Week Ahead: Dec. 12-16

Another great week filled with fun and awesome learning … with the G6 drama performance and a whole middle school house league as the cherries on top.  This week brings us the MS Music Concert on Friday and the wrapping up of most units and assessments.  December is a big month for all of us.  Thank you all for helping students navigate it successfully!

Here is what’s up this week:

Monday, Dec. 12

• Day 1: ABCD
• 1:30-3:00 Admin Mtg (Molly and Phil attend)

Tuesday, Dec. 13

• Day 2: EFGH
• 12:40-3 External Exam for Dance Students (super exciting and nerve wracking for them)

Wednesday, Dec. 14

• Day 3: BCDA
• *Happy Birthday Lan Pham!
• 3:15-4:30 Report Writing, be sure to use S1 comment bin, NOT Q2 (parents and students will not be able to see comments in PS starting today and remain “off” until the reports are sent out)

Thursday, Dec. 15

• Day 4: FGHE
• 1:30-3:00 Admin Mtg (Molly and Phil attend)
• 1:40-3:00 E Block rehearsal for all Music Students (they will miss their E block)

Friday, Dec. 16

• Day 5: CDAB
• *Review order with department by or prior to this date to ensure it is ready for submission on Dec. 19
• 1:05-1:40 MS Music Concert Assembly for Students and Faculty (auditorium)
• 3-5:00 PTA Holiday Bazaar
• 6pm MS Music Concert

• All pending reimbursements for Sem 1 are due to the Business Office (See email from Ms. Thu, dated Nov 28): any expense made during 2022 needs to be submitted for reimbursement
• All remaining PDF funds from SY 21/22 must be used and submitted for reimbursement by this date

Saturday, Dec. 17

• 6-10pm SSIS Winter Holiday Party

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Dec. 19 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in S1 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed at 3:45
• Dec. 19 – Submit final master order to Thao and Molly by sending a confirmation email stating order is complete and ready (if your department is done early, please let us know!)
• Dec. 20 – verification reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 3:00
• Dec. 20 and 21 – STAR Reading and Math Screeners given to all students
• Dec. 21 – MS Dance Class performance, 6pm
• Dec. 22 – Winter Celebration Activities and Early Dismissal, 8-12:15

CLOSING OUT S1:

Semester 1 is going to come to a quick close.  There are lots of events happening for us to keep track of and to support. Though these are posted on the sidebar, here are the grading and comments dates:

• December 19 – comments completed and peer reviewed (in S1 bin) and grades completed by 3:00; verification reports printed at 3:45
• December 20 – verification reviewed, signed (can be digital) and returned to office by 3:00
• December 21 (or 22) – report cards emailed parents

Please note that per MS policy, we do not assign homework during extended breaks like winter break.  This is a time for students and teacher both to recharge.  We will be sharing recommended optional activities as well as resources to parents and students for the 5 week break as it is especially long.

Winter Celebration, Dec. 22:  

We will hold our annual Winter Celebration on the half-day of Dec. 22.  Please take a look at the general plan for the events of that day.  Starting with the annual Gingerbread House Challenge, we will have choice activities for the students.  The chart on the document lists many previously offered choice activities.  Please sign up on the doc for the activity you would like to sponsor or support.  If you are willing to manage the activity, put your name in the 2nd column; if you want to support the activity, put your name in the 3rd column.  If you want to do something that isn’t listed, great! Just add it to the bottom of the chart.  Please do this by Thursday so that we can finalize the options available to students.

TECH TIPS FROM DANIEL:

Chrome, version 108, allows you to search your tabs, bookmarks, and history in seconds right from the address bar.

1. Students download the new Respondus Lockdown Browser. Respondus Lockdown browser has notified us that they have significantly updated their software as of this morning. I will be sending students a notification shortly after this email for students to install a brand new version of the Respondus.

2. Disable Submissions when students hand in physical assignments. When you assign work that does not require a digital submission, please uncheck the submissions button at the bottom of the Assignment (see image below.)  If you keep this enabled, the student will see an overdue message for that assignment.

Thank you to all the teachers who continually add their assignments to Schoology, so students know what they are responsible for. I have worked with many students who appreciate this feature, helping to keep them organized.

END OF SEMESTER REFLECTION – Shared by Rebecca J:

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