Week of February 12th

UAI Staff News

Volume V

Issue 23

February 12th, 2018

[School Days 102-105]

Highlights and Spotlights

Suzannah Tartin masterfully integrates SEL instruction in Global History. Annie and I had the pleasure of watching Ms. Suzannah prep students for a class discussion.  On each table, students had a laminated resource with sentence starters to help them model positive strategies for Disagreeing without Being Disagreeable and students volunteered connections to Accountable Talk.  Students also reviewed active listening prior to beginning their discourse.  Suzannah attended to preparing students for discourse.  With this kind of preparation, students have a much more clear sense of how to engage classroom tasks and activities (like discussion) and thus do so at a higher level of quality and intellectual rigor.  Check in with Suzannah in room 509 to learn more!

Diana Vlavianos creatively elevates learning vocabulary to a new level.  Seniors in Diana's 12th grade English class approached vocabulary from a new and deeper persepective.   Seniors are reading Elie Wiesel's Night and exploring his use of language.  In place of traditional definitions of words, Diana's class took a deep dive into more common words, used in uncommon ways. Students defined words like "Never", "Hearded", and "Fire" with the standard definition.  In addition, students created their own connections through their own prior knowledge, and took those connections to analyze Wiesel's use of the same words and how the use impacts various aspects of his writing.  Writing down definitions is simply the start.  It is the first step and level 1 thinking.  Having students apply and interpret those facts in a context (in this case, Wiesel's Night) elevates both rigor and student intellectual engagement.

PPO Feedback.  Many thanks to everyone for working hard to prepare for Fred's visit last Thursday.  Special shout outs go to Natalie, Cherry, Tom, Rebecca, Jamie, and Kelly for hosting wonderful classroom visits.  Many thanks also to Jake, Natalie, and Kelly for modelling our co-planning structures and sharing their thoughts with Fred during their meeting.  Six of nine rated indicators were rated Effective or Highly Effective.  We are still developing in our instructional core, but Fred noted the tremendous growth we've had over the last three years.  He said, "Climate and Culture come from heavy investment in curriculum [and Teacher] development and it is paying off!"  He said the improvement in our classrooms is palpable, and that our work and focus in "Spot On!"

Lady Eagles Victory!  Many, many thanks to all of you who came out to the game last week for the love Lady Eagles. They really were pumped that we were able to make it and the game was a fabulous one!  We are now into the Playoffs!  The next home game will be on Tuesday, 13FEB18 at 5PM.  Please come out and help cheer our girls on to victory once more and in advancing in the Playoffs!

To Do this Week

Observations and Evaluations.  Annie and I are deep into our observations for this last two weeks.  Some teachers have mentioned being surprised at seeing us because of who was listed on the calendar.  Those notes on my calendar are just that - notes.  They are not commitments.  Frequently, we will switch up who we are going to see based on a variety of different factors.  After the break, we will be combining formal evaluative classroom visits (observations) with informal non-evaluative feedback and coaching visits.  These coaching visits will have a very different feel than evaluation.  During these visits, Annie or I may pull you aside to give you feedback, and/or model various teacher moves during your class.  These actions are aimed at developing more rigorous and disciplined teacher habits during instruction that are aimed at constantly pushing student thinking and engagement.  We will not be able to get to everyone at once.  However, you are more than welcome to reach out to request a coaching visit from us at any time.

Monday PD.  The next window for the DESSA is here.  We will be completing the next round of DESSA surveys for our students this week during PD and parent outreach time. This will provide us with crucial information about the success of our SEL classes and pullout groups, as well as which students we need to provide with extra support. You will not need to complete a rating for your advisory in this round; we'll only be rating that same half of one of the groups that you teach.


To complete your ratings:

1. Log on to the DESSA system here: https://sel.datalinkevo.com/#/login
2. Upon logging in, you'll see a green bar with your group assignment (e.g., "Group A1- Tracy.") Click the green bar.
3. "Winter rating period (optional)" will appear below the green bar. Look to the right and select "Start rating."
4. Complete the ratings for your first student and continue clicking "complete and rate next student" after you have finished rating each of your girls. If you need to stop after one of your ratings, click "complete and return to ratings list." 
5. To see your progress on roster of students you need to rate, click the arrow that appears at the top of the gray column on the left.

On another note, Lauren will be on maternity leave for the remainder of the year after the February break. Please continue to reach out to the counseling team as needed:

• Jen- JenC@uainstitute.org; ext. 30111
• Jennifer- JenniferJR@uainstitute.org; ext. 30421
• Marni- MarniB@uainstitute.org; ext. 30431
• Julia, SW intern- JuliaA@uainstitute.org (or reach out to Jen)
• Eliana, SW intern- ElianaA@uainstitute.org (or reach out to Marni)

Black History Month Assembly.  With the Playoff game scheduled for Tuesday, we need to reschedule our evening Winterfest Black History Month. Jen & Vanessa will give you updates on that soon!  However, we will continue to have our Winterfest Black History Month Assembly on Thursday during 8th period.  All students should report to 8th period and wait until they are called to the gym.  At the close of the assembly, we will do a rapid dismissal, so all students should have all their belongings with them prior to going up to the assembly.

Per Session Postings 

After School Teachers.  Girls Inc After School will be starting up again soon. This is the call out to teachers to work in our after school program.  Teachers should teach a passion project for after school.  Priority given to course ideas linked to STEM.  Please see Ms. Vanessa if interested in the Girls Inc Offices in Room 205 (offices inside the library).  There are limited spots so go quickly.

After School Test Prep.  We will be offering after school Test Prep for the MS ELA test beginning the week after the break.  Students who scored a level 1 or 2 on last year's exams will be slated for after school.  To maximize attendance and retention throughout the exam prep process, priority will go to teachers who already have strong positive relationships with these students.

Middle School Interviews.  Middle School interviews are this Saturday. Jen emailed about this event a few weeks ago.  If you are still interested, please see Jen.