Sunday, February 22, 2026

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...

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:


If we do go remote on Tuesday, by 8:30AM Tues AM...you need to
Then, Join Office Hours on Tuesday at the Assigned Time
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81765931467
Password:  UAIZOOM
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 26th 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 27th 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. 


Read more »
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, February 6, 2026

                                                           

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...

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: 4th period in 511 (8th) + 303 (11th) + 509 (12th)
  • Movies - each Friday in 509

Black History Month Extravaganza
  • February 26th 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 27th 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!

Read more »
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, January 30, 2026

Week of Feb02

                                                          

Volume: XIII
Issue: 23
February 2, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we head into the spring stretch, we’re at a point in the year where information is no longer scarce, it’s abundant. Between benchmarks, MAP data, report cards, and attendance patterns, we have more than enough insight to help us make smart instructional decisions. The question now is how intentionally we use it.

Before having performance conversations with students, I encourage you to set aside focused time during prep, or collaborative planning to really study what your students’ data is telling you. Look for patterns, inconsistencies, growth moments, and surprises. Be mindful of the stories we sometimes tell ourselves about student performance and pause to interrogate them. Approach the data with curiosity and problem-solving, not conclusions.

Just as important: bring students into the conversation. Ask them to reflect on what feels hard, what feels easier than it used to, and where they think they’re growing. Many students carry fixed or negative beliefs about their abilities; counter that by anchoring conversations in evidence from their work and progress they may not yet recognize.

At this time of year outreach to families also becomes especially important. Families should not be surprised by where students are academically at the end of the year. Use what you are learning from your data and student conversations to proactively communicate with caregivers - sharing strengths, areas for growth, and specific ways families can support learning at home. These conversations are most effective when they are grounded in clarity, partnership, and a shared commitment to student success.

As the pressure to “get through” content increases this time of year, it’s essential to keep balance at the center of our planning.

We absolutely need to continue teaching grade-level content and skills.

And we also need to consistently pause and ask students to use what they’ve learned - to explain it, apply it, and revisit it.

Instruction without opportunities to check understanding doesn’t serve students well. If we don’t intentionally build moments to see what students are retaining, we risk mistaking exposure for learning.

Please plan to include regular opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding and reflect on their learning. These moments help clarify what needs reinforcement and where we can confidently move forward.

During the spring term, students should be assessed at least once per week. These assessments can be brief and embedded into instruction, but they should provide meaningful feedback for both teachers and students. Reach out to your planning partners and/or ILT leads to align on structures and strategies that make this manageable and effective.

Thank you for continuing to approach this work with thoughtfulness, professionalism, and care for your students’ growth.


UPCOMING DATES

  • FEB03: Hiring Committee Meeting
  • FEB04: MS Author visit
  • FEB05: SYEP Application Party
  • FEB11: Virtual Hiring Fair
  • FEB12: PTA Dinner
  • 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...

Upcoming Trips:

FEB10: Trip to NY Historical Society
FEB 12: HS Snow tubing
FEB25-27: 7th grade overnight trip to Taconic Outdoor Education Center 
MAR04: 7th grade to Hamilton!


TO DO THIS WEEK

Monday PD. During Monday PD (and all week) we will celebrate our Student Support Team! Nicole, Alaisha, Jean, JJR, Tiffany, and Jen are absolute superheroes. They work tirelessly to ensure students' safety (both physical and mental) and somehow do so with a smile and humor. Take some time this week to show them some love - they deserve it!

We also need to take care of some business (or you can do it ahead of time so you can leave early).  
We must all complete the Transition Stipulation Refresher Training.  
This refresher training applies to all staff and is an essential component of the work we have begun with the SLIEPs. Your participation is important not just to ensure compliance, but to strengthen our transition planning practices for students.  
Please take time to review the slides and fill out the Completion Form.  

RPET Survey. We're still collecting responses for the Restorative Justice Survey. Your input helps us evaluate our community's understanding of restorative practices and how they function in our school. So far, 8 staff have completed it - please see the data here. 


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. An announcement will be posted to Google Classroom for these classes this coming week. 

Plan for Ramadan. Thanks to Sarah R and the MSA for coming up with this plan! Students in grades 6–12 will be able to join the Ramadan Club (prayer space) daily during 4th period in Room B49. To participate, the student leaders are asking that interested students:
  • Attend a community norms–setting meeting this Tuesday, February 3rd, during high school lunch
  • Complete the Google interest form
Since Ramadan begins during break, the Ramadan Club will officially run from Monday, February 23rd through March 19th. Students understand that the prayer space will only be available during 4th period (HS lunch) in line with Chancellor’s regulations. Interested students will sign in using the official UAI club attendance sheet, and the room will open at 11:30 a.m. for wudu and set-up. Room B49 works especially well for this purpose, as it has plenty of space and includes six sinks, so students won’t need to use the restrooms to make wudu.

Sarah R will serve as club advisor, and will be present in the prayer space daily. Ms. Sue, Ms. Mayisha, Ms. Fatima, and Ms. Phillan have also generously offered to help support when they are available, given the high level of student interest.

Work-Based Learning. Shoutout to our incredible teachers for creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences for students every day!  To help students receive credit for their work-based learning, please email Phillan a brief list of the activities, projects, or experiences you offer. If you're not sure if your activities can be considered as WBL , please send them anyway!  Your work matters! 

HS MAP Dates. Grades 8-12 will take the ELA MAP this week. Again, our goal is to have 100% completion!



Read more »
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)