August+31,+2009

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**Pearl of the Week **  'I cured the patient but he died' is as logical as saying 'I taught the pupil, but she did not learn'. - Bowring -Carr and John Burnham West UK Educators

=Humour Me = 

**Have a Look... **   [|Click here] to view a five minute video produced by an organization called //Shift Happens // . This video highlights some interesting information about the exponential growth and change inherent in the 21st century. Our students will have challenges that we have not experienced, and our hope is that the experiences that our students have with the IB at IST will prepare them to face these challenges. 

**Mark Your Calendars **  **August 31: **  Community Service Begins 2:00 <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 31: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Committee Work 2:00 <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 1: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Grade 8 Beach Day <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Student Council Retreat <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Team Meetings 2:00 <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 3: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Gr. 7 Beach Day <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 4: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Friday Briefing 11:50 <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 4: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Gr. 6 Beach Day <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> **<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 10: ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Principal's Coffee 7:30 <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> **<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 11: ** <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Friday Briefing 11:50 <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> **<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twiga Talk ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helpful PD Connections ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> [|Click here]
 * September 2:** TA Meeting 3:30 at ES
 * September 7:** LODAT 2:00
 * September 8:** Thomson Rivers University at IST
 * September 9:** University of South Australia at IST
 * September 9:** Collaborative Planning Time 2:00
 * September 9:** Last day to register for SAT's
 * <span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please extend a warm welcome to Eileen Moore. Eileen is an experienced EAL teacher who will be teaching part-time EAL but also teaching Grade 6 English covering for Theresa Davis. She and her family have recently relocated to Dar from Nicaragua. Her son, Henry, is a Grade 7 student.
 * The H1N1 Response Team meets on Monday morning. I will provide an update on any changes in school strategies and approaches on Monday afternoon.
 * <span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please have a look at the protocol for Classroom Walk-Through's that was sent out on Friday. It is posted on this wiki under Teacher Assessment. Principals and HoD's will put this protocol into practice this week. The intent of Walk-Throughs is to promote reflection and substantive dialogue (in person or email) about the act of teaching in relation to the hundreds of decisions that teachers make each day in the classroom. I look forward to using Classroom Walk-Through's as a tool to better understand student learning and teaching at IST.
 * <span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please review School Lateness Guidelines with your homerooms (esp. Gr 11-12) on Monday and Tuesday. The guidelines are attached with Monday's homeroom bulletin. You may want to refer to these guidelines with students in your classes as well. These guidelines will be communicated to parents at the end of the week via the Spotlight. As we track student lateness, I suspect that the Principals will need to suspend the privileges of some students. We need to begin to change the culture around school lateness that currently exists among our older students. Thank you for reviewing these guidelines with your students.
 * <span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The expectation is that we are all posting homework assignments and other important tasks for students on Moodle by Friday of this week. I realize that many teachers are already doing this; however, we all need to be doing this if we are to use Moodle as a tool to enhance communication between school and home. On Friday, we will inform parents (via the Spotlight) that students and parents can access homework, review exercises, and other important tasks from Moodle. If there are tech issues or if you are still uncertain about how to post homework and tasks on Moodle, please see your HoD, Joe, or Andy for assistance. Thank you for your cooperation.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">You may sign up for a school improvement committee this week in the Staff Room. (There will be a posting on the bulletin board). These committees will meet every other Monday from 2:00-3:00 beginning on September 14th. The first committee that will be posted is the IST Graduation Requirements Committee. The charge of this committee is to review current IST Graduation Requirements in relation to admissions/enrollment, an IST Student Profile, educational programme, and course offerings. The committee will make recommendations to the SMG. The second committee is the Grounds and Facilities Committee. The charge of this committee is to identify specific issues (buildings and grounds) related to the improvement of the Secondary School campus and to make specific recommendations to the SMG about how to improve our capacity to effectively manage our facility and grounds..

**<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos To... ** <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Turner for organizing a robust Term 1/2 Afterschool Activities Programme and to members of the Secondary School faculty who are offering a sport, club, or community and service activity. Our students are most fortunate to have access to a range of activities. Thank you all for your commitment.
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daryl for organizing a well attended presentation on Sunday given by an admissions officer from Harvard University.
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grade 9 and 10 Team Leaders and Teams for leading successful Beach Days.
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter for assuming the ESP Coordinator position.
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve T. and Claudia for organizing a successful Community Service Fair.
 * <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faculty members for making adjustments in your work and time management to integrate the use of Moodle into your practice.