Friday, 18 December 2009
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 notification 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 the on-line portal My Backpack, at: https://miamivalley.seniormbp.com/SeniorApps/registration/loginCenter.faces.
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 “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 crucial. Consider it a good new year’s resolution to start 2010 with robust academic vigor.
On a related matter, I am working closely with Ken Laake (Athletic Director) and upper school faculty members to devise and implement an enhanced model for academic support and oversight for students encountering academic difficulty. We are piloting facets of this revised academic eligibility process during the Winter Term, with the goal of sharing the specific details with the larger MVS community in February.
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 Monday, 4 January to usher-in 2010 and the second half of the Winter Trimester.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Winter Mid-Term & December Events
Friday, 11 December 2009
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Since we have reached the mid-term mark for the Second Trimester and Winter Break is now in sight (along with chilly weather and snow flurries to match), I thought I would send a quick reminder of initiatives and programs at work here in the Upper School.
The Student Government has planned and is facilitating one of the most successful, most purposeful spirit weeks EVER! Charity Challenge, which lasts the full two weeks leading up to Winter Break, has united the support for charitable organizations with spirited and creative competition between students in cross grade-level teams. With events varying from puzzle solving to a coin drive to dodge ball, students compete in support of one of the following four charities: House of Bread, Daybreak, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and World Wildlife Fund for Nature. Charity Challenge has brought energy, purpose, and down-right excitement to what otherwise might have been a chilly two weeks.
Of note for next week, there is a one-day canned food drive scheduled for Tuesday, 15 December, so in the interest of supporting this vibrant Student Government initiative, please encourage your child to bring in canned goods next week.
Upper school teachers recently convened a subcommittee to research and assess three hot-button topical issues in the Upper School: homework load, academic schedule, and stress. Students (and teachers) will complete a survey early next week to collect data relating to better understanding these important issues. I will keep you informed of the discussions and progress of this subcommittee.
Winter mid-term comments, effort marks, and grades will be available via MyBackpack next Friday in the late afternoon, allowing for students and their Academic Advisors to review them first during advisory meetings. Next Friday is also the winter advisory lunch, during which individual Advisory Groups might elect to go off campus for lunch. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Academic Advisor.
The school day concludes next Friday with the traditional All-School Sing in the Lane Gymnasium. If you have not previously experienced it, observing 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 (along with chilly weather and snow flurries to match), I thought I would send a quick reminder of initiatives and programs at work here in the Upper School.
The Student Government has planned and is facilitating one of the most successful, most purposeful spirit weeks EVER! Charity Challenge, which lasts the full two weeks leading up to Winter Break, has united the support for charitable organizations with spirited and creative competition between students in cross grade-level teams. With events varying from puzzle solving to a coin drive to dodge ball, students compete in support of one of the following four charities: House of Bread, Daybreak, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and World Wildlife Fund for Nature. Charity Challenge has brought energy, purpose, and down-right excitement to what otherwise might have been a chilly two weeks.
Of note for next week, there is a one-day canned food drive scheduled for Tuesday, 15 December, so in the interest of supporting this vibrant Student Government initiative, please encourage your child to bring in canned goods next week.
Upper school teachers recently convened a subcommittee to research and assess three hot-button topical issues in the Upper School: homework load, academic schedule, and stress. Students (and teachers) will complete a survey early next week to collect data relating to better understanding these important issues. I will keep you informed of the discussions and progress of this subcommittee.
Winter mid-term comments, effort marks, and grades will be available via MyBackpack next Friday in the late afternoon, allowing for students and their Academic Advisors to review them first during advisory meetings. Next Friday is also the winter advisory lunch, during which individual Advisory Groups might elect to go off campus for lunch. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Academic Advisor.
The school day concludes next Friday with the traditional All-School Sing in the Lane Gymnasium. If you have not previously experienced it, observing 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
Monday, December 7, 2009
Upper School Snow & Ice Policy
Monday, 7 December 2009
Greetings Upper School Parents,
Looking at the flurries and chilly weather outside (winter has finally arrived), and anticipating future questions regarding snow and ice, let’s quickly review the snow policy and procedures, the details of which will be soon posted on the main news page of the MVS website. I reminded students and faculty members of these details during Morning Announcements this morning.
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 or phone-in your request so we know that your child has your permission to depart 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 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,
Looking at the flurries and chilly weather outside (winter has finally arrived), and anticipating future questions regarding snow and ice, let’s quickly review the snow policy and procedures, the details of which will be soon posted on the main news page of the MVS website. I reminded students and faculty members of these details during Morning Announcements this morning.
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 or phone-in your request so we know that your child has your permission to depart 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 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
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