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
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Late May Details & Reminders
Monday, 24 May 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Here are a couple details and quick reminders as we head into late May.
We had a great advisory lunch last Thursday, catered here on campus by Amar India. The time allowed advisory groups a chance to meet, eat, chat, and strategize towards end of the term details. We concluded the day by attending the Athletic Awards Ceremony in the Lane Gym, held for the first time during the academic day.
Abundant thanks to the MVS Parents’ Association and the robust crew of volunteers that planned and hosted a fabulous and successful 2010 After Prom. Having spent evening/early morning attending the event, it was clear that the students enjoyed the food, activities, and over-all positive spirit.
The spring trimester exam schedule is now posted on the upper school homepage of the MVS website.
We are proud to announce that our selection for the 2010 Upper School Shared Summer Reading is Katrina Kittle’s newest novel, titled THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS. The entire upper school community, students and faculty members alike, are required to read this novel, which is scheduled for publication release on 3 August, perfect timing to begin the gradual transition towards the first day of school, on 24 August. Next fall, the novel will be addressed in all English Classes and in Advisory Groups, leading up to the events of visiting author day; details to follow.
In addition to the required Shared Summer Reading, members of the English Department have compiled suggested reading lists for students (and families) seeking recommendations to further enrich their summer reading choices. The list of suggested titles are available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website.
Look for an e.mail from me later this week, detailing some important revisions to the extra-curricular and athletic participation policy, as well as to the academic eligibility review process for scholar athletes.
I would be remiss not to remind you that June brings two important MVS events, steeped in school tradition: Academic Awards on Thursday, 3 June at 7:PM in the Lane Gymnasium, and Graduation Exercises on Sunday, 6 June at 3:PM at the Victoria Theater. I look forward to seeing you at these two “delightfully distinctive” MVS events.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Here are a couple details and quick reminders as we head into late May.
We had a great advisory lunch last Thursday, catered here on campus by Amar India. The time allowed advisory groups a chance to meet, eat, chat, and strategize towards end of the term details. We concluded the day by attending the Athletic Awards Ceremony in the Lane Gym, held for the first time during the academic day.
Abundant thanks to the MVS Parents’ Association and the robust crew of volunteers that planned and hosted a fabulous and successful 2010 After Prom. Having spent evening/early morning attending the event, it was clear that the students enjoyed the food, activities, and over-all positive spirit.
The spring trimester exam schedule is now posted on the upper school homepage of the MVS website.
We are proud to announce that our selection for the 2010 Upper School Shared Summer Reading is Katrina Kittle’s newest novel, titled THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS. The entire upper school community, students and faculty members alike, are required to read this novel, which is scheduled for publication release on 3 August, perfect timing to begin the gradual transition towards the first day of school, on 24 August. Next fall, the novel will be addressed in all English Classes and in Advisory Groups, leading up to the events of visiting author day; details to follow.
In addition to the required Shared Summer Reading, members of the English Department have compiled suggested reading lists for students (and families) seeking recommendations to further enrich their summer reading choices. The list of suggested titles are available on the upper school homepage of the MVS website.
Look for an e.mail from me later this week, detailing some important revisions to the extra-curricular and athletic participation policy, as well as to the academic eligibility review process for scholar athletes.
I would be remiss not to remind you that June brings two important MVS events, steeped in school tradition: Academic Awards on Thursday, 3 June at 7:PM in the Lane Gymnasium, and Graduation Exercises on Sunday, 6 June at 3:PM at the Victoria Theater. I look forward to seeing you at these two “delightfully distinctive” MVS events.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, May 17, 2010
MVS Prom & After Prom Reminders
Monday, 17 May 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the pleasant arrival of spring and the approach of Prom events at MVS, including the celebratory dance and the exciting offerings of After Prom (held, again, at MVS!), I thought it a prudent idea to send a quick e.mail with some familiar details, suggestions, and reminders pertaining to this time of the year.
As we approach with anticipation what is sure to be a very successful MVS Prom weekend, I want to communicate clearly and directly to you our expectations for student conduct at such school functions. Prom will be held on Saturday, 22 May at the Moraine Country Club, lasting from 8-11:30PM. Desserts, finger foods, soda, and juices will be served. After Prom will be held at MVS (in the gymnasiums and Atrium area), immediately following the conclusion of Prom, from 12:midnight-4:00AM, with an abundance of food, activities, and events, organized by the ever-creative MVS Parents’ Association.
Prom season is often depicted as a rite of passage, celebrating friendships and accomplishments of the school year past, while also looking forward to the successful completion of the academic year and the approach of summer. I anticipate this year’s Prom and After Prom, under the careful planning by the Junior Class of 2011 and MVS Parents’ Association, will be enjoyable and memorable events. However, as is the case in many school cultures, school dances and similar evening events also raise potential anxieties about student at-risk behavior, including drinking, unsafe driving, and other potential dangers. Obviously, we are all concerned about student safety, especially since students will be traveling from various distances in order to attend Prom, then afterwards in traveling to After Prom. Throughout the year, but particularly during Homecoming and Prom seasons, the tragic, but all too common incidents that are portrayed in the local and national press reinforce the fragility of human life and the potential dangers associated with teen driving, the “rites of spring,” and a variety of potential adolescent vulnerabilities. Such events can be devastating to any community, so with your added attention as parents, I want to further protect our students at MVS from making unwise decisions that could carry very significant, if not dire, consequences.
If your Junior or Senior is attending Prom (which we hope is the case!), I strongly encourage you to have frank discussions with your child (as well as with her or his 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 you might have. As a school, MVS will not tolerate any student drinking or illegal substance use before or during Prom or After Prom; to that end, we will be vigilant in our monitoring of student conduct.
As parents, I request your assistance in supporting proactive, responsible decision making by our students. Please resist any and all temptations to offer alcohol to any students, be it as ceremonial toast or glass of wine with dinner, especially since such actions are in stark conflict with MVS school policy, not to mention state laws. Such offers also place students in an unnecessarily precarious situation. If your daughter or son is traveling in a limousine or carpooling with a group of friends, please take the time to ask, then check to confirm, that there are no “smuggled containers or substances” within. It is better to be safe now, rather than remorseful later. If students (or you, their parents) still feel compelled to engage in any at-risk activities, they are cautioned to avoid these school functions entirely. Any student, whom chaperones suspect to be under the influence, will be denied from entering these events and, as a result, we will phone you, as their parents, to come pick them up. Believe me, this is an incident in which no one wants to participate. Chaperones (me included), who agree to work for the benefit of students in supporting student events (without whom, there simply would be no Prom) will use their best judgment in assessing student conduct; however, these decisions will be at the discretion of faculty chaperones, Vin Romeo (as Junior Dean), and me. I encourage you to be especially candid with your daughter or son in your conversations surrounding alcohol, drug use, or other at-risk behaviors. 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. The potential dangers of unsafe driving raise further concerns. Our hope is that through active and forthright discussions, transcending both home and school, such matters can be avoided entirely, thus allowing everyone at Prom and After Prom to safely enjoy the events as they are intended.
In the interest of ensuring student safety, under no circumstances will a student be allowed to leave Prom or Senior Salute before their conclusions, without first contacting you directly. All students are to arrive at Prom by 9:30PM. Students should change out of their prom attire at MVS after driving to After Prom. All students are to arrive at After Prom by 12:15AM. If any student arrives late, or asks to leave early from either event, we will have him or her phone you directly. If a student encounters an unanticipated delay, we ask that she or he phone the main phone number at MVS (434-4444, ext 157, the concessions stand in the MVS Atrium), to keep us informed of their status, just to be safe. Once a student has officially departed Prom or After Prom (having contacted a parent first), she or he will not be permitted to re-enter the event. Students are expected to cooperate fully with chaperones, parent volunteers, and staff at these events. Attendance at Prom and After Prom are indeed privileges, requiring an appropriate degree of student (and parent) responsibility. We look forward to enjoying these activities with your children; however, in the interest of student safety, we will be attentive in monitoring student behavior and conduct.
A great deal of work has gone into planning for the Prom and After Prom, 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 involved; 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 making Prom and After Prom a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe night for all involved. Should you have any specific questions regarding Prom, feel free to contact Vin Romeo (as Dean of the Junior Class).
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
With the pleasant arrival of spring and the approach of Prom events at MVS, including the celebratory dance and the exciting offerings of After Prom (held, again, at MVS!), I thought it a prudent idea to send a quick e.mail with some familiar details, suggestions, and reminders pertaining to this time of the year.
As we approach with anticipation what is sure to be a very successful MVS Prom weekend, I want to communicate clearly and directly to you our expectations for student conduct at such school functions. Prom will be held on Saturday, 22 May at the Moraine Country Club, lasting from 8-11:30PM. Desserts, finger foods, soda, and juices will be served. After Prom will be held at MVS (in the gymnasiums and Atrium area), immediately following the conclusion of Prom, from 12:midnight-4:00AM, with an abundance of food, activities, and events, organized by the ever-creative MVS Parents’ Association.
Prom season is often depicted as a rite of passage, celebrating friendships and accomplishments of the school year past, while also looking forward to the successful completion of the academic year and the approach of summer. I anticipate this year’s Prom and After Prom, under the careful planning by the Junior Class of 2011 and MVS Parents’ Association, will be enjoyable and memorable events. However, as is the case in many school cultures, school dances and similar evening events also raise potential anxieties about student at-risk behavior, including drinking, unsafe driving, and other potential dangers. Obviously, we are all concerned about student safety, especially since students will be traveling from various distances in order to attend Prom, then afterwards in traveling to After Prom. Throughout the year, but particularly during Homecoming and Prom seasons, the tragic, but all too common incidents that are portrayed in the local and national press reinforce the fragility of human life and the potential dangers associated with teen driving, the “rites of spring,” and a variety of potential adolescent vulnerabilities. Such events can be devastating to any community, so with your added attention as parents, I want to further protect our students at MVS from making unwise decisions that could carry very significant, if not dire, consequences.
If your Junior or Senior is attending Prom (which we hope is the case!), I strongly encourage you to have frank discussions with your child (as well as with her or his 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 you might have. As a school, MVS will not tolerate any student drinking or illegal substance use before or during Prom or After Prom; to that end, we will be vigilant in our monitoring of student conduct.
As parents, I request your assistance in supporting proactive, responsible decision making by our students. Please resist any and all temptations to offer alcohol to any students, be it as ceremonial toast or glass of wine with dinner, especially since such actions are in stark conflict with MVS school policy, not to mention state laws. Such offers also place students in an unnecessarily precarious situation. If your daughter or son is traveling in a limousine or carpooling with a group of friends, please take the time to ask, then check to confirm, that there are no “smuggled containers or substances” within. It is better to be safe now, rather than remorseful later. If students (or you, their parents) still feel compelled to engage in any at-risk activities, they are cautioned to avoid these school functions entirely. Any student, whom chaperones suspect to be under the influence, will be denied from entering these events and, as a result, we will phone you, as their parents, to come pick them up. Believe me, this is an incident in which no one wants to participate. Chaperones (me included), who agree to work for the benefit of students in supporting student events (without whom, there simply would be no Prom) will use their best judgment in assessing student conduct; however, these decisions will be at the discretion of faculty chaperones, Vin Romeo (as Junior Dean), and me. I encourage you to be especially candid with your daughter or son in your conversations surrounding alcohol, drug use, or other at-risk behaviors. 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. The potential dangers of unsafe driving raise further concerns. Our hope is that through active and forthright discussions, transcending both home and school, such matters can be avoided entirely, thus allowing everyone at Prom and After Prom to safely enjoy the events as they are intended.
In the interest of ensuring student safety, under no circumstances will a student be allowed to leave Prom or Senior Salute before their conclusions, without first contacting you directly. All students are to arrive at Prom by 9:30PM. Students should change out of their prom attire at MVS after driving to After Prom. All students are to arrive at After Prom by 12:15AM. If any student arrives late, or asks to leave early from either event, we will have him or her phone you directly. If a student encounters an unanticipated delay, we ask that she or he phone the main phone number at MVS (434-4444, ext 157, the concessions stand in the MVS Atrium), to keep us informed of their status, just to be safe. Once a student has officially departed Prom or After Prom (having contacted a parent first), she or he will not be permitted to re-enter the event. Students are expected to cooperate fully with chaperones, parent volunteers, and staff at these events. Attendance at Prom and After Prom are indeed privileges, requiring an appropriate degree of student (and parent) responsibility. We look forward to enjoying these activities with your children; however, in the interest of student safety, we will be attentive in monitoring student behavior and conduct.
A great deal of work has gone into planning for the Prom and After Prom, 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 involved; 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 making Prom and After Prom a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe night for all involved. Should you have any specific questions regarding Prom, feel free to contact Vin Romeo (as Dean of the Junior Class).
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, May 7, 2010
Spring Mid-Terms & May MVS Events & Details
Friday, 7 May 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
We certainly lucked-out today with the beautiful weather for Grandparents Day and Spring Fling! It was wonderful to see so many MVS families as part of the day’s events. This e.mail serves as official notification that the comments, work habit marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Spring Trimester mid-term academic progress are now available via the on-line portal My Backpack. Mid-term comments for the Spring Trimester are required only for students achieving grades of “C-” or lower or effort marks of “3” and below. Since mid-terms provide a “snapshot” of a student’s academic performance, they should be considered accordingly. Time remains to attend to concerns mentioned up to this point; however, attentive preparation and follow-through are necessary in anticipation of the speedy approach of June. Consider it a good end-of-term resolution to conclude the 2010 academic year with appropriate academic vigor.
With the arrival of warmer weather, we continue to seek your assistance relating to matters of appropriate spring apparel, specifically regarding: ripped and torn clothing, shorts and skirt length, and overly revealing tops. As a quick guide, ripped clothing is not permitted, shorts and skirt must be longer than the extended fingers of a students hands at their sides, and shirts should cover a students’ shoulders and not be overly revealing. We appreciate your assistance (and good humor) in helping our students to be presentable and aware of their appearance.
We have been hosting a number of student visitors this spring, indicating high interest in students (and their families) learning more about MVS. When an inquiry comes officially through the Admissions Office, the admissions staff and I arrange for an MVS student “host” to accompany the student through a “typical day” in the US. This official contact also allows us to provide the family with appropriate information regarding MVS. If your son or daughter wants to bring a friend to visit MVS (so long as the friend’s presence does not cause a distraction), we ask that your child confirm with me ahead of time. On the day of an approved visit, we ask that your daughter or son bring the visitor to the front office to meet me and officially sign-in the friend. Then, as is customary, students introduce their visitors to the US community during Morning Announcements.
Senior privileges for the Class of 2010 began last week, for those students who qualify. Included in the qualifications for senior privileges are: the individual completion of each student’s community service requirements; maintaining appropriate academic and disciplinary records; and turning in photos for yearbook and the graduation slide show. The opportunity for open campus privileges represents an additional degree of freedom and responsibility, marking another step closer towards graduation. As a heads-up, seniors who qualify for senior privileges must receive their parents’ signature before said freedoms can begin. Your assistance in keeping our seniors mindful of senior deadlines is appreciated.
Advanced Placement exams begin this week and continue through next week, serving as the formal culmination of AP courses offered this year. Next Friday, 14 May is an assessment day for all MVS teachers, so classes will not occur.
Upper school prom, hosted by the Junior class in honor of the Seniors, is Saturday, 22 May, followed by Senior Salute, hosted by the Parents Association again here at MVS. Further details, including my accustomed “prom awareness letter,” will soon follow.
Planning for Senior Seminar is underway, lead by Ashwi Birdi (as Senior Dean), Colin Dunnigan, and Christie Kemper. Although the last day of academic classes for seniors is Thursday, 27 May, seniors are required to attend Senior Seminar at MVS on Friday 28 May, during which a number of transition and graduation details will be addressed, including a formal graduation practice.
For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, Spring Trimester final exams will be held 1 & 2 June.
The US faculty has begun preliminary discussions in planning for Immersion 2011. While we always strive to achieve a balance of programmatic and cost of offerings, I have asked faculty members to be especially mindful as we plan towards next year. The newly formed Immersion Task Force is looking at the mission, processes, and policies of Immersion, striving to further improve this capstone of MVS’ commitment to experiential learning.
I appreciate your support of and attention to the many events, activities, and initiatives at work in the Upper School. As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s Academic Advisor, Grade-level Dean, classroom teachers, or me. I am heading back out to enjoy the events of Grandparents Day and Spring Fling: I look forward to seeing you soon at an up-coming MVS event.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
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