Week of March 16

                                                          

Volume: XIII

Issue: 28

March 16, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

There is also something powerful about breaking bread with families and connecting in a more informal way. Sharing a meal creates space for conversation that goes beyond grades - it helps build trust, strengthens relationships, and reminds families that our school is a community that welcomes them. These moments of connection often make it easier to have honest conversations about student progress and to work together toward solutions that support our students.

This week’s Parent-Teacher Conferences provide an important opportunity to strengthen our partnership with families and ensure students have the support they need to finish the marking period strong. As you prepare for conferences, please prioritize outreach to families of students who have not yet reached an 80% average in your course.

For students who are currently below this benchmark, these conversations are especially important. Families should leave the evening with a clear understanding of where their student stands academically, what specific skills or habits may be impacting their performance, and what steps can be taken over the next few weeks to improve. 

This is also a moment to ensure that families feel like partners in supporting their child’s learning. Clear communication about expectations, grading policies, and available supports can help families reinforce those structures at home. When families understand both the challenges and the path forward, it often increases accountability and motivation for students.

In addition, please take time to highlight students’ strengths and areas of growth. Even when students are struggling academically, acknowledging their effort, participation, improvement, or positive habits can help frame the conversation in a way that keeps students encouraged and focused on progress.

Finally, remember that conferences are an opportunity not just to share information, but to build trust with families. Listening to families’ perspectives, asking questions about what they are seeing at home, and working together to identify strategies for support can make these conversations much more impactful.

IMPORTANT DATES

• MAR03-31: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins (every Tuesday in March)
• MAR18: PTCs evening (in-person)
• MAR19: PTCs half-day, kids dismiss at 11:15a
• MAR20: Schools Closed Eid al-Fitr
• MAR25: SAT/PSAT Day
• MAR27: MS Sneaker Ball

*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:

MAR25: 8/9th grade College Trips

MAR26: JRob MET trip

MAR26: Sue trip to RJ Honors event

TO DO THIS WEEK

Complete your Preference Sheet. REMINDER. Please take a few minutes to submit your preference sheet for the 2026-27 school year.  The form was due on Friday 13MAR.  

Calendar Your Own Out Days. UFT consultation committee has asked that we increase transparency around staff out days so we've come up with a solid solution that will require action steps from YOU. Stay tuned for instructions on how to do this, coming soon.

Outreach & Conferences. Continue to do outreach this week for PTCs. Prioritize students who are not yet hitting to 80% mark in your classes! Please record your outreach in the outreach log!

P/SATs. 10th and 11th graders will be taking the P/SATs on Wednesday, March 25th. Teacher schedules and student lists are HERE (you'll need to request access). Please reach out to Liza if you see any errors or have questions!

• 8/9th graders will head to the farm for a pre-college activity - they will then head out on a college trip. 
• All 12th graders will be out on a trip to a trampoline park.

Women's History Month Celebrations. Lots of activities are planned during lunch periods for this month! See below for those dates:

• 17MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #4 - Room 305              
• 18MAR - Women's History Month Movie Series - Room 509
• 24MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #5 - Room 305                                 
• 27MAR - MIDDLE SCHOOL SNEAKER BALL - Cafeteria, 4-6PM
• 31MAR - Women's History Month Speaker Series #6 - Room 305

Next IR Groups.  Below is the updated schedule for this cycle.

18MAR26 - Sue, Jasmine, Mary, Mike, Sarah R, Mahjabeen, Tom M, Meg, Bryanna

24MAR26 - Roger, Elena, Sarah M, Jake, Alison, Fatima, Mayisha, Juelle, Marie

TBD Rescheduled Teachers:  Camryn, Noelle

REPOSTED ITEMS

RJ Circlekeeping: RPET students are leading weekly circles with icebreakers and getting to know you games the next three Wednesdays: March 11 and 18, 4th period in room 409. Snacks will be provided! If students would like to join, meet in the cafeteria at 11:20 and Sue will bring them upstairs. Please share with students!

Peer Mediation is Starting! Thanks to Sue and the RPET team for getting this up and running! The flyer below will be posted around the building so that students can access this resource when they're in conflict - please do promote this tool! We will experience bumps and learn a lot in the process but are excited to have our youth leaders mediate and offer more peer-to-peer support. Students can request peer mediations and staff can suggest them as a means to resolving conflict.  

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.

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 email Annie.

PER SESSION POSTINGS

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