End of Winter Term & Start of Immersion

Friday, 26 February 2010

Greetings Upper School Parents:

Having patiently survived the weather interruptions from last week, let the adjustments to Immersion begin! This e.mail serves as official notification that the comments, work habit/effort marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Winter Trimester assessments are now available via the on-line portal My Backpack, the link to which is at the bottom right-hand corner of the front page of the newly redesigned MVSchool website. These term marks represent course work that began back in November and concluded for most late last week. It is aptly fitting that students (and faculty members) are rewarded with the delightful “shifting of mental gears” associated with the upper school Immersion program, the pinnacle of experiential learning at MVS.

Please take a moment to review the comments, effort marks, and grades with your daughter or son, celebrating successes and developing strategies for future improvements. As always, should you have a question relating to a specific comment, grade, or course (including these initial stages of Immersion 2010), please contact that teacher, via voice or e.mail, to discuss the matter further. Clearly, since most faculty members are away from campus facilitating Immersion activities, some return contacts might take longer than in normal circumstances.

Of important note, ranking among the most exciting upper school events, please mark your calendar for Immersion Open House, which will occur on Wednesday, 14 April, beginning at 7:00PM in the Lane Gymnasium. This celebratory event is designed for the entire MVS community to witness first-hand the energy, experiences, learning, and accomplishments from all of the 2010 Immersion offerings, including group projects and individual studies. A listing of the group Immersion programs and webpages is available from the upper school homepage of MVSchool website.

As way of reminder, please remember to purchase books for your child necessary for the start of the Spring Trimester, including required English electives for grades 10-12. Please visit the MBS Direct website to order the appropriate texts, the link to which is also on the bottom right-hand corner of the main page of the MVSchool website.

That’s all (quite a bit, actually!) for now from here in the Upper School. Thank you, as always for entrusting your son or daughter with us here at MVS. If I do not see you sooner, best wishes towards a safe and relaxing Spring Break.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School

Posted REVISED Upper School Exam Schedule

Greetings Upper School Parents and Students:

The revised, updated Upper School Winter Exam Schedule is now posted on the MVSchool website and can be accessed by clicking the red "CLICK HERE" link on the yellow banner.

As a rule, if a student wishes to take an exam during a time different from the scheduled time, she or he should contact that specific teacher directly to make arrangements. We have reserved Friday morning for any conflicts that arise from unforeseen attendance or transportation difficulties.

Again, thank you for your patience as we finalized these details.

With appreciative regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Preview of Revised Winter Exam Schedule

Upper School Parents & Students:

The revised schedule, fully detailed, for upper school exams will be posted on the MVSchool website within the hour. Here is a quick, general preview:

After consulting upper school teachers, nearly all exams have been shortened in length. We have provided departmental "windows," though many exams are designed not to take the full amount of time.

Wednesday has two major exam windows, and roughly follows the schedule for today's exams.

Thursday has three shorter exam windows, with longer breaks between exams, condensing exams that had been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday has one scheduled exam, AP Biology, and a window for exam conflicts, should a student be unable to attend a scheduled exam.

Wednesday 17 February:
Science Exams: 10-12

History Exams: 1-3
Freshman Studio Art: (either 8:30-9:30AM or 2-3:PM)

Thursday, 18 February:
World Languages Exams: 8:30-10AM

English Exams: 10:45AM-12:15PM

Mathematics Exams: 1:30-3:00PM

Friday, 19 February:
AP Biology: 9:00AM-1200PM

Make up exams: 9:00-11:00AM


Again, the detailed schedule will be posted on the MVSchool website within the hour.

Thank you for your patience as we gathered information and constructed what we hope will be a worthy revised schedule.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Winter Weather vs. Upper School Exams, Round 1

Monday, 15 February 2010

Greetings Upper School Parents:

It appears that Punxsutawney Phil (the infamous groundhog meteorologist) got it right this year! Having heard today’s flurry of dire forecasts and winter weather advisories, I am also inclined to retreat into a warm burrow to await the arrival of spring.

I propose that the word of the day (perhaps for the entire week) be patience. As we wait to see the actual outcomes from this present storm, know that we are already considering possible action plans and how they might translate to snow delays, trimester exams (postponements or possible cancellations), and the start of Immersion 2010.

So for now, stay tuned, keep warm, and be safe.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Early February Announcements & Reminders

Monday, 8 February 2010

Greetings Upper School Parents:

Here are a couple announcements and quick reminders as we approach exams for the Winter Trimester.

The Model UN program had a fabulous showing this past weekend at the regional competition, hosted by the University of Chicago. I have always enjoyed being a fly-on-the-wall at the historic Palmer House Hotel, watching our student delegates in action. Look for details of the awards and recipients in a future posting on the MVSchool site.

Relating to campus safety and positive community relations, our resource officer with the Washington Township Sheriff’s Department reminded us today that Denise Drive is a TWO way street UNTIL it crosses the property line (speed bumps) of the MVS Campus. To this end, Sheriff’s Deputies will record the license plates of cars that form two in-coming lanes before the speed bumps for possible citations. I wanted you to be aware of this matter.

On a more positive topic, the sophomore class is sponsoring a fundraiser, titled Hope for Haiti, for this Thursday, 11 February during lunch in the SAC. For a $5 admission fee, students will be treated to a selection of foods, fund raising raffles, and variety of student performances. Please encourage your daughter or son to support this worthy event.

We will also have an Honorary “Head-of-School for the Day” on Thursday, as follow-up from a winning item in last year’s MVS Auction. This year, our Head for the Day will pay special attention to students in the Upper School. Stay tuned for further news.

With the threat of impending nasty winter weather this week, we have already discussed possible contingency plans, with the hope of making any announcements relating to snow delays as early as possible. The One-Call, automated message system will continue to be our primary means of sharing the news, along with notices to local television and radio stations. As always, if bad weather raises any concerns regarding the safety of your child, I encourage you to please caution on the side of your comfort; if you opt for a delayed arrival or to keep your child at home, please inform the upper school office.

Previous e.mails and letters sent to upper school parents (including a link to the winter term exam schedule) are archived on my upper school blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ . As before, I welcome your comments and feedback.
With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Winter Trimester Exam Schedule

Friday, 5 February 2010

Greetings Upper School Parents:

I hope this e.mail finds you well as we all await the reality of the forecasted nasty weather. From here in Chicago at the ISACS Division Heads Conference, some attendees are already beginning to scramble based upon initial flight changes from the rumored 10-20 inches of “wintery mix” due in the middle-Atlantic states. Let’s hope it skips past Dayton!

The Winter Trimester exam schedule is now posted on the Upper School homepage of the MVSchool website at: http://www.mvschool.com/inside-mvs/division-homepages/upper-school , providing strategizing for students to prepare for end-of-term exams.

I am looking forward to my late-afternoon 8-block walk to join the MVS Model United Nations groups at the regional conference, sponsored by the University of Chicago.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Upper School Late January Details

Monday, 25 January 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:

Seeing as January is now in full-swing, with February close on its heels, I thought I would send an up-date of recent and up-coming events and initiatives at work in the Upper School.

• The winter drama production, OUR TOWN, opens this Thursday in the Alumni Theatre. I sent a detailed e.mail (complete with cast list, performance dates and times, and ticket prices) earlier today.

• Colin Dunnigan, Glenn Squiers, and I are attending a daylong seminar outside Philadelphia entitled RE-IMAGINING HIGH SCHOOL, presented by the Independent Curriculum Group (ICG). The schools of the ICG put students at the center of the education process and are part of a growing movement of leading college preparatory schools that have de-emphasized curriculum driven by standardized testing. Considering MVS’ focus on experiential learning, we look forward to a spirited series of discussions at the seminar.

• Next Week, the MVS Model United Nations program, under the direction of Ruth Jewett-Warner and Deb Spiegel, departs for regional competition at annual The University of Chicago conference. Based upon the excellent results from our local competition at the University of Dayton, we expect a great showing.

• 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. As in previous years, I will then join the Model UN groups late Friday afternoon, allowing me to witness the student committees in action, as well as joining them on the bus ride home to Dayton on Sunday.

• The rosters for Spring Trimester English electives for grades 10-12 are nearly complete. Student class schedules for Spring Term can be viewed via MyBackpack. As one out-come from the recent survey on homework loads and stress, spring term English electives will not make use of lab periods, thus providing added time for students to meet with teachers, study with peers, and hopefully de-stress in the Spring.

• With the hopes of further supporting MVS’ mission of fostering compassionate global citizens, we are enhancing our outreach to international students in the Upper School. We have already made improvements to the school website to inform and attract international students interested in attending MVS; stay tuned for future up-dates. If you have an interest in learning more about becoming a host family to an international student, please contact Jack Sweeney, Director of Enrollment.

• Preparations for Immersion 2010 are well underway. If you have not already attended a planning/details meeting for your daughter or son’s Immersion Program, one is likely forthcoming. Please remember to mark your calendar for Immersion Open House (Wednesday, 14 April at 7:PM), a true MVS moment, celebrating experiential learning at its best!

• If you have phoned MVS recently, you have learned that our voicemail system is currently “on the fritz.” In the meantime, messages from in-coming calls will be forwarded to teachers and administrators via e.mail. Thank you for your patience as we attend to this matter.

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