Week Ahead: Oct. 3-7

One way that I describe myself is that I am a “hope springs eternal” sort of person.  So this month’s Action For Happiness really speaks to me.  It’s Optimistic October!  Check out small ways we can build our optimism.

Here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Oct. 3

• Day 5: CDAB
• MS Health Screenings
• U13 Boys B Basketball v. CIS; U13 Girls A Basketball v. SIS

Tuesday, Oct. 4

• Day 6: GHEF
• MS Health Screenings
• 11:15-12:00 SST Mtg
• U15 Boys B Basketball v. CIS; U15 Girls A Basketball v. SIS

Wednesday, Oct. 5

• Day 7: DABC
• 3:15-4:30 Grades / Comment Writing (Individual Time)

Thursday, Oct. 6

• Day 8: HEFG
• 1:30-3:00 Admin Mtg (Molly and Phil attend)
• U13 Boys A Basketball v. CIS; U13 Boys B Basketball v. ABC; U13 Girls B Basketball v. CIS

Friday, Oct. 7

• Day 1: ABCD
• U15 Boys A Basketball v. ABC

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Oct 13, 14 – Parent Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 17-19 – Fall Break
• Oct. 28 – StuCo MS Dance

A Few More Grade Book Issues:  

Thank you for the work you did this past week getting grade books into better shape.  it also revealed a few misunderstandings.  Here is round two ?

• Consistent Use of Flags in PowerTeacher.  We will be working to gain a more consistent approach to how certain flags are being used in PowerTeacher.  This will assist students as they try to make meaning out of them.
• Missing Work Flags: We need to help students know when they need to make up work.  We will use the missing work flags for this.  For students with unusual circumstances, like an extended illness, we may be discuss removing the flag and exempting the assignment allowing the student to focus on priority work.
• Assignments (anything that goes into the grade book) MUST be created through Schoology.  This ensures that the assignments show up on a student’s calendar in Schoology as well as appears in PowerSchool.  This is one major way that students and parents can track work that is being graded.  If you enter the assignment only in PowerTeacher it will not show on their calendar in Schoology.  Please note, this does not mean that you must grade work in Schoology.

Fall Break and Homework:

For MS, we believe breaks are for both teachers and students.  From our student handbook: In general, homework will not be assigned during Fall Break, Winter Break, Tet Holiday, or Spring Break.  While we might encourage a student to use the break to get caught up on past work, no new work or work on existing projects should be expected.

From HR:

October 3, 2022: Deadline for Intention Survey

The Intention Survey should be filled out by October 3 by all full-time faculty who are in their second (or additional) year of employment at SSIS. If you are not intending to return to SSIS next academic year, please inform your divisional principal and HR in a written letter of resignation via email, in addition to completing this survey. 

November 1 – 7, 2022: Contract Signing

Contracts will be available from November 1 in the HR office for faculty who will return next academic year. The offers in the contracts are valid until November 7, so please make sure to sign your contract by then. Signing after November 7 would require a new offer, approved and issued by the Head of School.