Sunday, November 17, 2019

Week of Nov 18th

UAI Staff News

Volume VII
Issue 14
November 18th, 2019

Announcements

Happy Birthdays! No birthdays this week!

Schedule Student Led Conferences.  Please update your final SLC appointments in the SLC Appointment Sheet.  Our goal is to schedule 100% of our conferences for Thursday and Friday by the end of Family Outreach on Tuesday, 19NOV19.    If you are having problems with scheduling, please pull the student and make the appointment with her, or ask Annie, Jen, Kiri, or Val for support.

<<REMINDER>> End of the 2nd Marking Period.  Friday was the last day of the 2nd marking period.  Grades are due on Wednesday 20NOV19 at 3PM.   As a reminder, the lowest grade for any grade at UAI (as per the staff handbook) is a 50.  In looking through various teachers gradebooks, I have seen a number of averages that are lower than 50.  That means you are not following the grading system.  Please correct that by changing any zeros to 50s.  If you would like to discuss the policy to better understand it, I am available - just reach out!  You can also start by reading this article.  For marking period grades:
  • 55 or F is the ONLY failing grade.  At UAI, the only failing grade is 55.  Please do not use any increment between 55 and 65.  If your course is graded, please use "55" to indicate failure.  As the classroom teacher your job is to make the individual judgment calls on what to do with students who have averages the fall between 55 and 65.  
  • MS Electives, Girls Inc Classes, and Enrichment Classes are P/F.  All non-core and non-breadth (e.g. PE, Art, Spanish) courses are Pass/Fail.  Please do not use numeric grades.   If you have a strong desire to use numeric grades, come see me and we can work it out.
  • 99 is the highest grade.  Technically, 100 is possible.  If you have a student who has a perfect score (i.e. she didn't get anything wrong on any assignment or anything all year), please come see me to get approval to enter 100 for her.  Otherwise, the highest grade you should be giving to any student is 99.
  • Marking Period Grades are Cumulative.  These MP grades are progress reports towards their final, credit bearing grade in June.  As such, they are cumulative (not separate).  They are not distinct grades, but rather, they are progress snapshots as we move through the school year.

To-Do This Week

Congratulations to Tom!!!!!  You get to review the blog in PD on Monday!!


Monday Professional Development.  On Monday, we will have a open Skedula workshop to support teachers in getting their grades to reflect accurately and/or to give teacher extra time to prepare and schedule SLC meetings in for Thursday and Fridays' Student Led Conferences.  The following Monday 25NOV19 will be our monthly Grade Team Meetings/Snack-Tathalon. The PD committee is preparing to launch a series of PDs on planning and executing high quality Turn and Talks for the month of December.

Tuesday Family OutreachMonday 25NOV19.  Next Monday we will have a wellness break.  For this one, we will be celebrating one another.  At this PD, please bring your favorite snack to PD (enough to share with at least 5 people).  In celebration of the Thanksgiving Season, we'll be working together to celebrate our achievements and giving thanks.

Student Led Conferences and Benchmarks.  Joanna will be released the Benchmark Schedule.  As a reminder, SLC and Benchmark days are half days for students (with Girls Inc starting earlier).  All Regents-terminating courses will have a NYS regents benchmark (multiple choice only).  If teachers wish to have the short response, too, you are directed to give that section(s) of the exam in class either preceding or just after benchmarks.  Middle School students will be taking benchmarks in ELA, Math (NYS or Algebra for 8th graders), and this year, Living Environment (for 8th grade only).   All AP classes should test students using the appropriate interim assessment.  Please email questions to Joanna.  SLCs and Benchmark schedule is

  • Thursday, 21NOV19
    • Benchmark Day One (1st session 8:30-10; 2nd session 10-11:30; 3rd Lunch 11:30-12:10)
      • 11:15-12:10 - Lunch Period for Teachers
      • 12:10-1:05 - Professional Period for All Staff (Grading)
      • 1:05-2:00 - Pedagogical Assignment All Staff (Grading)
      • 2:00-2:50 - Prep Period for All Teachers
      • 5:00-8:00PM - Student Led Conferences (Individual Teacher Schedules)
  • Friday, 22NOV19
    • Benchmark Day Two(1st session 8:30-10; 2nd session 10-11:30; 3rd Lunch 11:30-12:10)
      • 12:10-2:50 - Student Led Conferences (Individual Teacher Schedules)


Social-Emotional Learning Updates




Per Session Opportunities

AP Boot Camp.  If you are interested in working Saturday and/or Break (e.g. Winter Break or Spring Break) sessions to help students prepare for AP Exams, please reach out to Rebecca C with your availability and area of interest.  Hours and days are flexible.  

 


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