Week Ahead: April 10

As we come back from Spring Break, I hope that you all were able to relax, refresh and reset!  March has been a fairly tough month with lots going on with author visits, SISACs and MRISA events, registration activities, Dragon’s Apprentice, Student Led Conferences, and even a visiting world class pianist.  Though April doesn’t have SISACs, MRISA, author visits or SLCs, it does bring WrAP testing, International Days, Earth Week, and new exciting units.  Be on the look out for information regarding International Days and Earth Week.  We are really pleased that our GIN students are taking the lead on planning for Earth Week!

Congratulations to Eric and Mark for their excellent presentation at the EARCOS Teachers Conference!  Alli Ruttger and Kat Fox also gave a fabulous math presentation.  They were joined by Roxanne Amor-Ross, Polly Butz, Ryan Butz, Jacob Humes, Melissa Martin, Vaughan Swart and Kate Werner.  SSIS was well represented!

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, April 10
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
*Grade 8 Change Agents during Advisory
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team Meeting

Tuesday, April 11
Day 7, DABC (DEAR)
*Grade 8 Change Agents during DEAR
7:30-7:50 WrAP Proctor Training Make Up Session

Wednesday, April 12
Day 8, HEFG (DEAR)
9:40-11:05 Gr 8 Human Rights Panel (gr 8 students off timetable block E)
3:15-4:30 Divisonal Mtg; Assessment Plans, Library

Thursday, April 13
Day 9, ABCD (House Leagues)
8:15-9:15 Principal’s Coffee
9-11 Gr 8 at Career Day (gr 8 students off timetable for part of A block, all of B block, few minutes of C block)

Friday, April 14
Day 10, EFGH (DEAR)
12:45-3 Curriculum Framework Committee mtg

Upcoming (on the radar)

• 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. 22-23 – ELLSA Conference
• 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)
• May 4 – A Team SISAC, starting around 12:00
• May 11 – Gr 8 and Gr 10 Documentary Showcase, 6-7:30
• 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

MAP and WrAP Testing:  WrAP will be April 18 and 19 and will run on a modified schedule (WrAP testing schedule).  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.

WrAP UPDATE:  The WrAP testing upload has been corrected.  Please log in to check to make sure your advisory is listed correctly (remember that EAL and LS students may have been pulled into a different testing group; link to testing accommodations and groups).  Here is the link to the WrAP presentation / information.  Once you have confirmed your testing group is correct, please print and cut apart the tickets for your students.

MAP UPDATE:  Hang has created all the MAP testing sessions.  Though we will have an opportunity to check in on May 3rd at our divisional meeting, if you are a lead proctor, please check in on your testing sessions to make sure you are ready to go (link to testing accommodations and groups).

MS Principal Survey:  Thank you to all who completed the MS Principal Survey.  I have begun to look through the feedback identifying areas of strength and opportunities for growth.  I will be sharing that feedback once I have had the opportunity to meet with Mark Sylte regarding the results.  Thank you again for providing me with this valuable feedback.

Master Schedule for 17-18: We have begun creating the 17-18 Master Schedule.  As soon as the schedule is built, I will be sharing it with all departments for input and feedback.  This is an important part of the schedule build as you will each see things from different perspectives.  We look forward to getting that feedback.