Dear Upper School Parents & Students, 

It’s been an amazing week in the Upper School! Our Varsity Basketball teams had victorious home openers, Seniors crafted keepsake ornaments with their Kindergarten buddies, and 9th grade physics students partnered with 2Kers to learn about transportation. Yesterday, our day was full as the community enjoyed getting to see young (and old!) turkeys trotting through campus, while also celebrating the final day of the Genevieve Strickland exhibit in the Dent. The annual Parents’ Community Bake Sale this morning was the perfect way to wrap up the week! 

Semester exams will be here before we know it! The fall semester exam schedule is:

*Extended time ends at 12:00 PM for AM exams and 4:00 PM for PM exams. 
**Students should contact Ms. McGrath (amanda.mcgrath@sdsgriffin.org) 
to schedule conflict and/or make-up exams. 

Semester exams are worth 20% of the overall semester grade. Students are encouraged to create a study plan that allows them to study over time. This example spaced study calendar was distributed this week, and students were encouraged to complete this calendar template according to their individual scheduling needs. While teachers will be recommending study tactics for their individual courses, Learning Scientists provides excellent research based study strategies. These resources have been shared with the Upper Schoolers, and my hope is that they will help students make excellent use of study time. 

Looking forward, here is what’s on the horizon for the division:

• Monday, November 24 - Friday, November 28
  • Thanksgiving Break
• Thursday, December 4
  • Kinder/12th Grade Trim Our Tree @ 12 PM in the Senior Courtyard
• Saturday, December 6
  • Parents’ Community Polar Express Pancake Breakfast @ 9 AM in the Dining Commons
• Thursday, December 11 & Friday, December 12
  • Exam Review Days
• Friday, December 12
  • Tacky Sweater Day
• Monday, December 15 - Friday, December 19
  • Fall Semester Exams (See schedule above)
• Friday, December 19
  • End of Q2/Fall Semester
• Monday, December 22 - Monday, January 5
  • Winter Holiday
• Tuesday, January 6
  • Spring Semester Begins
• Friday, January 9
  • Q2/Fall Semester Grades viewable in Renweb
    **Grades will be released one business week after the end of the semester.**

Parents, please remember to email attendance@sdsgriffin.org if your student needs to leave early, will be arriving late, or will not be at school. As always, please check the athletic team calendars for the most up-to-date information on our winter sports. 

Finally, as we break for Thanksgiving, I want to express my genuine gratitude to our amazing community. My first few months at the Day School have been tremendous, and that is due to the parents, students, faculty, and staff that have welcomed me and my family. I am so thankful for each and every one of you, and I wish you a wonderfully restful and relaxing holiday!

Gratefully, 

Jenny Glenn
Head of Upper School