Week April 4th

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 28

Week of April 4th, 2016

Announcements and To Dos

Countdowns Begin!  This week marks the beginning of the middle school assessments.  Middle School teachers.  We will be having a brief meeting after PD on Monday to review expectations.  There are only five weeks of classes until we have our final benchmark of the year.  Before we know it, the year's end will be here!  Let's make sure to keep the time in mind and make sure we make the most of the rapidly evaporating days to maximize teaching and learning!  Here's some fun facts:

• 1 class day until the NYS ELA Exams begin
• 7 class days until the NYS Math Exams begin
• 10 class days until Marking Period 5 Ends (MP5 Ends on Friday, 15APR16)
• 15 class days until Spring Break
• 28 class days until Benchmark IV (Regents Predictive Benchmark - HS + 8th Gr Only)

Danielson Norming.  This week's PD will be a full staff PD (1st Monday of the month).  Grade teams are moved to Tuesday.  We are going to adjust our original plans around pods to address a recent need, the training and norming of teachers to Danielson.  We've done extensive work around Learning Cultures rubrics, but we have yet to work as explicitly with the nuances of Danielson.  To achieve this, we will be assigning folks into Pods for this cycle.  85% of a teacher's MOTP rating is from Domain 2 (Classroom Environment) and Domain 3 (Instruction).  The remaining 15% comes from Domain 1 (Planning and Preparation) and Domain 4 (Professional Responsibilities.  Here's the Agenda for Monday's PD

• 2:40PM - Kiri, Colleen, & Joanna meets with MS teams to prep for testing
• 3:00PM - Kiri Announcements to full staff
• 3:05PM - Divide into Pods and norm Danielson
• 3:05 -3:20PM Watch Video - 7th Grade Social Science - History of the Earth
• 3:20 - 3:30PM Find Evidence Transcript of Video to support a rating on the Danielson Rubric (Independent Work Time)
• 3:30-3:40PM Share Individual Ratings and Discuss
• 3:40-3:50PM Share State Ratings and Discuss
• 3:50-4:00PM Logistics Planning for Pod Visits
• 4:00-4:20PM - HS Teams Meet

Domain 2 (Classroom Environment) Pods.  These pods will work on understanding Danielson Domain 2 and how to use SEL to develop strong relationships, both teacher-student and student-student.  These pods will also be working on understanding UAI teacher perspectives, and how to reflect on our structures to strengthen and optimize the work we all do (in and out of the classroom) to provide students with a strong, united front, and a strong, nurturing learning environment.  If you are in these pods, please take a moment to complete this survey.

• Jen Facilitates - Rebecca, Sarah, Natalie, Anna, Sursattie, Kelly
• Doris Facilitates- Wendy, Steve, Matthew, Elana, Paula, Kim
• Martine Facilitates - Meredith, Erick K., Jamie, Elena, Tracy, Michelle

Domain 3 (Instruction) Pods.  These pods will work on understanding Danielson's evaluation of Assessement, Questioning & Discussion, and Student Engagement.  These pods will also integrate UAI teacher perspectives in comparision to NY state expectations with Danielson.   These pods will also work to crosswalk our work in Learning Cultures and how high quality LC practice achieves effective Danielson practice.

• Kiri Facilitates - Marianna, Darby, Damon, Brodie, Ilyana, Alison
• Colleen Facilitates - Marsha, Phillan, Danielle, Kerry, Michael, Kristin
• Val Facilitates - Mike, Christina, Joanna, Tom, Erick

Roster Maintenance.  Teachers should have received an email in the DOE accounts providing them with instructions on how to review and verify student rosters used for MOSL ratings.  Please complete this by May 3rd.  Val or I can help you if you need support!

Important Dates

• Monday, 04APR16. Pod Cycle IV Launch [Grade Team Time moved to Tuesday]
• Tuesday, 05APR16 thru Thursday, 07APR15.  Middle School NYS ELA Exam
• Wednesday, 13APR16 thru Friday, 15APR15.  Middle School NYS Math Exam
• Friday, 15APR16.  5th Marking Period Ends
• Monday, 11APR16. Pod Share 1 of 6 and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 18APR16. Pod Share 2 of 6 and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 18APR16.  6th Marking Period Begins
• Wednesday, 20APR16.  5th Marking Period Grades Due at 3PM
• Friday, 22APR16.  5th MP Progress Report Distributed 8th Period
• Friday, 22APR16.  Poetry Slam Full School Assembly 1:45-2:30PM

• Monday, 25APR16 thru Friday 29APR15 - Spring Recess, NO SCHOOL

• Monday, 02MAY16. Pod Share 3 of 6 and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 09MAY16. Pod Reflection - Grade Team Meetings moved to Tuesday
• Monday, 16MAY16. Pod Share 4 of 6 and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 23MAY16. Pod Share 5 of 6 and Grade Team Meetings
• Tuesday, 24MAY16.  Grade Teams meet Tuesday
• Monday, 30MAY16. Memorial Day- NO SCHOOL

• Monday, 06JUN16. Pod Share 6 of 6 and Pod Share Prep - Grade Teams meet Tuesday
• Thursday, 09JUN16. Brooklyn Queens PD Day

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

Per Session Posting

Hiring Committee.  The hiring committee consists of Phillan, Christina, Marsha, Kristin, Martine, Colleen, Val, Kiri and Jen. They will be paid per session for their time.