Non-emergency lockdown at UHS

We just concluded a non-emergency lockdown at Uxbridge High School, ending at about 8:40 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. 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. 

Food Pantry Collection

With the holiday season upon us and National Kindness day coming up on November 13th, the Uxbridge Food Service will be accepting products to be donated to The People First Food Pantry in Uxbridge for the month of November.

A collection bin will be located just outside the main office.  Personal care items and paper goods are in extreme need during the holiday season.

We hope you support our efforts and any donation is greatly appreciated.

Spartan Podcast

Good morning!

We are excited to be bringing you our first Spartan Podcast! As we are determined to share information in whatever ways possible, we hope to bring you a couple of these episodes a month, with the hope of providing even more insight into the great things happening at UHS.

From a technical standpoint, we know that we will improve on the format and content in time, but we hope that you find this useful during your commutes, listening at home, etc. In the coming weeks, we do hope to have this distributed through iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify, though at present it is published through this link and the format below.

In our first episode, we highlight some steps we have taken with respect to school safety, our new athletic director's first month on the job, and the integration of grade 8 students and staff to UHS.

Thank you, as always, for the support!

Michael Rubin, Principal

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We are excited to have Parent-Teacher conferences coming up on November 15. The portal for registering for appointments will open on November 7 at 9:00 a.m., and it will close at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 15.

If you wish to schedule an appointment with a teacher but there is no time, or you are unable to make it on the 15th, please select the "call back" option.
We do apologize for the short time of the conferences, which are only five minutes long. Unfortunately, due to demand, we wanted to make every effort for teachers to see as many parents as possible, and with a two-hour window, that means that 24 parents can be scheduled. It is a far better system than having parents waiting in line in the corridor, and we will make every attempt to honor call-backs or email requests for conferences that cannot be accommodated on November 15.

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

1.     Go to our school appointments web site:  http://uxyhs.schoolappointments.com/

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.

More detailed instructions can be viewed by clicking here.

Update for Grade 8

Good afternoon!

We are excited to share some updates regarding grade 8 and their transition to UHS, as we have spent the past several days meeting with all students in guidance seminar.  During this one-on-one meeting, we went over each student's grades in every class. Ms. Smith helped them identify any missing assignments or assignments that should be followed up on - either for clarification or to take advantage of a retake. We also discussed the transition from the middle school to the high school.

I am happy to report that students feel the transition was easier than they thought and they are really enjoying the high school. Areas of improvement identified include balancing classroom expectations (amount of work and personal responsibility) as well as time management. I was thrilled to hear that many students were not only aware of their standing but had already had a plan in place to meet with teachers.
In the weeks to come, we will be working with students on self-advocacy skills, managing the shift from first term to second term, looking at mid-year projects for classes that may end in January, and collaborating on skills that students will need to grow throughout the year.

We thank you for all the support, and feel free to reach out with any questions!

Ashley Smith
​School Counselor

UHS: Weekly News and Notes

A few updates from UHS this week:

- Congrats to boys cross country on their championship this week, capping an undefeated SWCL season, led by league third-place finisher Colin Caso and fourth place Ryan Semle! The girls, led by individual champion Hannah Jones, took second place overall, narrowly missing the league meet championship after an undefeated regular season.

- We will be sending instructions on how to register for parent-teacher conferences next week. Our conferences are scheduled to be held on November 15 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and parents will register for six-minute conferences, which we are told was an adequate amount of time to review first term grades and performance. Parents should bring specific questions to ensure that the time is meaningful. If a teacher does not have an available time, parents may select to have a call back or schedule a conference at a mutually convenient time during the school day.

- First term grades will be closing November 5. Report cards for the first quarter will be distributed online the following week.

- We have been receiving a number of calls regarding family vacations during school time. Please note that vacations only excuse a student from being truant, and we do not condone the practice of missing school time. Even when students are aware of absence, the process and responsibility for making up work falls to the student. It is simply not reasonable to expect teachers to replicate certain classroom experiences after student absences, and makeup work may mean alternative assignments, particularly when dealing with missed collaborative class assignments or labs. Students can also make up assignments during flex time and, for some teachers, before school.

- Here's a link to the Week That Was, our weekly video retrospective. Happy watching! (It can be accessed by copying this as well: https://youtu.be/zNHlWr4waMs).

Thank you, as always, for the support.

Mike Rubin, Principal
​Uxbridge High School

UHS Earns National Recognition

For immediate release:

October 24, 2018



Uxbridge High School Earns Acceptance to National Consortium



Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Frank Tiano, is proud to announce that Uxbridge High School has earned acceptance into the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools.

The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) was established in 1988 to provide a forum for specialized secondary schools focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to exchange information and program ideas.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, the Consortium now includes approximately 100 member schools (high schools), many ‘ranked’ as the best in the country, along with 55 affiliate members (colleges, universities, summer programs, foundations, and corporations) located in 32 states, that share the goals of transforming mathematics, science, and technology education. UHS was accepted through a competitive process that included an application process and interview with the national director.

“It is humbling for us to be considered in the company of some of the best schools in the nation,” said UHS Principal Michael Rubin. “What this means is that we have met some challenges of the evolving face of education, and we now have the opportunity and responsibility to continue to be innovative and creative to say ahead of that curve.”

Uxbridge High School joins Nipmuc Regional High School, the Academy of Math and Science at WPI, Essex (VT) High School, and the Connecticut Academy of Aerospace and Engineering as the only schools in New England who have been accepted into the NCSSS. The school was accepted due to its innovative practices in working with local industry, the Blackstone Valley Ed Hub, the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the MassSTEMHub and Project Lead the Way, as well as its commitment to bringing science and STEM work to a broader population, including its Science Olympiad team and post-secondary counseling program.

“I could not be more proud of the work being done on behalf of our students by our educators and our entire school community,” said Dr. Frank Tiano, Superintendent of Uxbridge Public Schools.  “Earning acceptance into the NCSSS is not only an honor for our high school, but it reflects positively on the entire town of Uxbridge.” 

Fire Drill Today

Good afternoon,

Earlier this afternoon, we concluded a fire drill at UHS. We notified the staff and students before it took place, and we were able to achieve full accountability rather quickly.

We do hope to hold another fire drill before the winter arrives. We do typically try to give some information in advance just in case, but we were able to manage today's drill with only a few minutes' notice to students.

Thank you,

Michael Rubin
Principal

Weekly News and Notes

In addition to continuing our Weekly News and Notes, we are looking to experiment with some different forms of communication. For this week, we are highlighting "the week that was" for Uxbridge High School, with the week ending this afternoon.

We hope you enjoy this update of happenings at UHS!

October Newsletter

Our October newsletter can be viewed here:

Minor Naviance Issue

Good morning,

We have been made aware of a technical issue with Naviance that is impacting teacher ability to upload letters of recommendation. Our counselors have been in touch with Naviance and are assured that the company is working on a quick solution.

In the meantime, teachers have been advised to send PDF versions of recommendations to counselors to ensure that they can be processed in a timely manner, and prevent any issues from occurring with respect to applications. If your seniors have concerns, have them see their school counselor or send Mr. Barry or Ms. Hampton an email.

Thank you for your patience!

Michael Rubin, Principal

Emergency Drill Concluded

Good morning,

Our emergency drill this morning was successful. We are pleased with the attention to detail shown by the staff and the questions that have come up for us to review. In general, the students and staff alike were able to engage in a robust and thoughtful discussion which will enable us to plan better in terms of the building's safety and security.

One question that has come up from a few people is regarding the timing of our notification. We chose to notify this morning about the drill so as not to create a heightened anxiety outside the building, and for us to model conditions as accurately as possible, considering that real-time safety and security measures often occur without planning.

We thank our public safety partners in helping us be proactive. Again, feel free to let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Michael Rubin
Principal

Emergency Drill This Morning

Good morning,

As many of you are aware, we are consistently taking steps to ensure that our school is prepared for a variety of emergencies. This includes regular fire drills, review of evacuation procedures, and discussions and drills in the event of an intruder. Sadly, these are the times we live in, and, while we are confident and comfortable in the safety and security at UHS, it is important for us to review protocols regularly with staff and students.

This morning, in collaboration with our public safety partners and led by School Resource Officer Dan Deveau, we are conducting a lockdown and intruder drill with students that will not necessitate an evacuation, but will allow students to be informed of proper procedures in the event that an emergency lockdown is needed. In providing a variety of scenarios, teachers will review proper responses while addressing circumstances unique to the classroom. In time, we will have students review at different times and in different periods to see both the continuity from one class to the next and for particular areas of the building.

Because of the sensitive nature of these conversations, we do anticipate some students potentially struggling, and we have our counselors and staff members being vigilant in noticing when students may be responding with heightened anxiety. Those students will be directed to counselors for support.

This morning's drill will commence around 9:25 and conclude by 9:45. After its conclusion, we will send a message notifying families of its end. At home, while difficult dinnertime conversation, it may be worthwhile to discuss with students their perceptions and understanding of what took place, recognizing that there is no set playbook for these potential scenarios. Additionally, we have worked with our public safety partners to devise off-site evacuation plans, in the event that we should ever need to leave UHS for a neutral site. Generally, this occurs in the event of a town safety or health concern and when dismissal to home is not considered a viable option. Today’s drill will not include any evacuation of any kind, however.

We thank you as always for the support. Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions.

Sincerely,

Michael Rubin

Principal

Weekly News and Notes

A few updates from UHS this week:

Picture Retakes

Picture retakes will be next week for students who either need them or were not in school the first day of pictures in September. Our school photographer will be here on Wednesday, October 17 in the morning. Please reach out to the office or to David Silverman photography (dave@dspics.com) if you have questions.

Socktober Challenge

On October 10, 2018, people around the world will change the lives of homeless people in their local community. Socks are the most needed but least donated article of clothing in homeless shelters so we are so we are asking for your help. Last year MIAA Student Ambassadors collected over 1,230 pairs of socks for the Fall Huddle and we are confident we can collect even more!

For the next two weeks, our Student Ambassadors will set up a sock collection bin in our school. Let’s join together and keep the homeless a bit more comfortable this winter. If you can, please send in sock donations with your child. Every pair matters. Donated socks will then be brought to the MIAA Fall Huddle on October 19, 2018 and will distributed to local shelters.

Senior Wear

Sunday is the LAST day ever to order senior wear!! Stock up on sweats and a hoodie to stay comfy and warm all winter. https://uxbridgeclassof19.itemorder.com/


Have a great weekend!

Pest Management at UHS

Good afternoon,

The below links will help provide information regarding pest management at Uxbridge High School.

PEST MANAGEMENT NOTIFICATION LETTER

PEST MANAGEMENT RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Thank you!

Michael Rubin

Principal

Musical Auditions

Choreography/Dance auditions will be held from 2:15 - 4:15PM  on Tuesday and Thursday this week for students interested in joining the drama program on stage for our production of The Wizard of Oz..  Music rehearsals will be held on October 16 and 17 from 2:15 - 3:30PM and auditions will be held on October 22, 24, and 25.  Crew interviews will be held on October 16th and 17th.   Registration for crew interviews and cast auditions will be online.  Use these links to sign up.

CAST AUDITIONS

CREW INTERVIEWS

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mrs. Penza 

Weekly News and Notes

A few updates from UHS this week:

Visit from Assistant Secretary of Education

On Thursday, October 4, UHS had the privilege of hosting Mr. Robert LePage, the Assistant Secretary of Education for Career Education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. LePage is an advocate for career pathways, skill-based education, and innovative outcomes for student learning, and he was part of the team of educators who helped identify UHS as an Innovation Pathway designee in the spring.

Mr. LePage was visiting UHS, as we have been identified as a leader for the state's development of new outcomes for students, and his visit was likewise studying our campus and ways we have adapted to fix some of the challenges. In our conversations, we spoke about building the capacity of students and educators through new experiences, opportunity for teacher learning, and how we are adjusting student learning expectations. It is exciting for us to be on the cutting edge of the next education reform movement!

School Committee Presentation

Many thanks to Mr. Smutok and Ms. Larkin for participating in Wednesday's School Committee meeting, as they shared many of the happenings for our engineering and biomedical science classes. The video is linked via the Uxbridge Cable site, and there are so many exciting changes afoot in our science and technology classes!

Grade 7-8 Football!

Congrats to our grade 7-8 football team on another victory this week, as the team steamrolled Northbridge 42-6. It has been great to see the students in our building proudly wearing game jerseys on game day, and we look forward to seeing their growth the rest of the season!

Reaccreditation Visit

Our reaccreditation visit will be coming this December. If anyone is interested in helping with parent panels, or assisting with the welcome reception for the visiting team, please reach out to Mr. Rubin or Mr. DiMeglio. Our self-study report is complete and on the way to the visiting team, so we are inching closer to an event that marks an important part of our growth process. On Monday, October 1, we met with our visiting team chair, and our staff also had an opportunity to meet the chair and vice chair. We feel as though we are progressing well and that the work we undertake with the visiting team will be both reflective and validating.

Have a great long weekend!

PLTW Programming Update

The update and presentation below was shared at the October 3 School Committee meeting, at which seniors Riley Tanner and Hallie Doppler joined Mr. Smutok, Ms. Larkin, Ms. DeMarco and Mr. Rubin at sharing some of the awesome developments in engineering programs for both Uxbridge High School and Whitin Intermediate School

PSAT Next Wednesday

PSAT Next Wednesday

Our 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT/NMSQT® at school on October 10. 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.

For grade 8 and 9 students, they will report to school; grade 8 students will attend their regular academic classes, and grade 9 students will be participating in activities with the guidance department. Seniors will have the opportunity to use the day for working on college applications, attending college visits, or participating in a job shadow.

If families have questions, feel free to reach out to the school counseling office.