The J-Hawk Experience
Info you need to know for the week of Aug 29 - Sept 2
Message from the Principal
What a great start to the year!?!?! Our UHS Community of teachers, counselors, and our entire staff, engaged students during our first week in lots of learning getting to know them and learning the class learning and behavior expectations for the year. Our vision at UHS is to change the world! This happens through the fruits of our students' successes both in their time here and after they graduate...and it all is supported by relationships and our UHS Community.
As I shared last week, we are also focusing on high expectations for staff and students alike to help all achieve our vision. High expectations is a key characteristic of our UHS Community. We will work to create an engaging and safe environment while helping achieve success as learners. All of us need to own our part and be empowered to help make this happen. #UHSCommunity #EmpoweringU #UHSwillChangeTheWorld!
Over the past week, as we welcomed many amazing new students as well our amazing students who returned, we took learning time with to engage with and revisit long-lasting UHS traditions/systems as well as learning to create a safer, more predictable environment for all students. We are still working to balance lunch periods so that student numbers are more even between A and B lunches.
I want to share again this week that throughout the year, we will continue to build up our UHS Community in a variety of ways. One way is having a stronger, more systematic and supported Connections program. This past week in Connections students reviewed lunch and bell schedules, met new UHS administrative staff, got to know fellow students in their Connections as well as their Connections teacher, and create their own "Connections Crest".
In the coming week, students will begin to engage in Connections Cup activities where they play Connections groups have "Minute to Win It" type competitions again another Connections group. Connections build points where they will ultimately earn prizes like preferred seating and access at lunch as well as preferring parking (if they drive to school). They will also engage in some initial learning about what it means to be Future Ready at UHS (Life, Career, and College ready). Student attendance is required and connecting with others in their Connections is essential to our community being stronger and safer.
During the following week (week of Sept. 6th) during Connections time, students will engage in learning about student behavior as it relates to how students treat each other and how they can report through a reporting (besides talking to a staff member) if they see or hear something that is hurtful and/or isn't right.
Another way we are working to build our community and make it safer is by helping students be sure they attend all classes throughout the school day. When returning from "Covid Learning" at the start of the 2021-22 school year, we were grateful to just have students here at school but as a school we struggled throughout last year to make our hallways and classrooms places where students were held accountable to be in all the time.
Starting off this year, students and staff alike have notice a greater attention by our office staff and staff overall to not only making sure students are present in class and not wondering the building or hanging out in the commons area but also showing proper documentation (a hall pass or an open pass if senior or junior) when they are in the halls after the tardy bell rings each period. Look for more information to come next week about what it means when a student is "out of bounds" in terms of a student not being where they are supposed to be during the school day.
A few points to highlight in our first week back:
- MONDAY SCHOOL STARTS AT 9:20am - DOORS OPEN AT 8:50am
- Monday is an 8-period Day with NO CONNECTIONS. Monday is a Day 1. Students attend all 8 periods throughout the day.
- Students should double check their schedule on PowerSchool to be sure classes have not changed. Some changes have been made in the past week to help balance class sizes.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Day 1 and Thursday and Friday are Day 2.
- Tuesdays and Thursdays are Odd Block Days and Wednesdays and Fridays are Even Block Days (like last year)
- Tuesday (first day of school) is an Odd Block Day and is a Day 1 (11th and 12th grade PE starts on Tuesday).
- Students start in 1st period on Tuesday. After 1st period, they will go to Connections.
- The complete daily schedule for each day can be found below the Calendar after this message.
Parking and Arrival
- Arrive before 8:00am to allow plenty of time for parking and/or drop off. Students can enter the building starting at 8:50am on Mondays and 7:30am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
- Senior parking spots are marked with blue lines and all other are yellow. Only seniors with parking tags my park in the blue area. All others may park in the general parking.
- Do not park in staff marked spots (yellow spots with numbers or letters around the building perimeter).
- Do not park in Senior Center parking spots (spots nearest the Senior Center marked on the ground with signage or with standing signs).
- STUDENTS will all need to enter at either the main entrance or the PAC entrance at the start of the day. Students will not be allowed to enter through the doors nearest the baseball field as in years past. This entrance does not have the level of security before school so it will not be allowed to be entered.
Connections, Intervention and Lunch
- Connections - This is where students gather for what some call advisory or homeroom time...at UHS, we call it "Connections" because that is what this time is about...building connections with students that are not necessarily our friends or people we regularly have classes with. All students in grades 9-12 will report to their Connections between the 1st and 2nd block of the day for the first few weeks of schedule as we orient and start the year off. A few weeks into school, we will begin to have Connections just on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is our homeroom/advisory time (30 minutes) for all students.
Intervention - Beginning a few weeks into the start of the year. It will happen on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is time during the day where students have time for additional learning with teachers, staff, and other students. This is required time. More details will be shared about this time next week.
- Lunch - Students will eat lunch in the lunchroom again this year. We. They are expected to pick up after themselves and bus their own tables. Students will each lunch when their 5th period teacher is listed for having lunch. The lunch schedule by teacher is linked here. On Wednesdays and Fridays, students will have lunch when their 6th period teacher is listed as having lunch.
- Lunch time frame - Students and families will note that the length of lunch periods will return to time frames that we had prior to COVID. So, instead of 65 or 70 minutes lunches, students will have 40 minute lunch times (5 minute passing time, 30 minute lunch, 5 minute passing time).
- Mondays - We will have professional learning on Monday mornings from 7:30am-9:05am. The building will open for students at 8:50am on Mondays. Students will not be allowed in before that time. Please plan accordingly. Students will attend all 8 periods on Mondays for 35 minutes each period.
This week, here are some dates to note:
- Monday, August 29 - MONDAY SCHOOL STARTS AT 9:20am - DOORS OPEN AT 8:50am
A reminder that again this year, our weekly newsletter, "The J-Hawk Experience," will be emailed out on Sunday evenings and be your primary source for information about and for our UHS students, families, and staff...our UHS community.
I look forward to seeing you at UHS tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Tim Carver
Principal
#UHSCommunity
#Hungry&Humble
#UHSwillChangeTheWorld!
Welcome back, UHS!
Herr Koeppel (our new German teacher) leading his Connections!
Mrs. Fienup (one of our new Social Studies teachers) leading her Connections!
Students show their spirit at the volleyball game!
Student Senate preps for homecoming!
Student Senate preps for homecoming!
Debra Monner...our long-time campus monitor...on her last day before moving to eastern Iowa.
Students signing cards for Debra. Thank you, Debra, for all of your years of service to UHS!
Debra Monner...our long-time campus monitor...on her last day before moving to eastern Iowa.
Meet some of our new teachers!
Meet your UHS Admin and Office staff!
Jared Power
Students with last names A-K
Johanna Russell
Students with last names L-Z
Brittany Hogue
Holly Secaur
Jodi Nuss
Calendar
Schedule
- U-Hub linked here or scan QR code
Important changes to student arrival
Juniors and Seniors: Open Lunch
If you are interested in having an open period/lunch for this school year, please make sure you pick up and then return a permission form to Mrs. Secaur ASAP. The forms are available in the main office.
Homecoming 2022!
Homecoming Week will be the week of September 12th-17th at UHS. We will return to many great traditions throughout the week like the Homecoming Dance (held on Saturday, September 17th). As in past years, all UHS students, including 9th graders, will be able to attend the Homecoming dance. Look for more Homecoming days and activities in the next UHS Newsletter.
Purchase Homecoming 2022 apparel here: https://tinyurl.com/2wsscyjf
UHS Counseling Office information
Welcome to our new counselor, Mrs. Salter!
A Message from the UHS FFO
There are a number of choices for support depending on what’s bothering you and how much support you feel would be helpful. If you need help choosing the right option for you please contact, Michele Hamilton, Coordinator of Student, Family and Community Services. 515-402-8538 or hamiltonm@urbandaleschools.com
If you feel talking on the phone with someone could provide you with the right support here are some issue specific numbers that you can call any time.
• The Trevor Project- 1-866-488-7386 - helpful ally to LGBTQIA community
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 1-800-273-8255 or text 741741 for a Crisis Text Line
• CommUnity Crisis Services- 1-855-325-4296 or Chat at www.IowaCrisisChat.org - over all mental health support
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-4673
There are other community resources and options for supports, so if you don’t see the right fit for your needs please reach out to your school counselor, Christy Stroope or Michele Hamilton.
UHS Clubs Brochure
UHS Athletics and Activities for the week
Effective this fall, purchasing tickets for all Athletic and Performing Arts Events in grades 7–12 must be done online. Those wishing to attend events are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at www.j-hawks.com/tickets. If you purchase tickets at the event, we will only be accepting credit card payments as there will no longer be a cash option at the gate.
The only venue where cash payment will still be accepted this year will be for Urbandale Middle School football games. This is due to the lack of infrastructure at that venue. All other Athletic and Performing Arts Events will only be accepting online payments in advance or credit card payments at the gate.
When attending events away from our home venues, we anticipate most opponents in the CIML will also be only offering online ticketing. To aid in the process of purchasing tickets in advance for away events, you may wish to visit www.cimltickets.com.
Please make sure you are prepared to cheer on your J-Hawks at our home venues by either purchasing tickets in advance at www.j-hawks.com/tickets or purchasing tickets at the gate with a credit card. We look forward to welcoming you and appreciate your support of Athletics and Performing Arts.
Student Activity Tickets will be on sale under the Activities tab on Urbandale's webstore. The webstore is accessible by clicking this link to RevTrak. From there, select the specific pass that you want to purchase. Please note, Elementary and Senior Passes will be created and mailed in early to mid August. Middle School and High School SATs will be printed on your student's school ID. Should you have any questions about these passes, please contact Andrew Olson (andrew.olson@j-hawks.com) in the Activities Office.
9-12 SAT
This is for High School Students and may be used at all CIML athletic events on the conference schedule, both home and away, except tournaments.
$50.00
The Fall Sports Season at Urbandale High School and Urbandale Middle School will be here before you know it.
Visit this link to find out more information about the Fall Sports Season from Participation Requirements to Meeting and Start Dates: Fall Sports Information
Class Meetings for Students in Activities
Information will be shared during these sessions regarding how students may go about participating at the high school and the expectations for participants in high school activities to include Athletics and the Performing Arts.
Connections Time
9:30am – 10:00am
August 26 9th Grade
August 31 10th Grade
September 1 11th Grade
September 2 12th Grade
All meetings will be held in the Performing Arts Center
Look for updates in our Shout Outs and Focus on Learning sections to come out next week! We will share new ones out every two weeks this year..
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