Week of 26OCT20

UAI Staff News

Volume VIII

Issue 14

October 20th, 2020

Principal's Message

Mama Necessity.    This year has been a year of firsts for all of us.  The first year of teaching or working in schools is never easy, and returning to being a first year after years of experience and achievements is even harder.  

However, there is always opportunity in adverse situations.  In times of challenge innovation thrives out of necessity.   After the pain of banging our heads against the same wall and after the frustration of realizing that what used to work so well no longer does, we need to stop....be intentional....and take a step back.

The first thought might be, "I've tried everything I can"

The next thought should be, "So what haven't I tried, yet?"

When you turn your mind to that thought, that's when you'll begin to start seeing the open windows sitting next to the doors closed to you.  

So when it comes to getting kids to effectively engage in breakout rooms or class discussions, or figuring out how to get kids to regularly join zooms or turn in work, we need to think... "what haven't we tried, yet?"  

This week, challenge yourself and brainstorm with your planning team.  If your interventions are not creating a path to success for students, dig deep into the individual stories of the students to find things you may have not yet tried!

• Does this student have success in any class, if so which and why? If no, what could be happening?
• Does this student have reliable & functioning tech?  Does she know how to use it?  If no, what can we do to help?
• Who are the friends/family of this student?  Could they form a support/study group to help each other?
• Why isn't the student completing work (or participating in class)?  Do we know?  How do we find out?
• What's happening at home?  Do they need support and help that maybe the school can give? 
• What study structures are in place at home?  Is there a way to help the student set up a space and routine for learning?
• What other questions or avenues can we explore?

Even then, the answers may still elude you, and the student may still struggle, but that does not and will never mean that you failed.  You will only fail when you stop trying.  As long as we keep trying to help and support our students and their families in this incredibly challenging year, you are winning.  Believe in the eventuality that you will find the perfect combination that works.  When you do, your students and families will love and appreciate all that you did, and then you will know, all the work and effort will have been worth every minute of your time and effort!

You cannot hear it enough - but you are appreciated, your work and support is needed, and you are essential to making sure our students don't merely survive this school year, but rather that they THRIVE!

Don't Forget To Scroll To the Bottom to See This Week's Per Session Postings

Staff Birthdays This Week

NO Staff Birthdays This Week

BUT!! I just found all the kids' Bday data so 

now I can add that in this spot, too!

Monday, 26OCT20: Sofia (8), 

Tuesday, 27OCT20:  Hikari (9), Wadhia (10)

        Thursday, 29OCT20:  Joel (8), Kimora (9), Tiana (10), Fatoumata D (10)

Friday, 30OCT20:  Ashiya (8)

Saturday, 31OCT20:  Roan (9)

<<REPOST from Last Week>>.  Office Hours & Intervention.     

• Students who have NO documented evidence of intervention cannot receive a failing grade.
• If a student does not show up to intervention (or refuses intervention), teachers must call home.  Please record notes of conversation in Skedula (and cc Advisor).  
• If you cannot reach a student, please escalate immediately to advisor and direct supervisor (Annie/Kiri/Jen) for extra support

Attendance Procedures (Repost).  As per the Attendance Updates (Passcode: e10gZ&yp) I received during our principal's meeting last Tuesday, we are now tracking two types of attendance now.  Course attendance and School Attendance.  Course attendance is the exact same as it has been from the start.  Students must attend Live Zooms to be marked present.  We are now separating School Attendance OUT of course attendance.  School attendance will SOLELY be Advisory attendance.   What does this mean?

• NO CHANGE  Continue to take attendance for LIVE zooms (P=present; A=absent).  This includes course zoom classes (Math, Science, PE, Spanish, etc) and Advisory live zooms (circles or SEL/DL). 
• CHANGE.  Advisors take advisory attendance FIVE DAYS PER WEEK.   This will be the "School Attendance"
• TWO days per week:  Take LIVE Zoom attendance (as normal) for Circles and SEL/DL
• THREE days per week:  Take Friday-Style Advisory Attendance.   So, you send out a text or email or attendance questions or however you want to take advisory attendance (could also just be a quick 10min zoom check in if you wanted).  You mark student P=present or A=absent on all three non-live zoom class days each week.
• OPTIONAL.  You can continue to take Asynchronous Course Attendance (attendance for your English/Math/Science etc courses - anything but advisory).  use E=present and A= absent.  This is optional and not required.

<<REPOST from Last Week>>. Equity Analysis of Per Session Activities.  Only 1 person provided feedback on the feedback survey.  Please take a minute to look at the analysis and offer your insight?

The SRC will be looking at UAI systems and structures to confront and dismantle any biased practices.  Staffing & Hiring were one of the main priorities raised by staff last spring.  It is important that we keep an eye on our movements and attend to making sure opportunities are offered and staffed equitably.  Here is our YTD data from September (it doesn't not include the PD hours offered to all staff in August).  Please review and share your feedback (anonymously) so that the SRC can make any adjustments as needed. 

Diversity & Equity in Staffing Analysis YTD:  

• 22 people (of 44 total or 40% of staff) staffed 29 positions
• 2 counselor/dean (of 5 total) - 40%
• 2 paraprofessionals (of 4 total) - 50%
• 18 teachers (of 35 total) - 51%
  
  
• Of the 29 positions filled
• 40% - 11 positions are filled by black staff (7 people)
• 10% -   3 positions are filled by non-white staff (2 people)
• 43% - 15 positions are filled by white staff (13 people)

UAI teams working on co-constructing UAI into an Anti-Racist & Fully Inclusive School

• Circles Committee:  Jennifer, Juelle, Marsha, and Nakita  (not staffed Kristina, Laura)
• Equity Team: Damon, Elana, Kelly, Nakita, Phillan, Nina, Suzannah & Rebecca C  (all applicants staffed)
• School Restructuring Committee: Courtney, Laura, Marsha, Nadine, and Sarah M (all applicants staffed)
  
  

UAI teams working on school culture and student recruitment

• School Culture & Student Activities:  Elana, Kelly, Phillan, Rachel, & Rebecca F  (not staffed Jelissa, Nadine, Rebecca C)
• Student Recruitment Committee:  Christina, Jelissa, Phillan, and Rebecca F (all applicants staffed)

UAI teams working on school operations 

• Testing & Compliance:  Brodie, Kelly, Jamie (not staffed Kristina)

As an FYI- Here are the UAI Staff Race & Staff Position Demographics:

	Asian	Latinx	Black	White
Total	4	2	14	27	47
Counselor/Dean	0	0	1	4	5
Paraprofessional	0	0	3	1	4
Teacher	3	2	10	20	35
Leadership	1	0	0	2	3
	Asian	Latinx	Black	White
Total	9%	4%	30%	57%
Counselor/Dean	0%	0%	20%	80%
Paraprofessional	0%	0%	75%	25%
Teacher	9%	6%	29%	57%
Leadership	33%	0%	0%	67%

Per Session Postings

To Apply for any of the following per session opportunities, please COMPLETE THIS FORM and email the appropriate point person listed in this posting.  

Student Attendance and Academic Intervention Committee.  We are looking for at least one representative from each grade-team to meet help innovate and provide Tier 3 supports for students who are non-responsive to Tier 1 and 2 interventions provided to classroom staff.  Posting will close on November 9th.  To apply, email Kiri directly AND COMPLETE THIS FORM.

Student Newspaper Advisors.  Jen is looking to recruit teachers to be advisors and supports for a student run newspaper.  Hours will be 1-2 per week.  PLEASE NOTE - even if you have already been working with Jen on the Newspaper, you MUST apply to the posting if you wish to be paid.  Posting will close on November 2nd.  To apply,  email Jen directly AND COMPLETE THIS FORM.

Testing Coordinator. Posting Closed

Applied:  Brodie, Jamie, Kelly, and Kristina

Staffed:  Brodie, Jamie, and Kelly