UAI Staff News
Volume XI
Issue 31
April 15th, 2024
Marking Period Four is HERE! This is the last week of school for April AND the first week of the final marking period of the 2023-24 school year. MP3 Grades are due by 3PM on Wednesday, 17APR24, and MP4 is time to push and support our students the most!
I hear from folks a lot about the tension between holding high standards for students and over-supporting or coddling them. The goal is to find the right balance of pushing them to achieve on their own AND giving them the support and guidance they need to get there.
We have to remember that our students are all in very different stages of their development. Some fly high and easily. Others work extremely hard to achieve minimal results. Some hardly seem to show any effort, but somehow manage to turn it out on major assessments or projects. Our job and role is to make the time to try to figure out the exact needs for each individual student.
As you enter in final grades for MP3, make sure to take the time to think about WHY students are performing the way they are in your class. If they are missing assignments - why? Dig deeper than attendance. Make time to talk to your students and find out from their perspective what seems to be getting in the way of their success.
As you enter in final grades for MP3, make sure to take the time to think about WHY students are performing the way they are in your class. If they are missing assignments - why? Dig deeper than attendance. Make time to talk to your students and find out from their perspective what seems to be getting in the way of their success.
Conversely, don't mistake student compliance as evidence of achievement. If students are achieving high grades in your class, take a moment to ask why. Do they consistently demonstrate competence on performance assessments (without scaffolds or support)? If no, why not? What needs to change to have their effort more effectively push their master of course standards?
A large part of our jobs in schools is planning and preparing lesson to help students acquire new knowledge and skills. An equally large (and too often shortchanged) component of the job is assessing how well those plans worked for students and how well students are able to show mastery of course topics and standards.
A large part of our jobs in schools is planning and preparing lesson to help students acquire new knowledge and skills. An equally large (and too often shortchanged) component of the job is assessing how well those plans worked for students and how well students are able to show mastery of course topics and standards.
The benchmarks showed us a lot about how well students mastered the standards.
You will need to use your course data AND conferences with students to better understand how well your instruction is working for your students.
Reflecting, refining, and pushing both ourselves and our students to do and achieve more is the way we end this year strong!
Welcome to MP4 All! Let's stick this landing!!
Important Upcoming dates
- MON 15 APR - MP4 begins (Last Marking period!!)
- MON 15APR - Make NYS ELA Exams in Room 147
- MON 15APR - PD begins at 3PM (3-4:30PM) in the Farm to prep for Teach In
- Intro to UAI Schoolwide Teach In
- WED 17APR - MP3 Grades Due at 3PM
- WED 17APR - Make up P/SAT Exams Room TBD
- FRI 19APR - Rapid Dismissal at 2:30PM - All staff and students must exit the building
- MON 22APR-Tue 30APR - Spring Recess - NO SCHOOL
- MON 06MAY - Staff Appreciation Week
- TUE 07MAY - WED 08MAY - NYS MS Math Exams
- TUE 07MAY - AP Exams Begin
- Tue 07MAY - AP Seminar Exam
- Wed 08MAY - AP Lit Exam
- Mon 13MAY - AP PreCalc Exam
- Tue 14MAY - AP Lang Exam and AP African American Studies Exam
- Thu 16MAY - AP Biology Exam
- FRI 17MAY - UAI Culture Day
- MON 20 May - Rescheduled - Schoolwide Teach in
- THU 23-24MAY - 12th Grade Senior trip
- MON 27MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
Announcements & To Dos
- MS ELA make-ups will be on Monday. We'll pull 6/7 in the AM 8:30-11:15 and 8th graders after lunch at 12:10
- P/SAT will be pulled from classes on Wednesday starting at 9:00 AM - Rm TBD
<<Repost>>. RPET Work. The RPET is planning three major experiences for our community this spring. They will be (1) A schoolwide teach in, (2) A series of PDs for staff around SEL, and (3) A series of staff equity circles. The RPET is planning a more detailed workshop for our January 29th PD to review each of these in detail and to get staff feedback on each. Here's the draft PD calendar for the rest of the year.
- April
- 8th: All Staff have double OPW Time 2:50-4:10
- OPW and the Solar Eclipse!
- 15th All Staff Prep for School Wide Teach In. (TEACH IN on May 20th - NEW DATE)
- 22nd: Spring Break - WOOHOO
- 29th: STILL Spring Break - DOUBLE WOOHOO
- May
- 6th: Staff Equity Circles - TBD
- 13th: Staff Equity Circles - TBD
- 20th: DATE CHANGED: Schoolwide Teach In
- 20th: CEP1 - Revisiting our Goals & Outcomes for this year - Looking at our Data
- 27th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
- June
- 3rd: CEP2 - Refining Goals and Action Plans for 2024-2025
- 6th: Brooklyn Queens Day: CEP3 - Finalizing Goals & Presenting to Staff
- 10th: Regents Orientation
- 17th: Eid al Adha - NO SCHOOL
<<Repost>>. Gearing Up for Summer School. We still need more teachers to teach summer school! Please think about signing up! If you can't commit to the whole summer, which part can you do? Please sign up soon as posting for summer will need to go up soon!
Each summer, we have two separate programs: Summer Splash and Summer Regents Prep. In Summer Splash, we recruit teachers to teach their passion! We look for folks who are excited about something - anything really - that will engage students and get them to learn in non-traditional ways. Alongside completing required work for credit recovery, we offer explorations in art, music, history, and activism have peppered the program over the last few years. Here are some examples that we've had in the past:
- Partner Run Programs: Girls Inc Summer Camp, Occupy Summer School & The Octavia Project
- UAI Teacher Courses: USH and Comic Books, Digital Design, The Science of Beauty, Job Club, Ceramics, Visual Art, STEM in Dance, and many more
At the end of the summer, we pivot back to traditional studying for the August Regents exams.
Summer School Positions (2 Positions):
- Summer School Coordinators: Kelly & Pattie
These two people folks coordinated summer school last year (and Kelly, many years prior). They are returning to the position this year.
- Summer Splash Teachers (5 Positions) - 16 days * 4hrs/day = 64 hrs
- Sarah R - Woodshop
- Roger - PE Elective
- Sean L. - Social Studies Elective
- Jelissa - UAI Summer Youth
- Igor - Art Elective
- Camryn - Columbia Summer Science Camp
- We're STILL HIRING IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!
- Summer Regents Prep Teacher (5 Positions) -
- Joanna - Math
- Amanda - Math
- We're STILL HIRING IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!
Up to 59 hrs (depending on Regent Exam needs)
8 days * 4hrs per day = 64 hours PLUS 3 Regents days (8AM-5PM - estimated)- Mon 05AUG-Thu 15AUG
- 8:30AM - on site Prep time
- 9AM-12PM - 2 1.5hr sections of class
- 12:00-12:30 - remote prep time
*(note - hours may be less if fewer sections needed due to low enrollment - min 15-25 per section)
Per Session Postings
For ALL per session activities, please complete Per Session Application Form"
Summer School Posting (closes 30MAR or until all positions filled). It's that time again! We are starting to launch our plans for Summer School. If you are interested in working summer school, please email Kiri and be specific about what you're interested in doing and how long you are interested in working (and yes, you can work in multiple roles and in both Summer Splash and Summer Regents prep!
Each summer, we have two separate programs: Summer Splash and Summer Regents Prep. In Summer Splash, we recruit teachers to teach their passion! We look for folks who are excited about something - anything really - that will engage students and get them to learn in non-traditional ways. Alongside completing required work for credit recovery, we offer explorations in art, music, history, and activism have peppered the program over the last few years. Here are some examples that we've had in the past:
- Partner Run Programs: Girls Inc Summer Camp, Occupy Summer School & The Octavia Project
- UAI Teacher Courses: USH and Comic Books, Digital Design, The Science of Beauty, Job Club, Ceramics, Visual Art, STEM in Dance, and many more
At the end of the summer, we pivot back to traditional studying for the August Regents exams.
We are looking for
- Summer School Coordinator (2 Positions): These two people would work collaboratively to recruit teachers and create, plan, and monitor summer programming for Summer Splash and Regents Prep (and Regents). These two roles would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of summer school and would liaise with other summer programs to make sure all programs being hosted at UAI receive what they need and all programs run smoothly. Summer School Coordinators report to AP Annie or Principal Kiri (or building Admin if they are on vacation).
- 20 flex hours per person (now) for program planning and staff/student recruitment
- 10 hours 02JUL & 03JUL for summer school orientation and prep for summer launch
- 96 School Hours 8AM-1PM Mon-Thu 08JUL-15AUG (24 days *4 hrs/day)
- 8:30-900 -Breakfast Coord. (Dean will supervise - you'll be point person)
- 9:00-12:00 - Classrm Coord. (support teachers where needed)
- 12:00-12:30 - Lunch Coord. (Dean will supervise - you'll be point person)
- 27 Regents Day Hours 8AM-5PM (3 Regents Testing/Grading Days)
- Summer Splash Teachers (5 Positions) - 16 days * 4hrs/day = 64 hrs
- Mon 08JUL - Thu 01AUG
- 8:30AM - on site Prep time
- 9AM-12PM - 3 1hr sections of class
- 12:00-12:30 - remote prep time
- Summer Regents Prep Teacher (5 Positions) - Up to 59 hrs (depending on Regent Exam needs)
8 days * 4hrs per day = 64 hours PLUS 3 Regents days (8AM-5PM - estimated) - Mon 05AUG-Thu 15AUG
- 8:30AM - on site Prep time
- 9AM-12PM - 2 1.5hr sections of class
- 12:00-12:30 - remote prep time
*(note - hours may be less if fewer sections needed due to low enrollment - min 15-25 per section)
After School Clubs. If you are interested in running an after school club, please complete THIS form by EOD TUESDAY 26SEP23 AND submit the Per Session Application Form. Clubs are slated to start next week. Clubs must have a steady roster of at least 8-10 students per week in order to NOT be cancelled. Rosters & Attendance lists MUST be submitted with per session time cards. If your club goes three consecutive weeks with less than 8 students, your club will need to be cancelled (so that we can optimize funds for other uses - so sorry...wish we could fund everything all the time, but unfortunately, we don't have endless sums of funds). After school sessions can be 3-4PM or 3-4:30PM or 3-5:30PM (teacher's choice)up to three days per week. So per session hours can range from 1-7.5hrs per week). Posting Expires 10OCT23.
Please continue to help promote your after school clubs. Please make sure you are getting a reliable group of at least 10 students. Help our after school classes get off the ground! - I will be collecting final rosters on 30NOV - you have additional time to recruit!!
- Black Student Union - Joanna & Pauline (Rm 411) - Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-4:30
- Arts & Crafts Club - Tiffany & Jennifer (Rm 311) - Mon/Tue/Weds - 3-4:15PM
- Theater Production Club - Noelle (Rm 315) - Tues/Thurs/Fri - 3-5:30PM
- Student Government - Sue, Marsha, Phillan, and Girls' Inc's Kassi (Rm 309) - Tuesdays - 3-4PM
- Youth Leadership Council - Kelly (Rm 307) - Tuesdays 3-4PM
- Photo Club - Tom(Rm 205F) - Wednesdays 3-4:30
- Cheer - Mary & Lia - Various days depending on Game Days
- Anime & Art Club - Adelle & Francis (Rm 409) - Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5PM
- Running Club with Camryn (starts after the marathon is over)
- Dance Club - Girls Inc - Room 503
- Students Against Racism & Bias Club - Jelissa (Rm 305) Tuesdays & Thursday 3-4PM
- Muslim Student Association - Laura (Rm 404) TBD
- GSA Club - Amanda - Rm 407
PSAL Supervision. Posting Expires 10OCT23. PSAL Games are starting up soon. Please submit the Per Session Application Form if you are interested in supervising student spectators. Hours vary depending on games. Each game (basketball or volleyball) is usually 4-6pm (is) so each supervision session is about 2hours. Staff are welcome to sign up for as many games as they'd like. Please see UAI calendar or PSAL website for game dates. Duties include making sure
- students remain safe and orderly during games
- only eligible students are admitted to games
- all students fully dismiss from the building at the conclusion of the games
CSI Planning & Supervision. Posting Expires 10OCT23. This posting if for supervision per session to plan, supervise, monitor and coordinate extra improvement efforts to address UAI achievement gaps and improve student performance in target metrics. Activities include analyzing and reviewing data, planning and executing professional development experiences to improve staff performance, analyzing and editing video footage to improve teacher lesson execution and lesson implementation, and supervising out of school activities - including recruitment, staff planning, and after school activities. Hours vary per week depending on task and work completed. Hours range 1-7.5 hours per week.
Classroom SetUp. All classroom staff are invited to come in to set up and plan for up to 10 hours all together any day this week Monday-Friday 9AM-2PM. Staff must clock in AND out each day, and cannot be in the building after 2PM. Please adhere to guidelines set out in the blog post above. All Staff MUST also apply to this position by completing the "Per Session Application From" - see link above. [Posted 27AUG23] - Posting CLOSED and JOB is over.
