Week Ahead: January 14-18

I am so pleased to report that MS has finished our hiring (insert happy dance here)!  We have had extraordinary results in our hiring, and I can’t wait to share information with you about the new faculty who are joining us for next year.  This should come once all hiring for the school is complete.

As I went through the hiring process, I was continually reminded how excellent our faculty is, how dedicated you are to providing the highest quality experience for our students.  It is a pleasure to be able to talk with candidates about the work you do and the joy it is to work with you.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Jan. 14
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
12:55-1:35 Mekong River Honor Band Concert
1:30-3 Sr. Admin Mtg (Molly attends)

Tuesday, Jan. 15
Day 7, DABC (DEAR)

Wednesday, Jan. 16
Day 8, HEFG (DEAR)
12:15-12:35 Gr 8 HS Transition Mtg (Auditorium)
3:15-4:30 Full faculty mtg: Faculty Xperience, auditorium

Thursday, Jan. 17
Day 9, ABCD (Adv)
9:30-11 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)

Friday, Jan. 18
Day 10, FGHE (DEAR)
8-10 PTA Coffee
7:30pm MS Lock In (through Sat. 7am)

Saturday, Jan. 19
Start of Whole Life Challenge

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Jan 22-24  SISAC Tournaments
• Jan 24 Early Dismissal (PD with Warren Apel)
• Jan 26-27 Vietnam Tech Conference @ SSIS
• Jan 29  Adv. Bell Schedule for Music Promo concert for registration (MS/HS bands combined) during “advisory” period
• Jan 31  Tet Dragon Dance (special schedule)
• Feb 1-8 Tet Holiday
• Feb 14  MS Talent Show
• Feb 18  MS Pep Rally
• Feb 19  Rising Gr 9 Parent Meeting: Transition to HS
• Mar 5  PSAT for Gr 8 (will run 8-11 ish; no special schedule just miss the morning blocks)

Update on status of iPad carts:  There was an issue with the art iPad cart over the holiday.  Unfortunately, a setting was adjusted that left the iPad screens on for extended periods of time resulting in overheating and then to the batteries bulging and degrading.  Due to the essential nature of the iPad in the art program, we are going to have to redeploy one of the check out iPad carts to the art program for the rest of the year.  I’m sorry for the inconvenience that this may cause individual teachers.  We are lucky that the art cart was set to be replaced this summer due to natural depreciation timelines.  So this issue will only be for the remainder of this school year.  David Rynne will be working with us all to talk about new shut down routines we all must administer to ensure this issue doesn’t happen again.

Upcoming PD with Warren Apel: On Thursday, Jan 24 we have an early dismissal to take advantage of the expertise of Warren Apel who is the keynote speaker for the Vietnam Tech Conference.  Here is what is planned:

1) Thursday, January 24: AM on Social Entrepreneurship and PM SAMR with full faculty (Early Release)
2) Friday, January 25:  AM parent session on Parenting in the Digital Age (30 minutes), and PM 2 sessions on Google Tools for TA’s and Support/Office Staff
3) Saturday – Sunday, Jan. 26-27: VTC (Rebecca and Vaughan are giving workshops; Natalie and David R are giving lightning talks)

Tet Celebrations:  Thank you to the Tet Committee for planning a great set of experiences (click on that for the link) for the division during the weeks leading up to and including Tet.  Activities start Monday, January 21 and run through Jan. 31st ending with an amazing Dragon and Lion dance.  Please be on the look out for details coming from the committee.

Faculty Follies: Mark Feb. 23rd on your calendars!  It’s Faculty Follies – a great evening in celebration of our faculty talents, attempts at talent, and joy in raising funds for Phap Vo orphanage.  Part of the way money is raised is through the silent auction.  If you have something to offer, please be sure to drop it off in Kristin Weiss’ room (B404).  You can also sign up to bring items for the baked goods sale.

Tet Dragon Dance Special Schedule:  Here is the schedule for Jan. 31 –

8-9:05 Block 1 (65 min)
9:05-9:20 Break (15 min)
9:25-10:30 Block 2 (65 min)
10:35-11:40 Block 3 (65 min)
11:45-12 DEAR (15 min)
12:00-12:30 (30 min)
12:35-1:40 Block 4 (65 min)  Take your Block 4 kids to the Dragon Dance
1:45-2:45 Dragon Dance