Week of Nov 17

                                                              

Volume: XIII

Issue: 13

November 17, 2025

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we move into this week’s Family-Teacher Conferences, I want to center us on the purpose behind this work: strengthening our relationships with families so we can better support student growth and success. Conferences are an important opportunity to build trust, share meaningful insights, and partner with families in ways that truly impact student achievement.

This week, it is essential that every teacher connect with the families of students who currently have less than an 80% average in your course, as well as the families of students who are frequently absent. These conversations are critical touchpoints that help us understand what’s happening behind the scenes, surface barriers, and align on strategies to help students move forward.

Please approach each conference with empathy, clarity, and a focus on solutions. Families want to know three key things:

• That we see their child,
• That we believe in their potential, and
• That we have a plan to support their progress.

Thank you for the time, care, and professionalism you bring to these conversations. The relationships we build this week will strengthen the work we do every day.

Let’s make this a powerful week of partnership and connection.

UPCOMING DATES

• NOV18: SLT Dinner - 5:30p
• NOV20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
• NOV20-21: Family-Teacher Conferences
• NOV21: Half day, 11:10a dismissal
• NOV24: Turkey Giveaway
• NOV25: Know Your Rights Workshop
• NOV26: 2:30p Rapid dismissal
• NOV27-28: Thanksgiving Break
• DEC05: Operation Smile (dentist) at UAI

*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

Trip Requests.  Here's the trip request protocol...

• Step 1:   Read the DOE FAQ on Field Trips
  https://infohub.nyced.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/faqs-regarding-school-trips.pdf
• Step 2:   Get Pre-Approval from Kiri according to the timeline below
  - 1 week (Trips within NYC)
  - 2 months (Trips within the Tri-State Area)
  - 6 months (Trips outside of the Tri-State Area)
  - 9 months (International Trips)
• Step 3:  Complete the Trip Form (ALL TABS)
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3i3fgENVCpX6MA51r_1jsmxVavRm12-oaB9ieiNA8Q/edit?usp=sharing
• Step 4:  Share form (anyone with link can view) with Kiri so she can share in announcements to let everyone know who is on the trip and what trips are expected when

Wednesday 19NOV: Hamilton Trip

Thursday 20NOV: Climate Tech Company - Energy Hub, Future Ready Trip

Tuesday 25NOV: LVMH, Future Ready Trip

Friday 05DEC: African Diaspora International Film Festival

  

FUTURE READY HIGHLIGHTS

Upcoming FRNYC Events

WBL Career Exposure Trips. Through NYC Service's speed mentoring program, all students in the Career Explorations course will select one trip to attend. After learning about each field and connecting with current employees, students will receive 1:1 mentoring to discuss their post-secondary goals and backwards plan the steps needed to get there. We'll share trip lists once they are finalized!

• Reschedule pending - (January Digital - Marketing Agency)
• November 20th from 10-12 (Climate Tech Company - Energy Hub)
• November 25th from 1-3 (LVMH)

TO DO THIS WEEK

Parent Conference Outreach. This week is an important opportunity to connect with families. You are invited to hold as many conferences as possible (and remember, you have 55min each week to connect with families).  It doesn't have to be limited to conferences this week.  However, by EOD on Friday, you must have connected and held conferences with all students who have <80 in your class. 

Again, Family conferences (remote) are on Thursday 20NOV in the evening 5-8PM and Friday 21NOV 11:50-2:50PM (this time frame includes your lunch and travel home time. You can decide to work from school or home).

Know Your Rights. We are hosting our first event on Tuesday Nov 25th, 5:30-7:00pm, in Person at UAI - dinner served and translation available. Families, students, and staff invited! This event is being organized by our new UAI UFT immigrant support committee, in coordination with Emily Payamps and Perla Silva, student Aileen Ramirez's mom. Perla will be leading the training with an immigration attorney. Perla has led many trainings like this in her role at Make the Road New York, and will have lots of resources and information to share with families. In addition, we are using this meeting as a launch for a UAI immigrant support network, which Emily is coordinating. This network will include a parent committee and a whatsapp community for parents, where we can share resources and information, and foster a strong community of immigrant and non-immigrant families. 

Food Pantry. We are still going strong! Over 30 families have shopped the pantry. We've raised over $6700 so far (see donation page link here)! We were also featured on News12 - see here for the story!

In order to keep the momentum going, we are still looking to stock our shelves with the following items.

• All non-perishable food items: Shelf-stable milk, flour, sugar and spices, coffee and tea, baby food, bouillon cubes, instant oats, instant mashed potatoes, etc. 

Turkey Drive. Thank you to everyone who has already donated to UAI's pantry. Your support has been vital, and our families are incredibly grateful. As the holiday season approaches, we are once again holding our annual Turkey Drive. 

• Our Goal: Last year, we provided a turkey dinner to over 25 UAI families. Our hope is to surpass that number this year!
• How You Can Help: Spread the word. Every contribution makes a difference. A simple $10 donation can cover the cost of a turkey for a family. Click here to donate and help us reach our goal.

Student Profiles are visible in OASIS. Click here to view students' academic, attendance, schedule... you name it, it's here - this is your one stop shop for all student info!

Purchasing Requests. In an effort to better track and streamline purchasing, we ask that you fill in this form for all purchasing requests. You can find the form on our staff Google Classroom as well.

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

None.