Volume: XIIIIssue: 31March 30, 2026
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
Last Friday, the 3rd Marking Period came to a close, and MP4 begins on Monday. That means we are officially entering the final stretch of the 2025-26 school year. The next few months will move quickly, and the work we do now will have an outsized impact on how our students finish the year - academically, socially, and emotionally.
As a reminder, all four marking periods stand independently. A student’s final grade is a straight average of MP1, MP2, MP3, and MP4. What that means in very real terms is that this final marking period is not simply the “last part of the year.” For many students, it is a true fresh start. It is the final opportunity to build momentum, repair habits, strengthen effort, and make meaningful changes that can dramatically affect how they finish the year.
This is the moment where our influence matters the most.
The most important thing we can do right now is show our students - clearly and consistently - that we will not give up on them. Some students naturally make that easy. They are engaged, prepared, responsive, and they continue to rise to expectations. Those students absolutely deserve to be celebrated, recognized, and pushed to go even further.
But a large group of students sits right in the middle. These are the students who are capable of much more than what they are currently producing, but something is holding them back. For some, it is fear of failure. For others, it is a lack of confidence. Some have simply gotten comfortable doing just enough to get by. These students do not need more judgment - they need belief. They need someone to help them see what they are capable of and to push them to take the academic risks that lead to real growth. When they feel that we have their back, they are far more willing to step outside of that “good enough” space and actually try.
And then there are the students who are still struggling to make positive choices consistently - academically, behaviorally, or both. Their challenges come from many different places, but more often than not, the common thread is the absence of a strong, trusting relationship, either with school, with a specific adult, or sometimes even with their own confidence as a learner. These students can be the most difficult to reach, which can also make them the most frustrating to teach. But this final marking period is often when breakthrough moments happen. Sometimes what makes the difference is not a new strategy or a new consequence - it is persistence, empathy, and the message (spoken and unspoken) that we are still here and still rooting for them.
So as we enter this final marking period, I want to challenge all of us (myself included) to intentionally reset. The stretch from January through March is loooong. There have been missed opportunities, difficult days, and moments where things didn’t go the way we hoped. That is normal in this work. What matters now is how we respond moving forward.
Let’s consciously put down any lingering frustration or judgment that may have built up and replace it with clarity and purpose. Let’s recommit to the small, consistent actions that matter most: checking in with students who seem disconnected, acknowledging and naming growth when we see it, holding expectations high while still leading with empathy, and continuing to build relationships that give our students the confidence to push themselves.
Onward.
IMPORTANT DATES
- MAR30: CDOS Administration for Seniors
- MAR30-APR01: Paraprofessional Appreciation Week!
- APR01: Grades for MP3 DUE by 3pm
- APR02-12: Spring Break
- APR14: Senior Luau Lunch Party
- APR18: Virtual Hiring Fair, 10am
- APR21: Future Ready Welcome ZOOM
- MAY 5-6: MS ELA State Exams
- MAY 12-13: MS MATH State Exam
*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar!
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
Upcoming Trips:
ON HOLD
TO DO THIS WEEK
Paraprofessional Appreciation Week. This week, we celebrate the incredible paraprofessionals who are the heartbeat of our school community. Every day, our paras show up with patience, care, and an unwavering commitment to our students - often working behind the scenes to make sure every child feels supported, included, and capable of success.
Whether they are guiding small groups, supporting individual student needs, building relationships, or stepping in wherever they’re needed most, our paraprofessionals make learning more accessible and classrooms more joyful. Their impact is felt in countless quiet moments that add up to powerful change for our students.
Adelle, Nora, Brenda, Bryanna, Juelle, Marie, Jordan, Tashaun, and Kyle - We are deeply grateful for all that you do. Thank you for your dedication, your flexibility, and the care you bring to our school every single day.
PPO Feedback. Thanks to all who participated in last week's PPO! The Deputy Supt was extremely impressed with our community and the work we're doing to ensure our students are grappling with challenging coursework. She loved being a part of the IR process and shared that our kids reported feeling well-supported and challenged in their classes.
Budget Update. Heads up! We have officially spent our budget down to $0. We no longer have funds for supplies, food, clothing, trips, etc. and this includes SIPP reimbursements. Please keep this in mind as you plan ahead for the remaining few months of the school year.
Persession Processing. In order to process per session before the break, please submit your per session form by 8:30am on Wednesday, April 1st. Per session submitted after this deadline will be processed in the following pay period when we return from break. Thank you!
IR Next Steps. Thanks to all who engaged in our last round of IR - I hope you were able to walk away with concrete next steps and a deeper understanding of teaching into our thinking routines. After the break, PAG (formally known as ILT) will begin giving quick competency based feedback to all teachers to support our push to teach students to internalize the routines.
Summer School Application. On March 25, NYCPS began accepting applications for summer staff roles for K–12. If you've expressed interest in working this summer, staff should apply through the Summer Online Application Tool by April 30. Note that applications submitted after the deadline will be marked late, waiving the applicant’s retention rights, where applicable.
Grades Due. Please make sure all of your grades are transferred into OASIS by 3pm on Wednesday 01April. Special Note: if a student is failing your class, you must use your outreach time to connect with the family to let them know. Please make sure to enter that outreach in the log. Please DO NOT enter “no working number”. If the number doesn’t work, see Debbie on the main office and she will work to track down a number for you. Also, you can email the staff. Someone else may know. Finally you can pull the kid, and have them call home with you. But you MUST make contact or get support so you can make contact with home if you have a student who is failing your class.
PD Reminder! If your SL-IEP for this round is not completed in SESIS you MUST stay for PD on Monday, March 30th! This means your progress monitoring must also be complete! If you and your team have completed these items you may leave at the end of the school day!
Women's History Month Celebrations. Lots of activities are planned during lunch periods for this month! See below for those dates:
- 31MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #6 - Room 305
