Week of September 1st

UAI Staff News

Volume VII

Issue 3

September 1st, 2019

Announcements

School is Starting!  We all have a wide spectrum of feelings as the start of September approaches.  For me, one of the things I love most about my job is that each year I have the opportunity to take the best of the year before, learn from the worst and start anew a little bit wiser and with a lot of hope and excitement for a positively wonderful year.

You'll learn more about this on Tuesday, but for the last four school years, these lovingly learned lessons and painstakingly achieved achievements has put our school on a constant upward swing in almost all categories!  This is an exciting time to work at our school and a wonderful time to be part of the staff who are bringing increasingly excellent learning experiences to our students and families.

Some quick logistics:  Students report on Thursday 05SEP19.  Breakfast for students begins at 8:00AM. We will have an adjusted schedule for the first few days of school which will review with you in PD this week.  Teachers report on Tuesday 03SEP19 to prepare for the new year!  Tuesday and Wednesday are professional development days (PD days).  The day length for pedagogues is 6 hours and 50min on PD days.  For all PD days this year, teacher hours are 8:30-3:20PM. 


Well Done AP for All.  The AP for All Boot Camp was a huge success.  Both students and teachers were excited for the year and we are thrilled to be providing our students the support they need to excel in advanced-level course work.

Schedule Changes.  The schedule has been uploaded and you should be able to check your rosters in Skedula.  If you do not have access to Skedula, please email Phil (philb@uainstitute.org) to set up access.  If students reach out to you regarding their schedule, please help us help them first.

• Accelerated Student.  Students who were accelerated (e.g. they took Earth Science instead of Living Env last year or they took Geometry instead of Algebra) will take a second year of the course if they DID NOT pass the regent.  If students were not accelerated, they can move on to the next math or science course without the regent exam.  The next course will be their next chance to pass a math/science regent (they only need one to graduate).

• "I want this teacher not that one". Students who want to change teachers (e.g. same course, but different teacher) will not be allowed to do so.  We do not change teachers.

• "I didn't sign up for this AP.  I don't think I can do it" Students enrolled in AP Classes are going to remain in their currently assigned AP courses for the first few weeks of September.  Many students have never experienced the AP level work and have limited experience on which to make valid decisions.  The goal is to give them a taste of the course and the experience before making a judgment.  We are aiming to encourage and push our students to push themselves.  After the trial period, students who still want to switch their AP courses at the end of September will be allowed to do so.

• "I want to be in an AP class" Students who did not get into any AP course need to complete the program change request form.  Where there is space, we will find them a seat!

• "I don't want to be in class with xyz" On a case-by-case basis we will change the programs of students who have pre-existing issues.  Typically, we have already put in the work (mediations with students, mediations with students and parents, etc.)  Sometimes, theses mediations do not have the desired outcomes and we will separate the girls.  Annie & Jen are tasked with making these final decisions.  Please send students to them and they will make the final call.
  
• Use the Schedule Request Form.  I cannot track email requests.  I get about 500 emails a day.  Emailed schedule requests will be lost in the haystack.  So, THIS FORM helps me keep track and follow up on the change requests.  Please enter and/or direct students to enter all change requests into it.
• 
  

To-Do This Week

Staff Handbook Review.  The UAI Staff Handbook is updated for the 2019-2020 school year.  Please CLICK HERE to review the handbook, and when you are finished, please CLICK HERE to sign off.  You must review and sign off on this handbook prior to your initial planning conference.  Please check your emails for the calendar requests for you initial conferences.

Staff Professional Development.  We will launch the year with two days of Professional Development.  Here are the agendas

• Tuesday 03SEP19 Agenda - PD Day (Staff Hours 8:30-3:20) 


• 8:00AM - Breakfast (Optional)
• 8:30AM - Welcome & Connections and IceBreaker Activity
• 9:00AM - The Why of UAI
• 9:45AM - Workshop I:  Understanding Implicit Bias & Our Charge in Disrupting Systems of Inequity 
• 11:30AM - Lunch (on your own)
• 12:30PM - Workshop II:  Planning for Student Thinking & Intellectual Engagement
• 1:30PM - School Opening Checklist & Initial Planning Conferences
• IPC Schedule - Your individual IPC appointment will be sent to you via google calendar invite so check your email!




• Wednesday 04SEP19 Agenda (Staff Hours 8:30-3:20)
• 8:00AM - Breakfast (Optional)
• 8:30AM - Welcome & Connections and IceBreaker Activity
• 9:00AM - Staff Handbook & School Policies Update
• 9:30AM - Workshop III:  Professional Goal Setting
• 10:30AM - Workshop IV:  Grade Team Meetings
• 11:30AM - Lunch (on your own)
• 12:30PM - First Day(s) Logistics Review
• 1:00PM - School Opening Checklist & Initial Planning Conferences
• IPC Schedule - Your individual IPC appointment will be sent to you via google calendar invite so check your email!

School Opening Checklist.  On Thursday 05SEP19, we welcome our students to another school year.  Please makes sure to complete all the items on this checklist (which is the same stuff that I listed in last week's blog) to be ready for the first day of school!

 

Week of August 26th

UAI Staff News

Volume VII

Issue 2

August 26, 2019

Announcements

Farewell to our Former Staff Members.  We honor those teachers who are moving beyond UAI onto different chapters of their lives.  The work we do on a daily basis is crucial, and the commitment and passion that all of our teachers bring for our students and their families are integral to their future growth and achievement.  We appreciate the hard work that all of our teachers invest in our school, our families, and our students.  A particularly heartfelt thank you goes out to those teachers whose life paths are leading them to chapters beyond UAI.

• Megan Goodwin, 7th Grade Science & AP Biology.  Megan joined UAI as a new teacher two years ago.  Working with Marsha this past year, Megan grew significantly in her pedagogical practice.  This past June, Megan left UAI to begin her new life with her fiancee in Boston.  At the end of the year, she was able to secure a position in Brookline and was wrapping up her loose ends to move over the summer.  Her work with our students and families will always be appreciated, and we wish her the best of luck!

• Meaghan Haughaard,  ICT Science.  Meaghan joined UAI as a new teacher three years ago.  She was a committed teacher who stepped up to fill in as a science teacher in her first two years.  As an ICT science teacher, Meaghan used her deepening knowledge in science to support our students who struggled most.  Meaghan's life path led her to move to California this past summer.  We appreciate all that she did to contribute to our UAI community and our students.  We wish her the best in her future endeavors!

• Tracy Kornrich, Dance.  Tracy has been with UAI since 2007.  Over the years, Tracy worked both as a visual art and dance teacher.  Tracy was committed to improving her practice, seeking out support from the UFT and external PD to enhance her classroom skills.  Tracy brought opportunities for our students to express their creative side and her efforts to do so will always be appreciated!  As Tracy moves forward in her next roles, we wish her the best!

• Kristi Lee, Earth Science.  Kristi was with UAI for just one year, and throughout that year, she fully committed to trying her best to bring high-quality lessons to UAI Earth Science students.  Her efforts were valued and appreciated, and we wish her the best of luck as she moves on to explore career paths outside of teaching.

• Zach Utter, Global Studies.  Zach is originally from upstate New York and came to NYC last year to join UAI.  Zach had an incredibly successful year with Kelly, Suzannah, and Annie which led to amazing results on the new Global Regent exam.  During the summer, Zach resolved that living in the city did not mesh with his smaller town roots. He informed us in July that he is moving back upstate, and we wish him the best of luck and continued success as he continues to grow as a teacher.

Welcome to our New Staff Members!

Aasiya Raheem, ICT Science.  Aasiyah began her journey as an educator in 2011 in the Montessori Schools. While working, she earned her Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education and her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with Education Specialties. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Education Teaching Urban Adolescents with Disabilities ay LIU Brooklyn.  Aasiyah has traveled to over 10 countries and has taught public, private, and homeschools in 3 of these countries. These experiences have led her back NYC; to the city in which she spent most of her school years. Equipped with the strong influences of Dr. Maria Montessori and the Honorable Marcus Garvey; Aasiyah is on a mission to facilitate a way by which our children are “prepared for the creation of their own particular civilization." 

Rachel Batson, 10th Grade English & AP English Lit.  Rachel began her teaching career in South Carolina, but in 2009, she moved to California, where she she taught for 7 years. During this time, Rachel ran intervention programs, AP vertical alignment teams, grade level teams, and after school programs. Rachel’s  niches in teaching and leading are planning, coaching, providing direct, actionable feedback, and infusing curriculum with engaging, rigorous, relevant themes and activities. In 2016, Rachel moved to NYC and began teaching at Success Academy's High School, where she served as an AP English teacher and interim Dean of English. Rachel left SA after one year for Brooklyn Ascend High School to be the English Chair and 11th grade ELA teacher because of their restorative practice program. For Rachel, teaching is more than a job; it's a calling, a craft, a catalyst for change. In joining UAI, Rachel has joined a group of like-minded professionals!

Nick Juliusburger, 9^th & 12^th grade Physics. Nick Juliusburger worked for thirty years in the tech industry before leaving the company he helped found to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. Returning to education, he completed a combined major of Adolescence Education & Physics at the State University of New York in New Paltz where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is excited to have the opportunity to share his passion for physics with the students of the UAI. When Nick is not in the classroom he can be found biking around Manhattan, hiking upstate, or watching films.

Amy Cheng, Living Environment and AP Biology. Amy has been teaching for over ten years, in Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey. 2019-2020 will be her second year teaching in New York City. Her former students now live and work everywhere, from a biology educator at Turtle Back Zoo in Newark, to a professional scientist in Salt Lake City, to a master’s student in Oxford, UK. Amy is committed to the personal and professional growth of her students. Outside of teaching, Amy enjoys hikes with her family, cooking healthy (and irresistible, not-so-healthy recipes), and reading non-fiction.

Emma Sweikert, 7th Grade Science and MS Elective. Emma is completing her summer residency with the Teaching Fellows and is excited to begin her first year of teaching at UAI. Emma's passion is connecting with and supporting newly arrived immigrant communities, particularly refugee youth. Prior to joining the Teaching fellows, Emma worked at the Arab-American Family Support Center where she provided academic support in developing literacy and leadership skills. During her work, she also developed and executed STEAM curricula for middle schoolers. Throughout her work, Emma incorporated trauma-informed approaches and socioemotional development in the classroom.

Sarah Rosenblum, 6th Grade Science and ICT 6th Grade Math. Teaching middle school science is my passion. Sixteen years ago, I joined Teach for America and began working as a sixth-grade science and math teacher. At both Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS)  and more recently at MS 839, Sarah has always been committed to ensuring that every student receives an excellent science education. Sarah is a lead teacher with Urban Advantage which provides high-quality professional development support and a variety of resources for science to schools just like ours. Sarah understands that students are faced with many challenges in and out of the classroom. She continually strives to offer her students a variety of opportunities and experiences designed to help them not only address their immediate problems but to grow and thrive as people.

More Announcements

Final Schedule.  After reviewing the needs of incoming students and final grades from summer school, there have been some adjustments to the schedule.  CLICK HERE to see the final schedule.  We will be making adjustments to rosters this week, so you will not have your final rosters until Tuesday's PD.  We will be going through all of the specific program changes in person during PD when we are all together on Tuesday 03SEP, so send me your questions so that I can integrate those into that bit of the PD!

UAI's First AP Boot Camp!  Rebecca C. and the AP teachers have been working hard to launch our very first Boot Camp for AP classes.  With our partnership with AP for All, UAI launched four AP classes: AP Spanish, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, and AP English Language.  Now, with support from AP for All, we are launching an AP Boot Camp to give our next round of students an improved ability to perform in these demanding courses.  This year, we will add two more AP classes (AP World History and AP English Literature) bringing UAI's AP offerings to a total of 6, far exceeding our goal of launching 5 courses within 3 years.  Many congrats to our team of AP teachers and many thank yous to Rebecca C for coordinating all the efforts around this amazing feat!

Introduce Girls to Action Sports through Building Boards.  Over the summer, Ms. Nina (10th Geo/12th College Algebra) struck up a new partnership with Stoked, an organization committed to closing opportunity gaps through board sports.  To support this project, Nina created a Donors Choose project.  Please help her get the word out by posting to your social media and sharing in your circles.  We have a number of young women who would be soooo stoked to be part of this program.  Help us help Nina get this project off the ground!

To Do This Week

This Week's Prep and Planning Time for Per Session.  All staff are invited to come in from 8:30-12:30 to set up classrooms, create welcoming bulletin boards, and get a jump on their planning for the school year.  Teachers who come in must stop by Nancy's office to collect a time card and clock in and out for training-rate per session.  Please do not forget to clock in and out.  If you forget, we will not be able to process your hours for payment.  This year, Annie will be approving per session hours.  Please submit your timesheets to her by the end of day on Friday for approval. 

Expectations For 1st Day of School Launch.  In addition to per session time this week, teachers will also have some time at the end of the PD days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to prepare for the 1st day of school.  To be ready, here's what we need to do:

• Planning and Preparation.  The key to a strong start to the year is immediately providing students with challenging content via effectively planned lessons and activities.  
• Pacing Guide & September Lesson Plans.  When we conduct classroom observations and visits, we look at the pacing guides prior to visiting the classroom to review your lesson plans.  If you prefer, you can printed copies ready for us when we arrive in the classroom.  You can either make a copy of your pacing guide from last year or make a copy of this template.  Upload your pacing guide to this folder using this nomenclature "Teacher Name_Course_Pacing Guide 2019-20" and link your September Lessons into the guide by the first day of school.  Note:  When you link lessons to your guide, please do NOT copy the URL from the web browser.  Rather, click on the "Share" button to grab the link that you can copy and paste into your pacing guide.

• Classroom Set-Up.
• Furniture.  Classroom has sufficient chairs and desks for students and furniture is clean and well-organized in preparation to receive students.  
• Decor.  Classroom decor is text-rich, communicates rigorous expectations, and creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students
• Materials and Books.  All classroom materials & books have been organized and stored in classroom shelves and/or closets.  All packing materials have been removed from the rooms and there is nothing stored in large packing crates or boxes on table surfaces or floors.

• Bulletin Board Prep.  At UAI, we do not obsess about bulletin board updates, but we do recognize that hallway bulletin boards are where we have an opportunity to communicate UAI's expectations for student learning and achievement to both our own community and to those visitors who come to see what we do.  Please do NOT post anything directly on the walls.  You can tape things to tiles, but do NOT post on the paint (as per custodial request).  Periodically, you will receive bulletin board prep time to update boards in preparation for visitors and events (e.g. Curriculum Night, Student-Led Conferences, etc).  This first round of board work will be in preparation for Day 1 AND for our first Curriculum Night (19SEP19).  Boards should include:
• Title Your Bulletin Board (or Board Section).  Make sure your bulletin board has a title so that viewers know what your board is about and to which class(es) and teacher(s) the board belongs.
• Images and/or samples of Student Work(ing).  Hallway bulletin boards should draw viewers in.  Creative use of Images or other visual work (e.g. displays that highlight student achievement) are highly encouraged.  As you highlight student work (e.g. work from last year if you have it or a model response that you created to illustrate expectations), step into the shoes of the viewer.  Ask yourself
• Is it clear why this work is being featured?  What concepts are being highlighted and why?  How does this board illustrate rigorous course expectations?

 

Week of 03AUG19

UAI Staff News

Volume VII

Issue 1

August 3rd, 2019

(180 instructional days remaining)

Announcements

It's August Already and Summer School is Almost Done.  It seems like it was literally last week that we were saying graduating the class of 2019 and saying goodbye to one another.  Hopefully, you have all had a chance to relax somewhat and I hope that you still have amazing plans for the month that remains.

At UAI, we wrapped up credit recovery and mandated middle school last week, and we are ready to launch summer school Regents Prep on Monday.  Big applause for Kelly!!  She took on summer school coordination for the first time, and has done an amazing job in organizing and facilitating summer processes and summer learning.  Kelly, with Joanna's support, will also be running Regents Prep and Regents Exam week, so if students reach out to you, please direct them to her.  hank you so much Kelly and nicely done!

Summer Reflection.  This year, the DOE has completely revamped the Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) process that is the tool we use to set and plan school goals.  For the last several years, our instructional focus has been explicitly around improving the quality of instruction in the classrooms and strengthening our school culture.  We have made significant strides in both, and we still have a ways to go.  When we are together again in September, I will share more information and specific details, but for now, I will give you the broad strokes.

The quality of instruction and rigor of instructional tasks dictates how well students perform on state exams and in our courses.  In order for students to perform well and achieve, our students and their families rely on us to create high-quality learning experiences that motivate and challenge our students to learn and grow.  We will continue to work on developing the quality of our instruction through our Artisan Teaching Teams in both middle and high school, external PD opportunities and support through New Visions, CUNY LINCT, MSQI, AP for All, and Algebra for All.

In addition to improving teacher capacity, we are also introducing intervention groups for our students who struggle the most in reading and math.  We also heard student and teacher request (via the surveys and consultation committee) and we are introducing elective classes for grades 6-9 next year.  Our students will also continue to receive Girls Inc Opportunities both during the day and after school and we will continue to provide them with strong in-school experiences aimed at cultivating their Social Emotional Growth.

Instructional Quality and School Culture will continue to be our major areas of focus, however this year, with changes in the CEP, we will have additional metrics attached to them. For UAI, because we are a 6-12 school we have mandated goals for both MS and HS.  They are:

• NYS Middle School Math & ELA Performance.   We are still waiting for state results, so I can't share concrete figures yet, but the goal is to improve the number of students scoring at proficiency in both Math & ELA by at least 10%. 
• HS Graduation Rate.  Our current HS rate is 82% with an expected final rate of 87% by the end of August.  Next year's Class of 2020 is significantly stronger - both academically and social emotionally - and as a result, we are predicting a final graduation rate of 92%
• College, Career, and Civic Readiness.  This is a hard one to explain digitally.  In this goal there are two metrics involved - the state guidelines (which calculate the number of AP classes kids take, the type of diploma that is earned, and several other metrics) and the city is looking at the number of students scoring college-ready scores in Math and ELA (>70 in math and >75 in ELA).  On the stateside, we always do exceedingly well because so many of our students take advanced coursework (in AP or through NYU).  So the goal is to continue that success by adding more AP experiences (AP Lit, AP World History) and broadening access.  On the city side, we have already succeeded last year's College-Ready percent (which was 49%, CO 2019 is already at 57%).  So, we are going to enhance the goal, and setting goals around getting more of our students in 4-year college settings.  
• Attendance. For the first time ever in the history of UAI, our student attendance has been so low that we missed state benchmarks, and are a level 1 (which is the lowest level) for attendance rate.  Overall, our attendance average is 87%, but our students who are chronically absent are 14% in the MS and 31% in the HS.  These numbers need to change.  Annie is putting together a committee of teachers to lead this work and we will be rolling out the plan when we come together in September. 

Following our progress in all these areas will be tricky, but we have two very strong guide rails to lead us on our way. 

1. When we plan and effectively execute lessons that get kids thinking and give them access to throught-provoking and intellectually challenging materials, our students want to learn.  They will show that with their feet (increased attendance) and their engagement paired with our instruction will result in higher exam scores, higher course grades, and thus increased graduation and college, career, and civic readiness.
2. Strong instruction requires an equally strong learning environment.  Students need to feel known (teachers know their work, know what they need to grow and know who they are), feel safe (students take intellectual risks without fear because teachers & staff create & maintain safe classroom & school spaces), and students feel supported and included in our classrooms, our texts, and our community.

Implicit Bias Work.  This year to support our work in instruction and school culture, we will be continuing our work around Implicit Bias.  Please email Kiri directly if you would like to join the PD committee to plan these sessions or if you want to learn more!

To Do

Building Access.  The building still has summer school in session with various schools in our classrooms.  This will be the case through Regents Week. The building is closed the week of August 19th, but starting Augst 26th, you are welcome to come in and begin room set up anytime.

UAI PD Days.  We will be offering training rate per session for teachers from 8:30-12:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Aug27-29) to come in and begin room set up.  We will be offering teachers new to UAI a new teacher orientation on Aug 27 at 10AM which will introduce new teachers to school-specific systems and procedures (taking attendance, using Skedula, email groups, tech support, UAI teacher forms and DOE forms).  All returning teachers are welcome to join, too.

Staff PD Launch.  We will have our full staff PD launch on Tuesday, 03SEP19 at 8:30.  It will be a full day of PD on both days, agendas to follow soon!

Orders.  If you did not get a confirmation from Nancy, then your orders were not processed because they were not filed correctly.  In order to have ordered processed, you need to go to shopdoe.org and fully checkout.  Once you have fully checked out, your order is sent to FAMIS and Nancy can then process it.  Nancy will be in the office on August 15th to process orders next.  Please get anything to her by that date, or you'll have to wait until October.  September is too pressed with enrollment issues to guarantee purchasing.

Planning Documents.  I am still working on updating the planning templates for the year.  Those should be coming out this week!  These include a pacing calendar, lesson template, and [NEW] Course Syllabus and Grading Policy (that will be distributed to parents on curriculum night).

Staff Bios.  Finally, send me a new headshot and updated bio to include in this year's staff directory before the 20AUGust and it will be included in the next blog post

 

Week of June 24th

UAI Staff News

Volume VI

Issue 41

June 4th, 2019

(0 HS Instructional Days Remaining)
(More than 1 Instructional Days Remaining)

Announcements

Final Blog Post for the 2018-2019 School Year.  We are finally here, the last week of the 2018-2019 school year.  On Thursday & Friday last week, Jen, Nadine, and I had the opportunity to work with the Urban Assembly and Facebook to develop a new partnership around integrating Social Emotional Learning with Career Development.  In particular, we are developing a new course that will launch in the fall with our 9th graders that will introduce students to how technology professionals bring ideas to products.  This new course (the name is still TBD) will introduce students to product development and design thinking, expose them to the wide variety of career paths in science and technology, and provide them with multiple opportunities to see real-world applications of the social-emotional skills they are learning with Ms. Cassandra in her SEL class.  One main objective of this course is to find that spark within each of our students and fan it into flames of inspiration and passion around a variety of career paths in science, technology and engineering.  In so doing, this course will sit as the chief mechanism by which we integrate our newest students into UAI's mission and vision.

As the year comes to a close, we are embarking on an exciting new adventure with a brand new partner.  That is the beauty of the work we do in schools.  It is always changing, never boring, and constantly challenging us to be creative, develop new ideas, and be better each day for our students, their future, and ultimately, through their achievements in the world,  our own.
 
Congratulations on yet another year well done!  We have worked hard to make it so!  Thank you, and enjoy these last three days of the 2018-19 school year!

To Do This Week

• Monday PD.   We'll all meet in 409 to hold our end-of-the-year meeting with everyone and review final assignments for the last day of school, stepping up and graduation.

• Tuesday Outreach.  Please make contact with any student's family and let them know if their child is going to summer school and share this important information.

• Summer Programs
• Girls Inc Summer Camp (Optional FREE Program for students age 10-14)
• THU 27JUN19 @ 6PM - Mandatory Orientation for Families
• MON 08JUL19 through THU 01AUG19 - Girls Inc Summer Camp
• Camp runs Mondays thru Thursdays, 8:30AM-2:50PM


• Contact Kimberly Clark at  Kclarke@girlsincnyc.org or call Girls Inc Program Direct Vanessa Santiago at 718-260-2300 ext 20513 


• Mandatory UAI Summer Programs
• Ms. Kelly (Kelly Preston, kellyp@uainstitute.org) will be coordinating all things summer school related this year.  All questions & concerns should go to her.
• Mr. Isaiah (Isaiah Blackburn, isaiah@uainstitute.org) will be taking on the role of parent coordinator starting this summer.  All families should be directed to him with questions or concerns that arise over the summer.  

• Mandatory Summer Middle School.  These students are mandated to UAI summer school for ELA and/or Math summer school enrichment.  Students are welcome to join Girls Inc. summer programs after their mandated courses end at 10AM (for just one) or 11:30AM (for both- ELA and Math).  

• High School Credit Recovery.  Any student in grades 8-12 who failed a core course and or any HS student who failed PE/Dance in MP6 will automatically be enrolled in summer school credit recovery for the courses she failed.  

• Regents Prep for Grades 8-12.  Any student in grades 8-12 who failed or was absent for an exam required for graduation will be automatically enrolled.  This summer we are offering Regents Prep for the core exams:  Algebra, Living Environment, Earth Science, English, Global, and US History.  Students wanting to retake Geometry or Alg 2/Trig will have to study independently and are welcome to take the tests again in August.
• Early Dismissals
• Tuesday 25JUN19.  Early Dismissal for Grades 6/7 at 10:15AM.  All students will be released for outside lunch that day. There is an election in our cafeteria on Tuesday and 8th gr Stepping up in our gym.  Students will not be able to have hot lunches on Tuesday, but we will have bagged lunches available for students who request, but they must give requests to Val by 11:30 on Monday so she can make arrangements with cafeteria staff. 
• Wednesday 26JUN19.  Early Dismissal for ALL.  Students report ONLY to pick up report cards.  After pick up, they are immediately dismissed.  Students must pick up their report cards between 8:30 and 10AM.

• EOY Checklist.  Please print out and get signatures on THIS CHECKLIST. Bring this checklist to the PD meeting in room 409.  We will be collecting keys, elevator passes and returning deposits during PD on Monday.  We will be 

Staff Out This Week

• Monday 24JUN19
• Out at Regents Grading:  Brodie, Suzannah, Damon, Kristi, Rebecca F, Cassandra, Nina, Matthew

• Tuesday 25JUN19:  8th Grade Stepping Up
• Marni Leaving Early (@12) - personal

• Wednesday 26JUN19:  HS Graduation & Last Day of School
• Rebecca F - Out (graduation)

Important Upcoming Dates in the Last Few Weeks of School

• Week Six - Week of 24JUN19 - 
• Monday 24JUN19 - All staff prepare classrooms for summer and we close out in PD; 8th gr stepping up rehearsal; Normal 6/7 classes

• Tuesday, 25JUN19 - 8th Gr Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after lunch at 11:15AM.  All students released for OUTSIDE lunch at 10:20.  Bagged lunch available - must request by Monday 24JUN19 at 11:30AM.  See Ms. Val

• Wednesday, 26JUN19 - HS Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after report card collection and report to LIU by 10:30AM; All staff dismisses after HS graduation (last day of school); some staff will remain at school to distribute final report cards to grades 8-11.  We will be having our traditional post-graduation gathering at Habana Outpost.  Hope to see you all there!

 

Week of June 17th

UAI Staff News

Volume VI

Issue 40

June 17th, 2019

(1 HS Instructional Days Remaining)
(More than 1 MS Instructional Days Remaining)

Announcements

Penultimate Blog Post for the 2018-2019 School Year.  It's hard to believe, but we are here at the last full week of school and the 2nd to last blog post for the 2018-2019 school year.  For those who were able to join us at Friday's staff party, it was another celebration with the UAI family and it together we toasted the massive success of the Chancellor's visit.  Next week we cap our successes as we celebrate our graduates in 8th and 12th grade, and then we are off for the summer!

To Do This Week

• Monday PD.   We'll all meet in 409 to review the blog and do announcements.  You'll also receive your program and room assignments for next year.  After, Grades 8-12th grade teachers join Joanna in 409 to review Regents Week schedule and procedures. 

• Tuesday Outreach.  Please make contact with any student's family who fails MP6.  All families need to know why students failed.  If you are having problems contacting home, please let Mr. Isaiah know as soon as possible so that he can call the student down and get accurate contact information.

• Technology CloseOut.  This week we'll be asking Phil to inventory and secure our school technology.  Please securely store all tech equipment in your carts and place all projectors and document cameras in your lockable closets.  Phil will come around to check off your room and to see if you are eligible for your tech deposit returns.

• Classroom Clean Up.  
• Books & Classroom Materials - All materials and books must be stored in book shelves (turned to face the walls, or in closets (on shelves only, not on the floors.  If you can't turn the bookcase, please cover them with bulletin board paper.  There is to be nothing stored on the floors this summer.  They will be doing waxing and stripping, and anything left on the floors will be ruined.  
• Personal Items. Do not store anything personal and of value at school over the summer.  We have five different schools coming in to share our space.  
• Personal Appliances.  All refrigerators must be emptied, scrubbed cleaned and unplugged.  Same for any microwaves.  These items MUST be stored in a locked closet over the summer.  If they are not, they will be tossed.  They are magnets for pests.
• Clear all surfaces and everything off floors.  There should be nothing left on the univents, window sills, counters, or floors.   All walls should be cleared of everything (INCLUDING residual tape or staples).

• 6th/7th/11th Grade Relocation.  This week we will need to move materials and supplies into their classrooms.  Our students can help!  Brodie will be coordinating the move, so please reach out to him for support.   Custodians can move heavy stuff (like books), but we need to know what's going where.  The lighter stuff (class materials, school supplies, classroom posters, etc.) should all be moved by the end of this week.  

Staff Out This Week

• Monday 17JUN19  Last Day of Classes for Grades 8-12
• Damon - Military Leave
• Sarah M - Personal
• Jen C - Personal
• Laura, Rebecca F, and Joanna - in but proctoring Spanish LOTE Exam

• Tuesday 18JUN18  First Day of Regents Week
• Marni - Graduation

• Wednesday 19JUN19
• Rebecca C - Late (graduation)

• Thursday 20JUN19
• Christina Out - Graduation
• Jennifer JR - Personal Day
• Joey Out - Personal Day
• Marsha Out - Graduation
• 7th Grade Field Trip to Battery Park
  
  
• Friday 21JUN19
• 7th Grade Trip to Coney Island
• Jennifer JR - Leaving Early Personal 

Important Upcoming Dates in the Last Few Weeks of School

•  Week of 17JUN19 - 
• Monday, 17JUN19 - 
• Trips
• 8th Grade BBQ @ Brooklyn Bridge Park:  Leave at 10AM
  Chaperones are Christina, Megan, Cherry, Kristina, Matthew, Marsha
• 10th Grade Trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park:
  Chaperones are Nina, Nadine, Suzannah, Freida (& Tiffany if needed)
• Special Schedules
• Seniors only attend for rehearsal at 2PM - NO SENIOR CLASSES
  12th Grade Grad Rehearsal and Prom Ticket Distribution @2PM; 
• 9AM-12PM - Spanish Regents Administration [LOTE] for some 10th & 11th Graders
• PD for all 8th Gr and HS Teachers - Joanna will Regents Schedule Review (IWT for all other teachers)
• End of MP6 Ends today.  Grades are due on Thursday at 3PM
• Tuesday, 18JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 1;    AM Test: US History         PM test:  Living Environment
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Wednesday, 19JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 2;   AM Test: ELA                   PM test:  CC Algebra I
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Thursday, 20JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 3;   AM Test: Trans. Global    PM test:  Earth Science
• Normal 6/7 classes; 
• All Final Grades Due @3PM & MS Promotional Portfolios Due @3PM
• Friday,  21JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 4;  AM Test: Geometry          PM test:  CC Algebra II
• 7th Grade Trip to Coney Island/Luna Park; 
• 8th stepping Up rehearsal

• Week Six - Week of 24JUN19 - 
• Monday 24JUN19 - All staff prepare classrooms for summer and we close out in PD; 8th gr stepping up rehearsal; Normal 6/7 classes
• Tuesday, 25JUN19 - 8th Gr Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after lunch at 11:15AM
• Wednesday, 26JUN19 - HS Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after report card collection and report to LIU by 10:30AM; All staff dismiss after HS graduation (last day of school); some staff will remain at school to distribute final report cards to grades 8-11.

Per Session Posting

No New Postings this Week

 

Week of June 10th

UAI Staff News

Volume VI

Issue 39

June 10th, 2019

(3 HS Instructional Days Remaining)
(More than 3 MS Instructional Days Remaining)

Announcements

 

June Check In.  Yesterday, someone gave this to me at the start of a meeting to ask us to check in.   I'm not gonna lie.  I said, I am solid three, but after the staff party on Friday, I'm hoping to move to that guy in 2.  Knowing how hard each of you work, I think a fair number must be feeling like #3, too.   I totally get it!

This is an emotional career.  We all put our hearts and souls into our work each hour of every day.  When we win and kids thrive, there is no better feeling of accomplishment and worth.  But we aren't yet winning every day.  So, when we miss the mark, we feel it in our core when our students fall short.  We are definitely on the right path, but we feel the growing pains as we continue upward on the journey.  But I want to take a moment to center us on Picture 2 or Picture 4.  I want to take a moment to smell our roses and appreciate our achievements as we sail into the last few days of the year.

Community Satisfaction is at an all time high!  Our recent school survey results show that our 

parents, students and teachers are increasingly satisfied with the work we do.  By survey results, we have improved in ALL categories on our Learning Environment Survey with our biggest jumps in Collaborative Teachers & Effective Leadership.  We are working well together as a team!

School Instructional Foci.  Our focus on Look-Fors in student thinking, and Effective Circulation with Assessment & Feedback has had an incredible impact on our teaching and classroom instruction.  Overall, our Danielson ratings in Domain 3 were up, with particular increase in quality in student discussion and student engagement - leading to significantly improved overall teacher observations.  In short, more students were asked to think about more challenging tasks.  Because they thought more, were challenged more, and asked to do more our classrooms were on fire this year!

Student Achievement.  Our classroom instruction and elevated quality of teacher thinking & planning about student thinking and learning led to increased performance.  The Middle School cut scores are hot off the presses.  Overall 92% of our middle school students met the cut score (i.e. met minimum requirements for promotion) in ELA and 90% in math.  A typical year for UAI is in the mid 80s for both.  So, even though we don't have the final scores yet, the preliminary data looks amazing!  In addition, student performance on the Global Regent is strong.  We don't have their curved scores, but many of our students scored 4/5 on their essays and about 75% of them are on track to pass!  In addition, May predictive regents show increased passing rates across the board.   When you're in the weeds (like now), it's hard to appreciate the impact of all the hard work you've done.  Take a step back and breath it in.  We're well on our way to excellence!

Our Work Around Uncovering Implicit Bias has been Scary but Brave.  As the adults in our community, we took a brave step into examining and uncovering our own implicit biases  That work culminated with consultancies that had teachers working together to help one another honestly confront hidden biases and strategize to protect our students from them.  It was a first step, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and this work and these structures will continue into the next school year.  Next year, we will enter into this work as the second cohort of the work that Paul Forbes began with us in March.  I'm excited to bring his work and our consultancies together so that we can create classrooms that ignite the passion of all of our students.

Social Emotional Learning and Resilient Scholars.  Our work with Social Emotional Learning and our partnership with the Urban Assembly's Resilient Scholars program has garnered UAI some great attention.  UAI presented at conferences in Albany and here in New York around our work in integrating social emotional learning with counseling goals and our work with integrating literacy into the work of social emotional development.  Special shout outs go to Ms. Marni, Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Cassandra, Ms. Lauren and Ms. Jen.  Because of all the work they do, they brought some sunshine to UAI and put us on the map!

Student Celebrations.  In addition to SEL, our clubs and other student achievements have put UAI's mark on the world.  Congrats to Tom and Nina on the UAI's Running Club 3rd place finish last week's race!  Congrats to Tom and the Green Team for their stellar work with the Hydroponic Farm.Congrats to Ms. Vanessa and all the Girls Inc Team for celebrating our students talents with the  Guitar Club, Spice Steppers,  Homework Help and so many, many more program.  The list of student achievements - particularly with our College Office and all over the school goes on and on.  Take a moment and find the victories within your own UAI story, share it with a colleague or friend, and revel in the awesomeness of which you were a vital part this year.

I've been on a Queen and Freddie Mercury kick lately.  It must be all the karaoke I've been doing.  To quote him, we at UAI are the Champions!




Important Upcoming Dates in the Last Few Weeks of School (Please let me know stat if I got any dates wrong!!)

• Week Four - Week of 10JUN19 - 
• Monday, 10JUN19 - Normal Classes, No Trips
• Tuesday 11JUN19 
• 7th Grade Trip to Roller Skating at Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Wednesday, 12JUN19
• Welcome New Students (6th & 9th) to Night of Stars
• Senior Awards Night
• Honor Roll Breakfast for students observing Ramadan
• Thursday, 13JUN19 
• High School Final Exams (in classes) Day 1; 
• Normal MS Classes; 
• Friday, 14JUN19 - UAI STAFF PARTY
• Chancellor Carranza Visits UAI
• UAI Staff Party at 5PM

•  Week Five - Week of 17JUN19 - 
• Monday, 17JUN19 - 
• 8th Grade BBQ; 
• Last day of classes for grades 8-12; 
• 12th Grade Grad Rehearsal and Prom Ticket Distribution @2PM; 
• Spanish Regents Administration [LOTE]; 
• PD for all HS Teachers - Regents Schedule Review
• End of MP6 
• Tuesday, 18JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 1;    AM Test: US History         PM test:  Living Environment
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Wednesday, 19JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 2;   AM Test: ELA                   PM test:  CC Algebra I
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Thursday, 20JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 3;   AM Test: Trans. Global    PM test:  Earth Science
• Normal 6/7 classes; 
• All Final Grades Due @3PM & MS Promotional Portfolios Due @3PM
• Friday,  21JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 4;  AM Test: Geometry          PM test:  CC Algebra II
• 7th Grade Trip to Coney Island/Luna Park; 
• 8th stepping Up rehearsal

• Week Six - Week of 24JUN19 - 
• Monday 24JUN19 - All staff prepare classrooms for summer and we close out in PD; 8th gr stepping up rehearsal; Normal 6/7 classes
• Tuesday, 25JUN19 - 8th Gr Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after lunch at 11:15AM
• Wednesday, 26JUN19 - HS Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after report card collection and report to LIU by 10:30AM; All staff dismiss after HS graduation (last day of school); some staff will remain at school to distribute final report cards to grades 8-11.

Per Session Posting

No New Postings this Week

 

Week of June 3rd

UAI Staff News

Volume VI

Issue 38

June 3rd, 2019

(6 HS Instructional Days Remaining)
(More than 6 MS Instructional Days Remaining)

Announcements

What an AWESOME week!  Last week was super active.  Nina and Tom took our Running Club for their first race on Randall's Island;  Jen pulled off our very first 8th grade Prom with style and panache, and Kelly wrapped up a fantastic year of assemblies with our annual College Walk! Way to go UAI!!

The Chancellor is Coming to Visit UAI!  Last week, I received a phone call from our Superintendent asking to visit on Friday, June 14th.  I'm seeing Fred at the Affinity Principal's retreat on Monday, so I will confirm details and share the agenda for the day as soon as I can.  I do know that we will be visiting Middle School classrooms during 2nd period, so please use PD time this week and next to prepare classroom and hallway bulletin boards.  HS teachers you'll be giving course final exams, however, we will be touring the school, so please prepare hallway bulletin boards (post work that celebrates student achievement!).  It is not the most ideal time, but we are always awesome, and I am proud of all the hard work each of you do every single day.  I am always happy to share it with anyone at any time!

Speaking of HS Final Exams.  High School Final exams will be on Thursday 13JUN19 and Friday 14JUN19.  We will not be having a special schedule on those days.  Rather the final exams will happen during the regular class period on assigned days.  All 8th Earth Sci/CC Algebra/Living Env. and all HS students must take a final in your course.  If you are a regents-based course, modify a regents exam to give them during your class time (E.g. either the MC or Short Answer/Essay).

• Thursday 13JUN19: Math & Science, PE/Dance/SEL/ART classes will be giving a final exam or project in their class period. 
• Friday 14JUN19: All Social Studies, English, Foreign Language and PE/Dance SEL, and Art will be giving a final exam or project in their class period. 
• Any PE/Dance/SEL/Art class that does not meet on Thursdays or Fridays should test on Wednesday 12JUN19 or Monday 17JUN19.

Staff Out This Week:  

• Monday 03JUN19: Global Regents - NO HS Classes; Normal MS Classes
• Damon - Military Leave
• Elana - Personal Day
• Suzannah - Funeral
• Marsha - Sick Day

• Wednesday 05JUN19:
• Damon - Military Leave
• Marsha - Sick Day
• Jake, Nadine, & Natalie out with 8th grade @ Holocaust Museum

• Thursday 06JUN19: Brooklyn Queens Day: NO CLASSES
• Damon - Military Leave

• Friday  07JUN19:
• Damon - Military Leave

To Do This Week

Monday PD Outreach.   We will not meet for PD on Monday.  Instead, teachers will use the time to do family outreach about summer school and begin prepping classrooms for the summer.

SUMMER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT.  All teachers who have a student failing their class or failing a regent exam MUST call home and inform the student's families that due to this failure, the student will be automatically enrolled in UAI summer school.  If your class terminates in a required Regents Exam (Living Environment, Earth Science, English, Global, US History, or Algebra I) your students will be assigned to Regents Prep in August ONLY IF they (A) scored lower than a 40 on the May benchmark and/or (B) failed the exam in June.

UAI summer important dates are

• UAI Summer MS (6th & 7th-grade students only)
• Orientation July 2nd: 10:30 AM - Cafeteria for schedule and MetroCard pick up
• Regular Classes Begin July 8th and end on Thursday, August 1st
• 1st Period 8:30 -10AM:  1st Class (Math or ELA)
• 2nd Period 10-11:30AM: 2nd Class (ELA or Math)
• 3rd Period 11:30-12PM:  Lunch
• 4th Period 12-3PM:  Girls Inc Summer Camp
• All students have the option to sign up for Girls Inc and join their programs after lunch at 12PM, or if not mandated, for the whole day.
• Portfolio Preparation & Grading (no classes) Aug 1st - Aug 8th

• UAI Summer HS (8th through 12th-grade students)
• Orientation July 3rd:  10:30AM - Cafeteria for schedule and MetroCard pick up
• Credit Recovery Classes Begin July 8th and end on Aug 1st
• 1st Period 8:30 -10AM:  1st Class (Humanities or Math/Science)
• 2nd Period 10-11:30AM: 2nd Class (Math/Science or Humanities)
• 3rd Period 11:30-12PM:  Lunch
• 4th Period 12-3PM:  Girls Inc Summer Camp
• All students have the option to sign up for Girls Inc and join their programs after lunch at 12PM, or if not mandated, for the whole day.
• Regents Prep Classes Aug 1st - Aug 8th 
• 1st Period 8:30- 9:30
• 2nd Period 9:30-10:30
• 3rd Period 10:30-11:30

• August Regents Week Schedule

CLASSROOM PREP & YEAR END CLOSEOUT.  This year is a bit different.  Due to Regents Scheduling, MS and HS graduations are on the last two days of school.  So, we're spreading out the work over the next couple of PD days to get it all done before the end of the year.  Here's what needs to get done.

• Please review the End of Year Closeout list, and use On June 17th, all technology needs to be stored and prepared for collection.

• Teachers in the following rooms will be moving classrooms next year.  Teachers in these rooms will need to prep materials and books for transport (you're not moving, just packing and labeling).  Brodie will help coordinate
• 307 & B53 swap rooms (Kristina, Christina, Joey & Freida)
• 303 & B57 swap rooms (Cherry, Matthew & Giselle)
• 309 & B45 swap rooms (Amanda, Alison, Judy & Danielle)
• 315 & B49 swap rooms (Megan, Meaghan, & Tom)
• 311 & B43 swap rooms (Phillan, Sarah, & Kelly)

Important Upcoming Dates in the Last Few Weeks of School (Please let me know stat if I got any dates wrong!!)

• Week of 03JUN19 - 
• Monday, 03JUN19
• Global History Regents - No HIGH SCHOOL classes; 
• MS Classes are in regular session.
• Tuesday,  04JUN19 - Eid al Fitr (end of Ramadan) - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, 05JUN19 - 
• 8th Grade Field Trip to Holocaust Museum - No 8th Grade Classes; 
• Girls Inc.  Springfest @ 6pm
• Thursday, 06JUN19 - Brooklyn Queens Day - Chancellor's PD Day - NO CLASSES
• AM:  Uncovering Bias - Teacher Consultancies
• PM:  Preparing to Move
• 6th & 7th Grade Teachers pack classrooms with 8th gr teacher help
• 11th Grade Teachers pack classrooms with 9th & 10th gr teacher help
• Friday, 07JUN19
• No 7th Grade Classes
• 7th Grade College Trip to John Jay (Jake, Kristina & Christina' Advisories)
• 7th Grade Advisory Trip (Cherry & Megan painting field trip)
• Low Attendance 8th Grade Classes
• 8th Grade Trip to Dorney Park (35 Students)
• No 12th Grade Classes
• Senior BBQ
• Del's Retirement Party @5pm

• Week Four - Week of 10JUN19 - 
• Monday, 10JUN19 - Normal Classes, No Trips
• Tuesday 11JUN19 
• 7th Grade Trip to Roller Skating at Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Wednesday, 12JUN19
• Welcome New Students (6th & 9th) to Night of Stars
• Senior Awards Night
• Honor Roll Breakfast for students observing Ramadan
• Thursday, 13JUN19 
• High School Final Exams (in classes) Day 1; 
• Normal MS Classes; 
• 12th Grade Graduation Rehearsal @ 9:30AM
• Friday, 14JUN19 
• Chancellor Carranza Visits UAI
• UAI Staff Party at 5PM

•  Week Five - Week of 17JUN19 - 
• Monday, 17JUN19 - 
• 8th Grade BBQ; 
• Last day of classes for grades 8-12; 
• 12th Grade Grad Rehearsal and Prom Ticket Distribution; 
• Spanish Regents Administration [LOTE]; 
• End of MP6 
• Tuesday, 18JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 1;    AM Test: US History         PM test:  Living Environment
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Wednesday, 19JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 2;   AM Test: ELA                   PM test:  CC Algebra I
• Normal 6/7 classes
• Thursday, 20JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 3;   AM Test: Trans. Global    PM test:  Earth Science
• Normal 6/7 classes; 
• All Final Grades Due @3PM & MS Promotional Portfolios Due @3PM
• Friday,  21JUN19 - 
• Regents Week Day 4;  AM Test: Geometry          PM test:  CC Algebra II
• 7th Grade Trip to Coney Island/Luna Park; 
• 8th stepping Up rehearsal

• Week Six - Week of 24JUN19 - 
• Monday 24JUN19 - All staff prepare classrooms for summer and we close out in PD; 8th gr stepping up rehearsal; Normal 6/7 classes
• Tuesday, 25JUN19 - 8th Gr Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after lunch at 11:15AM
• Wednesday, 26JUN19 - HS Graduation; 6/7 dismiss after report card collection and report to LIU by 10:30AM; All staff dismiss after HS graduation (last day of school); some staff will remain at school to distribute final report cards to grades 8-11.

Student Support Services Update 

Per Session Posting

No New Postings this Week