Week Ahead: Oct. 25-29

Welcome back from what I hope was a very rejuvenating break.  For this week’s HOD, please send in a gratitude for something that happened during your break!

Looking ahead – It’s Halloween week!!!!!!  Even though we won’t be on campus with students, let’s still bring it on Friday!  Not sure what to dress up as?  Here are some easy ideas:

15 Zoom Halloween Costumes
5 last minute teacher Halloween costumes
Or you could always go as Tik Tok adolescent dancer:

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Oct. 25
VS A-D
3:15-3:45  Pre-interview meeting for AP Interview Team

Tuesday, Oct. 26
*Happy Birthday Rebeca Lozano!
VS E-H
9:30-10:15 SST
3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team (Agenda)

Wednesday, Oct. 27
Wellness / Consolidation
3:15-4:30  All Faculty Mtg

Thursday, Oct. 28
VS A-D
3:15-3:45  Pre-interview meeting for all hiring teams (except AP)

Friday, Oct. 29
VS E-H
*Halloween dress up!

Upcoming (on the radar)

  • Nov. 5 – 22-23 Contracts due back to HR

 

MS Yearbook:  Though we do not have a yearbook class this year (we are working on that for next year), we are still going to produce a yearbook (still working on that plan).  In preparation for that, I am hoping that you can drop a few photos from this quarter into this Yearbook Folder.  Create an internal folder labeled with this naming convention: Teacher, Courses, Q1.  We will need to be creative … so I’d love to have  anything you think might be usable.

From Daniel: Update Zoom –  Over the break, please make sure you upgrade your Zoom (5.8.1).  There was a significant update recently that will add features and fixes some issues.  A reminder that when significant upgrades occur, there can be connectivity issues (people dropping from the Zoom call or Breakout rooms)
A message for students will go out in Email and Schoology, but I’m sure students will need to be reminded.
Learning with Lasso: If you are fans of the popular TV series Ted Lasso and you have 20 minutes to listen to this segment of a podcast, these two educators (Michael Lawrence and Delaine Johnson) have presented on ‘What Ted Lasson teaches us about Learning”.
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From Roxanne:  As the quarter has drawn to a close – I thought you might appreciate seeing how the MS Dragons responded to some of this week’s survey questions about their overall experiences this quarter:
98.5% of MS Dragons report, “I’ve got this.” This includes students who also acknowledge there have been  “tough times” along the way.
Overall the weekly MS Assemblies… are a positive part of our students’ middle school experience
Overall, MS Dragons value learning about and using their “Character Strengths”

Overall, MS Dragons value learning about how to develop and nurture “Healthy Relationships”

What else do middle schoolers want to say about Q1 of Virtual School”
The quotes below are MS Dragon responses to the question : “Is there anything you want Mrs. Burger, Ms. Roxanne or any of your teachers to know about Virtual School this quarter that we didn’t ask in this survey?”
“I want to say thank you to all of the teachers that help me in virtual school.”
“It was fun and I am hoping to return to physical school.”
“I just want to thank all of my teachers for making virtual school the best as it can be!”
“Wednesday is really appreciated.”
“Thank you for adding sports :)”
“My first quarter here is great.”
“This quarter started off so much better than last year”
“Thank you for supporting us. We all appreciate it”
“I enjoyed the positive energy I feel from each of the teachers”
“I really enjoyed the House League activities we did this quarter! Even though it is virtual school and we can’t meet in person, we could be connected.”
In short, the SSIS resources allocated for faculty PD and student assemblies with David Bott and Chinh Ostrander, and the funding of 3 personal development leader positions in middle school, are having a direct and positive impact on our students.Yeah! [and since this was written by Roxanne … let me add, and thanks to the incredible leadership and energy demonstrated by our MS Dean of Students!]

Campus COVID (from Lisa C):  Thank you everyone for your help in following the government regulations when coming to campus. Following up on Catriona’s email (#108 Sept 25), these are the protocols currently in place for all faculty and staff coming to campus:

  • Every staff or faculty member must be fully vaccinated (and 14 days after the second dose of the vaccine).
  • Staff and faculty members who have recovered from COVID-19 may come to campus after the nurse verifies the documentation.
  • No children are allowed on campus (no SSIS students, no staff children).
  • Follow all 5K rules while on campus (masks, hand washing, social distance, no gatherings, health declaration)
  • Staff and faculty must use Gate 2 and Main turnstiles (AKA ES entrance).
  • DAILY health declaration must be completed by every staff or faculty member (electronically through QR code or paper method). [please note that this must be done at the gate]
  • Turnstiles are now working for staff and faculty with SSIS ID cards. If you don’t have your ID card then you must SIGN IN and SIGN OUT the logbook with Security.
  • All deliveries are at Gate 4 (lunch delivery, Starbucks coffee, parcels, envelopes, etc)
  • COVID testing is not required for staff returning to campus.
  • Rapid COVID testing is available on campus every Tuesday morning. This is optional. SSIS nurses will do it.

Faculty Bus:  Please see below the bus schedule from Monday.  We will update if there are any changes.   Bus plate number: 51B-286.30

Pick up in morning: 

  • 6:55        Riviera Point (bus stop area – Gate Tower 3-4-5)
  • 7:00        Happy Residence (gs25 shop)
  • 7:05        Canh Vien 3
  • 7:05        Greenview
  • 7:12        Crescent Residence 1
  • 7:20        Happy Valley (Gate R18)

Drop- off in the afternoon

  • First trip      @           3:40pm
  • Second trip @           4:30pm
  • Every Wednesday the second trip @  4:45pm