The J-Hawk Experience!
Info you need to know for week of February 5-9!
Message from the principal
Recently, I received an email from a former student who is now student teaching to be a high school math teacher. While he was in high school, his school counselor, Mrs. Duffield, along with other teachers encouraged him to follow his passion and now he's doing it while at Drake University. He stopped up on Friday to say hello and share thanks with her about his experiences. Below is a picture of the student and Mrs. Duffield.
I know there are many more stories like this that others can share. We are thankful for them and all they do at UHS. Take a moment this week to say, "thank you," to a counselor.
Sincerely,
Tim Carver
Principal
#UHSpride
#UHSwillChangeTheWorld!
Attendance.
UHS attendance - 94%
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.
2nd Semester Lunch Schedules
Student Announcements and Day 1/ Day 2 for the week
This week Monday, February 5th, is a Day 2. Tuesday, February 6th, is a Day 1. Block days are a Day 2. Friday is a Day 1.
UHS Schedule for Monday and Tuesday during Iowa Assessments:
IA Assessments 8:00 - 10:05
Period 1 10:10 - 10:40
Period 2 10:45 - 11:17
Period 5 11:22 - 12:49
Period 3 12:54 - 1:18
Period 4 1:23 - 1:46
Period 6 1:51 - 2:14
Period 7 2:18 - 2:42
Period 8 2:47 - 3:10
Parent survey
Urbandale Community School District is on a continuous journey to make our schools the best places for students to learn, staff to work, and parents to send their children for a good education. In this effort, we appreciate your support. It is important to gather feedback from you to celebrate successes and identify areas for growth. Please take a few minutes and complete this Parent Satisfaction Survey to help provide this feedback.
Once the survey is complete, the results will be analyzed by an outside organization. The data from the survey will be sent to each school and the Superintendent. Then, the results of the survey will be shared with parents and the community.
The survey can be accessed online at: UCSD Parent Satisfaction Survey. The link offers the survey in English, Spanish, and Bosnian.
Thank you for interest in and support of your child’s education with us. Please contact me if you have any questions concerning the survey.
Parent/Teacher Conferences & Iowa Assessments on Monday!
These are drop-in conferences where teachers are available to visit in person. A list of teacher dinner times are listed here. Teachers will not be available during their 30 minute dinner times. The following link shares when coaches and directors will be present for conferences on February 5th.
We welcome all family members and students to come be a part of these opportunities for connecting and improving our partnership aimed at helping improve students' overall experience and learning.
Our second night of conferences will be on Thursday, March 1st, from 4:00-8:15pm. Look for more details on that night to come.
Iowa Assessments are coming up one week from Monday. UHS freshmen, sophomore, and junior students, will be taking Iowa Assessments the mornings of Monday, February 5th, and Tuesday, February 6th, between 8:00am and 10:00am. Most students will take these important assessments with their Connections teacher unless told otherwise.
During those mornings, seniors who have not completed their CPR requirements for graduation will be meeting with PE teachers. Otherwise, seniors do not need to attend school those mornings until 10:00am.
A note from our school nurse, Mrs. Ness, regarding service regarding the flu
Influenza and Other Illnesses
2018 is shaping up to be a fairly severe year for flu bugs and cold viruses. Flu season typically ramps up in January, following holiday travels that expose us to many viruses and bacteria. Cold weather often exacerbates the outbreaks, due to people staying indoors together and cold air drying out sinus passages, giving viruses a clearer path to infection.
Remember, flu vaccine is still available. While the vaccine may not prevent the illness for everyone, the symptoms are often milder if you receive the vaccine.
Please follow the recommendations below to prevent the spread of illnesses avoid being infected with another illness while your resistance might be down.
Exclusion from School Criteria
· Fever of 101 degrees with signs and symptoms, such as sore throat, rash, vomiting or diarrhea.
· The illness prevents the student from participating comfortably in activities, as observed by the school staff.
· The illness results in greater care than the school staff determines they can provide without compromising the ability to care for other students.
Return to School Following Illness
· If a student is sent home from school or kept home from school with fever, they must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen before returning to school.
· If a student is sent home from school or kept home from school for vomiting and/or diarrhea, they must be free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
· If a student is started on antibiotics, they must have taken the medication for 24 hours and be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Painting Hope speaker inspires with message of positive words for UHS freshmen
Post Prom Silent Auction at UHS basketball game on Tuesday
Tuesday, February 6th, the Urbandale Post Prom Committee will host a Silent Auction during the Jhawk Basketball games. The Auction will begin at 5pm and run through halftime of the Boys Varsity game. All proceeds go to 2018 Post Prom. Thanks in advance for your support and Happy Bidding!
Upcoming UCSD Bond Referendum - Vote on February 6th
Website: The website now has a PDF of the Absentee Ballot Request Form posted at the
bottom of all 12 pages within the dedicated Bond Referendum section of the site that can be accessed by going to Urbandaleschools.com/vote or via QuickLinks.
Informational Video: Click on this short, 4-minute video to learn more about the referendum.
Vote: We encourage everyone to learn more about the bond referendum in order to make an informed decision on election day and be sure to VOTE on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
Below is a rendering of the proposed UHS Fitness Center attached to the west wall of the South Gym, a two-story facility with a weight room on one floor and a cardio studio on the other (versatile use room for PE fitness, cheer/dance team practices, community education classes, etc).
ATTENTION Juniors - National Council on Youth Leadership - Applications due February 14th
Resumés must be turned in to Mrs. Joanne Hale (room 108) no later than 3:30 PM Wednesday, February 14. No late resumés will be accepted for any reason. You will be notified on/before Wednesday, February 21 if you have been accepted. Please contact Mrs. Hale with any questions.
The National Council on Youth Leadership (NCYL) is a leadership recognition program for high school seniors. The program is designed to reward young people who are good citizens, good students and who have been active in a leadership position in their school, community or faith community.
See the past two week's newsletter for more details about what to include.
UHS Blood Drive - Wednesday, February 7th 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Date: Wednesday, February 7th 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
To be eligible to donate, you must:
-Be at least 16 years of age (16 &17 years old need a parent permission slip signed)
-Be in good health
-Weigh at least 120 pounds
-Eat a good meal prior to donating
-Present a form of identification (School ID) at registration
*Students can sign up for a time slot Tuesday, Jan 23rd - Tuesday, Feb 6th during all lunches
*Every blood donation saves 3 lives!
*Any questions please contact Abby Veenstra at veenstraa@urbandaleschools.com
Call for clothing to help others!
It is not uncommon for children to come with nothing when they enter the child welfare system. That being said, non-profit service providers still figure out a way to give youth what they need. However, the budget runs out, hormonal teenagers grow faster than the budget allows, and specific clothes are needed. When this happens, children in the system are left without adequate clothing to conduct those day to day activities. With winter break over and spring cleaning right around the corner, you have the opportunity to help non-profit organizations provide for their youth.
On Saturday, February 17, 2018 Urbandale High School’s Hope in Action will be holding a clothes drive. The drive will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the high school commons.
Hope in Action is collecting NEW or GENTLY USED clothes to be donated to non-profit child welfare facilities in the Des Moines area. Clothes will be used by teenage girls and boys (age 12-18).
Message Monday - Transportation Matters for Iowa
Message Monday - Life is a highway - drive safely all day long from the Iowa Department of Transportation for 02/05/2018: (look for an update later on Monday).
UHS Student Clubs & Organizations...get involved!
UHS Writing Lab open!
The lab is open Monday afternoons from 3:15-4:00pm; Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7:00-7:45am; and Thursday afternoons from 2:15-3:00 in the English Pod on the 2nd floor.
All students are encouraged to come. There will be at least one English teacher there.
UHS Athletics and Activities for the week! Go J-Hawks!!
Shout Outs
UHS Large Group Speech earn Division I ratings on 8 of 10 events at State!
UHS students serve!
UHS bowler Megan Hess bowls a perfect game!
UHS seniors pack the library to watch the State of the Union address!
UHS Academic Decathlon participates at Regionals!
Learning around UHS
Mrs. Smith's Advanced Foods making baked goods
Mrs. Smith's Advanced Foods making baked goods
Mrs. Bergman's Connections enjoy a game of Pictionary!
Mrs. Veenstra's Algebra class reviews a quiz
Grammar review with Spanish IV with Mrs. Hoesly
Ms. Filosa Lang & Lit class prep for speeches
Ms. Lubber's German class reviews learning through an interactive activity
Mrs. Strong's Spanish 2 class engages in cultural learning
Mr. Hammerand's Chemistry class conducts an experiment
Mr. Hammerand's Chemistry students conduct lab
Mr. Hammerand works with students on lab prep
Mrs. Bunce's Biology class revisit learning targets on cell division
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, Feb 5, 2018, 04:00 PM
Urbandale High School, Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, United States
35th Urbandale Show Choir Invitational
Saturday, Feb 10, 2018, 08:00 AM
Urbandale High School, Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, United States
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