University School Weekly Update

It's Homecoming Week for University, so let's start the new year with a fun-filled Spirit Week to show our University School Buccaneer Pride!

Spirit Day Dress-up Schedule (January 8-12, 2024):

Monday, January 8th: Pajama Day

Tuesday, January 9th: Rhyme Without Reason Day (dress up with a teacher, friend, group in attire that rhymes (referee and bumblebee, pro athlete and wall street, cat and bat, DJ and PJ, etc...)

Wednesday, January 10th: Favorite Sports day

Thursday, January 11th: Favorite Character/ Influential person day- dress as your favorite TV, book or media character

Friday, January 12th: Blue & Gold Day

WHO WE ARE: The Senior Parent Committee helps facilitate events and provide memorabilia to all Seniors. We have already been hard at work this year hosting events and providing memorabilia to the Class of 2024; please see attached flier for upcoming events.

· T-Shirts, Yard Signs and Holiday Ornaments have been available for pick up in the front office and Dr. Penley’s office. Please make sure your Senior has picked up these items by the end of day Monday, January 15th. After this time, they will no longer be available.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: We need parent volunteers for the upcoming activities, including Senior Week. This is a full week of activities, and we need as many volunteers as possible. Please complete the Sign-up Genius link to let us know how you can help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050849A8A722ABF58-47059106-help

FUNDRAISING: Each family is expected to contribute $150 towards the cost of the Senior activities, including Senior Week. These funds will be raised via the annual discount card fundraiser.

1. Each Senior is given 10 discount cards to sell for $15 each.

2. Your Senior will stop by the front desk to sign out their discount card envelope, which contains 10 discount cards with instructions.

3. Submit the $150 payment by Friday, February 2, 2023. Please use the envelope with your student's name on it and return it to the office with cash or check, made payable to UH Senior Class of 2024. Return any unsold cards to the office.

4. Or you can submit payment via Venmo, the QR code is attached, Please be sure to note your student's name on the payment.

The Senior Parent Committee appreciates your support. If you have any questions and/or you would like to volunteer - Bridgette Ward (bridgetteward1@gmail.com), Laura Willard (uhclass2021@gmail.com), Stacey Wild (drstaceywild@yahoo.com), or Leisa Harvey (HARVEYL@mail.etsu.edu).

Thank you,

Senior Class Parent Committee

Congratulations to Isla Harker, Ivan Kozozoyev, Elliott Price, Lidia Giuliani, and Emily and Hannah Bowman on their recent roles in the Nutcracker this past month! You all did an incredible job - way to go!

We are pleased to announce that Lily Garber - 5th grade, Mrs. Davis homeroom - is a winner in the 2023-2024 Youth Poetry Contest, hosted by the Monday Club of Johnson City, TN. She will be recognized at a celebration on April 8th at the Johnson City Public Library. Congratulations, Lily!

The Spanish Club is an initiative being introduced by a group of ETSU students who are passionate about Spanish and education. The club will meet on Mondays starting January 22nd from 3:15-4:15 p.m. for Kindergarten, first, and second grade. The club will meet Wednesdays 3:15-4:15 starting January 24th for third, fourth, and fifth grade. Feel free to reach out to Zayda Carver at carverz@etsu.edu or to Dr. Justin Penley at penleyj@etsu.edu with any questions.

Permission slips will be sent home during the week of January 8th.

It's time to start ordering yearbooks. As most of you know, we have two options: one for grades K-8 and another for grades 9-12; please see the links and order forms below:

Grades K-8:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=2591462

Grades 9-12:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1041219/University-High-School/2024-Yearbook/2023120710150405084/CATALOG_SHOP/

We are collecting photographs for our yearbook—student life, sports events, clubs, and all your special school moments. Follow the link below to submit images for Kindergarten through 8th grade or high school.

K-8

https://images.jostens.com/ImageShare/upload

HIGH SCHOOL

https://images.jostens.com/ImageShare/upload

University Middle School Lady Bucs Softball Team is having a mandatory parent/player meeting on Thursday, January 11th at 6:00 PM in the school library to go over some rules and schedules for the upcoming 2024 season. We need players, so bring your friends! We already have games scheduled and are ready to get this season started. Please be sure to attend because there will be lots of information for you and your girls.

Tennis season is just around the corner! Anyone in grades 8-12 is eligible to try out. If you have an interest and would like more information about the University School Tennis Team please send an email to Jamie Mefford at jamiemefford@gmail.com Include your name, grade, contact information, and prior tennis experience.

The University School Foundation is open to all parents interested in attending. The meeting dates are listed below and are scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM in the school library on each of the designated days. Immediately following the meeting, all executive officers will remain to vote on pending requests.

January 8th

February 5th

March 4th

April 2nd

May 6th

June 3rd (tentative time. The last meeting of the year is typically used for voting members to vote on any requests needed for the summer, as well as to vote on the 24-25 board and budget).

The Tennessee Governor's Schools provide eleven challenging and high-intensity programs for rising 11th and 12th grade students nominated by high school faculty. Each school offers a unique learning environment for students interested in the arts, humanities, agriculture science, STEM programs, advanced mathematics, physics, leadership, international studies, Tennessee history, or potential teaching careers. Students interested in participating in a Governor's School should obtain the application from a high school administrator, school counselor, or other faculty member. Applications, submission information, and critical deadlines will be posted on the webpages of each individual Governor’s Schools site.

Links to information about all Governor's Schools and the application for each school can be found here:

https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/instruction/tdoe-governors-schools

STUDENTS PLANNING TO APPLY FOR A TN GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL MUST SCHEDULE AN IN PERSON MEETING WITH ME PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 28. EMAIL ME AT SHAWA@ETSU.EDU TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. COME TO THE MEETING PREPARED WITH A RESUME OF ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS, AND A SHORT PARAGRAPH ABOUT WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EACH SPECIFIC GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL. YOU MAY APPLY TO MORE THAN ONE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL, BUT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO RANK YOUR APPLICATIONS BY INTEREST. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND APPLYING TO MORE THAN 3. YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU PLAN TO APPLY AND HAVE CHOSEN YOUR RECOMMENDERS BY THEN. EACH SCHOOL REQUIRES TWO TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE IS A CHART OF REQUIRED TEACHERS IN THE APPLICATION.

Thanks!

Dr. Shaw

As we prepare for the changing of the seasons, we ask that our families please review our inclement weather policy. Although we have a partnership with Washington County Schools, we do want to remind our families that we follow a different calendar and inclement weather and emergency closure policy, so please be sure to review the information below:

Inclement Weather & Emergency Closure Policy:

When there is inclement weather:

• University School will close if Johnson City Schools close for inclement weather.
• University School will also close for inclement weather if ETSU closes.
• University School will close if there is need due to an emergency at the school.

We will not make an announcement through the news media due to the fact that saying University School will be closed is confusing to ETSU students. Instead we ask that our students and parents/guardians be aware of the reasons for closure stated above and refer to the University School website and social media sites for updated announcements.

We are aware some students live in areas where the weather may be worse than it is in town. Therefore, if University School is open but road conditions between your home and the school are dangerous, we ask that you please do not put yourself at risk by attempting to drive to school. If this were to occur, please call the school office and inform us of your circumstances. On inclement weather days when Johnson City Schools are not regularly scheduled, announcements will be made through our normal email distribution, website, and social media outlets.

Click here for Link to Johnson City School System Home Page

If Johnson City Schools or ETSU are on a delayed start schedule, we will follow the schedule below:

8 - Return to School for Students

8 - MS Boys and Girls Basketball @ Hampton (5:00, 6:00, & 7:00 PM)

8-19 - Winter AimsWeb Universal Screener for Grades K-8

9 - MS Boys and Girls Basketball @ Cloudland (5:00, 6:00, & 7:00 PM)

9 - HS Boys Basketball @ Kachea (5:30 & 8:00 PM)

11- MS Softball Player/Parent Meeting in School Library @ 6:00 PM

12 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball HOMECOMING vs Unaka @ Brooks Gym (4:30,5:30,6:30 & 8:00)

13- HS Girls & Boys Basketball @ Hampton (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM)

19 - MS Basketball 8th GRADE NIGHT @ Brooks Gym vs North Greene (5:00, 6:00, & 7:00 PM)

19- HS Girls & Boys Basketball Home @ Cloudland (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM @ Brooks Gym)

22 - Beta Club Meeting in Library @ 3:00 PM

22 - MS Boys & Girls Basketball District Tourney (Varsity Only) @ Happy Valley HS (TBD)

23 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball @ Kachea (Boys) @ Washburn (Girls) (5:30 & 8:00 PM & 6:30PM)

25 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball Home @ North Greene (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM @ Brooks Gym)

27- HS Girls & Boys Basketball Home vs Hampton (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM @ Brooks Gym)

29 - MS Boys & Girls Basketball Area Tourney (Varsity Only - Pending Advancement) @ John Sevier

29 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball @ South Greene (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM)

February

2 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball Home @ Unaka (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM @ Brooks Gym)

5 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball SENIOR NIGHT Home vs Happy Valley (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM)

9 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball Home vs Cloudland (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM @ Brooks Gym)

10 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball @ Unicoi (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, & 8:00 PM)

12 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball @ Elizabethton-Boys (6:30 & 8:00) @ Tri-Cities Christian-Girls (6:00)

16 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball District Tournament Begins (TBD)