Good evening,
We apologize for the late hour of this email and understand that not everyone had a student attend tonight's Snow Ball, sponsored by Student Council. The dance was well organized, inclusive, and fun, but there was also a technical issue with the facility that meant that half of the gymnasium lights would not shut off. Consequently, many of the students were disappointed because of the brightness in the gym, and they chose to leave early.
Our procedure is that students who leave cannot return, because we have no control over what could happen while they are away from the building. However, we also wanted parents to know that several of the students left well before the 10:00 end time. As of the time of this email, our estimate is that about 40-50 of the 200 or so attendees have already left, so parents may wish to double check their phones and whereabouts to make sure they are aware of any unanticipated changes to plans.
We thank the Student Council, its advisor, Ms. Bernard, and all our students for being patient while we attempted to find a solution, and then for continuing to enjoy the dance despite the added illumination.
Thank you, and have good rest of the weekend.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Rubin
Principal
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
Weekly News and Notes
Some updates from UHS this week.
Grade 7 Orientation on Monday
We look forward to meeting with our seventh grade parents on Monday, March 2, from 6:30-8:45 or so. It will be an opportunity for our families to hear from department leaders, students, administration, and activities. We hope that many of our grade 7 parents will be able to join us!
UHS Recognitions
This week, UHS earned acceptance into the CAPS network, a national network of programs focused on career preparation, while announcing a $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth to invest in infrastructure and equipment. Later this month, Principal Michael Rubin will be a featured panelist at a national education conference in Austin, Texas, speaking alongside Elliot Washor, Tom Vander Ark, and David Misahiro, all of whom are prominent educators with national followings. Our Music Director, Kathleen Penza, earned the state "Heart of the Arts" award and is a candidate for national recognition.
In all, there have been some great headlines coming from UHS this week, and we are so proud to share our successes. We hope that you are able to follow some of what has been going on, as we continue to find ways to reimagine education and inspire our students!
Celebrate a senior with a personal ad or Spartan Shoutout!
Families and friends of seniors can purchase personal ads and Spartan Shoutouts to congratulate a senior.
Personal ads can include any photos or messages you want to send. See this flyer for pricing and more information or visit yearbookforever.com to purchase and create your ad.
The deadline to purchase a personal ad in the yearbook has been extended through Monday, March 2.
Course Selection
Students in grades 8-11 have all received course selection sheets and will be having conversations regarding course recommendations for 2020-21 in the next week, if they have not already. Course selections will be complete by the middle of this month. If you have any questions about them, please contact your child's school counselor.
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Just a reminder that we have parent-teacher conferences scheduled for this Friday, February 28, in the afternoon. Parents may sign up for an appointment beginning on Monday, February 24, which will be about 10 minutes in length, beginning at 11 and continuing until 2:10.
Appointments are accessed via uxyhs.schoolappointments.com.
Appointments are accessed via uxyhs.schoolappointments.com.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Weekly News and Notes
A few updates from UHS this week:
Scheduling Information
Thank you to those who attended last night's course selection night for students in grades 8-11. We have posted the slideshow below, and we are also including the link to all the course selection information on our website.
Students will be working with teachers the week after the February break to ensure that course recommendations are complete.
All the scheduling information can be found on our website: https://www.uxbridgeschools.com/Page/450
Art Class Selection Tool
Our fine art department came up with a quick quiz to help students decide which class is best. Not many questions and super helpful!
Dropout Data
The Commonwealth released dropout data this week, and we are proud that our dropout rate remains well below state average. Over the past three years, we have averaged about a 1.43% dropout rate, which, in our opinion, is still a number we work to combat.
As students present a variety of challenges, we embed into our schedule a number of interventions that can support them, from academic and behavioral supports, to adjusted schedules and flexible periods that can provide them with time and individual attention.
We also acknowledge that these situations change as the year progresses, so we remind you to keep counselors and administration in the know.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We will have an afternoon parent-teacher conference day on Friday, February 28, from 11-2. Parents may sign up for 10 minute meetings with teachers, and the portal will open on Monday, February 24.
Congratulations!
Uxbridge High School's work will be highlighted at the South by Southwest EDU convention, being held in Austin, Texas. We are very excited to have our school recognized for its Career Pathway work on a national level; given some of the performance of our students and the continued growth of our programs, we are thrilled to share these successes on such a widespread level!
Have a great week!
Scheduling Information
Thank you to those who attended last night's course selection night for students in grades 8-11. We have posted the slideshow below, and we are also including the link to all the course selection information on our website.
Students will be working with teachers the week after the February break to ensure that course recommendations are complete.
All the scheduling information can be found on our website: https://www.uxbridgeschools.com/Page/450
Art Class Selection Tool
Our fine art department came up with a quick quiz to help students decide which class is best. Not many questions and super helpful!
Dropout Data
The Commonwealth released dropout data this week, and we are proud that our dropout rate remains well below state average. Over the past three years, we have averaged about a 1.43% dropout rate, which, in our opinion, is still a number we work to combat.
As students present a variety of challenges, we embed into our schedule a number of interventions that can support them, from academic and behavioral supports, to adjusted schedules and flexible periods that can provide them with time and individual attention.
We also acknowledge that these situations change as the year progresses, so we remind you to keep counselors and administration in the know.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We will have an afternoon parent-teacher conference day on Friday, February 28, from 11-2. Parents may sign up for 10 minute meetings with teachers, and the portal will open on Monday, February 24.
Congratulations!
Uxbridge High School's work will be highlighted at the South by Southwest EDU convention, being held in Austin, Texas. We are very excited to have our school recognized for its Career Pathway work on a national level; given some of the performance of our students and the continued growth of our programs, we are thrilled to share these successes on such a widespread level!
For Immediate Release:
February 2020
Uxbridge High School to be Highlighted at National Learning Conference
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Tiano is proud to announce that the work of Uxbridge High School will be highlighted at the annual South by Southwest-EDU Conference in Austin, Texas. The South by Southwest Education Conference & Festival is an annual event that fosters innovation in learning and is one of the preeminent creative education festivals held each year in the United States.
“The recognition of our high school at this level not only is exciting, but also validates the work of our town and community to support great opportunities for our students,” Dr. Tiano said. “Our district aspires to be innovative and creative, and we know that these enhancements to and partnerships in learning bode well for the future of all our students.”
UHS Principal Michael Rubin will be participating on multiple panels in collaboration with a number of national and New England educational leaders, and will be featured on a panel entitled:“Making Learning Relevant: Pathways and Connections to the World of Work.” Through the discussion, UHS’ work as a leader for Innovation Pathways in the Commonwealth and through its partnerships with higher education and local industry will be highlighted. Other panelists include Alexandra Lee, the Executive Director of the Sasaki Foundation, Elliot Washor, the Co-Founder of Big Picture Learning, and David Miyashiro, the superintendent of the Cajon Valley Union (CA) School District.
“It is humbling and exciting to think of representing our school on such an amazing scale,” Mr. Rubin said. “We are grateful for the partnerships with the Department of Education and local industry and the hard work of our staff that has helped make new ways of learning come to fruition.”
“When we think of the outcomes of our strategic planning, our core values, and the learning expectations we have in terms of skills and content, it serves both Uxbridge and the region to be providing students opportunities to be ready for career or higher education,” said Dr. Tiano. “We’re proud to highlight these efforts, since it really does show that we are ahead of the proverbial curve in terms of the national educational trends.”
The SXSW EDU (pronounced South by Southwest E-D-U) community is optimistic, forward-thinking, and purpose-driven with a shared goal of impacting the future of teaching and learning. The four-day event offers compelling sessions, in-depth workshops, engaging learning experiences, mentorship, film screenings, future-focused competitions, an expo, networking opportunities, and so much more. Through opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and engagement, SXSW EDU empowers its global community to connect, discover, and impact, and SXSW EDU features a diverse array of speakers, sessions, workshops, learning experiences, policy discussions and film screenings programmed to foster learning and discovery for all education stakeholders. The program features more than 4000 attendees.
SXSW EDU is a component of the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) family of conferences and festivals. Internationally recognized as the convergence gathering for creative professionals, SXSW EDU extends SXSW’s support for the art of engagement to include educators.
Earlier this year, UHS' Innovation Pathways were highlighted as part of the Professional Learning conference of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools, of which Uxbridge High School is a member.
UHS Video
We recently compiled a new video highlighting some of the opportunities at UHS:
Have a great week!
Friday, February 7, 2020
Weekly News and Notes
A few updates from UHS this week:
Scheduling Nights
We will have the following evenings established as nights to discuss planning for the 2020-21 school year:
Grades 8-10 (current grade 8, freshmen, sophomores): February 13, 2020: 6:30 p.m.
Grade 7 (rising grade 8): March 2: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
If grade 11 parents wish to attend the grade 8-10 meeting, they certainly may do so.
Our students will make course selections and discuss future planning the week following February break, and we intent to meet with the students February 12-13 as well. For parents in grade 7, expect the night to last at least two hours, so plan accordingly for dinner!
National School Counselor Week
This week marked National School Counselor Week. At UHS, we are fortunate to have some amazing counselors working with our students every day, on academics, behaviors, social challenges, and relationships with students, staff, and families. We help students plan for life beyond high school from the moment they get to UHS, and we likewise know that our counselors support many of the initiatives and opportunities we have for our students.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said success “is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.” Some people think school counselors are only there for “those” kids, but, at UHS, their job is to help all of our Spartans reach their full potential and be successful in school and life. Every day, we see students face challenges – tough classes, peer pressure, family and friendship problems, and more – that can be roadblocks to future success. That's what our counselors see themselves as a primary role - supporting students through any roadblocks.
We are grateful for our counseling team and offer our most sincere appreciation!
Uxbridge Makes Music
The latest Uxbridge Makes Music newsletter is linked here.
Science Olympiad
Our Science Olympiad team placed in the top third of teams competing at the Harvard Invitational last week, and will participate in the Brown University invitational this weekend. We will have more specific results and individual event medalists to share in the coming week or so - not everything has been released yet!
Have a great weekend!
Scheduling Nights
We will have the following evenings established as nights to discuss planning for the 2020-21 school year:
Grades 8-10 (current grade 8, freshmen, sophomores): February 13, 2020: 6:30 p.m.
Grade 7 (rising grade 8): March 2: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
If grade 11 parents wish to attend the grade 8-10 meeting, they certainly may do so.
Our students will make course selections and discuss future planning the week following February break, and we intent to meet with the students February 12-13 as well. For parents in grade 7, expect the night to last at least two hours, so plan accordingly for dinner!
National School Counselor Week
This week marked National School Counselor Week. At UHS, we are fortunate to have some amazing counselors working with our students every day, on academics, behaviors, social challenges, and relationships with students, staff, and families. We help students plan for life beyond high school from the moment they get to UHS, and we likewise know that our counselors support many of the initiatives and opportunities we have for our students.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said success “is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.” Some people think school counselors are only there for “those” kids, but, at UHS, their job is to help all of our Spartans reach their full potential and be successful in school and life. Every day, we see students face challenges – tough classes, peer pressure, family and friendship problems, and more – that can be roadblocks to future success. That's what our counselors see themselves as a primary role - supporting students through any roadblocks.
We are grateful for our counseling team and offer our most sincere appreciation!
Uxbridge Makes Music
The latest Uxbridge Makes Music newsletter is linked here.
Science Olympiad
Our Science Olympiad team placed in the top third of teams competing at the Harvard Invitational last week, and will participate in the Brown University invitational this weekend. We will have more specific results and individual event medalists to share in the coming week or so - not everything has been released yet!
Have a great weekend!
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