Week of May 19

 FYI - It's Annie writing again this week - I am taking over the blog moving forward!

There was something powerful about this week's Honor Roll Night that I want to lift up. The atmosphere was warm, full of pride and connection. Families came together, not just to witness achievement, but to be part of something - to celebrate the outcomes we all work so hard for. It felt like a true community moment. It felt like what school should feel like.

And as I looked around at the smiles, the hugs, and the pride in the room, I couldn’t help but think: This is the space where we’re strongest - not when we retreat behind conference room tables and clipboards, but when we show up side by side, united by care and hope for our kids. I hope you all felt that too. As we move away from traditional PTCs, we’re not just rethinking conferences. We’re reimagining the entire relationship between school and home. I am proud of us for making this shift.

Now, with the final stretch of the school year upon us (we only have about 6 more weeks!), our focus remains steadfast on supporting the growth and achievement of our students. We are in the home stretch, and while the days may feel long and the tasks demanding, please know that the seeds you have planted throughout the year are blossoming beautifully. Let us continue to cultivate this growth with the same passion and focus that has defined our work thus far.

As we aim to finish the year strong, I want to gently emphasize the critical importance of consistent teacher attendance - especially on Mondays and Fridays. These days often set the tone for the week or help close it on a strong note, and our students rely on your presence and stability to stay engaged and on track. Each day in the classroom counts tremendously at this time of year, and your continued presence makes a measurable difference in sustaining momentum and ensuring every student feels supported. Let’s commit to being here for each other and for our students every step of the way. Please remember to keep pushing. We are a team, and together, we can make these last weeks impactful and rewarding.

UPCOMING DATES

• Monday, 19MAY - Smile Dental Visit to UAI

• Thursday, 22MAY - Senior Prom

• Friday, 23MAY - 8th Grade Trip to Great Adventure
  

• Monday 26MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Week of June 2nd - Finals Week

• Remaining PD Dates
1. 19MAY - CEP PD - Checking in on our School Goals, and Setting for 2025-26
2. 02JUN - Last Huddle of the Year
3. 09JUN - Regents Week Orientation
4. 16JUN - Grading Time for All/Room Set up for Testing
   

UPCOMING TRIPS

• 23MAY - 8th Grade Trip to Great Adventure (Fatima, Sarah R, Phillan, Jermaine)
• 28MAY - 6/7th Grade Trip To Cyclones (Freida)
• 29MAY - 8-12th Grade Trip to Barclays Center (Freida)
• 29-30MAY - 12th Grade Overnight Trip (Patricia)

TO DO THIS WEEK

Testing This Week.  This week we have more testing.

• NYSESLAT testing continues this week. See the link for the schedule.

Tracking Potential Failures in MP4.  

• A second push of outreach to families is DUE to be completed by Monday, May 19th for all students at risk of failing your course. Please document that outreach here in Column W.
• Make sure you are using THIS DOCUMENT to link to the work that students must complete in order to satisfactorily pass your course for those students who could potentially fail.  PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL LINKS ARE ACCESSIBLE! The deans and counselors are having a hard time gaining access to some documents.  Once they have access they will print out the work, meet with the student and call home. You can track their outreach in the linked spreadsheet.

Advance Observations.

Heads up for those teachers who have not yet had all Advance evaluations completed for the year, you should expect to be observed this week! 

Summer Programming 🌞.

There are a ton of fun electives being offered for summer programming this year: Crowned with Confidence, Mural Painting, Film, and so much more! Summer Splash runs from July 10-31st and is open to all UAI kids in grades 6-12. It is only a half-day program, though, so kids who need full-day programming should not register. Please spread the word and share the registration form! 

Feedback from Monday PD.

Only 19 staff responded to Monday's feedback form for PD. If you haven't yet responded, please take a moment to do so ASAP here.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Communicate Regents Info - Who is Taking What?

• All 9-12 kids signed up for a course ending in a required regent (ELA, ALG 1, USH, GLO, Earth, Bio) will be automatically signed up to take that regent
• All 8^th graders MUST take ALG 1 and their science (Bio or Earth)
• All 8^th graders who have >50 in USH, GLO or ELA will be registered for that test
• All other regents are with teacher/student discretion (teachers should make list and give to Liza & JJR no later than Friday)
• We aim to post testing lists next week so kids know what exams they're signed up for!

It's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  

              RPET continues the celebration this week!

• We will show movies in 507, 509 and 511 on all four Friday's in May during 4th period lunch. We'll be showing Mulan on 5/23 and 5/30.
  
  
• We will host another crafting event in the cafeteria (see poster at left) on 5/20.

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

NEW Per Session Posting: NYSESLAT Grading after school. 4 hours worth and hiring 3-4 people. All teachers are eligible to apply. 

REPOST:  Summer School Planning has Started.  Summer school planning is beginning.  We will not be hosting Girls Inc and DYCD summer camp this summer, and our students who need an all-day placement can register for DYCD programs at the Montauk School this summer.   

We are currently looking for folks who are interested in doing some enrichment work (6-12) this summer.  AND we will also have regents prep this summer.  If you are interested in working this summer, please complete THIS FORM ASAP.  

Week of May 12th

 

FYI - It's Annie writing this week!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and mom-figures out there!

Today, we celebrate the strength, dedication, and love that all mothers and mother figures bring to our lives - both at home and in the workplace. To the mothers/mother figures on our team, your ability to balance work and family with grace and perseverance is truly inspiring. We are grateful for the energy, insight, and care you contribute every day.

May this Mother’s Day bring you moments of rest, joy, and the appreciation you so richly deserve. Thank you for being the heart of our team.

It is also Principal Appreciation Week!

As I takeover this week's blog, I want to take a moment for us to recognize the incredible leadership and dedication of our principal, Kiri. As Kiri's right-hand woman, I deeply value the guidance, support, and vision she brings to our school community and in my own development as a leader. Her commitment to fostering a positive and enriching learning environment for our students is truly commendable and inspires us all.

In particular, I want to acknowledge Kiri's unwavering dedication to our school community. Her commitment extends far beyond the school doors, fostering strong relationships and ensuring our institution remains a vital part of the NYCDOE as we provide a space for girls of color to thrive. This deep-rooted dedication, coupled with her remarkable nearly two decades of service as our principal, speaks volumes about her investment in our students, our staff, and our collective future.

Speaking of remarkable skills, Kiri's ability to analyze data is nothing short of astonishing. I suspect she might have a secret pact with spreadsheets, whispering sweet nothings to pivot tables and somehow coaxing them to reveal insights mere mortals could only dream of. It's almost as if numbers themselves confess their deepest secrets under her scrutiny, allowing her to identify trends and inform decisions with uncanny accuracy. Not sure how she does it but I know that it happens often on weekends and weekday evenings and usually it means missed time with family and friends. 

So, finally, I want to acknowledge the often unseen work and the sometimes thankless nature of Kiri's role. The countless hours she spends on planning, problem-solving, and ensuring the smooth operation of our school often go unnoticed. I recognize the weight of this responsibility and deeply appreciate Kiri's tireless efforts and unwavering commitment, even when the demands are significant and the recognition is quiet. 

Thank you, Kiri, for your hard work, your dedication, and for everything you do, seen and unseen, to make our school a wonderful place to learn and work.

With immense gratitude,

Annie

PLAN FOR CELEBRATING KIRI THIS WEEK!

1. Monday, coffee is on Jen!
2. Tuesday, lunch is on Annie!
3. Small gift just for you!
4. Another small gift just for you!
5. Words of gratitude coming your way!

UPCOMING DATES

• Thursday, 15MAY- Honor Roll Celebration, Evening Parent Conferences
• In Person or Remote
  
  
• Saturday, 17MAY - New Student Welcome
  
  
• Monday, 19MAY - Smile Dental Visit to UAI

• Thursday, 22MAY - Senior Prom

• Friday, 23MAY - 8th Grade Trip to Great Adventure
  

• Monday 26MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Week of June 2nd - Finals Week

• Remaining PD Dates
1. 12MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 2
2. 19MAY - CEP PD - Checking in on our School Goals, and Setting for 2025-26
3. 02JUN - Last Huddle of the Year
4. 09JUN - Regents Week Orientation
5. 16JUN - Grading Time for All/Room Set up for Testing
   

UPCOMING TRIPS

• 13MAY - 6th Grade Trip to MET (Fatima)
• 14MAY - Hunter College Trip (Tiffany & Emily)
• 23MAY - 8th Grade Trip to Great Adventure (Fatima, Sarah R, Phillan, Jermaine)
• 28MAY - 6/7th Grade Trip To Cyclones (Freida)
• 29MAY - 8-12th Grade Trip to Barclays Center (Freida)
• 29-30MAY - 12th Grade Overnight Trip (Patricia)

TO DO THIS WEEK

Testing This Week.  This week we have more testing.

• There are a grand total of 7 students that need to complete middle school makeup testing (tab called MS Makeups). See the link for the schedule!

• AP Testing Continues this week
• Tuesday 13MAY 
• AP Pre Calculus (8AM-11AM)
• AP Environmental Science (12PM-3PM)
• Wednesday 14MAY - AP English Language & Composition (8AM-11AM)
• NYSESLAT testing starts this week. See the link for the schedule.

May Parent Conferences.  The final round of contractual Family Conferences are on Thursday, May 15th from 5PM-8PM (conferences have a hard stop at 7:45p so that the building is clear of ALL staff by 8pm).  We will be having an Honor Roll Celebration for this round of conferences.  Teachers who wish to join can earn per session and participate in the ceremonies in lieu of conferences.  Folks who do not wish to sign up will be assigned conferences with families of students who are on the potential fail list.  You will be expected to complete those conferences remotely by 8PM that night.  We will be having our SST schedule those conferences for you. 

Folks who forgot to complete the form will be assigned remote conferences and will have schedules for outreach created for them.

Tracking Potential Failures in MP4.  Make sure you are using THIS DOCUMENT to link to the work that students must complete in order to satisfactorily pass your course for those students who could potentially fail.  This was DUE on 05MAY25.   The SST will be following up with students to support this work this week and will come directly to teachers if work is not linked.  They will not be able to do their work if you don't fulfill yours first!   Please make sure to get that done ASAP.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

NHS's Mental Health Awareness Week.

This week is NHS's Mental Health Awareness Week! See our below for all of the fun events happening during the week!

To make it as successful as possible, we are asking for some support from staff! 

• On Thursday, we are having a bake sale during lunch. We'd love to include baked goods/snacks donated by staff !

• We will be hosting a raffle on Friday. We are looking for donations of all sizes for the raffle, things like gift cards, small self-care items, snacks, school spirit gear…anything! I will be using this as an opportunity to clear out some new, never-opened puzzles from a bygone puzzle phase, so anything students may enjoy is welcome!

Please fill out this google form if you're able to donate anything to our bake sale or raffle!

This will culminate with NHS's participation in NAMIWalks NYC + Mental Health Street Fest on Sunday May 18th. Check out our team page here, sign up to walk with us, or donate to help us reach our goal. 

Thank you in advance!  - Ms. Amanda, Ms. Sue, and NHS 

It's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  The RPET met last week to finalize plans for AAPI month.  They're going to 

• show movies in 507, 509 and 511 on all four Friday's in May during 4th period lunch. They'll be showing Moana 2 on 5/16, and Mulan on 5/23 and 5/30.
  
  
• host crafting events in the cafeteria (see poster at left) on 5/13, and 5/20.

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

NEW Per Session Posting: NYSESLAT Grading after school. 4 hours worth and hiring 3-4 people. Date TBD.

REPOST:  Summer School Planning has Started.  Summer school planning is beginning.  We will not be hosting Girls Inc and DYCD summer camp this summer, and our students who need an all-day placement can register for DYCD programs at the Montauk School this summer.   

We are currently looking for folks who are interested in doing some enrichment work (6-12) this summer.  AND we will also have regents prep this summer.  If you are interested in working this summer, please complete THIS FORM ASAP.  We still have openings - so go ahead and apply if interested!

Week of May 5th

UAI Staff News

Volume XII

Issue 21

May 5th, 2025

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!  It's Teacher Appreciation week!!  We land in this week after an incredible year!  The year before was probably one of the most challenging on record, but this year has been one of the BEST!  AND that is ALL because of our incredible staff, and in particular because of our amazing TEACHERS.

Teaching is one of the hardest, most challenging, and most rewarding careers.   During my 28 years working in the DOE (plus another 6 years working in schools during my undergrad and grad years),  I have been a teacher's aide, student teacher, classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal.  the single best seat I have ever had is being in the role of teacher!!  It is exhausting, but there is true joy in seeing the lightbulbs turn on, catching their curiosity in their amazing questions, seeing the world anew through eyes that are seeing it for the first time.  Teaching is where the true fulfillment is (and now you know why I keep gate-crashing your classrooms - ha!!)

Many, many thanks to all of your hard work this year.  I know that it's not easy to be on point 100% of the time, and that sometimes things work better and sometimes things fall flat.  AND I also know that you are on point 100% of the time with your intent to do your absolute best for our kids and families - and that is the fuel will power your continual growth and development into even more amazing teachers for our future kids and families.

Each of you awe me daily with the way you approach the challenges you encounter each day with our young ones, in our classrooms.  You all inspire me with the love and care you bring to our kids and families, and with the consistency that each of you want only the best for of our kids -  even when their teenage annoyingness flares!  

We have a whole week of fun stuff planned for you to lift you up and celebrate your amazingness!!

• Monday 05MAY25
• Breakfast On Us!  UAI is treating teachers to breakfast!! 
  In the teacher's lounge in room 402 by 8AM.  Bring your appetites and get fueled up for your day on UAI!
• Celebration PD!!  For PD, we will be celebrating our teachers with awards and gifts!  All staff (counselors, admin, admin support, etc.) should come to the farm to help cheer!
  
  
• Tuesday 06MAY25
• Lunch On Us (from Salsa!  Lunch will be served in the Teacher's Lounge (Rm 402) ready to eat by the start of 3rd period. 
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY25
• Check Your Mailboxes.  Special little thank you gifts will be in your mailboxes on Tuesday.  Please make sure to check them when you clock in!
  
  
• Thursday 08MAY25
• Check Your Mailboxes Again.  Special little thank you gifts will be in your mailboxes on Tuesday.  Please make sure to check them when you clock in!
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY25
• Check Your Mailboxes for the final day of the appreciation week. 
  Special little appreciation notes will be there for you!

UPCOMING DATES

• Wednesday 07MAY-Thursday 08MAY - NYS MS Math Testing (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY-Wednesday 14MAY  - AP Exam Testing Week
  
  
• Thursday, 15MAY- Honor Roll Celebration, Evening Parent Conferences
• In Person or Remote
  
  
• Saturday, 17MAY - New Student Welcome
  
  
• Monday, 19MAY - Smile Dental Visit to UAI
  
  
• Monday 26MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Remaining PD Dates
1. 05MAY - Teacher Appreciation Celebration
2. 12MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 2
3. 19MAY -CEP PD - Checking in on our School Goals, and Setting for 2025-26
4. 02JUN - Last Huddle of the Year
5. 09JUN - Regents Week Orientation
6. 16JUN - Grading Time for All/Room Set up for Testing
   

TO DO THIS WEEK

Testing This Week.  This week we have TWO rounds of testing

• MS Math Testing for 6th & 7th Graders (no 8th) - 
• Wednesday 07MAY25 & Thursday 08MAY25
  
  
• AP Testing Week Begins this week
• Monday 05MAY - AP Biology (8AM-11AM)
• Wednesday 07MAY - AP English Literature and Composition (8AM-11AM)
• Thursday 08MAY - AP African American Studies (8AM-11AM)
• Tuesday 13MAY - 
• AP PreCalculus (8AM-11AM)
• AP Environmental Science (12PM-3PM)
• Wednesday 14MAY - AP English Language & Composition (8AM-11AM)

May Parent Conferences.  The final round of contractual Family Conferences are on Thursday May 15th from 5PM-8PM.  We will be having an Honor Roll Celebration for this round of conferences.  Teachers who wish to join can earn per session and participate in the ceremonies in lieu of conferences.  Folks who do not wish to sign up will be assigned conferences with families of students who are on the potential fail list.  You will be expected to complete those conferences remotely by 8PM that night.  We will be having our SST schedule those conferences for you. 

Please take one minute to complete THIS FORM right now. 
This form needs to be complete by 3:30PM on Monday 05MAY25.  

Folks who forget to complete the form will be assigned remote conferences and will have schedules for outreach created for them.

Tracking Potential Failures in MP4.  Make sure you are using THIS DOCUMENT to link to the work that students must complete in order to satisfactorily pass your course for those students who could potentially fail.  Please make sure those are linked no later than 3:30PM on 05MAY25.   The SST will be following up with students to support this work.  They will not be able to do their work if you don't fulfill yours first!  So please make sure to fulfill this professional obligation and get the work done by the EOD on Monday.  You all have had extra time and two weeks given to complete this. There are a lot of folks who still have incomplete links.  Please make sure to get that done ASAP.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

It's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  The RPET met last week to finalize plans for AAPI month.  They're going to 

• show movies in 507, 509 and 511 on all four Friday's in May during 4th period lunch. They'll be showing Moana 2 on 5/9 and 5/16, and Mulan on 5/23 and 5/30.
  
  
• host crafting events in the cafeteria (see poster at left) on 5/6, 5/13, and 5/20.

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

REPOST:  Summer School Planning is Starting.  Summer school planning is beginning.  We will not be hosting Girls Inc and DYCD summer camp this summer, and our students who need an all-day placement can register for DYCD programs at the Montauk School this summer.   

We are currently looking for folks who are interested in doing some enrichment work (6-12) this summer.  AND we will also have regents prep this summer.  If you are interested in working this summer, please complete THIS FORM no later than 30APR.  We still have openings - so go ahead and apply if interested!

Week of April 28th

UAI Staff News

Volume XII

Issue 29

April 28th, 2025

It's OUR Assistant Principal Celebration Week!  While technically, Assistant Principal Appreciation week was the week before spring break, Annie was at the ASU/GSV conference then, and so, I decided to move the week of celebration to this week.  PLUS - as an added bonus, it's her birthday on Thursday!  So double whammy!!!!

Annie makes our school the beautiful, thriving place it is—and she has earned a very public, very joyous celebration of her work.  She is definitely not the one who likes to be in the limelight.  Typically, I honor that in folks, but I need to make the exception here, because her excellence in leadership is something to be lauded, examined, and celebrated by our whole community!

Leadership is full of challenges. It demands long hours, tough decisions, deep empathy, and the courage to face the unknown. It requires balancing the needs of many, holding the emotional weight of others, and constantly seeking the best path forward. These challenges can test even the strongest among us—but Annie meets each one with grace, clarity, and love.

Annie is a thoughtful, heart-centered leader. She shows up every single day with purpose and care, always centering our students' experiences and advocating for their joy, growth, and belonging. She holds our community in ways that often go unseen—quietly steady, yet deeply impactful. Her leadership is not loud, but it is powerful. It’s the kind of leadership that makes you feel safe, seen, and inspired.

I’ve learned so much from Annie. Her brilliance, tenacity, and passion guide our school through both the peaks and the valleys of the year. Like many women in leadership, Annie faces the challenge of doubt—not her own, but the doubt that can surround women who lead with compassion and strength. But let me be clear: I have never doubted her capacity, her integrity, or her ability to lead. Not once. She is exactly the leader our school needs.

Annie wants to see every child thrive—and she wants the same for every adult in this building. That kind of leadership takes heart. It takes vision. And it takes someone like Annie.

So, here's to YOUR week Annie.  This is the one time in the year where we all make the time to notice, 

appreciate, and celebrate your limitless efforts to uplifting our community each and every day!

Thank you for all that you do! Thank you for supporting my leadership and leading with me to bring UAI to a better and better version of itself each and every year!  

UAI - please join me in celebrating her this week. She deserves all the recognition—and more—for the way she leads and loves our school.

UPCOMING DATES

• Monday 28APR-Friday 02MAY - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
• Monday - Coffee Any Time - you want it, you got it!  Just name it!
• Tuesday -  Breakfast Blueberry Muffins - made for you by Kiri
• Wednesday - Lunch Time Yummies!
• Thursday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
• Friday - Sharing Notes of Appreciation
• Please take a moment to complete this form to share your appreciation with Annie!

• Wednesday 30APR-Thursday 01MAY - NYS MS ELA Testing (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Thursday 01MAY - PPO Visit (see below)
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY-Thursday 08MAY - NYS MS ELA Testing (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY-Wednesday 14MAY  - AP Exam Testing Week
  
  
• Thursday, 15MAY- Honor Roll Celebration, Evening Parent Conferences
  
  
• Saturday, 17MAY - New Student Welcome
  
  
• Monday, 19MAY - Smile Dental Visit to UAI
  
  
• Monday 26MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Remaining PD Dates
1. 28APR - SEL PD with UA
2. 05MAY - Teacher Appreciation Celebration
3. 12MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 2
4. 19MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 3
5. 02JUN - Last Huddle of the Year
6. 09JUN - Regents Week Orientation
7. 16JUN - Grading Time for All/Room Set up for Testing
   
   
• Upcoming Staff Appreciation Dates
• 05MAY-09MAY - Teacher Appreciation Week

TO DO THIS WEEK

Thursday 01MAY PPO Visit.  Superintendent Walsh is coming to visit UAI on Thursday, May 1st for my final PPO of the year.  This will also be Annie's first pass at organizing the PPO visit (I'm a terrible boss for doing this to her on her birthday, I know ... but it's good learning and the opportunity only comes twice a year).   So...let's all circle the wagons and get our best for Thursday's visit to make sure Annie brings home a slam dunk on her first pass!  For Thursday's lessons, 

• Move any test or assessment to another day.  Make sure the class is HIGHLY interactive and intellectually engaging (high effective in Danielson Domain 3). Here are some quick tips... 
  
  
• Avoid anything that looks like a worksheet.  Find a way (at least for that day) to have kids do their learning outside of a handout.  Use non-permanent surfaces (whiteboards, windows, desktops) to do the thinking.
  
  
• Make opportunities for High Quality Discourse.  Turn and talks are the easiest to implement.  To ramp up the quality on these, help kids know what you are looking for when you come around to listen to them.  For example, if kids are in patterns where they just talk AT each other, tell them that you're coming around to hear how kids talk WITH one another - build on each other's ideas, ask questions of each other's thinking, or agree/disagree with one another, respectfully.  
  
  
• Be Clear on What you want to see.  When you ask kids to do something, quickly follow that up with WHY and WHAT you are looking for explicitly.  I want you do to this so that I can see you are able to do x, y, and z.  Your assessment criteria should be spoke AND written (on a slide or chart paper) so that kids have access to it while they are working.
  
  
• Include a chance to test learning.  This is where kids to write - to perform what they've learned.  For example, an exit ticket/writing task, etc. is what you provide to your kids to give them a chance to test their learning.  So, they've been trying to learn stuff throughout the period - how can they show you that they learned it?
  
  
• Use your routines!  This is a good place to use the routines you always use! Notice & Wonder (or See Think Wonder), So Basically, Stronger & Clearer... and/or your SEL routines.  These are part of your bread and butter.  So, definitely use them!
  
  
• This is the draft agenda for now...Fred can always change it, so folks should be prepared for a surprise visit if he does that!  
  
  
• 8:30 - Meeting with Kiri and Annie in 401
  
  
• 9:25 - Class Visits 1 (reminder - Fred may shift these...)
• 9:25 - ICT Earth Science with Thomas & Mary - Rm 205
• 9:50 - ICT Algebra 1 with Amanda & Sue - Rm 407
• 10:00 - Into Lit with Yasmeen - Rm 309
• 10:10 - Into Lit with Patricia & Crystal - Rm 307
  
  
• 10: 20 - Class Visits 2
• 10:20 - ICT CUNY QR with Judy & Jasmine - Rm 405
• 10:30 - AP Seminar with Marsha - Rm 309
  
  
• 10:40 - Recruitment, School Culture & Family Engagement - Rm 147
  
  
• 11: 15 - Student Group Meeting - Rm 147
  
  
• 11:30 - Teacher Group Meeting - Rm 147
  
  
• 12:10 - Independent Work Time for Fred - Rm 401
  
  
• 1:05- Meeting with Kiri and Annie in 401

Tracking Students in MP4.  Make sure you are using THIS DOCUMENT to document your 55 min remote  Outreach for MP4.  As a reminder, I'll be checking this document as evidence of your outreach time for outreach to families for the following kids:

• Celebrating the 80+ winners! -   Just record the date you reached out!
  
  
• Pushing to 80 - It is optional to include the list of things they need to do, but mandatory is the date you made the outreach!

• Tracking those in danger of failing - Finally, required for all students who could potentially fail - you need to create a link to the document (that is accessible by anyone who has the link) that lists all the things that the student needs to complete in order to satisfactorily meet the requirements of the course.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• NHS Mental Health Awareness Week (Guest Post from NHS & Amanda/Sue)
  The National Honor Society is excited to be hosting Mental Health Awareness Week from May 12 to May 16, culminating with our participation in the NAMIWalks NYC + Mental Health Street Fest on Sunday May 18th, the nation's largest mental health event. 
  
  We'd love your help in making it a meaningful, engaging, and uplifting experience for our students. Each day of the week will feature fun, low-cost activities that promote self-care, mental health awareness, and connection among students. We’re planning lots of activities for the week, including a gratitude wall, make-your-own stress balls, and a raffle on Friday!
  
  To help make this week a success, we are kindly asking for support in a few key ways:
  
  We need a few people who are willing to host/supervise students during middle school and high school lunches this week for some activities (like a quiet/relaxation space, a board game lounge, a movie room, etc). If you're open to hosting, we’ll coordinate setup, supplies, and location – you just provide the supervision.
  
  We’re also trying to source supplies from our community as budgets have closed. We’re mainly looking for: 
  
  
• Photo booth props (fun glasses, signs, boas, etc.)
• Stress ball materials (balloons, flour/rice, funnels)
• Painting or art materials (markers, paper, paint, brushes)

One of the main ways we will be raising money is through a raffle held at the end of the week. We are looking for donations of all sizes for the raffle, things like gift cards, small self-care items, snacks, school spirit gear…anything! I will be using this as an opportunity to clear out some new, never-opened puzzles from a bygone puzzle phase, so anything students may enjoy is welcome! 

 

We’d also love your support. We will be walking on May 18th as a team and would love anyone who is available to come join us in person. Learn more about the walk here. We have a fundraising goal of $500 and would also appreciate your support in helping us meet (and exceed!) our goal. You can donate here!  

 

If you’re able to help with hosting or donating any of the above, please fill out this quick Google Form by Thursday April 23nd,  so we can organize everything smoothly. We truly appreciate your support in promoting mental wellness in our school community.

Thank you for all that you do!

Amanda & Sue

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

REPOST:  Summer School Planning is Starting.  Summer school planning is beginning.  We will not be hosting Girls Inc and DYCD summer camp this summer, and our students who need an all-day placement can register for DYCD programs at the Montauk School this summer.   

We are currently looking for folks who are interested in doing some enrichment work (6-12) this summer.  AND we will also have regents prep this summer.  If you are interested in working this summer, please complete THIS FORM no later than 30APR.  We still have openings - so go ahead and apply if interested!

Week of April 21st

UAI Staff News

Volume XII

Issue 28

April 21st, 2025

Welcome Back!  Welcome back from the Spring Break everyone!  I hope you were able to rest, recharge, and spend some solid quality you-time to celebrate our completion of the hardest lap of the year - that February-April break stretch through March!

This last marking period is all about circling around our kiddos and giving them all the love and support, challenge and guidance, and encouragement & helping hands that they need to stick their landings and end the year proud of their efforts & achievements.   Some kids have been on the right path all year long and have achieved great things.  Others have had their fair share of obstacles that threw them off their way.  For these folks, some of them were able to find their way around those hurdles, but others continued to stay on their personal struggle bus.  Finally, there are some kids who still have not managed to grab on and find their rhythm through school.

Regardless of the pathway, each and everyone of these students our OURS.  They our OURs to cheer, OURs to cajole, OURs to challenge, and OURs to hold.  So for this marking period, as we bring all the threads together to neatly tie up the year, it is important to remember our role is setting OUR kids up to realize their best efforts and best achievements for the year.  This is the final marking period, and with that come their final performances, assessments, and tests of the year. 

Our job is to work together to make sure our students are ready and situated to realize their very best potential!

Let's go UAI!! We are ready to wrap up the year, and wrap up strong! 

UPCOMING DATES

• Monday 21APR-Friday 25APR - Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week
  
  
• Monday 21APR - Monday PD - Testing Orientation and MP4 Failure Tracker
  
  
• Monday 28APR-Friday 02MAY - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
  
  
• Wednesday 30APR-Thursday 01MAY - NYS MS ELA Testing (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY-Thursday 08MAY - NYS MS ELA Testing (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Wednesday 07MAY-Wednesday 14MAY  - AP Exam Testing Week
  
  
• Thursday, 15MAY- Honor Roll Celebration, Evening Parent Conferences
  
  
• Saturday, 17MAY - New Student Welcome
  
  
• Monday, 19MAY - Smile Dental Visit to UAI
  
  
• Monday 26MAY - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Remaining PD Dates
1. 21APR - P/SAT and MS testing orientation
                - MP4 Failing Outreach/ Modified Huddles
2. 28APR - SEL PD with UA
3. 05MAY - Teacher Appreciation Celebration
4. 12MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 2
5. 19MAY - SDC PD - Academic Playbook Session 3
6. 02JUN - Last Huddle of the Year
7. 09JUN - Regents Week Orientation
8. 16JUN - Grading Time for All/Room Set up for Testing
   
   
• Upcoming Staff Appreciation Dates
• 05MAY-09MAY - Teacher Appreciation Week

TO DO THIS WEEK

Tracking Students in MP4.  MP4 is the final marking period of the year, making it one of the most important.  Outreach and clear communication this marking period is incredibly important and critical.  to prepare for that, we're going to modify our Huddle time this month to set up prepare for outreach for each of these three categories of students during your weekly 55 minutes of outreach and your in-person communication with kids in your classes.

We'll be reviewing these expectations in PD on Monday, and then you'll have time to work on putting together the information and planning your outreach for MP4.  We'll be using THIS DOCUMENT for Outreach tracking in MP4.

As a reminder, this year, each marking period stands alone and then all four marking periods are averaged together for the final annualized grade that will go on student transcripts.  This MP, outreach will center on the following categories of kiddos.

• Celebrating the 80+ winners! -   There are kiddos who have been doing so good all year long that even if they tanked MP4, they would still meet the goal of >80 (but of course, we won't let them tank!!).  So, make sure to call home and express your pride & joy in their achievement and work, and share with the home the specifics about what their achievements have been and why they are so impressive.  Make sure to center our school values of Rigor, Joy, Equity, and Power as you articulate their success!!
  
  
• Pushing to 80 - Next are the kiddos who could still get there.  If they buckle down and really apply themselves and get the help and support they need for MP4, these kiddos could make the school goal of earning >80 in your class.  BUT, they need to know what to do = specifically and explicitly.  You have to meet with them and talk with their families and together, we can all collectively make a unified push to get these kids to land successfully at the school wide goal!
  
  
• Tracking those in danger of failing - Finally, there are kids who have stumbled and had their share of missteps.  We need to have special eyes on these little ones.  Be super clear now with both them and their families about what needs to be done in order to minimally pass for the year (65).  Whatever students fail to complete on this list will be what they are assigned to complete in summer school. 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• NHS Mental Health Awareness Week (Guest Post from NHS & Amanda/Sue)
  The National Honor Society is excited to be hosting Mental Health Awareness Week from May 12 to May 16, culminating with our participation in the NAMIWalks NYC + Mental Health Street Fest on Sunday May 18th, the nation's largest mental health event. 
  
  We'd love your help in making it a meaningful, engaging, and uplifting experience for our students. Each day of the week will feature fun, low-cost activities that promote self-care, mental health awareness, and connection among students. We’re planning lots of activities for the week, including a gratitude wall, make-your-own stress balls, and a raffle on Friday!
  
  To help make this week a success, we are kindly asking for support in a few key ways:
  
  We need a few people who are willing to host/supervise students during middle school and high school lunches this week for some activities (like a quiet/relaxation space, a board game lounge, a movie room, etc). If you're open to hosting, we’ll coordinate setup, supplies, and location – you just provide the supervision.
  
  We’re also trying to source supplies from our community as budgets have closed. We’re mainly looking for: 
  
  
• Photo booth props (fun glasses, signs, boas, etc.)
• Stress ball materials (balloons, flour/rice, funnels)
• Painting or art materials (markers, paper, paint, brushes)

One of the main ways we will be raising money is through a raffle held at the end of the week. We are looking for donations of all sizes for the raffle, things like gift cards, small self-care items, snacks, school spirit gear…anything! I will be using this as an opportunity to clear out some new, never-opened puzzles from a bygone puzzle phase, so anything students may enjoy is welcome! 

 

We’d also love your support. We will be walking on May 18th as a team and would love anyone who is available to come join us in person. Learn more about the walk here. We have a fundraising goal of $500 and would also appreciate your support in helping us meet (and exceed!) our goal. You can donate here!  

 

If you’re able to help with hosting or donating any of the above, please fill out this quick Google Form by Thursday April 23nd,  so we can organize everything smoothly. We truly appreciate your support in promoting mental wellness in our school community.

Thank you for all that you do!

Amanda & Sue

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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

REPOST:  Summer School Planning is Starting.  Summer school planning is beginning.  We will not be hosting Girls Inc and DYCD summer camp this summer, and our students who need an all-day placement can register for DYCD programs at the Montauk School this summer.   

We are currently looking for folks who are interested in doing some enrichment work (6-12) this summer.  AND we will also have regents prep this summer.  If you are interested in working this summer, please complete THIS FORM no later than 30APR.  We still have openings - so go ahead and apply if interested!