Newsletter of May 2016
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University Preparatory School 1 Shelle Peterson 2200 Eureka Way, Superintendent/Principal Redding, CA 96001 Volume 1, Issue 1 A MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT/PRINCIPAL PETERSON MAY IMPORTANT DATES Good news! U-Prep once again was recognized as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. May 4 Schools are ranked through an index formula invented by The Washington Post education 6th Grade to Shasta Caverns Field Trip columnist Jay Mathews. The index formula is a ratio of the number of Advanced May 5 Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Spaghetti Feed - East Coast Trip Fundraiser Education tests given at a school in 2016, divided by the number of seniors who graduated May 6 in the same year. U-Prep’s holds a State rank of 35 and a National ranking of 301, which Last Dance & Social places us in the top 1% of the high schools in the U.S.! May 10 U-Prep was also awarded a GOLD MEDAL standing by the U.S. News and World Report: A Day in the Life of a Sixth Grader Best High Schools! Our State rank is 55 and our National ranking is 359. More than 21,000 May 11 Strings Concert - Marr Auditorium public schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia were ranked and awarded gold, May 12 silver or bronze medals. Data used to determine awards included state assessment data, Band & Choir Concert - Marr Auditorium graduation rates, and how well each school prepares all of their students for college. May 12 College readiness was determined using the Advanced Placement participation Student of the Quarter Awards rate – the number of 12th grade students who took at least one AP test before or during May 13 - 15 their senior year, divided by the number of seniors. Further, a quality-adjusted participation Seniors to Disneyland rate was calculated based on the number of 12th grade students who took and passed at May 16 least one of the tests before or during their senior year, divided by the number of 12th Early Release Day 12:30/1:10 graders at the school. An AP score of 3 or higher is considered passing. May 17 This month, our high school students head into Advanced Placement testing. U-Prep will Student Gov. Elections administer 480 exams this year, which is 100 more than the prior year. In essence, Spring Dance Showcase - Hoosier Gym approximately 44% of our high school students in grades 9 through 12 will participate in this May 18 academic challenge. A special note of appreciation to our wonderful AP teachers for Senior Breakfast & Awards working hard to prepare their students for the exams, and for providing an additional May 19 opportunity for success through offering an AP Retreat at Whiskeytown Environmental Dance Auditions Camp. May 20 Day on the Green Sincerely, May 23 Ancient Civilization Days Medieval Days May 24 Westward Ways Day Table of Contents May 24 - 26 Who We Are - Our Vision Principal’s Message p. 1 Final Exams Schedule University Preparatory School is a small, grades 6-12, college May 25 Assistant Principal Corner p. 2 preparatory school committed to university level preparation in 8th Grade to Sunsplash Waterpark Charter School News p. 3 fine arts, literature, languages, history, mathematics, science, May 26 Academic News p. 4‐5 and philosophy. Working together, University Preparatory School Last Day of School College & Career Corner p. 6‐7 staff, parents, and community will offer students learning 8th Grade Graduation Practice In the Spotlight p. 8 experiences needed to achieve their leadership and academic May 27 Acvies p. 9 potential, to become creative thinkers, compassionate human Senior Graduation Practice beings, and ethical participants in a multi-cultural, democratic 8th Grade Graduation 3:30pm Marr Auditorium VAPA News p. 10‐12 society. Students will be immersed in rigorous academics and 12th Grade Graduation 8:00pm Marr Auditorium ASB News p. 13‐15 meaningful extra-curricular activities and supported by a close- Athlecs p. 16‐17 knit community of teacher/advisors, which will enable them to Reminders p. 19‐21 choose any course of post-secondary education. Academic Calendars p. 22‐23 Panther Pride May 2016 Newsletter University Preparatory School 2 Dear U-Prep Family, As I write this letter I am filled with a combination of emotions including; excitement for the future, fear of leaving a wonderful thing, and a healthy dose of gratitude for the twelve wonderful years I have been given at U-Prep. As of June 30, I will be resigning my post as Assistant Principal at U-Prep. I have recently accepted a job for the 2016-17 school year as a Teacher/Assistant Principal with California Heritage Youthbuild Academy here in Redding. I am excited about the chance to combine my skills in the construction trade, my teaching and administration experience, and my passion for supporting students in this new challenge. Though I have chosen to pursue this new experience, I am truly thankful for everyone at U-Prep. As students, parents and fellow staff members, you have all contributed to give me a truly rewarding career as a panther. Always with students’ best interest in mind, our entire school community works to create, support and sustain a myriad of high caliber programs at U-Prep. I firmly believe that there are very few institutions in existence that can rival the incredible density of passionately committed people working at, with and for, this school. Whether as a teacher in my early years, or as a green administrator learning the ropes, I felt challenged, supported and fulfilled throughout my time here. I am truly better off for having had the privilege of working here. I have always been surrounded by the best of the best in the profession, and one can’t help but grow in that environment! Moving forward, I will be no stranger to campus, as I plan to have at least one child here for the next 11 years. I will continue to support U-Prep and positively represent us to the community. After all, I know from experience what a wonderful thing we have here! Thank you all for contributing to these amazing chapters of my life, I am very grateful. Sincerely, Lane Carlson Assistant Principal University Preparatory School Panther Pride May 2016 Newsletter University Preparatory School 3 If you are interested in the history of University Preparatory School, you will be excited to find a complete representation written by one of U-Prep’s founders, Erin Stuart. Please visit uprep.net and click on “About U-Prep”. Memories Made at The First Annual AP Retreat SUCCESS AT WHISKEYTOWN AP RETREAT! Over the weekend of April 29-May 1, Whiskeytown’s NEED Camp was taken over by flashcards, textbooks, timed write essays, multiple-choice practice exams, hikes and lots of studying! Thirty upperclassmen and seven teachers stayed throughout the weekend and filled their time with small group study sessions in preparation for the upcoming Advanced Placement exams. On Saturday, approximately thirty freshmen came out for the day to prepare for the AP Human Geography test. Friday night, we enjoyed a barbecue by some of our amazing parents that came out to the retreat and donated their time cooking dinner for the group. Overall, the weekend was described by students as productive, helpful, studious, supportive, caring and even fun! Panther Pride May 2016 Newsletter University Preparatory School 4 AP English Literature and Composition is a class that comes with challenges, as the year is filled with literature, poetry, writing and….Shakespeare, but that doesn’t mean that students do not enjoy and have some fun in the assessment process! Recently, the seniors completed Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet. Upon completing the work, they reviewed the play in a variety of mediums, from essays, scrapbooks, Denmark “newspapers”, Hamlet children’s books, group rap songs and videos analyzing and summarizing the play, a Hamlet version of Apples to Apples and even the game of Clue (Hamlet-style of course)! Providing students with a variety of means of assessment enabled students to work together, if they chose, or work independently, to showcase the quotes, themes, characters and motivations, symbolism and the relation to the play today. Each class had the opportunity to review each other’s final product as students read the student-written children’s version to the class, played the various Hamlet-style games and read each other’s writing. It was enjoyable to watch the students have so much fun reviewing Shakespeare’s famous play! Panther Pride May 2016 Newsletter University Preparatory School 5 Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) On April 23rd and 24th, three U-Prep students attended the spring JSA conference. All three were able to speak in their sessions, this alone is an amazing accomplishment as each session has hundreds of students in attendance. Justis K. competed in TWO debates; he won both and was given the Golden Gavel award. This event hosts over one thousand high school students from all over the North State; it is quite an achievement to compete, let alone win. Congratulations to Justis K., Josh C. and Mark C. We are proud of your accomplishments! The Spelling Bee We have the accomplishments of two more students Science Bowl Update to celebrate! Last month, Erika M. and Nadine M. U-Prep’s Science Bowl team saw three wins and five both won the Shasta County Spelling Bee in their losses in Washington D.C., with most of the losses in respective divisions. Erika and Nadine will be a very competitive division. The tournament champion rose to victory from that same division.