Week of 14SEP26

 

Urban Assembly Institute of Math and                        Science for Young Women

14 September 2026

School Leadership Message

What a first week! I want to thank each of you for helping make the opening of the 2026-27 school year such a huge success. This week there was an incredible energy throughout the building... students were excited to be back (and staff seemed excited too), classrooms were welcoming and purposeful, and our community felt joyful!

A successful opening is the result of countless decisions, meetings, planning, and small acts of care. From greeting students at the door, to helping them find a classroom, to establishing routines and expectations, to simply making a student feel like they belong - these moments showed our students what it means to be part of the UAI community.

We now have the gift of a full school year to get better, to hold ourselves and our students to higher expectations, and build stronger relationships. There will be difficult weeks, unexpected challenges, and moments when we have to adjust course. But I am incredibly optimistic about what we can accomplish together.

Thank you for an outstanding start and, more importantly, thank you for everything you did to make our students feel that UAI is a place where they are known, supported, and loved.

Looking forward to week two!

Week of 07SEP26

 

    Urban Assembly Institute of Math and                                Science for Young Women

07 September 2026

School Leadership Message

And we are off!  I am incredibly excited to welcome you to the 2026-27 school year. The launch of this year brings with it a fresh start and a new chapter in UAI's story. I am honored to work alongside you all as we build off the successes of the past 20 years and re-establish our community as one rooted in love and excellence.   

Our focus this year will be intentional and sustained. Over the course of this week's professional development you’ll see how our new instructional vision will serve as our anchor, how we will support and prepare every staff member for success, and how updated clarity around our leadership structures will guide our work. Equally important, we’ll make time to connect with one another and start to build the trust that we know will drive our community forward.

We are about to start a 180-day marathon. I am incredibly proud to begin this journey with each of you, and I hope we enter it knowing that the work ahead will not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. There will be moments that challenge us, moments that energize us, and moments that remind us exactly why we chose this work. Through all of them, we will continue to come back to what matters most: our kids.

This year, I ask each of us to bring our best, to give one another grace, to hold ourselves and each other to high expectations, and to never lose sight of the amazing students who walk through our doors each morning. They deserve a school filled with adults who believe deeply in their potential and who are willing to work together to make that potential a reality.

Here’s to 180 days of Rigor, Power, Equity, and Joy - and to building a UAI that we are all proud to call home.

Bring your running shoes ;)

First Blog 31AUG26

     Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women

31 August 2026

Last Blog of 2025-26

                                                           

Volume: XIII

Issue: 42

June 22, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

It’s hard to believe, but here we are, at the close of the 2025-26 school year! Time truly flew by, and as we wrap up this year, I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible work we've done together. There’s so much to celebrate, and I'm incredibly proud of everything we've accomplished. Here are some of the highlights from this school year:

• Successfully implemented student-led IEP and ENL meetings, empowering students to take ownership of their learning, advocate for their needs, and actively participate in planning for their future.
• Made significant progress in closing the achievement gap between ENL students and their general education peers through targeted instruction, collaborative support, and interventions.
• Continued to foster an inclusive learning environment where all students felt valued, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential.
• Expanded opportunities for student leadership, voice, and engagement throughout the school community.

These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and unwavering commitment of our entire team. Thank you for your hard work, passion, and support throughout the year. Together, we have made a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, and I look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.

Wishing everyone, but especially Kiri, a restful, well-deserved summer!

IMPORTANT DATES

• JUN22: MS Field Day
• JUN24: 8th Grade Graduation!
• JUN25: 12th Grade Graduation! 2:15p Staff celebration.
• JUN26: LAST DAY!

TO DO THIS WEEK

Last Week Plans. We’re looking forward to next week’s graduations and last day! I want to send out some info regarding dismissal times for MS and plans for celebrating. 

• See here for HS graduation plans and staff assignments.
• On June 25th, middle school students will be dismissed at 2pm. At 2:15pm staff are invited to join us at Fulton Hall (https://fultonhall.com/ ) for our end of year celebration. 
• On June 26th, high school students will come in for report card pick up and then are immediately dismissed. Middle school students are dismissed at 11am. 

Please help us in communicating these early dismissal times to middle school families!

Room Pack Up.  To be ready for the summer, all staff are responsible for stowing and securing classroom technology and materials.  Additionally, any personal items are NOT secure over the summer.  So, if you value it, bring it home.  Otherwise you are welcome to roll the dice and put it in your closets.  As a reminder, we are a public school, and our rooms are used by other schools and programs during the summer.  They cannot be used to store private items.  So, please make sure anything that is yours and that you value is taken home. 

End of the Year Checklist.  

• Cleaning and Stowing.  Things cannot be stored on the floors (even on the closet floors).  They will be destroyed by the wax that seeps in if you leave boxes of things on the floor. Store on shelf...or better yet, pair down things you no longer need (give to a colleague!).  Books and materials need to be stored on shelves or in closets.
• Please do not seek out Kiri or Annie before the last day of school. We will come around to rooms on the last day of school from 8-10AM to sign off on checklist sheets.  We'll come find you in your rooms.  Please make sure you are have completed the checklist by 8:30AM on Jun 26th! 

IEP Progress Monitoring. This week, all teachers and counselors must work with your SL-IEP teams and colleagues to ensure that 4th Marking Period progress on IEP goals are updated in SESIS for all students under the content area you teach and/or the service you provide.

As we experienced during the SL-IEP process, one of the challenges with progress reporting was tracking completion. To help ensure that all student goals are updated, after updating goals in SESIS, please check off completion in this Progress Reporting MP4 tracking document.  Due Date: EOD June 23. Please reach out to Mary if you have any questions.

Mandated Summer School List.  See here for the lists of students scheduled to complete coursework during summer school.

Week of JUNE 15

                                                           

Volume: XIII

Issue: 41

June 15, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

We are so close! As we enter the final 8 days of the school year, I want to extend a massive thank you to each of you. This time of year requires an extra dose of patience and structure, and I deeply appreciate how hard you are working to keep our students engaged and focused right up until the final day - and to our MS staff - I see you! Every year you have the extra challenge of finishing out June with full days with your kids - thank you for meeting the challenge with JOY and resiliency.

As we navigate the remaining days of grading, packing, and events, please remember to support one another and lean on the admin team if you need extra support.

Onward.

IMPORTANT DATES

• JUN17: Page to Stage Presentations for 6/7th grade
• JUN18: Kiri's Retirement Party!
• JUN18: Grades are DUE by 3pm!
• JUN19: Juneteenth, no school
• JUN24: 8th Grade Graduation!
• JUN25: 12th Grade Graduation!
• JUN26: LAST DAY!

TO DO THIS WEEK

IEP Progress Monitoring. This week, all teachers and counselors must work with your SL-IEP teams and colleagues to ensure that 4th Marking Period progress on IEP goals are updated in SESIS for all students under the content area you teach and/or the service you provide.

As we experienced during the SL-IEP process, one of the challenges with progress reporting was tracking completion. To help ensure that all student goals are updated, after updating goals in SESIS, please check off completion in this Progress Reporting MP4 tracking document.  Due Date: EOD June 23. Please reach out to Mary if you have any questions.

Club Interest Form for 2026-27. Interested in running a club next year? We're getting a head start on planning - please fill in this form!

Grades Due. Please be sure to have grades entered for all students by 3pm on June 18th!

Regents Schedule. The Regents Week schedule is listed on the "Staff Schedules" tab of the June Regents doc. Student schedules are posted in the hallway. If you notice there is an error, please submit the change request form on the staff google classroom (and attached Here). 

 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

• Please announce to students (over and over) that the Earth Science Regents is starting at 11am on June 18!

Final Exam Schedule.  Final exams are optional for courses.  If you do opt to offer a final exam, please keep the exam to a single period, and please adhere to this schedule so that students can manage the load.

• June 15:  Breadth 
• June 16: Finals Make Up

Remaining PD Dates.  Only ONE more Monday!

• June15: CEP Goals & Celebration - 3pm in Farm!

Outreach & Tracking for MP4.  See here for the lists of the exact tasks that the students must successfully complete in order to pass by June.  Please continue to reach out to failing students and update the attached log.

Week of JUNE 08

                                                          

Volume: XIII

Issue: 40

June 08, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we move closer to the close of another school year, the reality of our leadership transition is becoming more tangible with each passing week. While change can bring a mix of emotions, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible foundation that has been built at UAI under Kiri's leadership.

Kiri's impact on this school is hard to put into words. As the founding principal, she has spent the last 20 years building a school community that has changed the lives of thousands of students and families. What has always stood out to me most about Kiri is her unwavering commitment to doing what is best for kids -regardless of who is watching, how difficult the decision may be, or whether she receives recognition for it. She has consistently led with courage and a deep belief in the potential of every child.

The school we are today - the love the care for students and families, the commitment to equity, and the relentless focus on student success - did not happen by accident. They are the result of years of intentional leadership and countless decisions made with children at the center. Kiri has modeled what it means to lead with both heart and conviction, and her legacy will continue to be felt throughout this school for years to come.

As we honor that legacy, I am also beginning the important work of looking ahead. While we are still focused on finishing this school year strong, I have already started visioning for next year and thinking deeply about how we can continue to build on the school's many strengths without changing the fabric of our mission or who we are. Over the last many weeks, the PAG (formerly known as ILT) has been partnering closely with me to help define what we hope to achieve together and to shape priorities that reflect both our values and our aspirations. 

This week marks another step in the transition as I begin taking over morning announcements and coverages. It may seem like a small shift, but it is one of many intentional moves designed to support a thoughtful and successful transition over time.

Transitions are rarely seamless, and ours has certainly had moments that have required adjustment and flexibility. Thank you for your partnership, your patience, and your commitment during this time. I look forward to continuing this work together as we write the next chapter of our school's story - grounded in our mission, our values, and the love that has defined this amazing little community from the very beginning.

IMPORTANT DATES

• JUN12: 8th Grade Prom!
• JUN12: Last day of Girls Inc programming
• JUN12: Nerds for Literacy book fair for MS
• JUN18: Kiri's Retirement Party!
• JUN18: Grades are DUE by 3pm
• JUN19: Juneteenth, no school
• JUN24: 8th Grade Graduation!
• JUN25: 12th Grade Graduation!

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

UPCOMING TRIPS

• JUN09: 7th Grade trip to Jewish Heritage Museum

TO DO THIS WEEK

Regents Schedule. The Regents Week schedule is listed on the "Staff Schedules" tab of the June Regents doc. Student schedules are posted in the hallway. If you notice there is an error, please submit the change request form on the staff google classroom (and attached Here). 

 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

• Please announce to students (over and over) that the Earth Science Regents is starting at 11am on June 18!
• All classrooms must have all items removed from walls by EOD Monday in preparation for the Tuesday ELA Regents administration.

Art Gallery Walk. To celebrate their hard work and completion of their final projects, there will be a gallery walk and final, informal "critique" in each Art class next week. In this period, students will have an opportunity to share what they've been working on, give feedback to each other, and reflect on their growth over the past year.  If you are free any of the following periods, please feel free to stop by 315 any time after the first 10 minutes of the period! 

• Monday, June 8th: 1st, 3rd (8th grade) periods
• Thursday, June 11th: 5th, 6th periods
• Friday, June 12th: 3rd, 7th periods

Culture Day 2026 Feedback.  RPET's activities are winding down but we're looking to next year and would love your feedback on Culture Day! Please answer this 5 question multiple choice survey. 

Final Exam Schedule.  Final exams are optional for courses.  If you do opt to offer a final exam, please keep the exam to a single period, and please adhere to this schedule so that students can manage the load.

• June 8: Science
• June 11: Social Studies
• June 12: Math
• June 15:  Breadth 
• June 16: Finals Make Up

Last Day Of Extracurricular Per Session.  All after and before school activities will end on June 12th (8th grade prom will be the last thing!)  Final per session sheets for the year will be due on June 15th.  Per session sheets will not be accepted after June 15th.  Please make sure you set a calendar reminder for yourself NOW so you do not miss the last per session submission for 2025-26 extracurricular activities.  NOTE:  The only exception will be testing coordination during regent week.  

Remaining PD Dates.  Only two more PD Mondays.

• June 8: CEP Goals - 3pm in Farm
• June15: CEP Goals - 3pm in Farm

Outreach & Tracking for MP4.  See here for the lists of the exact tasks that the students must successfully complete in order to pass by June.  Please continue to reach out to failing students and update the attached log.

End of the Year Checklist.  Are you the type of person who likes to get a jumpstart on To Do lists early?  Well then, this list is FOR you!

Here are the big things you need to do that take the most time:

• TWO ShopDoe Wish Lists (NYSTL approved is list one, everything else is list two) they must be submitted into the new 26-27 UAI Purchasing Form
• Cleaning and Stowing.  Things cannot be stored on the floors (even on the closet floors).  They will be destroyed by the wax that seeps in if you leave boxes of things on the floor. Store on shelf...or better yet, pair down things you no longer need (give to a colleague!).  Books and materials need to be stored on shelves or in closets.

Week of June 01

                                                           

Volume: XIII

Issue: 39

June 01, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Wow, it's June! It's been a whirlwind of a Spring semester and we are down to 17 days until the end of the school year. The next few weeks are packed - please pay very close attention to the To Dos listed below for this week!!

IMPORTANT DATES

• JUN04: Remote Chancellor's PD Day
• JUN12: 8th Grade Prom!
• JUN12: Last day of Girls Inc programming
• JUN12: Nerds for Literacy book fair for MS
• JUN18: Kiri's Retirement Party!
• JUN19: Juneteenth, no school
• JUN24: 8th Grade Graduation!
• JUN25: 12th Grade Graduation!

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

UPCOMING TRIPS

• JUN01: 6th Grade trip to MET
• JUN02-03: Senior Overnight trip to Villa Roma
• JUN09: 7th Grade trip to Jewish Heritage Museum

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

TO DO THIS WEEK

Regents Schedule. The Regents Week schedule is listed on the "Staff Schedules" tab of the June Regents doc. You should already have access, but request it if you can't access.  During regents week, folks do have altered start and end times.  So please review closely.  If you need to change your schedule, please contact Liza ASAP.

Student schedules are posted in the hallway. If you notice there is an error, please submit the change request form on the staff google classroom (and attached Here).

Final Exam Schedule.  Final exams are optional for courses.  If you do opt to offer a final exam, please keep the exam to a single period, and please adhere to this schedule so that students can manage the load.

• June 5: ELA
• June 8: Science
• June 11: Social Studies
• June 12: Math
• June 15:  Breadth 
• June 16th: Finals Make Up

Last Day Of Extracurricular Per Session.  All after and before school activities will end on June 12th (8th grade prom will be the last thing!)  Final per session sheets for the year will be due on June 15th.  Per session sheets will not be accepted after June 15th.  Please make sure you set a calendar reminder for yourself NOW so you do not miss the last per session submission for 2025-26 extracurricular activities.  NOTE:  The only exception will be testing coordination during regent week.  

Remaining PD Dates.  Only three more Mondays (plus June 4th Remote Chancellor's Day).

• June 1: Lynn Jeudy facilitates last SEL PD
• June 4 - full day remote PD: 
• AM Outreach & Worktime, Roadmaps training (for some)
• PM Review Proctor Expectations and Regents Schedule, ENL Groups feedback review
• June 8: CEP Goals
• June15: CEP Goals

Outreach & Tracking for MP4.  See here for the lists of the exact tasks that the students must successfully complete in order to pass by 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.  Please continue to reach out to failing students and update the attached log.

End of the Year Checklist.  Are you the type of person who likes to get a jumpstart on To Do lists early?  Well then, this list is FOR you!

Here are the big things you need to do that take the most time:

• TWO ShopDoe Wish Lists (NYSTL approved is list one, everything else is list two) they must be submitted into the new 26-27 UAI Purchasing Form
• Cleaning and Stowing.  Things cannot be stored on the floors (even on the closet floors).  They will be destroyed by the wax that seeps in if you leave boxes of things on the floor. Store on shelf...or better yet, pair down things you no longer need (give to a colleague!).  Books and materials need to be stored on shelves or in closets.