We have a few updates from UHS this week:
1. We will be hosting our first internship fair next Wednesday morning. It will take place in the gymnasium from 8:30-10:30 a.m. We look forward to highlighting the work of our interns, as they share their experiences with supervisors, community members, and other students. Parents/guardians/caregivers of interns are also welcome to attend. If anyone else has an interest in either attending or supporting the program, reach out to Mr. Moura (dmoura@uxbridge.k12.ma.us).
Those who attend are asked to use the gym entrance.
2. The week of January 16 will be the final week of the first semester, which means we will have mid-year exams. For most classes, this is an opportunity for teachers and students to determine progress, provide practice on longer assessments that take place, and provide projects that conclude the semester. Grade 8 students will be completing iReady assessments, which monitor progress, in English and math as well. The schedule will be shared with students via email and can be found here:
These are half-days, to give students time to complete assignments, finish work for courses that are concluding, prepare for traditional exams, and have time to reflect on grades. However, teachers are in the building for the full day, so students who need additional support can absolutely stay. Buses typically leave the school by 10:45, which means lunches are available as well.
3. As we anticipate the first snow of the season this weekend, please note that announcements regarding inclement weather will be shared via Parentsquare, traditional media, and, for students, the school's email system. We also know that sometimes this can influence buses, student drivers, and visibility. If school is canceled, after school activities and athletics are also canceled in most cases. Exceptions will be communicated individually.
Finally, it goes without saying that this was a somber week at UHS. Much work and preparation was done before staff and students returned to school on January 2 and 3 respectively to ensure that we had proper supports in place. For many of our youngest community members, the tragic loss of C.J. Gibbons was their first experience with death, grieving, wakes, and the loss of a peer. As school leaders, we review protocols and procedures often, attempting to ensure that we have the right tools in place, should they ever be needed. We frequently do not know if we have either the correct tools or the right preparation until, sadly, terrible events occur. In that respect, the UHS counseling team, including school counselors Ashley Smith, Jamie Toto, and Kyla Gutekunst, adjustment counselors Alison Ciccone, Lori Tobin, and Jackie Lynch, school psychologist Hilary Ritacco, team chair Catherine Taglilatela, nurse Tara Schiller, and counselor/intervention coach Greg Coppolino more than aptly rose to the occasion, supporting not only the students and community, but their colleagues as well. We could not be prouder of their effort and hope that the community recognizes and understands that while much of this work goes unseen, this team is well prepared to deal with the challenges we face, both anticipated and otherwise. We also wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to Father Nick of St. Mary's, Paster Bob and Pastor Matt of Valley Chapel, and the staff of Riverside Open Sky for being a presence this week, as it underscores the relationships we have and recognize within the community.
We wish everyone a good weekend!
Dr. Rubin
