Letter from the MC Principal
Hello MC families,
This past summer I had the opportunity to attend our international service trip to Peru through EF tours. It was an enlightening experience. Getting to see Machu Picchu was a once in a lifetime experience. Spending time with former ANCS 8th graders, engaging with them and getting to know them outside of school, and seeing them experience another culture firsthand is a fun experience for an educator to have. Our trips are also centered around service. During our trip we spent two of our days working up in the Andean mountains learning from the community that we partnered with while giving back with service. Our service involved carrying bricks and mixing and carrying cement to work on building out the second level of a community center where the local people would meet up to work and sell their wares. As an IB school, and as a school whose mission includes “CHALLENG[ING] each student to take an active role as an informed citizen in a global society,” international travel and service fit right in. We have also focused on Spanish-speaking countries with these trips to connect to our curriculum and give students opportunities to practice their Spanish.
Between the rigorous service, the travel, the time away from home, and the maturity necessary to navigate these trips we offer them to 8th grade students. This spring (Spring Break 2025) we are offering a trip to the Dominican Republic for our current 8th graders and next spring (Spring Break 2026) we are offering a trip to Ecuador for our current 7th graders for Spring Break of their 8th grade years. This Thursday the 26th there is an event at the MC Farm centered around learning more about the Dominican Republic trip. Dinner will be served. If you are interested in attending this event you can RSVP here.
In the building at this time we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. 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. Club Latino, our Hispanic heritage affinity group led the Brain Smart Start at our Morning Meeting last week, and students researched assigned Latin American countries during Advisory. During Morning Meeting this past Monday, Venezuelan flamenco dancer, instructor and choreographer Marianela “Malita” Belloso came and performed. Malita formed the flamenco performance company Caló Gitano in 2000. Since then Caló has grown to become the largest flamenco academy in Georgia. Ms. Belloso and a partner performed for the students; taught the history of flamenco, which comes from Spain; taught the students some moves; and we all danced. It was a fun and educational performance. We will continue highlighting famous and impactful individuals of Hispanic Heritage throughout Hispanic Heritage Month in Morning Meeting and in classes.
Fall Student-Led Conferences are coming up the week of October 21st. 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.
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.
