Week of December 22nd

UAI High School Staff News

Volume II

Issue 19

Week of December 22nd  2014

Announcements

Last Post of 2014!  It's hard to believe how quickly this term has flown by, but here we are at the last blog post of 2014!!   It has been a year of many changes, but as a ending punctuation point to 2014, UAI has had an amazing fall term.  Monday and Tuesday are regularly scheduled classes.  Monday, we will have our usual grade teams and Pods.  On Tuesday, we will all be rapidly dismissing at the end of 7th period to launch into a well-earned vacation!

Policy and Procedure Reminders.  The end of the calendar year is a great time to do a little refresher on school policies and procedures.  In particular, two questions seem to arise more often than others these days.  One - what's the policy on cell phones, and two - the reminder system - when do students get removed?  We'll be discussing this in more detail during PD today, but here's some refreshers

• Throughout the reminder system, students are reminded and given option to correct their behavior three separate times.  On the 4th time, they are removed from class and given a disciplinary consequence as defined by the Citywide Discipline Code.

• Unless provided explicit direction from the teacher having/using a cellphone is breaking school rules.  According to our system of reminders, when students break a rule, they receive one reminder to correct it.  If after one reminder, they cannot correct the behavior (e.g. put the phone away), then they jump to a principal's referral.

Here's the section from the UAI Staff Handbook that explains this policy.   

Technology

Classroom technology will be provided to each classroom. Each classroom teacher must sign a teacher technology contract and put down a $75 deposit on the classroom's cart.  The classroom teacher(s) are responsible for the maintaining the carts in good condition. Students must also sign a student technology contract to be eligible to use classroom technology.

Student-owned technology use within the classroom is at grade team's discretion. All students, prior to using any student-owned technology in the classroom, however, must return a signed electronics policy contract back to their advisor. Examples of personal electronics in the classroom are Kindles, iPads and other eReaders (like Nooks). Smart Phone use in the classroom is not approved. As with all electronics, it is the responsibility of the classroom teacher to make all electronics expectations (how, when and what) explicit and monitor individual student use during the day. Inappropriate use of electronics consists of (but is not limited to): Facebook, YouTube, eBay, Games, Texting, Web Searches and completing work for other classes.   There is NO Electronics use outside of the classroom (Stairwells, hallways, bathrooms). As with all school rules, students are given a reminder to change behavior and adhere to rules. Failure to do will result in confiscation of device. All devices must be immediately submitted to the dean/admin closest to you by the end of the period.

If a student has had their electronic device confiscated, the item will be given to the Dean and can be picked-up at the end of the day. Dean will also follow-up with a phone call to the student’s home.

Food

All food must be eaten in the cafeteria.  If students are seen eating in class or the hallways, again, give them the initial warning and ask them to put the item away/throw it out. If the student does not follow your directive, refer incident to the Dean/Administrator on your floor.

Tuesday, December 23rd. We will be dismissing everyone at the end of 7th period on Tuesday. Please escort your 7th period class from the building at the end of the day. Prior to starting 7th period, make sure all students have everything they need from their lockers. No one will be allowed back into the building. There is no after school . Please make sure that prior to dismissal you have secured all technology and any other valuables that you do not want stolen or damaged. The building will be closed over the break for cleaning and minor repairs.

The first day back to school is Monday, January 5th.

That's the only important date I'm going to share right now ;-)

Have a safe, wonderful, and relaxing winter recess!! You all deserve it for the incredible work that you've done to make UAI HS so amazing this year!!