Week of August 30th

UAI Staff News

Volume IX

Issue 2

August 29th, 2021

Principal's Message

Welcome Back!  Aaaannnd... We're back!  Just like that!

This week many of you will be coming to the building to set up classrooms to welcome back students to learning inside our school building.  It has been nearly 18 months since we last had all of our students learning together in our building, and it has been way too long since our school felt truly alive!

With the return to school, inevitably there are soo many unanswered questions and as a result, a slew of mounting anxieties - BUT - along with the stress, we must remember that there is also JOY!

Connecting with our students in person and working with them to grow, learn, and develop from young children into amazing, talented young-adults is what we do.  We cry with pride and joy when we say goodbye at graduation, because we know how much love, effort, and work went into helping each of our superstars realize their potential.  Our jobs are never easy, always complex, and relentlessly taxing - BUT - our work is fulfilling, fully of joy & love, and always worthwhile to both our students and their families.  

This year - make sure you remember to raise up the joy, love and fun as we launch into the work.  It takes intentionality and effort to do this.  Our evolution makes it easy for us to focus on stress, problems, and anxiety.  We've evolved to focus on the negative - because the negative could be bad enough to end us.  However, solely focusing on that which could end us, makes us forget why we fight so hard to survive.

This year - there will be a lot of noise around COVID, learning, and navigating all of the re-growing pains of learning in person (and during classroom closures).  However, if you make it a point to stop and look for them - there are always moments of joy & love in working with our amazing super star students.  Those moments happen in each class and everyday - they always exist and are always worthwhile.   

So... as we launch into this new year, I call on us all to recognize and manage our stress and anxieties as the necessary part of returning to in-person learning with COVID still not completely at bay AND at the same time, I call on us all to intentionally make the mental space and time to recognize and appreciate (and maybe even create) the joy & love in the work we do together with our children and their families.

We got this! So let's do this!

Committee Updates

School Committees for 2021-2022

Last year our committees led our community through the very hard work of moving UAI to become an anti-racist organization.  This type of transformational change takes time as we work on revamping policies, adjust individual mindsets, and collectively work towards creating the school our staff, students and families deserve.  

The work of those committees continues on! They are open for all staff to join and work on.  

• Consultation Committee (Replacing the School Restructuring Committee):  The UFT consultation committee will replace the School Restructuring Committee.  The UFT Consultation Committee will be comprised of members from the UFT and DC37 (as decided by the union membership) and school leadership (Kiri, Annie, and Jen).  As was true with the SRC, the Consultation Committee will be charged with addressing issues raised by union members or school leaders, and collectively the committee will determine how to address those issues and concerns.  The Consultation Committee will be empowered to enact transactional changes and will refer transformational change items to other committees (Equity Team, ILT, Circles).  
  
  This committee is NOT per session.  Consultation Committees are contractual agreements and best practice for schools.
  
  
• Equity Team:  Last year the Equity Team worked to revamp our school grading policy (which we will review next week in PD).  As we return, we know that our School Discipline issues will require the same depth of study and reform in order to ensure equity in how we address behavior issues at UAI.  So, we are moving the grading work to an Instructional Leadership Team (see below), and this year Rebecca will lead the Equity Team to study UAI School Discipline.  Courtney & Jelissa will also be on the committee (because our deans are centrally involved with school discipline), in addition to these three, we are looking for at least two more teachers, two students, and two parents.  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  
• Instructional Leadership Team:  The Instructional Leadership Team will have the following members pre-selected to the team by Kiri & Annie.  These folks were all pre-selected because they each have demonstrated strong capacity in their instructional planning, work well with colleagues in elevating instructional practice & student performance, and have shown strong leadership skills in their work on teams and committees. Pre-selected staff are:  Phillan (SPED), Nina (Math), Nakita (Science), Kelly (Social Studies/ENL), and Rachel (ELA).  This team will be working with Kiri and Annie to continue the work required to support our move to mastery based grading and to provide support needed for staff to develop the skills and knowledge required to successfully implement mastery-based grading policies.
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers. 
  If you are also interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  

• Circles Committee:  Last year our Circles Committee worked to help develop staff understanding of anti-racist/anti-bias strategies, and to help us build relationships among staff.  Nakita will lead the Circles committee work along with Jennifer and Juelle.  This year, circles will meet monthly to continue to support our school community relationships and continued ABAR work.  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  
  
• School Culture Committee:  The school culture committee is charged with creating activities and events that celebrate students achievement and make school FUN!  This includes organizing virtual assemblies (no in-person gatherings this year), coordinating student of the month selection, announcement, and celebration, Spirit weeks, and collecting student opportunities both in and outside of school (e.g. after school clubs, volunteers opportunities, special classes or experiences, etc.) and communicating with and recruiting students to these opportunities so that they can continue to build out their learning experiences outside of school.
  
  We are recruiting 1 staff person from each grade-team for this role (so that we have a person on each grade team to streamline communication).
  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 

Announcements

Program Updates. This year we are doing something a little bit different for our 8-12th graders.  We are giving them the opportunity to choose their core classes - just like college students pick their courses in college.  This means that our schedule will be slightly different then in years past for 8th-12th grade students and teachers.  It will definitely take some time to get used to this shift, but courses will no longer be grade based.  So you can expect to be teaching kids from grades 8, 9 or 10 OR kids from grades 11/12 in the same class.  We will be meeting in subject teams during our September PD days next week to review this in detail.  

For 6th & 7th graders, the schedule  is the same as it ever was! Kids remained in groups (aka pods) all day, but unlike in COVID times, they will be able to move to different classes.

Click HERE to see the schedule.  Please check your schedule against students schedules and room schedules.  If you catch a mistake, please complete this form. I'll share out those questions and answers during our PD review next week.

First Week of School.  Returning to in person learning after such an extended hiatus will require some transitioning for us all.  As such, we have planned a special orientation week schedule for the first week of school.  The goals for this week are to:

• Welcome students, staff, and families back to in-person learning at UAI, and create warm, welcoming, and inclusive connections among teachers & students in their learning communities.

• Establish strong relationships between advisors & students and among students in the same advisory.

• Develop Mental Health & Social Emotional Skills to manage inevitable stress and anxiety in returning to school

• Introduce student choice and support student selection of their own programs.

• Complete nuts and bolts of school launch logistics

Jean is working on the details of the schedule and will be ready with it next week during our PD days.
Click Here to see sample schedule and some more details on what you can expect.

To Do This Week

Classroom/Office SetUp.  All staff are invited to come in (for training rate per session - up to 15 hours of work) to set up classroom and/or offices.  Because some of these spaces have not been occupied for a year and a half, there is significant work and furniture moving that will need to be done.  Unfortunately, we only have two custodians staffed during the day and they are not on hand to move everyone's furniture.

• Please do not scratch the floors.  If you want to move heavy furniture, use sliders.  Either purchase your own or use cardboard to place under the feet of heavy desks or corners of shelves to push furniture.  Please lift desks and chairs to move (or purchase felt feet - remember you get $250 in reimbursable UAI teacher choice).
• Please do not leave anything in the hallways.  If you need any furniture moved out of your classroom, please place it by the door and label it for removal.  I will ask custodians to check the classrooms each night for furniture removal. 
  
  
• Please do not TAKE any furniture without asking.  If you need furniture, please visit other classrooms and spaces and ask the persons who are in those rooms if they have anything you can use.  Please DO NOT JUST TAKE furniture.  Have a conversation (via in-person, text or email exchange) with the folks who are in that room (names of room assignments will be hung on the doors) before removing any furniture from that room.
  
  
• Students Chairs are spaced 3' apart.  Use the floor tiles as guides.  There should be 3' between the center of the chairs.  Avoid setting up chairs where students are facing one another.  Side-by-side is ok, but directly facing and 3' apart not so good.  If you're confused, come find me or Annie or Jen.  We'll pop by to give some advice.
  
  
• Decorate with Representation & Inclusivity.  As you prepare your classrooms for learning, please make sure you are creating warm and inviting classrooms that show students that we know who they are and that they are valued.  What we choose to display illustrates what we value.  Show our students that they are valued by creating displays and signs that respect, celebrate, and represent our learners and their rich diversity!
  
  
• Please NO microwaves or refrigerators in classrooms or offices.  So, at the end of this week, I'll be doing a walk through with custodians to check all offices and classrooms (and closets) for microwaves and refrigerators.  Please do not install them in your offices or classrooms this year.  Please use the ones provided for you in the teacher's lounge in the main office.  Custodians will remove any microwaves and refrigerators from classroom and office spaces this year, if they find them while cleaning.

Vaccination Verification.  All DOE staff must have proof of vaccination (at least first dose) by 27SEP21.  In order to provide the DOE your vaccination status, please upload proof of vaccination through the DOE’s Vaccination portal, here: https://vaccine.schools.nyc/.   Employees who have one dose but who are not fully vaccinated by September 27 will still be expected to update their records when fully vaccinated.  

For more information and updates, visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal page on the DOE InfoHub. More information about locations where New Yorkers can receive a vaccine for COVID-19 can be found at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or call 877-VAX-4-NYC. 

 

Per Session Postings

• Posting Closes 12SEP21: 
  Equity Team:  Last year the Equity Team worked to revamp our school grading policy (which we will review next week in PD).  As we return, we know that our School Discipline issues will require the same depth of study and reform in order to ensure equity in how we address behavior issues at UAI.  So, we are moving the grading work to an Instructional Leadership Team (see below), and this year Rebecca will lead the Equity Team to study UAI School Discipline.  Courtney & Jelissa will also be on the committee (because our deans are centrally involved with school discipline), in addition to these three, we are looking for at least two more teachers, two students, and two parents.  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  
• Posting Closes 12SEP21: 
  Instructional Leadership Team:  The Instructional Leadership Team will have the following members pre-selected to the team by Kiri & Annie.  These folks were all pre-selected because they each have demonstrated strong capacity in their instructional planning, work well with colleagues in elevating instructional practice & student performance, and have shown strong leadership skills in their work on teams and committees. Pre-Selected Are:  Phillan (SPED), Nina (Math), Nakita (Science), Kelly (Social Studies/ENL), and Rachel (ELA).  These teachers will be working with Kiri and Annie to continue the work required to support our move to mastery based grading and to provide support needed for staff to develop the skills and knowledge required to successfully implement mastery-based grading policies.
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers. 
  If you are also interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  

• Posting Closes 12SEP21: 
  Circles Committee:  Last year our Circles Committee worked to help develop staff understanding of anti-racist/anti-bias strategies, and to help us build relationships among staff.  Nakita will lead the Circles committee work along with Jennifer and Juelle.  This year, circles will meet monthly to continue to support our school community relationships and continued ABAR work.  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply 
  
  
  
• Posting Closes 12SEP21: 
  School Culture Committee:  The school culture committee is charged with creating activities and events that celebrate students achievement and make school FUN!  This includes organizing virtual assemblies (no in-person gatherings this year), coordinating student of the month selection, announcement, and celebration, Spirit weeks, and collecting student opportunities both in and outside of school (e.g. after school clubs, volunteers opportunities, special classes or experiences, etc.) and communicating with and recruiting students to these opportunities so that they can continue to build out their learning experiences outside of school.
  
  We are recruiting 1 staff person from each grade-team for this role (so that we have a person on each grade team to streamline communication).
  
  
  This committee is a per session position for teachers.
  If you are interested in joining the Equity Team, please email Kiri and click here to apply