August 31, 2011
Dear Miami Valley School Families:
With bittersweet feelings, I announce that this will be Sam Wagner's last year at MVS. Following 13 years of loyal service, Mr. Wagner is seeking new opportunities in educational leadership.
While at MVS, he has served as director of college counseling, an English teacher, and for the last eight years as upper school head. Mr. Wagner has made the student experience primary to his work, supporting student organizations, strengthening the advisory program, and coordinating the Immersion program.
He led trips to New Zealand, Turkey, India, Andros Island, and China, sharing over 100,000 travel miles with students. Mr. Wagner also focused intently on parent education, arranged special events, led "town hall" meetings, and kept the community informed with blogs and suggested readings.
As a member of the administrative team, Mr. Wagner led a school partnership proposal process, as well as the school's 2004 accreditation process. In 2009, he was selected to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads program. He will be missed for his dedication to students, consummate professionalism, and steadfast loyalty to MVS.
I have appointed Trey Adams to lead the search committee that will seek our new upper school head. The committee membership includes Vin Romeo, Anne Griffith, Susan Staley, and Clemens Ceipek. They will conduct the search this fall, striving to make an appointment in early 2012.
Please join me in thanking Mr. Wagner for his service and supporting him through this year as we seek opportunities to celebrate his accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Peter B. Benedict II
Headmaster
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Host Families Needed for Chilean Exchange Students
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Good Morning Upper School Parents:
Thanks to the generous hospitality of the MVS community, we have secured host families for 6 of the exchange students from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile, visiting MVS from 17-29 September.
I am still seeking host families for the remaining 2 students (both boys) as well as for the teacher (a woman) accompanying the group. Last year’s experiences from hosting the Chilean students was a highlight in MVS’ growing relationship with international sister schools.
If you are able to serve as a host family to one of our remaining Chilean visitors, please contact me before this Thursday. I want to send the contact information for MVS host families to the Thomas Jefferson School so communication between host and exchange families can begin before the students depart on their trip.
Thank you for your help in this important MVS relationship.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Good Morning Upper School Parents:
Thanks to the generous hospitality of the MVS community, we have secured host families for 6 of the exchange students from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile, visiting MVS from 17-29 September.
I am still seeking host families for the remaining 2 students (both boys) as well as for the teacher (a woman) accompanying the group. Last year’s experiences from hosting the Chilean students was a highlight in MVS’ growing relationship with international sister schools.
If you are able to serve as a host family to one of our remaining Chilean visitors, please contact me before this Thursday. I want to send the contact information for MVS host families to the Thomas Jefferson School so communication between host and exchange families can begin before the students depart on their trip.
Thank you for your help in this important MVS relationship.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Friday, August 26, 2011
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
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
Friday, August 19, 2011
Orientation Programs & Start of School
Friday, 19 August 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Following a week of productive faculty meetings, the final preparations for the start of the 2011-12 academic year are now well in hand. You should be able to review your child’s academic schedule via MyBackpack, the link to which is available at the bottom of the MVS homepage. Please be sure to order the appropriate books, via MBSDirect or Amazon, so your daughter or son is ready for the first day of school. 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 on opening day.
Adding to the comprehensive letter sent by Trey Adams, I wanted to remind you of the grade-specific orientation programs, led by grade-level Deans, all of which occur on Monday, 22 August.
• New Parent & Student Orientation; 8:30-9:30AM, US Commons
• Freshman Class Orientation; 10-11:00AM, Lofino Atrium
• Senior Class School Service; 10:30–2:PM, US Commons
• Sophomore Class Orientation; 1-2:30PM, Rooms 10 & 12
• Junior Class Orientation; 1-2:30PM, US Commons
Tuesday, 23 August marks the official first day of school! In the upper school, all class periods will meet for 40-minutes each, allowing for an extended Morning Announcements and a combined advisory/lunch meeting, with lunch being provided for all students, courtesy of the Student Government. Juniors and seniors (who qualify) will likely gain off-campus lunch privileges during the second week of school, so they should pack lunches for the time being.
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; I will send along details as the events approach.
On behalf of the upper school faculty members and staff, we are excited to start the school year. I look forward to seeing you in the days and weeks to come.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Following a week of productive faculty meetings, the final preparations for the start of the 2011-12 academic year are now well in hand. You should be able to review your child’s academic schedule via MyBackpack, the link to which is available at the bottom of the MVS homepage. Please be sure to order the appropriate books, via MBSDirect or Amazon, so your daughter or son is ready for the first day of school. 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 on opening day.
Adding to the comprehensive letter sent by Trey Adams, I wanted to remind you of the grade-specific orientation programs, led by grade-level Deans, all of which occur on Monday, 22 August.
• New Parent & Student Orientation; 8:30-9:30AM, US Commons
• Freshman Class Orientation; 10-11:00AM, Lofino Atrium
• Senior Class School Service; 10:30–2:PM, US Commons
• Sophomore Class Orientation; 1-2:30PM, Rooms 10 & 12
• Junior Class Orientation; 1-2:30PM, US Commons
Tuesday, 23 August marks the official first day of school! In the upper school, all class periods will meet for 40-minutes each, allowing for an extended Morning Announcements and a combined advisory/lunch meeting, with lunch being provided for all students, courtesy of the Student Government. Juniors and seniors (who qualify) will likely gain off-campus lunch privileges during the second week of school, so they should pack lunches for the time being.
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; I will send along details as the events approach.
On behalf of the upper school faculty members and staff, we are excited to start the school year. I look forward to seeing you in the days and weeks to come.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Late July & Early August: Articles of Interest
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Greetings Upper School Community:
I hope the start of August finds you well. The following stories and articles were carefully squirreled away during vacation “out East.”
New York Times, Sunday, 17 July 2011: When Cricket Was a Symbol, Not Just a Sport By Baz Dreisinger: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/movies/fire-in-babylon-looks-at-west-indies-cricket.html
New York Times, Sunday, 24 July 2011: Kei Igawa: The Lost Yankee, by Bill Pennington: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/sports/baseball/kei-igawa-the-lost-yankee.html
Wall Street Journal, Weekend 23-24 July 2011: Easy-to-Guess Passwords Open Door to Hackers, by Carl Bialik: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461104576462004291230970.html
The Atlantic, July/August, 2011: How to Land Your Kid in Therapy, by Lori Gottleib, including a video interview between the author and Wendy Mogel: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/how-to-land-your-kid-in-therapy/8555/
From Nantucket, once haled as the “whaling capital of the world,” the remaining printed-on-island newspaper, The Inquirer and Mirror, covers the on-going saga of a beached humpback whale: http://www.ack.net/deadhumpback071611.html.
And from the 26 June NYTimes Magazine, Sam Anderson pens “An Accidental Experimental Masterpiece,” a fitting homage to the annual World Almanac and Book of Facts; Ben Franklin is grinning somewhere: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/magazine/an-accidental-experimental-masterpiece.html?_r=1
Happy reading, stay cool, and best wishes as we plunge into August.
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Community:
I hope the start of August finds you well. The following stories and articles were carefully squirreled away during vacation “out East.”
New York Times, Sunday, 17 July 2011: When Cricket Was a Symbol, Not Just a Sport By Baz Dreisinger: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/movies/fire-in-babylon-looks-at-west-indies-cricket.html
New York Times, Sunday, 24 July 2011: Kei Igawa: The Lost Yankee, by Bill Pennington: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/sports/baseball/kei-igawa-the-lost-yankee.html
Wall Street Journal, Weekend 23-24 July 2011: Easy-to-Guess Passwords Open Door to Hackers, by Carl Bialik: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461104576462004291230970.html
The Atlantic, July/August, 2011: How to Land Your Kid in Therapy, by Lori Gottleib, including a video interview between the author and Wendy Mogel: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/how-to-land-your-kid-in-therapy/8555/
From Nantucket, once haled as the “whaling capital of the world,” the remaining printed-on-island newspaper, The Inquirer and Mirror, covers the on-going saga of a beached humpback whale: http://www.ack.net/deadhumpback071611.html.
And from the 26 June NYTimes Magazine, Sam Anderson pens “An Accidental Experimental Masterpiece,” a fitting homage to the annual World Almanac and Book of Facts; Ben Franklin is grinning somewhere: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/magazine/an-accidental-experimental-masterpiece.html?_r=1
Happy reading, stay cool, and best wishes as we plunge into August.
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Upper School: Summer Mailing Letter
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents and Students:
Although the start of school is still more than a month away, I want to pass along some reminders in anticipation of a smooth start to the 2011-12 academic year. The campus is active with summer improvements, the start of construction on the greenhouse, and accustomed touch-ups to classrooms and hallways, making ready for a fresh start of school on Tuesday, 23 August.
Your child’s academic schedule is now available via the MyBackpack link found on the main page of the MVS web. Jon Graetz (as scheduler) and I have worked diligently to accommodate as many course requests as possible. Although scheduling conflicts are inevitable, we have done our very best to keep them to a minimum; please e.mail Jon Graetz and me if you have any quick questions regarding your child’s schedule. If, after reviewing the schedule, you would like to propose a change to your course schedule, be assured that we will review all such requests; however, we must also attend to the considerations of the larger schedule, balance of sections, and other “bigger picture” issues. We appreciate your understanding.
MVS continues to work with MBS Direct Booksellers http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/mvschool.htm as an on-line vendor for textbooks. The MBS site lists the book titles and ISBN numbers for the courses your child is scheduled to take. Please note, you may purchase your books through any vendor (including other on-line vendors, such as Amazon, Borders, perhaps even eBay) so long as the books are the same edition indicated on MBS. Many vendors also sell used copies of books. You are also welcome to contact older students from previous classes to purchase their used books, again, as long as the editions are the same. Textbooks, in some classes, will be available as state aid texts that students will borrow for the year. It is recommended that students not write their names in books until after the school year has begun, incase of late sectioning changes.
Please join me in welcoming Shea Davis to the upper school English department. Ms. Davis recently completed her Masters Degree from The Ohio State University and is excited to be teaching all sections of Freshman English and one section of American Authors, as well as assisting with the cross-country team and Model UN. The four Deans will continue to focus on grade-level programs and initiatives, including increased attention to student support, clubs and activities, and student expectations and conduct. 20-hours of Community Service / Service Learning for each year in high school continues to be the MVS graduation requirement. Please refer to the guidelines, links, and contact information on the Upper School webpage detailing Dayton area service organizations and opportunities. Summer provides an excellent time for students to complete service hours.
This marks the fifth anniversary of our Shared Summer Reading for the upper school community, including all students and teachers, and I suspect a good number of parents. Our shared title this year is Peace, by Richard Bausch. In a growing partnership between MVS and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Mr. Bausch will visit the upper school to speak with students and visit English classes in mid-September. Stay tuned for additional details.
To lend further relevance to the upper school Advisory Program, the Student Government will play an important role in determining the monthly topics for discussion in our scheduled meetings throughout the year. For continuing students, most of the advisory groupings remain the same, although a handful of faculty members have shifted duties. Recognizing the important connecting threads that our Advisory Program provides in the fabric of the upper school community, I am confident that “continuing members” of advisory groups will make “new additions” feel welcomed, informed, and well supported.
The revised Upper School Handbook & Program of Studies will be available on-line in the “quick links” section of the upper school homepage before the start of school. Students and teachers will discuss pertinent topics during Advisory Group meetings early in the school year. The Parent Notification/Student Permission form, which requires student and parent signatures, will be sent home after we review relevant topics during initial Advisory Group meetings.
With the sudden arrival of sweltering summer weather in Dayton, here is a reminder regarding dress code in the Upper School. As a quick re-cap: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands while resting at their sides; and shirts should cover all of student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts” and jerseys, is not permitted during the academic day. I appreciate your attention to and assistance with guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
Based upon the fabulous success from last fall, in mid-September, MVS will again host a student delegation from our sister school, The Thomas Jefferson School, in Concepcion, Chile. We are seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 8 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks (17-29 September) that they are in the Dayton area. If you were among the MVS families who responded to my initial request back in June, please confirm your interest at this time. If you need additional information, I am happy to discuss any questions that you have. Thank you for your help in supporting this important sister-school relationship, affirming MVS’ commitment to promoting global citizenship.
Team practices for fall high school sports begin the first week of August. Ken Laake (Athletic Director) or the appropriate coach will contact athletes regarding specific practice schedules and related details. Athletic physical cards must be completed and returned to the athletic office before athletes can participate in any pre-season practices.
I am thrilled to welcome 11 students coming new to MVS this year, including 6 new members of our Freshman Class of 2015! For new parents and students, there is an orientation and welcome program on Monday, 22 August, from 8:30-9:30AM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Details regarding the grade-level specific orientation programs are included in this mailer, each of which occurs on Monday, 22 August.
Tuesday, 23 August is the first day of school! As with the beginning of each year, we need to be patient and agreeable as we all become re-adjusted to the flow of traffic on our busy K-12 campus. We will continue to stagger arrival and dismissal times for the three divisions to reduce potential traffic congestion in the neighborhood. Morning Announcements, which begins promptly at 8:05AM each morning, plays an essential role to the culture of the Upper School. It is vital that your child be on time, so that she or he is fully aware of the various activities and events.
Upper School Parent Information Night (better known as PIN, in MVS lingo) will be held on Wednesday, 14 September, beginning at 7:00PM. After meeting with your child’s Academic Advisor for welcome and important announcements, you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule, then follow an abridged version of the entire academic day, providing the opportunity to briefly attend each of her or his classes. I will send specific details as US PIN approaches.
Thank you for reading through these details and reminders about the start of the coming academic year. I will continue to post digital versions of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. I welcome you to subscribe, follow along, and contribute your comments and suggestions. I wish for you and your family an enjoyable and safe continuation of summer. On behalf of all upper school faculty and staff members, we look forward to seeing you soon as we all gear-up to start the 2011-12 academic year.
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents and Students:
Although the start of school is still more than a month away, I want to pass along some reminders in anticipation of a smooth start to the 2011-12 academic year. The campus is active with summer improvements, the start of construction on the greenhouse, and accustomed touch-ups to classrooms and hallways, making ready for a fresh start of school on Tuesday, 23 August.
Your child’s academic schedule is now available via the MyBackpack link found on the main page of the MVS web. Jon Graetz (as scheduler) and I have worked diligently to accommodate as many course requests as possible. Although scheduling conflicts are inevitable, we have done our very best to keep them to a minimum; please e.mail Jon Graetz and me if you have any quick questions regarding your child’s schedule. If, after reviewing the schedule, you would like to propose a change to your course schedule, be assured that we will review all such requests; however, we must also attend to the considerations of the larger schedule, balance of sections, and other “bigger picture” issues. We appreciate your understanding.
MVS continues to work with MBS Direct Booksellers http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/mvschool.htm as an on-line vendor for textbooks. The MBS site lists the book titles and ISBN numbers for the courses your child is scheduled to take. Please note, you may purchase your books through any vendor (including other on-line vendors, such as Amazon, Borders, perhaps even eBay) so long as the books are the same edition indicated on MBS. Many vendors also sell used copies of books. You are also welcome to contact older students from previous classes to purchase their used books, again, as long as the editions are the same. Textbooks, in some classes, will be available as state aid texts that students will borrow for the year. It is recommended that students not write their names in books until after the school year has begun, incase of late sectioning changes.
Please join me in welcoming Shea Davis to the upper school English department. Ms. Davis recently completed her Masters Degree from The Ohio State University and is excited to be teaching all sections of Freshman English and one section of American Authors, as well as assisting with the cross-country team and Model UN. The four Deans will continue to focus on grade-level programs and initiatives, including increased attention to student support, clubs and activities, and student expectations and conduct. 20-hours of Community Service / Service Learning for each year in high school continues to be the MVS graduation requirement. Please refer to the guidelines, links, and contact information on the Upper School webpage detailing Dayton area service organizations and opportunities. Summer provides an excellent time for students to complete service hours.
This marks the fifth anniversary of our Shared Summer Reading for the upper school community, including all students and teachers, and I suspect a good number of parents. Our shared title this year is Peace, by Richard Bausch. In a growing partnership between MVS and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Mr. Bausch will visit the upper school to speak with students and visit English classes in mid-September. Stay tuned for additional details.
To lend further relevance to the upper school Advisory Program, the Student Government will play an important role in determining the monthly topics for discussion in our scheduled meetings throughout the year. For continuing students, most of the advisory groupings remain the same, although a handful of faculty members have shifted duties. Recognizing the important connecting threads that our Advisory Program provides in the fabric of the upper school community, I am confident that “continuing members” of advisory groups will make “new additions” feel welcomed, informed, and well supported.
The revised Upper School Handbook & Program of Studies will be available on-line in the “quick links” section of the upper school homepage before the start of school. Students and teachers will discuss pertinent topics during Advisory Group meetings early in the school year. The Parent Notification/Student Permission form, which requires student and parent signatures, will be sent home after we review relevant topics during initial Advisory Group meetings.
With the sudden arrival of sweltering summer weather in Dayton, here is a reminder regarding dress code in the Upper School. As a quick re-cap: ripped clothing is not permitted; shorts and skirts must be longer than the extended fingers of a student’s hands while resting at their sides; and shirts should cover all of student’s shoulders and not be overly revealing. Additionally, sports apparel, particularly “gym-style shorts” and jerseys, is not permitted during the academic day. I appreciate your attention to and assistance with guiding our students to be mindful of appearance, especially in anticipation of warm weather at the start of school in August.
Based upon the fabulous success from last fall, in mid-September, MVS will again host a student delegation from our sister school, The Thomas Jefferson School, in Concepcion, Chile. We are seeking MVS families to serve as hosts for our 8 Chilean visitors, ranging in ages from 14-16, for the two weeks (17-29 September) that they are in the Dayton area. If you were among the MVS families who responded to my initial request back in June, please confirm your interest at this time. If you need additional information, I am happy to discuss any questions that you have. Thank you for your help in supporting this important sister-school relationship, affirming MVS’ commitment to promoting global citizenship.
Team practices for fall high school sports begin the first week of August. Ken Laake (Athletic Director) or the appropriate coach will contact athletes regarding specific practice schedules and related details. Athletic physical cards must be completed and returned to the athletic office before athletes can participate in any pre-season practices.
I am thrilled to welcome 11 students coming new to MVS this year, including 6 new members of our Freshman Class of 2015! For new parents and students, there is an orientation and welcome program on Monday, 22 August, from 8:30-9:30AM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Details regarding the grade-level specific orientation programs are included in this mailer, each of which occurs on Monday, 22 August.
Tuesday, 23 August is the first day of school! As with the beginning of each year, we need to be patient and agreeable as we all become re-adjusted to the flow of traffic on our busy K-12 campus. We will continue to stagger arrival and dismissal times for the three divisions to reduce potential traffic congestion in the neighborhood. Morning Announcements, which begins promptly at 8:05AM each morning, plays an essential role to the culture of the Upper School. It is vital that your child be on time, so that she or he is fully aware of the various activities and events.
Upper School Parent Information Night (better known as PIN, in MVS lingo) will be held on Wednesday, 14 September, beginning at 7:00PM. After meeting with your child’s Academic Advisor for welcome and important announcements, you will receive a copy of your child’s class schedule, then follow an abridged version of the entire academic day, providing the opportunity to briefly attend each of her or his classes. I will send specific details as US PIN approaches.
Thank you for reading through these details and reminders about the start of the coming academic year. I will continue to post digital versions of all letters and e.mails sent from the upper school on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/. I welcome you to subscribe, follow along, and contribute your comments and suggestions. I wish for you and your family an enjoyable and safe continuation of summer. On behalf of all upper school faculty and staff members, we look forward to seeing you soon as we all gear-up to start the 2011-12 academic year.
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mid-July: Articles of Interest
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Greetings Upper School Community:
As prophesized in the New York Times back on 3 July in Never An Empty Seat, professional sporting history was made at our beloved Fifth Third Field, citing the extreme loyalty of Dayton fans for our Dragons. Well done, Dayton!
Film contributor A. O. Scott’s article “Did You Catch That Reference? There’ll Be a Quiz” reveals the abundance of “cinematic homage” paid in this summer’s film offerings.
While covering the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Karen Crouse penned an intriguing article, titled “Uneasy Role of Parent/Coach,” retelling Marion Bartoli’s fiery relationship with her father. Food for thought.
NYTimes OP-ED Columnist David Brooks provides a thoughtful analysis of the current budget and debt limit debates occurring in Washington: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/opinion/12brooks.html?src=mv&ref=general . Relatedly, I am currently finishing-up David Brooks’ non-fiction book The Social Animal, finding a number of connections to teaching, parenting, and the grand journey we call life. A review of The Social Animal can be read at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/books/review/book-review-the-social-animal-by-david-brooks.html If you have the time or interest, I highly recommend it as an insightful summer read.
The Atlantic Magazine presents a quick analysis of the start-up community of “Kickstarter,” highlighting the 20 Most Successful Projects (thus far, anyway).
And finally, Boston Globe writer Billy Baker, Jr’s article on “How to Lose the Boston Accent” [ http://www.billybaker.net/newspaper ] has received all sorts of coverage. After reading the original article, I heard an interview yesterday on NPR, including the writer attempting to “de-Southie the accent” from of his father: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/11/137773357/bostonians-take-class-to-ditch-their-accent. Having spent many-a summer amongst Bostonians while out-East, I laughed-out-loud!
Happy reading, don’t forget to apply ample sunscreen, and best wishes towards an exuberant July.
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Community:
As prophesized in the New York Times back on 3 July in Never An Empty Seat, professional sporting history was made at our beloved Fifth Third Field, citing the extreme loyalty of Dayton fans for our Dragons. Well done, Dayton!
Film contributor A. O. Scott’s article “Did You Catch That Reference? There’ll Be a Quiz” reveals the abundance of “cinematic homage” paid in this summer’s film offerings.
While covering the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Karen Crouse penned an intriguing article, titled “Uneasy Role of Parent/Coach,” retelling Marion Bartoli’s fiery relationship with her father. Food for thought.
NYTimes OP-ED Columnist David Brooks provides a thoughtful analysis of the current budget and debt limit debates occurring in Washington: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/opinion/12brooks.html?src=mv&ref=general . Relatedly, I am currently finishing-up David Brooks’ non-fiction book The Social Animal, finding a number of connections to teaching, parenting, and the grand journey we call life. A review of The Social Animal can be read at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/books/review/book-review-the-social-animal-by-david-brooks.html If you have the time or interest, I highly recommend it as an insightful summer read.
The Atlantic Magazine presents a quick analysis of the start-up community of “Kickstarter,” highlighting the 20 Most Successful Projects (thus far, anyway).
And finally, Boston Globe writer Billy Baker, Jr’s article on “How to Lose the Boston Accent” [ http://www.billybaker.net/newspaper ] has received all sorts of coverage. After reading the original article, I heard an interview yesterday on NPR, including the writer attempting to “de-Southie the accent” from of his father: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/11/137773357/bostonians-take-class-to-ditch-their-accent. Having spent many-a summer amongst Bostonians while out-East, I laughed-out-loud!
Happy reading, don’t forget to apply ample sunscreen, and best wishes towards an exuberant July.
Best regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
