Instead of the cursory update this week regarding "updates" and "events," I wanted to include a couple of notes that should make community members very proud. I hope you will take a minute to read this week's message.
Often times, communities like ours become places where it is easy to hear the rancor and discontent of a few people, and let that drown out the good. This week, we were able to enjoy so much of what makes Uxbridge a great place, and we share some of the reasons why our student-body and community can be such a source of pride.
I was able to speak with several students this week and receive a couple of emails from parents, regarding college acceptances and scholarship awards that have rolled in. For educators PK-12, and certainly for parents, the joy that comes in seeing that letter (or, as it is now, the update on the online application portal) is validating, exciting, and invigorating. It speaks to a process that started with first steps, sounds, and letters, and it marks the first step of a new experience and a life that is ready to soar. It is October - which means that we not only have many successes left to achieve this year and many more moments like these, but also can start feeling good about the process and the work so many of us do in support of the students.
At the same time, our school is simply buzzing with action. Walking through dozens of classes this week, our observations are of classes engaged in learning, with students solving problems, teachers structuring inquiry-based activities, and the learning happening in diverse ways. The vision many people would have had for the building, where disruptive behaviors are minimal, where educators are working to their fullest capacity, where our core values and learning expectations can be seen on display at any given moment - is starting to come to fruition. We know the results will come, and we are seeing improvements in many areas, all of which have significant impact on achievement.
Finally, today we hosted a building study team from Wahconah Regional High School and the Central Berkshire Regional School District, which is looking at UHS as a model school as it starts its feasability study. We know that UHS was not built in a day, that programs and facilities ought to be married in excellence, and that we have a place that should be a source of pride for anyone who lives in this town or calls UHS his or her alma mater. The remarks from people as they left today was that our school left them "inspired," that the "students are awesome," that "people are really happy and good to each other here," and, most importantly, that we "have a great place."
Buildings are brick and mortar and wires. Schools are about people. We have the makings of a strong culture here, where the lessons, the students, the activity, and the buzz are all worthy of the community's investment and trust. I will walk out of UHS today feeling validated in the work we are doing, proud of a staff that is shifting its mindset and enhancing the skills of students, and grateful for a student body that is pushing itself toward new standards, every single day.
MEFA Financial Aid Night
MEFA Financial Aid Night will be held on Wednesday, November 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Parents/guardians of seniors should attend.
Senior Play
The Senior Play, The Curious Savage, will be held on Thursday, November 2, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students and senior citizens, $5 for adults.
Football Can Drive
The football team is collecting canned goods for donation to the local food pantry. Please bring items for donation - there is a box in the main foyer of the building.
Finally, many thanks to our booster club parents, for their creation of signs for our senior student-athletes, who wrap up regular season play here at home this week. Playoff brackets will be posted next week, so stay tuned for updates of postseason play!
Friday, October 27, 2017
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Winter Athletic Registration
Please register for winter athletics! Our portal is located at: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/uxbridge-public-schools or by clicking here. There is an option to pay the participation fee online as well, and there is no service charge for doing so.
In order to register for a winter sport, please complete the registration, have a current physical examination on file with the school, and pay the appropriate participation fee. If any of those stipulations have not been met, a student may be denied participation. Note that a physical examination is valid for 13 months, so if a student had his/her examination this summer or fall, s/he is still eligible.
Please direct questions to the athletic director; questions regarding physical examinations can be sent to the school nurses, Ms. Schiller at UHS or Ms. Gauthier at MMS.
Finally, schedules for the winter season, including the availability of junior varsity programs, will be determined based on registration numbers. The portal will close on November 17, 2017. PLEASE REGISTER ON TIME.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Monday, October 23, 2017
A Personal Post
I rarely take occasion to use this blog for anything personal, but every now and then, writing becomes a good mechanism/outlet for me to share my feelings. Call it therapeutic, call it self-indulgent, call it what you will. The journalist in me resolves every now and then to scribe in the first person in the same voice as a one-time columnist, so I beg your forgiveness and indulgence for a few paragraphs.
There is a line in The Great Gatsby, one of my favorite texts to teach, that reads: "Let us learn to show our friendship for a man while he is still alive." It is for that reason that I often do not post things to social media after someone has passed away, why I don't go on paroxysms of emotion, why I tend to keep my thoughts to myself. Yet in the past week, I am breaking my rule, and sharing thoughts on someone who shaped and even defined my consciousness as a coach and leader.
I met Jerry Espinosa following a National Honor Society induction in 2003. I was a 25-year-old advisor who had just inducted his niece/adopted daughter, and he shared with me that he was impressed and inspired by my energy. Little did I know that this would be the start of a friendship and mentoring that would guide me through some incredibly successful experiences as a coach and formative years as a young(ish) school leader.
Jerry was a miracle man - he had survived a car-jacking, resolved his life to his Faith, and openly shared his Christianity with me in a positive, academic way. He believed in the inherent good in every student-athlete we coached. He volunteered thousands of hours to work with our programs at Dighton-Rehoboth: meets, coaches' meetings, practices, bus rides, weekdays, weeknights, weekends. He adopted me as another surrogate brother, and we spent hours on phone and at practice going back and forth about school, coaching, student-athletes, and practice schedules. I learned more about track and field from Jerry Espinosa than any other man on this planet - and it paled in comparison to what he taught me about living, about looking for the good, and about living in a godly way. After a rough day as an assistant principal, when things seemed darker than dark, Coach Espo always made things better, because he knew what was good and right, and he could make me smile and turn a day around in the context of a simple long jump drill.
We were cut from different cloths in terms of our theology, but it didn't matter - we shared similar core values, and I loved our debates and conversations about Scripture. Simply put, he made me smarter, more learned, more empathetic, more cosmopolitan. One moment we could be talking about starting blocks and hurdling form, and the next about the Old Testament.
We wanted the best for our kids. We wanted them to earn the headlines that we had once enjoyed as student-athletes ourselves. We wanted to write a successful narrative. Each of those goals was met - a New England champion, at least 8 team league championships, a six-year stretch with more than 100 wins and less than 10 losses. More importantly, there were athlete goals met, lessons learned, and, above all else, a positive bend to every experience we had. His expertise and acumen in the sport were surpassed only by his humanity and altruism. I will never meet someone again who gave so much of himself to different groups of student-athletes, year in and year out.
When I got last week's phone call with the tragic news of Jerry's passing from Coach Moura, our fellow coach and my good friend who remains at Dighton-Rehoboth, we both vacillated from shock to sadness to guilt and back again. The portrait of fitness, the strongest "masters-level" competitor I ever met, one of the strongest men I ever had the privilege of knowing - taken all too soon, leaving behind a tremendous family whose void I cannot begin to process. Jerry and I had lost touch over the years, but never did I think I would not have one more opportunity to thank Jerry Espinosa for what he did for us, for our kids. For me. Yes, it's a selfish response. Ironically, in the sadness for all of us who lost something with Jerry's passing was that I thought about how much he changed me for the better.
As a school principal, it can be challenging to see the good, to smile in the face of adversity, to persevere when there are difficult decisions to be made. But I think of what Jerry and I preached for all those years as partners on the track - that we don't get beat by things, that one more lap can make us stronger, and that everyone is capable of meeting lofty goals, so long as neither of us ever gives up.
I will miss my friend, even if it had been entirely too long since I reached out for one of his pep talks. I will forever be grateful for the fleeting time we spent together, for the sacrifices he made to make me better, knowing that there is a piece of his character in my administrative consciousness. When it seems like the odds are stacked, that the process is too much, that small victories and goals met are not enough, there will be Jerry's voice, powerful strides, and smile, clapping loudly and urging us toward one more finish line. For that, I'm grateful for his memory, even as I reconcile the joy and blessing of our friendship with the shock and anger over his premature departure from this earth.
For all the Falcons, Red Rocketeers, Sentinels, and countless others whose lives Jerry impacted- thank you is simply not enough. I only wish that we had all heeded the advice of Gatsby and shown that appreciation one more time. There is a quote from 1 Corinthians that I think is most fitting for my Biblical friend and colleague: "do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." I reconcile that with the words of the Hebrew, that yours will be an eternal memory that continues to grow.
My friend and mentor, hope I do that we honor your legacy with a crown that indeed will last forever, befitting your strict training. May I act with your same benevolence, compassion, and consideration. And may your memory be a blessing. You will be and are already missed.
There is a line in The Great Gatsby, one of my favorite texts to teach, that reads: "Let us learn to show our friendship for a man while he is still alive." It is for that reason that I often do not post things to social media after someone has passed away, why I don't go on paroxysms of emotion, why I tend to keep my thoughts to myself. Yet in the past week, I am breaking my rule, and sharing thoughts on someone who shaped and even defined my consciousness as a coach and leader.
I met Jerry Espinosa following a National Honor Society induction in 2003. I was a 25-year-old advisor who had just inducted his niece/adopted daughter, and he shared with me that he was impressed and inspired by my energy. Little did I know that this would be the start of a friendship and mentoring that would guide me through some incredibly successful experiences as a coach and formative years as a young(ish) school leader.
Jerry was a miracle man - he had survived a car-jacking, resolved his life to his Faith, and openly shared his Christianity with me in a positive, academic way. He believed in the inherent good in every student-athlete we coached. He volunteered thousands of hours to work with our programs at Dighton-Rehoboth: meets, coaches' meetings, practices, bus rides, weekdays, weeknights, weekends. He adopted me as another surrogate brother, and we spent hours on phone and at practice going back and forth about school, coaching, student-athletes, and practice schedules. I learned more about track and field from Jerry Espinosa than any other man on this planet - and it paled in comparison to what he taught me about living, about looking for the good, and about living in a godly way. After a rough day as an assistant principal, when things seemed darker than dark, Coach Espo always made things better, because he knew what was good and right, and he could make me smile and turn a day around in the context of a simple long jump drill.
We were cut from different cloths in terms of our theology, but it didn't matter - we shared similar core values, and I loved our debates and conversations about Scripture. Simply put, he made me smarter, more learned, more empathetic, more cosmopolitan. One moment we could be talking about starting blocks and hurdling form, and the next about the Old Testament.
We wanted the best for our kids. We wanted them to earn the headlines that we had once enjoyed as student-athletes ourselves. We wanted to write a successful narrative. Each of those goals was met - a New England champion, at least 8 team league championships, a six-year stretch with more than 100 wins and less than 10 losses. More importantly, there were athlete goals met, lessons learned, and, above all else, a positive bend to every experience we had. His expertise and acumen in the sport were surpassed only by his humanity and altruism. I will never meet someone again who gave so much of himself to different groups of student-athletes, year in and year out.
When I got last week's phone call with the tragic news of Jerry's passing from Coach Moura, our fellow coach and my good friend who remains at Dighton-Rehoboth, we both vacillated from shock to sadness to guilt and back again. The portrait of fitness, the strongest "masters-level" competitor I ever met, one of the strongest men I ever had the privilege of knowing - taken all too soon, leaving behind a tremendous family whose void I cannot begin to process. Jerry and I had lost touch over the years, but never did I think I would not have one more opportunity to thank Jerry Espinosa for what he did for us, for our kids. For me. Yes, it's a selfish response. Ironically, in the sadness for all of us who lost something with Jerry's passing was that I thought about how much he changed me for the better.
As a school principal, it can be challenging to see the good, to smile in the face of adversity, to persevere when there are difficult decisions to be made. But I think of what Jerry and I preached for all those years as partners on the track - that we don't get beat by things, that one more lap can make us stronger, and that everyone is capable of meeting lofty goals, so long as neither of us ever gives up.
I will miss my friend, even if it had been entirely too long since I reached out for one of his pep talks. I will forever be grateful for the fleeting time we spent together, for the sacrifices he made to make me better, knowing that there is a piece of his character in my administrative consciousness. When it seems like the odds are stacked, that the process is too much, that small victories and goals met are not enough, there will be Jerry's voice, powerful strides, and smile, clapping loudly and urging us toward one more finish line. For that, I'm grateful for his memory, even as I reconcile the joy and blessing of our friendship with the shock and anger over his premature departure from this earth.
For all the Falcons, Red Rocketeers, Sentinels, and countless others whose lives Jerry impacted- thank you is simply not enough. I only wish that we had all heeded the advice of Gatsby and shown that appreciation one more time. There is a quote from 1 Corinthians that I think is most fitting for my Biblical friend and colleague: "do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." I reconcile that with the words of the Hebrew, that yours will be an eternal memory that continues to grow.
My friend and mentor, hope I do that we honor your legacy with a crown that indeed will last forever, befitting your strict training. May I act with your same benevolence, compassion, and consideration. And may your memory be a blessing. You will be and are already missed.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Weekly News and Notes
Some updates from UHS this week:
Endicott Survey
If you have not already done so, please take our reaccreditation survey! We need to get to about 50% of our parents having taken this survey. To do so, Please go to the website: www.endicottresearchcenter.net
Enter the following survey code: P2071892 and click GO. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete!
Athletic Photos Available
Our School Photographer, David Silverman Photography, has a portfolio online from our athletic events this year, with action shots and individual poses available for purchase. Click on this link to be redirected to the site!
Senior Play!
Click here to see information about our Senior Play, which will take the stage on November 2. It promises to be a fun night of play from our senior players in the drama company, so we hope they play to a packed house!
If you have not already registered for Parent-Teacher conferences, make sure you do so via uxyhs.schoolappointments.com! We also have the option of callbacks if there is not an available time.
As always, thank you for the support!
Endicott Survey
If you have not already done so, please take our reaccreditation survey! We need to get to about 50% of our parents having taken this survey. To do so, Please go to the website: www.endicottresearchcenter.net
Enter the following survey code: P2071892 and click GO. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete!
Our School Photographer, David Silverman Photography, has a portfolio online from our athletic events this year, with action shots and individual poses available for purchase. Click on this link to be redirected to the site!
Senior Play!
Click here to see information about our Senior Play, which will take the stage on November 2. It promises to be a fun night of play from our senior players in the drama company, so we hope they play to a packed house!
If you have not already registered for Parent-Teacher conferences, make sure you do so via uxyhs.schoolappointments.com! We also have the option of callbacks if there is not an available time.
As always, thank you for the support!
Friday, October 6, 2017
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We are excited to have Parent-Teacher conferences coming up on October 19. The portal for registering for appointments will open on October 12 at 12:00 p.m., and it will close at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 19.
If you wish to schedule an appointment with a teacher but there is no time, or you are unable to make it on the 19th, please select the "call back" option. We will attempt to make sure that all call-backs take place within a couple of weeks.
Even if you set up an account last year, you will have to set up a new account this year, unfortunately. It is easier to have everyone reset than to field calls for password resets, and we find that many of our users change from year to year. Sorry for any inconvenience.
School Appointments - Parent Instructions
2. Register for an account by clicking the "REGISTER" menu tab and filling in the on-line form. Choose a user id and password for yourself and then click the "Register Now" button.
3. Add your children into the system by clicking the "Add a Student" button. Click "Insert New" button to add more children.
4. Click the "date" icon beside each child's name to schedule appointments. Select the staff you wish to book appointments with and the "View Calendars" button. Use the "Ctrl" or "Command" key to select multiple staff to view at the same time.
5. Click on available time slots to book your appointments and then click the "Book Appointments" button to save your bookings.
Weekly News and Notes
Just a few items from UHS in advance of the long weekend!
PSAT Next Wednesday
PSAT Next Wednesday
Our 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT/NMSQT® at school on October 11. This test is a chance to become a National Merit® Scholar, and it also offers these benefits:
1. Connect to scholarships. When students take the PSAT/NMSQT, they have an opportunity to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. The test also connects them to $160 million in scholarships from one of the largest scholarship pools in the country. Students should check “Yes” to Student Search Service® on the day of the test so that scholarship partners can find them.
2. Free, personalized SAT practice. The PSAT/NMSQT is great preparation for the SAT®. Your teen's score even unlocks a personalized SAT study plan on Khan Academy®. It’s completely free. Students simply go to satpractice.org, create an account, and link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts to get a study plan based on their test results.
3. AP course recommendations. Student score reports will suggest AP® courses that are a great match for them. AP can give your teen an edge in the admission process and allows them to earn college credit while in high school, which could save time and money in college.
There is a presentation from the College Board on the value of the PSAT linked here.
Senior Play November 2
See here for a flyer on the Senior Play, being held on November 2.
NEASC Survey
Please help us with the Endicott Survey, which should take about 5 minutes to complete. It will help us validate our Core Values, our Expectations for Student Learning, and the effort we have made to enhance education at UHS over the past couple of years.
Please go to the website www.endicottresearchcenter.net. On that page, you will see a link that says "Here to take a survey?" Enter the following survey code: P2071892 and click GO. Again, it will only take a few minutes!
Finally, next week we will be sending instructions on how to register for parent-conferences, which are scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 19. We use an online system for registering for appointments, but if appointment times are not available, staff members will arrange to call or meet outside of the Conference date. Be on the lookout for that message!
Have a great weekend!
Michael Rubin, Principal
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Non-emergency Lockdown at UHS
We just concluded a non-emergency lockdown at Uxbridge High School, ending at about 9:55 a.m. We called the lockdown in order to provide some confidentiality for an individual who needed to be transported via ambulance due to a medical emergency. Whether making the decision to transport via ambulance for a teacher, student, staff member, or parent, we take the responsibility of maintaining confidentiality extremely seriously, so clearing hallways and eliminating witnesses protects everyone involved.
As we expected, our students were incredibly compliant and respectful of direction, as the lockdown occurred during our flex block, when many students were not in class. Once again, we had an opportunity to see how our community models so many of our core values!
We reiterate that there was no threat of any kind, which can sometimes be misconstrued when people hear the word "lockdown." Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the day.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Fall Athletics Highlights
Check out these highlights of some of our fall sports' first month of action, featuring the hard work of producer and commentator Joe DuBois!
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