Week Ahead: Feb. 20

You all heard this week that we have been invited to apply to be designated an Apple Distinguished School.  The application format is an iBook that tells our story … as we worked to include things happening in the middle school, I was in the very lucky position to have to say which of all this can we include.  I was literally able to think of something from all of you that demonstrated a transformative use of technology.  This is one amazing faculty!  Thank you all for the work you do to ensure that our students are really pushed to create, to think creatively, and to demonstrate amazing levels of achievement and success.  I’m so thankful I get to work with you all.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Feb. 20
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
*Kids return from Chennai (but aren’t coming to school because they flew all night)
1:30-3 Admin Team Mtg

Tuesday, Feb. 21
Day 7, DABC (DEAR)
*Happy Birthday Robert Appino
8-12 Cross Country SISAC
10-11 HOS and MS Principal Mtg

Wednesday, Feb. 22
Day 8, HEFG (DEAR)
3:15-4:30 MS Divisional Mtg (Library, focus is student led conferences, please bring laptop)

Thursday, Feb. 23
Day 9, ABCD (House Leagues)

Friday, Feb. 24
Day 10, EFGH (DEAR)
9:40-11 Theater 1 Performance – They need an audience; please email Helen T if you would like to bring your students

Saturday, Feb. 25
8-4 SISAC Track and Field at SSIS

Upcoming (on the radar)

• February 27 – Author Visit (for Gr 8 in block B)
• February 28 – SSIS Innovate (ES and MS)
• March 2-5 – MRISA MS Soccer in Cambodia
• March 3 – Dragon’s Apprentice Plaza Sale, 2:30-3 (involves Gr 6 and 8)
• March 3-5 – MS GIN in Hong Kong
• March 10-11 21st Century Learning, Hong Kong Conference
• March 11 – SSIS PTA Family Fun Day
• March 13 – Author visit; special schedule with assembly from 8:15-9:15, blocks are 60 min.
• March 16 – Gr 8 Enlightenment Performances, 1-3 (will be a DEAR day – and may run special schedule if needed)
• March 17 – (Friday) needs to be an Advisory day for SLC prep
• March 27 – Dragon’s Apprentice Finale, 1-3 (will run early dismissal schedule with Finale after lunch)
• March 30 – Author visit; special schedule with assembly from 8:15-9:15, blocks are 60 min.

Faculty Evaluations:  It is time for the annual faculty evaluation process.  I will be conducting 2-3 evaluations each week and hope to have them completed by the end of April.  Please be on the look out for an email from me detailing the process and timeline for each of you.

Quarter 3 Grading Dates / Deadlines:  Please make sure the following is on your radar – March 24, 2017:  Quarter 3 Report

• March 22 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in Q3 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed at 3:00
• March 23 – verification report reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 12:15
• Student Led Conferences March 23, 4-8pm  and 24th 8-1pm

We will be meeting about student led conferences on Wednesday.  We will review logistics, expectations, and timelines.

WASC Visit:  The WASC accreditation team will be at SSIS from March 19-23.  This is the week of student led conferences, grade reports are due as well during their visit.  Though we don’t want “staged” lessons for the WASC accreditation team to see, it would be great to ensure that when the team is here, they get to see the amazing things we do.  They will be doing classroom visits on March 20, 21, and 22.

Schedule Alterations: In addition to the events listed above, the following schedule changes should be included in your planning considerations.  Here are the ones I know about – all of these are listed on the planning calendar as well.  This is to help you realize why it is so important to be checking that calendar frequently between now and the end of the year … you all have amazing plans … and it’s keeping us really busy!

• Apr. 18 and 19 – WrAP testing (likely to be similar to author visit schedule with 1 hour writing in morning followed by 60 min. blocks)
• May 4, 9 and 12 – MAP testing (likely to use similar schedule to MAP testing in Fall)
• May 11 – Gr 6 will be involved in Gr 5 transition activity, 12:55-3 (they will miss block D)
• May 18 – Art Party, some kids will be pulled to help set up
• May 23 – Gr 8 High School transition activity, 1-3, they will miss block C
• May 24 – Gr 8 Human Rights Showcase (set up from 1:40-1:50, show 2-3; Gr 8 misses block G; Gr 6 and 7 miss 30 min or so to view showcase)
• May 29 or 30 – Gr 8 may be pulled from a block or so to prep for their evening drama production
• June 1 or 2 – music students may be pulled from a block or so to prep for their concert