Week of May 04

                                                            

Volume: XIII

Issue: 35

May 04, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

It's May! Wow that went fast! This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week!

As we celebrate, I want to take a moment to recognize the work you do every single day, both the visible and the unseen.

So much of what makes you impactful happens in the quiet, often unnoticed moments: the extra time spent checking in on a student who is struggling, the patience when a lesson does not land the first time, the adjustments made in real time to meet the needs in front of you, and the outreach to families that builds trust and partnership. These moments do not show up in lesson plans or data dashboards, but they are the foundation of everything we do as a school.

Each day requires navigating complexity, balancing high expectations with empathy, structure with flexibility, and accountability with care. At this point in the year, when students can become restless and the pace feels relentless, that consistency matters. The routines in place, the relationships built, and the tone set in classrooms create stability for students who need it more than they often show.

The work extends far beyond instruction. It includes being mentors, advocates, listeners, and problem solvers. It includes helping students manage challenges they do not always have the language to explain, creating spaces where they feel seen, and holding the line while also leaning in when it counts.

It is also important to acknowledge the emotional labor that comes with this work. Supporting students and families, especially through moments of struggle, takes energy, patience, and resilience. Continuing to show up with care and professionalism, even on the hardest days, speaks volumes about the strength of this team.

As we move deeper into the spring, with testing on the horizon and the finish line coming into view, your role remains critical. The structure provided, the clarity of instruction, and the relationships built all position students for success, not just on assessments, but in how they see themselves as learners.

To celebrate you this week, we have arranged the following: hot breakfast on Monday - set to arrive at 7:30am, lunch on Tuesday - set to arrive at 10am, breakfast on Wednesday - again arriving at 7:30am, and lunch on Thursday - arriving at 10am, all located in room 402.

Thank you for the many ways you go above and beyond, often without recognition. Thank you for believing in students, for pushing them, supporting them, and loving up for them day in and day out.

We appreciate you this week and every week!!!

IMPORTANT DATES

• 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
• MAY 26: Culture Day

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! 

UPCOMING TRIPS

MAY 08: Trout Release trip for 6th grade

MAY 28: MS Brooklyn Cyclones Trip

MAY 29: MS CUNY Explorers Visit 

Trip Form.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3i3fgENVCpX6MA51r_1jsmxVavRm12-oaB9ieiNA8Q/edit?usp=sharing

TO DO THIS WEEK

Outreach & Tracking for MP4.  By now you should have sent a copy of the task list home to FAMILIES in your outreach. See below for instructions on that:

Create and Link a document here that lists the exact tasks that the students must successfully complete in order to pass by June.  This task list will be what students work on during summer school should they not complete by the end of June.  As a reminder, students who are not yet passing will be required to attend school every day during Regents week to work one-on-one with you for the help they need to successfully finish.  Weekly outreach with families and daily communication with them will help them stay on track and not work pile up on them.  

Please link those task lists next to the students' name (see Sue & JRob's kids as an example - THANK YOU JROB & SUE!!!).  

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
• See here for the tracking spreadsheet
• MS ELA - May 5-6 (for all students grades 6-8) - see here for the testing schedule and email Liza with any issues
• MS Math - May 12-13 (for grades 6-7)
• AP Exams will be proctored by Sophia:

• 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.  Time to celebrate teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week!

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

MAY 08: Trout Release trip for 6th grade

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

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

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

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

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

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