Week of December 21st

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 16

Week of Dec. 14th, 2015

Announcements 

Last Blog Post of 2015.  This will be the last blog post of 2015!  It seems like this school year has really flown by.  You have all worked so hard and dedicated so much of yourselves and your energy to our needy girls.  Please do make the time to do nothing but rest and recharge over the holiday break.   The holiday break is also a great time to pause and reflect over the semester's progress.   As a reminder, we are rapidly dismissing everyone out of the building on Wednesday so that you can get started on your holiday recharging.  The building will not be open over the holiday break.  Please make sure students have all that they need at the START of 7th period.  They will not be able to use bathrooms or access lockers when rapid dismissal begins.

• Middle School - Rapid Dismissal at 1:47.  Staff, Teacher, and Students ALL DISMISS together.
• High School - Rapid Dismissal at 1:56.  Staff, Teachers, and Students ALL DISMISS together.

<<REMINDER FROM LAST POST>> School Rules Relaunch.  Starting Monday 21DEC, we're asking all staff to pitch in and help relaunch school rules with all students in their classes.  By all of us doing a little bit, we collectively create a consistent environment for our girls who need that most!  Here's the key areas

• Bathroom Use and passes out of class.  Bathrooms will be locked for the 1st and last 10 minutes of class.  Students should only use the bathroom during work time. Only one student can be out of the room at a time.  Teachers should hold onto the pass so that students must come to them to ask.  Teachers should also track bathroom use (e.g. like Marsha does using an index card taped to the back of the pass) or some other method.  Grade teams should analyze pass use to identify students who are using the pass to avoid work or other academic struggles.
• The Exit Slip and Class Removals.  Please do not send a student out of the classroom (unless it is an emergency).  When you need a student removed, please call the admin office closest to you (B31 = 83121; 301 = 30111; 302 = 30221; 401 = 40111; 508=50811).  If you can't get someone in the closest office, call any of the other offices to help you.  (You should take a moment to write down these extensions in your call box).  A dean or admin will come to your room to collect the student.  Please have the exit slip completed prior to dean/admin arrival.  We will not be able to remove the student without it.  Also, please remember that class removal happens after the 3rd reminder.
• Lockers.  Please announce to advisees that students are not allowed to share lockers.  Tell your advisees that we will begin looking at locker use this week and for those students who are sharing, all students will lose locker privileges.  (In reality, I'm relying on you guys to talk to your advisees so they can fix the sharing problem before we really start checking next week).  Finally, students will be able to access their lockers at any time but they cannot be late to class.  Note - This is a change from last year's policy of using lockers before and after school and before and after lunch.  

Staff Shout Outs

Kristin & Darby.  Sensing the need to boost staff morale, Kristin and Darby put together Staff Superlative Awards for all.  They began distributing some at the impromptu cocktail party Friday afternoon, and we hope to celebrate the remaining awards in PD on Monday.   So, for their social awareness and willingness to step up and address a need, let's give a big shout out to these two wonderful women!

Joanna.   Last week Joanna masterfully took on the DRP and coordinated both paper and computer administrations.  As our schoolwide testing coordinator, Joanna did an excellent job communicating and supporting staff in our 2nd administration of the DRP this year.  Congrats Joanna, and we're looking forward to seeing you in action for Regents week in January!

Important Dates

• Monday, 21DEC15.  First Pod Debrief and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 21DEC15. Advisors call home to verify report card receipt.
• Wednesday, 23DEC15.  Early Dismissal at 2:00PM.  All students and staff MUST leave the building at 2:00 for the Winter Recess.
• Thursday, 24DEC15 through 03JAN16 Winter Recess.

For All UAI School Important Dates, please add "UAI School" calendar to your google calendars.

Per Session Posting

Resilient Scholars PLC.  Jamie, Rebecca, Kerry, and Martine are doing a Teacher SEL PLC after school.  

Other PLC Ideas.  If other teachers are interested in running/participating in another PLC, please let me know and we can fund it too!