Week of Sep 8

 

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

I want to take a moment to thank you all for what has truly been the smoothest school opening during my time here. That’s a big statement, especially considering the rollout of our new Yondr policy... and it’s a direct reflection of your hard work, preparation, and professionalism. Several parents have reached out with gratitude after their children came home with glowing reports on how their first days went! I'd also like to shout out Liza who seamlessly programmed our student schedules for the first time - she did an amazing job!

What made this opening so special wasn’t just how well things ran logistically, but how clearly our school values came to life in your work. There was joy in the way you welcomed students, built community, and brought positive energy into your classrooms. Your commitment to rigor showed in how prepared you were and how quickly you set high expectations for learning. I saw power in your leadership, especially in the way you navigated new systems, held boundaries, and helped students adjust with clarity and confidence. And most importantly, your actions reflected equity, ensuring every student felt seen, respected, and supported from the very first day.

Thank you for bringing our values to life and for starting the year with such strength and heart. I’m excited for what lies ahead and incredibly grateful to be working alongside this team.

UPCOMING DATES

• MON 15SEP25 - Hispanic Heritage Month Begins  
  
  
• TUE 16SEP25 - IT Professional Appreciation Day - Let's ALL Celebrate Jason!
• TUE & WED, 23-24SEP25 - Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL 
• THU 25SEP25 - Curriculum Night 5PM-8PM

• WED 01OCT25 - National Building Custodians' Day
• THU 02OCT25 - Yom Kippur - No School
• MON 13OCT25 - Indigenous People's Day/Italian Heritage Day
• WED 15OCT25 - School Based Support Team Appreciation Day (Psych, Soc Worker, Fam Worker, OT/PT)
• MON 20OCT25 - Diwali - No School
• FRI 31OCT25 - Halloween

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! Thanks to Shan, Jen, Sue and the RPET team for bring our community to life through their planning of these events.

UPCOMING TRIPS

• Planning a Trip? - If you are planning a trip for September, please make sure to complete this

TO DO THIS WEEK

Operational Systems Updates.  For a school of our size, having two secretaries is quite the luxury!  Both Damaris and Paula are amazing women with years of experience on their side!  Debbie, our parent coordinator, brings an equal amount of skill, experience, warmth, and determination to our office!  AND - Just like our instructional and student support staff are on the path for continuous improvement - so is our main office team.  AND I am helping them!  Here are some of the things we are working on

• Having clear roles so folks know who is responsible for what and when 
• Now that kids have no phones, we need parents to be able to reach us at all times.  A schedule for main office coverage, and clear delineation of who is on call for main office support is helping with that.
  
  
• Streamlining the workload means we all need to step up and do our part...
• No more Personal Deliveries.  I know that folks have delivery issues at home.  I too have packages that grow feet.  That said, the solution cannot be sending things to school and asking our tax-funded secretaries to solve our personal problems.  That is no bueno.  So, all of us (including me) have to find another solution (for example - now I make my deliveries happen during hours when I am home ... Amazon has that new nifty tracking device and I use that religiously...and or I now shop more locally)
• Follow Per Session Directions and Deadlines.  Please review these per session directions. They have been updated.  Also make sure that you are ALWAYS on time with your per session submission.
• Complete Attendance on Time.  Debbie has 30 minutes to circulate to hit all classrooms during 2nd period.  If you are not done with your period attendance on time, she has to wait.  That compiles and creates problems for her.  It may seem like a small thing to you, but there are 50 of you and one of her.  The small problem multiplies to a big one for her.  Please make it a habit to complete your 2nd period attendance no later than 9:45 each day.
  
  
• Joy and Welcome to UAI
• The Main office is the first place folks stop when the come in to our school.  The three of these amazing women have been tasked to make the office warm and welcoming for all.  But constant joy and warmth requires cups to be refilled.  Take a minute or a second each day (or every other day) to let Debbie, Damaris, and Paula know of your appreciation.  Do more than ask "how are you".  Make it a point to name something that you appreciate each week.  And if you don't know, show curiosity!  Even knowing that you care is enough to fill their tanks so that THEY can continually work their magic that makes each of your daily jobs that much easier.  AND for that I am eternally grateful to them AND to you!

CLUBS START NEXT WEEK. If you are interested in running a before/after school club (per session) or a lunch club/activity (per diem), please complete the form below.   Clubs and Activities MUST have a minimum of 10 students regularly participating in order to be sustained.  You will need to submit attendance sheets with your per session sheets to show evidence of participation.  The following clubs have been approved.  Teachers need to recruit for their own clubs.  Kiri will be asking for club rosters by 30SEP.  There needs to be a reliable list of at least 10 kids for you to continue the club for the fall.  Per session is approved for 15-30 SEP, but to continue, you must submit your roster with the 30SEP per session period submission. 

These are the approved clubs. Because we have OPW on Tuesdays, you cannot have clubs on Tuesdays after school.   Before. school or during lunch any day is ok.  Only Wed/Thu/Fri after school clubs are allowed this year.

For these approved clubs/student activities, please create a flier which lists:  The name of the club, your name, the day and time of club sessions and an overview of what kids can expect to be doing during the club.

• National Honor Society - Amanda
• Dance - Denyda
• JV Cheer - Denyda
• Double Dutch - Denyda
• MSA - Muslim Student Association - Elena
• Youth Leadership Council - Kelly
• Varsity Cheer - Mary
• Engineering Design Club - Matt
• Art Club - Meg
• Theater Production - Noelle
• HS GSA - Gay Straight Alliance - Noelle
• STEAM Club - Sarah R
• Farm 2 Table - Sarah R
• Events and Adventures in NYC - Sarah R
• Book Club - Pauline
• RPET - Restorative Practices and Equity Team - Sue
• Student Government/Activities - Shan & Jen
• Running Club - Camryn
• Yoga/Mindfulness Club - Sarah M

YES - you can still apply to run before/after or lunch time clubs! Complete  THIS FORM NOW!

Curriculum Night. We have Curriculum Night for all grades on September 25th, in-person from 5-8pm. We will be providing dinner for families and staff in the cafeteria with tables for fun activities. This time will be used for families to speak to individual teachers about what to expect for this year. Teachers should prepare a course syllabus with dates of major assessments for the year and be prepared to talk through the syllabus with families. Please reach out to your ILT lead with questions about what the syllabus should look like!

Monday PD in the Farm at 3pm. Reminder, we have Monday PD from 3-4pm! Tuesday is OPW time for all Classroom staff - until 3:30pm.

Student Program Changes. If you notice any errors in student schedules, please submit the requested changes through the "Student Schedule Change Request" google form here. This helps Liza keep track of what has already been changed as the schedule shifts around! 

Google Classrooms should have been auto-generated for you sometime Thursday, and students should be auto-enrolled into them on your behalf. The google classrooms auto-sync with STARS, which means that it can take 24-48 hours for students who have changed schedules to swap in/out of the google classrooms. 

   

Google Classrooms. Please have your course classrooms up and running by this Friday, Sept 12pm.  Make sure to include the Class Code on your course syllabus.

REPOST  - Pacing Guide Submission.  Each year, we share our learning goals with our kids and families.  Course Pacing guides should be submitted to Kiri by Monday 08SEP25.  Please download and make a copy of this Pacing Guide Template (one for EACH course.  Teachers who teach the same course should be sharing the SAME pacing guide).  

Please make sure ALL links in your pacing guides and lessons are set to "ANYONE WITH THE LINK" can view.  

Please link all pacing guides into THIS DOCUMENT by 08SEP24.  

PER SESSION POSTINGS

FOR ALL PER SESSION JOBS:  You must apply by completing THIS FORM

NEW POSTING. Restorative Justice Coordinator. The School Based-Restorative Justice Coordinator position is designed to allow each selected school to have ONE staff member take on a leadership role in Restorative Practices Implementation at your school.   Please complete THIS FORM no later than 3PM on 15SEP25.  See here for the posting.

NEW POSTING.  Operations Team Support.  Are you interested in supporting the school in school programming, procurement and organization, facilities management, and other administrative tasks that make our school go round.  Please complete THIS FORM no later than 3PM on 15SEP25.  Three positions available - programmer, purchasing support (must be willing to move boxes), and payroll support.  Hours are flexible as to need.

Fall Clubs and Activities.  If you're interested in running a lunch time or before/after school club, please sign up with this FORM ASAP.  After school clubs and activities will start on 15SEP!!!