Sunday, April 3, 2016

Week of April 3, 2016

In this post: 

  • Learner Profile: Inquirers & Risk-Takers
  • MYP
  • Progress Reports
  • Chapel 
  • Notes on Conferences...
  • Hiring for a Long-Term Spanish Sub
  • Tech Orientation Program
  • NAIS AIM Survey
  • Advisory this week...
  • Communications
  • Religious & Cultural Observances
  • Upcoming at AWS
  • Important Links

Learner Profile: Inquirers & Risk-Takers

"We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life."
"We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change."

A few years ago, I attended my first edCamp. What is edCamp, I asked? I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. It's an "unconference," one of those things you just have to participate in to understand, and about 20 minutes into the experience, I was hooked. I worked with a team of colleagues to plan and organize an EdCamp, which we hosted at my former school. So what is edCamp? As an unconference, it has a loose structure for the flow of the day - an organizing session, a handful of topic-driven sessions, and various other opportunities to connect with colleagues from a variety of schools and organizations. There's no theme for an unconference - the topics and conversations are rooted in the participants who are present. At the start of the day, anyone can post a topic that they want to talk about or hear from others about. Participants might bring a mini-presentation they want to try out, or they might just show up with a question in mind. The organizers collate proposed topics and set the day in motion. It is truly a "you get what you give" experience. 

Annie Wright will host edCamp Puget Sound on Saturday, May 7. It will be an incredible opportunity to "play" with colleagues from throughout the area and to get a glimpse of what is happening in other schools and environments. It will also be an incomparable chance to welcome people to Annie Wright - probably for most participants, it will be their first time. The event truly resonates with the Inquirer and Risk-Taker aspects of the Learner Profile as it embodies initiative toward inquiry and learning and as it presents a different, largely unpredictable chance for collaboration. It's free, and often sponsors of the event like to distribute promotional schwag. I would really enthusiastically encourage everyone to attend, as other schedules permit. You can register via the edCamp Puget Sound Registration Form. Joe Romano, Susan Bauska, and I will be the on-campus point-people, so feel free to reach out to us with any questions. 

MYP

Thanks for your work on the Friday before break and your continued work toward completing units ahead of our April deadline. Please share those units with Jean for feedback a.s.a.p.!

 Also, please remember to update Curriculum Maps and to develop a rubric for a current unit, to be shared on Wednesday, April 20. 

 Important MYP Info

Items of Note

Progress Reports


Please note the upcoming deadlines for Progress Reports:
8 Apr 8:00am Submit Advisor Letter to appropriate folder; Administrative Review of Advisors’ Letters (feel free to submit them earlier! and let me know when they're in so we can get a head start on reviewing them)
11 Apr Publish Q1 Progress Reports (Advisors’ Letters, Course Summaries)

Chapel

After Spring Break, our focus in Chapel will shift to exploring religious diversity. Some topics to start with:
  • 4/6: What is religion? Drawing on our personal experiences, identifying the basic elements of religion
  • 4/13: Religious diversity & history: exploring the spread of the "major" religions, recognizing internal religious diversity
  • 4/20: Religion & Nature: ahead of the All School Earth Day Service Project, learning about the intersection of religion and nature and religious approaches to environmental stewardship
After April 20, I'm hoping that we'll have a chance to explore particular religious traditions and learn about the various spring holidays dotting the calendar. If you or your Advisory group are interested in helping to shape one of these, please let me know!

Hiring for a Long-Term Spanish Sub

We will welcome two candidates the week after break: Priscilla Milasich will visit on Wednesday, and Ji Kim will visit on Thursday. We may add one more to the mix in the coming weeks. Their schedules are available below. Some details for these schedules will be shifting, and the docs below will be the most updated version. If you're interested in meeting candidates, please join them for lunch in the Dining Room on their visit days!
Schedule for Priscilla Milasich 4.6.2016
Schedule for Ji Kim 4.7.2016

Tech Orientation Program

On Thursday, I'll be meeting with our colleagues in Ed Tech, IT, and Admissions to talk about how we orient students and families to technology and managing their laptops. I'm proposing a more intentional orientation that engages families who are new to the MS in not only the logistics of accounts and devices but also in deeper reflection on AUP and the "culture" of technology. Some details are below. If you have any further ideas or resources for us to consider, please send them my way!

 Proposed MS Laptop Orientation:


  • Who would participate? All families new to the MS. This would mean the entire 6th Grade and students entering 7 and 8 who are new to AWS. The student and at least one parent/guardian must attend. 
  • Who would coordinate the sessions? This as a session led by Angela and supported by Bill, Clare, and the tech team. Other Faculty would not be required to participate.
  • What would happen? Out of the box: setting up the laptop itself, accounts (email, Drive, other essentials), any other essential accounts; reviewing the AUP and disciplinary consequences, care for the device, damage and repair protocols; identifying best practices for limiting screen time, rules at home around use of the device; fielding other questions. It could also include time to introduce myAW and other essential communications from the school. At the end of the session, the laptop would go back into the box, to be distributed at the start of the academic year (after Orientation, at a time the MS Faculty deems it appropriate).
  • When would it happen? This would happen in smaller groups - ideally no more than 8-10 families at a time - in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year. Families would sign up via Pick-a-time or Signup Genius or another convenient medium.

NAIS AIM Survey

Repost: In early May, Annie Wright will engage in the NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) Climate Survey. This is the result of yearlong discussion and research by members of the Diversity Topic Group. The group hopes to get 100% participation by students and faculty, and time will be made available for everyone to complete the survey. The survey will help the Topic Group identify strengths in our community and program regarding diversity work as well as areas to explore through Professional Development. It will also help the school identify areas for programming around diversity in the coming years. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to Jamie Parrott, who leads the Topic Group, or other members of the group (including Angelica and Bill).

Advisory this week...

Plans and slides for Advisory can be found in the Advisory Resources 2015-2016 folder. 

Communications

Flash

This week's Flash will highlight the Math and Language Acquisition programs. Please remember to get your information into the Pushpage or to Wade on Friday mornings (or before!). 

Blogs

Don't miss the latest installments of The Dish from Mrs. Dicks or Joe Romano's AWSLibrary blog! 

Religious & Cultural Observances

Upcoming at AWS

Monday, April 4
10:00am All School Chapel

 Tuesday, April 5
3:15pm 7th Grade Team Meeting

 Wednesday, April 6
10:00am Middle School Chapel
2:10pm MYP time

 Thursday, April 7

 Friday, April 8
10:00am 7th Grade Share

 Tuesday, April 12
6:00pm 6th & 7th Grade Journeys Info Meetings

 Wednesday, April 13
Annie Writers' & Artists' Tea

Thursday, April 14
Class Photos
6:00pm 8th Grade Journey to Costa Rica Info Meeting in the Chapel

 Friday, April 22
All School Earth Day Service Project

 Monday, April 25
Special Schedule for Health and Sexual Education

 Thursday, April 28 & Friday, April 29
Middle School Production of "Robin Hood"

 Friday, April 29
3:30pm Middle School Reunion

 Saturday, May 7
EdCampPSWA

Important Links

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