Week Ahead: Dec. 5

We made it!  Thank you all so much for your amazing work with kids this past week.  Though definitely an enormous amount of work, energy, and time, I know we all saw kids experiencing pivotal moments in their lives.  Moments where they broke through barriers they had created for themselves and arrived at a new sense of pride and accomplishment.  While the trip is mostly about the kids … it’s also about you.  Here is some of the fun we had (though the adults were not the focus of the photographers, you did get caught in action) …

Let’s keep up the energy and enthusiasm as we close out 1st Semester!  The next two weeks continue to be busy with big events and fun things to keep us in the holiday spirit.

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Dec. 5
Day 1, ABCD (Adv)
*Tripod Survey during B and D blocks
11:00  SISAC Swimmers depart (list of students below)
1:30-3:00 Admin Mtg

Tuesday, Dec. 6
Day 2, EFGH (DEAR)
*Tripod Survey during E and G blocks
*All School Book Fair
11:00  SISAC Swimmers depart (list of students below)
7-8:30pm HOS / PTA Evening Meeting

Wednesday, Dec. 7
Day 3, BCDA (DEAR)
*All School Book Fair
9:35-11 Gr 7 and 8 Music Rehearsal (these students will miss their regular C block class)
3:15-4:30 Divisional Time – please use for grading and comment writing

Thursday, Dec. 8
Day 4, FGHE (Adv)
*All School Book Fair
8:15-9:15 MS Principal’s Coffee
7-8pm MS Music Concert

Friday, Dec. 9
Day 5, CDAB (DEAR)
7:30 Breakfast Club – sponsored by all of us!  Sign up here

Saturday, Dec. 10
6-10pm SSIS Holiday Party, Cham Charm in D7 over at the Crescent

Upcoming (on the radar)

• December 14 – Gr 8 Drama Production, 6pm
• December 15 – Comments completed and peer reviewed (S1 bin) by 3:00
• December 16 – Verification reviewed and returned to office by 12:15; report cards emailed around 2:00.
• January 9 – Faculty work day (no PD or meetings scheduled)
• January 20 – PTA/MS StuCo Lock In
• January 27 – February 5 – Tet holiday

Tripod Survey Information:  Just as a reminder, we are completing the Tripod surveys Monday and Tuesday.  Here is a link to the administration directions.

Student Performances Coming!:  We have a few big student performances coming up this week and next.  I am hoping you can fit one or both into your busy schedules.  It means so much to the students to have their teachers come hear / see them perform.  MS music is this Thursday; Gr 8 drama is next Wednesday.

December Assessment/Project Calendar: Building systems to support high achievement in students is important.  One critical step is to ensure that major assessments and projects aren’t piled on top of each other.  December represents a crunch time for this as all courses are usually wrapping up for the semester.  This is particularly difficult this year with the placement of WWW.  To assist, we will be using an Assessment Planning document for each grade level to make sure we are aware of their “big picture.”  Please add your information to the December Assessment/Project Calendar for each grade as soon as possible.  Working together, we can ensure students have the best chance to show us their best work.
Gr 6 Assessment/Project Calendar
Gr 7 Assessment/Project Calendar
Gr 8 Assessment/Project Calendar

It’s here … Grade Reporting S1: The end of the semester is here.  Please keep these dates in mind:

• December 7 and 14 – no divisional or all school meeting; finish grades/comments
• December 15 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in S1 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed at 3:00
• December 16 – verification reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 12:15

December 16 Work Day:  As you plan your winter holiday departure, please keep the following in mind.  The work day is until 3:30.  There is a faculty reception at 1:30 outside the auditorium.

SISAC Swim:  Shelley sent us this email a bit ago – just wanted to refresh your memory.