Week Ahead: April 5-9

How fun was that!?! The smiles, the conversation, the nervous energy, the interactions between our students and their parents! Thank you again for all the work you did to make these SLCs so successful!

I’m not sure if you remember, but it was this week last year that we were required to work from home. The country wide lock down happened not too long after that. It’s definitely been a ride – with lots of ups and downs. I’m so happy to end this week on an incredibly high note and with the anticipation of a very enjoyable spring break. Wishing you rest and relaxation!

Here is what’s up the week after break:

Monday, April 5
Day 3, BCDA
1:30-3 Admin Mtg (Molly attends)

Tuesday, April 6
Day 4, FGHE
7:15-7:45 Review of Eval system for Newbie/Twobie Option 1
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team Mtg

Wednesday, April 7
Day 5, CDAB
9:30-10:15 SST
1-1:40 CTP Practice Session (see lesson links below)
3:15-4:30 CTP Training – All G6 and G7 advisors + EAL, LS teachers

Thursday, April 8
Day 6, GHEF (Special Assembly Schedule)
7:15-7:45 Review of Eval system for Newbie/Twobie Option 2

Friday, April 9
Day 7, DABC
1-1:40 House League Event
3:30ish U13 VBall v. BVIS (come see the kids play!)
3:30ish U15 Vball @ CIS (cheer on our G8 athletes)

Upcoming (on the radar; new items will appear in blue from here on out)
Season 3 Sports Schedule/Games

• April 12, 13 – G6-8 Health Screenings in PE
• April 14, 15, 20, 22 – CTP Testing for G6 and 7
• April 16 – 50% Curriculum Documentation Due
• April 21 – No School, Vietnamese Kings’ Day
• April 29 – MS Dance, 5-8pm
• April 30 – No School, Reunification Day
• May 3 – No School, International Labor Day
• May 4 – MS Band Concert, evening parent performance (possible disruption for G8 music students to have a combined G8 rehearsal)
• May 5 – STAR Reading Screener during Dragon Time
• May 7 – MS Band Concert during Dragon Time
• May 12 – STAR Math Screener during Dragon Time
• May 13 – MS/HS Art Show and Party (format to be determined)
• May 21 – G5 Step Up Day, StuCo Executive Council Election; special schedule
• May 25 – HS Theory of Knowledge collaboration / fair
• May 26 – Talent Show during Dragon Time
• May 27 – Sr. Graduation Walk, 1:15ish
• June 1 – G8 Promotion rehearsal (G8 off time table for last block)
• June 3 and 4 – MS Drama Productions (time to be determined)
• June 7 – G8 Promotion rehearsal (G8 off time table for last block)
• June 7 – Grades and Comments for Q4 / S2 due
• June 8 – Library Book Bingo Reward Field Trip
• June 9 – G8 Promotion in AM (all grades attend – hopefully); Splash Day 1-3:00

CTP Browser Installation: On Monday April 5th during advisory, we need to prepare the student computers for CTP testing.  This 4-step process will end with the students creating a new User Account and installing testing software.  We have created a set of tutorials for students to follow in sequence.  

1. Checking that students have admin rights on their device
2. Downloading and Installing The Test Software
3. Creating a user account for the testing session
4. Preparing Your Tests User Account Before Taking The Test

If at any point during the process there is an error or the computer does not respond please send the student down to the library where computer technicians will be available to assist them.   Depending on the computer and any updates that occur during the process, tutorials should take between 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

CTP Practice and Proctor Training:  All advisors will be taking their students through a CTP practice experience (lesson here) on Wednesday, April 7. Please make sure you review this lesson by TUESDAY so that you are prepared to lead the CTP practice with your students. On Wednesday, you will attend proctor training from 3:15-4:30.

CTP Overall Testing Plan: Please review the overall CTP testing plan. In this document you will see the special testing schedule, the order of tests, and the location of tests. We will review this at the CTP proctor training, but I really want you to have reviewed it ahead of time.

Special Student Assembly:  We will be having a student virtual assembly on Thursday, April 8 featuring Teen Truth. The topic is in support of the Choices advisory unit and will focus on social media. We will run a special schedule as Teen Truth is located in the US. Here is the schedule for the day. Students will stay with their regular lunch.

• 8-8:40 Advisory: Teen Truth Virtual Assembly
• 8:45-9:55 Block 1
• 10:00-11:10 Block 2
• 11:15-11:55 Block 3 (split)
• 11:55-12:20 Lunch 1 / Recess 1
• 12:25-12:40 DEAR
• 12:40-1:05 Lunch 2 / Recess 2
• 1:10-1:40 Block 3 (split)
• 1:45-3:00 Block 4

Curriculum Documentation: Congratulations to all MS faculty for meeting the first curriculum documentation benchmark – 25% of documentation completed last week. The next benchmark is 50% documentation by April 16. The final benchmark is 100% documentation by May 19.

2021 Community Surveys and Feedback on Administrators:  Middle School (Link to doc with surveys listed): I thank you in advance for completing the MS Principal survey. I utilize the results from this survey to set my annual goals. I will share what I learn once the survey has been completed. [From David Chadwell] Each year, we provide multiple surveys to get feedback from community members.  These include community surveys for faculty, staff, teaching assistants, students, and parents. On Monday, I sent out the community survey for faculty which address numerous areas of the school:  Community Survey Faculty 2021

We also seek feedback on specific administrators from faculty members.  Please complete the surveys on people whom you have had significant interaction with or who influence your work at SSIS.  All of the surveys are anonymous.  All surveys are being sent now so that you can choose when to complete them before, during or after break.  They all close on Friday, April 9.

 Below are the surveys for the Middle School:
MS Principal Survey 2021 – Molly Burger
Head of School Survey 2021 – Catriona Moran
Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning Survey 2021 – David Chadwell
IT Director Survey 2021 – David Perkin

STAR Screeners: We will be piloting a universal screener test in reading on May 5 and a universal screener test in math on May 12 during Dragon Time. We will provide more information closer to the test dates. If you want to learn more about in the meantime, please check out their website: Star 360

Paperwork and Invoices: This is for your information/paperwork action in case you buy something for the school and need reimbursement. If the supplier/vendor issues the red invoice with the electric version and sends it to you via email, they need to copy this email address of the business office (ssis@dochoadon.com ) together with yours for the electric invoice. Should you have any further questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact the business office for explanation. We will also be providing teachers with new laminated copies of the “tax card” that details the information needed to obtain a tax receipt (also known as a red receipt) and the email to use for electronic receipts.

The Last Quarter: We haven’t been through a quarter 4 in two years … this means we might be a bit out of practice for the amazing amount of wonderful things that happen in quarter 4. As an office team, we will try to ensure you have lot of notice before events, special schedules, etc. This information will be communicated via the blog, Google Calendars, and the ADV/Dragon Time calendar. If you have activities or events that might impact others, please get them to Roxanne or I so that we can keep ourselves coordinated! Examples would be showcases you want to invite other classes to or possible field trips.