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
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