Week of Feb02

                                                          

Volume: XIII

Issue: 23

February 2, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we head into the spring stretch, we’re at a point in the year where information is no longer scarce, it’s abundant. Between benchmarks, MAP data, report cards, and attendance patterns, we have more than enough insight to help us make smart instructional decisions. The question now is how intentionally we use it.

Before having performance conversations with students, I encourage you to set aside focused time during prep, or collaborative planning to really study what your students’ data is telling you. Look for patterns, inconsistencies, growth moments, and surprises. Be mindful of the stories we sometimes tell ourselves about student performance and pause to interrogate them. Approach the data with curiosity and problem-solving, not conclusions.

Just as important: bring students into the conversation. Ask them to reflect on what feels hard, what feels easier than it used to, and where they think they’re growing. Many students carry fixed or negative beliefs about their abilities; counter that by anchoring conversations in evidence from their work and progress they may not yet recognize.

At this time of year outreach to families also becomes especially important. Families should not be surprised by where students are academically at the end of the year. Use what you are learning from your data and student conversations to proactively communicate with caregivers - sharing strengths, areas for growth, and specific ways families can support learning at home. These conversations are most effective when they are grounded in clarity, partnership, and a shared commitment to student success.

As the pressure to “get through” content increases this time of year, it’s essential to keep balance at the center of our planning.

We absolutely need to continue teaching grade-level content and skills.

And we also need to consistently pause and ask students to use what they’ve learned - to explain it, apply it, and revisit it.

Instruction without opportunities to check understanding doesn’t serve students well. If we don’t intentionally build moments to see what students are retaining, we risk mistaking exposure for learning.

Please plan to include regular opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding and reflect on their learning. These moments help clarify what needs reinforcement and where we can confidently move forward.

During the spring term, students should be assessed at least once per week. These assessments can be brief and embedded into instruction, but they should provide meaningful feedback for both teachers and students. Reach out to your planning partners and/or ILT leads to align on structures and strategies that make this manageable and effective.

Thank you for continuing to approach this work with thoughtfulness, professionalism, and care for your students’ growth.

UPCOMING DATES

• FEB03: Hiring Committee Meeting
• FEB04: MS Author visit
• FEB05: SYEP Application Party
• FEB11: Virtual Hiring Fair
• FEB12: PTA Dinner
• FEB16-20: Midwinter Recess
• FEB26: Black History Month Extravaganza

*All Student Engagement activities for the year will now be listed in this spreadsheet and on the UAI School Calendar! 

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

Upcoming Trips:

FEB10: Trip to NY Historical Society

FEB 12: HS Snow tubing

FEB25-27: 7th grade overnight trip to Taconic Outdoor Education Center 

MAR04: 7th grade to Hamilton!

TO DO THIS WEEK

Monday PD. During Monday PD (and all week) we will celebrate our Student Support Team! Nicole, Alaisha, Jean, JJR, Tiffany, and Jen are absolute superheroes. They work tirelessly to ensure students' safety (both physical and mental) and somehow do so with a smile and humor. Take some time this week to show them some love - they deserve it!

We also need to take care of some business (or you can do it ahead of time so you can leave early).  

We must all complete the Transition Stipulation Refresher Training.  

This refresher training applies to all staff and is an essential component of the work we have begun with the SLIEPs. Your participation is important not just to ensure compliance, but to strengthen our transition planning practices for students.  

Please take time to review the slides and fill out the Completion Form.  

RPET Survey. We're still collecting responses for the Restorative Justice Survey. Your input helps us evaluate our community's understanding of restorative practices and how they function in our school. So far, 8 staff have completed it - please see the data here. 

RJ Circlekeeping. This new initiative is a pilot led by a small group of RPET students who are participating in additional restorative justice programs beyond UAI. These students will apply what they’ve been learning—particularly around community building and circle practices—by launching the initiative with our 8th and 9th grade students. A maximum of 10 students from each of these grades can participate. We will begin during 4th period lunch on Wednesday, February 11 (location TBD), with additional dates to follow. Any staff members who would like to join (no preparation required; maximum fun!) are welcome, and any students who you think would benefit from this initiative please speak with individually and let Sue know. An announcement will be posted to Google Classroom for these classes this coming week. 

Plan for Ramadan. Thanks to Sarah R and the MSA for coming up with this plan! Students in grades 6–12 will be able to join the Ramadan Club (prayer space) daily during 4th period in Room B49. To participate, the student leaders are asking that interested students:

• Attend a community norms–setting meeting this Tuesday, February 3rd, during high school lunch
• Complete the Google interest form

Since Ramadan begins during break, the Ramadan Club will officially run from Monday, February 23rd through March 19th. Students understand that the prayer space will only be available during 4th period (HS lunch) in line with Chancellor’s regulations. Interested students will sign in using the official UAI club attendance sheet, and the room will open at 11:30 a.m. for wudu and set-up. Room B49 works especially well for this purpose, as it has plenty of space and includes six sinks, so students won’t need to use the restrooms to make wudu.

Sarah R will serve as club advisor, and will be present in the prayer space daily. Ms. Sue, Ms. Mayisha, Ms. Fatima, and Ms. Phillan have also generously offered to help support when they are available, given the high level of student interest.

Work-Based Learning. Shoutout to our incredible teachers for creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences for students every day!  To help students receive credit for their work-based learning, please email Phillan a brief list of the activities, projects, or experiences you offer. If you're not sure if your activities can be considered as WBL , please send them anyway!  Your work matters! 

HS MAP Dates. Grades 8-12 will take the ELA MAP this week. Again, our goal is to have 100% completion!

REPOSTED ITEMS

Prepping for Summer School.  It's that time again!  We are starting to launch our plans for Summer School.  If you are interested in working summer school, please email Annie and be specific about what you're interested in doing and how long you are interested in working (and yes, you can work in multiple roles and in both Summer Splash and Summer Regents prep)!  

Each summer, we have two separate programs:  Summer Splash and Summer Regents Prep.  In Summer Splash, we recruit teachers to teach their passion!  We look for folks who are excited about something - anything really - that will engage students and get them to learn in non-traditional ways.  Alongside completing required work for credit recovery, we offer explorations in art, music, history, and activism have peppered the program over the last few years. 

At the end of the summer, we pivot back to traditional studying for the August Regents exams.  

We are looking for

• Summer School Coordinator (2 Positions):  These two people would work collaboratively to recruit teachers and create, plan, and monitor summer programming for Summer Splash and Regents Prep (and Regents).  These two roles would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of summer school and would liaise with other summer programs to make sure all programs being hosted at UAI receive what they need and all programs run smoothly. Summer School Coordinators report to Annie (or building Admin if she is on vacation).

RJ Tier II Training. Kids in grades 8-12 can register by seeing Sue, and if kids in grade 6-7 want to sign up they should check in with Ms. Phillan. Adults can still register!

Students and Snacks. Across all grades the snacking is beginning to interfere with instructional time. This week on several occasions students were late to class (or using needing a snack as an excuse for lateness) and it's becoming problematic. We are asking that no snacks be given out or sold to students until 2:50pm. If a student is in dire need of food at any point, please reach out to the deans and they will support the student. Thank you for understanding. 

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. 

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 

Summer School.  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 PS46 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 

Hiring Committee. Interested in having a voice in who joins our school community? Join the School Hiring Committee and partner with leadership to interview candidates and help select educators who will best serve our students and school mission. Please fill out the persession form if interested.