Week Ahead: May 18-22

This is the time of year where everyday was usually full … SISAC tournaments, MRISA trips, Anh Linh Love School food drive and activities, G6 field trip, the Art Party, music concert, drama production, and what ever other fun, exciting thing was put on the calendar. So along with everything that is different about our experience, this is different too. As we wind down this year, let’s be sure to find ways to celebrate, to play, to enjoy what we do have. We are working on a way to have a modified version of Splash Day (likely in PE classes); ways to have fun distributing and signing yearbooks; and StuCo has made some suggestions for how they would like to celebrate the end of the year. Though we might be limping a little bit to the end of the year, I’d really like for us to be able to have a smile or two along the way. Let’s find happy!

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, May 18
Day 2, EFGH
*Deadline to notify Molly that you would like to opt out of being on the LT ballot (see below)

Tuesday, May 19
Day 3, BCDA

Wednesday, May 20
Day 4, FGHE
3:50-4:20 HOS All School Zoom Mtg

Thursday, May 21
Day 5, CDAB
2:30-3:30 MS Leadership Team Mtg
3:40-4:00 MS Divisional Mtg (location TBD)

Friday, May 22
Day 6, GHEF

Upcoming (on the radar)

• May 15: Deadline for parents/students to select credit/no credit option
• May 18 – reminder: changed from early release to full day instruction
• May 27 – Grade 5 (Rising G6) Parent Information Night (virtual)
• May 27-29 Roxanne and Molly meet with each G5 class for transition session
• May 28 Senior Walk Through
• May 29 Student Council Virtual Election (during DEAR)
• June 3: Final school day for students
• June 4: Final work day for faculty

MS Team Lead / Leadership Team Representatives:  We will have 2 open positions for the 2020-2021 MS Leadership Team. The open positions are Grade 6 and Grade 7 Team Lead. As a MS, we value democratic practices and representation. For this reason, Leadership Team members are elected by their peers. All middle school faculty members vote for all open positions. This reflects the prioritized value of working together as a division recognizing the strengths and talents of all our members. All eligible faculty members are included on the ballot unless he/she specifically requests to be removed from the ballot (yes, this is an opt out process). If you are not interested in being considered as a Leadership Team representative / Team Lead, please send Molly an email by Monday, May 18. Ballots will be sent out on May 19.

Master Schedule and Teaching Assignments for 20-21:  By this time most years, I have shown you several drafts of the Master Schedule for review. This year is a bit different because of the changing enrollment targets. This has made building the master schedule … different. For the 20-21 school year, we are anticipating greater numbers than predicted. The projection is 5 sections of G6, 4 sections of G7 and 5 sections of G8 (yes, G8 is where the additional students are predicted to be added). So instead of building 2 different master schedules (one for the original projection of just G6 having 5 sections; one for the new projection of having 5 sections in G6 and G8), I have opted to wait until enrollment numbers are more firm. Thank you for being patient and understanding about this.

Faculty Bus Home: There was a bit of confusion about when the faculty bus departs in the afternoons. There are 2 times: 3:40 & 4:30. Every Wednesday, the second trip is at 4:45pm.

AC and Dress Guides for Faculty: Since we have AC on all of the time and doors/windows closed a majority of it, it is time to pull out the pants and skirts again from the wardrobe and return to a more professional dress while on campus.

Bussing for Students: Our bus vendor passed the inspection required to start up bussing again at 100% capacity. This is great news for our families! The middle and high school students will be on the same routes with arrival to school at 8:20 and departure from school at 3:50. I will be working on a location for the students to wait and be supervised from 3:30-3:50.

Survey Coming: We want to capture ideas and feedback on how our Virtual School structures worked. What we want to stay the same and what we want to change, cut, or add. I will be sending out a survey for all MS faculty to complete. The responses for that will be used at our Thursday divisional meeting. I’ll send it Monday morning.

Wonderful Tradition Continues: We have an exciting update on our traditions of the Senior Walk Through.  Each year, the seniors walk the entire campus – every floor – in their caps and gowns – to the cheers of the entire school. With some new guidelines, the Sr. Walk Through will happen Thursday, May 28th in the afternoon (exact time to be determined).  Here are the new guidelines:

• Students can line both sides of the hallways 1 meter apart wearing their masks.  
• Additional students can be lined up elsewhere or stay inside of their classrooms and make noise.
• Seniors will walk single file in the hallways
• No handshakes, high fives, etc is allowed

Textbook Turn In: Due to social distancing requirements, we have adjusted how we will be turning in text books this year. Trinh will be coming by classrooms and scanning in returned books on the spot. This means that we need them to have all their textbooks with them at that time. Please note the schedule:

May 26
H – Wolf SS6
E – Wolf SS6
F – none
G – Wolf SS6

May 27
A – Jardin SS 7
B – none
C – Wolf SS6
D – Grove SS 7

May 28
E – Grove SS7
F – Beal – LA 7
G – none
H – Beal LA 7 & Benck SS8

May 29
B – none
C – none
D – Benck – LA 8
A – Benck LA8