Children learn best when they feel secure and are interested in what they are
doing. Successful learning takes place in a supportive, non-threatening,
enjoyable learning environment.
10.10 aka El Capitan isn’t supported
I’m sure there are some high flyer eager students who have already upgraded to 10.10, Apple’s newest Mac OS. It is important to know the school at this time only supports Mac OS 10.9 also known as Yosemite.
We purposely wait on upgrading the base Mac OS because of software issues. For example it has been reported that Microsoft Office will not run on 10.10 and I’m confident there will be more issues. (see reader reports on macintouch.com)
If you have upgraded to 10.10 we can help you down grade to 10.9. If you have upgraded but are not interested in down grading then you will be responsible for your own tech support.
PPP Film Audition Meeting
Once again, hello to all of Grade 9 and up! Just a reminder that today, first half of lunch there will be a meeting in the Black Box about how auditions will work for my PPP Short Film. I am very excited to see you there.
– Kostya Tyoschin G10
Game Mechanics in your Classroom
Teachers,
As I mentioned at the briefing yesterday, I’m beginning to explore the use of game mechanics in a classroom setting. This is not the same thing as playing (video) games in class. Rather, it’s similar to transforming the classroom culture into a role-playing game. If you’re curious, here’s a video of Classcraft: the platform that makes this concept easier to implement.
University of California System Virtual College Fair
The University of California System Virtual College Fair is this week!
Thursday, October 8th from 11:00am to 8:00pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). To save you some clicks, that’s 2:00am on Friday 9th until 11:ooam local time.
You can create your free CollegeWeekLive account at ucday.collegeweeklive.com and log in on the 8th to learn which UC school is the best for you…
Urgent Scrooge! meeting
There will be a meeting for all cast involved in Scrooge! at Wednesday morning break (10:20) in the Black Box. We will detail a change in the Production Camp dates and times. All involved in the production must attend. Please arrive as quickly as possible, as the sooner we start the sooner we finish.
Colleges visiting Week 10 – Monday 19th Oct
Boston University will be here, in my office, at 9.00am in the morning. If you know you want to come and hear more about the university, you must ask permission from your Block 1 teacher to attend.
The following colleges will be visiting on Monday 19th October in the MYP LGR from 10.20-10.40am:
Widener University
Western New England University
College of Saint Benedict/ Saint John’s University
University of La Verne
Northern Kentucky University
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Sino-British College, Shanghai
For Grade 11, from 10.40 – 11.00, there will be a group presentation for interested students from the US Universities – you MUST get your block 3 teacher’s permission to miss the first 20 minutes 0f class.
CHUK and the SBC will also have presentations and Q&A sessions at this time
Purple Duck Survey
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Colleges visiting Week 10 – Monday 19th Oct
A number of colleges will be visiting over the students’ breaktime on Monday 19th October. They will run a mini-fair from 10.20-10.40 and then offer targetted talks to students from 10.40-11.00am. There risks to be some lateness to your block 3 class on Monday 19th October from Grades 11 and 12. If you require students absolutely to attend class from 10.40, you are of course free to insist on this. I will be telling students that they must ask you in advance to miss this 20 minutes from your class if they really are interested in the discussion being offered.
Applying to the USA – Grade 11 and 12
If you are applying to the USA, or thinking about it, please download and digest this great advice:
ED to the US – Grade 12s – you know who you are…
If you are applying ED to the US, please come and see me today.
Your Common App should be completed.
Your essay/ personal statement should be done.
You should have approached teachers for references and formally requested these through Family Connection as well.
Oct 15th is our deadline, giving us time to meet most college deadlines on Nov 1st. Some are earlier, however….
PTA Autumn Festival Friday Oct 30th (5.30-8.00pm) – MYP C&S and DP CAS
The PTA would like Helpers for the PTA Autumn Festival on Friday Oct 30th. You will need to help from 5.30-8.00 pm. Please sign up on the Veracross C&S / CAS Signup link.
ACAMIS Cross Country – students out of school
The attached list of students will participate in the ACAMIS X-country competition on Fri 9 Oct – Sun 11 Oct. They will be out of school all of Friday (Day 3). Their teachers should receive an OLF today, apologies for the lateness of this, the holidays took us by surprise. Thanks for your flexibility and understanding.
Yearbook mugshots are scheduled for Oct. 28.
Please refer to the attached schedule for grade level/homeroom photo times. Please let me know by 4:30 P.M. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 if there are any conflicts with your scheduled timeYearbook mugshot Oct 2015 Schedule 1.