Week Ahead: Aug. 9-13

We are off to a such a strong start! Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. This coming week will bring the real reason you do the work you do … the students! And they are so lucky to have you.

I have two thoughts in reflection on this week and in preparation for next …
Both are equally important:

You have already done so much with what we have right now.

And as you head into the weekend, take care of you.

One new thing: I was trying to update the HOD section of the blog but have run into technical difficulties. So until it’s fixed, here are the HODs submitted last week:

• What great things have you already seen?  Just email a quick note to Molly
• Daniel Mendes and Thomas Galvez for modeling pedagogy, tools, and demonstrating resilience, flexibility, and patience.
• Abby’s great presentation on co-teaching!
• Ana Maria Gomez, Cintia Bastos, Daniel Mendes, Kelley McKenna and Rebecca Jardin for showcasing how they use particular tools during the Tech Tool Rountable.  Your wisdom and experience is so valuable!  
• Rebeka Martinez for her initiative and heart for the remote learners.
• Cintia Bastos for getting out the library links!
• Rebecca Jardin for leading a fun activity that helped faculty to get to know each other and build connections
• Daniel Mendes- for all the support he’s given us as we start the school year. I know he’s really busy, but he always manages to find time in his schedule to help.
• Natalie Beals- for setting up our first MS social happy hour!
• Hillary Banks- for all the time and effort she’s spent on creating and moving student schedules
• Daniel Medes for sure. I imagine doing that job would be like trying to slay a greased hydra. Daniel’s thorough and thoughtful work on the modules, coupled with the patience, poise, and flexibility he showed during the “help sessions” was far beyond what I’m used to experiencing. I’ll be first in line to buy him a virtual beer. 
• Joycelyn Wei for being encouraging and active in our MWL team.
• Elizabeth Davenport and Junior Lucero for their support of the MS Meet Ups
• Ryan Butz, Jacob Scott, and Abby Morgan for their dynamic leadership, support, and enthusiasm!  You are truly keeping the ship moving in the right direction with us all rowing together.
• Hillary Banks for gathering up the new students and setting up a time for them to meet some other SSIS students – and to Daniel Mendes for starting the Dragon Ambassadors who are stepping in to great these newbies. 
• Roxanne Amor-Ross for getting Orientation and Dragon Days all set up for us!  Such a great start to the year for our students!

Here’s what’s up for next week:

Monday, Aug. 9
Full Faculty Inservice Agenda
*Advisor Video Due (upload to folder-see below)
4:00 New Family Orientation

Tuesday, Aug. 10
Orientation Day
8-9 Remote Student Orientation Meeting w/Students and Parents (teachers do not attend)
9:30-11 New Student Tech Sessions (teachers do not attend)
1-2:45 Orientation for All MS Students (teachers attend)
3-4:00 Start 1:1 mtgs with Advisees
6:45-7:15 MS Welcome for Parents (team leads attend; teachers to not have to attend)

Wednesday, Aug. 11
8-8:30 MS Assembly (everyone attends)
8:45-9:30 A Block
9:45-10:30 B Block
10:45-3:00 1:1 mtgs with Advisees

Thursday, Aug. 12
8-8:30 Advisory (led by advisor)
8:45-9:30 C Block
9:45-10:30 D Block
10:45-11:30 E Block
1-3:00 1:1 mtgs with Advisees

Friday, Aug. 13
*Happy Birthday Clayton Filter!
8-8:30 Advisory (led by advisor)
8:45-9:30 F Block
9:45-10:30 G Block
10:45-11:30 H Block
1-3:00 1:1 mtgs with Advisees

Upcoming (on the radar):

• Aug. 26: Curriculum Night
• Sept. 2, 3: Vietnamese National Day, No School
• Sept. 17: MS Movie Night

Advisory 1:1 Meetings:  Teams have worked out how to schedule the 1:1 meetings. Please take time during Orientation to ensure all students know when their meeting will be.

Advisor Videos for Parents: Last year, we had each advisor create a video introduction to be shared with the advisees’ parents. Here is the folder that contains last year’s videos. Please prepare this again (due by Monday, Aug. 9). I am currently exploring how to use FlipGrid to create a more interactive experience between teachers and parents. You can prepare your video ahead of time while we get the FlipGrid details sorted. Please upload your video to this folder: 21-22 Advisor Videos (Orientation)

Orientation and Dragon Days:  Thank you to Roxanne Amor-Ross for preparing the adjusted Dragon Days scope and sequence as well as the lessons through Aug. 20. You will be discussing these during your grade level team meeting. Here are the links.  There are also grade level versions that will be shared with you by your team lead. Please do not copy the master and/or make adjustments to them.

Orientation Master SlideShow.
Dragon Days Slide Shows: G6          G7          G8  
*Message to all advisors: Everyone is expected to cover the content and the points made in these presentations so that all student receive the same information. Do use professional judgement to present the information/activities in the most engaging way possible for your students. Be familiar with the information in the “notes” section under the slides.

Remote Student Program: Rebeka Martinez has been working hard to get things organized for our Remote Learners. We currently have 5 of them – 1 new to SSIS G6 student and 4 G8 students, a mixture of new to SSIS and returning. We are currently confirming their timezones and will determine if they will be able to attend any synchronous classes. For the courses that students cannot attend, Rebeka will be looking for some time to check in with the teachers regarding the first lesson – so that she can ensure their success.

Orientation and 1st Week Schedule: