Letter from the MC Principal
Hello MC families,
The first day of Hispanic Heritage Month coincided with Morning Meeting this year. Hispanic Heritage Month, which started with Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, before becoming Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988, begins in the middle of each September starting on the 15th in commemoration of multiple independence days in Latin America. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence from Spanish colonial rule on September 15th. Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15th. During Morning Meeting on Monday, September 15th, we were once again treated with a performance from Marianela “Malita” Belloso, a Venezuelan flamenco dancer, instructor and choreographer. Ms. Belloso and a partner performed for the students; taught about various types of music (Bachata, Salsa, Meringue); we learned some of the dances; and we all danced. 200+ middle schoolers (yes YOUR kid!) were putting themselves out there and dancing at 8:45am on a Monday morning. It was a lot of fun, and it was educational at the same time. We will continue highlighting famous and impactful individuals of Hispanic Heritage throughout Hispanic Heritage Month in Morning Meeting and in classes.
Fall Conferences
Fall Student-Led Conferences are coming up the week of October 20th. During these in-person meetings (we offer virtual options if necessary), students will talk to their parents and their Advisor about how their approach to school and their study habits are impacting their performance in class. The preparation for student-led conferences starts with students doing their own reflection about how they are doing with exemplifying the Guiding Principles (Responsibility, Respect, Preparedness, Resolving Conflict, and Celebration) in their various classes. We have a “Commitment to the Guiding Principles” rubric (linked here) that details the ways that students can demonstrate the Guiding Principles. Under the Guiding Principle of Celebration you will see strands that say, “Seeks to help others get what they need in support of a positive and equitable community,” and “Is resilient in dealing with disappointment or struggle.” Under Resolving Conflict you will see a strand that says “Asks for help from others when struggling to solve a problem,” and another that says, “Shows empathy for others.” The strands in the Commitment to Guiding Principles rubric represent the whole child. Some of these rubric strands are more behavioral in nature, and others have an academic focus. In the fall teachers will give your students feedback on how they are doing related to strands that have more of an academic growth focus. Specifically, the strands in the categories of Prepared and Responsibility. For example, under the Guiding Principle of Responsibility you will see strands that say “Works diligently during class to complete assigned tasks,” and “Actively engages, participates, and collaborates in a positive manner.” Under Preparedness you will see “Engages willingly with work that is difficult,” and “Initiates work immediately and maximizes time on task during class.” The strands in these categories are all related to actions that help students grow academically. In preparation for conferences we have students reflect on these behaviors, because if they are doing these things they will have success academically at school now and in the future.
Students began this process of reflection during Advisory this week. Next week students will receive feedback from teachers about their Commitment to the Guiding Principles, and students will compare how they think they are doing to what their teachers have said. Advisors will be reaching out to schedule your child’s student-led conference with you starting tomorrow.
IB Parent Information Sessions
Some additional opportunities for you to learn about things going on at the Middle Campus include the IB Information Sessions that are led by Ms. Scott our IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator. When we have these sessions we typically run a morning session as well as an evening session, both with the same content, in order to accommodate different people’s schedules. Both sessions are virtual and will last for about 30 minutes. The next two sessions are:
- Community Project (for 8th grade families since only 8th graders do CP) – Wed. October 1st at 9am or Thurs. October 2nd at 6:30pm (the times are tentative) [RSVP here]
- Assessment and Grading – Wed. November 12th at 9am or Thurs. November 13th at 6:30pm (the times are tentative) [RSVP here]
As always if you have any questions feel free to reach out.
Kind regards,
Mark
Mark Sanders
Mark Sanders began teaching at ANCS in 2011. Before coming to the school, Mr. Sanders worked in New York City. He spent three years teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics at Middle School 50 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and two years at Harlem Village Academies teaching Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry. He taught 8th grade Math/Science/Technology at ANCS for five years.
