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
- 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.
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!
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
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