Week of September 15th

UAI High School Staff News

Volume II

Issue 6

Week of September 15th, 2014

Announcements

Successful First Week.  From cabinet reports, everyone is getting off to a strong start. Classroom Environments are strong; all classrooms launched into explicit instruction around the formats, and all Grade Teams delivered phenomenal Social Contract Talks this week.  Partner programs launched seamlessly in Carrera and are gearing up for a strong start with Girls Inc's fair next Tuesday. Additionally, we had a very smooth and successful administration of the DRP (many thanks to Colleen!).  It's unbelievable how much we've already done in just 7 days!  With a start like this, just imagine how our year is going to be!

UAI Hosts Learning Cultures Network of Leaders.  Just as our Learning Cultures leaders have been visiting other LC schools to develop their practice and bring back to our school (e.g. Sarah as School Culture lead modeled the social contract talk for our grade team leaders, Martine and Brodie, and lots of others!), we are hosting our own Leaders day.  Martine, as our Code Blue lead will join teachers from HSLI, Green Careers, UAI Middle School, and Unison to help refine our practices and understanding of how best to be proactive around student failure and how to develop interventions that work when our proactive plans don't pan out.

Monday PD Starts at 2:50 in Room 409.  This Monday will mark our first real Grade Team meeting and PD Pod feedback session.  There's so much to do and so little time! 

2:50-3:20PD Pods: The first teacher should get his/her feedback on Monday.  You guys should choose who will be seen next.  I created an updated program to facilitate this process for you.  CLICK HERE to see the updated school program.  On the 3rd tab lists all the teachers who have non-teaching periods and when they have them.  

3:20-4:10 Grade teams:  In addition to whatever grade team agenda items that your team must address, you also need to plan for Wednesday's curriculum night.  In particular, grade teams need to share responsibility for floor beautification (i.e. your rooms look great, but we need you guys to take charge of the hallway bulletin boards to make them look equally as awesome).  Additionally, you need to finalize an hour long agenda that the grade team will facilitate to;  review why we do learning cultures, how kids benefit, and how parents can support their daughters. Finally, grade specific information (e.g. PSAT, SAT information, College infor, etc.) needs to put on the grade team's agendas.

Curriculum Night.  Curriculum Night is on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30.  You'll have 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after as a buffer to prepare and closeup for the night.  So that will suffice for your 3-hour responsibility for this new Parent Outreach night.   Here's the Agenda
- 5:30-5:45  - General PTA Welcome in the Cafeteria
- 5:45-6:30  - High School Overview & Partner Programs 
                    - High School Parent Intro to Skedula (w/ Kiri in B53)
- 6:30-7:30  - Grade Team Presentations to Parents

High School Dance has been POSTPONED.  The seniors have decided to postpone their kick off dance to October.  If you responded that you wanted to chaperone, you're still at the top of the list.  Just let me know if you are no longer available on October 24th.   Also, the junior class is planning to do a companion haunted house to go along with the dance.  So, the evening promises to be something spooky special!

Important Dates

• Tuesday, 16SEP14.  UAI Hosts LC Leads Professional Development Day for Code Blue Leads
• Wednesday, 17SEP14.  MOSL Selections Due
• Tuesday, 23SEP14. Girls Inc After School Fair in the Cafeteria
• Tuesday, 23SEP14 and Wednesday, 24SEP14. High School Benchmark testing.
• Thursday, 25SEP14 and Friday 26SEP14.  Rosh Hashanah. NO SCHOOL

Per Session Postings

After School Clubs.  Three days per week for a max of 3 hours per week.  Teachers are invited to submit proposals for after school clubs to me by Friday 19SEP14.  Budget for after school work is still being determined and is dependent on how many proposals I get.  At least 3 positions will be available, but I will try to fund as many as I get.  Students who accumulate 27 hours will receive 0.5 elective credits.  Students accrue 54 hours will receive 1.0 elective credit.  No late proposals can be accepted.  Nicole Souvenir of Girls Inc. will coordinate all after school programs, including teacher run after school clubs.  After School Clubs teachers must be present for the after school fair at Tuesday 23SEP14 from 3:00-4:30.  High School after school runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  On Mondays, clubs will run from 4:30-5:30.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays, clubs will be programmed by Nicole.  Teachers choose day(s) of work.

Before and After School Director of Student Social-Emotional Learning.  This position is for a DOE employed, licensed social worker to supervise before and after school programs, and provide social-emotional learning support to students before and after school.  Two hours per day for all school days.