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!