Volume: XIIIIssue: 16December 7, 2025
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.
- DEC11: Homecoming Game & WinterFest
- DEC12: Homecoming
- DEC16: Lever Visit IR
- DEC19: Staff Holiday Party
- DEC23: 2:20pm Rapid Dismissal
- Date TBD: Senior Slumber Party
UPCOMING TRIPS
- 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
- WBL trips this semester: December 18 and January 7th
- 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
- 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!
- 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.
- Set-up for the event (4:00 PM)
- Welcoming guests
- Food Service
- Support students in running craft tables and activities
- Clean-up
No comments:
Post a Comment