Week of March 7th

UAI Staff News

Volume IX

Issue 25

March 7th 2022

Updates To NYCDOE COVID Policies.    As you know, the mayor and chancellor have lifted COVID restrictions in schools.  Inevitably, this will cause anxiety & concern for some while inspiring relief in others.  

When COVID first broke in March of 2020, the 7 day average at its peak saw over 5400 new cases daily with an average of 829 deaths each today.  It was a scary time and place.

In the last two years, we have been on a definite roller coaster with this pandemic, but ultimately, one day, like all things, even this pandemic must pass.

Today, we are certainly in a different place with the pandemic than we were when it first broke out, or even where we were in December/January.  Daily infection is very low and the severely sick or dying as a result of COVID infection is very low, particularly among those who are fully vaccinated.  

Despite this new reality, folks' anxieties will no doubt remain high.  Please be conscious of that and to the extent possible please be kind and aware of yourself, be sensitive to your colleagues and to your students' concerns as we work through this next transition.  As a reminder, 

• Masks are optional.  There is no longer a mandate to wear masks in schools (except when returning from isolation due to a positive COVID 19 test result).  We cannot ask others to put on their masks.  If folks wish to wear masks (either for themselves or for others), that is ok.  If folks decide not to wear masks, again, that is their choice and is within policy.  Please avoid moves that may unintentionally isolate or malign individual decisions. For example, don't have assigned seats for those with/without masks.  We do not want to set up situations that may unintentionally create a system or situation of inequity or non-inclusion. 
  
  As a reminder, you still have the option to remain masked, with KN-95 masks and/or face shields that will continue to be provided by UAI.
  
  
• Physical Distancing is Optional.  You are now free to configure classrooms that maintain 3' distance between students.  You are welcome to maintain your original configurations, but you're also able to shift to more collaborative configurations, now.  

We will continue to keep you updated of positive cases and subsequent exposures and isolations as we receive them.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to Kiri, Annie, or Jen with any concerns or questions you may have!

Important dates this month.  

• 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 met to review the feedback on Learning Labs and Advisory.  You can see the agenda and notes here.  If you have any additional feedback, please do share your feedback with any member of the scheduling committee (Brodie, Marsha, Jelissa, Liza or Kiri).  Here are the major decisions from Wednesday's meeting:

• Advisory will meet twice a week AND Learning Labs will be formed by Advisories

• This addresses the “teaching familiar kids”

• Advisors already know their families and their academic history and needs

• This would also give advisors time to conference with their own kids

• We will be asking All Advisors to ask Advisory questions at Parent Conferences. 

• Scheduling Committee Members will run Focus Groups on LL and ADV during their own Advisories and Learning Lab

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!   

• You can always view our notes and decisions on THIS DOC. 
  Here's a summary or our work last week.
• The hiring committee conducted 5 demo lessons this past week.  Here are the results
• 3/5 of these demos were people of color
• 5/5 of these demos were women
• 2/5 were math, 1 social studies, 1 english, 1 science
• Decisions:
• 1/5 were hired, 2/5 are still being considered, 2/5 are a pass (but share)
• Hired 1 social studies teacher
• Still thinking on the math teachers
• Sharing out the english and science teachers to other schools
• 3/5 candidates hired or still being considered are people of color

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.   Monday Schedule for the Remainder for the Year

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

<<REPOST>>. 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)