Week Ahead: Sept. 16-20

Last week was busy but GREAT!  Tetris-like blocks were floating through my mind all week long – and even invaded my dreams.  Planning a building to support growth in programs – and programs we don’t even know we might want or need is a bit daunting.  Having so many great minds involved in the process really makes the process enjoyable and rewarding.

Another highlight of the week (and the week before) was the new parent meetings.  Having the opportunity to listen to the depth of knowledge you all have about your students, the care and concern that you show, and the way you are able to communicate with precision and compassion was truly a privilege.

Here is what’s up this week (it’s a bit lighter for the most part):

Monday, Sept. 16
Day 3, BCDA (Adv)
1:30-3 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team Mtg (agenda)

Tuesday, Sept. 17
Day 4, FGHE (DEAR)

Wednesday, Sept. 18
Day 5, CDAB (DEAR)
9:45-10:30 SST
3:15-4:30 Divisional Mtg (Library, Talk Moves / Growth Planning)

Thursday, Sept. 19
Day 6, GHEF (Adv)
9:30-11 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)

Friday, Sept. 20
Day 7, DABC (DEAR)
5-8pm MS Dance

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Sept 30 and Oct 1  Positive Education PD
• Oct. 4 End of Quarter 1
• October 7 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in Q1 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed by 3:45
• October 8 – verification report reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 3:00
• October 9 – report cards sent home to parents
• Oct. 10 (4-8pm) and 11 (8-1:00) – Parent Teacher Conferences

Congratulations to Nguyen Do and his wife Oanh:   It’s always exciting to welcome a new Dragon to the community.  Here is one of the newest – Welcome Củi!

VTC is coming soon:   Date: Feb 15/16 – hosted by UNIS Hanoi:  We are currently looking for workshop leaders – it’s an opportunity to share some of your strategies and resources with fellow educators.  Please let me know if you’d like to run a workshop and we  can talk about expectations and benefits.  ALSO – please let me (David Rynne) know if you’d like to take the stage for a LIGHTNING TALK… yeah!

EARCOS Teacher Conference:  Huge thanks to Natalie for serving as the SSIS representative to the EARCOS planning committee.  Natalie has sent out information regarding the upcoming EARCOS conference for teachers.  MS Leadership Team has also been in discussion about this conference as it includes a specific middle school strand.  As a division, we would like to send a team and utilize divisional professional development funds to help offset the cost of the conference.  We also discussed the timing of this conference (it comes during the week of Project X).  We have determined that we can accommodate up to 5 teachers attending (and still maintain the integrity of Project X support for students).  This includes any MS teachers who are presenting.  If we have more than 5 interested people from the division, we will make the determination of who attends in the MS Leadership Team meeting seeking a blended team representing different grade levels, departments, and supporting those who are wanting to present at the conference.  Teachers who are interested should submit an email of interest (including if you are intending to apply to present) to Molly by September 30th.  We will make the determination on Sept. 30 at the MS Leadership Team meeting.  Please see your leadership team representative or Molly if you have questions regarding this.

 Universal Precautions Kit:  All classrooms should now be equipped with a spray bottle of cleaner, gloves, and paper towels which serve as a universal precautions kit for bodily fluid spills.  Though you might be able to catch the cleaners to help in a spill situation, you also may not.  All body fluid spills need to be cleaned up immediately.  Please report if you do not have these materials in your classroom.  Also, if you need refills, please enter that into HelpDesk.

Lock In Date Changed: Due to a late change in our hosting responsibilities for MRISA, we needed to move the lock in.  The new lock in date is March 13.

Emergency Phone Tree:  The emergency phone tree is now available on the Link.  Please print out a copy so that you have it available without having to go online.  If you have any updates to phone numbers, please let Hang know.

Attendance for ASAs in SchoolsBuddy: Please be sure to activate your SchoolsBuddy account.  Session 1 ASAs will be taking attendance in SchoolsBuddy.  If you can’t find the email with the activation information, please check in with Jon W.

Positive Psychology PD Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2:  Positive Psychology / Education training will be Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for all faculty.  On Oct. 2, the trainer will still be on campus working with small groups and with students.  The focus with students will be growth mindset.  We will be using the following special schedule (it’s the same as the author visit schedule):

• 8-8:10 Advisory
• 8:15-9:15 Assembly – Growth Mindset
• 9:15-9:30 Break
• 9:30-10:35 Block 1 (65 min)
• 10:40-11:45 Block 2 (65 min)
• 11:50-12:05 ADV (15 min)
• 12:05-12:40 Lunch (35 min)
• 12:45-1:50 Block 3 (65 min)
• 1:55-3:00 Block 4 (65 min)