Week Ahead: May 8

Well a 3 day week sure passes fast!  Thank you all for a very smooth opening to MAP testing.  I really appreciate the flexibility shown by so many in getting things covered and off to a great start.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, May 8
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
1:30-3 Admin Mtg
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team Mtg

Tuesday, May 9
Day 7, DABC (MAP Testing Schedule)

Wednesday, May 10
Day 8, HEFG (DEAR)
*Happy Birthday Siqin Taoli!
3:15-4:30 Divisional Mtg, Assessment Plan part 2
6-8pm Gr 8 Documentary Showcase

Thursday, May 11
Day 9, ABCD (Adv)
8:15-9:15 Principal Coffee
10-11:30 Admin Mtg
6-8pm Gr 8 and 10 Documentary Showcase

Friday, May 12
Day 10, EFGH (MAP Testing Schedule)

Upcoming (on the radar) New Items in Blue

• May 11 – Grade 5 Transition Activity (involves all of Grade 6), 12:50-3
• May 16 – MS Badminton SISAC, starting around 12:00
• May 17 – Art Party 3-6:00 (all MS faculty attend 3-4:30 in place of PD)
• May 18 – B Team SISAC, starting around 12:00
• May 19 – ALLS Food Drive delivery (Gr 8); Early Dismissal Day, Faculty PD 1-4:30
• May 22 – Grade 5 Transition Activity (involves all of Grade 6), 12:50-3
• May 23 – C Team Volleyball SISAC, departing around 12
• May 24 – Gr 8 Human Right Showcase, 2-3:00; HS Graduate Parade (usually at very end of day)
• May 25 – 12-3 Grade 8 Transition Activity
• May 27 – HS Graduation
• May 29 – Gr 7 Renaissance Fair, 11-12:20
• May 31 – Gr 8 Drama rehearsal Blocks B and C (8-11); Gr 8 Drama Production, 6:30-8
• June 1 – Music Rehearsal during H block (11:10-12:35); StuCo Elections during Advisory time
• June 2 – Music Concert, 7-8pm
• June 5 – Comments and Grades Due (could push to June 6 if someone really needs it); Begin check out procedure with students
• June 6 – Gr 5 Bridge Crossing, 2:20ish; Yearbook Distribution
• June 7 – Grade 8 Promotion (only gr 7 and 8 attending with gr 8 parents) 8-10ish;  Splash Day 1-3
• June 8 – Grade Level Awards, 8-9:15; MS Assembly and Talent Show, 9:30-11; Yearbook signing and final advisory meeting 11:15-12:00

Building Plans Summer 2017:  With every summer comes building improvement plans.  Here is what is in store for Bldg A:

• MS Office Renovation – redesign MS office to improve entry, increase to 3 small offices, make better use of natural light
• Science Lab Remodel – improve efficiency of current labs, new furniture and lab stations
• Pilot Classroom New Furniture – test out new classroom furniture options
• Dragon’s Den – new furniture to improve flexible use of this space
• Gym storage – improved shelving in storage area
• ESMS Gym – Acoustic and lighting improvements
• Replace Fire Alarm system
• Replace AC FCU system

Shifted Dates / Semester 2 Deadlines Grades and Comments:  We have opted to shift the Grade 5 Transition Activity to May 22 in hopes that Bonnie might be back at that time.  We have also worked to shift the Grade 8 Promotion and All Division Splash Day to Wednesday June 7.  This means we will have one less “sort of weird” day to contend with at the end of the year.  Due to this shift, we will also be shifting the grade/comment deadline back by one day to allow for the final Monday and Tuesday to be as “regular” a school day as possible even including potentially assessed for the grade book work.

• June 2 – soft deadline for comments completed and reviewed (in S2); grades completed; admin review over weekend
• June 6 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in S2 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed at 3:00
• June 7 – verification report reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 12:30
• June 8 – distribution of report cards (Final report cards printed June 7 at 12:30)

Project X: We are continuing to move forward with the large scale inquiry project, which now has a much more awesome name –  “Project X.”  The week of Project X has been set for Jan 22-26 with some opening sessions done the Thursday and Friday before.  We will be doing PD on the inquiry experience on May 19th and I, for one, am very excited to see how this experience will unfold!  We will be looking for 1 intrepid MS teacher to serve on the planning committee along with myself and our Instructional Coach for Technology.  Please let me know if you are interested in working on the Core Team.