensure that all in the team are prepared for SLCs.  If you have additional questions or concerns that can’t be solved in the Team, please see Bonnie or Molly for assistance.

One thing to note:  In response to parent feedback, the Leadership Team determined that all students would review Quarter 3 comments as a part of the conference to provide the teacher feedback the majority of parents felt was missing for the SLC experience.  Students will review the comments with their parents noting strengths and needs as indicated in the comments.

The Leadership Team requests that all comments follow the same formula to assist with this.  Your Team Leader most likely has already reviewed this.  The end of Quarter 3 is March 27th.  Comments and grades are due by 3:00 on March 27th.  Comments must be entered in the Q3 bin (NOT Semester 2 bin) by 3:00 March 27th.  Grade and comment printouts will be available Monday, March 30th for final review.  However, please note that the PD day on March 30th is fully planned and does not include divisional time for comment review.  Student comment reports (without grades attached) will be printed on Tuesday, March 31st and delivered to advisory teachers for use at SLCs.    Again, if you have questions about this, start with your team leader for clarification.

Hiring Update
Do the happy dance with me!  We are fully hired for the 15-16 school year.  The last few hired include:

• Vaughan Swart – Science (coming from Canadian International School here in HCMC, partner to a new hire in the elementary school)
• Natalie Beals – English Language Arts (coming from Marshall Middle School in The Plains, Virginia)
• Abena Bailey – English Language Arts (coming from Nexus International School in KL, Malaysia)
• Jeff Nesmith – 6th Grade Exploratory Video Productions (coming to us from the private sector and as a member of the Nesmith/Ronzetti clan, will also be involved in video productions for the Marketing Division of SSIS)

Cool Instruction / Assessment Tip of the Week
Tweeted at the VTC that was held this weekend:  Visual way to think about Digital Learning and learner independence –