We have a few updates from UHS this week. It has been a busy week for sure!
From a procedural standpoint, starting after the February break, we are integrating a new visitor management system, which will enable us to track guests, volunteers, and other visitors to UHS. Any time a parent, guardian, volunteer, or other guest comes to UHS, for a meeting, class visit, volunteer opportunity, or conference that takes place during the school day, they will be required to sign in via the system in the main office and get a visitor badge. The badge will designate where the person is going. We realize this is a change to a fairly familiar procedure, where people may just walk in and go to a classroom, the counseling office, or another location for a meeting, but the update is necessary to maintain safety and security. In addition, even when families are coming in for a meeting such as a special education team meeting, they will be required to sign in at the main office.
In recent weeks, we have had people walk in abruptly and attempt to meet with teachers, counselors, or other support staff, without an appointment and without signing into the office. This is problematic for a number of reasons, and so we are reminding all visitors that signing into the office is required. All guests must produce a proper form of identification. A more complete procedure will be shared in a separate message.
Some other updates:
1. Thanks to the Student Council, Ms. Ciccone, and a whole host of other students for their work on the annual "Hearts of Kindness" project. Close to 800 hearts are now displayed on the Town Common, urging kindness and gratitude.
2. We had the opportunity to celebrate many seniors this week, with senior night for cheer, boys basketball, and band on Monday, and boys basketball on Thursday. As we turn the calendar to March in a couple of short weeks, UHS will be gearing up to celebrate an awesome senior class with many events, and the full senior week and graduation schedule is coming soon!
3. On Monday, we also recognized our state champion field hockey team, as the banner has been updated, representing their "three-peat"!
4. At Thursday's boys basketball game, our football team was recognized for its state championship, with the Super Bowl updated, and a new state title banner on the way. The Central Mass High School Football Officials Association was also on hand, recognizing our team for the second straight year with the Sportsmanship Award.
5. The Science Olympiad team took sixth out of all Massachusetts teams competing at last weekend's Brown University Invitational. The team heads to UMass this week, and will be readying itself for the state championship in just a couple of short weeks.
6. Congratulations to senior Cam Caso, who shattered his own school record in the long jump twice in the past week!
7. We will be hosting a course selection virtual meeting in early-mid March. Our tentative date for this meeting is March 7. However, because of past feedback, we are considering releasing this as an on-demand video, with options for families to send in any questions that could come up, just for flexibility's sake.
As next week is February break, there will be no weekly update shared.
Stay warm and, as always, thank you for the ongoing support.
