Friday, 17 December 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
End-of-December events at MVS, including advisory lunches and the traditional all-school-sing, gleefully contributed to a pleasant start to Winter Break. This e.mail serves as official notice that the comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Winter Trimester mid-term academic progress are now available via MyBackpack.
Mid-term comments for the Winter Trimester are required only for students achieving grades of “C-” or lower or effort marks of “3” and below. As before, mid-terms provide a “quick snapshot” of a student’s academic performance, and should be considered accordingly. Ample time remains to attend to concerns mentioned up to this point, yet attentive preparation and follow-through are necessary. Consider it a good new year’s resolution to start 2011 with robust academic vigor.
On behalf of the upper school faculty and staff, I send hearty wishes towards a restful, safe, and warm Winter Break. I look forward to feeling the renewed spark of energy and intellect when we return to MVS on Tuesday, 4 January to usher-in 2011 and the second half of the Winter Trimester.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, December 17, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
New York Times: 100 Notable Books for 2010
For folks looking for some suggestions for Winter Break, the New York Times publishes its annual 100 Notable Books of the Year. I am still working through some suggestions from 2009. Time for a cozy warm fire to pass the cold weather outside!
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Charity Challenge, December Advisory Lunch, All-School-Shout, & Winter Mid-Term Comments
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Since we have reached the mid-term mark for the Second Trimester and Winter Break is now in sight (with chilly weather to match), I thought I would send a quick reminder of details and programs at work here in the Upper School.
The Student Government has planned and is facilitating what has now become a mid-December tradition in the Upper School: Charity Challenge! Charity Challenge lasts the full two weeks leading up to Winter Break and unites support for charitable organizations with spirited and creative competitions between students across grade-levels. With activities varying from puzzle solving to Amnesty letter writing campaigns to dodge ball, students compete in support of one of the following four charities: St. Vincent De Paul Shelter, Heifer International, Doctors Without Borders, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Charity Challenge brings energy, awareness, and palpable excitement to what otherwise might be a chilly two weeks.
As follow-up from the parent Cyber Safety and Internet Awareness Program on Tuesday evening, in addition to the articles I have posed on my Blog, our two speakers also recommended the resources provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, specifically in the parent and guardian section.
Due to rumors that continue to circulate from the dance back in November, the Student Government and I have decided not to hold the dance that was scheduled for this Friday. This respite from evening activities at MVS will allow time for the rebuilding of trust between students and teachers. Additionally, I am reviewing chaperone guidelines and expectations with upper school teachers to provide more clarity for future events.
Winter mid-term comments, effort marks, and grades will be available via MyBackpack next Friday, 17 December in the late afternoon: students and their Academic Advisors will review them during advisory meetings at school. Next Friday is also the winter advisory lunch, during which individual Advisory Groups will order-in food for their celebratory lunches. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Academic Advisor.
The school day concludes next Friday with the traditional All-School Sing at 2:15 in the Lane Gymnasium. If you have not previously experienced it, witnessing the “all-school shout” rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas is an MVS event unlike any other!
Best wishes, stay warm, and hope to see you soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Since we have reached the mid-term mark for the Second Trimester and Winter Break is now in sight (with chilly weather to match), I thought I would send a quick reminder of details and programs at work here in the Upper School.
The Student Government has planned and is facilitating what has now become a mid-December tradition in the Upper School: Charity Challenge! Charity Challenge lasts the full two weeks leading up to Winter Break and unites support for charitable organizations with spirited and creative competitions between students across grade-levels. With activities varying from puzzle solving to Amnesty letter writing campaigns to dodge ball, students compete in support of one of the following four charities: St. Vincent De Paul Shelter, Heifer International, Doctors Without Borders, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Charity Challenge brings energy, awareness, and palpable excitement to what otherwise might be a chilly two weeks.
As follow-up from the parent Cyber Safety and Internet Awareness Program on Tuesday evening, in addition to the articles I have posed on my Blog, our two speakers also recommended the resources provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, specifically in the parent and guardian section.
Due to rumors that continue to circulate from the dance back in November, the Student Government and I have decided not to hold the dance that was scheduled for this Friday. This respite from evening activities at MVS will allow time for the rebuilding of trust between students and teachers. Additionally, I am reviewing chaperone guidelines and expectations with upper school teachers to provide more clarity for future events.
Winter mid-term comments, effort marks, and grades will be available via MyBackpack next Friday, 17 December in the late afternoon: students and their Academic Advisors will review them during advisory meetings at school. Next Friday is also the winter advisory lunch, during which individual Advisory Groups will order-in food for their celebratory lunches. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Academic Advisor.
The school day concludes next Friday with the traditional All-School Sing at 2:15 in the Lane Gymnasium. If you have not previously experienced it, witnessing the “all-school shout” rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas is an MVS event unlike any other!
Best wishes, stay warm, and hope to see you soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, December 5, 2010
News Articles: Cyber-Safety, Wiki-Leaks, & Facebook
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The following are 4 recent articles to whet your appetite for Tuesday evening’s Parent Information Program on Cyber Safety & Internet Awareness. I look forward to seeing you there and to sharing in the conversation.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
New York Times; 4 December, 2010: As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up, by Jan Hoffman
New York Times; 4 December, 2010: Wiki-Leaks Timeline: Cables Depict Range of Obama Diplomacy, by David E. Sanger
New York Times; 29 November, 2010: Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt, by Julie Zhou
New York Times; 7 November, 2010: The Facebook Skeletons Come Out, by Jeremy W. Peters & Brian Stelter
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The following are 4 recent articles to whet your appetite for Tuesday evening’s Parent Information Program on Cyber Safety & Internet Awareness. I look forward to seeing you there and to sharing in the conversation.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
New York Times; 4 December, 2010: As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up, by Jan Hoffman
New York Times; 4 December, 2010: Wiki-Leaks Timeline: Cables Depict Range of Obama Diplomacy, by David E. Sanger
New York Times; 29 November, 2010: Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt, by Julie Zhou
New York Times; 7 November, 2010: The Facebook Skeletons Come Out, by Jeremy W. Peters & Brian Stelter
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Upper School Snow, Ice, & Inclement Weather Policy
Tuesday, 1 December 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
As if on cue for the start of December, we have flurries and chilly weather outside! Anticipating questions regarding future snow, ice, and inclement weather, let’s quickly review the snow policy and procedures for the Upper School. I reminded students and faculty members of these details today during Morning Announcements.
My best advice to you as parents is to follow the guidelines of responsible common sense and peace of mind. If you have any trepidation about the safety of your daughter or son (based upon road conditions, driving experience, or impending storm conditions), please caution on the side of your child’s safety and your comfort as a parent.
If your decision relates to a late-arrival to or absence from school, we ask that you send notice, by phone or e.mail. If arriving late, remind your child to sign-in in the Upper School Office when she or he arrives. If your decision relates to an early departure from MVS, please come into the office to sign-out your child (if picking up) or phone-in your request so we know that your child has permission to depart early from campus. Similar to our existing procedure for illnesses, if your son or daughter wishes to leave school early due to inclement weather, we will phone you directly before allowing a student to depart from campus.
In the event of a school closing or delay in start time, MVS will continue to make use of the “One Call” program, from which an automated message, with the specific details of the delay or cancellation, will call the main contact phone numbers designated on your My Backpack account. Such news will also be included on the MVS website and voicemail system.
Stay warm, be safe, and see you soon,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
As if on cue for the start of December, we have flurries and chilly weather outside! Anticipating questions regarding future snow, ice, and inclement weather, let’s quickly review the snow policy and procedures for the Upper School. I reminded students and faculty members of these details today during Morning Announcements.
My best advice to you as parents is to follow the guidelines of responsible common sense and peace of mind. If you have any trepidation about the safety of your daughter or son (based upon road conditions, driving experience, or impending storm conditions), please caution on the side of your child’s safety and your comfort as a parent.
If your decision relates to a late-arrival to or absence from school, we ask that you send notice, by phone or e.mail. If arriving late, remind your child to sign-in in the Upper School Office when she or he arrives. If your decision relates to an early departure from MVS, please come into the office to sign-out your child (if picking up) or phone-in your request so we know that your child has permission to depart early from campus. Similar to our existing procedure for illnesses, if your son or daughter wishes to leave school early due to inclement weather, we will phone you directly before allowing a student to depart from campus.
In the event of a school closing or delay in start time, MVS will continue to make use of the “One Call” program, from which an automated message, with the specific details of the delay or cancellation, will call the main contact phone numbers designated on your My Backpack account. Such news will also be included on the MVS website and voicemail system.
Stay warm, be safe, and see you soon,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Parent Education Program: Cyber Safety & Internet Awareness
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
In response to on-going questions about cyber safety and the increasing role of technology and the internet in our children’s lives, I have arranged for parent education program on Tuesday, 7 December at 7:00PM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Upper school students and teachers will participate in a similar presentation and discussion Tuesday afternoon.
We are very fortunate to welcome Vipal Patel (Assistant United States Attorney) and Robert White (Special Agent of the FBI) to lead an informative program on cyber safety and internet awareness. While our speakers have prepared an interactive presentation, they are also looking forward to fielding questions from the audience.
In preparation for this parent education program, I will post some links to recent articles relating to the internet, cyber safety, and recent events in the news on my Blog. An interesting article comes from the recent Sunday New York Times, by Matt Richtel, titled Growing Up Digital, Wired For Distraction
I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, 7 December, and to discussing this important topic.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
In response to on-going questions about cyber safety and the increasing role of technology and the internet in our children’s lives, I have arranged for parent education program on Tuesday, 7 December at 7:00PM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Upper school students and teachers will participate in a similar presentation and discussion Tuesday afternoon.
We are very fortunate to welcome Vipal Patel (Assistant United States Attorney) and Robert White (Special Agent of the FBI) to lead an informative program on cyber safety and internet awareness. While our speakers have prepared an interactive presentation, they are also looking forward to fielding questions from the audience.
In preparation for this parent education program, I will post some links to recent articles relating to the internet, cyber safety, and recent events in the news on my Blog. An interesting article comes from the recent Sunday New York Times, by Matt Richtel, titled Growing Up Digital, Wired For Distraction
I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, 7 December, and to discussing this important topic.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
MVS Parents' Association Presents: Jeff Wolfsberg, 'A Conversation with Parents'
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
A quick reminder that tomorrow, Thursday 18 November at 7:00PM in the Alumni Theatre, there is an important MVS Parents' Association Meeting, including a "conversation with parents" by Jeff Wolfsberg, our Drug Education Specialist.
Mr Wolfsberg will also make reference to the results from the Student Wellness Survey we conducted back in September.
I look forward to seeing you there.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
A quick reminder that tomorrow, Thursday 18 November at 7:00PM in the Alumni Theatre, there is an important MVS Parents' Association Meeting, including a "conversation with parents" by Jeff Wolfsberg, our Drug Education Specialist.
Mr Wolfsberg will also make reference to the results from the Student Wellness Survey we conducted back in September.
I look forward to seeing you there.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, November 12, 2010
Fall Term Comments & Grades, Advisory Conferences, Techno-formatting Code(?)
Friday, 12 November 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I am not sure why yesterday’s e.mail began with a paragraph of techno- formatting code; the “normal text format” can be read on Wagner’s MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ .
Amazing to see that we have completed the Fall Trimester of the 2010-11 school year! We are now in an exciting transitional period, balancing the reflection upon first term accomplishments while establishing a solid foundation for second term goals. This e.mail serves as official notification that the comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Fall Trimester academic performance are now available via My Backpack.
My Backpack also allows you to check and up-date your personal contact information for accuracy, so if you have revised contact information (including phone number, e.mail, or mailing address), please do so via My Backpack.
In composing narrative comments, teachers have been attentive to commend the highlights, make pertinent suggestions in areas needing additional attention, as well as providing a reflective overview of the course content covered during the first term. In reviewing the end-of-term teacher comments and grade reports, please carefully read through the written comments (with your daughter or son), praising accomplishments while strategizing towards areas that would benefit from additional support and improvement. In considering the “larger picture” of all of your child’s comments and grades, search for emerging patterns and themes, specially in preparing for the fall conference with your child’s Academic Advisor, which occurs on Monday (afternoon/early evening) and Tuesday (morning) 22 & 23 November.
Since for many of us there has not been a direct contact between Academic Advisor and parents since Upper School Parent Information Night back in September, we look forward to having the opportunity to meet again and discuss your child’s first term accomplishments (academic, extra-curricular, and others). As I mentioned previously, scheduling for conferences is now accomplished via an on-line scheduling program, which is accessible from the Upper School homepage .
The fall advisory conference is an opportune time to discuss matters of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, as well as monitoring the status of various graduation requirements (including service learning/community service hours, physical education credits, and others). Should you need to discuss a matter regarding a specific course, please schedule a meeting with that teacher after the Thanksgiving break, seeing as all upper school advisors are also classroom teachers.
That’s all for now. I hope you enjoy the amazing weather this weekend; I look forward to seeing you at an up-coming winter athletic match.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I am not sure why yesterday’s e.mail began with a paragraph of techno- formatting code; the “normal text format” can be read on Wagner’s MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ .
Amazing to see that we have completed the Fall Trimester of the 2010-11 school year! We are now in an exciting transitional period, balancing the reflection upon first term accomplishments while establishing a solid foundation for second term goals. This e.mail serves as official notification that the comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Fall Trimester academic performance are now available via My Backpack.
My Backpack also allows you to check and up-date your personal contact information for accuracy, so if you have revised contact information (including phone number, e.mail, or mailing address), please do so via My Backpack.
In composing narrative comments, teachers have been attentive to commend the highlights, make pertinent suggestions in areas needing additional attention, as well as providing a reflective overview of the course content covered during the first term. In reviewing the end-of-term teacher comments and grade reports, please carefully read through the written comments (with your daughter or son), praising accomplishments while strategizing towards areas that would benefit from additional support and improvement. In considering the “larger picture” of all of your child’s comments and grades, search for emerging patterns and themes, specially in preparing for the fall conference with your child’s Academic Advisor, which occurs on Monday (afternoon/early evening) and Tuesday (morning) 22 & 23 November.
Since for many of us there has not been a direct contact between Academic Advisor and parents since Upper School Parent Information Night back in September, we look forward to having the opportunity to meet again and discuss your child’s first term accomplishments (academic, extra-curricular, and others). As I mentioned previously, scheduling for conferences is now accomplished via an on-line scheduling program, which is accessible from the Upper School homepage .
The fall advisory conference is an opportune time to discuss matters of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, as well as monitoring the status of various graduation requirements (including service learning/community service hours, physical education credits, and others). Should you need to discuss a matter regarding a specific course, please schedule a meeting with that teacher after the Thanksgiving break, seeing as all upper school advisors are also classroom teachers.
That’s all for now. I hope you enjoy the amazing weather this weekend; I look forward to seeing you at an up-coming winter athletic match.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wellness Week, Jeff Wolfsberg, Winter Play, & Advisor Conferences
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
To celebrate the summer-like weather outside (November, with temperatures reaching 70!) I’ve officially proclaimed this Friday as “summer in November day,” encouraging students to wear summer colors and attire that better match the delightful delay of winter.
Next week brings Wellness Week to the upper school. Under the careful planning of Christie Kemper (School Counselor) and the robust student members of the Red Cross Club, we have a week chock-full of themed dress days, activities, and purposeful events:
Monday 15th
“De-Stress” Monday
Focus on Emotional and Spiritual Wellness
Students wear “veg” (comfy) clothes
“Battle of the Grades” Jeopardy, during first period
Tuesday 16th
“Social” Tuesday
Focus on Social Wellness and building healthy relationships
Students have a hot chocolate social during lunch
Wednesday 17th
“Working” Wednesday
Focus on Intellectual/Occupational Wellness
Students dress up as what they want to be when they grow up
Student Health Fair 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, in SAC Gym
Thursday 18th
“Going Green” Thursday
Focus on Environmental Wellness
Students wear green
MVS Parent’s Association, featuring Jeff Wolfsberg: 7:00-8:30 PM, in Alumni Theatre
Friday 19th
“Fitness” Friday
Focus on Physical Wellness
Students wear workout clothes
Hoops for the heart, during extended lunch, in the gym
Jeff Wolfsberg (drug education specialist) returns to MVS to meet with all upper school grade-levels Tuesday through Friday, 16-19 November.
Peter Camm announced this week that the winter drama presentation will be The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s: “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr.” Auditions will be held next Monday and Tuesday; performances are scheduled for 27-29 January.
A reminder that Winter Advisory Conferences are Monday and Tuesday, 22 & 23 November. In preparation for conferences, we have employed a new on-line scheduling service. This service offers real time access to your child’s advisor schedules. You access this system by going to the upper school homepage MVS website, then click on the "schedule your conference" link in the top right hand corner. This scheduling system will be available until Friday, November 19 at midnight. Scheduling slots with Advisors are available on a first-come first-served basis.
I am happy to announce that there will be a Parent Education Program on the evening of Tuesday, 7 December, addressing the sensitive topics of cyber-safety, cyber-bullying, and internet safety. I will provide further details at next week’s evening Parents’ Association Meeting, before Jeff Wolfsberg’s presentation to parents.
That’s all for a busy start to the Winter Term. I look forward to seeing lots of MVS folks at Friday evening’s book fair at Books & Co, from 4-8:PM.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
To celebrate the summer-like weather outside (November, with temperatures reaching 70!) I’ve officially proclaimed this Friday as “summer in November day,” encouraging students to wear summer colors and attire that better match the delightful delay of winter.
Next week brings Wellness Week to the upper school. Under the careful planning of Christie Kemper (School Counselor) and the robust student members of the Red Cross Club, we have a week chock-full of themed dress days, activities, and purposeful events:
Monday 15th
“De-Stress” Monday
Focus on Emotional and Spiritual Wellness
Students wear “veg” (comfy) clothes
“Battle of the Grades” Jeopardy, during first period
Tuesday 16th
“Social” Tuesday
Focus on Social Wellness and building healthy relationships
Students have a hot chocolate social during lunch
Wednesday 17th
“Working” Wednesday
Focus on Intellectual/Occupational Wellness
Students dress up as what they want to be when they grow up
Student Health Fair 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, in SAC Gym
Thursday 18th
“Going Green” Thursday
Focus on Environmental Wellness
Students wear green
MVS Parent’s Association, featuring Jeff Wolfsberg: 7:00-8:30 PM, in Alumni Theatre
Friday 19th
“Fitness” Friday
Focus on Physical Wellness
Students wear workout clothes
Hoops for the heart, during extended lunch, in the gym
Jeff Wolfsberg (drug education specialist) returns to MVS to meet with all upper school grade-levels Tuesday through Friday, 16-19 November.
Peter Camm announced this week that the winter drama presentation will be The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s: “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr.” Auditions will be held next Monday and Tuesday; performances are scheduled for 27-29 January.
A reminder that Winter Advisory Conferences are Monday and Tuesday, 22 & 23 November. In preparation for conferences, we have employed a new on-line scheduling service. This service offers real time access to your child’s advisor schedules. You access this system by going to the upper school homepage MVS website, then click on the "schedule your conference" link in the top right hand corner. This scheduling system will be available until Friday, November 19 at midnight. Scheduling slots with Advisors are available on a first-come first-served basis.
I am happy to announce that there will be a Parent Education Program on the evening of Tuesday, 7 December, addressing the sensitive topics of cyber-safety, cyber-bullying, and internet safety. I will provide further details at next week’s evening Parents’ Association Meeting, before Jeff Wolfsberg’s presentation to parents.
That’s all for a busy start to the Winter Term. I look forward to seeing lots of MVS folks at Friday evening’s book fair at Books & Co, from 4-8:PM.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, October 25, 2010
Immersion Groupings Posted, Fall Exam Procedures, ISACS Conference, & Jeff Wolfsberg Visit
Monday, 25 October 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
This e.mail comes to you following the exciting 1-0 win tonight by the boys varsity soccer team over the Bodkins Trojans. Our boys will next play this Thursday at Bellbrook, details soon to follow from Kathy Kissinger. Stay hungry, Rams!
With the approach of fall exams and other autumnal activities in the Upper School, here are some reminders for the coming weeks.
If you were unable to attend last Friday’s parent meeting to review the revised Physical Education, CreditFlex, and outside athletic participation policies, the guidelines and procedures we discussed are all available on the documents section of the upper school homepage of the MVS website. Physical Education class will be available during the academic day beginning with the Winter Term. Student CreditFlex applications for Winter Term outside PE proposals need to be completed and submitted for review to the upper school office by Wednesday, 3 November. As I mentioned during Friday’s meeting, since this is a revised policy, students can also submit applications that reflect their robust athletic participation completed during the Fall Term. The requirements, expectations, and review process for appropriate CreditFlex applications are clarified in detail in documents posted on-line.
Fall Trimester exams run Tuesday-Thursday, 2-4 November. The exam schedule can also be viewed on the above mentioned documents section of the upper school homepage. Although students are not required to be on campus until 15 minutes before a scheduled exam, most students arrange to study in groups here at MVS during the day. Additionally, the Library will remain open until 6:PM through Thursday, 4 November.
Since Freshmen and Sophomores (as well as upper classmen without such privileges) do not have open campus privileges, if they wish to depart from campus between exams (to go out to lunch or study at a friend’s house), written parent permission must be submitted to the upper school office the day of such a request. Due to obvious safety concerns, permission cannot be phoned in or sent via e.mail.
Tuesday, 2 November is Election Day, so we will again share the Lofino Atrium with voters in the local precinct, since MVS is an official polling location.
Friday, 5 November is designated as College Visitation Weekend, providing an excellent opportunity for students to visit, tour, and perhaps interview at a college or university as part of their college selection process. Friday is also a faculty assessment day, allowing teachers the opportunity to grade exams, compose end-of-term comments, and plan for the start of the Winter Trimester.
Next week, I will be away from MVS on Wednesday through Friday, presenting at the Annual Conference of Independent School Association of the Central States, better known as ISACS. ISACS, the largest regional organization within the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), is also the accrediting body for MVS. The annual conference, this year held in Chicago, always provides excellent opportunities for professional growth, collegial networking, and discussing topical school matters.
We are fortunate to welcome Jeff Wolfsberg back to MVS in starting the Winter Trimester. Jeff Wolfsberg, drug education and wellness specialist, will return during the week of 16-19 November, including a special evening parent meeting on Thursday, 18 November in the Alumni Theatre. The event will begin at 7:00PM with a brief Parents’ Association Meeting. Part of Mr. Wolfsberg’s presentation this year will be in addressing the findings from the student survey we conducted in late September. To that goal, Christie Kemper (School Counselor) has begun providing “Data of the Month” prompts as part of the discussion topics for Advisory Groups. The topic for this week addresses student sleep patterns and adolescent wellness, fitting topics as upper school students determine their study schedules heading into exams next week.
Placements for 2011 Immersion Programs were posted on Friday, with some preliminary organizational meetings between students and facilitators beginning this week. Official group meetings, including parent information sessions, will likely begin in mid-November. Great appreciation goes to the Immersion Task Force, led by Rachel Moulton, which led the way in improving the timeliness, processes, and over-all attentiveness to this keystone of MVS experiential learning.
By means of heads-up, I am in the process of confirming an up-coming evening Parent Education Meeting addressing the topics of cyber bullying, cyber stalking, and Internet safety. I will let you know when details have been confirmed.
As part of MVS’ emergency preparedness program, we will test our “One Call” phone notification system in mid-November. Please take the time to check and confirm your contact phone numbers listed on MyBackpack. The phone numbers you provide will be those we contact for sharing relevant notifications of future snow delays, school closings, and related emergency notices. Although current weather outside has felt down-right balmy, mid-western winter weather cannot be far away.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
This e.mail comes to you following the exciting 1-0 win tonight by the boys varsity soccer team over the Bodkins Trojans. Our boys will next play this Thursday at Bellbrook, details soon to follow from Kathy Kissinger. Stay hungry, Rams!
With the approach of fall exams and other autumnal activities in the Upper School, here are some reminders for the coming weeks.
If you were unable to attend last Friday’s parent meeting to review the revised Physical Education, CreditFlex, and outside athletic participation policies, the guidelines and procedures we discussed are all available on the documents section of the upper school homepage of the MVS website. Physical Education class will be available during the academic day beginning with the Winter Term. Student CreditFlex applications for Winter Term outside PE proposals need to be completed and submitted for review to the upper school office by Wednesday, 3 November. As I mentioned during Friday’s meeting, since this is a revised policy, students can also submit applications that reflect their robust athletic participation completed during the Fall Term. The requirements, expectations, and review process for appropriate CreditFlex applications are clarified in detail in documents posted on-line.
Fall Trimester exams run Tuesday-Thursday, 2-4 November. The exam schedule can also be viewed on the above mentioned documents section of the upper school homepage. Although students are not required to be on campus until 15 minutes before a scheduled exam, most students arrange to study in groups here at MVS during the day. Additionally, the Library will remain open until 6:PM through Thursday, 4 November.
Since Freshmen and Sophomores (as well as upper classmen without such privileges) do not have open campus privileges, if they wish to depart from campus between exams (to go out to lunch or study at a friend’s house), written parent permission must be submitted to the upper school office the day of such a request. Due to obvious safety concerns, permission cannot be phoned in or sent via e.mail.
Tuesday, 2 November is Election Day, so we will again share the Lofino Atrium with voters in the local precinct, since MVS is an official polling location.
Friday, 5 November is designated as College Visitation Weekend, providing an excellent opportunity for students to visit, tour, and perhaps interview at a college or university as part of their college selection process. Friday is also a faculty assessment day, allowing teachers the opportunity to grade exams, compose end-of-term comments, and plan for the start of the Winter Trimester.
Next week, I will be away from MVS on Wednesday through Friday, presenting at the Annual Conference of Independent School Association of the Central States, better known as ISACS. ISACS, the largest regional organization within the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), is also the accrediting body for MVS. The annual conference, this year held in Chicago, always provides excellent opportunities for professional growth, collegial networking, and discussing topical school matters.
We are fortunate to welcome Jeff Wolfsberg back to MVS in starting the Winter Trimester. Jeff Wolfsberg, drug education and wellness specialist, will return during the week of 16-19 November, including a special evening parent meeting on Thursday, 18 November in the Alumni Theatre. The event will begin at 7:00PM with a brief Parents’ Association Meeting. Part of Mr. Wolfsberg’s presentation this year will be in addressing the findings from the student survey we conducted in late September. To that goal, Christie Kemper (School Counselor) has begun providing “Data of the Month” prompts as part of the discussion topics for Advisory Groups. The topic for this week addresses student sleep patterns and adolescent wellness, fitting topics as upper school students determine their study schedules heading into exams next week.
Placements for 2011 Immersion Programs were posted on Friday, with some preliminary organizational meetings between students and facilitators beginning this week. Official group meetings, including parent information sessions, will likely begin in mid-November. Great appreciation goes to the Immersion Task Force, led by Rachel Moulton, which led the way in improving the timeliness, processes, and over-all attentiveness to this keystone of MVS experiential learning.
By means of heads-up, I am in the process of confirming an up-coming evening Parent Education Meeting addressing the topics of cyber bullying, cyber stalking, and Internet safety. I will let you know when details have been confirmed.
As part of MVS’ emergency preparedness program, we will test our “One Call” phone notification system in mid-November. Please take the time to check and confirm your contact phone numbers listed on MyBackpack. The phone numbers you provide will be those we contact for sharing relevant notifications of future snow delays, school closings, and related emergency notices. Although current weather outside has felt down-right balmy, mid-western winter weather cannot be far away.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fall Musical, School Photos, & PE Question & Answer
Friday, 15 October 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
On Wednesday, while grades 9 - 11 were taking the PLAN and PSAT tests, Ashwi Birdi, Christie Kemper, Barb Cleary and I joined the Seniors for an interactive, creative, and very productive Senior Retreat. It is thrilling to see the goals for the class link-up with their leadership goals for the upper school. Synergistic potential is in store!
To whet our collective dramatic appetites, the cast of Striking 12 performed a cappella during Morning Announcements this morning. Next week brings final rehearsals for the fall musical, with performance dates at 7:PM next Thursday – Saturday, 21-23 October. Tickets are available ($5 for students, $8 for adults) at the reception desk in the main upper school hallway.
The exam schedule for fall trimester is now available on the documents section of the upper school homepage.
School photo packages (for those who ordered them) and student IDs will be distributed on Monday. Photo re-take day is in the morning of Thursday, 21 October, in the lower school skylight area. To receive a re-take, students need to return their original photo packages.
The Immersion Committee is making solid headway in reviewing student applications and determining program groupings. We are hopeful that we will have the groups confirmed and posted within a week.
At 4:00PM, all students remaining at MVS (and not involved in an official, supervised school activity) need to report to the library for supervised study. After 5:00PM, when the outside doors are locked, students remaining in the library can be contacted via the main MVS phone number (434.4444), and if you do not get a human, dial extension 261 for the library desk.
A quick reminder that next Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM I will host a question and answer session addressing the revised PE and athletic participation policies.
As always, should you have any questions, please feel free to phone, e.mail, or come in for a chat.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
On Wednesday, while grades 9 - 11 were taking the PLAN and PSAT tests, Ashwi Birdi, Christie Kemper, Barb Cleary and I joined the Seniors for an interactive, creative, and very productive Senior Retreat. It is thrilling to see the goals for the class link-up with their leadership goals for the upper school. Synergistic potential is in store!
To whet our collective dramatic appetites, the cast of Striking 12 performed a cappella during Morning Announcements this morning. Next week brings final rehearsals for the fall musical, with performance dates at 7:PM next Thursday – Saturday, 21-23 October. Tickets are available ($5 for students, $8 for adults) at the reception desk in the main upper school hallway.
The exam schedule for fall trimester is now available on the documents section of the upper school homepage.
School photo packages (for those who ordered them) and student IDs will be distributed on Monday. Photo re-take day is in the morning of Thursday, 21 October, in the lower school skylight area. To receive a re-take, students need to return their original photo packages.
The Immersion Committee is making solid headway in reviewing student applications and determining program groupings. We are hopeful that we will have the groups confirmed and posted within a week.
At 4:00PM, all students remaining at MVS (and not involved in an official, supervised school activity) need to report to the library for supervised study. After 5:00PM, when the outside doors are locked, students remaining in the library can be contacted via the main MVS phone number (434.4444), and if you do not get a human, dial extension 261 for the library desk.
A quick reminder that next Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM I will host a question and answer session addressing the revised PE and athletic participation policies.
As always, should you have any questions, please feel free to phone, e.mail, or come in for a chat.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, October 11, 2010
Required Study Halls, PLAN, PSAT, & Senor Retreat
Monday, 11 October 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
We reviewed mid-term comments, grades, and effort marks during Advisory Meetings last Thursday. In most cases, after reviewing their marks, students then wrote comments affirming their successes while also setting goals for further improvement during the latter part of the fall term. These notes will provide useful reference when meeting with parents during Winter Advisory Conferences, 22 & 23 November.
Following faculty review of mid-term comments and grades, required study halls began last week for students experiencing academic difficulty. Required study halls, regarded as a scheduled class, are scheduled during student free periods and are proctored by upper school teachers. If your child has been assigned to a study hall, a letter was sent home last Thursday.
A list of Confirmed Dayton Area Community Service Organizations (including contact name, phone number, and website) is now posted on the announcements section of the upper school home page. If students have an interest in seeking on-campus school service during the school day, Mrs. McCallum has a list of available school service needs. A reminder, students need to complete a minimum of 20 hours of service (approved external to community or approved internal service to MVS) for each year of attendance in the upper school.
This Wednesday, 13 October, will be a busy morning of preparatory standardized testing and goal planning: Freshmen will take the PLAN test; Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT; Seniors will participate in the Senior Retreat. Colin Dunnigan, Director of College Counseling, has met individually with each grade regarding appropriate preparation for the PLAN and PSAT. Ashwi Birdi, as Senior Dean, is planning with other members of the Senior Team towards the Senior Retreat, which this year will be held at the Dayton Jewish Community Center. All students will attend regular classes in the afternoon.
I hope you have had a chance to review the letter I sent on Friday regarding the revised PE and athletic participation policies. There will be a question and answer session for parents on Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM in the Upper School Commons. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Since we have now passed the mid-term mark and are heading towards November and exams, I often become concerned about adolescent sleep deprivation and perceive increased stress levels. I have mentioned these concerns to teachers and have already contacted Jeff Wolfsberg, asking him to include this as a focus during his visit to MVS in mid-November.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
We reviewed mid-term comments, grades, and effort marks during Advisory Meetings last Thursday. In most cases, after reviewing their marks, students then wrote comments affirming their successes while also setting goals for further improvement during the latter part of the fall term. These notes will provide useful reference when meeting with parents during Winter Advisory Conferences, 22 & 23 November.
Following faculty review of mid-term comments and grades, required study halls began last week for students experiencing academic difficulty. Required study halls, regarded as a scheduled class, are scheduled during student free periods and are proctored by upper school teachers. If your child has been assigned to a study hall, a letter was sent home last Thursday.
A list of Confirmed Dayton Area Community Service Organizations (including contact name, phone number, and website) is now posted on the announcements section of the upper school home page. If students have an interest in seeking on-campus school service during the school day, Mrs. McCallum has a list of available school service needs. A reminder, students need to complete a minimum of 20 hours of service (approved external to community or approved internal service to MVS) for each year of attendance in the upper school.
This Wednesday, 13 October, will be a busy morning of preparatory standardized testing and goal planning: Freshmen will take the PLAN test; Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT; Seniors will participate in the Senior Retreat. Colin Dunnigan, Director of College Counseling, has met individually with each grade regarding appropriate preparation for the PLAN and PSAT. Ashwi Birdi, as Senior Dean, is planning with other members of the Senior Team towards the Senior Retreat, which this year will be held at the Dayton Jewish Community Center. All students will attend regular classes in the afternoon.
I hope you have had a chance to review the letter I sent on Friday regarding the revised PE and athletic participation policies. There will be a question and answer session for parents on Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM in the Upper School Commons. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Since we have now passed the mid-term mark and are heading towards November and exams, I often become concerned about adolescent sleep deprivation and perceive increased stress levels. I have mentioned these concerns to teachers and have already contacted Jeff Wolfsberg, asking him to include this as a focus during his visit to MVS in mid-November.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, October 8, 2010
Revised Physical Education & Athletic Participation Policies
Friday, 8 October 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I am writing to share some exciting enhancements to the MVS Physical Education and athletic participation policies in the Upper School. In compliance with the guidelines of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), by seeking to provide a range of options that reflect a variety of student opportunities, interests and abilities, beginning in the Winter Trimester, there will be three options available for students to achieve (or be waived from) required Physical Education credit:
1. completing PE credit (during the academic day or via approved summer coursework),
2. participating in two seasons of MVS sports (with an additional ½ credit academic course of choice),
3. designing and completing an approved CreditFlex program, to be overseen by the MVS Credit Flex & Independent Study Committee.
Beginning in the Winter Trimester, Physical Education will be available as a full academic offering during the school day. A course description will soon be available on the MVS web.
Students can continue to receive a waiver from PE credit by electing to participate in two seasons of MVS sports. In order to fully satisfy the equivalent ODE course credit requirement, students pursuing this option must also complete an additional ½ credit course in an academic elective of their choice.
Adapted from the existing guidelines, policies, and procedures of the MVS Independent Study Committee (chaired by Anne Griffith), the CreditFlex program allows students in grades 9-12 to receive PE credit by designing, pursuing, and completing a specialized athletic-oriented activity, according to the ODE’s CreditFlex option. As a stated expectation for a valid proposal, CreditFlex proposals assume a student’s robust involvement in a specialized outside athletic pursuit, one that should equal the practice and game participation time of a season’s participation on an MVS team sport. Before the start of each term, students must submit an application for review by the CreditFlex & Independent Study Committee. For guidelines and procedures, please refer to the CreditFlex guidelines on the upper school homepage of the MVS web.
Anticipating that there will be a number of questions unique to your child’s interests, a question and answer session is scheduled for Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM in the Upper School Commons. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I am writing to share some exciting enhancements to the MVS Physical Education and athletic participation policies in the Upper School. In compliance with the guidelines of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), by seeking to provide a range of options that reflect a variety of student opportunities, interests and abilities, beginning in the Winter Trimester, there will be three options available for students to achieve (or be waived from) required Physical Education credit:
1. completing PE credit (during the academic day or via approved summer coursework),
2. participating in two seasons of MVS sports (with an additional ½ credit academic course of choice),
3. designing and completing an approved CreditFlex program, to be overseen by the MVS Credit Flex & Independent Study Committee.
Beginning in the Winter Trimester, Physical Education will be available as a full academic offering during the school day. A course description will soon be available on the MVS web.
Students can continue to receive a waiver from PE credit by electing to participate in two seasons of MVS sports. In order to fully satisfy the equivalent ODE course credit requirement, students pursuing this option must also complete an additional ½ credit course in an academic elective of their choice.
Adapted from the existing guidelines, policies, and procedures of the MVS Independent Study Committee (chaired by Anne Griffith), the CreditFlex program allows students in grades 9-12 to receive PE credit by designing, pursuing, and completing a specialized athletic-oriented activity, according to the ODE’s CreditFlex option. As a stated expectation for a valid proposal, CreditFlex proposals assume a student’s robust involvement in a specialized outside athletic pursuit, one that should equal the practice and game participation time of a season’s participation on an MVS team sport. Before the start of each term, students must submit an application for review by the CreditFlex & Independent Study Committee. For guidelines and procedures, please refer to the CreditFlex guidelines on the upper school homepage of the MVS web.
Anticipating that there will be a number of questions unique to your child’s interests, a question and answer session is scheduled for Friday, 22 October at 4:00PM in the Upper School Commons. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fall Mid-Term Comments & Grades
Monday, 4 October 2010
Dear Upper School Parents,
Mid-term comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades for the Fall Trimester are now available through the My Backpack portal on the MVS web. In addition to providing access to your daughter or son’s mid-term comments, My Backpack also allows you to up-date your contact information with MVS, particularly your preferred e.mail address, which is so important considering our reliance on e.mail communication in the Upper School.
As you review the Fall Trimester mid-term comments, recall that they reflect the initial academic status of your daughter or son for this first term. Please take a moment to read through the written comments, work habit marks, and estimated academic grades, preferably with your daughter or son present, praising successes and strategizing towards areas for further improvement. In considering your child’s mid-term comments, seek emerging themes among her or his over-all academic performance. Students will review their mid-term marks during Advisory Meetings on Thursday, 7 October.
Upper school faculty members are attentive in writing clear course highlights, composing individual student comments, and determining accurate work habit marks, reflecting the Work Habit/Effort Marks Guide, available on the documents section of upper school homepage. Since these mid-term comments reflect, in many cases, a “snap shot” of your child’s current course work, it is appropriate to consider the grades and work habit marks accordingly; Translation: major assignments or assessments might be due soon after the mid-term comments were written, thus grades have the potential to fluctuate between now and the end of the term. Having just reached the mid-term mark, ample time remains for students to implement new study strategies, heeding attention to the advice provided in the teacher comments and indicated by the effort marks. The end of the first trimester is Monday, 1 November, followed by first trimester exams, from 2-4 November.
Should you have a specific question relating to a particular comment or course, please contact that teacher directly, via voice or e.mail, to discuss the matter further. Your child’s Academic Advisor is also available for discussion, should you wish to converse about larger strategies relating to your child’s over-all academic status. The directory of faculty voicemail extensions and e.mail addresses is available on the MVS website by clicking on the following link: http://www.mvschool.com/about-mvs/contact-us.
On behalf of your child’s teachers, Academic Advisor, and me, thanks for your part in what has been a smooth start to the 2010-11 academic year. The archives of all reminders and letters sent from the Upper School are available on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. We look forward to keeping in close contact with you in supporting your child’s continuing academic success at MVS.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Dear Upper School Parents,
Mid-term comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades for the Fall Trimester are now available through the My Backpack portal on the MVS web. In addition to providing access to your daughter or son’s mid-term comments, My Backpack also allows you to up-date your contact information with MVS, particularly your preferred e.mail address, which is so important considering our reliance on e.mail communication in the Upper School.
As you review the Fall Trimester mid-term comments, recall that they reflect the initial academic status of your daughter or son for this first term. Please take a moment to read through the written comments, work habit marks, and estimated academic grades, preferably with your daughter or son present, praising successes and strategizing towards areas for further improvement. In considering your child’s mid-term comments, seek emerging themes among her or his over-all academic performance. Students will review their mid-term marks during Advisory Meetings on Thursday, 7 October.
Upper school faculty members are attentive in writing clear course highlights, composing individual student comments, and determining accurate work habit marks, reflecting the Work Habit/Effort Marks Guide, available on the documents section of upper school homepage. Since these mid-term comments reflect, in many cases, a “snap shot” of your child’s current course work, it is appropriate to consider the grades and work habit marks accordingly; Translation: major assignments or assessments might be due soon after the mid-term comments were written, thus grades have the potential to fluctuate between now and the end of the term. Having just reached the mid-term mark, ample time remains for students to implement new study strategies, heeding attention to the advice provided in the teacher comments and indicated by the effort marks. The end of the first trimester is Monday, 1 November, followed by first trimester exams, from 2-4 November.
Should you have a specific question relating to a particular comment or course, please contact that teacher directly, via voice or e.mail, to discuss the matter further. Your child’s Academic Advisor is also available for discussion, should you wish to converse about larger strategies relating to your child’s over-all academic status. The directory of faculty voicemail extensions and e.mail addresses is available on the MVS website by clicking on the following link: http://www.mvschool.com/about-mvs/contact-us.
On behalf of your child’s teachers, Academic Advisor, and me, thanks for your part in what has been a smooth start to the 2010-11 academic year. The archives of all reminders and letters sent from the Upper School are available on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. We look forward to keeping in close contact with you in supporting your child’s continuing academic success at MVS.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, October 1, 2010
Homecoming Events, Mid-Term Comments, & Immersion Deadlines
Friday, 1 October, 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Autumn’s cool weather has certainly arrived in Dayton, and in perfect timing for MVS Homecoming festivities! Today’s all-school pep rally in the Lane Gym was brimming with school spirit, boding well for athletic successes this weekend. Run for the Rams, inductions into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and varsity athletic matches are among the Homecoming highlights here on campus tomorrow. I hope you have had a chance to read through my “homecoming dance expectations letter” that I sent on Tuesday, particularly relating to having frank and honest conversations with your child and his or her peers (and parents) regarding responsible decision making and student safety.
Spirit week, including theme dress-up days, has been a resounding success, thanks to the careful planning of the Student Government. On Thursday, to reduce our sadness from the departure of the Chilean exchange students, the Diversity Council organized a student talent showcase during an extended lunch period. The event was magnificently MVS-esque, with acts ranging from dramatic performance to an assortment of music and dance routines.
I will send an e.mail on Monday to confirm that Mid-term comments, grades, and effort/work habit marks for the Fall Trimester are available via MyBackpack. Students will review and discuss their mid-term comments and grades with Advisors on Thursday.
Following faculty review of mid-term comments and grades, required study halls will begin next week for students needing additional time management support in achieving stronger academic performances. Study halls will be scheduled during available student free periods.
Student immersion applications are due next Friday, 8 OCTOBER by 3:30PM in the upper school office. Immersion deadlines are firm; applications submitted after a deadline will be placed at the bottom of the selection process, regardless of the student’s grade level. The link to all forms, procedures, and program descriptions for Immersion 2011 are available on the upper school homepage of the MVS web at: http://www.mvschool.com/academics/upperschool/overview
Expect a letter from me next week addressing some changes to the physical education, athletic participation, and outside sports credit policies in the Upper School.
I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming events this weekend. I’ll be wearing my MVS letterman-jacket to keep the October weather at bay.
With sincere regards (and enthused “GO RAMS” spirit),
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Autumn’s cool weather has certainly arrived in Dayton, and in perfect timing for MVS Homecoming festivities! Today’s all-school pep rally in the Lane Gym was brimming with school spirit, boding well for athletic successes this weekend. Run for the Rams, inductions into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and varsity athletic matches are among the Homecoming highlights here on campus tomorrow. I hope you have had a chance to read through my “homecoming dance expectations letter” that I sent on Tuesday, particularly relating to having frank and honest conversations with your child and his or her peers (and parents) regarding responsible decision making and student safety.
Spirit week, including theme dress-up days, has been a resounding success, thanks to the careful planning of the Student Government. On Thursday, to reduce our sadness from the departure of the Chilean exchange students, the Diversity Council organized a student talent showcase during an extended lunch period. The event was magnificently MVS-esque, with acts ranging from dramatic performance to an assortment of music and dance routines.
I will send an e.mail on Monday to confirm that Mid-term comments, grades, and effort/work habit marks for the Fall Trimester are available via MyBackpack. Students will review and discuss their mid-term comments and grades with Advisors on Thursday.
Following faculty review of mid-term comments and grades, required study halls will begin next week for students needing additional time management support in achieving stronger academic performances. Study halls will be scheduled during available student free periods.
Student immersion applications are due next Friday, 8 OCTOBER by 3:30PM in the upper school office. Immersion deadlines are firm; applications submitted after a deadline will be placed at the bottom of the selection process, regardless of the student’s grade level. The link to all forms, procedures, and program descriptions for Immersion 2011 are available on the upper school homepage of the MVS web at: http://www.mvschool.com/academics/upperschool/overview
Expect a letter from me next week addressing some changes to the physical education, athletic participation, and outside sports credit policies in the Upper School.
I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming events this weekend. I’ll be wearing my MVS letterman-jacket to keep the October weather at bay.
With sincere regards (and enthused “GO RAMS” spirit),
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Homecoming Dance: Student & Parent Expectations
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the approach of Homecoming events at MVS, including a Saturday “chock-full” of athletic matches, the Run for the Rams, and various alumni gatherings, followed (of course!) by the homecoming dance, I thought it a good idea to send a quick (though in depth) e.mail with some accustomed details and reminders.
As we draw near to what is sure to be a successful MVS Homecoming Weekend, including the dance on Saturday evening, I want to communicate clearly and directly to you our expectations for student conduct at such school functions. The dance will be held on Saturday, 2 October at the Miami Valley Hunt & Polo Club (roughly 5-minutes from MVS), lasting from 8:00-11PM. Soda, water, and snacks will be provided at the dance. Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased in the Upper School Commons at MVS, through Friday; tickets cannot be purchased “at the door” on Saturday night.
As a growing tradition at MVS, Homecoming has become a popular autumn event; I anticipate this year’s functions, under the careful planning of the 2011 Student Government, will be both enjoyable and successful. However, as is the case in virtually all school cultures, school dances and similar evening events also raise potential anxieties regarding student behavior, including those relating to underage drinking and substance abuses, and other at-risk behaviors. Obviously, we are all concerned about student safety, especially since students will be traveling from various distances in order to attend the homecoming dance. Throughout the year, but particularly during homecoming and prom seasons, the sad but all too common incidents that are captured in the local and national media reinforce the fragility of human life and the dangers associated with teen driving and at-risk behaviors. Such events can be devastating to any community.
If your daughter or son is planning to attend the homecoming dance (which we hope is the case!), I strongly encourage you to have honest and direct discussions with your child (as well as with his or her date and other friends) about the important topics of safety and responsible decision making, carefully reviewing their plans, your expectations, and communicating directly with other parents regarding any questions of supervision that might arise. As a school, MVS will not tolerate any student drinking or substance abuse before or during the homecoming dance; we will be vigilant in our monitoring of student conduct. If students feel compelled to engage in such at-risk activities, they should simply avoid attending school functions entirely. Any student, whom chaperones suspect to be under the influence, will be sent home from the event; we will phone you, as the parent, to come pick them up from the dance. Believe me, this is a potentially awkward and very serious situation that no one wants to participate in.
Chaperones (me included), who agree to work for the benefit of students in supporting school events (without whom, there simply would be no homecoming dance), will use their best judgment in assessing student conduct; however, these decisions will be at the sole discretion of faculty chaperones and me. I encourage you to be very candid with your daughter or son in your conversations surrounding alcohol or potential at-risk behavior, as well as with the parents of your child’s friends, should you have any concerns regarding student gatherings, before or after the homecoming dance. Obviously, any violation of the alcohol and drug policy at or around an MVS event may result in serious consequences, up to and including suspension or expulsion. My hope is that through active discussion, transcending home and school, such matters can be avoided entirely, thus allowing everyone at the dance to enjoy the event as it is intended.
In the interests of ensuring student safety, students will not be allowed to leave from the homecoming dance before its conclusion (11:PM) without first contacting you directly. All students are to arrive at the dance by 9:30PM. If any student arrives late to, or asks to leave early from the dance, we will have him or her first phone you directly. Students will not be permitted to re-enter the dance after they have departed. Students are expected to cooperate fully with chaperones and staff members at the dance; attendance at the homecoming dance is a privilege, not a right. We look forward to enjoying these activities with the students; however, in the interest of student safety, we will be vigilant in monitoring student conduct.
A great deal of work has gone into planning for Homecoming Weekend, on the part of students, parents, faculty members, and administrators. We will do our very best to create an environment that will be safe and enjoyable for everyone; I am confident the students will have a great time! Again, as partners in the essential support of MVS students, please encourage your child (and her or his peers) to use sound judgment in ensuring that Homecoming is a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe night for all involved. Should you have any specific questions regarding the details of homecoming dance, feel free to contact Bryan Lakatos (advisor to the Student Government) or me.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the approach of Homecoming events at MVS, including a Saturday “chock-full” of athletic matches, the Run for the Rams, and various alumni gatherings, followed (of course!) by the homecoming dance, I thought it a good idea to send a quick (though in depth) e.mail with some accustomed details and reminders.
As we draw near to what is sure to be a successful MVS Homecoming Weekend, including the dance on Saturday evening, I want to communicate clearly and directly to you our expectations for student conduct at such school functions. The dance will be held on Saturday, 2 October at the Miami Valley Hunt & Polo Club (roughly 5-minutes from MVS), lasting from 8:00-11PM. Soda, water, and snacks will be provided at the dance. Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased in the Upper School Commons at MVS, through Friday; tickets cannot be purchased “at the door” on Saturday night.
As a growing tradition at MVS, Homecoming has become a popular autumn event; I anticipate this year’s functions, under the careful planning of the 2011 Student Government, will be both enjoyable and successful. However, as is the case in virtually all school cultures, school dances and similar evening events also raise potential anxieties regarding student behavior, including those relating to underage drinking and substance abuses, and other at-risk behaviors. Obviously, we are all concerned about student safety, especially since students will be traveling from various distances in order to attend the homecoming dance. Throughout the year, but particularly during homecoming and prom seasons, the sad but all too common incidents that are captured in the local and national media reinforce the fragility of human life and the dangers associated with teen driving and at-risk behaviors. Such events can be devastating to any community.
If your daughter or son is planning to attend the homecoming dance (which we hope is the case!), I strongly encourage you to have honest and direct discussions with your child (as well as with his or her date and other friends) about the important topics of safety and responsible decision making, carefully reviewing their plans, your expectations, and communicating directly with other parents regarding any questions of supervision that might arise. As a school, MVS will not tolerate any student drinking or substance abuse before or during the homecoming dance; we will be vigilant in our monitoring of student conduct. If students feel compelled to engage in such at-risk activities, they should simply avoid attending school functions entirely. Any student, whom chaperones suspect to be under the influence, will be sent home from the event; we will phone you, as the parent, to come pick them up from the dance. Believe me, this is a potentially awkward and very serious situation that no one wants to participate in.
Chaperones (me included), who agree to work for the benefit of students in supporting school events (without whom, there simply would be no homecoming dance), will use their best judgment in assessing student conduct; however, these decisions will be at the sole discretion of faculty chaperones and me. I encourage you to be very candid with your daughter or son in your conversations surrounding alcohol or potential at-risk behavior, as well as with the parents of your child’s friends, should you have any concerns regarding student gatherings, before or after the homecoming dance. Obviously, any violation of the alcohol and drug policy at or around an MVS event may result in serious consequences, up to and including suspension or expulsion. My hope is that through active discussion, transcending home and school, such matters can be avoided entirely, thus allowing everyone at the dance to enjoy the event as it is intended.
In the interests of ensuring student safety, students will not be allowed to leave from the homecoming dance before its conclusion (11:PM) without first contacting you directly. All students are to arrive at the dance by 9:30PM. If any student arrives late to, or asks to leave early from the dance, we will have him or her first phone you directly. Students will not be permitted to re-enter the dance after they have departed. Students are expected to cooperate fully with chaperones and staff members at the dance; attendance at the homecoming dance is a privilege, not a right. We look forward to enjoying these activities with the students; however, in the interest of student safety, we will be vigilant in monitoring student conduct.
A great deal of work has gone into planning for Homecoming Weekend, on the part of students, parents, faculty members, and administrators. We will do our very best to create an environment that will be safe and enjoyable for everyone; I am confident the students will have a great time! Again, as partners in the essential support of MVS students, please encourage your child (and her or his peers) to use sound judgment in ensuring that Homecoming is a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe night for all involved. Should you have any specific questions regarding the details of homecoming dance, feel free to contact Bryan Lakatos (advisor to the Student Government) or me.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Spirit Week & Home Coming Events
Friday, 24 September 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
What a glorious day for part-two of Freshman Orientation! Led by Deb Spiegel (Freshman Dean), the Class of 2014 was accompanied by a robust group of Seniors and faculty chaperones. Christie Kemper (School Counselor) led them through an interactive group dynamics exercise, after which everyone took to the river for a pleasant afternoon paddle. Although some canoers returned “more soggy” than others, the spirits of the entire group was outstanding when they returned to campus.
The welcomed return of Katrina Kittle, our forth visiting author as part of the Upper School Shared Summer Read, made for a fabulous day on Thursday! Friday evening’s parent event with the author, sponsored by the MVS Parents Association, was well attended by both MVS and outside fans of Ms. Kittle. Great appreciation goes to Susan Strong for her organization and attention to details in guiding the MVS Visiting Authors Series.
A reminder that Monday, 27 September at 7:PM is the College Admissions: An Insider’s View seminar, presented by Emory University. Intended for parents and Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, this informative seminar will present topics associated with the admission review processes at competitive admission colleges. In addition to fielding questions from the audience, the seminar will include the opportunity to review actual applications to Emory, followed by discussion of why student applicants were admitted or denied admission. For questions and to RSVP for this event, please contact Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling).
Next week brings Spirit Week activities, supported by Student Government, leading up to a bevy of Homecoming events next weekend. We will have “theme” dress-up-days in the Upper School to further ignite MVS school spirit, with the daily theme descriptions as follows:
Monday – “Comfy Day” (“relaxed attire,” including sweats, pajamas, etc)
Tuesday – “Salad Dressing Day” (French, Italian, thousand islands, etc apparel)
Wednesday – “Twin Day” (dress up to match a friend)
Thursday – “Jers-day” (wear your favorite sports team attire)
Friday – “Red & Blue Day” (show-off your MVS pride!)
Thursday, the Diversity Council has planned an upper school talent showcase, during an extended lunch period in the US Commons. Acts range from singing and dancing to the quirky and unusual.
Friday concludes with the all-school pep rally at 2:15PM in the Lane Gym, including the parade of athletes, Jazz Bands, and Marti the Ram!
Friday evening at 7:PM is A Night of Duke Ellington, showcasing the musical talents of our Upper and Middle School Jazz Bands. Please join us in the Truslow Upper School Commons for a night of cool jazz stylings, directed by Ross Williams (Director of Music).
Description and registration details of the full array of Homecoming events, including registration for Run for the Rams (free of charge, simply register on-line), can be found on the Homecoming tab on the MVS website.
Saturday evening is the Upper School Homecoming Dance, from 8-11:PM at the Hunt and Polo Club, sponsored by the Student Government. The Homecoming Dance is open to all students in the Upper School; tickets will be on sale next week for $20 per person; tickets will not be available for purchase at the door the night of the event. As with most MVS dances, the majority of students attend in groups or individually, rather than formally “asking dates.” My accustomed “Homecoming dance expectations letter” will be sent to you mid-week, encouraging parents to openly discuss any questions or concerns with your children (and their friends, as well as parents of friends) in the hopes of keeping all of our students safe.
I continue to post all letters and reminders regarding activities and initiatives in the Upper School on Wagner’s MVS Blog http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. In the interest of encouraging active communication, I hope you will follow along and add your comments, questions, and suggestions.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
What a glorious day for part-two of Freshman Orientation! Led by Deb Spiegel (Freshman Dean), the Class of 2014 was accompanied by a robust group of Seniors and faculty chaperones. Christie Kemper (School Counselor) led them through an interactive group dynamics exercise, after which everyone took to the river for a pleasant afternoon paddle. Although some canoers returned “more soggy” than others, the spirits of the entire group was outstanding when they returned to campus.
The welcomed return of Katrina Kittle, our forth visiting author as part of the Upper School Shared Summer Read, made for a fabulous day on Thursday! Friday evening’s parent event with the author, sponsored by the MVS Parents Association, was well attended by both MVS and outside fans of Ms. Kittle. Great appreciation goes to Susan Strong for her organization and attention to details in guiding the MVS Visiting Authors Series.
A reminder that Monday, 27 September at 7:PM is the College Admissions: An Insider’s View seminar, presented by Emory University. Intended for parents and Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, this informative seminar will present topics associated with the admission review processes at competitive admission colleges. In addition to fielding questions from the audience, the seminar will include the opportunity to review actual applications to Emory, followed by discussion of why student applicants were admitted or denied admission. For questions and to RSVP for this event, please contact Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling).
Next week brings Spirit Week activities, supported by Student Government, leading up to a bevy of Homecoming events next weekend. We will have “theme” dress-up-days in the Upper School to further ignite MVS school spirit, with the daily theme descriptions as follows:
Monday – “Comfy Day” (“relaxed attire,” including sweats, pajamas, etc)
Tuesday – “Salad Dressing Day” (French, Italian, thousand islands, etc apparel)
Wednesday – “Twin Day” (dress up to match a friend)
Thursday – “Jers-day” (wear your favorite sports team attire)
Friday – “Red & Blue Day” (show-off your MVS pride!)
Thursday, the Diversity Council has planned an upper school talent showcase, during an extended lunch period in the US Commons. Acts range from singing and dancing to the quirky and unusual.
Friday concludes with the all-school pep rally at 2:15PM in the Lane Gym, including the parade of athletes, Jazz Bands, and Marti the Ram!
Friday evening at 7:PM is A Night of Duke Ellington, showcasing the musical talents of our Upper and Middle School Jazz Bands. Please join us in the Truslow Upper School Commons for a night of cool jazz stylings, directed by Ross Williams (Director of Music).
Description and registration details of the full array of Homecoming events, including registration for Run for the Rams (free of charge, simply register on-line), can be found on the Homecoming tab on the MVS website.
Saturday evening is the Upper School Homecoming Dance, from 8-11:PM at the Hunt and Polo Club, sponsored by the Student Government. The Homecoming Dance is open to all students in the Upper School; tickets will be on sale next week for $20 per person; tickets will not be available for purchase at the door the night of the event. As with most MVS dances, the majority of students attend in groups or individually, rather than formally “asking dates.” My accustomed “Homecoming dance expectations letter” will be sent to you mid-week, encouraging parents to openly discuss any questions or concerns with your children (and their friends, as well as parents of friends) in the hopes of keeping all of our students safe.
I continue to post all letters and reminders regarding activities and initiatives in the Upper School on Wagner’s MVS Blog http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. In the interest of encouraging active communication, I hope you will follow along and add your comments, questions, and suggestions.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Post-PIN, Visiting Authors, and Mid-Terms
Friday, 17 September 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
It was fantabulous (a word I do not use lightly) to see so many parents attending upper school PIN on Wednesday. The evening had a very positive feel and had good flow between classes; it was a pleasure to greet and speak with folks in the hallways, confirming our solid beginning to this academic year.
The Chilean flag, now flying as you enter campus, indicates the safe arrival of our 11 Chilean exchange students from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion. They were greeted at the airport by a jubilant group of MVS students and parents, and then welcomed by their MVS host families upon returning to campus. Of special note, Saturday, 18 September marks the Bicentennial of Chilean Independence.
Beginning Monday, the Lange Library will have extended study hours, from 3:30 - 6:00PM. This service is free of charge to students in the upper school. After 4:00PM, all students not involved in an organized MVS activity (supervised athletic practice, drama rehearsal, extra-curricular activity, etc.) are required to sign-in at the library for quiet study. Students must be picked up from campus by 6:00PM. I am pleased to welcome Stephanie Brown as our new afternoon library proctor.
Mark Kurlansky, best selling author and 2007 nonfiction winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, will be on campus this Monday, speaking with our Global Realities class.
The Independent School Health and Wellness Survey will be conducted to all students in the upper school on Wednesday, 22 September. As mentioned during PIN, this survey reflects an important initiative in supporting the over-all wellness of students in the Upper School. The results of the survey (which are anonymous and confidential) will provide valuable guidance to our student counseling and support programs, as well as to future parent education offerings. Christie Kemper (School Counselor) sent a letter home last week; if you have any further questions, feel free to contact her or me.
On Thursday, 23 September renowned author and former MVS teacher Katrina Kittle will be on campus as part of the MVS Visiting Author Series. Ms. Kittle will speak with and take questions from upper school students faculty members during 1st period in the Truslow Commons. Ms. Kittle will then visit English classes throughout the day. Please check the MVS website for an invitation to a parent event with author on Friday evening.
Because Anne Griffith is taking a short leave of absence, I am honored to welcome Joni Jackson-Martin as our extended-term substitute. After a 10-year career in research and development with Proctor and Gamble, Ms. Jackson-Martin is currently completing her Masters Degree in Education at the University of Dayton.
Friday, 24 September marks the mid-term of Fall Trimester. Teachers will compose comments and compute estimated grades and work habit/effort marks for all students. I anticipate having mid-terms “sent live” via MyBackpack in the afternoon of Monday, 5 October, and will send you an e.mail confirmation once they are available. Advisors will meet and discuss mid-terms with advisees on Thursday, 7 October.
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
It was fantabulous (a word I do not use lightly) to see so many parents attending upper school PIN on Wednesday. The evening had a very positive feel and had good flow between classes; it was a pleasure to greet and speak with folks in the hallways, confirming our solid beginning to this academic year.
The Chilean flag, now flying as you enter campus, indicates the safe arrival of our 11 Chilean exchange students from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion. They were greeted at the airport by a jubilant group of MVS students and parents, and then welcomed by their MVS host families upon returning to campus. Of special note, Saturday, 18 September marks the Bicentennial of Chilean Independence.
Beginning Monday, the Lange Library will have extended study hours, from 3:30 - 6:00PM. This service is free of charge to students in the upper school. After 4:00PM, all students not involved in an organized MVS activity (supervised athletic practice, drama rehearsal, extra-curricular activity, etc.) are required to sign-in at the library for quiet study. Students must be picked up from campus by 6:00PM. I am pleased to welcome Stephanie Brown as our new afternoon library proctor.
Mark Kurlansky, best selling author and 2007 nonfiction winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, will be on campus this Monday, speaking with our Global Realities class.
The Independent School Health and Wellness Survey will be conducted to all students in the upper school on Wednesday, 22 September. As mentioned during PIN, this survey reflects an important initiative in supporting the over-all wellness of students in the Upper School. The results of the survey (which are anonymous and confidential) will provide valuable guidance to our student counseling and support programs, as well as to future parent education offerings. Christie Kemper (School Counselor) sent a letter home last week; if you have any further questions, feel free to contact her or me.
On Thursday, 23 September renowned author and former MVS teacher Katrina Kittle will be on campus as part of the MVS Visiting Author Series. Ms. Kittle will speak with and take questions from upper school students faculty members during 1st period in the Truslow Commons. Ms. Kittle will then visit English classes throughout the day. Please check the MVS website for an invitation to a parent event with author on Friday evening.
Because Anne Griffith is taking a short leave of absence, I am honored to welcome Joni Jackson-Martin as our extended-term substitute. After a 10-year career in research and development with Proctor and Gamble, Ms. Jackson-Martin is currently completing her Masters Degree in Education at the University of Dayton.
Friday, 24 September marks the mid-term of Fall Trimester. Teachers will compose comments and compute estimated grades and work habit/effort marks for all students. I anticipate having mid-terms “sent live” via MyBackpack in the afternoon of Monday, 5 October, and will send you an e.mail confirmation once they are available. Advisors will meet and discuss mid-terms with advisees on Thursday, 7 October.
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Monday, September 13, 2010
US PIN: Advisory Group Meeting Locations
Monday, 13 September 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents!
As promised, here is a quick e.mail confirming that US Parent Information Night (PIN) is scheduled for this Wednesday, 15 September. The evening begins promptly at 7:PM with advisory group meetings, in the following locations:
Upper School PIN:
Advisory Group Meeting Locations
MR. ASH Room 4
DR. BIRDI Room 22
MR. CAMM Room 6
MR. CZARNOTA Room 20
MR. DUNNIGAN Lange Library
MR. GRAETZ Room 2
MRS. GRIFFITH Room 23
MS. KEMPER Room 8
MR. LAMOTTE Room 12
MS. MOULTON Room 5
MR. MUNHOFEN & MRS. ZHANG Room 10
MR. ROMEO Room 11
MRS. SPARKS Room 3
MS. SPIEGEL Room 7
MR. SQUIERS Room 1
MR. WAGNER Room 9
MR. WILLIAMS US Music Room
MRS. ZHANG & MR. MUNHOFEN Room 10
Following Advisory meetings (where you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule for PIN, a map of US classrooms, and a name tag), parents will then participate in an abridged version of your child’s academic schedule, each class meeting for 10 minutes, with a 5 minute passing time between. This schedule allows us to conclude US PIN at 9:PM, so bring a notepad for jotting down notes and wear comfortable shoes to keep on pace. Class changing times will be announced over the phone/intercom system. If you happen to arrive at MVS after 7:15PM, a copy of your child’s schedule should be available at the reception desk in the main hallway.
PIN is intended to provide the opportunity for parents to meet advisors and teachers, briefly experience academic classes, and put “some names to faces” in the interests of facilitating future contact and communication. Should you have a specific question regarding a class or relating to your child’s performance, please contact that teacher to arrange for a later appointment, when such matters can be addressed appropriately. The mid-term of the Fall Trimester is 24 September, with the goal of releasing comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades via MyBackpack on Monday, 4 October.
Since US PIN begins with individual advisory group meetings, representatives from the MVS Parents’ Association will be in the main hall and Lange Library to answer questions about opportunities for you to become more involved in the MVS community. Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling), Ken Laake (Athletic Director), and Trey Adams (Director of Admissions), will join me in being available in the library and hallways. Water will be available in the library, courtesy of the Parents’ Association, during free periods to keep you hydrated.
On behalf of all of the upper school faculty and staff, we look forward to sharing an informative Wednesday evening with you.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents!
As promised, here is a quick e.mail confirming that US Parent Information Night (PIN) is scheduled for this Wednesday, 15 September. The evening begins promptly at 7:PM with advisory group meetings, in the following locations:
Upper School PIN:
Advisory Group Meeting Locations
MR. ASH Room 4
DR. BIRDI Room 22
MR. CAMM Room 6
MR. CZARNOTA Room 20
MR. DUNNIGAN Lange Library
MR. GRAETZ Room 2
MRS. GRIFFITH Room 23
MS. KEMPER Room 8
MR. LAMOTTE Room 12
MS. MOULTON Room 5
MR. MUNHOFEN & MRS. ZHANG Room 10
MR. ROMEO Room 11
MRS. SPARKS Room 3
MS. SPIEGEL Room 7
MR. SQUIERS Room 1
MR. WAGNER Room 9
MR. WILLIAMS US Music Room
MRS. ZHANG & MR. MUNHOFEN Room 10
Following Advisory meetings (where you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule for PIN, a map of US classrooms, and a name tag), parents will then participate in an abridged version of your child’s academic schedule, each class meeting for 10 minutes, with a 5 minute passing time between. This schedule allows us to conclude US PIN at 9:PM, so bring a notepad for jotting down notes and wear comfortable shoes to keep on pace. Class changing times will be announced over the phone/intercom system. If you happen to arrive at MVS after 7:15PM, a copy of your child’s schedule should be available at the reception desk in the main hallway.
PIN is intended to provide the opportunity for parents to meet advisors and teachers, briefly experience academic classes, and put “some names to faces” in the interests of facilitating future contact and communication. Should you have a specific question regarding a class or relating to your child’s performance, please contact that teacher to arrange for a later appointment, when such matters can be addressed appropriately. The mid-term of the Fall Trimester is 24 September, with the goal of releasing comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades via MyBackpack on Monday, 4 October.
Since US PIN begins with individual advisory group meetings, representatives from the MVS Parents’ Association will be in the main hall and Lange Library to answer questions about opportunities for you to become more involved in the MVS community. Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling), Ken Laake (Athletic Director), and Trey Adams (Director of Admissions), will join me in being available in the library and hallways. Water will be available in the library, courtesy of the Parents’ Association, during free periods to keep you hydrated.
On behalf of all of the upper school faculty and staff, we look forward to sharing an informative Wednesday evening with you.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, September 10, 2010
Upper School PIN, Picture Day, & Mid-September Happenings
Friday, 10 September 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The week following Labor Day always confirms the feeling that the academic year is now in full swing. With the approach of Parent Information Night (PIN) and an abundance of up-coming programs and initiatives, I thought it a good idea to send a reminder of activities at work here in the Upper School.
Picture day is Tuesday for individual student packets, including photo IDs. Rather than distributing order envelopes, this year the form is electronic, as mentioned in Friday’s MVS Weekly Bulletin. Students will need to bring a printed/completed order form and payment to submit their picture order. Photos for fall season athletic teams will soon be scheduled.
Upper School PIN is this Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:PM sharp with meetings by Advisory Groups. PIN is an essential event at MVS, providing the opportunity for parents to meet advisors and teachers, attend shortened classes, and gain insight to the academic program in the upper school. Expect a detailed e.mail from me on Monday with meeting locations and other PIN related information; please plan to attend this important event. For parents of freshmen, remember you are invited to a special Parents of Freshman Meeting at 6:PM, before PIN.
Thursday brings the anticipated arrival of our 11 Chilean exchange students, who will attend classes at MVS from 16-30 September. I greatly appreciate the MVS families serving as hosts to our South American guests. On Thursday, I have arranged for the MVS school bus to meet the Chileans at the airport, departing around 1:PM. If parents would like “host siblings” to join the welcome committee, please send a note to the upper school office.
This week marks the beginning of visiting college representatives coming to campus. Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling), will continue to up-date the days and times of visiting reps on the MVS calendar, which can be accessed at: http://www.mvschool.com/collegecounseling/colleges-on-campus . While primarily intended for Juniors and Seniors, underclassmen are permitted to attend these meetings, provided they follow the appropriate procedure if missing a class. Many college reps come to Dayton solely to visit MVS, so students are encouraged to take advantage of these informative contacts with actual admissions officers.
Next week you will receive a letter from Christie Kemper (MVS Counselor) and me regarding an important student wellness survey we will administer to the entire upper school student body during the day on 22 September. The results of this survey, which are completely anonymous and strictly confidential, will provide valued information in enhancing our awareness of student issues, developing our parent education programs, and fostering greater awareness and support of our students.
Speaking of student support, Deb Spiegel (Freshman Dean) organized a lunch meeting today with the 10 Freshmen new to MVS. From their questions and interactions, it sounds like they have made a smooth transition to MVS and into the upper school.
I will send a reminder late next week, including details relating to the campus visit schedule for Katrina Kittle, author of The Blessings of the Animals, our 2010 Upper School Shared Summer Reading selection; activities planned for Homecoming Week, 1-2 October including the 5K Run For The Rams; and my annual Homecoming Dance “expectations letter” to parents.
In a community that honors cultural diversity, it is not lost on me that this week we celebrate both Rosh Hashanah and the end of Ramadan. Considering recent national and international news stories depicting discord and cultural misunderstanding, it is affirming to me on a daily basis the unique community we all espouse here at MVS.
Best wishes towards a great weekend,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The week following Labor Day always confirms the feeling that the academic year is now in full swing. With the approach of Parent Information Night (PIN) and an abundance of up-coming programs and initiatives, I thought it a good idea to send a reminder of activities at work here in the Upper School.
Picture day is Tuesday for individual student packets, including photo IDs. Rather than distributing order envelopes, this year the form is electronic, as mentioned in Friday’s MVS Weekly Bulletin. Students will need to bring a printed/completed order form and payment to submit their picture order. Photos for fall season athletic teams will soon be scheduled.
Upper School PIN is this Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:PM sharp with meetings by Advisory Groups. PIN is an essential event at MVS, providing the opportunity for parents to meet advisors and teachers, attend shortened classes, and gain insight to the academic program in the upper school. Expect a detailed e.mail from me on Monday with meeting locations and other PIN related information; please plan to attend this important event. For parents of freshmen, remember you are invited to a special Parents of Freshman Meeting at 6:PM, before PIN.
Thursday brings the anticipated arrival of our 11 Chilean exchange students, who will attend classes at MVS from 16-30 September. I greatly appreciate the MVS families serving as hosts to our South American guests. On Thursday, I have arranged for the MVS school bus to meet the Chileans at the airport, departing around 1:PM. If parents would like “host siblings” to join the welcome committee, please send a note to the upper school office.
This week marks the beginning of visiting college representatives coming to campus. Colin Dunnigan (Director of College Counseling), will continue to up-date the days and times of visiting reps on the MVS calendar, which can be accessed at: http://www.mvschool.com/collegecounseling/colleges-on-campus . While primarily intended for Juniors and Seniors, underclassmen are permitted to attend these meetings, provided they follow the appropriate procedure if missing a class. Many college reps come to Dayton solely to visit MVS, so students are encouraged to take advantage of these informative contacts with actual admissions officers.
Next week you will receive a letter from Christie Kemper (MVS Counselor) and me regarding an important student wellness survey we will administer to the entire upper school student body during the day on 22 September. The results of this survey, which are completely anonymous and strictly confidential, will provide valued information in enhancing our awareness of student issues, developing our parent education programs, and fostering greater awareness and support of our students.
Speaking of student support, Deb Spiegel (Freshman Dean) organized a lunch meeting today with the 10 Freshmen new to MVS. From their questions and interactions, it sounds like they have made a smooth transition to MVS and into the upper school.
I will send a reminder late next week, including details relating to the campus visit schedule for Katrina Kittle, author of The Blessings of the Animals, our 2010 Upper School Shared Summer Reading selection; activities planned for Homecoming Week, 1-2 October including the 5K Run For The Rams; and my annual Homecoming Dance “expectations letter” to parents.
In a community that honors cultural diversity, it is not lost on me that this week we celebrate both Rosh Hashanah and the end of Ramadan. Considering recent national and international news stories depicting discord and cultural misunderstanding, it is affirming to me on a daily basis the unique community we all espouse here at MVS.
Best wishes towards a great weekend,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, September 3, 2010
MVS Convocation & Dress Code
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Good Morning Upper School Parents:
A quick reminder that Convocation is tomorrow, Friday, 3 September, beginning at 8:30AM in the Lane Gymnasium. For this traditional, all-school event, we ask students dress more formally, especially our seniors, since they partake in the flower-and-book exchange with the kindergarten and first-grade students. Many boys elect to wear a tie, though jackets are not required. To encourage students to wear their favorite spring and summer finery, the “shoulders-must-covered/required shoulder-cap” portion of the dress code will not be enforced tomorrow; however, students should remain mindful of their skirt and short lengths.
Parents of seniors (and familiar friends) are reminded that this can be a sentimental and moving event, particularly for those who recall sons and daughters in years past; bring kleenex or a hankie.
MVS Class of 1981 alumnus Roger Meike is our keynote speaker; he will be available after Convocation for questions and greetings. Following convocation, the upper school will follow a special schedule, allowing all class periods to meet, including meetings by Advisory Groups to review the first two weeks of school, look further ahead into September, and celebrate our smooth start to the academic year.
I look forward to seeing you at Convocation.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Good Morning Upper School Parents:
A quick reminder that Convocation is tomorrow, Friday, 3 September, beginning at 8:30AM in the Lane Gymnasium. For this traditional, all-school event, we ask students dress more formally, especially our seniors, since they partake in the flower-and-book exchange with the kindergarten and first-grade students. Many boys elect to wear a tie, though jackets are not required. To encourage students to wear their favorite spring and summer finery, the “shoulders-must-covered/required shoulder-cap” portion of the dress code will not be enforced tomorrow; however, students should remain mindful of their skirt and short lengths.
Parents of seniors (and familiar friends) are reminded that this can be a sentimental and moving event, particularly for those who recall sons and daughters in years past; bring kleenex or a hankie.
MVS Class of 1981 alumnus Roger Meike is our keynote speaker; he will be available after Convocation for questions and greetings. Following convocation, the upper school will follow a special schedule, allowing all class periods to meet, including meetings by Advisory Groups to review the first two weeks of school, look further ahead into September, and celebrate our smooth start to the academic year.
I look forward to seeing you at Convocation.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, August 27, 2010
Upper School: First Week Back
Friday, 27 August 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents!
What a fantastic first week it has been! We have had “all-present” attendance for most grade levels all four days; cooler weather in the mornings has added to our pleasant acclimation back into academic mode, and the over-all verve in the classrooms and hallways has been exemplary. It is a delight to have everyone back!
It was great to see so many folks at the opening meeting of the MVS Parents’ Association on Thursday morning. Suzi Mikutis, incoming President, shared a number of exciting initiatives this year. Since all MVS parents are defacto members of the Parents’ Association, we look forward to involving you further in the fabric of the MVS community, be it in providing support, answering questions, or becoming involved in the variety of volunteer opportunities.
Available now on the MVS website are brief descriptions of the 2010-11 Immersion Programs, as well as the titles of programs likely to be offered in 2011-12. Special thanks to Rachel Moulton in leading the Immersion Review Committee and the valued assistance they have provided in streamlining these processes. We will be discussing the selection process with students in the coming weeks, including holding a pre-Immersion Open House during the school day, allowing students to visit and speak with immersion facilitators before they submit their Immersion Applications.
Next Friday, 3 September at 8:30AM is Convocation, in the Lane Gym, marking the start of the school year with the ceremonial gathering of the entire MVS student and faculty body, grades kindergarten through twelfth. For traditional all-school event, we ask students dress more formally, especially our seniors, since they partake in the flower and book exchange with the kindergarten and first-grade students. Parents of seniors (and familiar friends) are cautioned that this can be an emotional and moving event, particularly for those who recall sons and daughters in years past as the younger participants of this exchange (bring kleenex or a hankie).
MVS Class of 1981 alumnus Roger Meike is our keynote speaker at Convocation. Biographical information, including an invitation to Thursday night’s Distinguished Alumni Induction, is available on the MVS web
We are seeking 3-4 additional host families for our Chilean exchange students, particularly those able to host a girl. The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile has a program similar to our Immersion Program, which allows their entire Sophomore class to travel to Ohio. Our group of 11 exchange students will arrive in Dayton on Thursday, 16 September and will reside with host families and attend classes here at MVS for two weeks, departing on Thursday, 30 September. As a host family, you are simply agreeing to open your home, providing a room, breakfast and dinner (MVS will provide lunches at school during the week), as well as including the exchange student in your normal family activities. The largest goal of this exchange is for Chilean students to spend time with and experience the life of an American family. The Thomas Jefferson School has much of its curriculum in both English and Spanish, so the exchange students will be quite proficient in English, to ease any possible worries about a “language barrier.” Please contact me if you have additional questions.
That’s all for now from the energized first-days-back at MVS. As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s academic advisor, classroom teacher, grade-level dean, or me. If not earlier at an MVS athletic event, I look forward to seeing you at Upper School Parent Information Night (PIN) on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents!
What a fantastic first week it has been! We have had “all-present” attendance for most grade levels all four days; cooler weather in the mornings has added to our pleasant acclimation back into academic mode, and the over-all verve in the classrooms and hallways has been exemplary. It is a delight to have everyone back!
It was great to see so many folks at the opening meeting of the MVS Parents’ Association on Thursday morning. Suzi Mikutis, incoming President, shared a number of exciting initiatives this year. Since all MVS parents are defacto members of the Parents’ Association, we look forward to involving you further in the fabric of the MVS community, be it in providing support, answering questions, or becoming involved in the variety of volunteer opportunities.
Available now on the MVS website are brief descriptions of the 2010-11 Immersion Programs, as well as the titles of programs likely to be offered in 2011-12. Special thanks to Rachel Moulton in leading the Immersion Review Committee and the valued assistance they have provided in streamlining these processes. We will be discussing the selection process with students in the coming weeks, including holding a pre-Immersion Open House during the school day, allowing students to visit and speak with immersion facilitators before they submit their Immersion Applications.
Next Friday, 3 September at 8:30AM is Convocation, in the Lane Gym, marking the start of the school year with the ceremonial gathering of the entire MVS student and faculty body, grades kindergarten through twelfth. For traditional all-school event, we ask students dress more formally, especially our seniors, since they partake in the flower and book exchange with the kindergarten and first-grade students. Parents of seniors (and familiar friends) are cautioned that this can be an emotional and moving event, particularly for those who recall sons and daughters in years past as the younger participants of this exchange (bring kleenex or a hankie).
MVS Class of 1981 alumnus Roger Meike is our keynote speaker at Convocation. Biographical information, including an invitation to Thursday night’s Distinguished Alumni Induction, is available on the MVS web
We are seeking 3-4 additional host families for our Chilean exchange students, particularly those able to host a girl. The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile has a program similar to our Immersion Program, which allows their entire Sophomore class to travel to Ohio. Our group of 11 exchange students will arrive in Dayton on Thursday, 16 September and will reside with host families and attend classes here at MVS for two weeks, departing on Thursday, 30 September. As a host family, you are simply agreeing to open your home, providing a room, breakfast and dinner (MVS will provide lunches at school during the week), as well as including the exchange student in your normal family activities. The largest goal of this exchange is for Chilean students to spend time with and experience the life of an American family. The Thomas Jefferson School has much of its curriculum in both English and Spanish, so the exchange students will be quite proficient in English, to ease any possible worries about a “language barrier.” Please contact me if you have additional questions.
That’s all for now from the energized first-days-back at MVS. As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s academic advisor, classroom teacher, grade-level dean, or me. If not earlier at an MVS athletic event, I look forward to seeing you at Upper School Parent Information Night (PIN) on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, August 23, 2010
MVS Upper School Opening Day Details & Reminders
Monday, 23 August 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope this e.mail finds you healthy and well-rested as we all prepare for a jubilant start to the 2010-11 academic year. It was exciting to meet and participate in all four of the upper school grade-level orientation programs, including Sunday’s river clean up and canoeing expedition, organized and accomplished by the Senior Class of 2011. Their enthusiasm, sense of purpose, and good humor bodes well for our senior leadership this year.
I am thrilled to share that we will begin tomorrow at 189 students strong in the Upper School, including 18 families new to MVS! Here are a couple details and reminders to further smooth tomorrow’s start of school:
• Morning Announcements begins promptly at 8:05AM each day and fulfills an essential component in our close-knit upper school community. Please make sure your sons and daughters arrive with ample time to store books and backpacks, and be ready for the start of Morning Announcements.
• Tomorrow’s opening school schedule allows for lengthened Morning Announcements, each class period to meet for 40 minutes, and an extended lunch/advisory period.
• Student Government is hosting a pizza lunch for the entire upper school on Tuesday, 24 August. We will eat in Advisory Groups, allowing the opportunity to share summer stories, meet new advisory members, and discuss a number of topics relevant to the 2010-11 school year. Of note, faculty members have identified orderliness of commons and locker area, enforcement of dress code, and timeliness to classes as high-priority subjects to begin the year. As always, we appreciate parental support and assistance.
• During Advisory Meetings, students will receive copies of the Parent Notification & Permission Form, indicating the thorough reading and understanding of the MVS Student Handbook (available on the MVS website) and the Technology Acceptable Use Policy (which will be discussed in detail this week). This form needs to be initialed, signed, and returned to the upper school office by next week.
• All upper school students should anticipate eating on campus (either packing their own lunches or purchasing from the new food service in the Commons Cafe) for at least the next 5-7 days, allowing time to re-connect with classmates, collect missing forms, and for extra-curricular organizations to hold initial meetings. Ordering food deliveries to campus is only permitted if officially sponsored by an extra-curricular group and overseen by a faculty member. I will e.mail you when “open lunch” privileges for appropriate Juniors and Seniors goes into effect.
• Regarding “supply lists” for the upper school, my advice is for students to bring their assignment books and a couple notebooks for the first day of classes; individual teachers will provide suggestions for course specific supply needs.
• There are a number of exciting and noteworthy start-of-school meetings and events, including: Parents Association, Distinguished Alumni Induction, Convocation, Parent Information Night (PIN), and MVS Visiting Author programs. Please refer to the MVS on-line calendar for dates and details.
• The archives of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office can be viewed on my Blog at http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. I welcome your comments.
On behalf of the entire upper school faculty and staff, we look forward to welcoming your sons and daughters to the start of the academic year. We are also excited to meet you in person during Upper School Parent Information Night (PIN) on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM.
I hope to see you at an up-coming MVS athletic event.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope this e.mail finds you healthy and well-rested as we all prepare for a jubilant start to the 2010-11 academic year. It was exciting to meet and participate in all four of the upper school grade-level orientation programs, including Sunday’s river clean up and canoeing expedition, organized and accomplished by the Senior Class of 2011. Their enthusiasm, sense of purpose, and good humor bodes well for our senior leadership this year.
I am thrilled to share that we will begin tomorrow at 189 students strong in the Upper School, including 18 families new to MVS! Here are a couple details and reminders to further smooth tomorrow’s start of school:
• Morning Announcements begins promptly at 8:05AM each day and fulfills an essential component in our close-knit upper school community. Please make sure your sons and daughters arrive with ample time to store books and backpacks, and be ready for the start of Morning Announcements.
• Tomorrow’s opening school schedule allows for lengthened Morning Announcements, each class period to meet for 40 minutes, and an extended lunch/advisory period.
• Student Government is hosting a pizza lunch for the entire upper school on Tuesday, 24 August. We will eat in Advisory Groups, allowing the opportunity to share summer stories, meet new advisory members, and discuss a number of topics relevant to the 2010-11 school year. Of note, faculty members have identified orderliness of commons and locker area, enforcement of dress code, and timeliness to classes as high-priority subjects to begin the year. As always, we appreciate parental support and assistance.
• During Advisory Meetings, students will receive copies of the Parent Notification & Permission Form, indicating the thorough reading and understanding of the MVS Student Handbook (available on the MVS website) and the Technology Acceptable Use Policy (which will be discussed in detail this week). This form needs to be initialed, signed, and returned to the upper school office by next week.
• All upper school students should anticipate eating on campus (either packing their own lunches or purchasing from the new food service in the Commons Cafe) for at least the next 5-7 days, allowing time to re-connect with classmates, collect missing forms, and for extra-curricular organizations to hold initial meetings. Ordering food deliveries to campus is only permitted if officially sponsored by an extra-curricular group and overseen by a faculty member. I will e.mail you when “open lunch” privileges for appropriate Juniors and Seniors goes into effect.
• Regarding “supply lists” for the upper school, my advice is for students to bring their assignment books and a couple notebooks for the first day of classes; individual teachers will provide suggestions for course specific supply needs.
• There are a number of exciting and noteworthy start-of-school meetings and events, including: Parents Association, Distinguished Alumni Induction, Convocation, Parent Information Night (PIN), and MVS Visiting Author programs. Please refer to the MVS on-line calendar for dates and details.
• The archives of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office can be viewed on my Blog at http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. I welcome your comments.
On behalf of the entire upper school faculty and staff, we look forward to welcoming your sons and daughters to the start of the academic year. We are also excited to meet you in person during Upper School Parent Information Night (PIN) on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM.
I hope to see you at an up-coming MVS athletic event.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, August 2, 2010
MVS Shared Summer Reading: Katrina Kittle's Book Release Events
Monday, 2 August 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents & Students:
I hope the start of August finds you rested, healthy, and excited for the start of the 2010-11 school year. A quick reminder that the upper school’s Shared Summer Reading (required for all students and teachers), Katrina Kittle’s THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS, will be released tomorrow, 3 August! Copies can be ordered via Amazon (and delivered directly to your early August location) or through a local Dayton bookstore. This book will be the focus in all English classes, as well as during initial Advisory Group meetings.
Here are some exciting up-coming events relating to the release of Ms. Kittle’s newest title:
Saturday’s Dayton Daily News carried a great interview with Ms. Kittle, the text of which can be found on the DDN page.
Today, Monday 2 August, at 12:noon on WDTN channel 2, Marsha Bonhart (news anchor and MVS parent) will interview Ms. Kittle on the air.
This Friday, 6 August at 7:PM, Books & Co at the Greene will host a reading and book signing with Ms. Kittle, celebrating the first public release event for THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS. If you are able, please attend so we can give Ms. Kittle a robust MVS presence at this public event. How very cool to get a signed copy of your required summer reading!
For additional information about Ms. Kittle, her novels, and her fall book tour, visit her author webpage at Harper Collins.
Stay tuned for details regarding Ms. Kittle’s return to MVS this fall as part of the MVS Visiting Authors Series.
Best wishes towards an enjoyable continuation of your summer; I look forward to seeing you soon at MVS.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents & Students:
I hope the start of August finds you rested, healthy, and excited for the start of the 2010-11 school year. A quick reminder that the upper school’s Shared Summer Reading (required for all students and teachers), Katrina Kittle’s THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS, will be released tomorrow, 3 August! Copies can be ordered via Amazon (and delivered directly to your early August location) or through a local Dayton bookstore. This book will be the focus in all English classes, as well as during initial Advisory Group meetings.
Here are some exciting up-coming events relating to the release of Ms. Kittle’s newest title:
Saturday’s Dayton Daily News carried a great interview with Ms. Kittle, the text of which can be found on the DDN page.
Today, Monday 2 August, at 12:noon on WDTN channel 2, Marsha Bonhart (news anchor and MVS parent) will interview Ms. Kittle on the air.
This Friday, 6 August at 7:PM, Books & Co at the Greene will host a reading and book signing with Ms. Kittle, celebrating the first public release event for THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS. If you are able, please attend so we can give Ms. Kittle a robust MVS presence at this public event. How very cool to get a signed copy of your required summer reading!
For additional information about Ms. Kittle, her novels, and her fall book tour, visit her author webpage at Harper Collins.
Stay tuned for details regarding Ms. Kittle’s return to MVS this fall as part of the MVS Visiting Authors Series.
Best wishes towards an enjoyable continuation of your summer; I look forward to seeing you soon at MVS.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Upper School Summer Mailer Letter
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents and Students:
Although the start of school is still a shimmering mirage on the horizon, I want to pass along some reminders in anticipation of a smooth start to the 2010-11 academic year. The campus is active with summer improvements (including a new roof on the upper school, a completely redesigned library, as well as accustomed touch-ups to classrooms and hallways), making ready for a fresh start of school in August.
As mentioned in my recent e.mail, your child’s academic schedule is now available via the MyBackpack portal from the MVS web. Jon Graetz (as scheduler) and I have worked diligently to accommodate as many course requests as possible. Although, scheduling conflicts are inevitable, we have done our best to keep them to a minimum. If, after reviewing your schedule, you would like to propose a change to your course schedule, know that we will review all such requests; however, we must also attend to the considerations of the larger schedule, balance of sections, and other “bigger picture” issues. We appreciate your understanding.
This fall, the academic day will begin at 8:05AM with Morning Announcements and will conclude at 3:20PM. While five courses continues to be the customary academic load in the upper school, on occasion, students discover they can successfully handle six. The key to considering such options lies in seeking appropriate balance in a student’s life, including: academic schedule, extra-curricular involvements, family schedules, and anticipated workload. The upper school schedule, now in its second year, provides a number of enhancements, including: longer classes, a floating lab period, and rotation of classes. Stemming from feedback collected last year, we have made some adjustments for this year, including a more judicious use of the lab periods, thus providing increased opportunities for students to meet with teachers, complete homework, or catch up between classes. We will continue to monitor and make further adjustments this year.
To further strengthen connections in the upper school, the advisory program will receive added attention this year, specifically in having 15 scheduled meetings throughout the year. For continuing students, most of the advisory groupings remain the same, although a handful of faculty members have shifted their duties. Recognizing the important connecting threads that our Advisory Program provides in the fabric of the upper school community, I am confident that “continuing members” of advisory groups will make “new additions” feel welcomed, informed, and well supported.
I am delighted to welcome three faculty members new to our upper school community. Robyn Case, Librarian and Media Sciences Coordinator, will work in all three divisions and is already assisting with the major renovation to the upper school library. We have two additions to our History Department: Matt LaMotte, most recently from New Hampton School in New Hampshire, will teach AP European History, Government, Modern World, electives, and serve as our men’s lacrosse coach; Blair Munhofen, recent graduate of Georgetown University, will teach World Civilizations, Speech, electives, develop the MVS speech and debate program, and assist with athletics. If you have recently phoned MVS, you have likely already spoken with Heike Kennel, our new MVS receptionist. The four grade-level Deans will continue to focus on grade-level programs and initiatives, including increased attention to student support, clubs and activities, and student expectations and conduct. The Community Service / Service Learning Program is currently undergoing review. Expect a detailed list of guidelines, links, and contact information publicizing Dayton area service organizations and opportunities in the fall.
This marks the fourth year of our Shared Summer Reading for the entire upper school community, including all students, teachers, and I suspect, a number of parents. Our common title is The Blessings of the Animals, by Katrina Kittle, which is due out on 3 August. I encourage you to pre-order your copy now. As a former MVS teacher, Ms. Kittle is very familiar with our school culture, so I am excited for her to participate in the discussions that will emerge from reading her novel. Additional details for Katrina Kittle’s visit to MVS will be announced in late August, including an evening event with the author, for parents and alums.
The revised Upper School Handbook & Program of Studies is available on-line in the “quick links” section of the upper school homepage. As a parent, please review carefully the entirety of the handbook. We will discuss some of the more pertinent topics during Advisory Group meetings early in the school year. The Parent Notification/Student Permission form, which requires student and parent signatures, will be sent home after we review relevant topics during initial Advisory Group meetings.
Considering the arrival of sweltering summer weather, here is an additional reminder regarding dress code. As a quick guide: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands at their sides; and shirts should cover a student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts,” is better suited for athletic venues than for classrooms. I appreciate your assistance (and shared humor) in guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
In mid-September, MVS will host a student delegation from our sister school, The Thomas Jefferson School, in Concepcion, Chile. We are still seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 10 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks that they are in the Dayton area. Thank you to the MVS families who responded to the initial request back in June. If you have interest, please send me an e.mail; I am happy to discuss any additional questions that you have. Thank you for your help with this important relationship, affirming MVS’ commitment to supporting global citizenship.
Team practices for fall high school athletes are scheduled to begin the week of 9 August. Ken Laake (Athletic Director) or the appropriate coach will contact athletes regarding specific practice schedules and related details. Athletic physical cards must be completed and returned to the athletic office before athletes can participate in any pre-season practices.
I am thrilled to report that we have 18 students coming new to MVS this year, including 9 new members of our Freshman Class of 2014! For new parents and students, there is an orientation and welcome program on Monday, 23 August, from 8:30-9:30AM in the Middle School Commons. Details regarding the grade-level specific orientation programs are included in this mailer, each of which occurs on Monday, 23 August.
Tuesday, 24 August is the first day of school! As with the beginning of each year, we need to be patient and flexible as we all become re-adjusted to the flow of traffic on our busy K-12 campus. We will continue to stagger arrival and dismissal times for the three divisions to reduce potential traffic congestion in the neighborhood. As mentioned, Morning Announcements plays an essential role to the culture of the Upper School, thus it is crucial that your child be on time, so that she or he can be fully aware of messages, activities, and events.
Upper School Parent Information Night (better known as PIN, in MVS lingo) will be held on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM. After meeting with your child’s Academic Advisor for welcome and important announcements, you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule, then follow an abridged version of the entire academic day, providing the opportunity to briefly attend each of her or his classes. I will send specific details as PIN approaches. Speaking of which, digital versions of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office can be found on my MVS Blog. I welcome you to subscribe and follow along, contributing comments and suggestions.
Thank you for reading through these details and reminders about the start of the coming academic year. I wish for you and your family an enjoyable and safe continuation of the summer. On behalf of all upper school faculty and staff members, we look forward to seeing you soon as we all gear-up to start the 2010-11 academic year. It is sure to be a great one!
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Enclosed in this summer mailer are several important documents that must be completed prior to the opening of school. Please complete and return the stapled set of forms to the US office as soon as possible.
MVS continues to work with MBS Direct Booksellers as an on-line vendor for textbooks, the link to which is also available on the MVS website. The MBS site lists the book titles and ISBN numbers for the courses your child is scheduled to take. Please note, you may purchase your books through any vendor (including local bookstores or on-line vendors: Amazon, Borders, perhaps even eBay) so long as the books are the same edition indicated on MBS Direct. Many vendors also sell used copies of books. You are also welcome to contact older students from previous classes to purchase their used books, again, as long as the editions are the same. Textbooks, in some classes, will be available as state aid texts that students may borrow for the year. It is recommended that students not write their names in books until after the school year has begun, incase of late sectioning changes.
Emergency Contact Information: Please check and up-date your contact information by accessing “My Backpack” via the log-in on the MVS website.
Permission Form: (Required for all grades) MVS is responsible for its students during the academic day while they are under our supervision. There are several areas, however, where it is necessary to have parental permission in order for a student to participate.
Health Form & Medication Card: Each student should have on file the updated health form to keep our records current. Kindly read the statement regarding the dispensation of prescribed medication. If your child requires prescribed medication during the school day, please complete this form and bring in the medication. Accordingly, we cannot dispense over-the-counter medication to students.
Parent Notification/Student Permission signature page: Requires the signatures of student and parent, indicating reading and understanding of policies, guidelines, procedures, and expectations of the Handbook and technology Acceptable Uses Policy. Form will be sent home with students following discussions during start-of-school Advisory Group meetings.
Instrumental Music Registration Form: For students interested in taking or continuing private music instruction, please complete the enclosed form and return it to Ross Williams.
New MVS Food Service Information Sheet: As the title implies, MVS has an exciting new food provider partnership, beginning next fall.
Calendar of Major Dates, 2010-11: As the title implies. We will share the news as soon as these details are known.
Greetings Upper School Parents and Students:
Although the start of school is still a shimmering mirage on the horizon, I want to pass along some reminders in anticipation of a smooth start to the 2010-11 academic year. The campus is active with summer improvements (including a new roof on the upper school, a completely redesigned library, as well as accustomed touch-ups to classrooms and hallways), making ready for a fresh start of school in August.
As mentioned in my recent e.mail, your child’s academic schedule is now available via the MyBackpack portal from the MVS web. Jon Graetz (as scheduler) and I have worked diligently to accommodate as many course requests as possible. Although, scheduling conflicts are inevitable, we have done our best to keep them to a minimum. If, after reviewing your schedule, you would like to propose a change to your course schedule, know that we will review all such requests; however, we must also attend to the considerations of the larger schedule, balance of sections, and other “bigger picture” issues. We appreciate your understanding.
This fall, the academic day will begin at 8:05AM with Morning Announcements and will conclude at 3:20PM. While five courses continues to be the customary academic load in the upper school, on occasion, students discover they can successfully handle six. The key to considering such options lies in seeking appropriate balance in a student’s life, including: academic schedule, extra-curricular involvements, family schedules, and anticipated workload. The upper school schedule, now in its second year, provides a number of enhancements, including: longer classes, a floating lab period, and rotation of classes. Stemming from feedback collected last year, we have made some adjustments for this year, including a more judicious use of the lab periods, thus providing increased opportunities for students to meet with teachers, complete homework, or catch up between classes. We will continue to monitor and make further adjustments this year.
To further strengthen connections in the upper school, the advisory program will receive added attention this year, specifically in having 15 scheduled meetings throughout the year. For continuing students, most of the advisory groupings remain the same, although a handful of faculty members have shifted their duties. Recognizing the important connecting threads that our Advisory Program provides in the fabric of the upper school community, I am confident that “continuing members” of advisory groups will make “new additions” feel welcomed, informed, and well supported.
I am delighted to welcome three faculty members new to our upper school community. Robyn Case, Librarian and Media Sciences Coordinator, will work in all three divisions and is already assisting with the major renovation to the upper school library. We have two additions to our History Department: Matt LaMotte, most recently from New Hampton School in New Hampshire, will teach AP European History, Government, Modern World, electives, and serve as our men’s lacrosse coach; Blair Munhofen, recent graduate of Georgetown University, will teach World Civilizations, Speech, electives, develop the MVS speech and debate program, and assist with athletics. If you have recently phoned MVS, you have likely already spoken with Heike Kennel, our new MVS receptionist. The four grade-level Deans will continue to focus on grade-level programs and initiatives, including increased attention to student support, clubs and activities, and student expectations and conduct. The Community Service / Service Learning Program is currently undergoing review. Expect a detailed list of guidelines, links, and contact information publicizing Dayton area service organizations and opportunities in the fall.
This marks the fourth year of our Shared Summer Reading for the entire upper school community, including all students, teachers, and I suspect, a number of parents. Our common title is The Blessings of the Animals, by Katrina Kittle, which is due out on 3 August. I encourage you to pre-order your copy now. As a former MVS teacher, Ms. Kittle is very familiar with our school culture, so I am excited for her to participate in the discussions that will emerge from reading her novel. Additional details for Katrina Kittle’s visit to MVS will be announced in late August, including an evening event with the author, for parents and alums.
The revised Upper School Handbook & Program of Studies is available on-line in the “quick links” section of the upper school homepage. As a parent, please review carefully the entirety of the handbook. We will discuss some of the more pertinent topics during Advisory Group meetings early in the school year. The Parent Notification/Student Permission form, which requires student and parent signatures, will be sent home after we review relevant topics during initial Advisory Group meetings.
Considering the arrival of sweltering summer weather, here is an additional reminder regarding dress code. As a quick guide: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands at their sides; and shirts should cover a student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts,” is better suited for athletic venues than for classrooms. I appreciate your assistance (and shared humor) in guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
In mid-September, MVS will host a student delegation from our sister school, The Thomas Jefferson School, in Concepcion, Chile. We are still seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 10 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks that they are in the Dayton area. Thank you to the MVS families who responded to the initial request back in June. If you have interest, please send me an e.mail; I am happy to discuss any additional questions that you have. Thank you for your help with this important relationship, affirming MVS’ commitment to supporting global citizenship.
Team practices for fall high school athletes are scheduled to begin the week of 9 August. Ken Laake (Athletic Director) or the appropriate coach will contact athletes regarding specific practice schedules and related details. Athletic physical cards must be completed and returned to the athletic office before athletes can participate in any pre-season practices.
I am thrilled to report that we have 18 students coming new to MVS this year, including 9 new members of our Freshman Class of 2014! For new parents and students, there is an orientation and welcome program on Monday, 23 August, from 8:30-9:30AM in the Middle School Commons. Details regarding the grade-level specific orientation programs are included in this mailer, each of which occurs on Monday, 23 August.
Tuesday, 24 August is the first day of school! As with the beginning of each year, we need to be patient and flexible as we all become re-adjusted to the flow of traffic on our busy K-12 campus. We will continue to stagger arrival and dismissal times for the three divisions to reduce potential traffic congestion in the neighborhood. As mentioned, Morning Announcements plays an essential role to the culture of the Upper School, thus it is crucial that your child be on time, so that she or he can be fully aware of messages, activities, and events.
Upper School Parent Information Night (better known as PIN, in MVS lingo) will be held on Wednesday, 15 September, beginning at 7:00PM. After meeting with your child’s Academic Advisor for welcome and important announcements, you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule, then follow an abridged version of the entire academic day, providing the opportunity to briefly attend each of her or his classes. I will send specific details as PIN approaches. Speaking of which, digital versions of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office can be found on my MVS Blog. I welcome you to subscribe and follow along, contributing comments and suggestions.
Thank you for reading through these details and reminders about the start of the coming academic year. I wish for you and your family an enjoyable and safe continuation of the summer. On behalf of all upper school faculty and staff members, we look forward to seeing you soon as we all gear-up to start the 2010-11 academic year. It is sure to be a great one!
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Enclosed in this summer mailer are several important documents that must be completed prior to the opening of school. Please complete and return the stapled set of forms to the US office as soon as possible.
MVS continues to work with MBS Direct Booksellers as an on-line vendor for textbooks, the link to which is also available on the MVS website. The MBS site lists the book titles and ISBN numbers for the courses your child is scheduled to take. Please note, you may purchase your books through any vendor (including local bookstores or on-line vendors: Amazon, Borders, perhaps even eBay) so long as the books are the same edition indicated on MBS Direct. Many vendors also sell used copies of books. You are also welcome to contact older students from previous classes to purchase their used books, again, as long as the editions are the same. Textbooks, in some classes, will be available as state aid texts that students may borrow for the year. It is recommended that students not write their names in books until after the school year has begun, incase of late sectioning changes.
Emergency Contact Information: Please check and up-date your contact information by accessing “My Backpack” via the log-in on the MVS website.
Permission Form: (Required for all grades) MVS is responsible for its students during the academic day while they are under our supervision. There are several areas, however, where it is necessary to have parental permission in order for a student to participate.
Health Form & Medication Card: Each student should have on file the updated health form to keep our records current. Kindly read the statement regarding the dispensation of prescribed medication. If your child requires prescribed medication during the school day, please complete this form and bring in the medication. Accordingly, we cannot dispense over-the-counter medication to students.
Parent Notification/Student Permission signature page: Requires the signatures of student and parent, indicating reading and understanding of policies, guidelines, procedures, and expectations of the Handbook and technology Acceptable Uses Policy. Form will be sent home with students following discussions during start-of-school Advisory Group meetings.
Instrumental Music Registration Form: For students interested in taking or continuing private music instruction, please complete the enclosed form and return it to Ross Williams.
New MVS Food Service Information Sheet: As the title implies, MVS has an exciting new food provider partnership, beginning next fall.
Calendar of Major Dates, 2010-11: As the title implies. We will share the news as soon as these details are known.
US Student Schedules & Summer Mailer
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
A quick e.mail to confirm that your child’s schedule for the 2010-11 academic year is now available via the MyBackpack portal on the MVS web:
Jon Graetz (as Scheduler) and I have worked carefully in constructing the master schedule. Before contemplating any changes, please review the list of course offerings, which will be posted on the upper school homepage by this Friday, which includes some new course offerings! While we will review all schedule change requests, please understand that we are also monitoring the balance of class sizes, rigors of schedules, and other related matters. Your understanding is appreciated.
A reminder that the 2010 Shared Summer Reading is The Blessings of the Animals, written by Katrina Kittle. Required for all upper school students and faculty members, its publication date is 3 August, so I encourage you to pre-order your copy now, perhaps arranging to have it shipped directly to where you will be enjoying the first week of August. Recommendations by the English Department for additional summer reading are listed on the upper school homepage.
The much-awaited “MVS Summer Mailer” is slated to go out on Thursday, 8 July, including many start-of-school details, forms, and reminders, so keep watch at your mailbox!
Best wishes towards the pleasant continuation of your summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
A quick e.mail to confirm that your child’s schedule for the 2010-11 academic year is now available via the MyBackpack portal on the MVS web:
Jon Graetz (as Scheduler) and I have worked carefully in constructing the master schedule. Before contemplating any changes, please review the list of course offerings, which will be posted on the upper school homepage by this Friday, which includes some new course offerings! While we will review all schedule change requests, please understand that we are also monitoring the balance of class sizes, rigors of schedules, and other related matters. Your understanding is appreciated.
A reminder that the 2010 Shared Summer Reading is The Blessings of the Animals, written by Katrina Kittle. Required for all upper school students and faculty members, its publication date is 3 August, so I encourage you to pre-order your copy now, perhaps arranging to have it shipped directly to where you will be enjoying the first week of August. Recommendations by the English Department for additional summer reading are listed on the upper school homepage.
The much-awaited “MVS Summer Mailer” is slated to go out on Thursday, 8 July, including many start-of-school details, forms, and reminders, so keep watch at your mailbox!
Best wishes towards the pleasant continuation of your summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, June 25, 2010
Late June: Dress Code, Athletic Participation, Community Service, & Scheduling
Friday, 25 June 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the arrival of actual summer weather, I imagine I am not the only parent searching for summer attire for my kids, hoping these wardrobe selections will last through autumn. That said, I thought it a good idea to send a reminder about dress code, considering it was such a “hot” topic in the spring (pun intended). As a quick guide: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands at their sides; and shirts should cover a student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts,” is better suited for athletic venues than for classrooms. I appreciate your assistance (and good humor) in guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
A couple of questions have arisen from the revised athletic and participation policy. By way of quick re-cap, here are some points of clarification:
• The revised policy applies only to students in incoming grades 9 and 10.
• Athletic participation is required for a total of 2 seasons of MVS team sports, though these credits should be completed by the end of sophomore year.
• Summer PE credit can still be accepted (according to ODE law) through approved summer school PE programs. Check with Ken Laake if you have specific questions.
• Ken Laake and I are exploring options for after-school PE programs and future summer school PE offerings here at MVS.
• The full text of the revised athletic and participation policy is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS web.
Summer is an opportune time to explore and complete community service hours. The larger goals of community service/service learning relates directly to supporting the MVS mission in developing compassionate global citizens. As a general rule, community service should: be without pay; benefit an organization outside of a student’s customary and familiar contacts (including outside of one’s faith community); assist a disadvantaged group or a needy community effort; and ideally establish a long-term relationship between student and organization. We will discuss the larger goals and related details during Advisory Groups in the fall, when students will turn-in community service hours completed over the summer. In the meantime, continue to send any questions to me.
The list of required and recommended summer reading is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website, for your perusal.
I am working closely with Jon Graetz to construct the 2010-11 upper school master schedule. We anticipate completing it soon after the 4 July weekend. I will send you a confirmation e.mail when student schedules are available via MyBackpack, inviting you to begin purchasing books via our on-line bookseller, MBS Direct.
Nicholas Studios has now posted on their website photos from the 2010 Graduation Ceremony, available for order; enjoy!
I hope late-June finds you well-rested, healthy, and cool. Best wishes towards a safe and refreshing continuation of your summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the arrival of actual summer weather, I imagine I am not the only parent searching for summer attire for my kids, hoping these wardrobe selections will last through autumn. That said, I thought it a good idea to send a reminder about dress code, considering it was such a “hot” topic in the spring (pun intended). As a quick guide: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands at their sides; and shirts should cover a student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts,” is better suited for athletic venues than for classrooms. I appreciate your assistance (and good humor) in guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
A couple of questions have arisen from the revised athletic and participation policy. By way of quick re-cap, here are some points of clarification:
• The revised policy applies only to students in incoming grades 9 and 10.
• Athletic participation is required for a total of 2 seasons of MVS team sports, though these credits should be completed by the end of sophomore year.
• Summer PE credit can still be accepted (according to ODE law) through approved summer school PE programs. Check with Ken Laake if you have specific questions.
• Ken Laake and I are exploring options for after-school PE programs and future summer school PE offerings here at MVS.
• The full text of the revised athletic and participation policy is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS web.
Summer is an opportune time to explore and complete community service hours. The larger goals of community service/service learning relates directly to supporting the MVS mission in developing compassionate global citizens. As a general rule, community service should: be without pay; benefit an organization outside of a student’s customary and familiar contacts (including outside of one’s faith community); assist a disadvantaged group or a needy community effort; and ideally establish a long-term relationship between student and organization. We will discuss the larger goals and related details during Advisory Groups in the fall, when students will turn-in community service hours completed over the summer. In the meantime, continue to send any questions to me.
The list of required and recommended summer reading is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website, for your perusal.
I am working closely with Jon Graetz to construct the 2010-11 upper school master schedule. We anticipate completing it soon after the 4 July weekend. I will send you a confirmation e.mail when student schedules are available via MyBackpack, inviting you to begin purchasing books via our on-line bookseller, MBS Direct.
Nicholas Studios has now posted on their website photos from the 2010 Graduation Ceremony, available for order; enjoy!
I hope late-June finds you well-rested, healthy, and cool. Best wishes towards a safe and refreshing continuation of your summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, June 13, 2010
End of Sping Term, End of Year, Start of Summer
Monday, 14 June 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope these first couple days of summer break finds you rested and well. Following end-of-year faculty meetings and scheduling sessions with students new to MVS, it is has been a productive week here at MVS. This e.mail serves as the official acknowledgement that grades and comments for the Spring Trimester, as well as final grades for the 2009-2010 academic year, are now available via My Backpack on the MVS web.
Here at MVS, we have already begun the transition into summer mode: cleaning classrooms and hallways, preparing for summer camps, while also starting some larger summer renovation projects. Among the most exciting this year are plans for a new roof on the upper school and an extensive renovation of the Upper School Library. Stay tuned for progress reports.
As way of reminder, summer provides an opportune time for completing outside service learning/community service hours. There will be a revision to the structure of this graduation requirement, effective next fall; however, summer remains a highly recommended time to work towards maintaining community service contacts and completing outside service hours.
Descriptions and schedules for MVS 2010 summer camp offerings are available on the MVS web, including Mr. Dunnigan’s “College Application Fun Land” (formerly known as College Boot Camp). There are also a number of academic refresher courses, as part of August Review.
Coming mid-September, I am excited to announce that MVS will host a student delegation from our sister school in South America, The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile. We are seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 10 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks that they are in the Dayton area. If you have interest, please send me an e.mail and I’ll be happy to discuss additional details. Thank you for your help with this important connection, affirming MVS’ commitment to supporting global citizenship.
Some have asked for a copy of my 2010 Graduation poem, delivered as an ode to the Seniors at the Victoria Theatre last Saturday. A printable version is available on my MVS Blog along with the archives of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office this year.
Best wishes towards a relaxing and productive summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope these first couple days of summer break finds you rested and well. Following end-of-year faculty meetings and scheduling sessions with students new to MVS, it is has been a productive week here at MVS. This e.mail serves as the official acknowledgement that grades and comments for the Spring Trimester, as well as final grades for the 2009-2010 academic year, are now available via My Backpack on the MVS web.
Here at MVS, we have already begun the transition into summer mode: cleaning classrooms and hallways, preparing for summer camps, while also starting some larger summer renovation projects. Among the most exciting this year are plans for a new roof on the upper school and an extensive renovation of the Upper School Library. Stay tuned for progress reports.
As way of reminder, summer provides an opportune time for completing outside service learning/community service hours. There will be a revision to the structure of this graduation requirement, effective next fall; however, summer remains a highly recommended time to work towards maintaining community service contacts and completing outside service hours.
Descriptions and schedules for MVS 2010 summer camp offerings are available on the MVS web, including Mr. Dunnigan’s “College Application Fun Land” (formerly known as College Boot Camp). There are also a number of academic refresher courses, as part of August Review.
Coming mid-September, I am excited to announce that MVS will host a student delegation from our sister school in South America, The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile. We are seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 10 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks that they are in the Dayton area. If you have interest, please send me an e.mail and I’ll be happy to discuss additional details. Thank you for your help with this important connection, affirming MVS’ commitment to supporting global citizenship.
Some have asked for a copy of my 2010 Graduation poem, delivered as an ode to the Seniors at the Victoria Theatre last Saturday. A printable version is available on my MVS Blog along with the archives of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school office this year.
Best wishes towards a relaxing and productive summer.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Revised Athletic Participation & Eligibility Policies
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Greetings Upper School Community:
As we continue with end-of-year celebrations for the 2010 academic year, I wanted to share some policy adjustments for the coming 2011 academic year, to which I have alluded in previous letters.
Taking into consideration the revised guidelines of the Ohio Department of Education, beginning next fall, all rising Freshmen and Sophomores will be required to participate in two seasons of involvement in the MVS athletic program. Physical education credit will no longer be granted for activities outside of MVS sports. Our non-cut policy, focus on good-sportsmanship and life-long fitness, and welcoming reputation for all of our sports have always encouraged students to join MVS teams, even with little previous experience. While programs at the varsity level will continue to focus on pursuing winning records by fielding competitive squads, encouraging student involvement at all levels contributes to the larger goals of supporting an active, healthy, and well-connected school community.
The upper school has always taken pride in the abundant opportunities for student involvement in the life of the school, ranging from athletics, the performing arts, clubs and organizations, and student government, to name a few. Upper school students traditionally participate in a wide variety of activities, contributing to the positive spirit of school community, strengthening the inter-connectedness across grade levels and between peer groups. Active extra-curricular involvement provides valuable lessons in time management, balance of interests, and expanding peer relationships, particularly for students new to the upper school. We are confident that requiring two seasons of athletic participation in MVS sports by the end of sophomore year, will strengthen these ties in the upper school.
Additionally, working closely with Ken Laake (Athletic Director) and our coaching staff, we have tested this year a more rigorous athletic eligibility policy. The new policy takes into consideration MVS’ primary focus on academics while balancing the important role of athletics, providing increased oversight and support to our student athletes. MVS has long believed that the OHSAA regulations (achieving passing grades in a minimum of 5 classes) have not appropriately reinforced the high academic standards that we promote at MVS.
The revised eligibility policy, which we have tested since the winter trimester, includes the following enhancements: students must achieve a minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA during the previous marking period, including no failures in any classes. During a current academic term and athletic season, if a student’s school work declines, according to mid-terms or from concerns raised by a teacher, parent, or advisor, that student will be placed on Academic Watch, requiring weekly up-dates from each class to provide a more attentive perspective of a student’s status.
Each Friday this winter and spring, Ken Laake and I have reviewed the weekly status reports, conferring to determine the extent of student athletes’ involvement for the following week’s athletic participation, sharing our decision directly with the student athlete, their parents, and the appropriate coach. The gradual implementation of the improved eligibility policy this year has provided ample evidence of greater academic responsibility in balancing the role of athletic involvement; teachers, coaches, and parents have been involved with individual decisions, leading to increased collective support of our student athletes. Having used two seasons to refine this policy, we will formally implement these changes beginning in August of the 2010-11 academic year.
As always, I welcome your feedback regarding these policy changes as we strive to provide greater support to students at MVS, in this case relating to encouraging involvement in athletics and providing increased support to student athletes.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Community:
As we continue with end-of-year celebrations for the 2010 academic year, I wanted to share some policy adjustments for the coming 2011 academic year, to which I have alluded in previous letters.
Taking into consideration the revised guidelines of the Ohio Department of Education, beginning next fall, all rising Freshmen and Sophomores will be required to participate in two seasons of involvement in the MVS athletic program. Physical education credit will no longer be granted for activities outside of MVS sports. Our non-cut policy, focus on good-sportsmanship and life-long fitness, and welcoming reputation for all of our sports have always encouraged students to join MVS teams, even with little previous experience. While programs at the varsity level will continue to focus on pursuing winning records by fielding competitive squads, encouraging student involvement at all levels contributes to the larger goals of supporting an active, healthy, and well-connected school community.
The upper school has always taken pride in the abundant opportunities for student involvement in the life of the school, ranging from athletics, the performing arts, clubs and organizations, and student government, to name a few. Upper school students traditionally participate in a wide variety of activities, contributing to the positive spirit of school community, strengthening the inter-connectedness across grade levels and between peer groups. Active extra-curricular involvement provides valuable lessons in time management, balance of interests, and expanding peer relationships, particularly for students new to the upper school. We are confident that requiring two seasons of athletic participation in MVS sports by the end of sophomore year, will strengthen these ties in the upper school.
Additionally, working closely with Ken Laake (Athletic Director) and our coaching staff, we have tested this year a more rigorous athletic eligibility policy. The new policy takes into consideration MVS’ primary focus on academics while balancing the important role of athletics, providing increased oversight and support to our student athletes. MVS has long believed that the OHSAA regulations (achieving passing grades in a minimum of 5 classes) have not appropriately reinforced the high academic standards that we promote at MVS.
The revised eligibility policy, which we have tested since the winter trimester, includes the following enhancements: students must achieve a minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA during the previous marking period, including no failures in any classes. During a current academic term and athletic season, if a student’s school work declines, according to mid-terms or from concerns raised by a teacher, parent, or advisor, that student will be placed on Academic Watch, requiring weekly up-dates from each class to provide a more attentive perspective of a student’s status.
Each Friday this winter and spring, Ken Laake and I have reviewed the weekly status reports, conferring to determine the extent of student athletes’ involvement for the following week’s athletic participation, sharing our decision directly with the student athlete, their parents, and the appropriate coach. The gradual implementation of the improved eligibility policy this year has provided ample evidence of greater academic responsibility in balancing the role of athletic involvement; teachers, coaches, and parents have been involved with individual decisions, leading to increased collective support of our student athletes. Having used two seasons to refine this policy, we will formally implement these changes beginning in August of the 2010-11 academic year.
As always, I welcome your feedback regarding these policy changes as we strive to provide greater support to students at MVS, in this case relating to encouraging involvement in athletics and providing increased support to student athletes.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Wagner's Graduation Ode to MVS Class of 2010
A Poetic Tribute to The MVS Class of 2010
Graduation Exercises: 3:00PM, 6 June - Victoria Theater
Greetings scholars, parents, faculty and friends
To Graduation Exercises, celebrating beginnings and ends.
In Dayton’s regal Victoria, for this anticipated event
My sincerest of welcomes, I am thrilled to present.
This Class of 2010, stylishly seated on stage
Hearty, personable; thirty-seven strong.
Your patient reprieve, I humbly request
As I depict traits and to whom they belong.
For the next hour or so, the outside world, let’s forget:
Bank collapses, “Lost” being found, & BP Crude Oil.
We’ll muse-over instead, Seniors’ futures ahead
Functioning as our blissful foil.
Their horizon is bound-less; expanding distant beyond;
Awaiting future responses, when as Alums, they’ll respond.
Countless prospects, defying mere expectation
Contemplating them now, brings us certain elation.
Your teachers, MVS faculty, here seated before you,
Dressed, like you, in academic attire.
At three-hours past the hour-of-Noon
Are so proud of the goals to which you aspire.
Look further in the seats. Find your family’s eyes,
Reflecting emotions, spanning melancholy to delight.
Though sad in departure, the time has arrived
For you each to soar high as a kite.
Caution alerted; I'm merely a cobbler of words.
In sculpting rhyme, expect the occasional lags.
Honoring you Seniors, as the fondest of fans,
The intent of this poem, crafted by “Wags.”
Thus, with collected resolve, I modestly begin.
On this celebrated sixth-day of June
As I attempt to describe, those seated behind
Representing their traits, lyrically festooned.
Beginning with “B”s, our first is JAKE BROWN;
On athletic fields, he leaves rivals in dazed comas.
He’s well-known for his scraggly-faced beard.
Soon his father, will present awaited diplomas.
BURDICK has preference for preppy attire,
By his peers, is regarded as quite jolly.
DESTINY, her future in clear-sight,
At UD, might play on courts basket and volley.
BAHAR displays obvious panache
Pursuing M.D. with never a stammer.
JULIAN shows his purposeful planning
If not Tech-guru, he’ll become true Captain Hammer.
ELAINA’s fleet-footed skill sprin-ting ‘round the track;
Causes competitors to shake heads in mystery.
SOPHIA always smiling, most pleasant in greeting
So very proud of her Grecian history.
SARAH & EMILY disprove clichés about twins.
Far and wide, these two independently have roamed.
Now heading-off to Universities starting with “D”
Many have wished they could be cloned.
Following twin sisters, we have a pair of Tylers:
MVS productions, EDWARDS commands light & sound.
FEARN, his characteristic mop of full-hair,
Future success by both soon will be found.
MAGGIE & SAM, during Immersion explored
Ancient Anatolia; as historians, went nearly berserk!
Savoring pottery shards & chatting in local phrase,
Showed respect to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
JENEE & PK, joined MVS in eleventh grade,
Quickly adapted, bringing their polish and gloss.
Actively involved in studio art & in sports,
On same field, they play soccer and lacrosse.
LAUREN with distinct creative style,
Through various mediums, she finds cohesion relative.
REBECCA while in Turkey, worried we were
That she might choose to “go-native.”
ROHAN, honored eldest sibling to twins,
Pursuing medicine; he is quite clear.
MARTIN, with impressively-full side burns,
Likely goal as future Engineer.
TIM & MACY, grow from proud MVS roots.
Hearty legacies they both will extend.
TIM, youngest of three Miller brothers
MACY’s design-eye, from her mother, descends.
SAYNA explores interest in psychology,
Elder sister to the sprite-like Asheev.
KINNARI countless discussions we’ve shared,
MVS Spirit award, she truly achieved.
KAT (paired with Kinn) leads Stu Gov with poise,
Skill on ice, causes audiences to look.
OLIVIA’s eye for artistic design
Adorns the cover of this year’s Thank You Book.
TAYLOR P. at home behind camera lens,
Sojourned abroad to immerse in culture Español.
CHRISTINA to England, becoming a Barrister.
They both join sisters in MVS alum-roles.
HAL-DAVID, skilled blender of song & image,
He produced our slideshow, worthy of bronze.
RAYCHEL, famed swimmer & journalist,
In Baltimore, she’ll shine at Hopkins, of Johns.
ERIKA, having mastered near every sport,
At Penn Relays, she took-up the race-walk.
TEREK, with goatee, he appears near middle-aged.
Proud he is of his Lebanese stock.
TAYLOR S. has gained prominent regard
As un-rivaled maven of topics automotive.
PHOEBE has innate passion for shopping;
A love of coffee, is also her votive.
KEVIN, good-natured & at-ease in outlook
Shares last name with a brook fish.
DANNY follows success in Model UN,
Looks now to medicine as his obvious wish.
Our final two Seniors, the most recent additions,
ANNE is heading to acclaimed University of “D.”
HANHAN from China, was welcomed this year
Her last name aptly begins with letter “Z.”
If my count be correct, that makes 37 in all;
Though small in number, they are in personality: LARGE!
My emotion aside, much confidence I derive
Imagining the world, that they will take charge.
So impressive you look, seated here on stage
Suspended in time, between high school & college.
Recalling back, while proceeding ahead
Sure to gain abundant future knowledge.
Nearly giddy am I, tears welling inside
Honoring you on this most glorious Sunday.
Be it as Teacher, Principal, or faithful true-fan
Sadness of your departure, I wish to delay.
In closing my verse, rhyme-scheme often perverse,
My poetics might be describes as, well, “janky.”
Imagining the void, of your departing with poise
Causes us all to reach for our hanky.
So join with me now, parents, teachers, family & friends
While celebrated, this chapter’s end soon we will reach.
Yet another page opens, new dreams yet to flourish
Clear possibilities, with lessons to teach.
The admiration from your audience, those seated before you,
Planning celebrations long into June.
Some final words, to recall this festive day,
God’s Speed, Be safe, And visit soon!
Thank you.
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Sunday, 6 June, 2010
Graduation Exercises: 3:00PM, 6 June - Victoria Theater
Greetings scholars, parents, faculty and friends
To Graduation Exercises, celebrating beginnings and ends.
In Dayton’s regal Victoria, for this anticipated event
My sincerest of welcomes, I am thrilled to present.
This Class of 2010, stylishly seated on stage
Hearty, personable; thirty-seven strong.
Your patient reprieve, I humbly request
As I depict traits and to whom they belong.
For the next hour or so, the outside world, let’s forget:
Bank collapses, “Lost” being found, & BP Crude Oil.
We’ll muse-over instead, Seniors’ futures ahead
Functioning as our blissful foil.
Their horizon is bound-less; expanding distant beyond;
Awaiting future responses, when as Alums, they’ll respond.
Countless prospects, defying mere expectation
Contemplating them now, brings us certain elation.
Your teachers, MVS faculty, here seated before you,
Dressed, like you, in academic attire.
At three-hours past the hour-of-Noon
Are so proud of the goals to which you aspire.
Look further in the seats. Find your family’s eyes,
Reflecting emotions, spanning melancholy to delight.
Though sad in departure, the time has arrived
For you each to soar high as a kite.
Caution alerted; I'm merely a cobbler of words.
In sculpting rhyme, expect the occasional lags.
Honoring you Seniors, as the fondest of fans,
The intent of this poem, crafted by “Wags.”
Thus, with collected resolve, I modestly begin.
On this celebrated sixth-day of June
As I attempt to describe, those seated behind
Representing their traits, lyrically festooned.
Beginning with “B”s, our first is JAKE BROWN;
On athletic fields, he leaves rivals in dazed comas.
He’s well-known for his scraggly-faced beard.
Soon his father, will present awaited diplomas.
BURDICK has preference for preppy attire,
By his peers, is regarded as quite jolly.
DESTINY, her future in clear-sight,
At UD, might play on courts basket and volley.
BAHAR displays obvious panache
Pursuing M.D. with never a stammer.
JULIAN shows his purposeful planning
If not Tech-guru, he’ll become true Captain Hammer.
ELAINA’s fleet-footed skill sprin-ting ‘round the track;
Causes competitors to shake heads in mystery.
SOPHIA always smiling, most pleasant in greeting
So very proud of her Grecian history.
SARAH & EMILY disprove clichés about twins.
Far and wide, these two independently have roamed.
Now heading-off to Universities starting with “D”
Many have wished they could be cloned.
Following twin sisters, we have a pair of Tylers:
MVS productions, EDWARDS commands light & sound.
FEARN, his characteristic mop of full-hair,
Future success by both soon will be found.
MAGGIE & SAM, during Immersion explored
Ancient Anatolia; as historians, went nearly berserk!
Savoring pottery shards & chatting in local phrase,
Showed respect to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
JENEE & PK, joined MVS in eleventh grade,
Quickly adapted, bringing their polish and gloss.
Actively involved in studio art & in sports,
On same field, they play soccer and lacrosse.
LAUREN with distinct creative style,
Through various mediums, she finds cohesion relative.
REBECCA while in Turkey, worried we were
That she might choose to “go-native.”
ROHAN, honored eldest sibling to twins,
Pursuing medicine; he is quite clear.
MARTIN, with impressively-full side burns,
Likely goal as future Engineer.
TIM & MACY, grow from proud MVS roots.
Hearty legacies they both will extend.
TIM, youngest of three Miller brothers
MACY’s design-eye, from her mother, descends.
SAYNA explores interest in psychology,
Elder sister to the sprite-like Asheev.
KINNARI countless discussions we’ve shared,
MVS Spirit award, she truly achieved.
KAT (paired with Kinn) leads Stu Gov with poise,
Skill on ice, causes audiences to look.
OLIVIA’s eye for artistic design
Adorns the cover of this year’s Thank You Book.
TAYLOR P. at home behind camera lens,
Sojourned abroad to immerse in culture Español.
CHRISTINA to England, becoming a Barrister.
They both join sisters in MVS alum-roles.
HAL-DAVID, skilled blender of song & image,
He produced our slideshow, worthy of bronze.
RAYCHEL, famed swimmer & journalist,
In Baltimore, she’ll shine at Hopkins, of Johns.
ERIKA, having mastered near every sport,
At Penn Relays, she took-up the race-walk.
TEREK, with goatee, he appears near middle-aged.
Proud he is of his Lebanese stock.
TAYLOR S. has gained prominent regard
As un-rivaled maven of topics automotive.
PHOEBE has innate passion for shopping;
A love of coffee, is also her votive.
KEVIN, good-natured & at-ease in outlook
Shares last name with a brook fish.
DANNY follows success in Model UN,
Looks now to medicine as his obvious wish.
Our final two Seniors, the most recent additions,
ANNE is heading to acclaimed University of “D.”
HANHAN from China, was welcomed this year
Her last name aptly begins with letter “Z.”
If my count be correct, that makes 37 in all;
Though small in number, they are in personality: LARGE!
My emotion aside, much confidence I derive
Imagining the world, that they will take charge.
So impressive you look, seated here on stage
Suspended in time, between high school & college.
Recalling back, while proceeding ahead
Sure to gain abundant future knowledge.
Nearly giddy am I, tears welling inside
Honoring you on this most glorious Sunday.
Be it as Teacher, Principal, or faithful true-fan
Sadness of your departure, I wish to delay.
In closing my verse, rhyme-scheme often perverse,
My poetics might be describes as, well, “janky.”
Imagining the void, of your departing with poise
Causes us all to reach for our hanky.
So join with me now, parents, teachers, family & friends
While celebrated, this chapter’s end soon we will reach.
Yet another page opens, new dreams yet to flourish
Clear possibilities, with lessons to teach.
The admiration from your audience, those seated before you,
Planning celebrations long into June.
Some final words, to recall this festive day,
God’s Speed, Be safe, And visit soon!
Thank you.
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Sunday, 6 June, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Last Day of Classes, Spring Exams, & Senior Celebrations
Friday, 28 May 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Good golly, where has the time gone?!? While our Seniors are involved in transition day activities, today is the final day of classes in the Upper School, with spring term exams occurring Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. As I mentioned earlier this week, the spring term final exam schedule is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website. Since Freshmen and Sophomores do not have open campus privileges during exams, a student will only be permitted to depart from campus if they present a written note from a parent ahead of time.
As students complete end-of-year events, exams, and activities, please remind your child to return library books and clean out her or his locker. Beginning Monday, 7 June, the custodial crew will start emptying and disposing of any items still remaining in student lockers as part of the summer cleaning process.
The 2010 MVS Graduation Advertisement will appear in this Sunday’s edition of the Dayton Daily News, in the special Graduation Section. You can view a PDF version of the newspaper advertisement on the upper school homepage.
And end-of-year at MVS would simply not be complete without attending two of the most traditional spring events: Academic Awards and Graduation. Academic Awards, held on Thursday, 3 June at 7:PM in the Lane Gymnasium, is required for all upper school students, high-lighting college and departmental book awards, most notably presentations to students, composed and read by upper school teachers. Graduation Exercises, held on Sunday, 6 June at 3:PM at the Victoria Theater, continues MVS’ traditional focus on student-centered events, including student speeches and performances. I look forward to seeing you at these two “distinctively MVS events."
As always, the archives to all letters and e.mails sent from my office is available on my Blog at http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/; I welcome your comments and feedback.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Good golly, where has the time gone?!? While our Seniors are involved in transition day activities, today is the final day of classes in the Upper School, with spring term exams occurring Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. As I mentioned earlier this week, the spring term final exam schedule is available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website. Since Freshmen and Sophomores do not have open campus privileges during exams, a student will only be permitted to depart from campus if they present a written note from a parent ahead of time.
As students complete end-of-year events, exams, and activities, please remind your child to return library books and clean out her or his locker. Beginning Monday, 7 June, the custodial crew will start emptying and disposing of any items still remaining in student lockers as part of the summer cleaning process.
The 2010 MVS Graduation Advertisement will appear in this Sunday’s edition of the Dayton Daily News, in the special Graduation Section. You can view a PDF version of the newspaper advertisement on the upper school homepage.
And end-of-year at MVS would simply not be complete without attending two of the most traditional spring events: Academic Awards and Graduation. Academic Awards, held on Thursday, 3 June at 7:PM in the Lane Gymnasium, is required for all upper school students, high-lighting college and departmental book awards, most notably presentations to students, composed and read by upper school teachers. Graduation Exercises, held on Sunday, 6 June at 3:PM at the Victoria Theater, continues MVS’ traditional focus on student-centered events, including student speeches and performances. I look forward to seeing you at these two “distinctively MVS events."
As always, the archives to all letters and e.mails sent from my office is available on my Blog at http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/; I welcome your comments and feedback.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
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