February/March 2015

UAI High School Parent Newsletter

Volume 2

Issue 5

February/March 2015

Announcements

Principal's Address.  We have successfully launched into the 2nd half of the school year.  While February was definitely cold and snowy, we ended it with one of our best celebrations of Black History month to date!  Seniors Kaylah Pilgrim and Sky Blackstock ran the show seamlessly showcasing our UAI talent with our Step Team, instrumental talent, and spoken word performers.  Belle LeGrand and Taylor Russell (along with dancing by Toddara Galimore) closed the show with an amazing performance of John Legend's Glory!  

Participants from each grade were represented, making this one of the most engaging assemblies we've had to date.  UAI is a community of strong, beautiful, and talented young women! 

PTA Meeting and Summer Opportunities Fair.  On Tuesday, 10MAR15 at 6PM, Girls Inc & Carrera will be hosting our first Summer Opportunities Fair.  We will also have informational tables on Learning Cultures, Senior Activities & Graduation, and The Arts.  Our goal for the PTA meeting is to cast a wide net to encourage parents and families to come out and engage with our school.  So whether you are looking for things for your teenager to do this summer, have questions about graduation or senior activities, still wonder what Learning Cultures is all about, or you want to explore the Arts with Ms. Carol, we hope to have something of interest for you!  You're welcome to sit in on our SLT meeting from 5-6PM, otherwise we'll see you at 6PM for the line-up of amazing events!

UAI High School Night at the Brooklyn Nets.  Immediately following our PTA meeting, we are hosting a UAI HS family night at the Brooklyn Nets.  On Tuesday, March 10th at 7:30PM we have a block of 50 tickets to go to the game together as our UAI HS family.  Students, family, and staff are all invited to attend.  If you want to come, please see Jen C (jenc@uainstitute.org) to purchase tickets.  We hope you can make it!  It will be a fun-filled night!

UAI Picture day is Tuesday, 10MAR15. 

As a reminder, our annual Picture Day is on Tuesday.  Forms went out to all students from Mr. Demetris and Mr. Ruben during Job Club classes last week and the week before.  If you still need a form, it's not too late! Send your daughter to room 401 or to room 145 to get a form from Ms. Carol or Ms. Kiri.

Third Annual Spring Semi-formal.  Our 3rd annual Spring Semi-formal dance will be held on Friday, March 20th. Tickets are on sale in the cafeteria from Ms. Doris.   If you are interested in chaperoning, please contact Ms. Kiri (kiris@uainstitute.org) or Ms. Doris (dorist@uainstitute.org).
Our annual semi-formal gives our young women the opportunity to dress up for a party!  It's not formal (like prom), but it gives all of our high school young ladies the chance to experience a fancy event.

We do allow dates (provided that they are still in high school and have valid high school ID).  Doors close at 7:30PM and there are no refunds if students arrive after 7:30.

Every year this is a fun and special event!  We encourage all students to come (with friends or with dates - all all welcome)!

Important Dates

• Tuesday, 10MAR15 - PTA Meeting and Summer Activities Fair
• Tuesady, 10MAR15 - UAI HS at the Brooklyn Nets 7:30PM
• Friday, 13MAR15 - End of 4th Marking Period
• Monday, 16MAR15 - Beginning of 5th Marking Period
• Friday, 20MAR15- 4th Marking Period Progress Reports Backpacked home 
• Friday, 20MAR15 - UAI High School Semi-Formal - A Night in Paris 
• Thursday, 26MAR15 - Evening Student Led Conferences 5-8PM
• Thursday, 26MAR15 - Hollerback Assembly (more info to come!) 1:30-2:30PM
• Friday, 27MAR15 - Afternoon Student Led Conferences   12-2:40PM 
• Friday, 27MAR15 - Rapid Dismissal at 11AM

• Wednesday 01APR15 and Thursday 02APR15 - Benchmark IV Exams
• Friday 03APR15 through Friday 10APR15 - Spring Break
• Monday 16APR15 - First day be from spring break

UAI High School Parent Newsletter for December 2014 and January 2015

UAI High School Parent Newsletter

Volume 2

Issue 3

December 2014 & January 2015

Announcements

Chancellor Farina visits UAI!

Principal's Address.

With winter recess in December and Regents week in January, both of these months are short!  So, I'm combining these two months for one big newsletter!  It's hard to believe that we're already half way through the year.  We've had such an amazing start to the year that the time is flying.  Over the break, the Chancellor reached out to our school to see Learning Cultures in action.  She visited last Monday and was thoroughly impressed with the quality of our teachers, the brilliance of our students, and the supports and partnerships that UAI has put together to bring the highest quality service to our girls and their families.  After 9 years, UAI is finally on the map as a model school!  Thank you to all of our families for their choosing us and working with us to make our school the best it can be.  Thank you to all of our teachers, students and staff who work tirelessly to bring UAI to excellence every single day!

Winterfest '14.  The seniors hosted our 8th annual Winterfest celebration of talent.  This year they coordinated a whole school talent show.  Acts from both the middle and high school performed and wowed the crowd.  Families and peers attended to show support, and our senior class hosts made the evening enjoyable and a night to remember.  Thank you Class of 2015 for such a wonderful evening!

SLT Meetings.  The School Leadership Team met on December 10th and January 21st.  All SLT meetings are open to the public and our next meeting is on February 10th at 5PM.

Members present were:
Kelly Demoncaco (Chair), Kiri Soares (Secretary), Elena Brollo (Time Keeper), Susan Johnson (parent), Nequan McLean (parent), Felicia Woods (parent)

Absent members were:
Donna Belgrave (PTA President), Keara Small (student, senior class president), Lucindia Lewis (student, junior class president)

Agenda and Minutes

• CEP Review.  The SLT will be reviewing the school draft CEP.  Please take a moment to read through and share your comments with us by emailing Ms. Kiri (kiris@uainstitute.org).
• Prose Schools.  Ms. Kiri shared that the Urban Assembly as a network is considering submitting an application to become a PROSE school.  As a group of like-minded schools, the UA is looking to continue working together as a network beyond the changes that are bound to come in the future with the Chancellor's reorganization of schools.  The UA is proposing three key prose ideas:  Using our reading test (The DRP) as a teacher testing measure (MOSL), Creating flexibility in the school calendar to allow for teachers to visit other schools for professional development, and Creating flexibility in hiring restriction to be able to hire college coordinators and partnership coordinators.

• School Quality Review.  In December, Superintendent Watts conducted our school quality review. While we can't yet release the results, it was a very good day!  Stay tuned for details to come!

• Attending School Safety Meetings.  Ms. Kiri will discuss with the Adams street building council to schedule a time for all schools' PTA presidents to attend School Safety Meetings, monthly.

• Formalizing SLT Practices. As a reminder, we have formalized positions for our SLT.  SLT members are::  Ms. Johnson, 12th grade parent, Ms. Belgrave, PTA president and 12th grade parent, and Ms. Woods, 11th grade parent, and Mr. McClean, 9th grade parent, Ms. Elena 10th grade teacher and UFT representative, Keara Small & Lucindia Lewis, student representatives, Ms. Kiri, High School Principal, and Ms. Kelly Middle School Principal .  At last SLT meeting, the following positions were formally elected.
  
  Kelly DeMonaco - SLT Chair will work with PTA president to set agendas and facilitate meetings
  Kiri Soares - SLT Secretary will take notes and publish to UAI community
  Elena Brollo - SLT Time keeper will keep the meeting on pace

• Items for next meeting.  The following items are already on the agenda for the next meeting:  Final review of the Prose application, Final review of the CEP, review of cell phone policy, and spring fundraising ideas.  If you would like to see something added to the agenda, please reach out to Donna Belgrave at donlyance@optonline.net or Kelly DeMonaco at kellyd@uainstitute.org.

Important Dates

• Monday, January 26 through Thursday, January 29th- Regent testing week. All students should have received their programs from their advisors . If your daughter is not scheduled to take an exam she will not have classes.  
• Friday, January 30-Fall term ends for high school students. Students will NOT be in attendance.
• Monday, February 2-Chancellor’s Conference Day high school students will NOT be in attendance
• Tuesday, February 3-Spring term begins and regular classes begin for High School students
• Wednesday, February 4th through Thursday, February 12th- Valentine's Day Candygram week fundraiser
• February 10- PTA Meeting 6:00pm
• February 16 thru 20th Midwinter Recess schools are closed

UAI’s PTA is sponsoring Tax Time along with the Carrera Team

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

 6:00 to 7:00pm

Cafeteria

The Carrera team will be answering all your tax questions!

Free consultation available

Mr Ruben is a certified tax trainer and preparer. He has more than 10 years

experience in the tax field and is ready to answer all your questions.

Please join UAI and the Carrera program for the 2015 Parent Family Life and

Sexuality Education Series beginning Wednesday, February 4th from 6 to 7:30pm.

The weekly class is open to all parents, caregivers and family members 18 years and

over to discuss issues related to puberty, sexual health and the variety of changes

and challenges teens face during their middle and high school years.

P.F.L.S.E workshops are designed to offer resources on how to communicate with

your young person, discuss with other parents as well as stay up to date on the

latest trends in teen sexuality and health.

Dinner and childcare are provided each Wednesday night.

Please R.S.V.P. or call Mr. Chris for more information: 718-260-2300 extension

20111 or by email: chrism@uainstitute.org