Week of 28FEB22

UAI Staff News

Volume IX

Issue 24

February 28th, 2022

Celebrating Women's History.  Welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing and recharging February break!  

As we return from the vacation, we wrap up our celebrations of Black History and welcome in a month of celebrating Women's History.  

In addition to reaching into the archives of history & current events to center amazing women like Kentanji Brown Jackson (woot!! WOOT!!), this month, I encourage you to find the smaller, daily heroes to highlight and celebrate.  In your personal life or professional circles - who are the women who lift you up, teach you things, and inspire you to be better?  For which women (or young women) in your personal life or professional circles would you play that role?  Take a minute - right now - pull out that journal and funky pen that you got in January; jot down some ideas for those two questions...

Then make it a priority this month to find your hope.  It can start with those who are top of your mind or in your sphere almost everyday.  For example, here are some of mine today...

Hope comes from the people who inspire me

• Annie inspires me to be a better listener, to always pauses to hear - not just to be heard
• Jen inspires me to be a better empathizer, to remember that everyone's problems are the biggest ones... to them (Phillan is my other muse here, too)
• Elana inspires me with her endless personal strength and endurance.  She shows me daily that in spite of incredible odds and what seem like insurmountable obstacles, there is always a way through.  

Hope comes from the people who teach me

• Dai teaches me how to be more clear in my expectations & to be more intentional in my support.  AND she always teaches me how to find the laughter in the insanity
• Nakita teaches me the importance of remembering how folks perceive and learn and that slowing down is just as powerful (if not more so) than racing on.

There are so many more that come to mind once you get started... The first step is to just think about it.  When you do, jot them down in the journal - and then reach out to them to let them know.   We never really know how we impact others - positively.  We more often hear about the negative impact we have.  It's probably related to the fact that we often do not make it a priority to do that positive feedback loop.  

This month - celebrate women in history AND celebrate the women and people in your life who make you the stronger version you are today.  When you do, you may find messages like this one coming back to you.  Those are the messages that are the embodiment of hope and light that fuel the reason why we come to work at UAI each day.

Here's a message I just received from Khamiya Wilson, Class of 2014.

I’m not sure if you remember me but I have been thinking a lot about UAI, how it shaped me to be the person I am today. I was hoping to come to the school and speak with the students one of these days! Also, as we get closer to our 10 year milestone I wanted to know if you’ve ever considered doing a high school reunion? I think it would be very nice to see where we all ended up, and how similar yet different we all still are. It would also be great to see some of our old teachers who really changed our lives like Mr.Brodie, Ms.Denise, Mr.Hassan, Mr.Noam, Ms.Doris, etc. I miss you all so much and I always wonder if you all knew just how much you meant to us. I don’t know where I would be at this moment if I never attended UAI! 

Messages like these make all the crazy hard times worth it! So, this month, make it a point and your mission to share your messages of gratitude and hope with those who teach, inspire, and awe you. Think about it in the adult sphere and with your students. Inspiration and education comes to us from all directions - all you need to do is see.

Happy Women's History Month UAI!

Important dates this month.  

• Monday, 28FEB22:   Staff Meeting:  Scheduling Committee Focus Group #1
• Thursday, 03MAR22:  Consultation Committee Meeting
• Monday, 07MAR22:  First Monday of the Month Staff Meeting
• Monday, 14MAR22:  Second Monday of the Month Staff Meeting
• Wednesday, 16MAR22:  Evening Remote Parent Conferences 5-8PM
• Friday, 18MAR22:  Afternoon Zoom Parent Conferences 12-2:50PM
• Monday, 21MAR22: Staff Meeting:  Committee Report
• Wednesday, 23MAR22:  PSAT/SAT Day for grades 10 & 11; Trip day for all other grades
• Monday, 28MAR22:  MP3 Power Up Week Begins
• Monday, 28MAR22: Staff Meeting:  Committee Report
• Tues-Thur 29Mar-31Mar22:  NYS Middle School ELA Exams
• Friday, 01APR22:  MP3 Ends

Committee Updates

Scheduling Committee. The Scheduling Committee will be starting to engage school constituencies in the creation of next year's program.  In order to effectively engage with teachers, there will be a series of focus groups in person during Monday extended time.  The first focus group will be aimed at gathering staff input on what we need to keep, stop, or start for next year's schedule.  This move is in line with the committee's goal

• Incorporating Constituency Voices. By using focus groups with each constituency (Families/students/staff) at least once per quarter to give feedback and weigh in on decisions to move from where we are on the continuum to “Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institutions life and work"

As a reminder, you can always track progress by following the agenda and notes.  Please do share your feedback with any member of the scheduling committee (Brodie, Marsha, Jelissa, Liza or Kiri):

The Hiring Committee.  Our next fair is On March 12, 2022.  Please SHARE OUT THIS FLIER to anyone you know who may be looking for a job in teaching next year!  We begin demo lessons this week.

Equity Team.  Please see the meeting agenda and notes to review the highlights of our discussion.  Here are the draft goals for the Equity Team:

Circles Committee. No Updates this week.

Consultation Committee.  Next meeting is on Thursday 03MAR22 at 3PM in room 403.  See consultation committee notes.   Goals for this committee are still TBD

Instructional Leadership Team. Draft Goals are still TBD

Announcements

Resetting Flex Time.  At the start of this year, I made the executive decision to give you flexibility to use your extended time on Mondays and Tuesdays remotely.  As we enter into the remainder of the spring term, conditions have changed as have the needs of the school.  As a result, today, I'm amending that decision to apply only to address our current conditions and school community needs.

There are many committees working on mechanisms that will determine programming, staffing, and school wide policies for the upcoming school year.  In commitment to creating a fully inclusive and anti-racist school, staff voice in these processes is the highest priority - staff voice both on the committees and staff voice in the community at large.   To make that voice centered and heard, we need to meet.  Surveys are great, but they are limited in what they can accomplish.  Conversations, activity, and discussion provide more robust and rich mechanisms to engage staff in the building of programs & policies.

Here are the changes:

Tuesday extended time and family outreach will remain flexible for the rest of the Spring Term.  Advisors and Classroom teachers are expected to make weekly contact to their students updating families on student academic and social emotional growth in school.  All outreach must be documented in Skedula.

Mondays will revert to contractual agreement.  We will be needing these days to 

• engage staff in decisions regarding next year's program, 
• meet with instructional leaders to improve ENL/SPED strategy implementation
• engage staff in community building and ABAR work
• gather feedback from staff on program, hiring, and policy work in prep for 2022-23 school year

Monday Schedule for the Remainder for the Year

1. 28FEB   - Scheduling Committee
2. 07MAR - Staff Circles Committee
3. 14MAR - Staff Circles Committee
4. 21MAR - Co-Planning Team Meetings - In Person with Instructional Leaders
5. 28MAR - Co-Planning Team Meetings - In Person with Instructional Leaders
6. 04APR  - Staff Circles Committee
7. 11APR  - All Committee Benchmarking Report
   18APR - SPRING VACATION
8. 25APR - Co-Planning Team Meetings - In Person with Instructional Leaders
   02MAY - NO SCHOOL (Eid al-Fitr)
9. 09MAY - Staff Circles Committee
10. 16MAY - Staff Circles Committee
11. 23MAY - Scheduling Committee
    30MAY - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
12. 06JUN - Staff Circles Committee
13. 13JUN - All Committee Final Benchmarking Report
14. 20JUN - Staff Work Time- Room Packing & Readying for Summer
15. 27JUN - Final Full Staff Meeting - Staff Celebration!

MP3, MP4, and June Summer School.  MP3 like MP1 and MP2 will have a power up week (starting March 28th), and MP3 will end of Friday, April 1st.  

MP4 begins on Monday, April 4th and will end on Friday June 17th.  Power-Up Week for MP4 will be extended in calendar time due to all the breaks & testing in June.  MP4 Power UP will be the month of June.

• Week of 06JUN - 3 days (Tues 07JUN is a Clerical Day, Thur 09JUN is a PD Day)  
• Week of 13JUN
• 2 days for all (Regents Week begins on 15Jun)
• Special Programming for MS begins on 15JUN (see June Summer School below)

June Summer School will replace mandatory academic summer school.  July summer school will focus on enrichment opportunities and foundational skill building for students who are still closing learning gaps.  June Summer School will be time dedicated to students who need extra time to make up work for failed classes.

• HS Mandated June Summer School Students - will be required to attend school in person during ALL regents testing days.  HS Teachers will have special programs to work directly with those students who are failing their classes in place of Regents Week programs.  Additionally, per session will be available to all staff who provide extra support and tutoring for those students in need of extra support.
• MS Mandated June Summer School (grades 6/7) - will have special programming beginning 15JUN

To Do This Week

PAY ATTENTION TO THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS
This is the stuff that requires your attention AND it's stuff you need to do!

Take Skedula Attendance For ALL CLASSES.  Now that we are not asking advisors to make attendance outreach, we are heavily relying on all teachers to accurately take attendance IN SKEDULA.  Now that Skedula is back to working, please make sure that Skedula attendance is accurately reflected for each period.

Celebrate, Validate, and Include.  During outreach time this week, find time to call the homes of at least 5 students who

• Make you really love coming to UAI everyday AND/OR
• Have really impressed you in their growth over this year AND/OR
• Play a strong leadership role in your class or advisory AND/OR
• Inspire you to be their cheerleader - always AND/OR
• Do (or are) anything else that inspires you in some way..

Call home.  Share your thoughts with their families.  Focus on the specific concrete examples of how they are wonderful and why they are important to UAI and your class.  

Challenge yourself to also think about one thing your most challenging students do that merits a celebration.  Pull them aside in class or in the hall to share it quickly.  Give a call or send a text home to let their family know, too.

Upload Grades into Skedula.  This year, we will not have report cards given out during parent conferences.  Instead (like in the fall), we will be reviewing student progress, using Skedula, to help communicate with families.  Please make sure both your attendance and grades are up today date.  All grades and attendance data MUST BE ACCURATE as of 16MAR, the first of the parent conference dates.

Per Session Postings

Please complete THS PER SESSION INTEREST FORM and email Kiri to let her know that you are applying for a per session position.

2022 UAI SUMMER Camp.  This summer will build on what we started last summer in our effort to create highly engaging and challenging summer programming for our students.  Mandatory make-up programs have been moved into June and we are replacing the punitive form of summer school with programming that is aimed at enriching, exciting, and getting kids thrilled to be in school again!

We are looking for summer school teachers to offer programming this summer.  We will offer elective credit to the courses.  The courses can be anything that interests you, and classes will be limited no more than 15 students per class.  

We are looking for teachers to teach elective classes in:

• Arts:  Creative Writing, Art (visual, performing, or movement), Poetry, Storytelling, Photography etc.
• Social Justice:  Community Organizing, Protest Art, Social Media Campaigns, Etc.
• STEM:  Finance, Engineering, Drones, Rockets, 
• EntrepreneurialMedia:  Podcasting, YouTubing, Social Media Management, Documentary Film Making
• Open Call:  Have an Idea?  Submit it!!
  
  

Days:  11JUL-29JUL , Mondays-Thursdays ONLY

Hours (Max) 5 hrs per day 

    (90 min classes with an hour prep for each class up to two classes a day)

    Total possible hours = 60 hours    Minimum possible hours = 30 hours

Regents Prep 2022.  This summer we hope to offer Regents Prep in Algebra I, Geometry, Living Environment, Earth Science, US History, and English.  

Regents Prep consists of working with students on Regents Test prep to prepare them to take and pass the August Regent Exams AND then proctoring and grading those exams.

• Days:  08AUG-17AUG, Mondays - Thursdays ONLY
• Hours: 5 hrs per day (max) (90 min classes w/ hour prep per class, max of 2 classes per day)
• Total Possible Hours = 35 hours

 Summer Staffing.  Our summer programs require out-of-classroom staffing.  We are looking for folks to

• Supervise UAI Summer Camp (must have Admin License) and/or Regents Prep
• Coordinate UAI Summer Camp (teacher license ok) and/or Regents Prep
• Supervise SYEP Program (teacher/counselor/para license ok)
• Provide Waitlist Management and Student Recruitment Support (teacher/counselor/para license ok)

Week of February 14th

UAI Staff News

Volume IX

Issue 23

February 14th, 2022

Centering POC Voice at UAI (A Guest post by Jean).  Kristina, Nakita and I met several times last week and we are in the process of restructuring our work in fostering an anti-racist and anti-biased school.

The mission statement for our committee has not changed and is as follows:

To establish and maintain a brave space, in order to confront and dismantle individual biases, foster connection and relationships, and begin to build an antiracist and fully inclusive school community, so that all students have equal opportunity to thrive.

To continue this work, we believe it is imperative to begin ABAR work by hearing from the voices that are impacted most at UAI- the POC staff.

Our committee’s first benchmark goal for the Spring Semester is to have POC voices as the focal point for our steps moving forward.

On Monday, we will be setting up small focus groups that will allow a brave space for staff to share their experience working at UAI and their vision on what/how a fully inclusive and anti-racist school would look."

------------------------------------------------

Thank you Jean for bravely stepping into the limelight of the blog to share your teams' work and plans!

I want to formally and publicly say thank you to the Circles Team. They have bravely stepped up to lead the critical work we need to do as a community to move our school towards realizing our goal of becoming an anti-racist and fully inclusive community. I thank Nakita, Jean, and Kristina for putting themselves out there this year to take the leadership risks! Your work has been critical to our own reflections and needs, and your ability to incorporate feedback for the best interest of our staff and students has done (and continues to do) amazing work for our community. I am awed by your bravery, persistence, and commitment to the work. Thank you!

--------------------------------------------------

Here are the logistics

Please meet in your assigned rooms at 3PM. The committee created a series of prompts and activities to gather staff feedback, and in particular elevate input from staff who identify as POC.

• All the staff who identify as a POC will work with Nakita (rm 315) or Jean (Rm 515). I identify as a person of color, but I'm not joining those rooms on Monday. Both the committee and I agreed that having the principal in these spaces may not contribute to the sense of safety for all. So, I volunteered and the committee agreed that I not join the POC rooms. Instead, I will be supporting Kristina and the committee in room 415.
• All staff who do not identify as a POC will work with Kristina (rm 415).

• Room 315	Room 515	Room 415
  Nakita	Jean	Kristina
  Dai	Olympia	Claire	Jen
  Phillan	Adelle	Sarah M.	Sarah R
  Sallie	Judy	Elena	Kelly
  Martine	Christina	Sean	Matthew
  Denyea	Pauline	Kiri	Marni
  Cassandra	Jenetta	Jamie	Danielle
  Tiffany	Juelle	Tom	Alison
  Cherry	Aisha	Courtney	Rachel
  Damaris	Nina	Jake	Joey
  Jelissa	Elana	Annie	Rebecca
  Nicole	Jennifer	Shana	Freida
  Marsha		Laura	Brodie
  Leonela		Nica	Damon
  		Brenda-Marie	Liza

Important dates this week.  

• Wed 16FEB22:   BHM Virtual Speaker Series - UAI Welcomes Kimberly Lewis - M. Ed candidate in Human Development and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education 
• Thu 17FEB22:  BHM VIRTUAL Cinema Night Featuring THE WIZ
• Fri 18FEB22:  Rapid Dismissal at 2:30PM
• Mon 21FEB thru Fri 25FEB:  Mid Winter Recess NO SCHOOL

Committee Updates

Last Tuesday, members of all of the committees met to discuss how individual committee work moves our organization ahead in our goal in becoming an anti-racist and fully inclusive school.  Each committee agree to draft goals that are aligned to the Continuum on Becoming and Antiracist Institution.  In addition, committees will articulate clear benchmarks and metrics and dates by which to engage the entire staff in the work.  Here's where the committees are so far...

Scheduling Committee. Scheduling Committee met this week to draft goals and benchmarks aligning our work to the Continuum on Becoming an Antiracist School. You can track progress by following the agenda and notes.  Here are the draft goals, please do share your feedback with any member of the scheduling committee (Brodie, Marsha, Jelissa, Liza or Kiri):

• Incorporating Constituency Voices. By using focus groups with each constituency (Families/students/staff) at least once per quarter to give feedback and weigh in on decisions to move from where we are on the continuum to “Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institutions life and work: 

• Include Students/Families on the committee or somehow in the decision making - creating opportunities for Students/Families to help create the schedule at different points

• Share rationale of program parameters and limitations

• Concrete Goal:  At least 1 focus group with all constituencies per MP3 and MP4

• Connecting to larger organizations.  By looking at other school programs and/or connecting with programmers (or programming committees) at other schools, we can move from where we are to the continuum to “Actively working in larger communities (regional, national, global) to eliminate all forms of oppression [within our program] and to create multicultural organizations”.

• Concrete Goal:  Connect with at least 1 outside team and review at least 10 outside programs and at least  5 UAI historical program to help inform the program choices for this year.  (Members of the team will bring folks to the table) By Mid March
  
  

• Building Relationships & Trust.  Through these transparent processes and connections to the larger communities we will “Redefines and rebuild all relationships and activities in [our school community], based on anti-racist commitments.

• Concrete Goal - pull the Trust questions out of the LES Survey to use as metrics (need refine this one).  Survey on Satisfaction with the Schedule…(we could pull the satisfaction questions from the focus groups too - what would satisfy you about the program?) as Measured in June

The Hiring Committee.  The hiring committee had our first Hiring Fair on Saturday 12FEB22.  Our next fair is On March 12, 2022.  Please SHARE OUT THIS FLIER to anyone you know who may be looking for a job in teaching next year!  Here are the committee's draft goals 

• Diversity Staff Hires. Actively recruits and promotes members of groups have been historically denied access and opportunity
• By intentionally reaching out to organization for educators identifying as POC, the Hiring Committee will increase the number of folks identifying as POC in Round 1
• The committee will report results of each Hiring Fair and Demo Lessons in the subsequent Blog and will provide an indepth report of processes in April and in June.
• Inclusive and Interrogated Decision Making. Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institutions life and work
• By collaboratively interrogating decisions and actively raising up possible member biases around POC or conditions that may put folks identifying as a POC in Round 1 and in the Demo Lessons, the Hiring Committee will increase the percentage of POC being offered a position at UAI by Sept 22

Here are the results of this weekend's Hiring Fair. Jenetta, Phillan, Judy, Kelly, Sarah R, and Kiri conducted individual panels of 5 people with a total of 30 candidates. We cannot by law ask specific questions regarding race, religious belief, gender or sexual identification, etc. So, in our analysis of the % of folks who identify as a person of color, we are only counting those folks who self-identified (unprompted) during the interview. It certainly is not a perfect analysis so if folks have other ideas, please do share with a member on the committee!

Here are our Round 1 Results

• 30 total candidates:
• 11 self-identified as a POC, 19 did not
• 11 were promoted to do a Demo Lesson:
• 6 self-identified as a POC, 5 did not
• Here's the complete list

Equity Team.  Please see the meeting agenda and notes to review the highlights of our discussion.  Here are the draft goals for the Equity Team:

• Increasing commitment to dismantle racism and eliminate inherent white advantage (4)

• Concrete Goal: Restorative practices will begin to be used in response to misbehavior (deans will use conferencing protocols, students will repair harm done) by April 25

• Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institutions life and work (5), Commits to process of intentional institutional restructuring, based upon anti-racist analysis and identity (5)

• Concrete Goal: Complete draft discipline policy using restorative practices by May 15

• Concrete Goal: Equity team members will be trained in restorative justice by June 28 

• Actively recruits and promotes members of groups have been historically denied access and opportunity

• Concrete Goal: Students will create a youth leadership council led specifically by students to address disproportionality across UAI school systems and structures by engaging the full school community. Launch council meetings by April 11.

Circles Committee. See Opening Message from Jean

Consultation Committee.  Next meeting is on Thursday at 3PM in room 403.  See consultation committee notes.   Goals for this committee are still TBD

Instructional Leadership Team. Draft Goals are still TBD

Announcements

<<REPOST>> Monthly Meetings.  For the Spring Term, we will be moving all of our meetings to Mondays.  They will be the first and 2nd Monday of each month.  In place of ENL/SPED PD Mondays, we will continue our ABAR work and community building on the first Monday of the month.  In place of grade team attendance meetings (which is not being handled by out-of-classroom staff), we will 

• move these Tuesday Meetings from the 1st Tuesday to the 2nd Monday
• AND these Monday meetings will be a mix of ongoing ABAR work & community building and items as needed, including additional co-planning and/or outreach time.

All staff are required to be onsite on the first and 2nd Monday of each month from 3:00-4:10.  Please do not schedule any conflicting appointments during that time.

Teacher Flex Time.  As a reminder, I made our extended time on Monday and Tuesday, flexible in terms of where you work - NOT flexible in terms of IF you work.  You are still contractually responsible for professional development and outreach that would have occurred during that time.  You are allowed to use a flexible work location and time to achieve these same goals.  So, for example, you and your planning teams can choose to zoom meet or you could complete outreach calls from home.  But UFT Staff are still required to fulfill the PD (which has been converted to increased planning & prep tine this year) and outreach (which is academic outreach for your classes) that is contractually required.

To Do This Week

PAY ATTENTION TO THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS
This is the stuff that requires your attention AND it's stuff you need to do!

Take Skedula Attendance For ALL CLASSES.  Now that we are not asking advisors to make attendance outreach, we are heavily relying on all teachers to accurately take attendance IN SKEDULA.  Now that Skedula is back to working, please make sure that Skedula attendance is accurately reflected for each period.

Per Session Postings

Please complete THS PER SESSION INTEREST FORM and email Kiri to let her know that you are applying for a per session position.

• Special Education & ENL Team Meeting.  All ENL and SPED co-teachers are invited to meet weekly with fellow SPED/ENL teachers on Tuesdays at 3PM to develop their capacity to support ENL and SPED students and to then turnkey those skills to their co-planning partners in their co-planning classes and meetings.  1 hours per week per session for the remainder of the school year.  Please complete the per session interest form and email Kiri by 07MAR22.
  
  
• Per Session Opportunity - Women's History Month Planning
  March is Women's History Month and historically UAI has celebrated with a host of different events promoting career exploration, health and well-being and college readiness.
  The Culture Committee is looking for staff to help with this important and FUN work by creating opportunities for our students, staff and families via planning lessons, hosting speaker series opportunities and/or creating fun and engaging in-day or after school (virtual or in-person) events.
  
  
  Up to 4 hours of per session for the planning and execution.
  
  
  Please email Jen with your interest Deadline to apply is 2/28

Week of Feb 7th

UAI Staff News

Volume IX

Issue 22

February 7th, 2022

Principal Message

The Power of Small Achievable Goals.  One of the major clouds overhanging all of our self-efficacy during the times of COVID is this idea that we are somehow no longer as "good" as we once were.  I certainly feel this as a school leader; I have listened as many staff who have shared similar feelings, and certainly, I've heard the same from our students, families, and partners.  

Regardless of our role at UAI or the part we play in our school community, we could all use some wins. 

This week, set 1-2 achievable goals for yourselves and work with your students to do the same.  Goals should be simple, meaningful, and achievable.  Here are some examples

• For me - I'm making it a goal to complete all scheduled observations this week AND write them all up within 24 hours.
• For staff - goals will be relative to your position, but could look like
• Plan & execute a compete feedback cycle this week
• Finish Final Assessment for this Unit
• Visit A Challenging Student in Another Class to Learn more about them
• Call Five Students for Positive Feedback
• Conference with Five Students Who Failed MP2 to Set Clear Goals for MP3
• Write in your Journal Daily to Focus Energy on What you Can Control
• Sign Up for a Wellness Program from NYC to support individual Well-Being
• For Students
• Check To Do List and Work on it in Learning Lab Each Day This Week
• Read 10 pages in book of their choice Each Day This Week
• Do 10 minutes of foundational math skill building each day this week
• Ask a thoughtful questions in each class this week
• Give positive feedback to at least three teachers this week
• Show up to school on time each day this week
• Show up to class on time each day this week

Achieving the goals is the point of the exercise - not any external reward or treat.  Setting and achieving a series of goals builds individual self-efficacy.  Through growing self-efficacy, we also build self-confidence, and subsequently, this acts as one tool to help strengthen mental health and well-being.

Important dates this week.  

• 08FEB22 - 4PM Last Basketball Game - Guests Invited! MUST be vaccinated
• 09FEB22 - 4:30PM. UAI BHM Speaker Series Welcomes Ruqayyah Batts
• https://zoom.us/j/3183680971?pwd=azFvdFkwUFBEbjFzNXVDc3hBMm5FZz09
  Password: UAI
• 10FEB22 - 3PM. UAI Celebrates Black History Month Paint is & "Sip" in the Cafe
• 11FEB22 - 4:30PM. BHM VIRTUAL Cinema night Featuring Harriett
• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87105178222pwd=eUpENDhjd2RmUmxwYk1UdGxuNFRwUT09
  Meeting ID: 871 0517 8222
  Passcode: UAIYES!

Committee Updates

Scheduling Committee. Scheduling Committee launched this week.  Marsha, Jelissa, Brodie and Liza joined Kiri to begin the work of creating the program for next year.  Their first meeting was this past Wednesday to learn some basics and begin the work.  You can track progress by following the agenda and notes.

The Hiring Committee.  The hiring committee will have it's first full meeting next Saturday, 12FEB22.  We will also be holding our first Hiring Fair that same day.  Please SHARE OUT THIS FLIER to anyone you know who may be looking for a job in teaching next year!

Equity Team.  Please see the meeting agenda and notes to review the highlights of our discussion.

Circles Committee. We have an upcoming all-staff meeting on Monday to do some community building. We heard your feedback on groupings and wanted to give you a choice for the Spring groups. 

Please go to this document and put your name into the room and group you'd like to be in for the rest of Spring term for meetings about identity, ABAR work, and community building. It would be great if you could do this before Monday so Jean, Kristina, and I can plan our meeting as best as we can. 

Because of the library construction, we are going to be split into 3 rooms, and within each of those rooms we will have small groups for any small group discussion work moving forward. The bolded lines on the spreadsheet will help you figure out groupings. 

Consultation Committee.  No updates this week.  See consultation committee notes.   

Announcements

Vacation Requests  If you were a DOE employee working in a UFT title during the spring break of April 2020, you qualify for having up to 7 vacation days.  You should have seen your vacation days in your Feb 1st paystub.

• Originally, the agreement gave all staff who worked during that time 4 CAR days.  That original agreement was appealed and the arbitrator's final decision was to provide UFT staff who worked those days with 7 vacation days instead.  So, those 4 CAR days will be removed and replaced with 7 vacation days.
• NOTE:  If you already used those 4 CAR days (or some part of the 4, like 1, 2, or 3 or those CAR days), then you will receive less vacation days.  For example, if you used all 4 CAR days, then you will only receive 3 vacation days (or 4 if you used 3 CAR days, etc. etc.).  If your CAR has less than 4 days, this may impact you.
• Vacation days are different than CAR days in that
• They are 1:1 and not 1:2 like CAR.  So, when you separate from the DOE, you can get paid for all the CAR days left in your bank at a rate of 1:2 (so if you have 10 CAR days, you'll get paid for 5).  However, vacation days are 1:1.  So, if you have 7 days at the end, you'll be paid for all 7.  
• Like CAR days, Vacation Days and payment is based on your current salary.  So, if you hold onto your CAR and Vacation days as long as possible, they will accrue in value, relative to your salary.
• To request vacation days
• You must request at least 10 school days in advance of the day you want.
• All days will be approved unless too many have already requested the same day.
• Unlike CAR days, Vacation days are usable to extend vacation time (e.g. you can use them before or after a vacation

Monthly Meetings.  For the Spring Term, we will be moving all of our meetings to Mondays.  They will be the first and 2nd Monday of each month.  In place of ENL/SPED PD Mondays, we will continue our ABAR work and community building on the first Monday of the month.  In place of grade team attendance meetings (which is not being handled by out-of-classroom staff), we will 

• move these Tuesday Meetings from the 1st Tuesday to the 2nd Monday
• AND these Monday meetings will be a mix of ongoing ABAR work & community building and items as needed, including additional co-planning and/or outreach time.

All staff are required to be onsite on the first and 2nd Monday of each month from 3:00-4:10.  Please do not schedule any conflicting appointments during that time.

Teacher Flex Time.  As a reminder, I made our extended time on Monday and Tuesday, flexible in terms of where you work - NOT flexible in terms of IF you work.  You are still contractually responsible for professional development and outreach that would have occurred during that time.  You are allowed to use a flexible work location and time to achieve these same goals.  So, for example, you and your planning teams can choose to zoom meet or you could complete outreach calls from home.  But UFT Staff are still required to fulfill the PD (which has been converted to increased planning & prep tine this year) and outreach (which is academic outreach for your classes) that is contractually required.

To Do This Week

PAY ATTENTION TO THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS
This is the stuff that requires your attention AND it's stuff you need to do!

Per Session Opportunity - Women's History Month Planning

March is Women's History Month and historically UAI has celebrated with a host of different events promoting career exploration, health and well-being and college readiness.

The Culture Committee is looking for staff to help with this important and FUN work by creating opportunities for our students, staff and families via planning lessons, hosting speaker series opportunities and/or creating fun and engaging in-day or after school (virtual or in-person) events.

Up to 4 hours of per session for the planning and execution.

Please email Jen with your interest Deadline to apply is 2/1

Per Session Postings

Please complete THS PER SESSION INTEREST FORM and email Kiri to let her know that you are applying for a per session position.

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