University School Weekly Update

Continuing a tradition of excellence, both the University High boys and girls high school cross-country programs captured TSSAA Class A Sectional Championships this past week at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville.

Both teams delivered outstanding performances to bring home sectional titles and will now head to Memphis this coming week to compete in the state championships, having earned the opportunity to defend last year's state titles.

Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on an incredible accomplishment. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment are evident to all.

Way to go, Bucs, and Good Luck at State! You make us proud! 💙💛

November is a season of gratitude, and we'd love to help our teachers feel just how much they are appreciated.

Has a U School teacher encouraged your student, sparked a love of learning, offered support during a challenging time, or simply made a difference in your family's life? Take a moment to share your thanks.

Whether it's a favorite memory, a few kind words, or a story about a meaningful impact, your message can be as short or as detailed as you'd like. Responses may be submitted with your name or anonymously.

The Foundation will print and display all submissions in the Teacher's Lounge so our faculty can read the heartfelt notes of appreciation from the students and families they serve each day.

A few words can mean the world.

👉 Click here or scan the QR code below to share your message of gratitude.

Wow! Thanks to the incredible generosity, enthusiasm, and support of our University School community, this year's Out-of-this-World Fall Festival raised a record-breaking $27,700 for the University School Foundation!

From the moment the countdown began until the final rocket returned to base, the evening was filled with laughter, family fun, and memories that were truly stellar.

A very special thank you to our sponsors, whose support helped make this event possible, and to the many volunteers who donated their time and talents to ensure every detail was a success. We are also grateful to the brave teachers who threw their names into the ring and took one for the team in the slime ring. Your willingness to be part of the fun brought smiles to countless faces!

Thank you to our amazing Middle School and High School students who created a fantastic Trunk-or-Treat experience. Congratulations to our Middle School Girl’s Basketball team and High School Cheer on your winning trunks! Your creativity, energy, and school spirit helped make the event an out-of-this-world adventure for our younger Buccaneers.

A special shoutout goes to Brad Bode, our Master of Ceremonies, for keeping the festivities orbiting smoothly all evening long.

Most importantly, thank you to every family, student, faculty member, staff member, alumnus, and friend who attended. Your participation transformed a fun fall evening into something much bigger.

Together, we strengthened our school community while supporting the work of the University School Foundation.

Proceeds from the Fall Festival help fund the Foundation's annual operating budget, which supports a variety of programs, equipment, technology, and educational opportunities that directly benefit University School students.

Because of you, we reached new heights, broke records, and proved once again that when the U School community comes together, there's no limit to what we can accomplish.

Thank you for helping us make this year's Fall Festival a truly astronomical success! 🌟🚀

- The Fall Festival Team

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Postseason PRs are calling! Join us under the lights at one of the fastest tracks in East Tennessee for a high-energy night of racing.

The Vibe: High-energy music, a live MC, and optimal evening racing conditions timed perfectly for when the wind drops.

The Extras: Live Results by Trojan Timing, pacemakers courtesy of Milligan University, on-site merch, and concessions!

Sidney Smallwood Track Complex (Science Hill HS | Johnson City, TN)

4:45 PM | Packet Pickup & Warm-ups Open

Awards: Medals for the top 3 finishers in each event

Race Schedule:
🔹 6:15 PM — Elementary School Boys 1600m
🔹 6:30 PM — Elementary School Girls 1600m
🔹 6:45 PM — Middle School Boys 1600m
🔹 7:00 PM — Middle School Girls 1600m
🔹 7:15 PM — Open Boys 5k
🔹 7:45 PM — Open Girls 5k
🔹 8:15 PM — High School Boys 3200m
🔹 8:30 PM — High School Girls 3200m
(Schedule subject to minor adjustments for heats)

Entry: $10 per athlete

Register now on MileSplit!

Hosted by Science Hill HS & University High.

✨🏀 MEET THE BUCS NIGHT IS NOVEMBER 13! 🏀✨

It’s time to kick off the 2026–2027 season! 🎉 Join us as we introduce our University School basketball, cheer, and dance teams! 📣💃

Get ready for an exciting evening filled with fun games, prizes, and special performances! Bring your family, bring your friends, and help us show our Bucs some love as we gear up for another incredible season! 💙💛

📅 WHEN: Friday, November 13 | 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 WHERE: Brooks Gym

🔥 You don’t want to miss it!

💙💛 GO BUCS! 💛💙

ETSU President Brian Noland, SGA Executive Vice President Macy Miller, and Bucky invite you to celebrate the start of the holiday season at the annual Holiday Lights Celebration!

• 📅 Tuesday, November 17

• 🕔 Festivities begin at 5:45 p.m.

• 📍 Alumni Plaza (Burgin Dossett Hall, facing the Carillon)

Join us as we light up campus for the holidays and enjoy an evening full of seasonal cheer!

✨ Highlights include:

• The grand lighting of the Holiday Lights

• The opening of the ETSU Synthetic Ice Rink

• Live music by the ETSU Jazz Ensemble

• Two screenings of Mickey's Christmas Carol at 6:15pm and 7:00pm in the Bud Frank Theatre

• Hot cocoa, cookies, and more!

Bring your friends and family and make it a night to remember.

🎁 For full details, visit www.etsu.edu/holidays

Congratulations to the following Morning Mile Runners:

• 5 Mile Club: Charlotte Crumly (K)
• 10 Mile Club: Amelia Carter (K) & Lucas Denton (5)

• 15 Mile Club: Carson Cole (1), Maverick Crumly (3), LJ Seehorn (3), & Leo Giuliani (4)
• 20 Mile Club: Ewan Carter (2) & Theo Carter (4)

• 35 Mile Club: Samuel Pennington (5)

• 40 Mile Club: Annie Bowling (5)
• 50 Mile Club: Steven Kipfer (5)

We are excited to announce a new venue for our University School Middle School Boys Basketball, Middle School Girls Basketball, and Middle School Cheer teams for the 2026–2027 season!

🏀 Middle School Girls Basketball
🏀 Middle School Boys Basketball
📣 Middle School Cheer

📍 NEW VENUE: FREEDOM HALL AUXILIARY GYM
1320 Pactolas Road, Johnson City

🚗 PARKING & ENTRANCE
Please refer to the attached map for parking areas and the designated entrance. Follow the marked directions to help you find your way into the gym!

🕒 DOORS OPEN
Doors will open 45 minutes before the first game.

🎟️ TICKET PRICES (Middle School)

Adults: $5

Students: $3

🚫 FREEDOM HALL POLICIES

No outside food or drinks are permitted.

Players only may bring plastic water bottles with screw-on lids.

We look forward to welcoming our players, cheerleaders, families, and fans to our new location. Thank you for your continued support of University School Athletics!

🟦🟨 GO BUCS! 🏀🏀

8th Grade families interested in purchasing an advertisement/acknowledgement page, for your 8th grader, you may purchase one by clicking on the image below.

FALL FORMAL: Saturday Nov. 7th, 2026, at the Heritage in Jonesborough, 7:30pm-10:30pm.

The Fall Formal is open to all 9th -12th grade University School students and will be on Saturday, Nov. 7th, 2026, at the Heritage in Jonesborough, 7:30pm-10:30pm. Outside Guests are not allowed. Students must register AND purchase a ticket ($15) prior to the dance. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Please see the Student Handbook for dress code and exceptions for special occasions.

Register here: https://forms.gle/oyQszyQtEySPzuCu7
Purchase tickets here: https://epay.goldlink.etsu.edu/C20071_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=730&SINGLESTORE=true

Contact Dr. Day (daya@etsu.edu) if you have any questions.

The Miss Johnson City Miss Historic Jonesborough Scholarship Organization is hosting an upcoming information session for students who are interested in learning more about our scholarship competition, the opportunities available to participants, and how they can compete for scholarship awards.

This session is designed to be informative and welcoming — particularly for students who may be unfamiliar with the program or simply looking for additional opportunities to help fund their education.

Information Session:
November 2, 2026 @7pm
Zoom

Competition:
November 22, 2026 @4pm
David Crockett High School

About the Miss Johnson City Miss Historic Jonesborough Scholarship Organization

The Miss Johnson City Miss Historic Jonesborough Scholarship Organization celebrates service, leadership, excellence, and ambition, providing young women with opportunities to earn scholarships while developing the skills and confidence to become leaders in their communities.

Each year, we crown exceptional young women who serve as ambassadors for their communities — representing local organizations and causes, engaging in community service, and serving as positive role models for the next generation.

Each competition year, our organization awards more than $12,000 in scholarships and services to participants.

Our organization has a long-standing history in the community. Miss Johnson City has been a part of the community for more than 100 years, while Miss Historic Jonesborough recently celebrated its 50th anniversary..

The Miss Johnson City Miss Historic Jonesborough Scholarship Organization hosts official preliminary competitions to Miss Tennessee/Miss America and Miss Tennessee’s Teen/Miss America’s Teen, providing participants with a pathway to compete at the state and national levels while pursuing scholarship opportunities and personal growth.

Our organization is a registered Tennessee nonprofit corporation dedicated to creating scholarship and leadership opportunities for young women throughout our region.

The ETSU School of Marketing and Media and ETSU American Marketing Association are offering a summit for students interested in a career connected to podcast creation, sports media, AI, or Digital Media/Game Design. Registration through Mrs. McRee is required.

Date & Time: Friday, November 13, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Students interested in this career path should contact Mrs. McRee as soon as possible. Reservations due no later than 8:00 AM on Thursday, October 29th.

mcreed@etsu.edu
(423) 439-5925

These ETSU opportunities for high school students are a great way to get started.

• Pharmacy Career Showcases – November 7 and February 20

• Intro to Pharmacy Dual Enrollment Class – Spring 2027

• GattonRx Summer Camp – June 6 – 11, 2027

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, contact:

• Mrs. McRee - University School College and Career Coordinator

• Email: mcreed@etsu.edu

• Phone: (423) 439 - 5925

High School students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service for graduation. Seniors who complete 80 hours of community service will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony and will receive a cord to wear at graduation (if the documentation is received by 3/5/27). Documentation of community service should be turned in to the main office.

Please see the two attached documents:

• Community Service Document to document the hours completed.

• Community Service Guidance Documents: what counts and what doesn't count for community service.

Contact Dr. Day or Dr. Shaw if you have any questions about community service hours.

If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity, please contact Mrs. McRee as soon as possible.

We need your school spirit and fun friends' pictures for the yearbook!

Send them to: yearbook@univschool.etsu.edu

TCAT has asked that we start creating student waiting lists several trimesters in advance for the more popular programs. We want to make certain that University School students have access to their program of choice. Several programs are already full for the Spring 2027 term. If you have any interest in attending TCAT as a dual enrollment student in the Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 terms, please contact Destiny McRee as soon as possible (mcreed@etsu.edu or (423) 439-5925).

Senior honor ads available now! Please click the link below for more information regarding senior ads for our yearbook.

November Events for School Age Kids (Ages 5-18)

• Teen Homework Cafe: Each Monday ages 12-18 can bring your friends and your homework to work on papers and projects in the Teen Space from 3-5 p.m. Library staff is available to help find research materials and resources. Snacks will be provided.
• READing Paws: Children ages 5-12 can register for a 15-minute time slot to read to a trained listening dog. They read aloud in the Library's Storytime Room between 4-5 p.m. on the first Monday of each month or from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. In an effort to maximize the number of participants served by this program, time slots are limited to one per child for each event. Children's caregivers must sign a permission slip when they arrive at each reading session.
• Tween & Tenn Tech Tack Apart: Ages 10-18 explore how everyday electronics work by safely taking them apart on Tuesday, November 3 from 4-6 p.m. in the Library's Polly Peterson Room. This hands-on, drop-in workshop encourages curiosity, problem-solving, STEM learning, and responsible recycling. Electronics and tools will be provided.

Visit jcpl.org/events to find more upcoming events.

November

2 - MS Basketball @ Providence

3 - Math Mentoring Program

4 - Media Day -- HS Basketball

4 - Chess Club

4 - Sign Language Club with Chris Steele

5 - Parent Foundation Meeting @ 8:15 AM (School Library)

5 - MS Basketball VS Boones Creek (HOME)

5 - HS Boys Basketball @ Elizabethton HS (Scrimmage)

5 - HS Girls Basketball @ Unicoi Co. HS (Scrimmage)

6 - Cross Country State Meet - Cordova, TN

7 - HS FALL FORMAL@ The Heritage, Jonesborough (7:30-10:30 PM)

11 - Veteran's Day Holiday - No School

25-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

Email: partinbk@etsu.edu
Website: https://www.usbucs.org
Location: 68 Martha Culp Dr. Johnson City, TN, 37614
Phone: (423)439-4271
Facebook: facebook.com/uschool1911
Twitter: @USBucs