Sunday, November 30, 2025

Week of Dec 01

                                                              

Volume: XIII
Issue: 15
December 1, 2025
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

I hope everyone had a wonderful break full of good food and REST. As we enter the next three weeks before the Christmas break, we have an opportunity to capitalize on three full weeks of uninterrupted, high-quality instruction. This is a crucial window for strengthening student learning, reinforcing routines, and closing any gaps we identified during MP1.

Now that we have students' data from MP 1, we should be using this information needs to actively guide our planning. Spend some time understanding the data for your courses. Over the next three weeks, please lean into what the data is telling us: focus on the skills where students need the most support, revisit areas where performance was low, and use targeted strategies to help ensure students make strong progress before we transition into the second marking period.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our students. Let’s make these next three weeks purposeful and powerful so we head into the break with momentum and confidence.

As an FYI - This week is a busy one for middle school student recruitment. We have 4 local elementary school visiting between Tuesday and Thursday. Pease expect us to be in and out of MS classrooms and walking through the halls with lots of little and bouncy 5th graders!

UPCOMING DATES
  • DEC02: PS 67 & PS 287 visit UAI 

  • DEC03: PS 323 visits UAI
  • DEC04: Brooklyn Brownstone School visits UAI
  • DEC05: Operation Smile (dentist) at UAI
  • DEC11: WinterFest
  • DEC12: Homecoming
  • DEC19: Senior Slumber Party

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! Thanks to Shan, Jen, Sue and the RPET team for bring our community to life through their planning of these events.


UPCOMING TRIPS

Trip Requests.  Here's the trip request protocol...

Tuesday 25NOV: LVMH, Future Ready Trip
Friday 05DEC: African Diaspora International Film Festival
  


FUTURE READY HIGHLIGHTS

Upcoming FRNYC Events

WBL Career Exposure Trips. Through NYC Service's speed mentoring program, all students in the Career Explorations course will select one trip to attend. After learning about each field and connecting with current employees, students will receive 1:1 mentoring to discuss their post-secondary goals and backwards plan the steps needed to get there. We'll share trip lists once they are finalized!
  • Reschedule pending - (January Digital - Marketing Agency)


TO DO THIS WEEK

Intervention Walkthroughs. This week I will be conducting walkthroughs in intervention and Regents Prep groups. The goal of the walkthrough is to help identify how we can strengthen the learning plan for students in these periods. Your ILT lead will be speaking with you in planning meetings to hear your ideas!  

We need these periods to help students accelerate skill growth, build confidence, and close learning gaps. With this in mind, I really hope to see teachers working closely with students in small groups or one on one to support student learning. Again, we should be leveraging our instructional routines (Notice & Wonder, So Basically, Stronger and Clearer) to support student learning. These strategies strengthen the core skills that drive literacy acquisition: comprehension, summarization, vocabulary, academic language, and evidence-based reasoning, making them powerful tools for closing learning gaps - so an important element to ensure you're incorporating during your intervention periods.


Food Pantry. We are still going strong! In order to keep the momentum going, we are still looking to stock our shelves with the following items.
  • All non-perishable food items: Shelf-stable milk, flour, sugar and spices, coffee and tea, baby food, bouillon cubes, instant oats, instant mashed potatoes, etc. 

Turkey Drive. We were able to distribute 23 turkeys to families in need last week! Thank you to Brenda for taking the lead on this initiative!

Student Profiles are visible in OASIS. Click here to view students' academic, attendance, schedule... you name it, it's here - this is your one stop shop for all student info!

Purchasing Requests. In an effort to better track and streamline purchasing, we ask that you fill in this form for all purchasing requests. You can find the form on our staff Google Classroom as well.


PER SESSION POSTINGS

FOR ALL PER SESSION JOBS:  You must apply by completing THIS FORM

WinterFest. Our annual Winterfest is just around the corner (December 11th) and we are looking for up to 5 staff members to help with the event: 3hours of per session 4:00-7:00 PM

Winterfest will run officially from 5:30-7:00 PM

Staff Duties will include:




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Sunday, November 23, 2025

Week of Nov 24

                                                              

Volume: XIII
Issue: 14
November 24, 2025
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we enter Thanksgiving week (these next three days will be BUSY), I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for each of you. The work you do (seen and unseen) shapes our students’ lives in meaningful and lasting ways. Your dedication, patience, creativity, and relentless care make our school a place where students feel supported, challenged, and valued.

Thank you for showing up each day with professionalism and heart. Thank you for the countless extra moments you invest, the flexibility you show when things get complicated, and the compassion you extend to our students, their families, and to one another. Our school is stronger because of you.

I hope this short break brings you time to slow down, rest, and enjoy the people and traditions that matter most to you. 



UPCOMING DATES
  • NOV24: Turkey Giveaway
  • NOV24: MS Potluck
  • NOV25: Know Your Rights Workshop
  • NOV26: 2:30p Rapid dismissal
  • NOV27-28: Thanksgiving Break
  • DEC05: Operation Smile (dentist) at UAI

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! Thanks to Shan, Jen, Sue and the RPET team for bring our community to life through their planning of these events.


UPCOMING TRIPS

Trip Requests.  Here's the trip request protocol...

Tuesday 25NOV: LVMH, Future Ready Trip
Friday 05DEC: African Diaspora International Film Festival
  


FUTURE READY HIGHLIGHTS

Upcoming FRNYC Events

WBL Career Exposure Trips. Through NYC Service's speed mentoring program, all students in the Career Explorations course will select one trip to attend. After learning about each field and connecting with current employees, students will receive 1:1 mentoring to discuss their post-secondary goals and backwards plan the steps needed to get there. We'll share trip lists once they are finalized!
  • Reschedule pending - (January Digital - Marketing Agency)
  • November 25th from 1-3 (LVMH)


TO DO THIS WEEK

Monday PD SnackLuck. Our 3pm PD will be our next session on SL-IEPs but we're going to sweeten the hour with our annual SnackLuck! Please bring a snack or drink to share with colleagues!

Know Your Rights. We are hosting our first event on Tuesday Nov 25th, 5:30-7:00pm, in Person at UAI - dinner served and translation available. Families, students, and staff invited! This event is being organized by our new UAI UFT immigrant support committee, in coordination with Emily Payamps and Perla Silva, student Aileen Ramirez's mom. Perla will be leading the training with an immigration attorney. Perla has led many trainings like this in her role at Make the Road New York, and will have lots of resources and information to share with families. In addition, we are using this meeting as a launch for a UAI immigrant support network, which Emily is coordinating. This network will include a parent committee and a whatsapp community for parents, where we can share resources and information, and foster a strong community of immigrant and non-immigrant families. 




Food Pantry. We are still going strong! Over 30 families have shopped the pantry. We've raised over $7200 so far (see donation page link here)! We were also featured on News12 - see here for the story!

In order to keep the momentum going, we are still looking to stock our shelves with the following items.
  • All non-perishable food items: Shelf-stable milk, flour, sugar and spices, coffee and tea, baby food, bouillon cubes, instant oats, instant mashed potatoes, etc. 
Turkey Drive. On Monday we will be distributing turkeys to families in need - if you know of a family who needs support, please do let us know! Thank you to Brenda for taking the lead on ensuring our pantry and turkey giveaway continues to be successful.
Student Profiles are visible in OASIS. Click here to view students' academic, attendance, schedule... you name it, it's here - this is your one stop shop for all student info!
Purchasing Requests. In an effort to better track and streamline purchasing, we ask that you fill in this form for all purchasing requests. You can find the form on our staff Google Classroom as well.


PER SESSION POSTINGS

FOR ALL PER SESSION JOBS:  You must apply by completing THIS FORM

None.


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Saturday, November 15, 2025

Week of Nov 17

                                                              

Volume: XIII
Issue: 13
November 17, 2025
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
As we move into this week’s Family-Teacher Conferences, I want to center us on the purpose behind this work: strengthening our relationships with families so we can better support student growth and success. Conferences are an important opportunity to build trust, share meaningful insights, and partner with families in ways that truly impact student achievement.
This week, it is essential that every teacher connect with the families of students who currently have less than an 80% average in your course, as well as the families of students who are frequently absent. These conversations are critical touchpoints that help us understand what’s happening behind the scenes, surface barriers, and align on strategies to help students move forward.
Please approach each conference with empathy, clarity, and a focus on solutions. Families want to know three key things:
  • That we see their child,
  • That we believe in their potential, and
  • That we have a plan to support their progress.
Thank you for the time, care, and professionalism you bring to these conversations. The relationships we build this week will strengthen the work we do every day.
Let’s make this a powerful week of partnership and connection.



UPCOMING DATES
  • NOV18: SLT Dinner - 5:30p
  • NOV20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
  • NOV20-21: Family-Teacher Conferences
    • NOV21: Half day, 11:10a dismissal
  • NOV24: Turkey Giveaway
  • NOV25: Know Your Rights Workshop
  • NOV26: 2:30p Rapid dismissal
  • NOV27-28: Thanksgiving Break
  • DEC05: Operation Smile (dentist) at UAI

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! Thanks to Shan, Jen, Sue and the RPET team for bring our community to life through their planning of these events.


UPCOMING TRIPS

Trip Requests.  Here's the trip request protocol...

Wednesday 19NOV: Hamilton Trip
Thursday 20NOV: Climate Tech Company - Energy Hub, Future Ready Trip
Tuesday 25NOV: LVMH, Future Ready Trip
Friday 05DEC: African Diaspora International Film Festival
  


FUTURE READY HIGHLIGHTS

Upcoming FRNYC Events

WBL Career Exposure Trips. Through NYC Service's speed mentoring program, all students in the Career Explorations course will select one trip to attend. After learning about each field and connecting with current employees, students will receive 1:1 mentoring to discuss their post-secondary goals and backwards plan the steps needed to get there. We'll share trip lists once they are finalized!
  • Reschedule pending - (January Digital - Marketing Agency)
  • November 20th from 10-12 (Climate Tech Company - Energy Hub)
  • November 25th from 1-3 (LVMH)


TO DO THIS WEEK

Parent Conference Outreach. This week is an important opportunity to connect with families. You are invited to hold as many conferences as possible (and remember, you have 55min each week to connect with families).  It doesn't have to be limited to conferences this week.  However, by EOD on Friday, you must have connected and held conferences with all students who have <80 in your class. 

Again, Family conferences (remote) are on Thursday 20NOV in the evening 5-8PM and Friday 21NOV 12:50-2:50PM (you can decide to work from school or home).

Know Your Rights. We are hosting our first event on Tuesday Nov 25th, 5:30-7:00pm, in Person at UAI - dinner served and translation available. Families, students, and staff invited! This event is being organized by our new UAI UFT immigrant support committee, in coordination with Emily Payamps and Perla Silva, student Aileen Ramirez's mom. Perla will be leading the training with an immigration attorney. Perla has led many trainings like this in her role at Make the Road New York, and will have lots of resources and information to share with families. In addition, we are using this meeting as a launch for a UAI immigrant support network, which Emily is coordinating. This network will include a parent committee and a whatsapp community for parents, where we can share resources and information, and foster a strong community of immigrant and non-immigrant families. 




Food Pantry. We are still going strong! Over 30 families have shopped the pantry. We've raised over $6700 so far (see donation page link here)! We were also featured on News12 - see here for the story!

In order to keep the momentum going, we are still looking to stock our shelves with the following items.
  • All non-perishable food items: Shelf-stable milk, flour, sugar and spices, coffee and tea, baby food, bouillon cubes, instant oats, instant mashed potatoes, etc. 
Turkey Drive. Thank you to everyone who has already donated to UAI's pantry. Your support has been vital, and our families are incredibly grateful. As the holiday season approaches, we are once again holding our annual Turkey Drive. 
Student Profiles are visible in OASIS. Click here to view students' academic, attendance, schedule... you name it, it's here - this is your one stop shop for all student info!
Purchasing Requests. In an effort to better track and streamline purchasing, we ask that you fill in this form for all purchasing requests. You can find the form on our staff Google Classroom as well.


PER SESSION POSTINGS

FOR ALL PER SESSION JOBS:  You must apply by completing THIS FORM

None.


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Sunday, November 9, 2025

Week of Nov 10

                                                             

Volume: XIII
Issue: 12
November 10, 2025
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
It's been an incredibly busy start to the school year! This week we held two beautiful evening family events - MS Literacy Night and the induction Ceremony for Future Ready students! Both these events highlighted our commitment to creating spaces where students feel seen, families feel connected, and learning is celebrated beyond the classroom. These events reminded us that our work extends far past academics, it’s about building belonging, purpose, and pride in every student.
Now that we've closed the first marking period, we've reach an important checkpoint in our year - a chance to reflect on student progress and plan for what’s ahead. With it comes an opportunity to understand where our students are academically and how we can help them move forward. 
Taking the time to analyze what the data and our daily observations show us gives us clarity and direction. When we understand where our students are - their strengths, gaps, and learning habits - we can better tailor instruction, adjust supports, and differentiate in ways that meet them where they are. This understanding helps us ensure that every student feels both challenged and capable, and that no one slips through the cracks.
Grades and numbers are only part of the picture. The deeper value comes from connecting that information to what we see in class - the small moments of growth, the emerging confidence, and the persistence that doesn’t always show up in a gradebook. Together, this gives us a fuller, more authentic view of learning and progress.
As we move into the next marking period, let’s use this understanding to refine our practice, celebrate the growth we see, and keep pushing our students (and ourselves) toward excellence. The start of MP2 marks the opportunity for a fresh start, I am looking forward to hitting the ground running this week.

UPCOMING DATES
  • NOV10: NHS Induction Ceremony
  • NOV11: Veteran's Day
  • NOV12: MP1 Grades Due
  • NOV20-21: Parent-Teacher Conferences

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! Thanks to Shan, Jen, Sue and the RPET team for bring our community to life through their planning of these events.


UPCOMING TRIPS

Trip Requests.  Here's the trip request protocol...
Friday 14NOV: 6th grade to MET

Wednesday 19NOV: Hamilton Trip

Friday 05DEC: African Diaspora International Film Festival
  


FUTURE READY HIGHLIGHTS

Upcoming FRNYC Events

FRNYC Induction Ceremony! Our first annual induction ceremony was a hit! Thanks to Kelly for organizing and to all who worked the event! It was a beautiful evening and a fantastic way to get students and families excited for the pre-nursing program!


WBL Career Exposure Trips. Through NYC Service's speed mentoring program, all students in the Career Explorations course will select one trip to attend. After learning about each field and connecting with current employees, students will receive 1:1 mentoring to discuss their post-secondary goals and backwards plan the steps needed to get there. We'll share trip lists once they are finalized!
  • Reschedule pending - (January Digital - Marketing Agency)
  • November 20th from 10-12 (Climate Tech Company - Energy Hub)
  • November 25th from 1-3 (LVMH)


TO DO THIS WEEK

Food Pantry. This week we continued to distribute aid from our pantry - we handed out hundreds of pounds of food (including some fresh produce from our farms) and loads of toiletries (see donation page link here). We've reached out to all of our STH (students in temporary housing) families and will continue to do outreach to ensure all families who need support will receive it. We were also featured on News12 - see here for the story! Since it aired on Friday night, we've raised another $3000!

In order to keep the momentum going, we are still looking to stock our shelves with the following items.
  • All non-perishable food items: Shelf-stable milk, flour, sugar and spices, coffee and tea, baby food, bouillon cubes, instant oats, instant mashed potatoes, etc. 
  • Sanitary napkins, diapers, baby formula
  • Women's clothing and shoes, winter jackets, gloves, hats

Turkey Drive. Thank you to everyone who has already donated to UAI's pantry. Your support has been vital, and our families are incredibly grateful. As the holiday season approaches, we are once again holding our annual Turkey Drive. 
Student Profiles are visible in OASIS. Click here to view students' academic, attendance, schedule... you name it, it's here - this is your one stop shop for all student info!
Parent Conference Outreach. This week please prioritize scheduling conferences for students who are achieving a 80% or less in your course. This families MUST be met with to ensure they are aware and supportive of the next steps you're taking with their student to support growth in your course. 

Again, Family conferences (remote) are on Thursday 20NOV in the evening 5-8PM and Friday 21NOV 11:50-2:50PM (this time frame includes your lunch and travel home time. You can decide to work from school or home).

Grades DUE.   Grades are due Wednesday by 3pm! If you have questions about how to input your grades please check in with your ILT lead.

Purchasing Requests. In an effort to better track and streamline purchasing, we ask that you fill in this form for all purchasing requests. You can find the form on our staff Google Classroom as well.


PER SESSION POSTINGS

FOR ALL PER SESSION JOBS:  You must apply by completing THIS FORM

None.


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