UA Institute

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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

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

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.

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 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

Week of March 16

Volume: XIII
Issue: 28
March 16, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

There is also something powerful about breaking bread with families and connecting in a more informal way. Sharing a meal creates space for conversation that goes beyond grades - it helps build trust, strengthens relationships, and reminds families that our school is a community that welcomes them. These moments of connection often make it easier to have honest conversations about student progress and to work together toward solutions that support our students.

This week’s Parent-Teacher Conferences provide an important opportunity to strengthen our partnership with families and ensure students have the support they need to finish the marking period strong. As you prepare for conferences, please prioritize outreach to families of students who have not yet reached an 80% average in your course.

For students who are currently below this benchmark, these conversations are especially important. Families should leave the evening with a clear understanding of where their student stands academically, what specific skills or habits may be impacting their performance, and what steps can be taken over the next few weeks to improve.

This is also a moment to ensure that families feel like partners in supporting their child’s learning. Clear communication about expectations, grading policies, and available supports can help families reinforce those structures at home. When families understand both the challenges and the path forward, it often increases accountability and motivation for students.

In addition, please take time to highlight students’ strengths and areas of growth. Even when students are struggling academically, acknowledging their effort, participation, improvement, or positive habits can help frame the conversation in a way that keeps students encouraged and focused on progress.

Finally, remember that conferences are an opportunity not just to share information, but to build trust with families. Listening to families’ perspectives, asking questions about what they are seeing at home, and working together to identify strategies for support can make these conversations much more impactful.

IMPORTANT DATES

MAR03-31: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins (every Tuesday in March)
MAR18: PTCs evening (in-person)
MAR19: PTCs half-day, kids dismiss at 11:15a
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

Upcoming Trips:

MAR25: 8/9th grade College Trips

MAR26: JRob MET trip

MAR26: Sue trip to RJ Honors event

TO DO THIS WEEK

Complete your Preference Sheet. REMINDER. Please take a few minutes to submit your preference sheet for the 2026-27 school year. The form was due on Friday 13MAR.

Outreach & Conferences. Continue to do outreach this week for PTCs. Prioritize students who are not yet hitting to 80% mark in your classes! Please record your outreach in the outreach log!

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.

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

17MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #4 - Room 305
18MAR - Women's History Month Movie Series - Room 509
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.

18MAR26 - Sue, Jasmine, Mary, Mike, Sarah R, Mahjabeen, Tom M, Meg, Bryanna

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

TBD Rescheduled Teachers: Camryn, Noelle

Week of March 09

Volume: XIII
Issue: 27
March 9, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As of last week, our student daily attendance has dropped to 85.6% (we ended last year just short of 90% ADA attendance). While it's certainly true that the harsh winter has played a role, this dip is significant and it requires our collective urgency.

More than half of our students are currently performing below grade level in math and literacy. That reality alone demands consistent, high-quality instruction every single day. We cannot accelerate learning, close gaps, or prepare students for Regents and postsecondary success if they are not physically present to engage in the work. When attendance drops, the students who are already furthest from grade-level expectations fall even further behind.

When students are not in the building, they miss far more than content. They miss discussion, relationships, routines, feedback, and the daily momentum that drives growth. Attendance is directly tied to academic outcomes, confidence, and belonging. Every missed day compounds unfinished learning. Every absence widens gaps in foundational skills. Especially at this point in the year, daily presence matters. We are in a stretch where routines should be tight, instruction should be building cumulatively, and students should be strengthening stamina. Kids cannot do that from home.

So now we all must play a role in getting students back through our doors!

Here are a few immediate actions we must all take:

Tight outreach: If a student is absent more than once this week, reach out. A quick call, message, or note home reinforces that they were missed and that their presence matters.
Make the return seamless: When students come back after multiple absences, greet them intentionally and provide a clear, manageable plan to get back on track. Overwhelm can quickly turn into avoidance.
Leverage relationships: Check in with students who have had patterns of absence. Sometimes a small barrier - transportation, morning routines, sibling care - can be addressed when surfaced early.
Elevate the importance of showing up: Continue reinforcing with students that attendance is not optional to their success. Our tone can be warm and firm at the same time.

As we think about rigor, power, equity, and joy, attendance sits at the center. Equity means ensuring students have consistent access to strong instruction. Rigor requires practice and presence. Joy and community cannot happen if seats are empty.

Let’s recommit to the simple but powerful message: We notice when you’re not here. You matter. We need you in the building!!!

Thank you for the urgency and care you bring to this work every day.

IMPORTANT DATES

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

Upcoming Trips:

MAR11: Girls Inc FRNYC Trip

MAR25: Senior to Trampoline Park

Check out our lunch time RJ Circlekeeping Club (Wednesdays 4th period)!

TO DO THIS WEEK

Complete your Preference Sheet. It's that time again. Please take a few minutes to submit your preference sheet for the 2026-27 school year. The form is due at 3PM on Friday 13MAR. As a reminder, you are submitting your preferences for your placement for next school year. Preferences do not guarantee placement. One of the things that makes the best match is teacher preference, so we prioritize matching folks to their choices as much as possible! That said, there are times when we cannot match everyone to their first choice. So, many thanks and appreciation in advance for your understanding!

Pi Day. This week we celebrate the most irrational number we know and love - π (3.14… and it just keeps going!). To celebrate, on Friday, March 13 we will be hosting the following activities for all students during their lunch periods:

Pi Digit Challenge - How many numbers of π can a student remember? They’ll earn one raffle ticket for every five digits recited correctly. The more they know, the better their odds. Raffle prize is a gift card!
Pi Pancakes - Annie and Jen will be flipping pancakes in honor of the day. Because what’s Pi Day without something round and delicious?

In honor of the day, here’s a classic to share with kids - they won't think it's cheesy at all:

Why should you never argue with π?

Because it just keeps going in circles.

Outreach & Conferences. Please make sure to begin announce that we will be having in-person conferences and dinner together on the 18th from 5-8PM. Dinner will be available from 5:30-7:00 and families will be able to meet with teachers at any time between 5-7:30PM. We'll use the last 30min of the evening to come together to do clean up of the evening. Teachers and families will have the option to break off to conference spaces in the cafe like last year or, if needed, private breakout rooms in the first floor offices and classrooms will be available for staff and families to conference in quiet spaces.

Prioritize students who are not yet hitting to 80% mark in your classes! Please record your outreach in the outreach log!

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.

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

10MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #1 - Room 305
13MAR - Women's History Month Movie Series - Room 509
13MAR - HIGH SCHOOL SNEAKER BALL - Cafeteria, 7-10PM
17MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #4 - Room 305
18MAR - Women's History Month Movie Series - Room 509
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

Ramadan Plan. If you are interested in volunteering to support our Ramadan plan, please reach out to Kiri. We're looking for 1-2 folks to support our RPET and MSA students organizations in running this space as needed for the next two weeks from 1-1:30PM everyday for the next two weeks. RPET and MSA students who have Learning Lab during this time are welcome to help, too - but only during Learning Lab (not intervention or pull out times). Kids have to submit their permission slips by the end of today, so we'll have a list to you all by Monday announcements of the families who have asked for a Religious Intervention for their students.

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

12MAR26 - Denyda, Yasmeen, Celeste, Laura, Shan, Matt, Thomas, Tom W, Adele, Tashaun

18MAR26 - Sue, Jasmine, Mary, Mike, Sarah R, Mahjabeen, Tom M, Meg, Bryanna

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

TBD Rescheduled Teachers: Camryn, Noelle

UA Institute

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Friday, March 27, 2026

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