What an amazing start to the school year!   An unusual source created a moment of reflection for me this weekend.  I was listening to the latest Miley Cyrus album, Attention, and was struck by a speech she made at the pre-Super Bowl music festival in February of this year.  She talked about how strange it felt to her to come back to performances after 2 years of not being able to do them.  She said it used to feel like breathing to perform before 20,000 people, and how disconcerting it was to her to not have that same feeling as she stood on the stage now.  (She might have used much more colorful language ?)

I can definitely relate, and maybe you can too.  As I do things I’ve done easily for years, like giving a speech or planning for events we’ve done many times, it feels different.  I feel different.  So if this year feels different to you, give yourself grace.  For me, some of the “different” actually feels amazing, and some makes me feel off-center.  We will be navigating this year together, supporting each other as we experience things that have been on hold for the past two years.

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Aug. 15

• Day 4: FGHE
• 3:30-4:30 IDLs Assessment session with Jan Chappuis, MS Library

Tuesday, Aug. 16

• Day 5: CDAB
• *Happy Birthday Blaire Hart!
• Star Reading administered during ELA class
• 3:15-4:30 MS Leadership Team (agenda)

Wednesday, Aug. 17

• Day 6: GHEF
• Star Reading administered during ELA class
• 9:00 Learning Walk with David Chadwell (see below)
• 11:15-12:00  SST Mtg
• 3:15-4:30 Divisional: Department Mtgs (location determined by IDL)
• 3:15 Vietnamese class begins (starting with opening welcome in HS gym, clarification of student expectations)

Thursday, Aug. 18

• Day 7: DABC
• Star Math administered during Math class

Friday, Aug. 19

• Day 8: HEFG
• Star Math administered during Math class

Saturday, Aug. 20

• First Aid Training, 8:30-3:00

Upcoming (on the radar)

• August 22 – Early Dismissal, PD: Assessment with Jan Chappuis
• August 25 – Curriculum Night, 6-8:30pm
• September 1, 2 – No School, Vietnamese National Day

Sports and ASAs:  

Sports sign ups start Monday through Wednesday through SchoolsBuddy.  Students and parents received an email Friday with the information about teams, tryouts, and how to sign up.  Please remind students that we have a no-cut policy which means all students who want to try a sport can do so.  We will create as many teams as needed to support the numbers.  So trying out means setting teams, not cutting students from the program.  The following sports are available for MS: cross country, swimming, basketball, and golf (for golf, MS students must meet the cut off in golf handicap, this is the one program where there is a level that has to be hit to join).

For ASAs, sign ups begin Aug. 22.  Phil and I met with Dan Long to review offerings for ASAs in the MS.  We saw that some adjustments might need to be made to balance offerings through out the week and throughout the year.

Learning Walks with David Chadwell:

In an effort to see more and learn more about programs in action at SSIS, David Chadwell will be conducting learning walks with principals.  My walk with David is on Wednesdays, every other week.  So if you see us enter your classroom, we are just there for a quick stop in and do not want to be disruptive.  This is a new practice for us, and we are still thinking about style and structure.  At this time, we have not planned any formal feedback to teachers from these visits.

Release Times and Locker Support:

As we settle into a smoother routine, please reinforce student use of lockers for backpacks.  Some students are still struggling with their combinations and may need additional support this week.  This is a new habit we are building and will take a full month of direct, intentional practice to become a habit.

Please post class times visibly in the classroom so that we can all support each other in releasing students on time.  With the reduction of passing to 5 minutes, it’s important to release right on time.  AND, equally important not to release early as it is causing disruptions to other classes.

Removing Out-of-date COVID Posters:

Please take down and discard all out-of-date COVID posters.  Two that I’m aware of are:

• 5K posters
• What to do if a student has COVID-19 symptoms

From time to time, I will repost emails received from different departments around campus.  This is just in case the email was buried in your inbox (especially during high peak times like the start of the year).

Reminder: Email from Security – Vehicle Registration:

From Michelle Marcelo, our new facilities manager:  The purpose of registration is to help us protect your registered vehicle and it helps the security to get you through the vehicle queue speedily.

Reminder: Email from HR – Dress Code for Faculty and Staff:

You received an email from HaNoi, Human Resource Manager, regarding dress for faculty and staff.  Please note that this is a change from the past two years where our dress guidelines became lax due to shifting between so many different environments.

We would like to share with you our expectations for SSIS Faculty and Staff attire. The purpose of our dress code is to promote a professional appearance and respectful image on campus.

SSIS is a premier school with a reputation for high quality and professionalism.  We want faculty and staff attire to reflect that.

We ask that you please follow these guidelines for appropriate attire:

1. Clothing that is smart casual. (No jeans)
2. Shoes are smart, clean, comfortable, and safe. (Dress shoes or shoes with a strap around the back).
3. Shorts are acceptable for certain program needs, such as PE (sports shorts, athletic shoes, and sports shoes). Teachers with outdoor duties can wear dress shorts with smart casual shirts and tidy shoes (no sports shoes, please).
4. For formal occasions (e.g., graduation ceremonies, parent conferences, or when leading workshops at conferences), the dress expectation is business attire.
5. School-issued SSIS shirts can be worn on Friday; however, this is not required.

Reminder: Email from Health Office – Covid Health and Safety Protocols, School Year 2022–2023

From Nicol Stevens, our new Health Office Manager: As we prepare to welcome students to campus, we would like to share our revised Covid health and safety protocols. Please take the time to read this important email as it also outlines our Covid prevention strategy and what to do if you or one of your students is sick.

SSIS Health Office

There are two Health Offices (in the HS and MS, rooms C106 and A107) and two isolation rooms on campus. Our four-member Health Office team is on site from 7:30 am – 4:00 pm each school day. Our registered nurses are trained to provide first-aid and health advice.

We have clear protocols for managing suspected cases of Covid and work in collaboration with International SOS, DoET (Department of Education and Training), and the local CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). All official communication about Covid protocols will come from the Health Office.

Please direct inquiries to Health Office Manager, Nicol Stevens (nstevens@ssis.edu.vn), and Associate Head of School for Operations, Wai Mun Fong (wfong@ssis.edu.vn).

Returning to Campus

Health Declarations Are No Longer Required

Health declarations are NOT required so we are not currently using the SSIS Health app. (We may use it again in the future, if needed.) However, if you have a fever of 37.8 °C or higher or are sick with symptoms such as body aches, sore throat, cough, etc., please contact International SOS for guidance: (84) 28 3829 8520.

Monitoring Temperatures

We monitor the temperature of everyone entering campus. In the morning, temperatures are taken with thermal scanners. When coming on campus at other times, temperatures will be checked manually by the security guards.

• Staff members with a confirmed temperature of 37.8 °C or higher will be sent home.
• Students with a confirmed temperature of 37.8 °C or higher will be taken to the health office and then sent home.

Masks & Disinfection/Hand Hygiene

We are required by the DoET to follow a 2K Covid prevention strategy (“K” stands for the first letter of each word in the strategy in Vietnamese). This means:

Masks

Everyone must wear masks while on campus at all times (exceptions listed below). Students should bring two extra masks to school each day. Backup masks are available in all classrooms. For SSIS to remain compliant with the current Decree, masks are to be worn in the classroom, by both teachers and students.

Exceptions when masks do NOT need to be worn:

• by preschoolers (EC and KG students)
• during art performances (song, theater, orchestra/band)
• during PE class (indoors or outdoors)
• while exercising in the HS fitness room
• during outdoor recess
• while competing in sports events
• while eating in the kiosk or cafeteria

Hand Washing/Disinfection

Throughout the day, hands must be washed with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or sanitized with an alcohol-based sanitizer. Surfaces must also be disinfected throughout the day.

Hand washing/sanitizing is required:

• before entering a classroom or new space
• after using the bathroom
• after recess
• before and after lunch
• before and after PE

Disinfecting surfaces:

• desks, tables, and any equipment used in class will be disinfected at the end of each class
• SSIS janitorial staff will clean frequently touched surfaces three times a day
• SSIS janitorial staff will clean cafeteria tables with an ethanol-based cleaner between lunch sessions
• SSIS janitorial staff will use mobile UV light units in each classroom every night for additional disinfection

Faculty & Staff: Reporting Covid Symptoms & Positive Tests

Covid-like symptoms include, but are not limited to: body aches, a fever of 37.8 °C or higher, sore throat, coughing, etc.

If you are exhibiting multiple COVID symptoms, you should:

• Contact International SOS: (84) 28 3829 8520 for health guidance and support.

• During working hours, notify the nurse hotline: 090 994 1100 (call, SMS, Whatsapp, Zalo).

• After hours, notify your divisional nurse (esnurse@ssis.edu.vn, msnurse@ssis.edu.vn, hsnurse@ssis.edu.vn ).

Faculty & Staff who test positive for Covid should:

1. Notify the nurse. During working hours, contact the nurse hotline:
   090 994 1100 (call, SMS, Whatsapp, Zalo).

2. After hours, email your divisional nurse (esnurse@ssis.edu.vn, msnurse@ssis.edu.vn, hsnurse@ssis.edu.vn ).

3. The health office will notify you about which date you are eligible to return to work.

4. Apply for the appropriate type of leave on the SSIS HR Portal.

Covid Positive (F0): Sick Leave & Substitutes

You must apply for sick leave on the SSIS HR Portal. There are two types of leave: sick leave and business leave (see below). Use the date of your first absence from campus. For non-Covid related illnesses, please refer to the leave types on the HR Portal and the user guide.

You must contact your division head to notify them that you are F0 and arrange for a substitute, if needed.

F0 – You Are Sick and Must Take Sick Leave

Use sick leave days if you test positive for Covid (designated “F0”) and you are sick. Do not work from home or come to campus. If you have questions, please contact Ha Noi Nguyen (hnguyen@ssis.edu.vn).

F0 – You Have No Symptoms and Are Approved to Work From Home

Use school business leave days if you test positive for Covid but are not feeling sick and you have been approved to work from home by your divisional head. You must state clearly in the “Leave Reason” that you are “F0” and working from home.

Students:  Reporting Covid Symptoms & Positive Tests

If you suspect a student has Covid

• Call the nurse hotline: 090 994 1100.
• A nurse will place the student in an isolation room and test the student for Covid.
• Students with a temperature of 37.8 °C or higher or showing multiple Covid symptoms will be sent home.

Students who test negative for Covid but are symptomatic

• The student will go home.
• The student will stay home until they are symptom/fever-free for 48 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.

Students who test positive for Covid

• If a student tests positive for Covid at school, the guardians will be notified.
• The student must be picked up and taken home.
• The school nurse will notify the D7 CDC and International SOS.
• The student must stay home for 7 days and until they are symptom/fever-free for 48 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.

We hope this information clarifies our protocols and procedures. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. The Health Office will be providing additional information and support in the coming weeks.