The Week Ahead

January 16: Lower School MAP Assessment Begins

January 16: MAP Testing - English (Grades 6-7)

January 16: Sixth Grade Trip Registration Opens

January 16: Boys and Girls Varsity Tennis Tryouts

January 17: PK3 Parent Move-Up Meeting

January 17: Upper School Spring 2024 Experiential Learning Seminars Info Session

January 17: Visual Arts Gallery for Middle and Upper School Families

January 18: UFO General Meeting

January 19: Fifth Grade Trip to Kennedy Space Center

January 21: Upper School Spring 2024 Experiential Learning Seminars Registration Deadline

January 22: Fifth Grade Student Move-Up Activities

January 23: Fifth Grade Student Academic Services (SAS) Parent Move-Up

January 23: Fifth Grade Parent Move-Up Meeting

January 23: Seventh Grade Trip to Disney Registration Deadline

January 23: MAP Testing - Math (Grades 6-7)

You can view future dates on the online school calendar by clicking here. 

Visual Arts Gallery

USchool Arts will showcase selected works from the Grades 6-12 Visual Arts classes on January 17 from 6:30-8:00pm in the AutoNation Center for the Arts. All Middle and Upper School families are invited to attend. If you have any questions, contact uschoolarts@nova.edu.

UFO General Meeting

The next UFO General Meeting will be held on January 18 at 8:45am in the Silverman Auditorium in the AutoNation Center for the Arts. During this meeting, Title IX staff will be present to speak with parents. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination in education. The Title IX team (who works with both NSU and NSU University School) will provide an overview of their office, resources and examples of age-appropriate activities designed to prevent sexual harassment, and discuss how they can be a resource to parents and children.

No School on February 2

There will be no school for students on November 3 as it is a teacher work day.

Utopia Festival and UFO Boutique

Mark your calendars! This year’s schoolwide community event, featuring the UFO Boutique and Utopia Community Fest, will take place on February 9. Stay tuned for times and details. For those interested in sponsorship opportunities, click here and contact Wynne Avellanet or call 954-262-4483. Special thanks to All Year Cooling for their ongoing support.

Utopia Merchandise

Utopia merchandise is now on sale. Show your school spirit with super-soft school swag and order your Utopia t-shirt and/or hoodie today through our online store. Students can wear their Utopia t-shirts on spirit days and Utopia hoodies every day with a USchool polo underneath.

2024-25 Calendar Dates

Mark your calendars for these important dates for next school year. Additional dates will be posted later this school year on the main online calendar. (Please note that the Preschool Orientation date has changed from what was previously shared.)

Middle and Upper School Orientations - August 12, 2024

Preschool and Lower School Orientations – August 13, 2024

First Day of School – August 14, 2024

Thanksgiving Break – November 25-29, 2024

Winter Break – December 23, 2024 - January 3, 2025

February Break – February 17-21, 2025

Spring Break – April 14-18, 2025

Last Day of School – June 5, 2025

PK3 Parent Move-Up Meeting

PK3 parents are invited to learn more about the Junior Kindergarten curriculum, rotations, and specials classes at our Parent Move-Up meeting tomorrow at 8:30am. Click here for more information.

Just for Kids Classes (PK3 and JK)

The Preschool is excited to announce PK3 and JK Just for Kids classes for the January 2024 session, which includes new class offerings. Click here to learn more about these innovative programs and to register. Spaces are limited. 

Parenting Place Classes

The Parenting Place offers classes for parents, caregivers, and children to learn, play, and grow together. Click here to learn more about these exciting programs and to register. Spaces are limited. 

Preschool Field Day

Field Day will take place on January 30 from 9:00-11:00am on AutoNation Field. All students will participate in this event.

Mystery Readers

Mystery Readers will soon visit classrooms in the Preschool. Detailed information will be shared with parents through Class Dojo soon.  

MAP Assessment                 

Lower School students in Grades K-5 will begin taking the MAP assessment today. The assessment will be administered per grade level and will conclude on January 31. The assessment begins at 8:45am and students should arrive on time to school and have a good breakfast the days of testing. Only students with signed permission forms will participate in the assessment.

Fifth Grade Parent and Student Move-Up Activities

We are excited for fifth grade students and parents to learn more about the transition to Grade 6 and the new opportunities that await students in the Middle School. Click here for detailed information including event dates and times.

Fifth Grade Student Academic Services (SAS) Parent Move-Up

We will host a presentation for parents of fifth grade students who are interested in learning more about SAS (Student Academic Services) next year. The presentation will be held on January 23 at 8:15am in the Middle School Media Center and will conclude prior to the main Fifth Grade Parent Move-Up event at 8:45am.

Lower School Cultural Unity Fair

The Cultural Unity Fair will be held on January 31. This event is unique to the Lower School and celebrates our diverse student body. If you would like to participate in this event and host a table that represents your family's country of origin, email Ms. Joyce or call 954-262-4508.

MAP Testing (Grades 6-7) 

Students in Grades 6 and 7 will take the MAP test for English beginning today and the MAP test for Math beginning January 23. Only students with previously signed NWEA consent forms in Magnus Health will be able to participate in the testing. Please direct any questions related to testing to Ms. Kathryn Ramirez Williams. 

Sixth Grade Trip to Kennedy Space Center and St. Augustine

Sixth grade students will visit Kennedy Space Center and St. Augustine from March 21-22. Registration will be open today through February 1. For more information, click here.

Habitudes Advisory Lesson from this Week 

Middle School has begun the Habitudes advisory program with all grade levels. These lessons will also be shared with parents so these important topics can be discussed at home. This week’s powerful lesson was about quarterbacking, a metaphor encouraging our students to make those around them better by ‘lifting’ them up. To view the parent letter describing the lesson, click here (for Spanish, click here), and to watch the video, click here.

Athletic Assessment

There will be an assessment of athletics conducted at NSU University School from January 21-23. To prepare for this visit by a representative of the Southern Teachers Agency, we ask that Middle and Upper School parents who have children in athletics click here to complete a brief athletics survey.

Seventh Grade Trip to Disney Leadership Workshop and Team Building Adventure

Seventh grade students are heading to Disney for a Leadership Workshop and Team Building Adventure from March 6-7. Registration will close on January 23. For more information, click here.

Beach Clean Up - Save the New Date

The second annual Middle School Beach Clean Up at Hollywood Beach has been changed to March 16. Tied in with Shark Games and our ongoing commitment to environmental education and creativity, this event will be more than just cleaning the beach. Inspired by the incredible 'Sylvia the Shark' art piece located outside of our Lower School, we will transform the collected debris into unique artwork. These pieces will be displayed in the Middle School to showcase the beauty that can emerge from caring for our planet. Let us make a difference together and create art that speaks volumes about our dedication to the environment.

Spring 2024 Experiential Learning Seminars (Grades 9-12)

This semester, Professional Learning Seminars will be offered in Computer Science and Sports Medicine, as well as an internship opportunity with the NSU Office of Innovation and Information Technology. Students who are interested in participating in these opportunities should plan to attend the mandatory information session tomorrow, January 17, in the Media Center at 10:00am. Applications will be due by January 21 at 11:59pm.

Class of 2024 Commencement: Diploma and Gown Information Due

Senior Commencement is scheduled for May 17 at 10:00am at the Don Taft University Center on NSU’s main campus. Please complete the Graduation Diploma and Gown Form so you can notify us how you wish to have your student's name recognized on the diploma. If we do not receive the completed form by January 31, we will use the official transcript name. For general information on the upcoming commencement ceremony, click here to review the Class of 2024 Graduation FAQ.  

Athletic Assessment

There will be an assessment of athletics conducted at NSU University School from January 21-23. To prepare for this visit by a representative of the Southern Teachers Agency, we ask that Middle and Upper School parents who have children in athletics click here to complete a brief athletics survey. 

Parent College Counseling Coffee (Grades 9-10)

Parents of students in Grades 9 and 10 are invited to attend a presentation on January 25 at 8:45am in the Media Center. Important information will be shared about the college counseling program, steps for choosing elective courses, community service requirements, and experiential learning opportunities.  

Parent College Counseling Coffee (Grade 11)

Parents of Grade 11 students are invited to attend a presentation on January 30 at 8:45am in the Media Center. Important information will be shared about next steps in the college counseling process, choosing elective courses, community service requirements, and experiential learning opportunities. 

Senior BBQ and Movie Day 

On February 1, all seniors are invited to attend a BBQ and Movie Day. This event will be held during lunch.

Lifer Photo 

The Lifer photo will be taken on February 13 at the Lower School playground during break.  All Lifers (JK-12 or K-12) must be present and wear their USchool uniform.  Sweaters and sweatshirts are not permitted in the photo. 

Senior Class Group Photo 

The senior Class of 2024 photo will take place on February 14 on WOLF Field during break. Seniors are required to wear their USchool uniforms that day. Sweaters and sweatshirts are not permitted in the photo. 

Class of 2024 Senior Gift Campaign

We are proud to kick-off the 2024 Senior Gift Campaign. All senior students are encouraged to give $20.24 to the Alumni Fund to celebrate their graduation year. Every senior participating will receive a commemorative Shark pin to wear on graduation day in honor of their generosity, as well as acknowledgment in publications throughout the year. Click here for more information on the 2024 Senior Gift Campaign. Should you wish to make a gift today, click here and choose "Alumni Fund" as your designation.

Grad Bash Tickets

The senior class is heading to Grad Bash at Universal Studios Orlando on April 26-27. Tickets must be purchased before March 1 to attend. Click here to purchase tickets and for more details. 

Yearbook and Ads

To pre-order a yearbook for students in Grades 9-11 or to create a yearbook ad for a senior student, click here. Yearbooks for students in Grade 12 are free.

AIM High Immersion Summer Program

Students who are interested in a career in medicine or health care will have an opportunity this summer to take part in the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine AIM High Medical Immersion Summer Program. This program includes many of the same experiences offered in our USchool Medical Fellowship during the regular academic year. Over the course of a week, students will learn basic suturing and dissection skills, vital signs, become certified in CPR and First Aid, and much more. Click here for information on how to enroll in the program. If you have additional questions, email aimhigh@nova.edu. 

This Week in Athletics

Click here to view this week's athletic schedule. Events are subject to change; therefore, we encourage you to check the online calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Boys and Girls Varsity Tennis Tryouts

Boys and Girls Varsity Tennis tryouts will be held today at the NSU Tennis Center from 4:00-6:00pm. Any student needing transportation to the courts should meet the US athletic van in front of the pool at 3:45pm.

FINesse Auditions (Grades 6-12)

FINesse Dance Team is looking for dancers of all levels to join the team and showcase their talents to USchool. Students who are interested should join for auditions on February 2 from 4:00-6:00pm in the AutoNation Center for the Arts (Room 2041). Students should wear athletic attire and sneakers.

(954) 262-4478

uschool@nova.edu

www.uschool.nova.edu