Late-October Articles of Interest: 7-Billion of Us, Steve Jobs' Lost Sister, Twitterology, Complete World Knowledge, & Tom Keith

Monday, 31 October 2011

Greetings Upper School Community:

Since wintery weather seems to have arrived at last, here is a late-October edition of “Articles of Interest” to warm your reading enjoyment.

 

According to global demographers, sometime today, the world’s population crossed the 7-billion mark for the first time.  The Economist provides an interesting graphic depicting the guess-timated amount of actual space 7-billion people could occupy, addressing the larger question, where will we all fit?!?   

 

In A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs, writer Mona Simpson describes the discovery of her famous adoption-separated brother. 

 

The growth of “Twitterology” as a new science; fascinating information found by tracking language and semantics in microblog posts. 

 

And for loyal listeners, two recent stories from National Public Radio:

 

Robert Siegel’s conversation with factoid-obsessed funnyman John Hodgman (the “and I’m a PC” guy from the Mac commercials and Jon Stewart’s “resident expert”) about publication of the final installment of his trilogy of “complete world knowledge,” That Is All.  Mayan end-of-days and jock-nerd convergence explained.

 

The untimely death of Tom Keith, renowned sound effects man of Garrison Keillor’s PrairieHome Companion.

 

Happy reading, and bring on November!

 

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School

Girls Soccer, Fall Term Exams, Packets Coming Home, & 2012 Immersion Groups Posted

Thursday, 27 October 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

Following the thrilling 1-0 win (in over-time!) against Preble Shawnee on Monday, our girls varsity soccer team plays tonight at Springboro Stadium against Mariemont; game start is 7:00PM.  Stay hungry, Rams!  With the approach of fall exams and other autumnal activities in the Upper School, here are some reminders for the coming weeks.

Class Deans distributed school picture packages this morning; please ask your child to be sure your packet makes it home.  Picture re-take day, for those who want them, is Thursday, 10 November.  To ensure proper credit, the original photo package must be exchanged on re-take day.  2011 MVS Yearbooks, for students who ordered them, were distributed during Advisory.

Sally Foster Gift Wrap packages from the MVS Parents Association were also distributed.  This fundraiser supports numerous student and teacher programs, so your orders are appreciated.

Fall Trimester exams run Tuesday-Thursday, 1-3 November. The exam schedule is available on the documents section of the upper school homepage.  Although students are not required to be on campus until 30 minutes before a scheduled exam, most students arrange to study in groups here at MVS during the day.  Additionally, the Library will remain open until 6:PM through Thursday, 3 November.

Since Freshmen and Sophomores (as well as upper classmen without privileges) do not have open campus privileges, if they wish to depart from campus between exams (to go out to lunch or study at a friend’s house), written parent permission must be submitted to the upper school office the day of such a request.  Due to obvious safety concerns, permission cannot be phoned in.

Friday, 4 November is designated as College Visitation Weekend, providing an excellent opportunity for students to visit, tour, and perhaps interview at a college or university as part of their college selection process.  Friday is also a faculty professional development and assessment day.  Teachers will attend a 2-hour morning professional development meeting, followed by grading exams, composing end-of-term comments, and planning for the start of Winter Trimester.

Next Wednesday through Friday, I will be away from MVS presenting at the Annual Conference of Independent School Association of the Central States, better known as ISACS.  ISACS, the largest regional organization within the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), is also the accrediting body for MVS.  The annual conference, this year held in Detroit, always provides excellent opportunities for professional growth, collegial networking, and discussing topical school matters.

We are fortunate to welcome Jeff Wolfsberg back to MVS in starting the Winter Trimester.  Jeff Wolfsberg, drug education and wellness specialist, will return during the week of 15-18 November, including a special evening parent meeting on Thursday, 17 November in the Alumni Theatre.  The event will begin at 7:00PM with a brief Parents’ Association Meeting.

Student groups for 2012 Immersion Programs will be posted this Friday, with some preliminary organizational meetings between students and facilitators beginning in November.  Official group meetings, including parent information sessions, will likely follow in December.  Great appreciation goes to the Immersion Committee, led by Rachel Moulton, which facilitated the timeliness, processes, and over-all attentiveness to this capstone of MVS experiential learning.

Thank you for your support in what has been a great Fall Term in the Upper School.  I look forward to seeing you at an up-coming MVS event.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Early-October Articles of Interest: Steve Jobs, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, assessing Virtual Schools, & Rugby World Cup

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Greetings Upper School Community:

Here is early-October’s edition of “Articles of Interest” for your reading enjoyment.

In Sunday’s Business section of the NYTimes, Steve Lohr pens a worthy tribute to the legacy of Steve Jobs in “The Power of Taking the Big Chance”.  Also of note are Thomas Friedman’s eulogy/essay “Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?”   and Steve Jobs’ “my three stories,” from the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Address, delivered in the visionary’s own words.

Last April, the MVS chapter of Amnesty International showed the film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” to the upper school community.  The film narrates the grass-roots efforts of women, spanning diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, in uniting through non-violent protest against the exploits of Liberia’s then dictator Charles Taylor (now deposed!).  One of the leaders of that movement, Leymah Gbowee, will share the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.  How very cool (and typical of MVS) that our students are aligned with the Nobel Prize!

The increase of on-line and virtual schooling organizations, and the promises they claim towards boosting student achievement, has made for heated discussions.  Today’s NYTimes front-page story, Grading the Digital School: Inflating the Software Report Card, provides interesting perspective to the on-going debate: 

And with the Philadelphia Phillies now sadly out of the Playoffs, my attention returns to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, underway in Wellington, New Zealand.  Here are a couple stories to better familiarize you with the unique draw of international sports:

·      The Official Rules of Rugby, from ActiveNewZealand.com: 

·      (also note the video: 2011 Travel Warning.  NZ truly is more than a nation of 16 million sheep):

·      With Rules Tweaked, Rugby Recaptures Attacking Spark,

·      And the main website of the International Rugby Board.

Enjoy October’s delicious weather, happy reading, and keep in touch!

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School

Parent Signature on Immersion Application (Due Mon, 10 Oct) & Steve Job's 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Friday, 7 October 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

A quick reminder that Immersion applications are due this Monday, 10 OCTOBER, by 3:30PM in the upper school office.  Immersion applications require a parent signature, so if your child has not recently discussed her/his Immersion selections with you, you can prompt a discussion by asking to sign the application.  Immersion deadlines are firm; applications submitted after a deadline will be placed at the bottom of the selection process, regardless of the student’s grade level.

The link to all applications, procedures, and program descriptions for Immersion 2012 are available on the “School Announcements” section of theupper school homepage.

With the passing of Steve Jobs this week, I have been replaying the video of the sage words he delivered at Stanford University’s 2005Commencement Ceremony.  The video can be viewed at the TED website at: http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Best wishes for a restful, no homework weekend!

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School

Fall Mid-Terms, Required Study Halls, Fall Break, & Immersion Deadlines

Friday, 30 September 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

This e.mail is to confirm that that mid-term comments, grades, and effort/work habit marks for the Fall Trimester are now available via MyBackpack.  Students reviewed, discussed, and jotted notes on their mid-terms during Advisory this morning.  As you review the Fall Trimester mid-term comments, recall that they reflect the initial academic status of your daughter or son for this first term. Please take a moment to read through the written comments, work habit marks, and estimated academic grades, preferably with your daughter or son present, praising successes and strategizing towards areas for further improvement. In considering your child’s mid-term comments, seek emerging themes among her or his over-all academic performance.

Since mid-term comments reflect, in many cases, a “snap shot” of your child’s current course work, it is appropriate to consider the grades and work habit marks accordingly.  Major assignments or assessments might be due soon after the mid-term comments were written, thus grades have the potential to fluctuate between now and the end of the term. Having reached the mid-term mark, time remains for students to implement new study strategies, heeding the advice provided in the teacher comments and indicated by the effort marks. The end of the first trimester is Monday, 31 October, followed by first trimester exams, from 1-3 November.

Required study halls will begin this Tuesday for students needing additional time management and support in achieving stronger academic performances.  Study halls will be scheduled during available student free periods and should be considered as an assigned class; attendance is mandatory.

Next Friday, 6 October, is Fall Break.  Classes will conclude at 12:noon; there will be neither extended day nor lunch available.  To add to the relaxation of Fall Break, the weekend is designated as a “no homework weekend!”

Immersion applications are due Monday, 10 OCTOBER by 3:30PM in the upper school office.  Immersion deadlines are firm; applications submitted after a deadline will be placed at the bottom of the selection process, regardless of the student’s grade level.  The link to all forms, procedures, and program descriptions for Immersion 2012 are available on the “School Announcements”section of the upper school homepage.

And finally, I extend a hearty Happy New Year’s to members of the Jewish community.  Please visit and comment at my MVS Blog http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ for reminders, up-dates, and “Articles of Interest” from the Upper School.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School

Homecoming Dance: Parent Awareness & Student Support

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

As we approach MVS Homecoming weekend, I want to communicate clearly and directly to you some expectations for student behavior at the dance.  The homecoming dance occurs on Saturday, 24 September from 8-11:00PM in the MVS Alumni Black Box Theater.  The Student Government is providing light snacks and water.

Homecoming season is often depicted as a rite of passage, celebrating friendships, honoring school spirit, and looking forward to the approach of Autumn.  I anticipate this year’s homecoming dance to be an enjoyable event, under the careful planning of the Student Government. However, as is the case in many school cultures, school dances and similar evening events also raise anxieties about potential student at-risk behavior, including drinking, unsafe driving, and other potential dangers. Throughout the year, but particularly during Homecoming and Prom seasons, tragic incidents are captured in the local and national press, reinforcing the fragility of human life and the potential dangers of adolescent vulnerabilities. Such incidents can be devastating to any community; as adults, we are prudent to be concerned with the safety of our children.

As we did last Spring at MVS Prom, for the added protection of our students (and for increased peace of mind for parents and teachers), we will administer individual Breathalyzer tests to all students attending the homecoming dance. MVS recently purchased a new device, recommended both by law enforcement and substance counseling programs, which is quicker and more accurate than the paper test-strips we used at Prom.  The use of these tests is to affirm that our students are safe and secure, as well as to reduce suspicions about at-risk behaviors at MVS events. As a school, MVS will not tolerate any student drinking or illegal substance use before or during Homecoming; to that end, we will be vigilant in our monitoring of student conduct.

If your student is attending the homecoming dance (which we hope is the case), I encourage you to have candid discussions with your child (as well as with her or his friends) about the important topics of safety and responsible decision making, carefully reviewing their plans, your expectations, and communicating directly with other parents regarding any questions you might have.

As parents, I request your assistance in modeling proactive, responsible decision making by our students. Please resist any temptation to offer alcohol to any students, even as a ceremonial toast or glass of champagne, especially since such actions are in stark conflict with MVS school policy, not to mention state laws. Such offers place students in an unnecessarily precarious dilemma. If your daughter or son is traveling in a limousine or carpooling with a group of friends, please take the time to ask, then check to confirm, that there are no “smuggled containers or substances” inside. It is better to be safe now, rather than remorseful later. If students (or you, their parents) still feel compelled to promote at-risk activities, they are cautioned to avoid Homecoming entirely. Any student, whom chaperones suspect to be under the influence, will be denied from entering the dance and, as a result, we will phone you, as their parents, to come pick him or her up.

Chaperones (me included), who agree to work in support of student events (without whom, there simply would be no Homecoming) will use their best judgment in assessing student conduct; however, these decisions will be at the discretion of faculty chaperones, Bryan Lakatos (as Student Government Advisor), and me. I encourage you to be candid with your daughter or son in all conversations surrounding alcohol, drug use, or other at-risk behaviors.  Any violation of the alcohol and drug policy at or around an MVS event may result in serious consequences, up to and including suspension or expulsion. The potential dangers of unsafe driving raise further concerns. Our hope is that through active and direct discussions, transcending both home and school, such matters can be avoided entirely, thus allowing everyone at the dance to safely enjoy the events as they are intended.

In the interest of promoting student safety, students will not be allowed to leave the dance before its conclusion without first contacting a parent. All students are to arrive at the homecoming dance by 9:00PM. If any student arrives late, or asks to leave early, we will have him or her phone a parent directly before leaving. Once a student has officially departed from the dance (having contacted a parent first), she or he will not be permitted to re-enter the event. Students are expected to cooperate fully with chaperones, volunteers, and staff at these events. Attendance at Homecoming is a privilege, requiring an appropriate degree of student (and parent) responsibility. We look forward to enjoying these activities with your child; however, in the interest of student safety, we will be attentive to monitoring student behavior and conduct.

Again, as partners in the essential support of MVS students, please encourage your child (and her or his peers) to use sound judgment in making Homecoming a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe night for all involved. Should you have any specific questions regarding the dance, please contact Bryan Lakatos (as Student Government Advisor) or me.

With sincere regards,


Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School

Chilean Exchange Students, Richard Bausch, International Day of Peace, & Homecoming

Saturday, 17 September 2011

Greetings Upper School Parents:

It was great to see so many parents at upper school PIN on Wednesday.  The evening had a delightfully positive feel and there was good flow between classes.  I enjoyed greeting and speaking with folks in the hallways between classes, confirming our solid beginning to this academic year.

The Chilean flag, now flying as you enter campus, indicates the safe arrival of our 8 Chilean exchange students from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion.  They were greeted at the airport Saturday morning by their MVS host siblings and parents, and then will be welcomed to the upper school community on Monday during Morning Announcements.

And speaking of Monday morning, renowned author Richard Bausch will be on campus as part of the MVS Visiting Author Series.  Mr. Bausch will speak with and take questions from upper school students and faculty members during 1^st period in the Truslow Commons.  He will then visit English classes throughout the morning.  Among other awards, Mr. Bausch is the 2009 fiction winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Wednesday, 21 September is International Day of Peace.  In honor of this event, the MVS Amnesty International chapter will show Jeremy Gilley's TED Talk during Morning Announcements.  The link to the TED Talk is included on my mid-September “Articles of Interest,” which is posted on my MVS Blog.

Friday, 23 September marks the mid-term of Fall Trimester.  Teachers will compose comments and compute estimated grades and work habit/effort marks for all students.  Mid-terms will then be reviewed by students during Advisory on Friday, 30 September, then will be “sent live” via MyBackpack that afternoon.  I will send you an e.mail confirmation once they are available.

Program descriptions, deadlines, and forms for MVS Immersion 2012 are now available on the MVS web.

Following over a year’s worth of preparation and anticipation, Sunday thru Wednesday, 2-5 October, MVS will host a group of educators as our accreditation team from the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) visits campus.

Please refer to my MVS Blog [http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/] for copies of all letters and reminders sent from my office.  I welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback.

With sincere regards,

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School