Week Beginning November 9

 The Week Ahead

Advisory Slides Link

Monday, Nov 9

• Kids on campus 8:00 AM - 3 PM with Andrea (until 12:30 PM), Molly, and Alexis in the Library. Please see the list of students below. Clare to cover 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM.
• Chapel 2:00 PM 
• SC Rep packets & posters due to Shelli 
• BLUE Section for Community Project 
• Grade 7 Second Common Sense Media class during Make It Monday with Angela Heath (follow Make It Monday link)
• All School Benefits Meeting 3:30 - 4:00 PM via Zoom 

Tuesday, Nov 10

• Kids on campus 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM with Andrea (until 12:30 PM), Molly, and Alexis in the Library. Devon to cover 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM.
• PM Advisory - Character Strong #5 week 1
• MS Leadership Team 2:30 PM - CANCELLED
• Review ideas from last week's MS Faculty Meeting 

Wednesday,  Nov 11

• Kids on campus 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM with Andrea, Molly, & Alexis in the Library. Ruth to cover 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM.
• MS Preview 10:30 - 11:30 AM
• Shelli, Will, Clare, Eliza Hall, Di Ma. 
• Cross the Commons for Grade 8 - 3:00 - 4:30 PM on campus
• Grade Level Team Meetings  
• 2:00 - 2:30 PM Grade 8 
• 2:30 - 3:00 PM Grade 7
• 3:00 - 3:30 PM Grade 6
• US Virtual Preview 5:00 - 6:30 PM

Thursday, Nov 12

• Kids on campus 8:00 AM - 3:00PM with Andrea (until 12:30 PM), Molly, and Alexis in the Library. Clare to cover 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM.
• PM Advisory - Character Strong #5 week 1
• MS Faculty Meeting 2:30-3:30 PM - CANCELLED
• Please use this time for Notes of Gratitude and ideas for Thanksgiving Experience Day planning

Friday, Nov 13  

• Kids on campus 8:00 AM - 3:00PM with Andrea (until 12:30 PM), Molly, and Alexis in the Library. Clare to cover 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM.
• SC Rep speeches due to Shelli 
• PM Advisory Challenge
• Friday Movie 3:00 PM - Student showing of LIKE
• Grade 7 movie showing of The Birds (more information to come from Kyle)

Action Items

• New: 
• Notes of gratitude to advisees: As another quick touchpoint, we are asking that advisors write a short note to each of their advisees that can be sent the week of thanksgiving along with an ornament that we are asking them to decorate and return (more information to come on that). This is a SHORT note that does not need to be long, simply a way to connect. We have cards available at school (in the MS Office) that you are welcome to take or you may use your own. There is no faculty meeting on Thursday to allow you time to do these.
• Example: "Hey ....., this is just a quick note to wish you a great thanksgiving, and to thank you for being part of my advisory. We miss you on campus and are hopeful to have more opportunities soon. Best wishes ......"
• Please address each note but DO NOT seal the envelope
• Return notes to Ruth by noon on Friday, November 20 to be mailed

• Thanksgiving Experience Day: Please sign up for an idea you would be willing to supervise or, if you have another idea, create your own experience for Monday, November 16. If there is a time slot (for crossover teachers especially) that you cannot do, please add this to the document so we do not double book you. These are 45 minute slots and the only expectation of that day. I know how excited our kids will be about this and I am hopeful that this isn't too stressful and that you too enjoy the opportunity to connect with our students in a different manner. 

• Continuing: 
• Sunshine Notes: Please attempt to send 2 sunshine notes each day this week. Please review the list of Sunshine & PC recipients but remember that this data is not automatically updated once a note is sent. 

• MYP Summatives: Here is the link to the folder for you to submit your examples. Please contact Angelica if you have any questions regarding these.  

• Summative Assessments: As you start to assign your first summatives, we want to be able to give families a heads up about what is approaching. One way we have decided to do this is through the Grade Level Blogs. You will find a new tab on the Grade Level Meeting Doc called Units and Assessment. Please add your summatives here so that the Team Leaders can add this information to the blogs. Please see Will's Science example in there already.

• Check-in With Clare: It's extremely odd being on campus without the majority of you here and I know this year has brought any challenges for everyone. I haven't had those natural conversations we would have in the past at the lunch table, stood at the photocopying machine, or in the more formalized professional growth and goal setting meetings each fall. I do not wish to add to people's plates, but I also want to offer opportunities to connect. So I have two suggestions. 
• During the PD Days, I will be available to meet with anyone who would like to connect for 30 minutes on Teams or in person. This can be about anything or maybe something specific. If you just want to chat about puppies, workload, or the pandemic, I am here! Please simply email me and we can find a time to connect. If another date or time works better, just let me know. 
• Or, if you would rather simply use your time in other ways but you do have an idea, thought, concern, or question, please feel free to share it via this Google Form. This can be anonymous if you would prefer.

• MyMedBot: All AWS faculty and staff will be asked to complete the myMedBot app even if you do not plan on being on campus. A final question has been added to the app that asks people to state if they are planning on coming in or not. Using the app will allow us to be consistent across divisions about tracking who is on or off-campus. It will also eliminate the need for people to sign in or complete the old Google Form about your teaching locations for the week. If you have any questions, please let Sandra or I know. 

Changes to the Week Ahead, Updates, & Reminders

• Students on Campus this week: 
• Grade 6 - John Saul, Augi, Ben, Glorian, Nora, Ireland, Laila, Ava, Veronica, Charlie (Wed & Friday), Abby B (Wed & Friday) - NEW, Lucia (possibly)
• Grade 7 - Joanne, Reagan, Bella, and Thomas S
• Grade 8 - Audri, Copper, Alison S, Raya, Mia S, Jaewon, Sydney R

• LIKE movie: Please take a look at the Friday Flash for more details about this movie that Devon is facilitating. All families, faculty and students will have the opportunity to watch this film at their own convenience. There will be a password and login in details to gain access to the movie shared later next week. 

• Potential Return to Campus: Yes, I know, we have said this before. But Jake, the Board, and I, are actively exploring ways to get a limited number of students back on campus on a rotating basis for the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break. More details to come, but please know if we do plan to return, we ideally will keep the online schedule for now until all who want to be back on campus have that opportunity.

Technology Help

• I was part of a great presentation about virtual learning and in it, it recommended the following great websites for "stealing" resources such as slide templates that are cool and engaging. If you are interested, please check out:
• slidesgo.com 
• slidemania.com  

Sandra's PD Corner 

• Wishing all of you space to rest, recharge and breathe this weekend. That's about where I'm at. Nothing big on the calendar docket next week, but I feel we've had plenty of 'big' lately, so it's ok to take a break. For upcoming dates, please see here.  Also - when I say "nothing big" that takes away from the folks whose birthdays are upcoming (of which I'm aware of at least 2 next week). Which reminds me - I'd love for us to find a way to celebrate birthdays (or at least acknowledge them somehow!) for those that wish to be acknowledged.  Let's give this a try, yes? IF you wouldn't mind a shout out (or just want someone​ to know your coffee order/your favorite things, etc., let me know here? 😉

  
  

  Reminders:

  • Check out the PD Opportunities tab always and continuously updated!
  • Here is a folder with all the handouts and articles from the NWAIS Fall Educators Conference. 
    
  • I'm continuously adding new resources to the DEI Books and Resourceslist (Also, I changed the formatting a bit... hopefully, the filters on the side will help target your search a bit). PLEASE send more my way if you come across any!
    

  • Community Life:

  • Do check out the General, Community and All School Fun channels in the Faculty and Staff Team on Teams! 
  • This week's QOTW: What is the worst grade you ever got? 
  • And lastly, here is the link for the "comment box." Reminder that this is for if there's anything else you need in terms of COVID support in the classroom, COVID testing questions, concerns about things you see, etc. - whether you just want to let us know or want someone to follow up with you.

  
  
• Wednesday, November 11th is Veteran's Day here in the US to honor and thank all who have served in the nations' armed forces. The 11th is also Armistice Day, and i recognized as Remembrance Day in Canada and Australia, among others. In the UK, this date this is recognized today, November 8th.

Absent Students

• Follow this link for Anticipated Absent Students

Kudos!

• This was a hard week for everyone and I can't help but that you all for hanging in there and remaining steadfast in your ability to be professional and caring as we all deal with uncertainty. A big thank you to Alice for leading the MS Election Chapel and reminding us all of the next steps we will face as this election continues. Thank you for being reassuring and compassionate. 

• To Anelisa, who this week (and last) has been fighting a terrible back, but has continued to remain positive and bright at the front desk. 

• To Jeremy and Eireann for coming and connecting with our Grade 8 folks on Thursday. These crossover connections are so helpful and necessary to build rapport and a continuum. 

• To all those who attended the DEI Listen and Learn forum on Friday and were brave enough to share. Thank you for being vulnerable and willing to engage in such powerful conversations.

• To Will, Kyle, and Alice for doing a great job on October's Grade Level Blog. If you haven't read it, take a look at the links in the Friday Flash. 

The Month Ahead

• Please see the MS Calendar for now.