The J-Hawk Experience!
Info you need to know for week of September 17-21!
Message from the principal
As we enter UHS Homecoming Week, it's a good time to reflect on our past and look forward to our future. Last year, the Urbandale Community School District and City of Urbandale celebrated 100 years serving students and people in central Iowa. In the year 1917, our district and city were created out of a need that people saw to provide a great quality of education and services close by so they wouldn't have to travel to surrounding communities.
During those years, the tradition of having a "homecoming" came up to provide a time during the fall to welcome back alumni and celebrate our pride in being Urbandale J-Hawks (actually, we were Bluejays and Jayhawks before becoming J-Hawks). Traditions during homecoming have included events like the Urbandale Lion's Club having the Pancake Supper on Friday from 4:30-7:00pm in the UHS lunchroom to the Homecoming football game at 7:00pm at Frerichs Field.
Also, we will continue to have activities like dress up/theme days and electing a king and queen. In looking for ways to include new traditions, we have expanded from homecoming activities like the Homecoming Parade on Thursday night at 6pm to include a Homecoming Street Party from 5-8pm (instead of a community rally. It will be before and after the parade on Thursday) at the UHS main driveway where UHS Student Senate, clubs, and activities, will have carnival games for kids. There will also be food trucks available. It was a huge hit last year.
We look to honor our past while we look forward to our future at UHS. We hope to see everyone involved in many ways during our UHS Homecoming 2018!
Tim Carver
Principal
#UHSpride
#UHSwillChangeTheWorld!
More on UHS Homecoming - September 17 - 22
Theme days/Dress up days: Students and staff are all encouraged participate in our theme days. Remember that all dress code rules apply. As a reminder, students are not allowed to wear masks or bring fake weapons as part of any costume. Hats are allowed if part of a theme day dress up costume.
Monday, Sept 17 - Memeday Monday - Coming from popular demand, dress up as your favorite meme or as something completely random
Tuesday, Sept 18 - Generation Day - Freshman and Sophomores come to school as babies and Juniors and Seniors come to school as elderly people
Wednesday, Sept 19 - Wild West Wednesday - Come to school like you lived in the Wild West, be a cowboy or cowgirl.
Thursday, Sept 20 - Squad Day Thursday - Get a group of friends together and dress up as a group of characters.
Friday, Sept 21 - Spirit Day - Wear your best J-Hawk gear - All Red, White, and Bluef
Saturday night, Sept 22, from 8pm-11pm will be the UHS Homecoming Dance. Tickets go on sale on Monday, September 10th, in Mrs. Brown-Luke's room 105 in the Social Studies Pod on the 1st floor. All non-UHS guests must be signed up in advance of the dance. Students must show ID to be admitted to the dance.
Picture below from last year's UHS Street Party
Attendance.
UHS attendance - 95%
This is a reminder that if a student has an unexcused absence for any period, our automated system will be sending out a call as well as an email as means to notifying you of the absence. If you feel it is in error, please contact Mrs. Chavez in our attendance office at 457-6805.
Student Announcements and Day 1/ Day 2 for the week
This week Monday, September 17th, is a Day 1. Tuesday, September 18th, is a Day 2. Block days are a Day 1. Friday is a Day 2.
Daily schedule reminder
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, are our non-block days with eight periods meeting along with I.E.S. and Wednesday and Thursday are block days. Even periods meet on Wednesdays along with Connections and odd periods meet on Thursdays along with Connections.
Click here for Daily bell schedule
Lunch Schedule 5th period (6th period on Wednesdays)
5A Lunch - 11:38 - 12:03
5A Class - 12:08 - 12:49
5B Class - 11:38 - 12:19
5B Lunch - 12:24 12:49Get into the J-Hawk Spirit...learn the UHS Fight Song!
"Urbandale, with the Blue and White,
Ready to go and fight
with all our might.
Striving, and trying,
to put it all together
and always come out winning.
We the J’s strive for victory.
Watch us fight
and you will surely see
that with our spirit,
and the teams’ determination
we will fight with confidence
we will rise, we will win.
We’ll be number one!
Urbandale, J-Hawks.
Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Find the J-Hawk" a new UHS Alumni Association and Urbandale Chamber activity for Homecoming!
The UHS Alumni Association and Urbandale Chamber of Commerce have come together for a new activity leading up to UHS Homecoming called "Find the J-Hawk". The businesses listed below each have cards to play the game. If a business runs out of cards, the Urbandale Chamber Office has additional cards.
Each business will have a J-Hawk Mascot cutout as pictured below in their business. When you find it have the business stamp your card and proceed to the next business. You can do just a few businesses and turn in your card for a prize, but to win a special prize from one of the businesses listed below, you need to visit all 15 businesses.
Turn in your card at the UHS Alumni table/booth at the Street Party on Thursday evening, Sept. 20th after the parade. Winners will be drawn and then called to be notified that you have won.
Participating businesses:
Vision Park Family Eye Care
The Chilly Cow (will be Funky Cow)
BMW of DSM
The Range Grill & Golf
Urbandale HyVee
Strauss Security Solutions
A-Tech Inc. Easy Living Store
Mudbum Supply Shack
EKGolf
R. Jones Collision
Urban Pet Hospital
Plaza Florist
Taco Hangover
DSM Buccaneers
The Urban Grill
Exciting changes to UHS for fall 2018 with I.E.S.!
As we continue to expand and enhance opportunities for access to teachers to support learning, UHS is rolling out some exciting changes to support students learning by adding I.E.S. (Intervention, Extension, Study table) between 3rd and 4th per
iods on Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. We continue to have a modified-block schedule (8 classes on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and 4 block periods on Wednesday and Thursday along with Connections).
However, we have created time in school day on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, to have guaranteed access for teachers to have with students. We are reallocating time from 5th period (in past years 11 minutes longer than all other periods in the day) along with using Connections time to create additional time on those days.
Students started signing up using an online program called FlexiSCHED on Thursdays, starting on Thursday, September 12th, during Connections for their I.E.S. time for the next three days (Friday, Monday, Tuesday). A student will attend the same location during that three day cycle and then sign up the following Thursday for a new offering for the upcoming Friday, Monday, and Tuesday cycle. This process will repeat each week.
Students will continue to review this process to sign up for I.E.S. in Connections as they sign up for I.E.S each Thursday in Connections. Students can sign up for I.E.S. sessions between 9:20am-1:00pm each Thursday for the upcoming cycle (Friday, Monday, Tuesday).
UPDATE: I.E.S. started on Friday, September 14th, with good success!
UHS students and staff experiences their first day of I.E.S. on Friday with students experiencing all type of learning through teacher led academic interventions, extensions, and study tables. Based on initial feedback, students and staff alike found great benefit in this additional learning time.
As a reminder, students will return to the same I.E.S. session on Monday and Tuesday that they went to of Friday. The cycle will start again on Wednesday when teachers build new opportunities and session for interventions, extensions, and study tables on Wednesdays, and students are drafted or sign up on Thursdays in connections. Students can sign up between 9:20am-1:00pm each Thursday for the upcoming week's I.E.S. cycle (Friday, Monday, Tuesday).
As a reminder, students will continue to attend Connections on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Below are pictures from some of our sessions as well as a video link shared by Mr. Peterson, UHS Band Director of students choosing to work in band during I.E.S. on Friday.
Great start, UHS students and staff!
Students heading to first I.E.S. of the year
Mrs. Richardson hosts study around with human physiology topics
Mr. Schmitz hosts a study table
Mr. Clark hosts study table with specific help around Physical Science, Earth Science, Chemistry Algebra 1
Mrs. Borell hosts an extension on creative writing
Mrs. Baird-Forristall hosts an extension on Academic Decathlon interest (The 1960's: A Transformational Decade)
Mr. White leads students in business extension
Students studying in Mr. Kimble's study table
Students studying in Mr. Kimble's study table
Students learn about Zentangles: how to draw zentangles and different zentangle patterns in Mr. Pederson's extension
Students learn about Zentangles: how to draw zentangles and different zentangle patterns in Mr. Pederson's extension
Mrs. Grunzweig hosts a study table
Mr. Hermon hosts study table focused around Physics and Principles of Engineering
Students working on Principles of Engineering
Students working on Principles of Engineering
Students working in small groups in band study table
Students rehearsing in small groups in vocal music study table
Students working in small groups in band study table
Students rehearsing in small groups in vocal music study table
Students working on build skills concepts
Mrs. McCulley hosts a study table
UHS to host PSAT - Wesdensday, October 10
The PSAT will be given at UHS on Wednesday, October 10, from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. This is a practice test for the SAT and is also the entrance exam of the National Merit Scholarship program for students in the class of 2020. The test is available to any junior, sophomore or freshman student, with priority given to junior students who register by October 2nd.
The PSAT is also the entrance exam for the National Merit Scholarship program. Juniors who score in the top 3% nationally (approximately) are entered into the National Merit competition. This is one of the highest academic honors a student may receive. This link provides more information: National Merit Scholarship Program
*The SAT is a different test than the ACT. The majority of our students take the ACT rather than the SAT. Both are standardized exams that 4-year colleges and universities require for admittance. Here is a link that describes the differences between the two tests: ACT vs. SAT Comparison
Freshmen and sophomores will be placed on a wait-list and will be notified on October 3 whether or not they will test. The cost is $17, payable by cash or check to UHS. Seating is limited.
All students desiring to test should register with Mrs. Gibson in the counseling office as soon as possible. See your counselor with questions.
UHS LMC information survey
Information to Support the survey:
The Urbandale Public Library in collaboration with UHS would like to provide parents with resources to support their students in the various areas of Information Literacy. Miss Watson, the UHS Teacher Librarian is able to instruct students on how to best research and use information ethically through collaborations with UHS teachers. However, many students come home asking for help or encounter situations online that parents may not have the resources and supports to best help their student. Please complete the following two question survey to let us know the areas in which you as a parent are confident in supporting your student online and areas which you would be interested in obtaining more information.
Survey Link: https://goo.gl/forms/svNvSx0yS52utcmU2 OR tinyurl.com/ParentInfoLit
Thanks,
Christine G. Watson
Teacher Librarian
Urbandale High School
515-457-6904
Twitter @Watson_LMS
Instagram Watson_LMS
Snapchat UHSLibrary
Flu Vaccine Clinic
Quad Vaccine
High Dose Vaccine for 65 years and older
NO Flumist this year
UHS Commons
4:00-8:00 PM
Wednesday
September 26 and October 10
Students, Staff, Parents,
Siblings, and Community
Most major insurance plans accepted
Please bring your insurance card
No insurance cost is $25 or what you can pay
Parent/guardian must be present and sign consent
Clinic offered by Polk County Health Department
Do your part to stop the flu!
WASH your hands
COVER your cough
STAY home if you’re sick
GET vaccinated
UHS Student Clubs & Organizations...get involved!
Interested in Cyber Defense or Robotics? Join Hyperstream!
A note from Silver Cord Committe to UHS students
Welcome back to school! We hope you are all planning a year of learning, service, and fun. From the stack of hours turned in during schedule pickup and Open House, we can tell many of you did a TON of volunteer work this summer, and you invited your friends. Way to go!
Hours are up to date today -- check them here: Silver Cord Ladder If you have 40 or more hours, go see Mrs. Strong in Room 212 to pick up a free Silver Cord Volunteer t-shirt!
We have lots of fun opportunities coming up in the next two weeks. You can always find opportunities and current information at our Silver Cord information page.
Remember, this is the only Silver Cord email address that is checked on a regular basis. Please send hours and questions to us!
Please turn in your summer volunteer hours to the UHS Main Office as soon as possible so we can get them added, and keep on doing good!
Deb Bremser
Silver Cord volunteer
UHS Athletics and Activities for the week! Go J-Hawks!!
Message Monday - Transportation Matters for Iowa
Message Monday - Life is a highway - drive safely all day long from the Iowa Department of Transportation
2019 Page Program- Iowa Senate, House of Representatives, Legislative Services Agency
The Iowa Senate, House of Representatives, and Legislative Services Agency invite Iowa high school juniors and seniors to apply for Page positions for the 2019 session of the Iowa General Assembly. Serving as a legislative page is a great opportunity for students.
Included here is a link https://www.legis.iowa.gov/careers to the online application. The application forms can be completed by students and downloaded for signing, https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/careers/positions/additionalDocs/0C59AF9A-7805-42FD-A12F-4810E4A0821A.pdf.
Please note that living arrangements for Pages are not supervised or provided. We ask parents, guardians, and school personnel to carefully consider this aspect of the program and not recommend students who may need a supervised environment.
The deadline for receipt of applications is October 5 , 2018.
If you have questions regarding the program, please contact one of the persons listed below. Thank you for your assistance in making this opportunity known to your students.
Sincerely,
W. Charles Smithson Carmine Boal
Secretary of the Senate Chief Clerk of the House
Charlie.Smithson@legis.iowa.gov 515.281.5381Shout Outs
UHS seniors shine in NCYL event!
The seniors engaged with peers from around the state in order to learn how to become better leaders. Riley Vander Hart commented that the keynote speaker, Craig Hillier, was the highlight of the day as he led the students through engaging activities. From Hillier, Vander Hart took away key aspects of being a leader such as learning that you don't have to be great to start something, but rather you have to start something to be great. Also being a leader means that you have gauge your group and engage with them - you can't lead from a distance.
Jacob Sammon was selected along with three other Iowa seniors to attend an additional conference with other youth leaders from across the nation gather in St. Louis at Washington University for a Town Meeting on Tomorrow. TMOT was designed to bring youth leaders together with the hope of inspiring youth to service, excellence, and outstanding performance by reinforcing active leadership as the key to meeting tomorrow's needs. This is a tremendous honor and recognition for Jacob, and it also puts him in the running for further scholarship opportunities.
Congratulations to all of our senior leaders! We thank you for your contributions to Urbandale High School and our Urbandale community.
Max Carver
Marissa Chavez
April Czarnecki
Brooke Dannenfeldt
Lindsey Ingraham
Aditya Kotla
Jonah Larsen
Matt Moran
Jacob Sammon
Katherine Stoelk
Riley Vander Hart
Varun Vepa
J-Hawk runners have strong showing in Cedar Fall! Swimmers compete well against Marshalltown!
The Girl's Cross Country team finished 2nd at Cedar Falls on Thursday. Macy Gaskill finished 6th, Abby Huls 22nd, Erin Van Quathem 26th, Brie Ruch 31st, and Ally Redenius 41st. The JV finished 3rd and were led by Lauren Peterson in 2nd and Julia Martinez-Lohf in 14th. The girls run again Thursday at Indianola.
UHS Football and Volleyball teams post victories over the weekend!
The UHS Football team traveled to Cedar Rapids and captured a hard fought 17-16 victory over Linn Mar High School on Friday! Alex Economos kicked the winning field goal (photo by Conrad Schmidt) and Brook Heinen helped secure the victory with a late interception. Well done!!
The UHS Volleyball team finished 3-2 in five matches on Saturday at the Waukee Tournament with one of those victories being over #9 ranked Waukee High School. Great job, J-Hawks!
Members of the UHS Wind Ensemble help commemorate 9/11 event
UHS Drama preps for fall performance!
Learning around UHS
AP Human Geography with special speaker
Last week, Mr. Birdwell's AP Human Geography students heard a presentation by Urbandale alumnus, Taylor Nordgren. Taylor graduated from UHS in 2011 and is now teaching English in Madagascar! He is working there via the Peace Corps and was back for a visit and spoke to our classes about the demographics, culture, and the influence of colonialism on the Malagasy people. Students wrote a letters in class to be delivered to his students who are learning basic English.
Students in Adult Living Skills class learn about resumes and practice interview skills
Dr. Powers speaking on resume building and interview tips
Mrs. Taylor and Ms. Tentinger help conduct mock interviews
Ms. Kloewer and Ms. Lupo help conduct mock interviews
Mr. Sonntag supports students with an experience about speed
Mr. Finger leads learning in a morning trig class.
Mr. Davis reviews the use of supporting technology in Geometry.
Students studying in the UHS LMC
Students studying in the UHS LMC
Students studying in the UHS LMC
Mrs. Smith's students make waffles in Foods class
Mrs. Smith's students make waffles in Foods class
Mr. Hermon's students learning through interactive problem solving
Mrs. Swett's class work on writing in an English class
Mr. Brimeyer leads Concert Choir in learning new music
Mrs. Borell works with students in a morning class
Students in Intro to Coding practice using new computer coding skills
Students in Intro to Coding practice using new computer coding skills
Students in Intro to Coding practice using new computer coding skills
Follow us...UHS Twitter!
Urbandale High School
Website: http://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/urbandale-high-school/
Location: 7111 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, United States
Phone: (515) 457-6800
Twitter: @UHS_UCSD
Tim Carver, Principal
Email: carvert@urbandaleschools.com
Website: http://www.urbandaleschools.com/directory/tim-carver/
Location: 7111 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, United States
Phone: 515-457-6801
Twitter: @TimPCarver