Week of Dec 22

                                                             

Volume: XIII

Issue: 18

December 22, 2025

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

This is going to be a short post! I hope you all have a wonderfully restful and joyous holiday break - it is absolutely well-deserved. I am excited to celebrate with you and our students over the next two days! 

• On Monday at 9am we have our first annual alumni pancake breakfast in the cafeteria - come check it out and be ready to be blown away by a blast from the past! Also, I make excellent pancakes and it would be my honor to cook you breakfast. Then, we have our staff cookie exchange during our 3pm PD!
• On Tuesday we continue the celebration with a middle school hotdog lunch party, 3rd period in the cafeteria! Yes, there will be halal hot dogs. Stop by for some music and dancing! As a reminder, dismissal will be rapid at 2:15pm on Tuesday, except for Girls Inc students who WILL have regular programming.

In preparation for the break please prep your rooms for the custodians:

• Remove all perishables from shared refrigerators and other squirreled away locations - do NOT leave food in your rooms.
• Any food items that remain stored in closets need to be secured in containers resistant to critters (e.g. plastic bins)
• Wipe down (or have the kids wipe down) all surfaces and desktops.  There are Clorox wipes in the main closet across from the office.  
• We'll be having a rapid dismissal on the 23rd.  Before leaving for the break, all chairs need to be on top of the desks.  This really helps our custodians more effectively sweep and mop the floors more thoroughly.  

Lastly - this is your last chance to submit purchasing requests! Get them in asap using this form!

UPCOMING DATES

• DEC22: Alumni Breakfast
• DEC23: MS Hotdog Lunch Party
• DEC23: 2:15pm Rapid Dismissal
• Date TBD: 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...

• Step 1:   Read the DOE FAQ on Field Trips
  https://infohub.nyced.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/faqs-regarding-school-trips.pdf
• Step 2:   Get Pre-Approval from Kiri 
  
• Step 3:  Complete the Trip Form (ALL TABS)
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3i3fgENVCpX6MA51r_1jsmxVavRm12-oaB9ieiNA8Q/edit?usp=sharing
• Step 4:  Share form (anyone with link can view) with Kiri

JAN07: WBL Trip

JAN21: MS Snow tubing

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

  

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!

• WBL trips this semester: January 7th

TO DO THIS WEEK

RPET SURVEY. Please help out the RPET by completing (it will take less than 5 minutes) this Restorative Justice Survey for our community - all staff can respond. The data will help support our RPET goals (currently peer mediation). It's anonymous, and created by Peer Connect who supports our school (and district schools) with trainings for peer mediation, tier 1 community building, tier 2, etc. 

Upcoming PD Dates. Looking ahead, below are the topics for all of our PD for January

05JAN - Lynn facilitates SEL PD

12JAN - Academic Playbook

26JAN - Remote PD - Launch of Round 3 SL-IEP

Next SDC Meeting. We will meet as a whole group on Jan 8th at 7:45am! 

Week of Dec 15

                                                               

Volume: XIII

Issue: 17

December 15, 2025

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we wrap up an amazing stretch of school spirit - with an unforgettable Homecoming Week and an equally joyful Winterfest - I want to take a moment to thank you all. The energy, pride, and togetherness our students experienced over this past week was a direct result of your planning, participation, and willingness to go above and beyond. Special shoutout to Shan for organizing Homecoming, and Jen for organizing Winterfest - you've brought so much pride to our school, thank you. 

Now, as a whole staff we need to channel that same momentum directly into the work that matters most for their academic success. Over the past two weeks I've spent time in all intervention & Regents prep classes in grades 8-12. These periods are arguably the most crucial instructional blocks for students needing to close content and skill gaps and prepare for high-stakes assessments.

The trends I observed represent a collective opportunity to align our practices and ensure we maximize the impact of every minute in these vital classes. So here it goes:

Strengths in Intervention

• Across contents, there are teachers who are really doing an incredible job of providing differentiated intervention for our most struggling students.
• In all ELA intervention rooms, students are fully and productively engaged in the structured programs (REWARDS and STARI). 
• In rooms where students are given access to leveled materials based on their individual, diagnostic needs, students are engaged, motivated, and completing work that is rigorous for them.

Opportunities for Improvement. 

• Across contents, when students have access to a laptop, some are using it for social media or other websites that do not promote learning.
• In rooms where teachers sit at their teacher desks, some students spend the period asleep.
• In rooms where materials are printed as (or after) students walk in, there is low-level engagement and a noticeable loss of instructional time due to the delay and lack of a structured start.

Non-Negotiable Next Steps: 

• Teachers who are assigned to Intervention or Regents prep periods must engage/interact/work/be in proximity with students for the full period in support of their learning. This will prevent disengagement, allow for instant redirection, and creates opportunities for just-in-time instruction, and ensures all students are held accountable for working throughout the entire period.
• All instructional materials must be printed, collated, and on students' desks or a designated distribution point before the start of the period. This will allow us to maximize the learning time for all students.
• Laptops and devices are only to be used for a clearly defined, monitored, and time-bound academic task that is explicitly linked to closing a skill gap or preparing for the Regents exam. Staff must actively monitor student screens during use. If a student is using a laptop for non-academic purposes, it is a direct misuse of the time dedicated to their critical academic recovery and we cannot allow it.

Our intervention and Regents prep teachers are truly the last line of defense for students who are at risk of failing - and for some, that means the difference between graduating and not graduating in June. The work you do in these periods is not just support; it is prevention, acceleration, and, in many cases, the lifeline that keeps students on track for the futures they deserve. Thank you for leaning into this responsibility with purpose and urgency every single day. If we stay consistent and aligned, our students will feel the impact immediately.

UPCOMING DATES

• DEC16: Lever Visit IR
• DEC19: Staff Holiday Party
• DEC22: Alumni Breakfast
• DEC23: MS Hotdog Lunch Party
• DEC23: 2:15pm Rapid Dismissal
• Date TBD: 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...

• Step 1:   Read the DOE FAQ on Field Trips
  https://infohub.nyced.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/faqs-regarding-school-trips.pdf
• Step 2:   Get Pre-Approval from Kiri 
  
• Step 3:  Complete the Trip Form (ALL TABS)
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3i3fgENVCpX6MA51r_1jsmxVavRm12-oaB9ieiNA8Q/edit?usp=sharing
• Step 4:  Share form (anyone with link can view) with Kiri

DEC10: 7th grade to NMAI

DEC16: Marcy Lab Visit

DEC18: WBL Trip

JAN07: WBL Trip

JAN21: MS Snow tubing

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

  

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!

• WBL trips this semester: December 18 and January 7th

TO DO THIS WEEK

Staff Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange! Please join us at 3pm on Friday at Henry St Ale House for our annual staff party! Can't make it? Don't worry, we will also be celebrating with a Cookie Exchange on Monday, Dec 22 at our 3pm PD. Please plan to bring 12 cookies or other sweet treat to share! 

RPET SURVEY. Please help out the RPET by completing (it will take less than 5 minutes) this Restorative Justice Survey for our community - all staff can respond. The data will help support our RPET goals (currently peer mediation). It's anonymous, and created by Peer Connect who supports our school (and district schools) with trainings for peer mediation, tier 1 community building, tier 2, etc. 

Upcoming PD Dates. Looking ahead, below are the topics for all of our PD for December and January

15DEC - Writing the IEPs  

22DEC - Cookies & Karaoke, Ugly Holiday Sweaters, and SL-IEP success measuring

05JAN - Lynn facilitates SEL PD

12JAN - Academic Playbook

26JAN - Remote PD - Launch of Round 3 SL-IEP

Next SDC Meeting. We will meet as a whole group on Jan 8th at 7:45am! 

Week of Dec 7

                                                              

Volume: XIII

Issue: 16

December 7, 2025

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Now is a good time to check back in on our school-wide goals for the year. We’ve spoken at length about our special education students and the persistent challenge that they are not progressing at expected levels across core content areas. Our current data shows that the disproportionality between general education students and our special education students is continuing to widen, as general education students continue to make steady growth while our special education students remain static. 

As we move forward, it is essential that we are persistent and consistent in using the instructional routines outlined in our Academic Playbook. These strategies - Notice & Wonder, Stronger and Clearer, and So Basically - are designed to deepen comprehension, strengthen literacy skills, and ensure equitable participation across classrooms. When used with fidelity and consistency across contents, these routines provide structure, clarity, and access points that benefit all learners, but especially our special education students - so, this is an essential step in increasing academic achievement. 

At the same time, our work with Student-Led IEPs directly complements these instructional moves. By empowering students and families to take a more active role in setting and monitoring goals, Student-Led IEPs increase student ownership, motivation, and clarity around learning needs. This process also requires us to shift our own mindsets from focusing on student weaknesses to identifying and leveraging student strengths, which aligns seamlessly with the Academic Playbook’s emphasis on equitable, strengths-based participation.

When we implement classroom routines that guarantee daily access to rigorous learning and engage students in a student-led process that builds agency, purpose, and clarity around their strengths and goals, we lay the foundation for meaningful academic shifts. Our collective consistency, shared belief in this work, and commitment to following through will be the driving force behind accelerating growth for our special populations and ensuring every student has the support and opportunities they need to succeed. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to making this possible.

UPCOMING DATES

• DEC11: Homecoming Game & WinterFest
• DEC12: Homecoming
• DEC16: Lever Visit IR
• DEC19: Staff Holiday Party
• DEC23: 2:20pm Rapid Dismissal
• Date TBD: 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...

• Step 1:   Read the DOE FAQ on Field Trips
  https://infohub.nyced.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/faqs-regarding-school-trips.pdf
• Step 2:   Get Pre-Approval from Kiri 
  
• Step 3:  Complete the Trip Form (ALL TABS)
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3i3fgENVCpX6MA51r_1jsmxVavRm12-oaB9ieiNA8Q/edit?usp=sharing
• Step 4:  Share form (anyone with link can view) with Kiri

DEC10: 7th grade to NMAI

DEC16: Marcy Lab Visit

DEC18: WBL Trip

JAN07: WBL Trip

JAN21: MS Snow tubing

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

  

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!

• WBL trips this semester: December 18 and January 7th

TO DO THIS WEEK

Homecoming Week. Lots going on for Homecoming Week this week! HUGE thank you to Shan for organizing this week - it's going to be an absolute blast!

Grade Level Lunch Activities!

• 6th and 7th Grade: Gingerbread Houses (Wednesday in Cafe) - Hosted by Bryanna
• 8th Grade: High School Application Celebration (Monday in 507) — Hosted by Jen
• 9th Grade: Ugly Holiday Sweater Decorating (Tuesday in 509) — Hosted by Shanice
• 10th Grade: Game Night Getaway (Tuesday in 309) — Hosted by Yasmeen & Jasmine
• 11th Grade: Junior Gingerbread Houses (Wednesday in 509) — Hosted by Shanice
• 12th Grade: Senior Holiday Workshop (Tuesday in 507) — Hosted by Jen

Spirit week! Dress up each day to show your school pride! 🎉

• Monday: Adam Sandler Day — Dress as your favorite Adam Sandler movie character!
• Tuesday: Country vs. Country Club — Are you country or bougie? Both?
• Wednesday: Dress like your favorite musician!
• Thursday: Color Wars — Wear your grade level's color!
• Friday: UAI Spirit Wear Day — Wear as much UAI swag as possible! 

Homecoming Parade! Wednesday (7th period) – Join us as we celebrate by parading through the UAI hallways with music and lots of school spirit. The parade will start on the 6th floor and conclude outside in front of the school. 

🏀Homecoming Basketball Game! Thursday (4:30 p.m.). Come cheer on Daliah Givens, Zorah English, Ziva Emmanus, Chloe Ali, Nyah Slaughter, Makela Dessources, Rhenee Kirkland, Hailey Johnson, & Kate Reynolds.

Pep Rally! Friday (7th period) - Come cheer on our students as we re-introduce the 2025-2026 UAI Homecoming Court and get ready for the big dance later.

🪩Homecoming Dance 🪩! Friday (7:00-10:00 p.m.) – The Homecoming Dance will be held on Friday, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the school gym. Get ready for an unforgettable night with delicious catered soul food, a professional DJ spinning the latest hits, a photographer to capture all your best moments, and party favors.