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
Friday, August 27, 2010
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
