Week of January 12th

UAI High School Staff News

Volume II

Issue 21

Week of January 12th, 2015

Announcements

Preparing for the End of the Fall term.  There are only 7 instructional days remaining in the fall term.  If you have not already done so, you need to reach out to the homes of those kids who are currently failing your class.  Because so many of our parents have yet to be registered to Skedula, it's super important that you make phone calls home and document in Skedula when contact is made.   Too often, parents state that they had no idea or were unaware of their daughter's failing grades. Let's minimize this sentiment for the end of this fall term by making sure that our parents are in the know!  Failure can be shifted, particularly at this point in the year.  However, it requires that students and families are aware and have clear, specific, and reasonable next steps to turn the tide.  In addition to calling homes, if you have not already done so, please have emergency conferences with individual students to explain their grade and to establish achievable, measurable goals that will help students turn their failure into success!

Regents Exams.  By now, you should have contacted all advisees to inform them of their Regents week schedule.  For your advisees (and also in classes), please remind students that they need to be studying and preparing for the Regents exams at home.  In class, please provide students with workout plans and teach into good study habits so that they can have methods to study independently.  Additionally, if you have not already done so, please introduce students to Study Island (see Jamie for tips) our online test-prep software.  Encourage girls to form study groups!  Those of you who are already doing Responsibility Teams have a blueprint for the girls to engage in study groups.  Responsibility Teams and study groups are the same concept!  Watch Cynthia's video (login:  kiris@uainstitute.org   pswd:  uailc283)  to see what I mean and think about how launching study groups (aka Responsibility Teams) can not only help students prepare for Regents but also be successful in your class for the Spring Term!

Subject Team Orders.  In years past, we have been able to recoup our enrollment numbers with students transferring in from closing schools.  However, in this new administration, there were unexpectedly no school closings, so our projected numbers far outpaced what our real numbers are.  With our enrollment numbers so low, our school is facing a shortfall of $175K this year.  That's about three (2 high and 1 middle school) teaching positions.  We've managed to negotiate with central offices and delay the bulk of that loss until next year (and hopefully cover the shortfall through attrition), but that has left us with very little unrestricted funds for this year.   Happily, we have a lot of technology this year.  That said, you guys still need stuff.  I know.  I'm releasing funds in 2 rounds.

Here's the deal.  All subject team orders must be submitted to me by the end of the day on Friday, February 6th.  For those subject teams that do not spend all of their allotment, I will reallocate the remaining funds (on Monday February 9th) to the teams that get their orders in on time.  Those teams will have until Friday, February 13th to submit the 2nd round orders.

All orders MUST be submitted to my email address (ksoares@schools.nyc.gov) via the ShopDOE website (here's a tutorial if you need help). Because the funds we have available are NYSTL funds, there are restrictions on what can be purchased.  So, please make sure that when you add something to your order it is NYSTL approved.  If it is not NYSTL approved, we will not be able to purchase it.  Here's the budgets:

• English, Social Studies, Math, and Science - $2500
• Foreign Language - $1500
• SPED - $1500
• PE - $500

Important Dates

• Tuesday, 13JAN15 - Chancellor Farina Visits UAI!
• Monday, 19JAN15 - MLK Jr. Day and Kelly D's Birthday
• Wednesday, 21JAN15 - Eagles Home Basketball Game vs. Westinghouse 4:30-6PM
• Thursday 22JAN15 - Friday, 23JAN15 - Benchmark III Exams (Fall Finals)
• Friday, 23JAN15 - Marking Period Three Ends
• Friday 23JAN15 - Eagles Home Basketball Game vs. John Jay Campus 4:30-6PM
• Monday, 26JAN15 -  Thursday, 29JAN15.  Regents Week
• Wednesday 28JAN15 - 3rd MP Grades are DUE by 3PM
• Friday, 30JAN15 - End of Fall Term, Regents Rating Day - NO CLASSES 
• For teachers not grading or presenting on 02FEB, there will be an agenda for the day 
• Monday, 02FEB15 - Chancellor's PD Day at Green Careers
• Wednesday 04FEB15 - Last Regular Season Home Game for the Lady Eagles 4:30-6PM

Per Session

Homecoming Dance Chaperones.  The seniors are didn't get it together to organize their dance.  So, I took it over and now it's a February Semi-Formal on 06FEB.   Per Session is from 6-10PM.  Positions were filled on a first come first serve basis.  Chaperones are:  Damon, Kristin, Jamie, Doris, Michael are confirmed for per session chaperoning.  Anyone else who wants to volunteer is welcome to join.  Ms. Tyasia will also be joining us that evening.