UA Institute

Friday, April 24, 2026

Week of APRIL 27

Volume: XIII
Issue: 34
April 27, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we head into this stretch of the school year, there are a few dynamics all hitting at once. The weather is getting warmer, we’ve just come off a full week of Mock Regents, and students are feeling it. Energy is up, focus is down, and that familiar spring restlessness is starting to show up in classrooms.

This is exactly the moment where structure matters most.

Our students don’t need less from us right now - they need more consistency, more clarity, and tighter routines. When things feel loose, behavior follows. When classrooms are predictable, purposeful, and well-paced, students settle in and rise to the expectations in front of them.

A few key reminders as we move through the coming week:

Anchor every lesson in clear routines from the moment students enter the room
Be explicit about expectations for behavior and work completion
Keep students actively engaged - downtime is where we lose them fastest right now!!
Follow through consistently - what we allow becomes the norm

Equally important right now is outreach to families. We cannot do this work in isolation. If a student is struggling, whether it be academically, behaviorally, or with attendance - reach out. A quick call or message home can reset expectations, build alignment, and remind students that the adults in their lives are on the same team. These touchpoints matter, especially at this point in the year when habits can start to slip.

We also have middle school state testing fast approaching! The habits we reinforce right now - focus, stamina, independence, and accountability, are the exact skills students will need to be successful. This is an opportunity to tighten our instructional moves and ensure students are truly doing the heavy lifting in our classrooms.

Mock Regents week took a lot out of everyone, and it’s natural for students to test boundaries on the other side of it. Our job is to hold the line - not with frustration, but with calm, steady consistency.

We are in the final stretch. Onward.

IMPORTANT DATES

APR 29: Lockdown Drill - 10am
APR 29: MS Showcase
MAY 01: Commitment Day Celebration
MAY 04-08: Teacher Appreciation Week!
MAY 05-06: MS ELA State Exams
MAY 12-13: MS MATH State Exam
MAY 16: Hiring Fair and New Student Ice Cream Social

*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:

APR 30: Senior Roller Skating Trip

TO DO THIS WEEK

Outreach & Tracking for MP4. As a reminder, all of our marking periods have a fresh start for kids, and then their final grade for the year is an average of all 4 marking periods. We are closely tracking kids who are in danger of failing for the year and either repeating the grade or attending summer school.

TO DO: For each student who is danger of failing for the YEAR, you must engage in WEEKLY outreach to their families to give them regular updates on the students' attendance, participation, growth, and performance in your class. That particular outreach must be tracked in the MP3 and Lowest Final Grades 25-26 Document. All other outreach can be tracked in the usual UAI Outreach Log.

Please request access to this doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KeYb12LFC71PGX_xn7hJuBIr9iE50O4wpLYDGgLwfQg/edit?usp=sharing

June Final Exams. We’ve updated the UAI Pacing Calendar to reflect changes caused by Regents Days on June 9 and 10. Below is the revised final exam schedule by content area. Teachers may choose whether or not to give a final exam. If you do, please administer it on the assigned date so students aren’t overloaded. All finals should fit within one class period, and there will be no modified schedule.

June 5: ELA
June 8: Science
June 11: Social Studies
June 12: Math & Breadth

UPCOMING TEST DATES.

NYESLAT - Speaking portion is on going starting April 27th, other sections will start week of May 4th or 11th

MS ELA - May 5-6 (for all students grades 6-8)

MS Math - May 12-13 (for grades 6-7)

AP Exams:

Wednesday, May 6 - English Literature and Comp (AM Exam)
Thursday, May 7 - African American Studies (PM Exam)
Thursday, May 7 - Statistics (PM Exam)
Wednesday, May 13 - English Language and Composition (AM Exam)
Friday, May 15 - Environmental Science (AM Exam)

Monday PD in Farm. Thank you to everyone for your thoughtful engagement during Monday’s ELL professional development. Your collaboration and the insights captured in each group’s poster helped us surface a clear set of shared values and shape a cohesive framework for ELL-led meetings.

On Monday, teams will build on that work by digging into student data and adapting the framework to meet the specific strengths and needs of their student. The goal is to keep a shared structure while allowing each group to make intentional adjustments so meetings are both consistent and truly responsive to the individual learner.

Please bring your computer and low-inference notes on your student's strengths to the farm on Monday

Summer School Course Posting. Last call for summer school! If you are interested in teaching a Summer Splash course (July 13-30) or Regents Prep & Exams (August 3 - 20) email Shan & Patti ASAP. If you want to be involved, but aren't sure what to teach, we are looking for someone to teach one section of of Foundations of Health 3+4. See Kelly's email from Friday for more info.

Week of APR 20

Volume: XIII
Issue: 33
April 20, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

This week's message will be a short one - please keep a close eye on the necessary To Dos for this week listed below.

IMPORTANT DATES

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

Upcoming Trips:

ON HOLD

TO DO THIS WEEK

TO DO: For each student who is danger of failing for the YEAR, you must engage in WEEKLY outreach to their families to give them regular updates on the students' attendance, participation, growth, and performance in your class. That particular outreach must be tracked in the MP3 and Lowest Final Grades 25-26 Document. All other outreach can be tracked in the usual UAI Outreach Log.
Please request access to this doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KeYb12LFC71PGX_xn7hJuBIr9iE50O4wpLYDGgLwfQg/edit?usp=sharing

High School Mock Regents. This testing session is extremely important and gives us valuable information on student progress towards end of year course assessments. Please continue messaging your testing dates and exam formats to kids. You can see the teacher schedule in the master program under the tab “APR 2026 HS Benchmark”. Email Liza ASAP with any issues or questions.

There are no Middle School Benchmarks this round!

All Benchmarks will be New Visions Regents Benchmarks!

Monday PD in Farm. This week is our first step in our SL-ENL conferencing cycle. Please be on time for 3pm!

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.

Week of APR 13

Volume: XIII
Issue: 32
April 01, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Welcome back from the Spring Break everyone! I hope you were able to rest, recharge, and spend some solid quality you-time to celebrate our completion of the hardest lap of the year - that February-April break stretch through March!

This last stretch of the year is all about circling the wagons to give our students the boost they need to finish strong. We know our classrooms are full of different stories right now: some kids have been cruising all year, others have fought hard to overcome hurdles, some are still stuck on that struggle bus, and a few haven’t quite found their rhythm yet. Regardless of where they’re at, this is our time to step up with the extra love, guidance, and support they need to stick their landings. Whether it’s challenging our high-flyers to push a little further, helping the resilient ones stay on track, or finding a way to help the struggling ones finally grab on, our goal is to make sure every single kiddo walks out the door proud of what they’ve accomplished. Let’s make these final weeks count by meeting them where they are and helping them end this chapter on a high note.

It's going to be a busy week and myself, Kiri, Yasmeen, Phillan and Amanda are in San Diego for the ASU-GSV conference. Please reach out to Kelly and Jen if there is anything you need, they are in charge and will be there to support. We will see you on Friday.

IMPORTANT DATES

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

Upcoming Trips:

ON HOLD

TO DO THIS WEEK

MP4 Outreach. It's time to turn up the outreach to families. If there is a student who may not pass your course it is mandatory that you speak with families and log your outreach. We cannot fail a student if we did not make successful contact with the family before the end of MP4. If there is a student who's family you cannot reach please email Annie, Kiri and Debbie so that we can support you.

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.

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.

Week of March 30

Volume: XIII
Issue: 31
March 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

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.

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!

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

Week of March 23

Volume: XIII
Issue: 30
March 23, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

We are still fighting the attendance fight (see here for the most up to date list of chronically absent/severely chronically absent students). Brenda and the SST are going to support in doing the outreach for this list of students, but this battle requires action from all of us.

This week, we’re asking everyone to prioritize outreach to students who are arriving late to your classes. A quick call home or note to families can go a long way - but how we approach these conversations matters just as much as the outreach itself.

First, lead with empathy and perspective-taking. Seek to understand what’s behind the lateness, what barriers students may be facing that are preventing them from getting to school on time. Please avoid judgment or shame. Even when those approaches seem to work in the short term, they often create resentment and disconnect, which ultimately undermines long-term success.

Once you’ve listened and gathered context, help students and families understand the real impact of lateness. Many still hold the belief that “complete is good enough,” but we know that being present and on time is what unlocks true growth. Be explicit about what they’re missing - skills, knowledge, confidence, and the potential they’re leaving on the table. Let them know what you see in them: how much promise they have in your class, and how much they can achieve if they consistently show up on time.

This is especially important right now. We are almost at the end of MP3 and state assessments are just around the corner, it is time for students to buckle down. Daily, on-time attendance over the next month and a half will be critical in setting students up for success.

A quick note: Admin & the SST will continue supporting attendance and lateness efforts, but we know that our impact cannot match yours. The relationships you’ve built with students are powerful, far more than any system of accountability we can put in place. Where we may rely on consequences, you have the ability to inspire, motivate, and shift mindsets. When both approaches work together, we see real change.

So this week, please take that extra step to reconnect with students who are late and partner with their families to get them to school on time.

Finally, please be sure to log all outreach in the Outreach Log.

IMPORTANT DATES

MAR03-31: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins (every Tuesday in March)
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

Upcoming Trips:

MAR25: 8/9th grade College Trips

MAR26: JRob MET trip

MAR26: Sue trip to RJ Honors event

TO DO THIS WEEK

PPO is Scheduled. Kiri's very last PPO (EVER) is happening on Tuesday, March 24th. YES, this is an IR day, and YES, IR is still happening. Deputy Superintendent Melanie Lee will be joining IR as part of this PPO - so, if you are expected to be visited on Tuesday for IR, that means the Deputy Superintendent is likely coming to your classroom. Additionally, if you are up for tenure, odds are we are coming to see you. Intervention will also be a hot topic of conversation during the PPO. So, we'll be visiting Math Intervention classes.

Please share Annie and Kiri on your lesson plan ASAP but no later than EOD Monday.

IR/PPO Class Visits:

Sue & Jasmine: 8/9 Alg 1 (2nd Pd), Room 403 - Judy will join

Mike: 6th Gr ELA (2nd Pd) - Phillan will join

Sarah R & Mahjabeen: 6th Gr Science (2nd) - Phillan will join

Shan & Mary: 10-12th USH (3rd) - Kelly will join

Tom & Matt: 10-12th Biology (3rd) (this is an add to see HS Science) Liza will join

PPO Draft Agenda:

8-8:30 - Leadership Meeting with Melanie (Kiri & Annie)

8:30-10:45 - Instructional Rounds

10:45-11:00- Math Intervention Visits

11:30-12:00 - Admin Debrief I (Kelly can you join?)

11:30-12:10 - Teacher Meeting in Rm 147 - Lunch Provided!

-Teachers of Classes Visited:

Sue (also RPET lead), Jasmine, Mike, Sarah R, Mahjabeen, Shan (also SG lead), Mary, Tom, & Matt

- Staff in IR:

Roger, Elena, Sarah M, Jake, Alison, Fatima, Mayisha. Juelle (also UFT Para lead), Marie

- Staff Leaders:

Kelly, Marsha, Phillan, Liza, Judy (PAG), Amanda (NHS), Laura (UFT),

12:10-12:40 - Student Meeting in Rm 147 - Lunch Provided!

- 1-2 from each Student Group:

YLC, RPET, NHS, SGA, Middle School (leads - please choose)

12:40-1:00 - Parent Meeting (TBD on Parent Availability)

1:00-1:30- Admin Debrief II - Just Annie (and Possibly Kelly)

1:30-2:00- Melanie Work Time

2:00-3:00PM - Admin Debrief III

PD Reminder! If your SL-IEP for this round is not completed in SESIS by end of day Thursday (March 26th), you MUST stay for PD on Monday March 30th! This means your progress monitoring must also be complete.

College Board Training. Please complete your PSAT, SAT or Hallway proctor training in the College Board by Monday, 3/23 at 3pm. You can access your individual training by logging into your CB account and navigating to the dashboard. Click on the link that says "Test Administration Training for the SAT Suite of Assessments". Our school code is 330984. Select the test you're proctoring and your proctoring duty (test proctor or hallway). You can use your OPW time to complete this. If you have any questions about how to access the training please reach out to Sue.

P/SATs. 10th and 11th graders will be taking the P/SATs on Wednesday, March 25th. Teacher schedules and student lists are HERE (you'll need to request access). Please reach out to Liza if you see any errors or have questions!

8/9th graders 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.

Calendar Your Own Out Days. UFT consultation committee has asked that we increase transparency around staff out days so we've come up with a solid solution that will require action steps from YOU. If you are going to be out of the building on an approved meeting, school visit, or professional development session, please send a calendar invite to the ENTIRE staff. It should be in the format: "Your Name At Name of Event" (eg. Kiri at Affinity Principal's Meeting).

Women's History Month Celebrations. Lots of activities are planned during lunch periods for this month! See below for those dates:

24MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #5 - Room 305
27MAR - MIDDLE SCHOOL SNEAKER BALL - Cafeteria, 4-6PM
31MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #6 - Room 305

Next IR Groups. Below is the updated schedule for this cycle.

24MAR26 - Roger, Elena, Sarah M, Jake, Alison, Fatima, Mayisha, Juelle, Marie

TBD Rescheduled Teachers: Camryn, Noelle, Meg

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