Last Request of 2008

After last Friday's final meeting, I have two requests that would need some action from you. Actually, you've already heard about both of them.

1. Sample texts
Before the end of this year, we need to have the packet of sample texts of 7th through 2nd Polimodal. Some of the teams have already turned them in, but some haven't yet. If you haven't, please send them to the school before Wednesday next week. Thank you!

In case you don't remember, this is about your selecting six or seven texts from your Global Studies units and/or extracts from the literary works your students have read. When I asked you to turn them in there were only two students interested in taking the entrance examination. Since then we've been (fortunately!!) flooded with interviews with prospective students. As a result there will be two instances for admission exams in February: first on the 10 or 11 -dates for 'previos'- and then again on the date for the regular February exam. We already have candidates for all levels, 7th through 2nd Polimodal, except 1st Polimodal. Around February 3, Ines or Negri will confirm and let you know the number of students.

Let me remind you of the procedure we've agreed on for the oral component of the exam. As we are not expecting admission candidates to read all of the books and thematic units, a week before the exam date, they get the packet of 6 or 7 texts that you've selected. Students will prepare them at home. Once they've passed the written part of the exam, for the oral, they must bring with them the set of texts. From the packet you will select one of them and you will give the student an extra text that they do not know -which should be of about the same length and complexity as the ones in the packet. With BOTH texts they should be given at least twenty-minute preparation time ("capilla"), after which they will start the oral exam: for each text, they should give a short speech discussing the main ideas, and after that you should have a brief discussion with the candidate about it. The idea is to see how they manage to read, understand, present an oral summary, and discuss a text of the type they will find in their Global Studies or Literature class. Therefore (IMPORTANT) please remember to bring at least two extra texts for the oral exam.

2. Your end-of-year reflection
Now that we've started to get that warm and exciting feeling of vacation, it's a good time to reflect on how our year went. I gave you the personal goals you submitted at the beginning of the year so that you could reflect on how many and up to what extent you've accomplished them -and maybe make suggestions to yourself about aspects of your practice that you'd like to revisit next year when you think of your goals for 2009. This kind of reflection really strengthens your focus and awareness of your personal efforts to remain on the cutting edge of our profession. I've already started writing my own! So, I'll be looking forward to receiving your pieces via email.


Wrap-up
On a different note, even if there was no chance for me to present the Department's self-evaluation of 2008 yesterday, I'm anyway determined to use the material you've submitted (your personal and team production for the curriculum of the school) to show it to the owners and authorities and to think of possible projects for 2009.

Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your solid and superior work throughout this year. It is always with pride that I express my pleasure to be surrounded by a team that shows such professional acuity and dedication.

As you begin to enjoy your much deserved and anticipated vacation, may the spirit of the holiday season fill you with joy, peace and hope.