Week of May 1st

 UAI Staff News

Volume X

Issue 28

May 1st, 2023

Celebrating AAPI Month.  May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month!  This month we celebrate the rich cultural histories and contributions of AAPI peoples from all over the world.

Today, I think about my Dad.  My dad was born in Molokai, Hawaii.  Like so many island children, he was a hodgepodge of cultures.  Mostly Filipino & Chinese with a sprinkling of Native Hawaiian tossed in there generations back (or so the story goes...most likely - that part was just a story).  

My father was a chemist, and he firmly believed in the power of education and learning.  He used to buy me all sorts of little puzzles and get me to solve riddles since my earliest memories as a child.  They started off as little metal puzzle (you know - those ones where you have to separate pieces mysteriously locked together), and the puzzles graduated to more complex games (like chess), and riddles.

I definitely didn't realize it at the time, but those games and challenges laid the ground work for the confidence I've always had in math and my facility with problem solving.  Just like reading to babies builds the foundation for literacy in children, my father's puzzles, riddles, and challenges built my foundational reasoning & problem solving skills.  

Don't get me wrong...he carried strong beliefs around the superiority of boys and the prioritization of having sons (he had 3 daughters before he had his boy... I was the "oops" baby after my brother!).  But he also valued more the importance of learning and the belief that all of his children should and could learn and thrive in all disciplines.

There are lots of stereotypes for AAPI folks around excellence in school, and in particular in STEM.  As a product of my father's parenting, I can say, from personal experience, that it stemmed not from a belief and value in learning, and all learning - including math & science.

Our American culture allows folks to shy away and fear math, especially.  However, when you're raised with a dad who believes otherwise, you find ways to be shielded from that messed up cultural value.

Not everyone had my dad (and trust - that's probably a good thing LOL), but all of our students do deserve the right to grow up fearless in math, and thinking about themselves as adept and capable problem solvers.  

As I look to observe and celebrate AAPI month - I will raise up this piece of my own history to share with our whole community.  If even a little bit of it results in an increased confidence and bravery of our students in math and science, then I will count that as a real reason to celebrate!

Important dates. 

• Tuesday, May 2nd - Tuesday Outreach Time - MP4 Progress Report #1 Grade Entry
• Tuesday, 03MAY23 - HS Mock Regent Day 3 (Social Studies)
• Thursday, 04MAY23 - UAI Math Team Citywide Lighthouse Visit
• May 2, 3, 4, 9 - AP Exams and AP Exam Roster
• Monday, May 8th and Tuesday May 9th - Progress Report #1 Distributed
• May 15th-22nd - NYSESLAT Testing
• Tuesday, May 23rd - Tuesday Outreach Time - MP4 Progress Report #2 Grade Entry
• Monday, May 29th - Memorial Day - NO School
• Tuesday, May 30th & Wednesday May 31st - Progress Report #2 Distributed
• Thursday, Jun 1st - US History Regents - NO School - grades 8-12
• Friday, Jun 2nd - 8th Grade Prom
• June 5th - 12th - Final Exam Week
• Monday 05JUN - English Final Exams
• Tuesday, 06JUN - Math Final Exams
• Wednesday, 07JUN - Social Studies Final Exams
• Thursday, 08JUN - Brooklyn Queens PD Day - NO Classes
• Friday, 09JUN - Science Final Exam
• Monday, 12JUN - Breadth/Elective Final Exams
• Tuesday, 13JUN22 - Last day of High School Classes

Announcements & To Dos

Washington DC Trip Success.  Many thanks to Kelly who worked hard to organize and coordinate our FIRST trip out of state since the pandemic.  For many of our kids, this was the FIRST time they spent the night away from home!!!  Experiences like these are sooooo important for our young people as they grow their dreams.  Thank you Kelly for making that magic happen.

Thank you also to Tiffany, Freida, Danielle, and Lia for chaperoning.  It is a big ask to keep the kids safe, and your willingness to step up to go on the trip is very much appreciated.  THANK YOU, TOO!!

Support our UAI Math Team Lighthouse.  Judy, Tiffany, Amanda, and Danielle H have been working with the book Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl to improve their instruction and student outcomes.  Not many folks have signed up yet.  Please help them get the word out by sharing this brief May the 4th Be With You in Math promo, and please help them get the word out by directing folks to register using THIS LINK.

Mock Regents Exams.  Update - Math will have a special schedule mock regent on May 5th.  Students will report to 2nd period, and then remain there for 2nd & 3rd, taking a mock regent.  All other classes will conduct mock regent exams in their regular class periods (so no class time loss!)

MP4 Log of Support.  Thank you ALL for updating the log of support.  Our counselors are also providing 1:1 support for our students who are on the list to make sure that they are getting additional help. Please continue to record your intervention and support by updating the  MP4 Log of Intervention and Support each week. Supports can be:

• In-Class Supports:  1:1 Conferences, Individualized Assignments, Small Group Intervention, 
• Advisor Academic 1:1 Coaching (regular grade checks and conferences about course progress)
• Family Outreach: Calls Home, Texts of Progress (e.g. screenshot of grades), Emails home

Advisors:  For any advisee that is on the MP4 Log of Intervention and Support please make sure that you are meeting with them weekly. 

Monday PD.  We will be continuing our work in our CEP groups.  We did have some conflict with Girls Inc Rooms.  So please reach out to your CEP team lead to get updated room assignments.

Tuesday Outreach  Please print and distribute your Advisory's MP3 report cards from
THIS FOLDER.  Please distribute during Advisory on Monday or Tuesday.  To print

• Open the grade file
• Find your advisee's report cards (you can search for their names and print 1 by 1 or you can find your first and last advisee's names (sorted by last name) and print the range.  If you don't know how to print a range, just print 1 name at a time.  It will be easier and most likely, it will take about the same amount of time it would take you to find someone to help you to print the range (LOL)!
  
• Alternately, you can take screen shots of the report cards or pics on your phone and text or email the report cards to kids and families.

HS AP Testing Begins This Week.  Beginning Tuesday, 02MAY, we will be holding AP exams in room 147.  All classes in 147 will have to be relocated for the week.   Please review the   AP Exams and AP Exam Roster.  Rebecca and Danielle I will be point people for these exams.

MS Math Testing This Week.  The Middle School will be taking the MS Math exam on 02&03MAY.   All Math teachers MUST review the lists, room assignments and schedule with kids on Monday.  For all students in grades 6, 7, or 8, this the annual Math test they take in grades 3-8.  8th graders wanting to take the Regent exam, may also take the Algebra Regent exam in June.   

Per Session Postings

For ALL per session activities (view all 2022-23 postings here),
please complete Per Session Application For

Summer School.  If you are interested in working summer school, please complete THIS FORM.

Per Session Postings Now Closed