Week of October 5th

UAI Staff News

Volume IV

Issue 5

Week of October 5th, 2016

To Do's for this Week

• Bring your Father Figure to School.  Please promote this Thursday's bring your father-figure to school day.  Many of our young students do not have the traditional father in their households, but all of them have someone who fulfills the paternal role.  Encourage them to bring that person to school on Thursday for breakfast, lunch, and a day in their shoes!

• Short Weeks.   Both this week and next week are three-day weeks.  Maximize instructional time during these short weeks.  With September over, we've already completed 10% of the years' instructional days.  Plan time wisely to maximize instruction.  Be creative with assessment time using both in and out-of classroom time to achieve your goals!

• Parent Outreach.  We had over 100 families join us for Curriculum Night!  Thank you to everyone who made outreach to their advisories!  For the next two weeks, please make it a point to make in-person contact with your advisees homes.  If you are unable to make verbal contact (e.g. don't leave messages), please alert Carol so that we can double check contact information against Blue Cards and ATS.  Help us get the most updated info into Skedula so that outreach can be more streamlined!

• National Hispanic Heritage Month.  This month is Hispanic Heritage Month.  I strongly encourage you to celebrate Latina Culture with our students by integrating lessons and activities that celebrate Latina achievements and cultural history.  Here are some resources to help you:  CLICK HERE.

• Observation Selections.  Colleen and I are hoping to finish baseline observations and initial planning conferences by next Friday.  If you have already met with us, please make sure that you've signed off on your observation selection with Colleen.

• Reminder on Technology Requests.  Bookmark George's new Technology Request Form.  George is working on tracking his work and the emails, while efficient for teachers, make it hard for him to monitor his progress.  So please make sure you complete the tech request form whenever you need George's help.

Announcements

Amazing Spirit Week and Pep Rally!  We've got to give it up to Ms. H, Ms. Tracy, Ms. Jen and the Class of 2017.  They really brought it this week with an energized spirit week that culminated into an amazing pep rally.  The spirits were high as we exited the building on Friday, and it was the perfect way to punctuate the end of our first month.  We really are hitting our prime this year! Let's keep the positive culture building by forging forward on building relationships with students, families, and each other!  Great team work UAI!

CLICK HERE for Tips on Writing PLOPS

PLOPs.  As we enter the full swing of the year, it's important for us all to make the extra time needed to consider our students with disabilities. They require more to be able to achieve on grade level, and thus, they require more of our brain space to help them achieve.  Kristin and Christina are leading the charge as our IEP teachers who write the IEPs.  Because they don't personally work with each individual student, they rely on you to provide them with a report on each students' present levels of performance (or PLOP).  If you need help in writing these PLOPs, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of them or Ms. Val.  They are here to help!  What's most important is that we make sure to get these PLOPs completed on time so that we can have a better understanding of each girls' needs and requisite supports as they develop in their Individualized Education Plans. 

SEL Updates

Week 3 of SEL. As September comes to a close, the students are getting settled into their SEL class routines. This week they explored the decisions they make in the classroom (as simple as where to sit) that can help them work towards success. Students broke down and practiced SLANT. They learned that SLANTing is easier to do when they are familiar or excited about a topic - but is even more important when they are struggling or confused.  Freshmen learned the importance of having and keeping a planner. Soon, sophomores will have the same lesson. 

In the weeks to come students they will explore the benefits of sharing positive accomplishments. They will also look at the effect of negative speak and put-downs.  Groups will discuss in SEL classes ways to keep the class and the school a positive place. They will also work on building relationships with their teachers  - what the teachers need from them, what they need from the teachers and how to better communicate with all school staff. We hope that the girls can use these next few short weeks to make positive, pro-social choices in the classroom and in school, and we urge teachers to help the girls organize and use their planners by integrating the planners into the daily lessons and activities.

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Per Session Posting

None this week!