Category Archive
A new centenarianJun 05, 2008
PS 164, Brooklyn, threw itself a birthday party on May 22 to celebrate the 100 years it has been serving the families of Borough Park.
Awards ceremonyJun 05, 2008
The 13th annual New York State Education Department Awards ceremony honored schools and individuals whose achievements exemplify the theme of “Challenges and Possibilities: Commitment to Excellence for All Students.”
Ready for takeoffJun 05, 2008
Diane Weisen is doin’ the moonwalk. “Not in the Michael Jackson sense, but sort of in the Neil Armstrong sense,” the Queens teacher said, referring to the first astronaut to set foot on the moon. Weisen’s moonwalk, however, will be one giant boon for girlkind and boykind at PS 120 in Flushing.
Takedowns taking offJun 05, 2008
Middle school wrestling, long a very popular sport in many regions and school systems nationwide, is enjoying a major growth spurt in New York City.
Memorial Day saluteJun 05, 2008
The UFT Veterans Committee placed a Memorial Day commemorative wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, saluting for the fifth consecutive year — in a poignant and non-political ceremony — soldiers who have over many generations made the supreme sacrifice.
Times reporter’s new book on labor ‘required reading’Jun 05, 2008
New York Times labor reporter Steven Greenhouse spoke to UFT members and staff on May 28 about his newly published book “The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker.”
Well-litJun 05, 2008
The third annual Literacy Night at PS 289 brought 140 families — moms, dads and kids — to the Brooklyn school for an evening of entertainment, storytelling, good food and a chance to collaborate on a family autobiography.
Awards in District 26Jun 05, 2008
The District 26 Parent-Teacher Alliance held its second annual scholarship dinner dance in Queens. The theme was “Celebrating the Past, Present and Future.”
Showing her medalJun 05, 2008
UFT President Randi Weingarten accepted the Teachers College Medal for Distinguished Service at the Master’s Convocation.
Speech celebrationsJun 05, 2008
May was Better Hearing and Speech Month so there was a lot going on for the UFT Speech Improvement Chapter.
Curtain upMay 22, 2008
The critics raved that the Edward R. Murrow HS student production of “The Producers” puts another star in their roster of smash-hit musicals.
BINGO!May 22, 2008
New teachers gathered at the UFT Staten Island borough office on May 1 to compete in a Bingo tournament.
Good sportsMay 22, 2008
Nearly 400 UFT members attended the opening night of the Sports Museum of America, just down the street from UFT headquarters in lower Manhattan.
Science teachers honoredMay 22, 2008
Six New York City public school science educators were honored by the Siemens Foundation at the annual Science Teacher Awards.
In the ‘Groove’May 22, 2008
The New York Knicks Groove Truck — a basketball clinic on wheels offering skill competitions, free-throw and 3-point shooting contests, video game tournaments and cool Knicks prizes — rolled into Bensonhurst’s PS 101 as a reward for the school’s active and highly successful six-month participation in the Read to Achieve Program.
A fighter retiresMay 22, 2008
Alice Holloway, who for many years as the District 17 representative was always a shark when it came to protecting members’ rights, was honored at a retirement party.
Discussing cancer treatmentMay 22, 2008
On a chilly Friday night earlier this month, as most people headed home, close to 100 women, their friends and advocates made their way into UFT headquarters to hear from one of the stars of cancer research.
Helping others benefitMay 08, 2008
Longtime UFT member Josie Levine uses much of her free time helping to organize teachers in Texas and New Mexico as part of an AFT program.
Honors in QueensMay 08, 2008
Two kids got nice fat savings bonds, UFT Queens Borough Representative Rona Freiser was toasted by her colleagues and nearly 500 members of the District 24 family celebrated the night away at Russo’s in Howard Beach on April 17.
Political action group honors AFT’s McElroyMay 08, 2008
AFT President Ed McElroy was honored by the New York Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action at its 2008 Roosevelt Day Dinner on April 8.
Providers’ picketing gets resultsMay 08, 2008
Home child care providers, protesting another round of late paychecks, picketed on April 18 in front of East Bronx Day Care, the provider network responsible for paying them.
A good readApr 24, 2008
More than 30 guest readers participated in PS 254’s fourth annual Community Read Aloud held at the Queens.
Observing PassoverApr 24, 2008
Eighty UFT members participated in a Passover seder at the union’s Brooklyn office in mid-April.
Learning to stay safeApr 24, 2008
The UFT conducted a five-day grant-funded course on mold assessment and remediation, bloodborne pathogens and respiratory protection for several dozen staff and students at Alfred E. Smith HS.
Sun shines at Dial-A-TeacherApr 24, 2008
Mr. G the weatherman made another appearance at the UFT on April 8, this time to support Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s homework helpline.
Learning to avoid violenceApr 24, 2008
The UFT Elementary Charter School, in observance of Violence Prevention Week, hosted a special interactive assembly program at which the New York City Police Department Community Outreach Unit made a presentation to students on strategies for avoiding potentially violent situations.
Remembering the Triangle Waist Company fireApr 24, 2008
It’s been 97 years since the Triangle Waist Company fire, but the smoke has yet to clear.
We are familyApr 24, 2008
More than 100 people of all ages and faiths came together for the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee’s first Family Purim.
Union contributions discussedApr 24, 2008
The UFT hosted a forum sponsored by the Education and Labor Collaborative at the union’s Manhattan headquarters.
Hispanic Federation honors WeingartenApr 24, 2008
The Hispanic Federation, one of New York’s foremost civic and community groups, honored UFT President Randi Weingarten at its annual gala at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
Pride in CTEApr 24, 2008
Career and Technical Education high schools around the city celebrated CTE month in February. Schools staged or took part in various events and programs to showcase the impact that CTE programs have had on students and the work force.
Budding artistApr 10, 2008
Art teacher Liza Wax is always looking for ways to motivate her young students.
Opa!Apr 10, 2008
The UFT’s Hellenic American Educators Association, honoring Greek heritage and culture, celebrated Greek Independence Day with music, dance instruction and a delectable buffet supper.
Happy anniversary!Apr 10, 2008
There was champagne and cake to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the UFT Committee for Members Who are Capably Disabled.
Breast cancer treatment conferenceApr 10, 2008
More than 100 UFTers came with questions to a seminar outlining new treatments for early-stage and metastatic breast cancer.
Daring to be differentApr 10, 2008
Georgia Miller-McCorkle, who teaches early childhood education at PS 140 at 518, Brooklyn, was one of 17 recipients of the “Women Who Dare To Be Different Award."
They’ve got the beatApr 10, 2008
Brian Doherty is seven years into his second life.
Rhyme and reasonApr 10, 2008
June, moon and daffodils were not on the minds of the Bronx poets starring in the second annual Poetry Jam at the UFT Bronx borough office.
Knitting prettyApr 10, 2008
Paraprofessional Donna DeSilva got the idea for a knitting project when she learned about the charitable organization Newborns in Need while doing research for a course she was taking.
Dance RevolutionApr 10, 2008
Aubrey Lynch, associate producer of “The Lion King” and former principal dancer for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, shared his experiences performing and helping to create the hit musical at a workshop for PS 94, Manhattan, students.
Eliminating poverty summitMar 27, 2008
UFT President Randi Weingarten joined some 150 metropolitan-area labor, community, non-profit and political leaders at the Summit on Eliminating Poverty Among the Working Poor.
Super SaturdayMar 27, 2008
There was a full house at the UFT Brooklyn Borough office on March 1 as 200 paraprofessionals moved from workshop to workshop getting up-to-date information on a host of topics.
Counselor conference offers ways to cope while helping kidsMar 27, 2008
It was a kickoff to National Guidance Counselors Week and a thank you from the UFT to the educators who do one of the toughest jobs in the school system.
A learning galaMar 27, 2008
If there’s any question about how eager educators are to expand their educational horizons, consider that 7,000 people attended the third annual Teaching and Learning Celebration.
Lunar New Year celebrationMar 27, 2008
More than 500 people, mostly UFTers but also students, principals and members of other unions joined the UFT Lunar New Year banquet in Chinatown.
Poster boyMar 13, 2008
The UFT Mezzanine Gallery was launched on Feb. 28 with 27 full-color lithographed posters created by Thomas F. Naegele, a retired art teacher and UFT member.
‘Social’ eventMar 13, 2008
More than 300 elementary and secondary school teachers, supervisors, curriculum specialists and university educators attended the 48th annual Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference.
Saturday for secretariesFeb 28, 2008
One hundred and twenty school secretaries spent the first Saturday of the new year, Jan. 5, at their 15th annual winter seminar.
Celebration time in District 20Feb 28, 2008
“Despite all the changes we’ve gone through at the hands of the school system’s reorganization, somehow we kept our community intact,” said UFT Brooklyn District 20 Representative Ellen Driesen.
Protest for safetyFeb 28, 2008
Angered that Chapter Leader Taneeka Jones was assaulted and hospitalized for the second time in January and the student who assaulted her was back in the classroom the next day, the entire staff of PS/MS 42, Queens, took to the streets.
Prom nightFeb 28, 2008
Aisha Campbell’s dream came true. The valedictorian of the Mathematics, Science Research and Technology HS January graduating class is terminally ill, but she was able to dance the night away at a winter prom specially arranged for her.
Look, up in the sky ...Feb 28, 2008
Did you know that chickens can fly? Well they can — not like eagles and robins, but well enough to make it into a tree.
Per diem info sessionFeb 28, 2008
Per diem teachers had a lot to discuss at their Dec. 12 general meeting at UFT headquarters.
LoungingFeb 28, 2008
For a close-knit staff that loves their school, among the highest-performing in the city, Valentine’s Day provided the perfect theme to celebrate solidarity and dedicate a refurbished teachers’ lounge at PS 188, Queens.
Not on the runFeb 28, 2008
Some of New York’s brightest are also New York’s fastest. The UFT Runners has been a team now for more than 20 years — well, running.
Lab trainingFeb 28, 2008
The annual laboratory specialists training was held at the UFT office in Brooklyn from Jan. 22 to 25.
Reaching out to parentsFeb 14, 2008
Brooklyn parents of public school students attended two workshops in December at the UFT borough office. The meetings were organized by UFT Parent Outreach Coordinator Betty Zohar, who said she was pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm in the room.
Huge StridesFeb 14, 2008
How does a one-year 500 percent jump in donations to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides event impress you? Thanks to team leader Elizabeth Calise and the close-knit family of students, parents, UFT staff and administrators at Brooklyn’s Mark Twain IS 239, that leap amounted to more than $20,000 this year.
Graduation dayFeb 14, 2008
In caps and gowns, 30 of the city’s speech teachers — with new master’s degrees in communication disorders — were honored at a graduation ceremony held at the UFT’s Manhattan headquarters on Jan. 17. It was good news for the city’s schoolchildren and for these devoted teachers, who became students while maintaining their daily workload.
It's easy being greenFeb 14, 2008
One of the first Green Schools in the state opened this year in Washington Heights, in the new home of PS/IS 210, Manhattan, which moved from its old location at Broadway and W. 173 Street to West 152 St. and Amsterdam Avenue.
The union's alive ...Feb 14, 2008
UFT headquarters was filled with some mighty sweet sounds when more than 80 music teachers raised their voices in song at a choral workshop on Nov. 17. John Jacobson of the Hal Leonard Corporation led the New York City Music Teachers Association/UFT morning workshop providing ideas to enhance choral performances and packets of music for all grade levels in a variety of styles.
Art-time workFeb 14, 2008
The New York City Art Teachers Association conference is always colorful, creative, bustling and interactive and this year was no exception. The theme of the daylong 27th annual event on Oct. 27 at Fiorello LaGuardia HS was The Dynamics of Art Education and included such wide-ranging workshops as Tlingt Totem Poles, Sumi-E Oriental Brush Painting and Expressive Hats as a Springboard for Art Making.
Time to 'raise all boats'Feb 14, 2008
Market rate — the rate set by the state to pay the newly organized UFT home child care providers who care for subsidized children for 10 to 11 hours a day — has finally gone up. Unfortunately, providers haven’t received the raise because the city claims it has no money.
School-related recognitionFeb 14, 2008
The third Tuesday of each November has now officially been declared School-Related Professionals Recognition Day. The special day was added to the state calendar to coincide with American Education Week and was signed into law by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
What schools needFeb 14, 2008
Invited to speak about the union’s position on the current state of the city’s schools at a breakfast meeting with business leaders, UFT President Randi Weingarten stressed the need to attract and retain good teachers and urged that schools that work be left alone while focusing on helping struggling schools and, most important, the urgency of lowering class size.
grants, awards & freebies - January 17, 2008Jan 17, 2008
A tempting "Beveridge" tops the list of awards in this week's column.
Semper fiJan 17, 2008
Frank Volpicella, former UFT vice president for academic high schools, was honored in November at a retirement bash attended by hundreds of his colleagues.
Gauthier Institute for Law and Public PolicyJan 17, 2008
It was a very upbeat morning for UFT President Randi Weingarten’s visit to Gauthier Institute for Law and Public Policy on Oct. 18, coming on the heels of the announced win for 55/25 retirement.
Better watch out!Jan 17, 2008
Santa was not at all happy to hear the grievances of home child care providers who spoke of their problems with bouncing checks, unpaid back pay, incorrect rate of pay, agency loss of their paperwork and the failure of some networks to provide services despite a monthly charge of $17.
Working on a contractJan 17, 2008
Four hundred UFT home child care providers attended meetings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Rockaway and Staten Island during two weeks in December to work on negotiation strategies for their first contract.
Honoring those who servedJan 17, 2008
The UFT Veterans Committee, led by Chair John Garvey, joined thousands of active-duty military, veterans of all eras, and grateful citizens of all heritages in New York’s annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11.
Special visitJan 17, 2008
Santa did it again! For well over 15 years neither rain nor snow nor anything else has kept Santa from his annual visit to PS 107 in Queens.
The Snow BowlJan 17, 2008
Curtis HS football coach Fred Olivieri doesn’t have a snow playbook. So when his team trailed Canarsie HS 8-6 at halftime of the Public Schools Athletic League city championship football game on Dec. 2 on Midwood HS’s snow-covered Astroturf field, he made a decision.
In a teacher's memoryJan 17, 2008
Roni Futoran, a teacher at PS 200 in Queens, went out to lunch one Friday in December 2006 but never came back.
To test or not to test ...Jan 17, 2008
The role and design of tests and assessment mandates, including how they are developed and impact day-to-day instruction, was the theme of an Oct. 25 public forum sponsored by Community District 26.
Fun for a good causeJan 17, 2008
The fifth annual Hispanic Affairs Gala at the UFT Bronx office on Nov. 29 was an evening with everything for the close to 300 guests who attended.
Holiday cheerJan 17, 2008
More than 225 Brooklyn chapter leaders spent a night dancing, laughing and connecting with one another on Dec. 11 at a holiday gathering in the union’s borough headquarters.
Speaking of feminismJan 17, 2008
UFT President Randi Weingarten was part of a panel which led a discussion of “A Woman’s Agenda in Today’s Political Life.”
District 21 honorsJan 17, 2008
District 21 Representative Judy Gerowitz was honored by the Brighton Neighborhood Association at a Brooklyn restaurant on Oct. 25.
subprime numbersJan 17, 2008
Hundreds of protesters, including UFT President Randi Weingarten, gathered outside the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 10 to demand a swift and decisive response by government and big business to the growing subprime loan crisis sweeping the nation.
Standing up against hateDec 06, 2007
High school students from all five boroughs took part in the “Day Out Against Hate” sponsored by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on Nov. 29 in response to a 20-percent increase in reported hate crimes in New York City.
When they’re not running ...Dec 06, 2007
The UFT Runners, a diverse band of educators who share a common interest in running at various levels of proficiency, held their October meeting to make plans for another year of fun and fitness.
Singing the union's praisesDec 06, 2007
The New York City Labor Chorus presented a signed picture by Ralph Fasanella — a painter whose detailed work depicts the city’s garment industry and American labor and grassroots political history — to UFT President Randi Weingarten for the union’s support.
9/11 tributeDec 06, 2007
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center, which offers visitors to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the 9/11 community, honored teachers from around the world for their 9/11-related educational projects at an awards ceremony
Language leadersDec 06, 2007
The New York City Association of Foreign Language Teachers/UFT, in collaboration with the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers, held its annual professional conference — “World Languages: Teaching Locally, Reaching Globally” — on Oct. 27 at UFT headquarters.
The president visits ... ps/is 180, BrooklynDec 06, 2007
When UFT President Randi Weingarten got a letter from Principal Gary Williams praising the great work Chapter Leader Lynette Azar is doing at PS/IS 180, she decided to check out the Brooklyn school.
Get well soonDec 06, 2007
A “Stress Buster” wellness seminar, featuring a yoga instructor, a relaxation and imagery therapist, a Reiki master and a health consultant, was sponsored by the UFT Welfare Fund Health and Cancer Helpline and Cancer Advisory committee.
Walking for autism awarenessNov 15, 2007
A team of teachers, paraprofessionals, family and friends — the Autism Awareness All-Stars — walked at Jones Beach for Autism Speaks on Oct. 14 and raised $4,500.
Learning to handle emergenciesNov 15, 2007
Lab specialists, science teachers and chapter leaders received chemical spill training in August at UFT headquarters in Manhattan.
Asian parents conference a hitNov 15, 2007
For the third year, the UFT and the Chinese American Parent-Student Council of New York City collaborated on an Education Conference for Chinese-Speaking Parents.
Sign of courageNov 15, 2007
A street sign in memory of a profile in courage — a 6-year-old boy from Liberia — was dedicated on Oct. 20 at PS 57 on Staten Island.
wowNov 15, 2007
With a stroke of collaborative genius, the wobbly old book carts that passed for a library at PS 23 in Queens were recently transformed into a huge, new, fabulously decorated bookmobile.
Joltin' Joe's a hitNov 01, 2007
Long Island University professor and author Joseph Dorinson presented a lecture on Joe DiMaggio and other Italian-American heroes in baseball at UFT headquarters.
Chalk one up for themNov 01, 2007
Six Manhattan public schools were among the honorees at Manhattan Media’s sixth annual Blackboard Awards ceremony at the New-York Historical Society.
Under their skinNov 01, 2007
Educators attended an Open House at Bodies ... The Exhibition at the South Street Seaport.
Speech speaker wows 450Oct 18, 2007
More than 450 speech teachers from throughout the city attended a daylong meeting on Sept. 7 featuring one of the country’s best-known language and literacy experts.
Piano keys to successOct 18, 2007
The 5 Browns — who made history as the first set of siblings to study piano simultaneously at Juilliard — shared their talent with students at PS 102, an Education Through Music school in Harlem.
They love a paradeOct 18, 2007
UFTers were out in full force for the 40th annual West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade.
Staffer honoredOct 18, 2007
UFT industrial hygienist Chris Proctor was given the Karen Silkwood Award by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health last May.
Calling all home child care providers ...Oct 04, 2007
More ballots arrive every day as home child-care providers continue their campaign to get out the YES vote in the election that will make them part of the UFT.
Summer trainingOct 04, 2007
About 40 of Staten Island’s 53 chapter leaders were able to take part in a summer chapter leader training day held on Aug. 29 at the borough office.
Speaking of empowermentOct 04, 2007
The concept of empowerment was a hot topic at an Aug. 29 Queens borough chapter leader meeting, held at the UFT office in Rego Park.
Change is goodOct 04, 2007
PS 196 is better than ever. The Brooklyn school is one of only six schools in the nation to win the eighth annual National School Change Awards.
Making the scene at Harlem WeekOct 04, 2007
UFT African Heritage Committee members, following Vice President Michelle Bodden’s lead, joined politicians and community leaders on Aug. 18-19 at the Harlem Week Festival.
Proud momentOct 04, 2007
UFT Queens Borough Representative Rona Freiser was honored by the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee on June 27 during Pride Week.
Clearing the airOct 04, 2007
Just because something is reported on the TV news doesn’t necessarily make it true, as teachers, students and parents at Information Technology HS in Long Island City recently were relieved to learn.
Secretaries stage Katrina relief projectOct 04, 2007
Members of the UFT School Secretaries Chapter have completed a citywide drive for office supplies in support of their brothers and sisters in New Orleans schools.
It was just their ImaginationOct 04, 2007
One of the city’s oldest and best-known alternative high schools, Satellite Academy at Forsyth Street, has earned the Lincoln Center Institute’s first-ever Imagination Award.
Team gels at UFT Charter Summer InstituteOct 04, 2007
Whether sharing ideas sitting around big tables or running through the woods playing laser tag, 45 teachers learned many aspects of teamwork at the UFT Elementary Charter School Summer Institute.
Weighing in at PEP meetingOct 04, 2007
Senior teachers who believe they have been treated or unfairly simply because of their age or salary testified at the Sept. 25 meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy.
Secretarial sharpeningSep 20, 2007
Some 120 new school secretaries and secretaries who have changed job titles sharpened their skills and learned new ones at the School Secretaries Summer Institute.
Learning to help their kidsSep 20, 2007
At a June 7 professional development conference at UFT headquarters, more than 300 elementary school guidance counselors recently received tips on putting students on the path to academic success.
Their guidance appreciatedSep 20, 2007
Forty-five UFT guidance counselors were honored on May 30 at the 21st annual Guidance Counselor Recognition Day for their vital and varied role in helping keep kids on track toward fulfillment and academic achievement.
Computer keys to successSep 20, 2007
The classrooms and hallways at Brooklyn’s PS 53 turned into a virtual wonderland last May with laptops and Internet tours of Italy and Egypt.
'Funapaloosa' no snoozaSep 06, 2007
Ever dunk a favorite authority figure in a tank of frigid water? Students got just that opportunity at the fourth annual “Funapaloosa” at PS 10 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Attendance teachers hailed as 'unsung heroes'Sep 06, 2007
Altomare honored
Sep 06, 2007
The Council of Municipal Retiree Organizations of New York City honored George Altomare, UFT director of Professional Committees, at its sixth annual End-Of-The-Year Luncheon.
Bronx cheersSep 06, 2007
Vincent Gaglione, retired UFT Bronx Borough Representative and longtime union stalwart, was honored in June by the UFT Italian-American Committee.
Traveling the world in BrooklynSep 06, 2007
Imagine every type of arts-and-crafts project using every type and texture of material animated by the boundless ingenuity and soaring spirit of the school family of kids and teachers who created them. That’s what was on display at a Brooklyn school last June.
A lasting legacySep 06, 2007
A Queens school dedicated a new science lab to commemorate a well-loved teacher who died suddenly in her classroom last year.
Fun and gamesSep 06, 2007
Send in the clowns! And all the trimmings — games, cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs. Add it all up and you have the first annual PTA Carnival at the UFT Charter Elementary School.
Per diem meetingSep 06, 2007
Members of the UFT Per Diem Committee were briefed on Welfare Fund Direct Access Plans and salary rates at a recent meeting at UFT headquarters.
Worrisome signsSep 06, 2007
Staten Island UFTers staged their first-ever protest against an individual principal when some two dozen marched with signs outside PS 26 in the Travis section June 18.
Mr. G ducks snowballs with a smileAug 09, 2007
Teacher-turned-TV-weatherman Irv Gikofsky endured some good-natured ribbing from two teachers from his days as a student at Francis Lewis HS.
Charter school 'pioneers' celebrateAug 09, 2007
The staffs of eight charter schools that have union representation rounded out the school year at an informal get-together June 12 at Union Hall in Brooklyn.
The president visits...Aug 09, 2007
UFT President Randi Weingarten in late May visited the staff at PS 22 in Brooklyn which, by secret ballot, had passed by two-thirds margin in April a vote of “no-confidence” against their principal.
Filling up on excellenceAug 09, 2007
Teachers and students from all around the city brought their culinary and artistic skills to the annual AFT Black Caucus Scholarship Fund-raiser.
Special friends honoredAug 09, 2007
Eat, drink and be merry. It’s the annual District 75 Dinner Dance to honor special friends of the district held at a Queens restaurant on June 8.
Blackboard lessonAug 09, 2007
New York City teachers were among the educators singled out for excellence in education at the Blackboard Awards 2007 reception held June 13 at Fordham University.
Speech teachers recognizedAug 09, 2007
Speech teachers honored their own for excellence in both speech pathology and for contributions made to their schools and communities.
Book'em!May 10, 2007
It was “A Piece of Cake” that drew parents to the Averne Branch of the Queens Public Library for the first meeting of the UFT book discussion group on March 12.
Socializing and solidarityMay 10, 2007
A Friday happening is catching on in Brooklyn.
Safety sessionMay 10, 2007
School safety agents and UFT officials from all boroughs attended a March 27 conference to discuss matters related to school security and safety.
Saying goodbyeMay 10, 2007
A retirement party honoring Ron Jones, former UFT vice president for elementary schools, was held in Brooklyn on March 8.
'Irishwoman of the Year'May 10, 2007
Former UFT chapter leader Dr. Brigid Higgins was honored as “Irishwoman of the Year” at a City Hall ceremony on April 20.
Joyful artMay 10, 2007
Art class at PS 194, a K-8 school in the Bronx, is no free period for playing around.
Life lessons learnedMay 10, 2007
Welcome to Carlotta’s Poetry Café at PS 140 in Jamaica, Queens.
Lutheran nurses still smiling after contract victoryMay 10, 2007
Months after their hospital bosses blinked and dropped pension giveback demands in the face of certain strike action by fired-up Lutheran Medical Center RNs, the facility's Federation of Nurses/UFT members were still smiling.
'No member stands alone'May 09, 2007
The UFT Committee for Members who are Capably Disabled toasted 17 years of providing assistance to UFT members with disabilities at its March 27 meeting.
No lyin' — Lunar New Year celebration a hitApr 12, 2007
The UFT Asian Heritage Committee's Lunar New Year Celebration draws people from every borough — educators, administrators, politicians and friends of the UFT family.
Worthwhile weekendApr 12, 2007
Teams from more than two-thirds of District 75 schools attended the District 75 Weekend.
They tried to kill us, we survived; let's eatApr 12, 2007
More than 60 unionists gathered to celebrate the exodus from Egypt, when Moses, with a little help from God, organized the biggest labor walkout of all times.
You can read about trees...Mar 29, 2007
Happy 103rd birthday, Dr. Seuss! In spirit, the beloved “doctor” was the guest of honor at the Celebrity Read-In on Read Across America Day.
Ain't this grand?Mar 29, 2007
Students, staff and parents were on hand on Feb. 13 for the grand opening of the new library designed to serve the 1,200 students at IS 68, Brooklyn.
Scholarship and spanakopitaMar 29, 2007
The UFT Hellenic American Educators Association hosted an evening of scholarship and spanakopita.
"Rosa" is readMar 29, 2007
Students and staff at PS 254 in Queens participated in their third annual “Read Aloud” last month, which also marked the third year of the school’s opening.
All in the Family DayMar 29, 2007
District 75 Hearing Education Services brought together teachers, parents and children for their third annual Family Day.
DOE puts squeeze on Queens JHSMar 21, 2007
More than 500 irate parents and students joined City Councilwoman Melinda Katz and UFT President Randi Weingarten at a March 1 rally outside Halsey JHS in Rego Park.
Bards of the BronxMar 15, 2007
More than 200 people flocked to the Bronx UFT office on Feb. 9 for a Black History Month celebration of African-American poets and of the spoken word.
Developing leadershipMar 06, 2007
Secretaries turned out in large numbers for their UFT functional chapter’s annual Leadership Conference.
Historic momentMar 06, 2007
More than 260 participants enjoyed the festive UFT African Heritage Committee’s fourth annual dinner dance — Eyes on the Prize — in celebration of Black History Month.
Choral presentationMar 06, 2007
The New York City Music Teachers Association/UFT co-presented a fast-paced choral workshop for choral music teachers at all levels on Feb. 3 at UFT headquarters.
Clinicians' efforts recognizedMar 06, 2007
Clinician Appreciation day — the first in what is expected to be an annual celebation — was held at UFT headquarters on Jan. 25.
AFT Institute features Teacher Center's partnership modelMar 06, 2007
The UFT Teacher Center was in the spotlight at the ninth annual AFT/UFT Institute, which drew more than 150 educators from around the country to Brooklyn on Jan. 25-28.
Seeking guidanceMar 06, 2007
It was guidance counselors as far as the eye could see — close to 400 of them — at the third annual Guidance Counselors Conference held at UFT headquarters on Feb. 3.
Party heartyMar 06, 2007
Teachers from a host of Brooklyn schools added a touch of St. Valentine’s Day celebration to their TGIF socials at two Brooklyn bistros on Feb. 9.
Early preparationFeb 15, 2007
Home-based child-care providers and staff from day-care centers and schools with pre-K and Head Start programs were among those attending the 12th annual Interagency Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.
New resources for providersFeb 15, 2007
The UFT has helped to establish a program that will repay home-based child-care providers for out-of-pocket expenses they incur through their work.
A brush with successFeb 15, 2007
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Martin Van Buren HS were thrilled to paint their first mural, a reproduction of “Deaf Picnic, Austin Texas.”
Well-deserved celebrationFeb 15, 2007
Super day
Feb 15, 2007
There was a super turnout — more than 100 — for the Super Sunday staff development day co-sponsored by the UFT Speech Chapter and Buffalo State College on Jan. 28 at UFT headquarters.
Happy retirementFeb 01, 2007
Former UFT Special Representative Ken Lubetsky, a longtime Bronx teacher, chapter leader and union activist, was honored recently at a retirement party.
The president visits...Feb 01, 2007
At a morning visit to PS 156 in Queens on Nov. 21, UFT President Randi Weingarten addressed the staff’s concerns about safety and related issues, such as student discipline.
Public School Team scores points in GhanaFeb 01, 2007
New Dorp HS teacher Nick Kvasic and Alec Mahrer of Beacon HS co-coached a 17-member soccer team representing New York City’s public high schools that played in Ghana during the winter recess.
Preserving historyFeb 01, 2007
Thanks to a grant from the new State Education Department’s Archives Division and with the approval of the city Department of Education, New Utrecht HS is on pace to be the first school in New York City to digitize its student records.
King Day forumFeb 01, 2007
UFT President Randi Weingarten spoke at the National Action Network's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Public Policy Forum on Jan. 15.
Pursuing economic, social justiceDec 07, 2006
More than 300 people took part in the second annual Clergy Conference at UFT headquarters on Nov. 2. Sponsored jointly by City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. and the Faith Center for Community Development, its theme was “Accessing Funds for Faith-Based Community Development.” Sen. Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker.
Five fond farewellsNov 16, 2006
Five longtime UFT activists — a political activist, a former vice president, a borough representative and two district reps — were given fitting send-offs recently after announcing their retirement.
Spooktacular performancesNov 14, 2006
It was a UFT Halloween moment: Literary creativity and candy. Costumes and collaboration. History, politics and cake.
Leadership training: serious funNov 14, 2006
Nearly 250 new chapter leaders attended the second of two training sessions in Princeton, N.J., last month.
Historic eventNov 14, 2006
Diane Ravitch, America’s preeminent educational historian, was the guest speaker at an Oct. 26 event co-sponsored by Wagner College of Staten Island and 31 IDEAL.
Doing their partNov 14, 2006
Newer teachers played integral roles in helping to get out the vote for UFT-endorsed candidates before Nov. 7.
Middle groundNov 14, 2006
There was a lot to talk about at the bimonthly meeting of the city’s middle school chapter leaders at union headquarters on Oct. 26.
Counselors counseledNov 14, 2006
It’s never too early to get your financial house in order, so guidance counselors, at an Oct. 25 membership meeting, learned about a Citibank program that would teach their students how to manage their finances.
Assisting parentsNov 02, 2006
More than 200 parents attended the second annual Education Conference for Chinese-Speaking Parents at the Queens UFT Office on Oct. 15.
Party heartyNov 02, 2006
Home daycare providers working to organize a union spent their first evening breaking bread together and socializing at a potluck party and dance on Sept. 29 at UFT headquarters.
Sign LanguageNov 02, 2006
Staff at IS 201 in Brooklyn, most with posters and with strong community support, circled the school entrance early in the morning of Oct. 11 to protest overcrowded conditions.
Happy 50thNov 02, 2006
At the 50th anniversary celebration of Learning Leaders, UFT President Randi Weingarten commended the efforts of the 15,000 volunteers who work with almost 250,000 students in nearly 1,000 schools.
Wonderful feetNov 02, 2006
UFTers by the hundreds took part in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk on Oct. 15 in every borough and on Long Island.
Helpful startOct 19, 2006
New teachers on Staten Island took advantage of an orientation at the UFT’s borough office on Sept. 19.
Honoring a heroOct 03, 2006
The Christopher A. Santora School in Jackson Heights, Queens, the city’s only public school named after a fallen 9/11 hero, unveiled a memorial display of artifacts from the life of the firefighter.
They love a paradeSep 19, 2006
A contingent of UFTers took part in the West Indian Day Parade, carrying their lower-class-size message along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.
Game timeSep 19, 2006
At the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, there’s always a big turnout from Martin Van Buren HS, thanks to teacher Betty Hintz.
Not just clownin' aroundSep 19, 2006
There was something for everyone — teachers, parents and children — at the Hearing Education Services second annual Family Day on May 20 at the Queens Occupational Training Center.
Learning and celebratingSep 19, 2006
Some 200 District 75 nurses participated in a day of staff development on june 8th, at the Queens borough office.
All the right movesSep 19, 2006
Letting the body go with the flow of the rhythm, teachers from city schools that partner with Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education actively learn to perform the lessons they later teach to their students.
Fluffy sendoffSep 19, 2006
Friends and colleagues of Elaine Siegel attended a retirement party June 7 to honor her for her decades of service.
De-Stress managementSep 19, 2006
Some of the city’s newest teachers learned how to "do it all" at a UFT summer seminar, “Don’t Burn Out — De-Stress.”
Bronx talesSep 07, 2006
Kindergartners and 1st-graders at PS/MS194 in the Bronx have been burying their noses in the bonanza of books that has come their way through a grant from the Hello Friend Classroom Lending Library Project.
Special nightSep 07, 2006
It was a wonderful evening of dining, dancing and honoring friends of District 75 at their second annual Dinner Dance and Awards in June.
Congratulazioni!Sep 07, 2006
UFT District 75 Representative Al Mancuso was honored with the Jeannette DiLorenzo Lifetime Achievement Award.
Music to their earsSep 07, 2006
Bravo to music teachers Joseph Bartolozzi and Jayne Skoog for ending the school year with a glorious fortissimo.
Union 'grad' to be of serviceSep 07, 2006
The UFT came to the rescue of a Brooklyn elementary school after its first attempt at a graduation ceremony turned into a disaster.
Guidance Counselors HonoredAug 16, 2006
UFT does OK at RA
May 26, 2006
More than 575 UFT delegates attended the NYSUT Representative Assembly in Rochester earlier this month, taking part in a historic convention: the first chaired by Dick Iannuzzi, who became president of the state teachers union last year, and the convention at which NYSUT voted to unite with the state chapter of the National Education Association
The UFT president visits Aviation HSMay 25, 2006
Weingarten emphasized members’ connection to the union during an April 5 meeting with the staff at Aviation HS. She also discussed the UFT outlook for the coming year.
The UFT president visits PS 178, QueensMay 25, 2006
Weingarten was a fly on the wall at a recent PS 178 School Leadership meeting.
The UFT president visits PS 272, BrooklynMay 25, 2006
Your health and safety come first. That’s what UFT President Randi Weingarten came to celebrate April 7 with teachers and paraprofessionals at PS 272 in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn.
Easing concernsMay 11, 2006
In the wake of news that a freshman at Boys and Girls HS had been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Frank Volpicella and UFT industrial hygienist Chris Proctor visited the school on March 23 to address members’ concerns about the risk to staff and other students. The approximately 30 staff members at the meeting listened intently as Department of Education School Health officials, including a supervising doctor, explained that bacterial meningitis can only be transmitted through direct intimate contact. The UFT provided a fact sheet on the disease. “Staff members seemed comfortable with the responses to their questions,” said Volpicella.
Green dayMay 11, 2006
It wasn’t even St. Patrick’s Day, but green carnations were everywhere and so were the O’Connors, the McNallys and the Shanahans as the Department of Education Irish American Heritage and Culture Committee paid tribute recently to Thomas Murphy, former UFT director of legislation/political action, at a ceremony in Council Chambers at City Hall. He was honored for his years of service to the Irish American community.
The UFT president visits PS 254, BrooklynMay 11, 2006
In her busy round of school visits, UFT President Randi Weingarten encourages discussion of issues important to members in drafting the next contract.
Democracy soars in school’s mascot contestMay 11, 2006
Tom Murphy, former UFT director of legislation/polical action, received many responses from students at PS 11 on Staten Island after he weighed in on his alma mater's quest to name a mascot.
Bronx teacher wins prestigious Marshall ScholarshipMay 11, 2006
The good news came to special education teacher Julia Rafal in a dark movie house where she had gone to calm her nerves as she waited for the results of her interview.
'Fixation' on high-stakes testing sparks debateMay 11, 2006
Parents, community activists and UFT members expressed sharply divided views over the Department of Education’s high-stakes testing policy at a recent Staten Island forum co-sponsored by St. John’s University and 31 IDEAL, a coalition of parents, community activists and UFT members.
The UFT president vists MS 210, QueensApr 27, 2006
The UFT president visits MS 246, Brooklyn
Apr 27, 2006
Celebrating Greek independence
Apr 27, 2006
Once again, people had a great evening when they turned out for the annual Hellenic Ethnic Festival to celebrate Greek Independence Day, hosted by the UFT Hellenic American Educators Association.
Irish eyes are smilingApr 13, 2006
The UFT Irish American Heritage Committee honored Brian McLaughlin, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, at its annual event last month at union headquarters.
Finding solutionsApr 13, 2006
One of those UFT-family moments was in store for President Randi Weingarten at PS 115 in Brooklyn, which she visited on Feb. 27.
Museum lauds immigrant student authorsApr 13, 2006
Student authors at International HS at La Guardia in Queens were honored earlier this year at a ceremony at the Queens Museum of Art.
Looking forwardApr 13, 2006
After outlining the difficulties in the long struggle to win the new contract with staff at PS 123, Brooklyn, UFT President Randi Weingarten discussed the need for developing core issues for the upcoming negotiations and the need to adopt a position of no contract, no work.
Brooklyn educators, parents make push for state school aidApr 13, 2006
Fed up with crumbling schools that have no gyms, no science labs and such crowded classes that many students have to sit on radiators, UFTers joined City Council members at Brooklyn Borough Hall on March 27 to pressure Albany to deliver more education funding immediately.
Standing up to intimidationApr 13, 2006
The union will stand up and protect educators who are being intimidated by administrators. UFT President Randi Weingarten made that clear when she met with members at IS 93 in Queens last month.
CondolencesApr 13, 2006
UFT President Randi Weingarten paid a condolence call at IS 240, Brooklyn, where staff are mourning the death of Chapter Leader Anthony Pensabene, who died recently of a heart attack.
March madness in the BronxApr 12, 2006
Community and school spirits were flying through the hoops last month at PS 32 in the Bronx as UFT members squared off in a basketball game against 4th- and 5th-graders.
Support for staffApr 12, 2006
On the heels of the sudden removal of the principal at Rachel Carson HS for Coastal Studies, UFT President Randi Weingarten visited the Coney Island school to offer her support to the staff.
Mardi Gras for fun and contributionsMar 29, 2006
The UFT raised more than $10,000 at its Fat Tuesday dinner dance benefiting AFT colleagues hit by Hurricane Katrina.
Some song, some luck, some donationsMar 29, 2006
More than 200 people turned out for Casino/Karaoke Night last month, a first-time event at the Bronx UFT office.
Red alertMar 29, 2006
It’s solidarity all the way at PS 178 where staff got a much-needed morale boost when they donned the bright red T-shirts supplied by Chapter Leader Tricia Gomes and welcomed UFT President Randi Weingarten to their Queens school.
Have a ‘chat’ with Dial-A-TeacherMar 29, 2006
Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s lively, popular homework helpline, is now unstumping the stumped in cyberspace since launching its chat room on Feb. 8 in collaboration with the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Borough Public Library.
Managing micromanagementMar 29, 2006
Issues of micromanaging and safety were high on the agenda during UFT President Randi Weingarten’s visit to IS 49.
Art teachers meet noted cartoonistMar 29, 2006
Members of the New York City Art Teachers Association (NYCATA) were treated to a tour of the Daily News building in March and met with officials of the paper and the renowned sports cartoonist Bill Gallo.
Parent powwowMar 16, 2006
Special Ed confab
Mar 16, 2006
Just dessert
Mar 16, 2006
The entire staff at MS 81, Queens, learned just how much they are appreciated when they were invited to a special Valentine’s Day dessert, an annual sweet-tooth extravaganza arranged by the principal and the Parent-Teacher Association.
Chapter unity gets resultsMar 16, 2006
Supporting the troops
Mar 16, 2006
Black History Month Celebration
Mar 16, 2006
Just Rewards
Mar 16, 2006
While counselors were honored by the UFT at a Feb. 4 conference, scores of its members in every borough celebrated Guidance Counselor Week last month at smaller, more intimate gatherings.
Working on changing LivesMar 16, 2006
Their caseloads are huge, but their dedication is bigger. Guidance counselors from every borough devoted a precious Saturday to hone their skills at the UFT’s second annual Guidance Counselor Conference Feb. 4 at the union’s Manhattan headquarters
Shop StewardsMar 16, 2006
Under your skin
Feb 16, 2006
To Shauna Hill, “Bodies:The Exhibition,” which displays human bodies preserved by a revolutionary technique that prevents decay, “is a science teacher’s dream come true.”
Havana good timeFeb 16, 2006
Hand-rolled cigars, hot cups of cafe bustelo, tall drinks on the rocks, great food, salsa dancing — sound like a night on the town in Havana?
Great receptionFeb 16, 2006
Vincent Laino, coach of the Public Schools Athletic League A Division champion Fort Hamilton HS football team, was honored as the New York Jets High School Coach of the Year.
‘Morale booster’Feb 16, 2006
During a visit with UFT President Randi Weingarten, the staff at PS 140 in Manhattan expressed their outrage at the anti-public education tirade by ABC’s “20/20” co-anchor John Stossel.
Lab specialists receive trainingFeb 16, 2006
More than 150 lab specialists from all over the city received training last month. The subjects were “Safety in the Lab” and “Blood Borne Pathogens.”
Building unityFeb 16, 2006
Building a grassroots movement was a hot topic at PS 40 when UFT President Randi Weingarten visited the Manhattan school on Jan. 6.
Poster contest winnersFeb 16, 2006
It was a class act. A team of students at the HS of Graphic Communication Arts took home first prize in a prestigious contest for designing a poster that best captured the spirit of the Actors’ Fund.
Fun of a ‘Teacher Man’Feb 02, 2006
Former teacher Frank McCourt celebrated the launching of his new book, “Teacher Man,” recently at Stuyvesant HS, where he taught English.
One for the booksFeb 02, 2006
It was the first day of the transit strike. The staff was there. UFT President Randi Weingarten was there. Only the principal was missing.
Car troubleFeb 02, 2006
More than 160 teachers, paraprofessionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses and secretaries met with UFT President Randi Weingarten just before the December holiday break to discuss contract implementation and other challenges facing the staff at PS 37 on Staten Island.
Slam dunk for homeless kidsFeb 02, 2006
The little kids ate small pizzas, played with toys and shot teeny basketballs into tiny hoops. And when it was time for the little kids to go back to the homeless shelter, the big kids at Grady HS cried.
Santa comes to townFeb 02, 2006
When Santa checked his list twice and found the students at PS 36 were not naughty but nice, he dropped in with gifts for everyone.
Mobilizing for union rights and social changeFeb 02, 2006
They're the members of the UFT Mobilization Committee, and they want you to mobilize, too!
Preparing for contract implementationJan 19, 2006
UFT President Randi Weingarten met with staffers at various schools just before the holiday break to discuss the importance of implementing the new contract properly and fully.
Parent progressJan 19, 2006
Brooklyn Education Collaborative are one step closer to getting their demands met in districts 18, 19 and 23.
Outreach to Chinese-American parents a huge successJan 19, 2006
It took just about a whole village to put together the UFT’s hugely successful first Conference for Chinese-Speaking Parents held recently at the union’s Queens borough office.
Paras reassuredJan 19, 2006
Paraprofessionals got answers to their questions about the new contract at a November conference at the UFT Brooklyn office.
ESL strategies reviewedJan 18, 2006
Successful classroom strategies were shared at an ESL workshop for teachers that explored the different modalities by which students learn.
They’re all ‘art’Dec 09, 2005
The New York City Art Teachers Association celebrated its 25th annual Art Education Conference with a daylong feast of speakers, 30 workshops and exhibits of both students’ and teachers’ work.
Staying UnitedDec 08, 2005
At a mid-morning meeting at Franklin K. Lane HS recently, UFT President Randi Weingarten clarified the new contract for staffers, encouraging them to remember they are union members and need to have a strong spine in implementing the new contract.
Becoming leadersDec 08, 2005
You bring your problems to them; they bring the union to you. Chapter leaders are the everyday link between school staff, administrators and the UFT.
‘Slavery in New York’ exhibit an eye-openerDec 08, 2005
People who think of southern plantations when they think of slavery will be in for a shock when they experience “Slavery in New York” at the New York Historical Society, a museum exhibition with an educational program geared for school children and their teachers.
Funding effortDec 08, 2005
Brooklyn Education Collaborative volunteers didn’t let a downpour rain on their parade when they took to the streets recently to tell Brooklyn residents about their efforts to get funding for science equipment for middle schools that don’t have it and to invite them to a rally at PS 15 in support of the funding drive.
Food for thought — and healthDec 08, 2005
What? Tofu and veggies instead of a burger and fries? Totally whack, man. That attitude is starting to turn around thanks to people like Sheila Schwartz, chair of the UFT Humane Education Committee (left) and Amie Hamlin, director of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches.
Reassuring newsDec 08, 2005
At a recent Speech Chapter meeting, members were reassured that their seniority, transfer and preference rights remain intact in the new contract.
Learning the ropesNov 03, 2005
The Brooklyn borough office staged its annual UFT New Teacher Orientation last month.
Education on paradeNov 03, 2005
For the super education-conscious crowd out celebrating their culture at the West Indian Day Parade, the UFT float scored way up there with the outrageous butterfly costumes and the hottest reggae bands.
Councilman proposes ‘Teachers Day’Nov 03, 2005
Confucius thought it was a good idea, but will Mayor Michael Bloomberg? The idea is this: Honor thy teachers. Honor them formally, says City Councilman John C. Liu, who proposes citywide recognition of “Teachers Day.
Important preparationNov 03, 2005
The UFT and AFT cooperated with the International Chemical Workers Union to conduct two courses on Chemical Emergency Response and a Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness/Emergency Response Course in August.
'Players' do it allNov 03, 2005
The UFT Players’ “From Page to Stage” on Sept. 22 was a year in the making.
Walking the walkNov 03, 2005
“Breast cancer hit closer to home this year, not only by the numbers of members who were diagnosed, but by the passing of Sandra Feldman,” said UFT Health and Cancer HelpLine Director Kitty Williston.
Lifetime achievementOct 20, 2005
The Italian American Committee/Italian American Labor Council presented its Jeannette DiLorenzo Lifetime Achievement Award to Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Pappas at its annual end-of-year dinner.
Lots of visits, for openersOct 18, 2005
UFT President Randi Weingarten, accompanied by district and borough representatives, visited scores of schools during the first two weeks of classes.
The UFT Katrina Relief FundSep 22, 2005
Here's how you can contribute to the UFT Katrina Relief Fund.
UFT fund to help Katrina victimsSep 22, 2005
In response to the unprecedented emotional and physical impact of Hurricane Katrina on thousands of lives, the UFT Executive Board resolved to establish the UFT Katrina Relief Fund on Sept. 9.
Teacher Center’s Region 5 partnership worth celebratingSep 22, 2005
More than 250 Region 5 literacy and math coaches, trainers and Teacher Center support staff spent a day in June reviewing, reflecting and setting goals for the new school year.
Staff’s rally gets ‘great response’Sep 22, 2005
Nearly 100 staffers from the major United Cerebral Palsy work sites picketed the group’s Manhattan facility on East 23rd Street on Monday, Sept. 19.
CTExcellenceSep 22, 2005
Students and teachers from all over the city came to UFT headquarters recently for the annual celebration of Career and Technical Education Exemplary Programs, a UFT and Department of Education collaborative event.
Weingarten honoredSep 22, 2005
Founded to work with the trade union movement and the larger community to advance human and civil rights, the National Council for Human Rights of the Jewish Labor Committee honored UFT President Randi Weingarten at its 2005 Human Rights Award Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan in May.
NASDAQ honors UFTSep 22, 2005
UFT President Randi Weingarten, joined by union officers and about three dozen teachers and students, rang the opening bell at the NASDAQ Market Site in Times Square on Sept. 2.
Fun and learning in HarlemSep 22, 2005
The UFT, following its long tradition, participated in the recent 31st annual Harlem Week Celebration.
Grateful for their guidanceSep 22, 2005
If there are rough spots in the school year, they are all smoothed away on Guidance Counselor Recognition Day when counselors learn how much they are respected and appreciated.
Taking the leadSep 22, 2005
UFT President Randi Weingarten paid a visit to the professional development program sponsored by Region 1 and the Teacher Center for lead teachers in the special Community Coalition Program in the region.
Queens for a daySep 22, 2005
UFT school secretaries manage to excel — as was evident from the credentials of the honorees at the annual School Secretaries Luncheon last June.
An ‘oasis’ in BrooklynSep 22, 2005
In its coverage of opening day at the spanking new United Federation of Teachers Elementary Charter School, the New York Sun headlined its story, “Weingarten Opens Oasis of a School.” The language isn't hyperbole, it’s pure description, say its teaching staff.
Fun and gamesSep 22, 2005
There certainly was a good lesson in punctuation mixed in with the fun and games at the PS 10 carnival in Brooklyn. Near the freak show tent, kids were told to step right up and see the amazing six-foot, man-eating chicken.
Oh, baby!Sep 22, 2005
They’re not exactly prepping for the finger-painting test, but babies as young as 8 months are getting a feel — hopefully not a taste — of paint and all the wonderful things it can do on paper.
Paras show their unityJun 09, 2005
In a whopping show of force against the administration’s dragging its feet on a contract, hundreds of UFT paraprofessionals donned black on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend and staged protests outside schools in every borough throughout the day.
Chancellor’s empty feelingJun 09, 2005
More than 100 UFT protesters turned their backs on Chancellor Joel Klein to deliver their message — SHAME ON CITY HALL — at a recent Community Education Council meeting at the District 21 office in Coney Island.
Frustration is in the cardsJun 09, 2005
UFTers in District 12 staged informational picketing at a different school every Friday over the last three months, and on May 13 staffers at PS 214 beat out all their counterparts with more than 120 picketers, making it by far the largest of such demonstrations in the Bronx.
Secretaries go bananas over lack of respectJun 09, 2005
School secretaries took to the streets at their schools throughout the city on May 19 adding their voices to thousands of other demonstrations.
Their frustration boileth overJun 09, 2005
Things were heating up at CS 92 in the Bronx during a May 20 protest rally, with staff members carrying around big cardboard thermometers and signs saying, “Mr. Mayor, we have reached our boiling point."
Confronting layoff threatsJun 09, 2005
The possibility of layoffs was on the minds of some Manhattan high school teachers at the May 10 Meet the President event at a banquet hall in Chinatown.
Town Hall focuses on educationJun 09, 2005
If the Department of Education doesn’t know how to — or doesn’t want to — involve parents in school affairs, there are City Council members who do.
‘Cause’ for celebrationJun 09, 2005
The UFT Hispanic Affairs Committee recently sponsored a new event — a Cinco de Mayo celebration — that raised funds for Mexican teachers who lost their jobs because of union activity and who spoke at the recent NYSUT Representative Assembly.
Multi-taskingJun 09, 2005
It was a three-in-one meeting for UFT President Randi Weingarten when she visited the campus that houses Queens HS of Teaching, PS/IS 266 and PS/IS 208 recently.
Fitting tributeJun 09, 2005
It was supposed to rain on the day that PS/MS 278 became The Paula Hedbavny School. Instead it was bright and sunny as hundreds gathered to pay tribute to a beloved teacher who lost a 14-year battle with breast cancer.
Royal ‘Blue’Jun 09, 2005
The third annual Scholarship Dinner Dance — A Rhapsody in Blue — sponsored by the New York State Chapter of the AFT Black Caucus was an evening of honors and celebration.
Presidential order: End childhood obesityJun 09, 2005
It’s gonna be a “lean, mean, green machine” at the school canteen as former President Bill Clinton announced earlier this month that he has joined forces with the American Heart Association in a drive to end childhood obesity.
Getting to know youJun 09, 2005
To reach out to Manhattan’s educational community, the UFT’s Manhattan borough office opened its doors to local parents and members of Community Education Councils and Community Planning Boards.
Bronx UFT stalwarts fetedJun 09, 2005
It’s semi-sweet when union warhorses retire. But the mood was all good as UFTers assembled earlier this spring to bid a fond farewell to Bronx office political action coordinator Tom Tallarini and 15-year Bronx education liaison to the Teacher Center, Linda Bloch.
Power of prayerJun 09, 2005
During one of UFT President Randi Weingarten’s increasingly frequent speakers’ bureau visits, Weingarten not only gave church members the union’s message of hope, but received a message of hope from members of Abounding Grace Christian Center in lower Manhattan.
‘Grievance central’May 26, 2005
Bronx High School of Science, one of the stars of the city school system, has not escaped the turmoil staff face at so many schools. Chapter Leader Mel Maskin reports that lack of communication, respected colleagues getting U ratings and a pattern of contract violations have turned the school into “grievance central.”
Psychologists discuss concernsMay 26, 2005
The UFT Psychologists Action Committee met last month to review a survey of its members to find out the needs of the chapter.
HIP testimonyMay 26, 2005
At a joint hearing of the Assembly insurance and health committees in mid-May, UFT President Randi Weingarten, appearing as chair of the Municipal Labor Committee, testified that the welfare funds of the city unions are entitled to a third of the proceeds from the proposed conversion of the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP) to for-profit status.
‘No turning back’May 26, 2005
Upper West Side UFT members protesting the Department of Education’s rigid mandates gave impetus to a meeting with union President Randi Weingarten that drew a record crowd from District 3. The March 31 protest drew attention to the concerns of teachers, who have been without a contract for nearly two years.
Return tripMay 12, 2005
When UFT President Randi Weingarten visited PS 149, Manhattan, earlier this year, staff from PS 162 — housed in the same building — brought their grievances to that meeting.
Retired DR honoredMay 12, 2005
The UFT/Irish Studies Committee held their annual celebration last month and honored retired District 28 Representative Neil Shanahan.
Revved upMay 12, 2005
The UFT Bronx office was humming at the recent District 10 and 12 Meet the President.
Rockin’ the voteMay 12, 2005
Educating new staff members and seniors about the importance of registering to vote has become a UFT tradition at Edward R. Murrow HS, the communication arts school in Brooklyn.
Planning actionsMay 12, 2005
Despite the hiatus on contract news until the fact-finders begin their work in June, there was plenty of enthusiasm at PS 1 in Brooklyn where staff applauded the union’s stepped-up activities to inform parents and communities about the crucial negotiating issues at a recent meeting with UFT President Randi Weingarten.
Losing formulaMay 12, 2005
Staff at PS 128, Queens, had a lot on their minds when UFT President Randi Weingarten visited recently — a week late because she got stuck in traffic on her first try.
Go figureMay 12, 2005
For everyone who thinks that teaching or studying mathematics can’t be fun, the UFT Teacher Center proved them wrong last month by holding a “Math-A-Bration” at the union’s Manhattan headquarters.
Secretaries have their sayMay 12, 2005
School secretaries had plenty to talk about at their recent Meet the President gathering at the Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn and they weren’t shy about having their say.
Honors in District 24May 12, 2005
District 24 cast a wide net for those it wished to honor at its recent annual Scholarship Dinner Dance.
Fighting to protect Social SecurityApr 28, 2005
More than 400 citizens and activists representing community, labor and political constituencies on Staten Island turned out for a town-hall meeting about the future of Social Security recently held at the College of Staten Island.
Safety concernApr 28, 2005
In the aftermath of an incident at New Utrecht HS in which a student shot himself when a pistol in his knapsack accidentally went off in class, UFT President Randi Weingarten toured the Brooklyn school to reach out to members.
Small school, big heartApr 28, 2005
PS 19 is a small school with a very big heart. The 456 students at the Manhattan school raised $920 for tsunami victims relief through a bake sale of homemade cookies and cupcakes and a coin drive.
Now that’s a bulletin board!Apr 28, 2005
UFT President Randi Weingarten recently met with the staff of PS 107, Queens, to discuss the difficulty the union has been having in negotiating a contract and to address the concerns of the members regarding the Easter religious observance days.
NYSUT holds historic RAApr 28, 2005
NYSUT’s 33rd annual Representative Assembly at the New York Hilton April 7–9 marked the final one to be chaired by Tom Hobart, NYSUT’s only president since the union’s formation in 1972, who has announced his retirement.
Multiple personalitiesApr 28, 2005
On March 17 and 18, Tasha Paley started her morning as a cheery social worker at PS 43 in the Bronx, but by evening, as a performer in the UFT Players’ “Staged Scenes Showcase,” she had morphed into a femme so fatale that, she admitted, “I Pick my Teeth with a Satin Pin.”
St. Patrick’s Day solidarityApr 28, 2005
It was the day before St. Patrick’s Day, but there was no wearin’ o’ the green at PS 58 in Queens.
Lots to talk aboutApr 28, 2005
UFT President Randi Weingarten rallied UFT members at Thomas Jefferson HS last month to band together as the union awaits word from PERB fact-finders in its contract battle with the city.
Celebrating the Year of the RoosterApr 28, 2005
The UFT Asian-American Heritage Committee marked the Year of the Rooster at its annual banquet celebrating the Lunar New Year last month at a Chinatown restaurant.
Applause from presidentApr 28, 2005
“No one goes into teaching to go to war with the school system; you go into it to make a difference in the lives of children,” UFT Pre