Week of Dec 15

                                                               

Volume: XIII

Issue: 17

December 15, 2025

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we wrap up an amazing stretch of school spirit - with an unforgettable Homecoming Week and an equally joyful Winterfest - I want to take a moment to thank you all. The energy, pride, and togetherness our students experienced over this past week was a direct result of your planning, participation, and willingness to go above and beyond. Special shoutout to Shan for organizing Homecoming, and Jen for organizing Winterfest - you've brought so much pride to our school, thank you. 

Now, as a whole staff we need to channel that same momentum directly into the work that matters most for their academic success. Over the past two weeks I've spent time in all intervention & Regents prep classes in grades 8-12. These periods are arguably the most crucial instructional blocks for students needing to close content and skill gaps and prepare for high-stakes assessments.

The trends I observed represent a collective opportunity to align our practices and ensure we maximize the impact of every minute in these vital classes. So here it goes:

Strengths in Intervention

• Across contents, there are teachers who are really doing an incredible job of providing differentiated intervention for our most struggling students.
• In all ELA intervention rooms, students are fully and productively engaged in the structured programs (REWARDS and STARI). 
• In rooms where students are given access to leveled materials based on their individual, diagnostic needs, students are engaged, motivated, and completing work that is rigorous for them.

Opportunities for Improvement. 

• Across contents, when students have access to a laptop, some are using it for social media or other websites that do not promote learning.
• In rooms where teachers sit at their teacher desks, some students spend the period asleep.
• In rooms where materials are printed as (or after) students walk in, there is low-level engagement and a noticeable loss of instructional time due to the delay and lack of a structured start.

Non-Negotiable Next Steps: 

• Teachers who are assigned to Intervention or Regents prep periods must engage/interact/work/be in proximity with students for the full period in support of their learning. This will prevent disengagement, allow for instant redirection, and creates opportunities for just-in-time instruction, and ensures all students are held accountable for working throughout the entire period.
• All instructional materials must be printed, collated, and on students' desks or a designated distribution point before the start of the period. This will allow us to maximize the learning time for all students.
• Laptops and devices are only to be used for a clearly defined, monitored, and time-bound academic task that is explicitly linked to closing a skill gap or preparing for the Regents exam. Staff must actively monitor student screens during use. If a student is using a laptop for non-academic purposes, it is a direct misuse of the time dedicated to their critical academic recovery and we cannot allow it.

Our intervention and Regents prep teachers are truly the last line of defense for students who are at risk of failing - and for some, that means the difference between graduating and not graduating in June. The work you do in these periods is not just support; it is prevention, acceleration, and, in many cases, the lifeline that keeps students on track for the futures they deserve. Thank you for leaning into this responsibility with purpose and urgency every single day. If we stay consistent and aligned, our students will feel the impact immediately.

UPCOMING DATES

• DEC16: Lever Visit IR
• DEC19: Staff Holiday Party
• DEC22: Alumni Breakfast
• DEC23: MS Hotdog Lunch Party
• DEC23: 2:15pm Rapid Dismissal
• Date TBD: Senior Slumber Party

*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 
  
• 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

DEC10: 7th grade to NMAI

DEC16: Marcy Lab Visit

DEC18: WBL Trip

JAN07: WBL Trip

JAN21: MS Snow tubing

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

  

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!

• WBL trips this semester: December 18 and January 7th

TO DO THIS WEEK

Staff Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange! Please join us at 3pm on Friday at Henry St Ale House for our annual staff party! Can't make it? Don't worry, we will also be celebrating with a Cookie Exchange on Monday, Dec 22 at our 3pm PD. Please plan to bring 12 cookies or other sweet treat to share! 

Upcoming PD Dates. Looking ahead, below are the topics for all of our PD for December and January

15DEC - Writing the IEPs  

22DEC - Cookies & Karaoke, Ugly Holiday Sweaters, and SL-IEP success measuring

05JAN - Lynn facilitates SEL PD

12JAN - Academic Playbook

26JAN - Remote PD - Launch of Round 3 SL-IEP

Next SDC Meeting. We will meet as a whole group on Jan 8th at 7:45am! 

REPOSTED ITEMS

Food Pantry. We are still going strong! 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. 

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

Seal of Civic Readiness Posting:

We’re seeking staff members to support UAI’s work with the NYSED Seal of Civic Readiness, a project-based designation that counts as a +1 Regents option for graduation. Team members will meet monthly to monitor student progress, review submitted artifacts, and develop supports that ensure all students—especially SWDs and ELLs—have equitable access to earning the seal.