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Monday, November 13
E DAY
F DAY
Wednesday, November 15
A DAY
B DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am Long Advisory
3:15pm Grade 6 Team Meeting
Friday, November 17
C DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am Clubs
3:15pm Grade 7 Team Meeting
And yet, as we see the Thanksgiving break on the horizon at the end of the week, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. We give life to our school's mission every day. We demonstrate care and concern for students and colleagues, and we give hope to and inspire vision in the children in our care. I frequently cite Lamott's short book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, because it continues to speak to me in different places, at different times. Today, this line jumps out to me. Just as the season grows darker, it is clear to me that this is the time when teachers work the hardest - maintaining their own motivation and enthusiasm to keep students engaged and challenged, attending to the things our students need most while sometimes not attending to the things we need. This is where Lamott's sentiment might be dangerous - a sense of gratitude does motivate us to give more, but sometimes we can only give so much. Sometimes, we need to step back, consider the progress we've made, rejoice in it, and tell the story. Clare and I were fortunate to represent the Middle School at our Preview Day on Friday, and it was easy to tell the story of the wonderful things that happen here. That part of the day filled me with gratitude for the things that have come as well as the things to come.
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving Break, please know that I am endlessly grateful to work with each of you, to share this part of our lives together, and I am thankful that the students that find themselves in our school are being influenced by deeply caring, passionate, and talented teachers.
Please see the list below - Bill & Clare will divide observations as listed below. For observations, please schedule three things:
Observations: Bill/Clare
8:00am Morning Meeting in the Lounge
10:00am All Schools Chapel, featuring the Upper School Orchestra and Chorus
3:30pm CaP Topic Group Meetings
Tuesday, November 14F DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am Flex & MS Chorus
10:20am Flex & MS Chorus
A DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am MS Chapel & Grade 7 Recognitions; Leenstra Advisory as Acolytes
2:15pm Design Meeting
Thursday, November 1610:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am MS Chapel & Grade 7 Recognitions; Leenstra Advisory as Acolytes
2:15pm Design Meeting
B DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am Long Advisory
3:15pm Grade 6 Team Meeting
Friday, November 17
C DAY
8:00am Advisory
10:05am Snack in the MS Office
10:20am Clubs
3:15pm Grade 7 Team Meeting
Thanksgiving
"Saying and meaning 'Thanks' leads to a crazy thought: What more can I give?" - Anne LamottSince the start of this school year, we have had much to celebrate. The launch of another fantastic school year! New students from our Lower School and from much further afield, and new colleagues! MYP authorization! Every interaction with a student or colleague! We have so much to celebrate, so much to be grateful for. But I've also been acutely aware of the challenges that many of us face individually and we as a community face. On top of the various "unknowns" of our experience, the tough interactions, and the walls we hit when we face challenges or unfamiliar problems, we seem to be holding much in terms of grief and loss in our community. It is heartbreaking to hear any story of loss, but for our students and us to be facing it on so many fronts...
And yet, as we see the Thanksgiving break on the horizon at the end of the week, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. We give life to our school's mission every day. We demonstrate care and concern for students and colleagues, and we give hope to and inspire vision in the children in our care. I frequently cite Lamott's short book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, because it continues to speak to me in different places, at different times. Today, this line jumps out to me. Just as the season grows darker, it is clear to me that this is the time when teachers work the hardest - maintaining their own motivation and enthusiasm to keep students engaged and challenged, attending to the things our students need most while sometimes not attending to the things we need. This is where Lamott's sentiment might be dangerous - a sense of gratitude does motivate us to give more, but sometimes we can only give so much. Sometimes, we need to step back, consider the progress we've made, rejoice in it, and tell the story. Clare and I were fortunate to represent the Middle School at our Preview Day on Friday, and it was easy to tell the story of the wonderful things that happen here. That part of the day filled me with gratitude for the things that have come as well as the things to come.
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving Break, please know that I am endlessly grateful to work with each of you, to share this part of our lives together, and I am thankful that the students that find themselves in our school are being influenced by deeply caring, passionate, and talented teachers.
Progress Reports
Our original schedule is slightly delayed. Please remember to email Bill or Clare when your letters are posted in the folder. We'll get an updated date for next step (posting to myAW) by the end of Monday. Please ensure that your grade book is up to date before the publication of progress reports. Original schedule for Progress Reports:- Friday 11/3, 4:00pm: Teachers post course summaries.
- Tuesday 11/7, 2:15pm: Advisors meet in the Design Lab to peer-edit. Peer editing will include catching any mistakes or typos and ensuring that each letter adheres to formatting guidelines CANCELLED
- Friday 11/10, 8:00am: Advisors' Letters due to folder. When you've added your letters, please let Bill know. Bill & Clare will review and email you when your letters are ready to post on myAW.
- before Monday 11/13, 12:00pm: Advisors copy Letter and Course Summaries to myAW. Please copy the content of your letter, followed by the full content of Course Summaries for the appropriate Grade Level (see the Example Advisor's Reflection) and mark ready for review. Bill will review on Monday afternoon, and then... DELAYED - TBD
- 3:00pm: First Quarter Progress Reports published. TBD
Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day
Lower & Middle Schools Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day is Friday, December 15 (which is also a noon dismissal for students). The plan is to follow a schedule and program similar to the last couple of years. Last year's schedule is below. The program will include a welcome and performance by MS students and ensembles and the MS Expo to feature a variety of projects and experiences from throughout our program. In an upcoming Faculty Meeting, we'll identify the projects that will be highlighted.Assignments, Assessments, and Thanksgiving Break
As we approach our first extended break (Thanksgiving...already!?!), please be mindful about scheduling assessments in the weeks leading up to break. In the next round of team meetings, let's ensure that assessments are appropriately staggered for students. Also, please remember our commitment to not assign work to be completed over vacations.First Semester Finals Schedule
A draft iteration for First Semester Finals is on the MS Schedule Doc (tab: S1 Finals). The week is built around 1 or 2 finals blocks each day, Arts, Design and PHE classes, special activities, and sports. Please take a look and reach out with any questions or concerns.Professional Growth: Goal Articulation, Meetings, and Observations
- Pre-Observation Meeting (10 minutes, the day before the observation). Complete the pre-observation template before this meeting. Thinking about what you'd like feedback on, consider the elements in the Danielson framework, listed in the pre-observation template.
- Observation (one full class period).
- Post-Observation Meeting (30 minutes, at least 2 days after the observation). Complete the post-observation template.
Observations: Bill/Clare
Fall Observation
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Week of…
Sep 25
Oct 2
Oct 9
Oct 16
Oct 23
Oct 30
Nov 6
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Upcoming religious & cultural observances
- Wednesday, November 1 marks the beginning of National Adoption Awareness Month and Native American Heritage Month.
- Sunday, November 12 is the Baha'i commemoration of the Birth of Baha'u'llah (BA-ha ooh-LAH), the founder of the Baha'i Faith. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah.
- Monday, November 20 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
- Thursday, November 23 is Thanksgiving in the USA. The date for Thanksgiving was set by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939.
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