Thursday, March 19, 2026

Week of March 23

                                                           

Volume: XIII
Issue: 30
March 23, 2026

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

We are still fighting the attendance fight (see here for the most up to date list of chronically absent/severely chronically absent students). Brenda and the SST are going to support in doing the outreach for this list of students, but this battle requires action from all of us.

This week, we’re asking everyone to prioritize outreach to students who are arriving late to your classes. A quick call home or note to families can go a long way - but how we approach these conversations matters just as much as the outreach itself.

First, lead with empathy and perspective-taking. Seek to understand what’s behind the lateness, what barriers students may be facing that are preventing them from getting to school on time. Please avoid judgment or shame. Even when those approaches seem to work in the short term, they often create resentment and disconnect, which ultimately undermines long-term success.

Once you’ve listened and gathered context, help students and families understand the real impact of lateness. Many still hold the belief that “complete is good enough,” but we know that being present and on time is what unlocks true growth. Be explicit about what they’re missing - skills, knowledge, confidence, and the potential they’re leaving on the table. Let them know what you see in them: how much promise they have in your class, and how much they can achieve if they consistently show up on time.

This is especially important right now. We are almost at the end of MP3 and state assessments are just around the corner, it is time for students to buckle down. Daily, on-time attendance over the next month and a half will be critical in setting students up for success.

A quick note: Admin & the SST will continue supporting attendance and lateness efforts, but we know that our impact cannot match yours. The relationships you’ve built with students are powerful, far more than any system of accountability we can put in place. Where we may rely on consequences, you have the ability to inspire, motivate, and shift mindsets. When both approaches work together, we see real change.

So this week, please take that extra step to reconnect with students who are late and partner with their families to get them to school on time.

Finally, please be sure to log all outreach in the Outreach Log.


IMPORTANT DATES
  • MAR03-31: Women's History Month Speaker Series begins (every Tuesday in March)
  • 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...
Upcoming Trips:

MAR25: 8/9th grade College Trips
MAR26: JRob MET trip
MAR26: Sue trip to RJ Honors event


TO DO THIS WEEK

PPO is Scheduled. Kiri's very last PPO (EVER) is happening on Tuesday, March 24th. YES, this is an IR day, and YES, IR is still happening. Deputy Superintendent Melanie Lee will be joining IR as part of this PPO - so, if you are expected to be visited on Tuesday for IR, that means the Deputy Superintendent is likely coming to your classroom. Additionally, if you are up for tenure, odds are we are coming to see you. Intervention will also be a hot topic of conversation during the PPO.  So, we'll be visiting Math Intervention classes.  

Please share Annie and Kiri on your lesson plan ASAP but no later than EOD Monday. 

IR/PPO Class Visits:
Sue & Jasmine:  8/9 Alg 1 (2nd Pd), Room 403 - Judy will join
Mike:  6th Gr ELA (2nd Pd) - Phillan will join
Sarah R & Mahjabeen:  6th Gr Science (2nd) - Phillan will join 
Shan & Mary:  10-12th USH (3rd) - Kelly will join 
Tom & Matt:  10-12th Biology (3rd) (this is an add to see HS Science) Liza will join

PPO Draft Agenda:
8-8:30 - Leadership Meeting with Melanie (Kiri & Annie)
8:30-10:45 - Instructional Rounds
10:45-11:00- Math Intervention Visits
11:30-12:00 - Admin Debrief I (Kelly can you join?)
11:30-12:10 - Teacher Meeting in Rm 147 - Lunch Provided!
-Teachers of Classes Visited: 
Sue (also RPET lead), Jasmine, Mike, Sarah R, Mahjabeen, Shan (also SG lead), Mary, Tom, & Matt
- Staff in IR: 
Roger, Elena, Sarah M, Jake, Alison, Fatima, Mayisha. Juelle (also UFT Para lead), Marie
- Staff Leaders: 
Kelly, Marsha, Phillan, Liza, Judy (PAG), Amanda (NHS), Laura (UFT), 
12:10-12:40 - Student Meeting in Rm 147 - Lunch Provided!
- 1-2 from each Student Group: 
YLC, RPET, NHS, SGA, Middle School (leads - please choose)
12:40-1:00 - Parent Meeting (TBD on Parent Availability)
1:00-1:30- Admin Debrief II - Just Annie (and Possibly Kelly)
1:30-2:00- Melanie Work Time
2:00-3:00PM - Admin Debrief III


PD Reminder! If your SL-IEP for this round is not completed in SESIS by end of day Thursday (March 26th), you MUST stay for PD on Monday March 30th! This means your progress monitoring must also be complete. 


College Board Training. Please complete your PSAT, SAT or Hallway proctor training in the College Board by Monday, 3/23 at 3pm. You can access your individual training by logging into your CB account and navigating to the dashboard. Click on the link that says "Test Administration Training for the SAT Suite of Assessments". Our school code is 330984. Select the test you're proctoring and your proctoring duty (test proctor or hallway). You can use your OPW time to complete this. If you have any questions about how to access the training please reach out to Sue. 


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.

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. If you are going to be out of the building on an approved meeting, school visit, or professional development session, please send a calendar invite to the ENTIRE staff.  It should be in the format:  "Your Name At Name of Event" (eg. Kiri at Affinity Principal's Meeting).


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

24MAR26 - Roger, Elena, Sarah M, Jake, Alison, Fatima, Mayisha, Juelle, Marie
TBD Rescheduled Teachers:  Camryn, Noelle, Meg


REPOSTED ITEMS

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 


 

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