Week Ahead: April 22-26

We all love middle school for different reasons at different times.  This week, I found myself falling in love with middle school all over again simply because of the sheer variety of experiences that came my way.  As we get into the busy-ness of 4th quarter, let’s really focus on the positives, the joys, the fun of the experiences that come to us.  It makes it all sweeter!

Here is what’s up next week:

Earth Week:  GIN club is feverishly finishing up Earth Week plans (their recent trip to the GIN conference has delayed the release of this information – they will be finishing today after school)

Monday, April 22
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
*Earth Day
1:30-3 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team Mtg (agenda)

Tuesday, April 23
Day 7, DABC (Special Schedule CTP)
12-4:00 Saigon Admin Mtg (Molly off campus)

Wednesday, April 24
Day 8, HEFG (Special Schedule CTP)
1:30-2:30 HOS/MS Principal Mtg
1:45-2:45 Gr 7 and 8 Music students off timetable for HS concert
2:00-2:45 Gr 7 and 8 Mini Art Show (see details below; artists off timetable)
3:15-4:30 Divisional Mtg (library)

Thursday, April 25
Day 9, ABCD (Adv)
9:30-11 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)

Friday, April 26
Day 10, FGHE (DEAR)
8-11  ES Sports Day – some MS students will be late for 2nd block / 3rd block (see below for more details)
5-8pm MS Dance

Sunday, April 27
Happy birthday Rebecca Jardin!

Upcoming (on the radar) New Items Will Be Added in Blue

• April 27-May 1 Long Weekend (includes Reunification Day on April 30 and Labor Day on May 1)
• May 3   Run Advisory Schedule – Grades 8-11 in Positive Education Assembly; Gr 6 and 7 in advisory
• May 3-5 Positive Education Training
• May 9   MS StuCo Election Assembly – special schedule with “advisory” at end of the day
• May 9   Gr 8 drama student off timetable D block
• May 10  GIN Field Trip to Mekong (Library Project)
• May 13-17  NGSS PD with Paul Andersen
• May 14  MS/HS Art Party and Show 3-6:00
• May 15  Early Dismissal – PD 1-4:30
• May 16  Gr 8 Transition Event (1ish to 3:00 … will confirm exact times soon)
• May 16   Gr 8 and 10 Film Festival, 6-8pm
• May 17   Music Concert rehearsal – music students off timetable 11-3:00
• May 20   Music Concert, 6pm
• May 20   Gr 8 Food Drive Delivery 8-12ish
• May 21-24   SISAC Tournaments
• May 24   Gr 8 Anh Linh Love School Assembly 8-11ish
• May 31   Gr 8 Anh Linh Love School Carnival  8-12ish
• June 1  HS Graduation
• June 3   Gr 8 Promotion practice, 1-3:00
• June 3   Gr 6 Field Trip
• June 5   Gr 8 Promotion 9-10:30; Splash Day 1-3:00

April 23, 24   CTP Testing Special Schedule

• 8-9:00 Block 1
• 9:05-10:55 Testing Block / Gr 8 Promotion Prep
• 11-12:05  Block 2
• 12:05-12:50  Lunch
• 12:55-1:55  Block 3
• 2-3:00  Block 4

CTP Testing Begins: Full CTP Testing Plan HERE.

Wednesday Mini Art Show:  The grade 7 and 8 art students have finished their bird cage and chair sculptures.  They are very eager to display them for an audience.  We also have a request to allow grade 7 and 8 music students to attend the HS music concert (as a way to continue to build momentum in the music programs).  So this Wednesday we will have an afternoon of art opportunities.  Gr 7 and 8 music students who have permission from their F block (to miss about 15 min. of class) and G block (probably 30-40 min of class) teachers will head to the auditorium for an afternoon of music.  Gr 7 and 8 art students will be released for the mini art show which will happen in the plaza.  To help spread out visitors, we are hoping grade 6 classes could go from 2-2:15, grade 7 from 2:15-2:30 and grade 8 from 2:30-2:45.  But of course, this is flexible.  Teachers who would like to bring their classes to the art show can sign up here:  PLEASE SIGN UP HERE   Rebecca and Stephen will send out class lists next week.

Friday ES Sports Day:  ES has asked to have some MS students assist with their sports day on Friday.  Dawne’s F Block PE student will help during their block and into morning break.  Rick and Kevin’s G block classes will start a bit into break and then through their block.  This means that both groups will be a bit late to their next block classes (F block kids will be allowed to have a short break for food and may be 10-15 min late for G block; G block kids will have a quick bite to eat and then take over from the F block kids – they will work until 11 and then have a few minutes to change and may be 10-15 min late to H block).  Dawne, Rick and Kevin will share those class lists.

Friday May 3 Positive Education Assembly for Grades 8-11:  Another last minute opportunity has come our way.  David Bott, the presenter for Positive Education has offered to add in a student assembly while he is here.  We will be running advisory schedule on Friday May 3 to accommodate this.  Grade 8 students and advisors will attend the assembly in the HS gym.  Gr 6 and 7 advisories can either do an extended DEAR or can run a different advisory.  (I’m sorry that we can’t add grades 6 and 7 to the assembly.)

Annual Evaluations:  Thank you to Ryan B, Emily, Rick, Brian, Matthew and Dawne for already scheduling their evaluation meetings.  I will be asking Hang to help assist in getting these scheduled so that we can get them on the calendar.  You do not have to have your self evaluation completed in order to book the appointment.  I just ask that you have your self-evaluation completed at least 24 hrs prior to the meeting.

Wearing Badges: Yes, we need those stinkin badges!  If you need a lanyard or tie clip (or both), please see Hang.  Thank you for wearing your badges in a visible location.

Admin Surveys:  There are quite a few surveys coming out for faculty to complete.  If you haven’t done it already, I want to encourage you to complete my annual faculty survey.  This feedback is very important for me, and I really appreciate the opportunity to reflect and then to set my annual goals.  The survey closes April 25.  Here is the information from Catriona:

PD Options for Fall: These came through my inbox.  Could be of interest:

 

Visit www.strongeandassociates.com . for the conference brochure and to register!  For more information contact Ginny.Tonneson@strongeandassociates.com

OVERVIEW:

In this practical workshop, participants have the opportunity to clarify their understanding of what it really means to use an inquiry based approach to teaching and learning in the primary / elementary classroom. Over two interactive days, teachers examine the essential elements of inquiry and how these elements can be ‘brought to life’ through quality planning, use of materials, choice of teaching strategies and interactions with students. Participants explore the conditions that best ‘set the scene’ for productive inquiry learning and the way in which we can be ‘inquiring teachers’ throughout our classroom program as well as within the context of inquiry-based ‘units of work.’ In addition to demonstrating many useful teaching strategies for the inquiring classroom, Kath takes teachers through her widely-used model for planning and teaching inquiry and shows how it can be adapted to builds students’ understandings and interdisciplinary skills – particularly in the areas of thinking, collaboration, self management, research and communication. Practical examples from a wide range of settings are shared with teachers and they also have the opportunity to frame up plans to use back in their classroom.

Venue: Seoul Foreign School 39 Yeonhui Ro, 22 gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea 037238.30 am to 3.30 pm Registration at 8.00 am on the 31st August 2019.

INVESTMENT USD 720 Early Bird Offer till 1st February, 2019 USD 790 Closing Date till 1st August, 2019 INCLUDES: Certificate of Participation for 16 Professional Development hours, Lunch and 2 coffee breaks.

Rebecca’s more awesome description of the Mini Art Show: