Week of March 02

                                                            

Volume: XIII

Issue: 26

March 2, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Happy Women’s History Month!

Last week, we closed out Black History Month with a bang. Our annual Black History Month Extravaganza was nothing short of powerful - a beautiful reflection of the brilliance, creativity, scholarship, and JOY that live in our community every day. Thank you to everyone who planned, organized, performed, supported behind the scenes, and showed up fully to make the event such a success. It was a reminder that celebration is not separate from learning - it is learning. It is identity-affirming, community-building, and deeply aligned to who we are as a school.

As we step into Women’s History Month, especially in a space dedicated to educating and empowering young women, we have another opportunity to be intentional. This month is not just about highlighting notable figures, but about helping our students see themselves in the legacy of women who have shaped movements, industries, sciences, arts, and communities. It’s about reinforcing that their voices, intellect, and leadership matter right now, not someday.

Let’s continue to create classrooms where rigor and joy coexist, where identity are honored, and where students are challenged to think critically about history, power, and progress. These months of celebration are powerful, but the daily work we do to center equity and cultivate student thinking is what sustains that power.

  

 

IMPORTANT DATES

• MAR03-31: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins (every Tuesday in March)
• MAR05-06: Peer Mediation training
• MAR13: HS Sneaker Ball
• MAR18: PTCs evening (in-person)
• MAR19: PTCs half-day
• MAR20: Schools Closed Eid al-Fitr
• MAR25: SAT/PSAT Day
• MAR27: MS Sneaker Ball

*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:

MAR04: 7th grade to Hamilton!

MAR05: Women's Empowerment Summit trip

MAR05: Museum of Art & Design Trip

MAR11: Girls Inc FRNYC Trip

Check out some photos from our 7th Grade trip to the Teconic Outdoor Education Center!.

 

 

TO DO THIS WEEK

Women's History Month Celebrations. Lots of activities are planned for the month! See the flyer below for more info.

Next IR Groups. Our next round of IR starts this week! In this cycle, we will continue our focus on strengthening support for our special populations. We will center our work on deepening our instructional routines- shifting them from being viewed as isolated tasks to being used as purposeful tools that drive student thinking and learning. Below is the schedule.

• FRI 06MAR Rd 1:  Facilitators - Marsha & Annie
  IR Group: Camryn, Martine & JRob, Laura, Sophia, Amanda & Brett
  - Class Visits - These are the classrooms we'll be visiting!
        2nd Pd:  (1) Jasmine & Sue, (2) Yasmeen, Celeste, & Laura, (3) Shan
        3rd Pd: (4) Matt & Thomas, (5) Tom W
• THU 12MAR Rd 2:  Facilitators - Liza & Phillan
  IR Group: Jasmine, Sue, Yasmeen, Celeste, Shan, Matt, Thomas, & Tom W
  - Class Visits - These are the classrooms we'll be visiting!
        2nd Pd:  Camryn, Martine & JRob, Marsha, Laura, Sophia, Amanda & Brett
• WED 18MAR - Rd 3:  Groups and Classes Still TBD
• THU 26MAR - Rd 4: Groups and Classes Still TBD

Student Program Clarification. The two large topics that are coming up are: 8th period classes (typically PE) and regents prep. Here are the FAQs that I've heard a few times, and their accompanying answers (so you can help the deans/counselors and me help students understand!) 

• Q: Why do I have two PE classes? 
• A: The second PE is listed as an 8th period, and it is a functional code. Their teachers need that for something they have to do... it is not something the student needs to worry about. 
• Q: Why am I in _____ regents prep now? 
• A: Regents prep is aligned with the regents that they are taking in June this year. For most students, it is now based on the regents based course that they are in. 

P/SATs. 10th and 11th graders will be taking the P/SATs on Wednesday, March 25th. Teacher schedules and student lists will be ready by March 6th. 

• All 8/9th graders will be arriving at 10:30a and will head to the farm for a pre-college activity - they will then head out on a college trip. 
• All 12th graders will be out on a trip to a trampoline park.

RJ Circlekeeping: RPET students are leading weekly circles with icebreakers and getting to know you games the next three Wednesdays: March 4, 11, and 18, 4th period in room 409. Snacks will be provided! If students would like to join, meet in the cafeteria at 11:20 and Sue will bring them upstairs. Please share with students!

Peer Mediation is Starting! Thanks to Sue and the RPET team for getting this up and running! The flyer below will be posted around the building so that students can access this resource when they're in conflict - please do promote this tool! We will experience bumps and learn a lot in the process but are excited to have our youth leaders mediate and offer more peer-to-peer support. Students can request peer mediations and staff can suggest them as a means to resolving conflict.  

Week of Feb 23

                                                            

Volume: XIII

Issue: 25

February 23, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you all had an amazing, restful, and well-deserved winter break. Whether you traveled, spent time with family, caught up on sleep, or simply enjoyed a slower pace, I hope you were able to recharge. Returning from break can sometimes feel like a whirlwind as we shift back into routines, but this is a fresh start and a great opportunity to reset our focus and energy for the weeks ahead.

Now for some exciting news - we officially have a FULL (old school) SNOW DAY tomorrow, meaning no remote responsibilities tomorrow!!! Enjoy the rare gift of a true snow day. Though the State requires us to have 180 school days, the Mayor has been granted a waiver to allow for this off day, so you and our kids can fully unplug and enjoy the day without worry. 

This week, as we step back into our work together, we also close out Black History Month. I hope you had meaningful moments throughout the month to reflect, learn, and celebrate the rich history, achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, innovators, artists, scholars, and change-makers - both past and present. While the month may be coming to an end, the importance of honoring and uplifting Black history and voices continues all year long. Let’s carry that spirit of awareness, appreciation, and learning forward in our classrooms and community.

Please take the time to rest, have some fun, and stay safe and warm. Good luck to those who will need to shovel! See you all soon, refreshed and ready to go.

UPCOMING DATES

• FEB26: Black History Month Extravaganza
• FEB27: Black History Month Pep Rally
• MAR03: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins during 3rd period
• MAR05-06: Peer Mediation training

*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:

FEB25-27: 7th grade overnight trip to Taconic Outdoor Education Center 

MAR04: 7th grade to Hamilton!

MAR05: Women's Empowerment Summit trip

TO DO THIS WEEK

Prepare for Possible Remote day Tuesday. They're saying anything is possible with this storm... To prepare please be ready to do the following:

• Link your Google Classroom Invite Link.  Copy each google class invite link in case kids have not yet joined!

• For those who may not be familiar with how to get the link...

• Open your Google Classroom, click on the 3 dots in the box with your Google Classroom Code
• Select Copy Class Invite Link 

• Paste that Invite Link Into the Letter to Families. 
  Copy those links and link them to your courses on the Pivot to Remote Plan (Tab: Google Classroom Links)
• For those who may not be familiar with how to make links in a doc...
• Highlight the name of your class
• Click the Link Button (see upper right corner of this screen shot)
• Paste link to Classroom In the pop-up box and click Apply

If we do go remote on Tuesday, by 8:30AM Tues AM...you need to

• Post assignments and learning resources in all of your Google Classrooms
• Post attendance form to your Google Classrooms.  Everyone should post it, but students only need to complete it once
• Assignments should take no longer that 20 minutes to complete (at least for General Educ kids), and should be due at 2:50PM.  Please do allow extended time deadlines for our students with IEPs and our ENL students.
• These assignments are progress grades.  

Then, Join Office Hours on Tuesday at the Assigned Time

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81765931467
Password:  UAIZOOM

• 9:00-10AM- Breadth Teachers  - PE, Health, FRNYC, Spanish, Theater, Art
• Elena, Tom M, Noelle, Meg, Patti, Roger
• 10:00-11AM - English Teachers 
• Marsha, Laura, Sarah M, Celeste, Yasmeen, Sophia K.,
• 11:00-12PM - Math Teacher
• Judy, Amanda, Sue, Jasmine, Brett
• 12:00-1PM - Science Teachers 
• Liza, Tom W, Camryn, Thomas & Matt
• 1:00-2:00PM - Social Studies Teachers
• Kelly, JRob, Jake, Shan, Mayisha, Phillan, Mary
• 1:50-2:50PM - Middle School Teachers
• Phillan, Fatima, Alison, Denyda, Mahjabeen,  Sarah R, Mike
• Paraprofessionals should reach out to their students individually and help them join the zooms if needed
• Marie, Bryanna, Juelle, Jordan, Adelle

SST and Admin will be calling students starting at 10am to check in if they haven't completed the attendance form.

Stay tuned for more announcements in the morning announcements.

Black History Month Celebrations. This week the UAI BHM celebration continues - honoring the brilliance, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, artists, thinkers, and change-makers past and present. 

Black History Month Extravaganza

• February 26^th in the cafeteria
• Performances by Girl's Inc & Cheer & ELA poetry contest kids with galleries of student work from African History, AP African American Studies, & Art classes (maybe more - working with other staff still)
• Unveiling of UAI student quilt

Pep Rally

• Friday, February 27^th at 2pm

RJ Circlekeeping. This new initiative is a pilot led by a small group of RPET students who are participating in additional restorative justice programs beyond UAI. These students will apply what they’ve been learning—particularly around community building and circle practices—by launching the initiative with our 8th and 9th grade students. A maximum of 10 students from each of these grades can participate. We will begin during 4th period lunch on Wednesday, February 11 (location TBD), with additional dates to follow. Any staff members who would like to join (no preparation required; maximum fun!) are welcome, and any students who you think would benefit from this initiative please speak with individually and let Sue know. Kids will be collected from the cafeteria and join in room 409. 

                                                           

Volume: XIII

Issue: 24

February 9, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about student agency and independence. As I walk through classrooms and observe learning in action, I often find myself asking a simple but important question: How can we put more of the learning process into the hands of our children while still providing the structure and support they need to succeed?

Student agency is about more than choice for choice’s sake. It’s about helping students see themselves as active participants in their learning - learners who understand what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how they can take responsibility for moving themselves forward. When students have opportunities to make decisions, reflect on their progress, and problem-solve independently, they begin to develop confidence, ownership, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Independence grows when students are trusted with responsibility and supported with clear structures. This might look like students setting learning goals, choosing strategies or pathways to demonstrate understanding, monitoring their own progress, or engaging in meaningful reflection. These practices don’t remove the teacher’s role; rather, they shift it. Our role becomes one of intentional design, guidance, and feedback, creating the conditions where students can think, act, and learn more independently.

As we reflect on our practice, it’s worth considering small, deliberate ways we can continue to strengthen agency in our classrooms. Where can students have more voice? Where can they make decisions about their learning? Where can we step back slightly to allow them to grapple, reflect, and grow?

This might look like:

• Making learning intentions and success criteria clear, and regularly asking students to explain what they are learning and why

• Offering choice in how students engage with tasks or demonstrate their understanding 

• Involving students in goal-setting and encouraging them to monitor their own progress

• Using reflection and self-assessment so students can identify what they are doing well and what they need to work on next

• Gradually releasing responsibility by allowing students time to struggle productively before stepping in with support

Developing independence doesn’t mean removing structure or support. In fact, strong routines, clear expectations, and timely feedback are what allow students to take greater ownership with confidence. Our role remains essential. We design the learning, ask the questions that prompt thinking, and provide guidance - but we are also intentional about when to step back.

As we reflect on our practice, it’s worth asking:

• Where are students making decisions about their learning?

• Where could responsibility be shifted from teacher to learner?

• How are students being supported to reflect, adjust, and persist independently?

Thank you for the thoughtful and purposeful work you do each day. Small, consistent moves toward student agency will make a meaningful difference in helping our students become confident, capable, and independent learners.

UPCOMING DATES

• FEB11: Virtual Hiring Fair
• FEB12: PTA Dinner
• FEB13: Early Dismissal 2:20pm
• FEB16-20: Midwinter Recess
• FEB26: Black History Month Extravaganza

*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:

FEB10: Trip to NY Historical Society

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

FEB12: Marvin's Room Production

FEB25-27: 7th grade overnight trip to Taconic Outdoor Education Center 

MAR04: 7th grade to Hamilton!

TO DO THIS WEEK

Black History Month Celebrations. This week the UAI BHM celebration continues - honoring the brilliance, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, artists, thinkers, and change-makers past and present. 

Lunch Events: 

• Black History Month book giveaway - postponed until books come in
• Quilting project - will be hung outside the cafeteria and unveiled at the Extravaganza.
• Feb 10: 4^th period in 511 (8th) + 303 (11th) + 509 (12th)
• Movies - each Friday in 509

Black History Month Extravaganza

• February 26^th in the cafeteria
• Performances by Girl's Inc & Cheer & ELA poetry contest kids with galleries of student work from African History, AP African American Studies, & Art classes (maybe more - working with other staff still)
• Unveiling of UAI student quilt

Pep Rally

• Friday, February 27^th at 2pm

Support the Theater Troupe. The UAI Theatre Troupe formally invites you all to our winter play: Marvin's Room by Scott McPherson, February 12, at 1 pm and 5:30 pm in room 411. Tickets are pay-what-you-can donations, and all proceeds go to keeping our troupe afloat for future productions. 

I know there is a snow tubing trip that day and attendance might be low, so anyone who can make it, please consider coming to either performance so our kids feel the love! We have been working on the play since September, and the kids deserve a full house. 

RUN TIME: 1 hour 10 mins. 

RJ Circlekeeping. This new initiative is a pilot led by a small group of RPET students who are participating in additional restorative justice programs beyond UAI. These students will apply what they’ve been learning—particularly around community building and circle practices—by launching the initiative with our 8th and 9th grade students. A maximum of 10 students from each of these grades can participate. We will begin during 4th period lunch on Wednesday, February 11 (location TBD), with additional dates to follow. Any staff members who would like to join (no preparation required; maximum fun!) are welcome, and any students who you think would benefit from this initiative please speak with individually and let Sue know. Kids will be collected from the cafeteria and join in room 409. 

Early Dismissal Friday. All students will dismiss at 2:20pm. Please be sure to have students put chairs on desks prior to leaving from last period. Also be sure to throw out any food items you may have in your room or the teachers lounge!