UAI High School Newsletter October 2014

UAI High School Parent Newsletter

Volume 2

Issue 2

October 2014

Announcements

The Class of 2015 Kicks off the
School Year & Brooklyn Bridge Park

Principal's Address.

The start of this school year has been incredibly strong across the board.  Students, staff, and families have all expressed increased satisfaction with the environment and communications home.  This year we've introduced some new programs to compliment our existing systems.  Skedula has replaced JumpRope as our primary online communication system.  Now, families have direct access to student grades, comments, and daily attendance to all of their classes.  In addition, advisors call home each day to stay on top of students who arrive late or are absent. Finally, another successful curriculum night brought our students, staff, and families together to celebrate learning at UAI. 

Now that the introductory units are completed, all classes are in full swing with their curricular study. Learning Cultures formats are up and running, and students are increasing their skills and knowledge during lesson, work time choices, unison reading, shares, and conferences.   Teachers are using Skedula to post assignments and share grades.  Many students are already using PupilPath to stay on top of their grades and attendance.  In so doing, they are learning to take charge of their learning and are excelling at it!  If you haven't had a chance to sign up for PupilPath, please reach out to your child's advisor or our parent coordinator Ms. Carol.  Both can help you register and begin to receive your own daily updates on attendance and grades.

Next PTA Meeting and Student Led Conferences.  The next PTA meeting is on Tuesday, 14OCT14 at 6PM.  Please join us to learn about updates from our Executive Board on an incredibly successful first fundraising drive.  In addition, we'll be reviewing upcoming school events and goings on.  Our first round of Student Led Conferences will be on Wednesday, November 5th (from 5-8PM) and on Friday, November 7th (from 12-3PM).   Advisors will be calling to make appointments in about 2 weeks.  Reach out early if you need special appointment times.

1st Marking Period Progress Reports.  The first marking period ends on Friday, 17OCT14.  1st Marking Period Report Cards will be backpacked home with students on Friday, 22OCT14.  These progress reports give a snapshot of student progress.  They reflect both student achievements and highlight the areas that are in need of attention and thus have the greatest capacity for growth.  At UAI, we strive to make students in charge of their achievements and failures.  Their learning is a result of their own choices and efforts.  We aim to instill within our young students a growth mindset.  With these first progress reports, it's important to focus on the actions and choices that students can make to both keep the successful marks they achieved, and understand how they can look at the areas that need more work and develop the courage and resolve to attack their weaknesses and transform them into strengths and achievements.  So, the best way to support our students when they receive their 1st progress reports is to ask them what did they do to get the strong marks, and help them develop a plan to apply those lessons to their areas of weakness.

Attendance and Lateness. Through collective efforts of our students, advisors, and families, we've increased our average daily attendance from 88% to 92% for the month of September.  It's a strong improvement, but we can certainly do better.  Please help us reach our goal of 95% by making sure your child is in school everyday.  Ms. Haelin, our Carrera Treasure Academy Medical Advocate, can provide support for medical issues with your child.  Our parent coordinator, Ms. Carol, and all of our advisors can connect you with more of our school supports (school social workers, assistance with transportation, etc.) if you need additional support.  By making everyday attendance a priority, we can all reach the goal.  In addition, please remind your child to plan to arrive in time for breakfast at 7:50AM.  If she plans to arrive for breakfast, she'll have a buffer of time in case trains or buses have delays.  School starts at 8:20, and students should plan to arrive at 7:50.

October Dates

• Monday, 13OCT14. Columbus Day. NO SCHOOL.
• Tuesday, 14OCT14.  PTA Meeting.  The PTA will meet at 6PM.  The SLT will meet at 5PM.
• Wednesday, 15OCT14. PSAT Exam.  10th and 11th graders are taking the PSAT.  Please make sure that your child has had a good night's sleep on the 13th, and a solid breakfast.  Please make sure she arrive to school no later than 7:50AM.  Students who arrive after 9:30AM will not be allowed to take the exam.  There are no make-up days for the PSAT.  This is an important exam that is our first nationally normed indicator of college readiness.  Being on time and ready for this exam is extremely important!
• Friday, 17OCT14. End of 1st Marking Period. The first marking period ends.  Grades are due on Wednesday, 22OCT14, and progress reports will be backpacked home on Friday, 24OCT14.
• Friday, 24OCT14.  First High School Dance.  The Class of 2015 will be hosting our first dance of the year.   Tickets are on sale in the cafeteria during lunch time.  All students must have a high school ID to attend.  No bags are allowed.  Seniors must have 95% attendance to participate.
• Friday, 31OCT14. Halloween Spooktacular Assembly.  This month's assembly is celebrating the collective work of our students and Carrera Job Club with Mr. Ruben's amazing leadership and guidance in production of their very own movie, A Teenage Horror Story.  We will be having a full school assembly to premier the movie with our entire school after lunch on Friday.  After the movie, students will be dismissed directly from the assembly at 2PM.