Week Ahead: Jan. 28-Feb. 1

Trying to get a jump start due to traveling.  Please read all the way through the blog.  I know it’s a bit long this week.  BUT I wanted to make sure a few things were on your radar as we head into Tet holiday.  The one thing I didn’t get to was Student Led Conferences.  I will add that in during breaks in traveling.  Have a great few days and will see you on Wednesday.

Sign ups for CFG training:  Just want to make sure this didn’t slip your notice.  We adjusted the CFG training for the first 3 days to focus on different topics.  Please see David C’s email about this.  There are some great things planned.  Sign ups end Friday.  Please indicate which your interest at the Google Form here.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Jan. 28
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
*Molly out (Tim Chute Admin on Call)

Tuesday, Jan. 29
Day 7, DABC (ADV schedule – but MS/HS Concert in Auditorium)
*Molly out (Tim Chute Admin on Call)
12:55-1:30 Concert for all MS to promote HS band program and MS band program (bring advisory to Auditorium)

Wednesday, Jan. 30
Day 8, HEFG (DEAR)
7:15-7:45 New Hire Session: SLCs
1:15-1:45 Gr 8 Registration Sessions
2-3:00 HOS/MS Principal Mtg
3:15-4:30 Divisional Meeting (Library): Setting Environmental Norms

Thursday, Jan. 31
Day 9, ABCD (Special Schedule)
1:45-3 Tet Lion and Dragon Dance (depart at 1:45, show starts at 2:00)

Friday, Feb. 1
First day of Tet Holiday

Saturday, Feb. 2
Happy Birthday Erin Johnson!

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Feb 1-8 Tet Holiday
• Feb 12 Gr 6 Registration Session #1 during DEAR
• Feb 15 Gr 7 Registration Session #1 during DEAR
• Feb 18  MS Pep Rally
• Feb 19  Rising Gr 9 Parent Meeting: Transition to HS
• Feb 20 Gr 6 Registration Session #2 (during DEAR+15 min from last block)
• Feb 21 Gr 7 Registration Session #2 (during DEAR+15 min from last block)
• Feb 23 Faculty Follies
• March 2, Saigon International Teacher’s Social 3-8pm (location TBD)
• Mar 12  PSAT for Gr 8 (will run 8-11 ish; no special schedule just miss the morning blocks)

Concert on Tuesday:  I am so excited that we have the opportunity to hear the HS students perform for us on Tuesday.  The purpose of this it to ensure students understand the options available to them in HS (and in MS too) prior to registering for courses.  Please take your advisory group to the auditorium as quickly as possible.  Thank you to Stephen Ada and Daniel Flemming for arranging this.

Tet:  Huge thanks to the Tet Committee: Bonnie Bertoia, Ryan Pool, Dawne Kaba, Gil Legaspi, and Gema Luqu,e for putting together informative and fun Tet activities.  We wrap up the next week with a Lion and Dragon dance which starts at 2:00.  We need to be out, on the field by that time.  Please do not be late.  One last thing we do for test is take a Tet red envelop collection for the cleaners in Bldg A.  The Sunshine Committee would like to start taking donations ASAP.  For those new to Tet, the donation isn’t an obligation.  It is just a time where we can say thanks for all the work these great people do to support the school.  Donations average between 200,000-500,000 per faculty member.  We will present the envelops on Thursday, Jan. 31.  You can drop off donations with Erin Johnson.

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)
• 12:35-1:45 Block 4 (65 min)  Take your Block 4 kids to the Dragon Dance
• 1:45-2:45 Dragon Dance

Coming Soon – HS MRISA at SSIS, ADOPT A TEAM –  It’s time to prepare for the upcoming MRISA Senior (HS) Basketball tournament being held at SSIS from Feb 14 to 16.

Let’s cheer on the teams!  You can bring your classes to support our teams on the court. Your class can “Adopt a team” during the tournament – make posters with their logo – and come out to cheer for them during their games. CLICK HERE to sign-up.

Registration for Gr 6 and 7:  For planning purposes, here are the dates for when we will do Gr 6 and 7 registration.  The date are in DEAR time and may run a few minutes into last block.

• Gr 6 – Feb 12 Intro; Feb 20 Digital Course Entry
• Gr 7 – Feb 15 Intro; Feb 21 Digital Course Entry

Repeat: When You Find Electronic Devices:  Just a reminder that if you find electronic devices in your room (esp. laptops and phones), please notify the office right away (even if you think the student might be coming right back).  These devices also need to be secured.  Please do not leave them sitting out on desks or counters.  Devices can be secured in your desk and/or brought to the office.

Upcoming PD Opportunities: I don’t often share out PD things that pass my way, but two very excellent ones have passed my way recently.

First, Dr. Ritchhart from Project Zero at the Harvard Grad School of Education will be in Japan leading a Cultures of Thinking workshop.  I’ve taken the Visible Thinking course from this program, and it was fantastic.  This could be a great opportunity to learn, in person, from one of the best.

Second, the European League for Middle Level Education hosts an annual conference.  The 2020 conference will be in Budapest.  The dates, Jan. 23-25, are fantastic as it is at the end of the Tet Holiday.  Go early and explore, stay to the end and learn.  Looks like the conference cost is $400 with flights around $850.  It would be amazing to have a team go to this conference (and maybe begin to talk about how we can create a SE Asian Middle Level organization).  They bring in great speakers and are well organized.