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
No comments:
Post a Comment