We have a few updates from UHS this week:
Meet the Teacher Night
We were pleased to see many of our families, parents, and guardians at UHS on Thursday night. The presentation we shared at the event is below and linked here. Over the next few weeks, we hope that you are able to maintain communication with us, share your feedback, and provide us information that we can use to support all of our students.
Standards-Based Grading
Some parents had some questions about standards-based grading, as some of our classes are piloting this practice, while others have used this for a number of years. In short, for some of our departments that are using this practice, there will be no change (emphasis added) to the end-of-course grading practices - students will be provided a numerical or letter grade at the end of the term, and standards are being used more explicitly to provide students feedback. The only department that will not be issuing a grade at the end of the term will be world language, which is consistent with the past year.
One difference that may be occurring will be the ability of our teachers to show students specific areas of feedback and growth. We want students to have an understanding of where they can grow and improve with respect to skills, and we want our students' post-secondary applications to be able to show prospective colleges and employers more detail about what the grade means. In many departments, students will be completing portfolios and projects, and we want the students to focus on the process of learning, taking academic chances, stretching their abilities, and working to persevere through challenges, not merely "getting the right answer" or being academically compliant. For those concerned about post-secondary or college applications, we have been in frequent conversations with admissions representatives about any impact, which has been assured as minimal, and we are also actively working on ensuring that our Grade Point Average and transcript practices are best for our students' needs.
Teachers can be the first line of communication with any questions about the type of feedback being provided to students, but rest assured that we will be continuing to revise and reinvent our practices to make sure we are meeting student needs first and foremost! Right now, the takeaway should be that there is no difference to how grades will be reported at report card time, and that feedback will hopefully be more targeted and individualized.
School Vandalism
As you may or may not know, a recent viral Tiktok challenge encouraged students to vandalize student bathrooms, and UHS has not been immune to this. Sadly, we have had students vandalize soap dispensers and even clog toilets, then posting videos to Tiktok. While we do not have surveillance in the restrooms themselves, we do have the ability to monitor when students leave classrooms, and cameras are active in the corridors. Should a student be found to have done any of these acts of vandalism, consequences will be imposed in accordance with the Student Handbook, which can include suspension, restitution, and police referral.
For more information on the topic, an article can be found here: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/tiktok-removes-devious-licks-videos-students-stealing-school-property-n1279286
Post-secondary Visits
Our school will once again be opening its doors to post-secondary supports, including college admissions representatives and recruiters from the different branches of the military. The listing is posted here and will remain updated throughout the year. Interested students will be able to participate while in school but are responsible for any missed work.
Student Tardies
School begins at 7:30. If students arrive after 7:30, they are marked tardy and will have office detention assigned after three tardies. Any students arriving late with their coffees, Dunkin Donuts run, etc., will have to leave their food in the main office - this is a privilege.
Pickup and Parking
When families arrive at UHS at the end of the day for pickup, we are asking that only the right side of the center road be used. When cars park on either side, it leaves the road very narrow and unsafe for passing, and students who dart between cars from one side to the other are particularly at risk. If you arrive and there are no spaces on the right side of the center road, please park in the student lot.
We know everyone wants to leave at the end of the day as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that UHS only has one exit from the campus, and at the end of the day, we do not have staff outside to monitor parking lots, as there are other priorities inside the building that frequently take our attention.
We thank you in advance for your support!
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