Sunday, 30 January 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Here are some recent articles of interest, spanning: clarifying the tone of the ‘Tiger Mother;’ reflecting on race and identity; redesigning Advanced Placement tests; and finishing up by affirming Ohio as the ‘nerdiest’ in a state-by-state comparison of worst and best qualities.
Retreat of the ‘Tiger Mother,’ by Kate Zernike http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/fashion/16Cultural.html : New York Times: Cultural Studies, Sunday, 16 January 2011.
Tree of Failure; the Roots of Civility by David Brooks, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/opinion/14brooks.html?ref=davidbrooks : New York Times: Sunday, 13 January 2011
To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test, by Pam Belluck
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/science/21memory.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=Pam%20Belluck&st=cse : New York Times: Cultural Studies, 20 January 2011
Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above; Race Remixed: A New Identity by Susan Saulny http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html : New York Times: Sunday, 30 January 2011.
New Advanced Placement Biology Is Ready to Roll Out, but U.S. History Isn’t, by Christopher Drew http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/education/30advanced.html?ref=christopherdrew : New York Times: Sunday, 30 January 2011.
And for final contemplation, Time Magazine’s “United States of Shame” http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/26/why-your-state-sucks-the-great-american-map-of-fail/
and the rebuttal map, “United States of Awesome” http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/28/and-heres-why-your-state-doesnt-suck/
Happy reading!
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Late Jan & Early Feb: Shkspr (abridged), Model UN, Exam Schedule, & More
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Seeing as January is now in winding-down, with February waiting in the wings, I thought I would send an up-date of up-coming events and initiatives at work in the Upper School.
• The curtain goes up for the winter drama production of the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of THE COMPLEAT WORKS OF WLLM SHKSPR (abridged), running this Thursday through Saturday 27-29 January, in the Alumni Theatre; show times are at 7:00PM each night. The abundant puns, parodies, and Bard-ish humor will be sure to reclaim warmth from the winter weather outside.
• Next Week, the MVS Model United Nations program, under the direction of Deb Spiegel and Matt LaMotte, departs for regional competition at the annual University of Chicago conference. Based upon the excellent results from our local competition at the University of Dayton in November, we expect a great showing.
• For planning purposes, the exam schedule for the winter term will be posted by week’s end on the Upper School section of the MVS website.
• Preparations for Immersion 2011 are well underway. If you have not already attended a planning and information meeting for your daughter or son’s Immersion Program, one is likely forthcoming. Please remember to mark your calendar for Immersion Open House on Wednesday, 13 April at 7:PM, a true MVS moment, celebrating experiential learning at its best!
• The rosters for Spring Trimester English electives for grades 10-12 have been posted. Student class schedules for the spring term can be viewed via MyBackpack.
• I will be away from MVS late next week participating in the Academy for Division Heads sponsored by Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS), the accrediting body for MVS. This annual workshop and seminar provides excellent professional development, topical discussions, and networking opportunities with Principals from across the country. As in previous years, I will then join our Model UN groups late Friday afternoon.
• On my MVS Blog (http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com) I have posted a couple articles of interest, particularly relating to the revised Freshman Immersion Program. The Malcolm Gladwell TED Talk is entertaining and is certainly worth a viewing.
Thank you for your time and continuing support of MVS. As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s Academic Advisor, teachers, or me.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Seeing as January is now in winding-down, with February waiting in the wings, I thought I would send an up-date of up-coming events and initiatives at work in the Upper School.
• The curtain goes up for the winter drama production of the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of THE COMPLEAT WORKS OF WLLM SHKSPR (abridged), running this Thursday through Saturday 27-29 January, in the Alumni Theatre; show times are at 7:00PM each night. The abundant puns, parodies, and Bard-ish humor will be sure to reclaim warmth from the winter weather outside.
• Next Week, the MVS Model United Nations program, under the direction of Deb Spiegel and Matt LaMotte, departs for regional competition at the annual University of Chicago conference. Based upon the excellent results from our local competition at the University of Dayton in November, we expect a great showing.
• For planning purposes, the exam schedule for the winter term will be posted by week’s end on the Upper School section of the MVS website.
• Preparations for Immersion 2011 are well underway. If you have not already attended a planning and information meeting for your daughter or son’s Immersion Program, one is likely forthcoming. Please remember to mark your calendar for Immersion Open House on Wednesday, 13 April at 7:PM, a true MVS moment, celebrating experiential learning at its best!
• The rosters for Spring Trimester English electives for grades 10-12 have been posted. Student class schedules for the spring term can be viewed via MyBackpack.
• I will be away from MVS late next week participating in the Academy for Division Heads sponsored by Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS), the accrediting body for MVS. This annual workshop and seminar provides excellent professional development, topical discussions, and networking opportunities with Principals from across the country. As in previous years, I will then join our Model UN groups late Friday afternoon.
• On my MVS Blog (http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com) I have posted a couple articles of interest, particularly relating to the revised Freshman Immersion Program. The Malcolm Gladwell TED Talk is entertaining and is certainly worth a viewing.
Thank you for your time and continuing support of MVS. As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s Academic Advisor, teachers, or me.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Freshman Immersion: Malcolm Gladwell's The Ketchup Conundrum
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Greetings Parents of Freshman:
On behalf of the Freshman Immersion Team (Mrs. Kemper, Mr. Munhofen, Mrs. Sparks, & Mr. Williams), we are thrilled to be working with the Class of 2014 this year. We have already held a couple class meetings with your daughters and sons to talk about initial goals and activities for the program.
During lunch today, we discussed an article by Malcolm Gladwell, titled “The Ketchup Conundrum,” that was distributed to all Freshman before Winter Break. The author relates stories from marketing and product research from some of America’s favorite condiments (including Grey Poupon mustard, Prego extra-chunky tomato sauce, and Heinz ketchup) to patterns in advertising, consumer preference, the chemistry of taste, and the larger concepts of choice, taste, and happiness. We had a fruitful (pardon the pun) discussion today, with a number of students contributing interesting insights.
The article, originally published in The New Yorker Magazine, can be read or downloaded from the following weblink: http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html
Additionally, you can view Malcolm Gladwell’s video presentation on the “pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce” as part of the “TED Talks” series on the TED website at: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html
We will host a parent information meeting in early February, during which details about Freshman Immersion will then be distributed. Again, we are excited to be working with your children and cannot wait for Immersion to begin!
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Parents of Freshman:
On behalf of the Freshman Immersion Team (Mrs. Kemper, Mr. Munhofen, Mrs. Sparks, & Mr. Williams), we are thrilled to be working with the Class of 2014 this year. We have already held a couple class meetings with your daughters and sons to talk about initial goals and activities for the program.
During lunch today, we discussed an article by Malcolm Gladwell, titled “The Ketchup Conundrum,” that was distributed to all Freshman before Winter Break. The author relates stories from marketing and product research from some of America’s favorite condiments (including Grey Poupon mustard, Prego extra-chunky tomato sauce, and Heinz ketchup) to patterns in advertising, consumer preference, the chemistry of taste, and the larger concepts of choice, taste, and happiness. We had a fruitful (pardon the pun) discussion today, with a number of students contributing interesting insights.
The article, originally published in The New Yorker Magazine, can be read or downloaded from the following weblink: http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html
Additionally, you can view Malcolm Gladwell’s video presentation on the “pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce” as part of the “TED Talks” series on the TED website at: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html
We will host a parent information meeting in early February, during which details about Freshman Immersion will then be distributed. Again, we are excited to be working with your children and cannot wait for Immersion to begin!
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Happy 1-11-11 & Start of January Details
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Joyous show day and happy 1/11/11, a date whose symmetry carries a certain auspicious ring. A friend of mine from high school, one obviously more mathematically inclined, noted that 2011 is also a prime number, which is the sum of 11 consecutive prime numbers: 157 + 163 + 167 + 173 + 179 + 181 + 191 + 193 + 197 + 199 + 211 (for those playing along at home). A good omen, indeed.
In re-starting the Winter Trimester, I wanted to relay a couple up-coming events in the Upper School. Pre-Immersion planning meetings with students are continuing, and parent information meetings for individual Immersion programs will likely occur in the next couple weeks. Look for an e.mail notification from your child’s Immersion leaders.
On Tuesday, 18 January our annual Diversity Day Celebration will occur from 8:20-9:15AM in the Lane Gym. To bring added flourish to this all-school event, we welcome the return of MVS alum Daniel Beaty (Class of 1994). Mr. Beaty has gained theatrical acclaim for his one-man performances and will present Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" as part of our Diversity Day Celebration. Additionally, Mr. Beaty will perform selections from his dramatic repertoire to the entire upper school later in the morning, bringing added significance to our Alumni Theatre.
During the last week of January, the MVS Chapter of Amnesty International will screen the documentary film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," followed by a discussion by Advisory Groups and likely a town-hall meeting. In light of the successes of our Amnesty Group and its leadership this year, I am excited to see how the concept of a Winter Term Film Screening and discussion (hosted by an appropriate student organization) might take hold in the Upper School. It has been a number of years since the entire upper school took a field trip to view The Kite Runner at a local theater. Rather than going off campus, the opportunity to bring energy and raise purposeful discussion seems a worthy cure for the cold weather outside.
I included a number of links-of-interest from the recent Education Life section of the Sunday New York Times on my MVS Blog. Postings include articles on community and service learning, the college application essay, and anticipated changes to the format and structure of Advanced Placement tests. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for our “one-call” notification service for further weather news, and stay warm.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Joyous show day and happy 1/11/11, a date whose symmetry carries a certain auspicious ring. A friend of mine from high school, one obviously more mathematically inclined, noted that 2011 is also a prime number, which is the sum of 11 consecutive prime numbers: 157 + 163 + 167 + 173 + 179 + 181 + 191 + 193 + 197 + 199 + 211 (for those playing along at home). A good omen, indeed.
In re-starting the Winter Trimester, I wanted to relay a couple up-coming events in the Upper School. Pre-Immersion planning meetings with students are continuing, and parent information meetings for individual Immersion programs will likely occur in the next couple weeks. Look for an e.mail notification from your child’s Immersion leaders.
On Tuesday, 18 January our annual Diversity Day Celebration will occur from 8:20-9:15AM in the Lane Gym. To bring added flourish to this all-school event, we welcome the return of MVS alum Daniel Beaty (Class of 1994). Mr. Beaty has gained theatrical acclaim for his one-man performances and will present Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" as part of our Diversity Day Celebration. Additionally, Mr. Beaty will perform selections from his dramatic repertoire to the entire upper school later in the morning, bringing added significance to our Alumni Theatre.
During the last week of January, the MVS Chapter of Amnesty International will screen the documentary film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," followed by a discussion by Advisory Groups and likely a town-hall meeting. In light of the successes of our Amnesty Group and its leadership this year, I am excited to see how the concept of a Winter Term Film Screening and discussion (hosted by an appropriate student organization) might take hold in the Upper School. It has been a number of years since the entire upper school took a field trip to view The Kite Runner at a local theater. Rather than going off campus, the opportunity to bring energy and raise purposeful discussion seems a worthy cure for the cold weather outside.
I included a number of links-of-interest from the recent Education Life section of the Sunday New York Times on my MVS Blog. Postings include articles on community and service learning, the college application essay, and anticipated changes to the format and structure of Advanced Placement tests. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for our “one-call” notification service for further weather news, and stay warm.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, January 10, 2011
New York Times: Education Life - Links of Interest
Monday, 10 January 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The following are some links-of-interest from the recent Education Life Section of the New York Times.
Does Helping Out Help You, by Pamela Paul: Admissions Officers Share Their View of Volunteerism.
The Almighty Essay, by Trip Gabriel: Even For a Seasoned Author, Memoir Writing is Tough; Why are 17-Year-olds Expected to Nail It.
Re-Thinking the AP, by Christopher Drew: A Sweeping Redesign of Advanced Placement Aims to Take the Rote Out.
Happy reading and see you soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The following are some links-of-interest from the recent Education Life Section of the New York Times.
Does Helping Out Help You, by Pamela Paul: Admissions Officers Share Their View of Volunteerism.
The Almighty Essay, by Trip Gabriel: Even For a Seasoned Author, Memoir Writing is Tough; Why are 17-Year-olds Expected to Nail It.
Re-Thinking the AP, by Christopher Drew: A Sweeping Redesign of Advanced Placement Aims to Take the Rote Out.
Happy reading and see you soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
