Week Ahead: March 27

Whew!  That’s all I can say tonight.  Two major things came to a head today – WASC and SLCs.

WASC – What a fantastic affirmation of the work we have been doing!  I am so proud of the things the visiting team saw as they visited each of your classrooms, of what they commented on during our meetings, and how evident is is that you are all creating an amazing experience for our students.  I can’t wait for you to read the full report which gives more detail to the commendations the WASC team shared.

SLC – Couldn’t wipe the smile off my own face as I saw student after student, family after family, engaged in animated discussions about learning with smiles on their faces.   The students stood proud as they demonstrated what they have learned, built, and created.  One of the best compliments of the night was a parent who said “It looks like playing, but they are learning so much.”  Powerful learning occurs when children are engaged and happy.

And it doesn’t stop!  This next week is full of exciting opportunities for our students.  Starting on Monday with Dragon’s Apprentice, we will see a powerful example of project based learning with a very high stakes showcase.  Be sure to read through Abena’s email detailing students who will be off timetable in the morning.  Wednesday brings our music students an exciting opportunity to hear from a professional pianist; Thursday begins another author visit with Andy Wright; and Friday we revert to an Advisory schedule to make time for a Quarter 3 Celebration.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Mar. 27
Day 1, ABCD (Special Schedule)
*Happy Birthday Emily Wolf
1:30-3 Dragon’s Apprentice
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team (Agenda)

Tuesday, Mar. 28
Day 2, EFGH (DEAR)
8:15-9:15 AS Parent Counselor Coffee, topic – Understanding and Promoting Wellness (suicide and self harm) (MS Library)

Wednesday, Mar. 29
Day 3, BCDA (DEAR)
9:30-11 Special Music Program, Pianist Adam Gorgy (music students off timetable)
3:15-4:30 AS Mtg: MAP and WrAP Proctoring (Auditorium, laptop needed)

Thursday, Mar. 30
Day 4, FGHE (Special Schedule)
*Molly out chaperoning MRISA
8:15-9:15 Author Visit (Auditorium)
10-11:30 Admin Leadership Mtg

Friday, Mar. 31
Day 5, CDAB (Adv Schedule)
*Molly out chaperoning MRISA
12:55-1:35 Q3 Celebration, Auditorium

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Apr. 3-7 – Spring Break
• Apr. 10, 11, 12  – Gr 8 Change Agent Presentations, (10th Adv., 11th DEAR, 12th Block E)
• Apr. 13 – Gr 8 Career Day 8-12
• Apr. 14 – Curriculum Framework Committee Mtg
• Apr. 18 and 19 – WrAP testing (similar to author visit schedule with 1 hour writing in morning followed by 60 min. blocks)
• Apr. 20-21 – International Week
• Apr. 24-28 – Earth Week
• Apr. 28 – MS Dance
• May 4, 9 and 12 – MAP testing (same schedule to MAP testing in Fall – see below)

Entering and Exiting the Auditorium: We will be in an out of the auditorium a lot this week.  After our last author visit, I did receive a request from the ES teachers located in the basement of Bldg B that we NOT use the staircase that goes by the ES office to go in and out of the auditorium.  When you are taking your students in and out of the auditorium, we may ONLY use the outside entrance and stairs, or the stairs that are closest to the auditorium doors (the ones that come out by the Bldg B elevator).  Thank you for helping our students enter and exit without causing a disruption to ES learning.

Dragon’s Apprentice Schedule:  Monday, March 27 is the big day.  We will be running a special schedule (basically the early dismissal schedule, lunch, advisory, and then Dragon’s Apprentice) with some students being pulled off timetable for final rehearsals.  Abena sent an email about this … but here are the names of students being pulled off timetable:

Laura, Ben, Peggy, Lina
Angelina, Jake, Mehar, Krrish, Nam
Jane, Jan, Jihwi, Sung Kyu, Teddy
Soyoung, Pun, PAL, Tessa, Zen, Karstan, Annabelle, MinSeo, Haley, Tracy, Kara, Ana S, Ana H, Lac Nhan and Roy

Monday’s Schedule:
8-8:55 Block A
9-9:55 Block B
9:55-10:15 Break
10:20-11:15 Block C
11:20-12:15 Block D
12:15-12:50 Lunch
12:55-1:20 Advisory (watch the time so we are all seated in the auditorium by 1:30)
1:30-3 Dragon’s Apprentice (please be seated by 1:30 with your advisory students)

Music Program, Pianist Adam Gyorgy:   Adam Gyorgy, a world-class pianist and teacher from Hungary, will be visiting SSIS on Wednesday, March 29th.   Our music students will have the opportunity to have a special session during C block with Mr. Gyorgy, complete with his own Steinway which will be delivered and moved into the HS music room (I can’t wait to see that).  As part of his involvement in the cultural life of Vietnam, he will be running auditions for the Adam Gyorgy Castle Academy on Saturday, April 1st.   In conjuction with Mr. Gyorgy’s visit, Vietnam Music and Arts Foundation is offering a full scholarship for one student to attend the academy this summer. We are hopeful that one of our students might just win that prize!

Author Visit – Andy Wright: We are fortunate to have master storyteller Andy Wright join us this week.  He will be doing an all division assembly on Thursday followed by workshops in Exploratory Writing Gr 6.  On Friday, he will work with our Gr 7 and 8 drama classes as well as assemblies for the ES students.  Here is the schedule for Thursday:

8-8:10 Advisory
8:15-9:15 Assembly (please sit with your advisory in the auditorium)
9:15-9:30 Break
9:30-10:35 Block 1 (65 min, F)
10:40-11:45 Block 2 (65 min, G)
11:50-12:05 DEAR (15 min)
12:05-12:40 Lunch (35 min)
12:45-1:50 Block 3 (65 min, H)
1:55-3:00 Block 4 (65 min, E)

Quarter 3 Celebration: Stephen Ada and Bonnie Bertoia, with the support of Robert Appino, are heading up this celebration assembly.  Please let them know if there is anything you wish to share and celebrate from your classes, team projects and Advisory activities.

MAP and WrAP Testing:  On Wednesday during our AS meeting, we will be reviewing important MAP and WrAP proctoring information.  WrAP will be April 18 and 19 and will run a very similar schedule to the author visits.  Students will write the tests in their advisory groups.  The MAP testing schedule will be the same as we used in Fall (basically a 2 hr block for testing/DEAR followed by 60 minute classes.  We will keep the same testing groups, lead proctors, and floaters as detailed on the testing schedule.  It is very important that we administer these tests with fidelity.  Thank you for your keen attention to the proctoring details.