First Week Back in the Upper School

Friday, 26 August 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

What an extraordinary first week it has been! We have had “all-present” attendance for most grade-levels all four days; cooler weather in the mornings has aided to our adjustment back into academic mode, and the over-all energy in the classrooms and hallways has been palpable. It is simply a delight to have everyone back!

We had a great crowd at the opening meeting of the MVS Parents’ Association on Thursday morning. Suzi Mikutis, PA President shared a number of exciting initiatives this year. Since all MVS parents are 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.

Next Friday, 2 September is Convocation, beginning at 8:30AM in the Lane Gym, marking the ceremonial start of the school year by gathering the entire MVS faculty and student bodies, grades kindergarten through twelfth. For all-school event, we ask students dress more formally, especially our seniors, since they partake in a flower-and-book exchange with the kindergarten and first-grade students. Parents of seniors (and familiar friends) be forewarn: this ceremony can be down-right emotional, particularly for those who recall sons and daughters in years past as the younger participants of this exchange (bring some kleenex or a hankie, just to be safe).

We are seeking 3-4 additional host families for our Chilean exchange students. The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile has a program similar to our Immersion Program, which allows their entire Sophomore class to travel to the States. This year, a group of 8 exchange students will arrive in Dayton on Saturday, 17 September and will reside with MVS host families and attend classes here at MVS for two weeks, departing on Thursday, 29 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 goal of this continuing 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 here in the Upper School. 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, 14 September, beginning at 7:00PM.

With sincere regards,


Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School