Week of June 25th

UAI Staff News

Volume V

Issue 39

June 25th, 2018

[School Days 182-183]

[2 Days Remaining in the School Year]

Announcements

Last Post of the Year.  I cannot believe we are here at the final post of the 2017-2018 school year!  It truly has been a transformative year.  So many of you have poured your hearts and souls into creating the type of curricula and lesson experiences that our students deserve.  You have invested so much energy, thought, and creativity into finding new ways to connect and inspire our young women.  Every inch of that work has paid off exceedingly well this year! Here are some highlights!

• History.  The Global Regents pass rate increased by double digits - we're still analyzing the specifics, but the jump in passing and in the average score has been huge!  Congratulations go to Suzannah who made great strides in her planning this year!  Additionally, for the first time, we offered US History, a exam usually reserved for juniors, to our 9th graders.  Nearly 2/3 of the grade passed in June, for many this was one of the first regent exams they've ever taken.  Particularly impressive was Group O, with a passing rate of nearly 85%! Our regents-challenged 11th graders also came out strong with a 72% passing rate!  Congrats to Annie, Kelly, and Jake for leading the work in elevating our thinking around planning and student thinking this year!

• Middle School State Math and ELA.  While we don't have official scores yet, this year there was a marked increase of students who met promotional cut-off scores.  This is a strong sign to continued improvement in our middle school.  Many thanks to Marsha & Phillan for leading the efforts in planning with MS ELA.  Many thanks to Alison, Matthew, and Cherry for diving deep with our Algebra for All Coach, Ellen, and beginning the work to rethink and revamp our instructional approach in math!

• Algebra.  Like History, the average score for math and pass rate is significantly higher this year with more kids scoring at the college ready level than in years past.  In addition, another big jump in Algebra outcomes this year is the number of IEP students passing with safety-net scores or higher.   Many thanks to Jamie and Danielle for their combined efforts in leading the work in HS math this year!!  

• Graduation Rate.  Perhaps the biggest achievement this year is our Graduation Rate.  We are currently sitting at a graduation rate of 85% which is a 7% jump over last year.  By August, we can expect that rate to increase to 91%.  Many thanks to all of UAI on this!  It is a collective effort to bring our beautiful young women from shy little 11 year-olds to accomplished, poised, and ready to take on the world graduates.  In the midst of the craziness of the year, it's hard to keep focused on this goal as a team goal.  But now, as we stand on the eve of graduation, please take a moment to appreciate and honor your work in this fabulous achievement!!!!!

8th Grade Stepping Up.  Many, many thanks to Ms. Natalie for all of her hard work in organizing the 8th grade activities and stepping up.  Also many thanks to all the teachers who helped bring this event off both seamlessly and beautifully.  Thank you to our MS teachers for supporting our girls as they prepped and processed into the gym.  Thanks to Marsha for co-hosting and bringing your usual warmth and love to our girls!  Thank you Joanna for finding our wonderful Guest Speaker!  Thank you to all the teachers who took to the podium to honor and award our young women.  A special shout out goes out to Ms. Doris for stepping in at the last minute to present the UFT Award for Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  I know it's not easy to step up and present awards to young girls you haven't had the chance to teach, yet, but you knocked it out of the park!

To Do This Week

High School Graduation.  Please refer to Danielle and Brodie's emails regarding roles and responsibilities for Monday.  Please review below as there have been some changes:

• Monday is a half-day for all students, MS and HS. - PLEASE TAKE BUBBLE SHEET ATTENDANCE ASAP.

• Students will be in the building until MS lunch - 10:15 - Due to low projected attendance, each grade will be combined into a single classroom, managed by teachers -   Suggested activities include:  Roaming from room to room as a cleaning squad, movies, board/card games.  Here are the teacher assignments:

• Grade	Room	Teachers
  6	309	Alison, Tracy, Phillan, Sarah
  7	307	Kristina, Matthew, Meaghan, Christina
  8	305	Marsha, Natalie, Cherry, Megan
  9	409	Sursattie, Cassandra, Tiffany
  10	509	Amanda, Katherine, Elana G
  11	B49	Paula, Jake, Tom, Giselle

• The following teachers have been assigned to graduation support and should CLICK here for details:
• Report to Kumbel at 8:15AM:  
• Doris, Danielle R, Danielle I, Kiri, Annie, Damon, Kelly 
• Report to Kumbel at 9AM
• Rebecca, Elena, Nina, Jamie, Suzannah, Michelle, Diana, Judy
• Report to Kumbel at 10:30AM:
• Tom, Cassandra, Tiffany, Katherine, Giselle
• Report to Kumbel at 10AM:  
• Paula, Jake, Del, Nancy
• 
  

• All students will be released for lunch at 10:15.  As soon as students have gone down/out for lunch, all remaining teachers report to graduation.  Courtney and Isaiah will report to LIU after all students are dismissed after lunch
  
• After Graduation, all staff are invited to the Hollow Nickel to have an informal hang and celebration!  

Last Day of School.   June 26th is the official last day of school.  Officially, the teacher day ends at 2:50, but I am flexible insofar as we do everything that we need to do!

• Report Card Distribution.  Students are to report to school by 8:30 and no later than 10:30 to pick up their final report cards, and summer school letters.  I know Nancy sent out an email about room assignments for the day, but to make things a bit more streamlined, please use the same rooms used for Monday.  12th Graders should go to Room B53 to meet Ms. Danielle I, Ms. Danielle R, and Doris for report card, summer school letters and/or diploma and transcript pick up.  Nancy will give one teacher the summer school letters for the grade.  Jennifer has already shared the report cards.   One teacher from the grade should print the report cards for the grade.  At 10:30, please alphabetize the remaining report cards and summer school letters and organize into a single folder.

• Final Meeting of the Year.  At 11AM, we will meet in room 409 for the final meeting of the year.  This will be our final staff meeting of the year.  We will have closing remarks, celebrate  transitions, and complete our end of the year paperwork.  We'll be working on all of Del and Nancy's paperwork, and you'll be released to your rooms once you have sign off from them.

• End of the Year Checkoff List. After the final meeting of the year, you will be released to complete your End of the Year Checkoff List.  Once this list is complete and you've collected all required sign-offs, you'll bring the letter to me, and sign out for the year!

Per Session Opportunities

None This Week

SEL Update

None this week

  

Week of June 18th

UAI Staff News

Volume V

Issue 38

June 18th, 2018

[School Days 177-181]

[7 Days Remaining in the School Year]

Announcements

Last Week of School.  We made it!  We are at the last full week of school!  Congratulations and many, many thanks for the countless hours, intense commitment to your craft, and the heart and soul you put into your jobs this year!  This year was truly a labor of love for all of you, and now, you are beginning to reap the benefits of that work as we all prepare for next year.   

A Week Celebrations!  Last Tuesday was quite the party at UAI.  Our PTA hosted their end-of-the year dinner.  Giselle and Elena inducted our strongest 10th and 11th graders into the National Spanish Honor Society.  Jen welcomed our newest 9th & 6th graders into UAI, and Danielle celebrated the achievements of our seniors with a beautiful awards ceremony.  Last Wednesday, Vanessa and Girls Inc. had their final celebration of the girls in after school!  It was a crazy week of fun, but I can't imagine a better way to end the year!  Many, many thanks to all the staff who volunteered their time to make this a memorable night for our students and families.  Nights like these really show how special our community is for our young girls and their families.

Giselle and Elena with new Inductees at
Spanish National Honor Society Induction

Ruby Shows Off Her Award
at Senior Awards Night

Nande, Ana, and Tiara
Share a Selfie at Senior Awards Night

Girls Inc Fashion Club

Families Enjoy Time Together
at the annual PTA Dinner Xcel

To Do This Week

Prep for School Closeout.  During the summer three other schools inhabit our spaces.  So, it is imperative that we store all materials and technology appropriately.  Secure all books and other classroom materials in locked closets.  Return all technology to George for summer storage.  Also, to prep for possible painting and summer cleaning, your rooms must have everything off the walls and the hallway hangings must also be cleared from the walls and bulletin boards.  

Next Year's Schedule.  CLICK HERE to see next year's program.   Over the summer, there may be changes due to enrollment and other shifts that inevitably occur over the summer.  However, you can rest assured that your subject and grade level will remain.  Because I cannot tell the future, I do want to say that if there is a major shift (e.g. our register varies significantly - i.e. we don't get enough students or we get too many students...), I'll first reach out to you to discuss your preferences before I make any major shifts.  Inevitably, you will have questions!  Please do reach out to me to ask - do not be shy.  Because this is still in draft form, there very may well be some conflicts.  The faster I know about them, the faster I can fix!

High School Final Days.   

• Friday, June 22nd is MS Stepping Up.  All teachers report to gym by 10AM
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Middle School Final Days.  

• Assessment Days
• Mon 18JUN18 and Tue 19JUN18 - Normal School Days
• Wed 20JUN18 and Fri 22JUN18 - 6th & 7th Grade Final Exams
• Thu 21JUN18 - 6th & 7th grade trips
• Wed 20JUN18 and Thu 21JUN18 - 8th grade trip and stepping up rehearsal
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Per Session Opportunities

None This Week

SEL Update

None this week

  

Week of June 11th

UAI Staff News

Volume V

Issue 37

June 11th, 2018

[School Days 173-176]

[1 Days Remaining in MP6]      [1 Days Remaining in HS School Year]      [11 Days Remaining in MS School Year]

Announcements

UAI Retreat.  We had another fantastic retreat in Tarrytown this past week.  Thank you to everyone who made the time to attend.  It's not easy to find time away from families and the regular pace of our lives, but it is such an important component of centering ourselves and our work.  Your feedback indicated overwhelmingly positive impact (Click Here for full results).  Here are some quotes:

• I felt the most positive that I have in a while after last nights presentation. I felt like each leader did an excellent job at highlighting our growth over the year as a school. I think that it's really easy to get caught up in the negatives day to day but the reminder about the big picture and our success was necessary and illustrated in a very eye opening way.

• I feel that UAI is much stronger this year than last, and that UAI is becoming a stronger, and more seamless school. The presentations made it seem that this year was incredibly foundational, and that next year will be more about refining and maintaining the work that we have done this year (which is progress!!!!).

• Revisiting my personal mission and connecting it to the school's mission. It helped me reset my mindset even though I'm super worn out from this year.

• My mission and reason for being here. It's easy to get caught up in the frustrations of our job, especially at the end of year, and it was good to take a step back and think about why I want to work with this population of students and reflect on all of the great things that have happened this year.

Senior Prom.  Wednesday night, our seniors had their senior prom at Terrace on the Park.  The Class of 2018 brought it!  They were dressed impeccably and were absolutely stunning.  Take a look!

            .   

To Do This Week

Prep for Regents Week.  For Monday PD, Middle School teachers can use the time to prep for their final classes of the year.  High School teachers should report to room 409 to review the Regents Schedule for the week and prepare for proctoring assignments and responsibilities.  

A Night of Celebration.  On Tuesday, June 12th we will be celebrating the Class of 2018 (Senior Awards Night), our Parents and Families (End of the Year PTA celebration), and the Class or 2022 & 2026 (Night of Stars - welcome new students).  If you are available to join, please do! It will be a wonderful night of fun!

High School Final Days.   

• Monday, June 11th will be the last day of regularly scheduled classes for the High School.  
• Tuesday June 12th through Friday, June 222nd is Regents week.  CLICK HERE for the specific schedule.  Students will be receiving their official exam invitations this week.  
• Friday, June 15th is a school holiday, Eid al-Fitr.  There is no school that day.
• Friday, June 22nd is MS Stepping Up.  All teachers report to gym by 10AM
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Middle School Final Days.  

• Assessment Days
• Mon 11JUN18 - 6th Grade Trip, 7th & 8th Grade Normal Day
• Tue 12JUN18 - CC Algebra Regent - no 8th grade classes - only attend test
• Wed 12JUN18 - Living Environment Regent - no 8th grade classes - only attend test
• Thu 14JUN18 - 6th & 7th Grade Field Day, 8th Grade BBQ
• Fri 15JUN18 - Eid al-Fitr, NO SCHOOL
• Mon 18JUN18 and Tue 19JUN18 - Normal School Days
• Wed 20JUN18 and Fri 22JUN18 - 6th & 7th Grade Final Exams
• Thu 21JUN18 - 6th & 7th grade trips
• Wed 20JUN18 and Thu 21JUN18 - 8th grade trip and stepping up rehearsal
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Per Session Opportunities

None This Week

SEL Update

None this week

  

Week of June 4

UAI Staff News

Volume V

Issue 35

May 29th, 2018

[School Days 170-172]

[5 Days Remaining in MP6]      [5 Days Remaining in HS School Year]      [18 Days Remaining in MS School Year]

Announcements

Our Girls Close out the NYSE.  This week four of our senior students were invited to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. This was our first year partnering with HSBC and it has proven to bean incredible opportunity for our girls. It was an afternoon filled with excitement and appreciation of these strong, smart, and bold young women! Click here to see our Girls Inc. CEO Pamela Maraldo, along with Stacy Cunningham who is the first ever female president of the NYSE! 

Final Assembly of the Year.  As it is each year, this was an emotional end of the year assembly.  Watching the Class of 2018 proudly showing off their future schools was a sight to behold!  The seniors and juniors established a new tradition of honoring each other and passing the torch.  The Class of 2018 has left their mark on UAI, and it is a mark that emphasizes social justice, social responsibility, and leadership.  Many thanks to Jen and Sursattie for helping the girls organize!  

Staff Spotlight

Marsha, Rebecca, and Phillan.  Under the leadership of Marsha, Rebecca, and Phillan, the ELA team has worked hard over the last year to develop their planning and lesson execution quality.  On May 30th, principals, teacher leaders and assistant principals from both elementary and middle schools visited their classrooms and chat with them about their thinking and development in pedagogy and practice.   Not only did they thoroughly impress our visitors and LDC partners, but they also turned on at least two elementary school principals into viewing UAI as a future home for their young scholars.  The work we do first and foremost brings our students the best quality learning experience.  Now that work is being more widely recognized, and extending the learning opportunities to others who may choose to come to UAI.  I was so proud of the three of them as they showed off their classes, their lesson planning, and their work.  It was an enormous amount of effort this year, but it was all worth it!

To Do This Week

Final DESSA.  During PD on Monday, we will be completing the final DESSA of the year.  We use the DESSA to track students social emotional development ad growth, form SEL groups for students, and establish goals for our students mandated to counseling.  As you will learn more at the retreat, we have had amazing success with our school culture, and the DESSA is a tool that has been key to monitoring our growth and achievement.  

During PD, you will complete the surveys for the same students you covered in January when we last did the DESSA - it should be about 13 kids with a shortened survey - no more then about 25 minutes

Here are the directions:  

• To get to DESSA pase use this: Link to get to DESSA - (https://sel.datalinkevo.com/#/login) it will bring you to the homepage where you need to sign on using your UAI email

• Once signed on, it will bring you to the ratings page - all you have to do from there is find your name, click the arrow next to your name and then click on "Start Rating" 

• After you complete the rating for the first student in your survey cohort, you will see a blue box at the bottom of the page that says "Complete and Rate Next Student --->". Click on the blue box and this will bring you to the next kid

Night Of Stars -Welcome for New Students.  Our Annual Night of Stars will be on Tuesday June 12th from 6-7 PM. We are looking for teacher help with the event and to welcome our new students and families.  Per Session is available.  Please email Kiri directly.  

Tuesday 05JUN18 Assignments.  Tuesday will be a testing day for all students and staff.   Please refer to Brodie and Joanna's emails for your testing schedules.  In the afternoon, after your exam schedules, all Special Ed, ELA and Social Studies teachers will grade the MS Social Studies MOSL.  All Language, PE, Art, Dance Math and Science Teachers will work with Jen to reach out to our new students and invite our new families to Night of Stars on Tuesday, June 5th. Invitations where sent out via the mail and electronically, but to ensure a great turnout we also want to make personal calls. Please be on the lookout for an email from Jen.

High School Final Days.   Students have four more days of school.  Technically, five with June 25th, but that will be a clean out day.  June 4th should be planned as a regular day - prepping for final exams and regents.  On June 11th, teachers should plan independent work (regents practice) and confer with students who are not going to pass their course.  The goal of these conferences is to help students understand and own their choices that led to failure.  Those students who fail three or more courses will repeat the grade.  Those who failed two or one course will be mandated to summer school.  All students who do not pass their regent in June are automatically enrolled in summer school.

• Monday, June 4th and Monday, June 11th will be the last day of regularly scheduled classes for the High School.  
• Tuesday, June 5th Global Regent Exam - NO High School classes in session (no students)
• Wednesday, June 6th and Friday, June 8th are high school final exams.  Students will take two exams per day and will be officially dismissed at the end of their lunch period.  Brodie will share the official schedule with staff during Monday PD.  
• Wednesday June 6th (PM) and Thursday June 7th UAI Retreat to Tarrytown
• Tuesday June 12th through Friday, June 222nd is Regents week.  CLICK HERE for the specific schedule.  Students will be receiving their official exam invitations this week.  
• Friday, June 15th is a school holiday, Eid al-Fitr.  There is no school that day.
• Friday, June 22nd is MS Stepping Up.  All teachers report to gym by 10AM
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Middle School Final Days.  This is a hectic month of assessments and trips, making planning for classes a little hectic.  Here's the breakdown for June.  

• Assessment Days
• Mon 04JUN18  - 8th Grade Science Written Exam (AM), normal PM schedule
• Tue 05JUN18 - Middle School Social Studies MOSL, half day, dismiss after lunch
• Wed 06JUN18 - Middle School Math MOSL - half day, dismiss after lunch
• Thu 08JUN18 - 7th & 8th Grade Trips, 6th Grade Normal Day
• Mon 11JUN18 - 6th Grade Trip, 7th & 8th Grade Normal Day
• Tue 12JUN18 - CC Algebra Regent - no 8th grade classes - only attend test
• Wed 12JUN18 - Living Environment Regent - no 8th grade classes - only attend test
• Thu 14JUN18 - 6th & 7th Grade Field Day, 8th Grade BBQ
• Fri 15JUN18 - Eid al-Fitr, NO SCHOOL
• Mon 18JUN18 and Tue 19JUN18 - Normal School Days
• Wed 20JUN18 and Fri 22JUN18 - 6th & 7th Grade Final Exams
• Thu 21JUN18 - 6th & 7th grade trips
• Wed 20JUN18 and Thu 21JUN18 - 8th grade trip and stepping up rehearsal
• Monday June 25th is a school day.  We will have a half-day schedule that day.  That is our high school graduation.   Stay tuned for the specific schedule next week.
• Tuesday, June 26th is the last day of school.  Students report to their advisors to pick up their final report card, summer school schedules (if applicable) and finish cleaning out lockers and returning school materials.  Once they've done all that, students are immediately dismissed.  Students must report to school before 10AM.  After 10, they must return in summer school to collect report cards.  Lockers will be clipped and emptied for them after 10AM.

Per Session Opportunities

Math MOSL grading - 

SEL Update

None this week