M.S.Department Meeting Agenda

- for Wednesday, September 5 -Location: Jack’s Room (3rd Fl. M.S. Bldg. Room 302 - 3:40 PM)

1. Counselor’s Corner Melissa - she’s available for assisting students’ (not teachers!) social, emotional needs, and she’s the “go-to-person” for help in arranging parent meetings (morning hours are the best times for Melissa. Testing ..... ISA standardized test math/reading/writing in February. WRAP online test around the month of May. Melissa has gathered information providing academic scores/ability that she can share with teachers. The data system is a work in progress.

2. Student Concernsa. Dharma - Is being keenly monitored and all issues are being documented. Kate suggests that Dharma be given the opportunity to vent his feelings through a writing diary. Melissa provided a new monitoring document - which Jack will scan and distribute.b. Dave (Kate- trouble with demonstrating good “habits of learning”; Kate is recommending that he be closely monitored.c. Homework Diary - a need that students be strongly encouragedd. A need to constantly - in gentle way - remind students to SPEAK IN ENGLISH whenever possible.e. Grade 7 - Jack, Lewis, TaeJun - need more presence in the classroom!f. Scott (Gr. 6)- we love his energy, although it can be consuming!g. Mike (Gr. 8)- Jeff (Gr. 7) - lots of improvement and level of maturity in evidenceh. Lana - Father requested that we closely monitor her work; has gotten behind in the past. Some difficulty in Language Arts.i. Reina - What a student!!!

3. ELL Update Line’s here on behalf of Naheed. The introduction of a semester long, IEA (Intensive English Academy) learning program; Grades 8-10 will be involved. Hubert, Peter, SoYeon, and Mike (?) are the

likely grade 8 candidates for this intense English-learning program. Line has decided to delay the start of this program until a Course Syllabus is completed. Preference expressed that this program not begin until the new ELL teacher, Laura, arrives (in ten days). Bela and Kate recommend that Mike not be included. Mike is showing the ability to function at an acceptable level and should not be included.

4. MSSC (Middle School Student Council)a. Elected MSSC President: Elenab. One Grade 8 Representative: Lorenzoc. Two Grade 7 Representatives: Felipe, Georgiad. Two Grade 6 Representatives: Javier, Teresae. MSSC Advisor is KATE !!!f. Bi-monthly Meetings? Mondays lunchtime (Kate’s got lots of great ideas; and you’ll iron out details later) This coming MONDAY is the first meeting. A mix of FUN / COMMUNITY SERVICE activities.

5. M.S. Channels of Communication (Bela’s requested more consistent communication regarding Homeroom Activities)

6. Progress Reportsa. Issued the week of Sept. 24; Absolutely

mandatory - issued to C-grade or lower w/narratives; B-grade or higher? At the teacher’s descretion ...narrative not mandatory.

7. September Focus

A. Student Goals (have already been written and submitted; follow-up should happen within the Homerooms. Jack has the SIXERS’ goals.B. Learner Outcome Highlighted: (http://www.aianjack.org/2012/07/23/mission-statement-learner-outcomes/ LEARNER OUTCOME ONE: Students Demonstrate Global Citizenship

8. Grade 5 Students - Homeroom Presentation - Scheduled for next week (Thursday @ 3:15 in the Multi-purpose Room on the 3rd floor - for all M.S. students - arranged by Robbie) ... Roald Dahl Day! Also celebrating 30 years of "The BFG". Several grade 5 students are preparing a very short presentation to give to a variety of classes.

9. Bulletin Boards Jack expressed.... Each M.S. Grade Level should adopt a highly-visible board (near our stairwell) to use for showcasing student work or a significant topic related to their learning. Additionally, the Middle School Student Council should have their own “MSSC Bulletin Board”; even though the MSSC has been given an MSSC News page to use at www.aianjack.org/middle-school-news/

10. Mandarin Department Sponsored Field Trip There’s a Sept 18 Mandarin-sponsored Field Trip to Ningbo (combined MS/HS (?) For details, check with Janet!

11. M.S. Proposed “CHINA TRIP” Jack shared the idea of offering an

overnight, outdoor-learning based “China Trip” for the middle school grades. The trip could be arranged within the Zhejiang Province - or could be a trip to another China Province if desired. The length of the trip could vary - dependent upon both economic, interest-level, and feasibility factors to be decided later. It is recommended that such a trip would last for a minimum of three school days and two nights - or a maximum of five school days and four nights. Jack, at his former school (AISG in Guangzhou, China) used a highly-reputable and

qualified organization specializing in coordinating outdoor-learning China Trips called DRAGONFLY. Many if not all of the large International Schools throughout China uses

the same organization. Their website is: http://www.dragonfly-outdoors.com/index.php/programs/secondary-school Dragonfly offers a Middle-School

Outdoor Learning trip in the Zhejiang Province, but offer trips in other China Provinces too: Guangxi, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xian, and Beijing.

Dragonfly leads a variety of diverse, inspiring, and educational courses for the middle school age level. Their programs focuses on developing the whole person, with a range of activities that both engage and challenge each individual. Their motto is “personal growth for positive change,”; wanting all students to return home with a better understanding of themselves and those around them. And, Jack can attest to the fact that they ensure that all parts of a given trip are completed with a high priority placed on SAFETY. At AISG while Jack was there, Dragonfly would customarily send their China Trip Coordinator to our school (prior to the start of the trip) to meet with the Middle School Teachers and Administration, in order to better determine what type of trip we want and what our learning goals are. They are available to advise on planning out a detailed itinerary (transportation, lodging, meals, students’ packing list, etc.).

The Dragonfly staff speak fluent and clearly-understood English, and Jack has found that there’s always someone on their staff who can speak fluently in Mandarin. Their trip supervisors, according to Jack, are highly-skilled and experienced in working and engaging with middle school grade level students.

According to Jack, Dragonfly consistently excels in making sure every aspect of the trip is well planned. The students’ day is always full; with never any “wasted” or idle time. In addition to the major activities, the students; day and early evening hours are filled with fun and engaging activities and games

designed for individual growth adn “team-building”. Dragonfly’s PACE objectives and curriculum support can help AIAN bring the message home and build on the experience. And their Mandarin Immersion programs add a whole new element to China programs. Dragonfly realizes that every school is unique, with different aims for their outdoor programs. For this reason, Dragonfly will custom design our program.