University School Weekly Update

Please see two attached maps to indicate traffic pattern changes for Wednesday, August 20th.

Gilbreath Drive will be closed to Southbound Traffic at the intersection with Stout Drive.

Note: State of Franklin is located at the Top of West Walnut Street on the Map below.

Parents and student drivers should be aware they will be stopped at two checkpoints: the roundabout at Go Bucs Trail and the intersection of Jack Vest Drive and David Collins Way. Two traffic pattern changes include: Jack Vest will be closed to Northbound traffic at the roundabout in front of the football stadium and Robert Bell Dr will be closed to Southbound Traffic at Ross Dr. Parents picking up their students from Warf-Pickel will need to depart campus via Jack Vest Dr.

Hey, Buccaneers! Get ready to kick off the new school year in style! Our spirit store is your go-to spot for all the freshest gear. We've got brand-new designs that look amazing on our super-comfy, soft tri-blend fabrics, and they come in a whole rainbow of colors. For a classic look, we still have all your favorite Nike gear and tons of traditional navy and gold styles to keep you cheering loud.

Our collection includes tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, totes, and more, with options available in both youth and adult sizes so the entire family can look their best while cheering on the Bucs! Our online store won’t be around forever, so grab your merchandise today!

https://stores.inksoft.com/university_school_spirit_store/shop/home

We want your input! As the Foundation kicks off another school year, we would love your feedback and input to help shape our focus for the year. Please complete the short attached survey.

Our annual Middle School Mixer is scheduled for Thursday, August 21st from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Just a reminder, this event is exclusive for University School grades 6-8 students only.

Here is the link to more information. We can't wait to see students there!!

The Art to Remember fundraiser is back this year! Our students are working hard on beautiful artwork and their personalized order forms will be sent home after fall break. If your student does not have an art class but would like to participate, please see Ms. Colson for the paper to use for their creation. Fill the page with color - bright colors show up best on the finished products (no highlighters or colored pencils)! For more information or any questions, please reach out to usfoundation.president@gmail.com.

We are now collecting different types of dots (buttons, beads, sequins, lids, bottle caps, etc.) for our collaborative Dot Day Artwork. Dots can be dropped off in one of the donation tubs located at the school.

FREDDY'S FAMILY NIGHT NEXT WEDNESDAY! Please join us at Freddy's on State of Franklin next Wednesday, August 20th between 4-8 pm, for our first family engagement event.

This is a great opportunity to socialize with other families, while supporting University School. We will receive 15% of all event sales. Be sure to show the flyer or mention that you are there to support University School.

Want to help our hospitality committee shower our staff with love? Each month, the University School Foundation provides snacks, drinks, and (most importantly!) coffee to show our teachers just how much we appreciate all they do. These monthly treats are a small but meaningful way for us to say thank you and help brighten their day.

To make these special days even better, we’re asking for your support. We’ve created an Amazon Wish List with a variety of individually packaged snacks, drinks, and coffee supplies that can be shipped directly to us. Every donation, big or small, helps us continue this tradition of appreciation and encouragement for our wonderful staff.

Click here to view and donate from our Amazon Wish List:

👉 Teacher Lounge Wishlist

Thank you for helping us keep our teachers fueled, caffeinated, and feeling the love!

Warmly,

Leslie Mullins

Hospitality Chair

University School Foundation

We are excited to announce our 2025 University School's Magic and Mischief Fall Festival will be on Thursday, October 23!

This year, the theme is Harry Potter! You have all been so generous in the past and have helped the foundation raise the money needed to support our school! Students are LOVING the new playground, and we couldn’t have done it without your help!

We want to extend the opportunity to, once again, help our University School Foundation raise money for future projects (ex: benches & trash cans around the playground, a new outdoor covered dining/learning area, special teacher funding requests etc.). Our goal is $15,000. If you own a business or would like to sponsor as a family, please fill out the attached sponsorship form and return it to the office. Thank U for all your support!!

Thank you to all the parents who purchased Senior Sunrise tees! Shirts are now available for pick-up in the front office, individually tagged with your student’s name. We appreciate your support in kicking off senior year in style!

Huge thanks to the amazing businesses supporting our Senior Class! Your generosity is helping make senior year unforgettable.

🎉 Participating Discount Card Partners (so far): Greekos • Bubbakoo's Burritos • Dos Gatos Coffee Bar • Chicken Salad Chick • Italian Pizza Pub • Barbaritos • Boomtown & Co • The Black Olive • Auntie Ruth's • Into the Fire • Tropical Smoothie • Holiday Lanes • The Scoop • Juan Siao • Buffalo Wild Wings JC • Little Caesars (RMG) • Chili's Grill & Bar • Mountain View Restaurant • Burg'r n Barrell

💌 Are you a U-School parent who owns a business—or do you have a favorite spot you'd love to see on the card? Email us at seniorclassuh@gmail.com to get involved!

Applications are now being accepted from qualifying junior or senior high school students to participate in the 2026 United States Senate Youth Program. Two Tennessee student delegates will be selected to attend the USSYP Washington Week planned for March 7-6, 2026. The selected delegates will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship from The Hearst Foundations. Applications close on September 22. More information about the program, including qualification criteria and application materials, can be found on the Tennessee Student Opportunities webpage.

Attention Parents and Guardians Grades 6-12! Become an OBSERVER on CANVAS!

Want to know what your student is working on and get an early peek at grades? Want to see all the high school announcements from Dr. Shaw, Ms. McRee , and Dr. Campbell? Please become an OBSERVER on CANVAS! THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR SENIOR PARENTS!! You can find directions here:

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Observer-Guide/How-do-I-sign-up-for-a-Canvas-account-as-a-parent/ta-p/540

Your student can generate your OBSERVER CODE by signing in to CANVAS clicking "ACCOUNT", then "SETTINGS" from the menu on the left, then " PAIR WITH OBSERVER" on the right.

Welcome to our new Niswonger Care Advisor, Ms. Gabrielle (Gabby) Wiley! Ms. Gabby will be working directly with our counseling staff to support our seniors with their college & career plans.

University School has been randomly selected to participate in a Pilot Study with the Tennessee Higher Education Council and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation called TN DIRECT ADMISSIONS. This program will be active for current seniors at University School who should expect to get letters during November regarding pre-approved admission to at least three participating schools in Tennessee.

As the program evolves, Dr. Shaw will continue to provide updates to students and families. Students who have specific schools where they will apply should continue with the normal application process. Some schools operate on a first come, first served basis so please DO NOT DELAY applying to a school to wait for your letter.

ALL SENIORS will be expected to apply for TN Promise because that application will trigger the TN DIRECT ADMISSION process for the pilot study. Students will need to use a specially calculated GPA in their TN Promise Application. Ms. Gabby, our new Niswonger CARE Advisor has those GPAs and will begin pulling students on Mondays and Tuesdays, or you can make an appointment via the link in her profile that was posted in CANVAS.

University School Juniors and Seniors will be taking a field trip to the Tri-Cities College Fair at Freedom Hall on August 28 from 8:30am to 10:30am. Permission slips and money ($2) should be turned in to Ms. Stephanie in the Counseling Office Monday to Thursday by August 22.

Students who are not able to attend because of dual enrollment, illness, etc may attend on their own with their family from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on the same date.

Students should register on STRIVE SCAN prior to attending the College Fair so that you can electronically connect with colleges of your choosing! Please register here: https://app.strivescan.com/registrationLinks to an external site. PLEASE TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF YOUR STRIVE SCAN BARCODE IN CASE YOU DO NOT HAVE PHONE/INTERNET SERVICE WHILE ATTENDING THE FAIR.

On Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, we will have a Distracted Driving Simulator at University School. This lets students experience what it is like to drive while distracted by things like phones or passengers. The point of the experience is for students to understand the importance of not being distracted while driving. The simulation takes 5-7 minutes and we plan to schedule all of our 10th graders to experience the simulator. The schedule for students will be posted in the office and teachers will also be made aware and help remind students when it is their time to go.

If you do not want your 10th grader to take part in this simulation, please email Dr. Day (daya@etsu.edu) so we can remove them from the schedule.

We have a few time slots available for 11th and 12th grade students. They need to come by the office to sign up for a time slot. Time slots available on a first come first serve basis.

5 Mile Club:

• Fifth Grade: Evyanna Mosca & Siena Mosca

10 Mile Club:

• Third Grade: Theo Carter

20 Mile Club:

• Fifth Grade: Levon Hanson & Dominic Morrey

Athletic Season Passes are now on sale. These are year-long passes and will get you in all middle and high school University School events except for tournaments.

Athletic Pass Prices:

• Student Pass: $35.00 each available to all enrolled students at University School with seating in General Admission.

• Adult Pass: $75.00 each available to adults or college students with seating in General Admission.

• Family Pass: $175.00 per family (IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY– to include General Admission passes for two adults and up to four school age children living in the immediate household).

Middle School Girls Basketball -- Parent/Player Interest Meeting will be held Tuesday, August 19 at 5:30pm in the School Library. Our new coach will be introduced and speak to parents and players, including he plans for getting workouts started. E-mail Coach Penley with any questions (penleyj@etsu.edu).

Case Benchmark Quarter 1 Testing Window - Sept. 4 - Sept 12
Senior ACT Retake - October 7
Optional PSAT/NMSQT for 11th Grade Students - October 14

University School Testing Calendar - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BApkbePIr6L_ZSNp2xid_2_8GCLx0PMzVtlCpVlNyjM/edit?usp=sharing

Pokémon Trading Card Day is held Saturday, August 30th from 2-3 p.m. in the Children's Library. Kids of all ages bring Pokémon or other types of cards to trade. No registration.

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

Please Note: This is the menu published by Washington County Schools and may vary slightly since we operate on a different academic calendar.

August

18 - MS Girls' Soccer Home v. Providence (5:30 PM)

19 - HS Golf - Pine Oaks GC (3:30 PM)

20 - Dismissal @ 1:00 PM for all students

20 - MS Girls' Soccer Home v. Cocke County (6:00 PM)

21 - HS Golf - Pine Oaks GC (3:30 PM)

21 - MS Mixer @ Wetlands (6:00-8:00 PM)

23 - Middle & High School Cross Country - Run for the Hills (South Holston Dam)

25 - MS Girls' Soccer Home v. Lakeway (6:00 PM)

25 - HS Golf - Warriors Path GC (4:00 PM)

26 - School Picture Day for Grades K-11

26 - MS Girls' Soccer Away v. Indian Trail JV (7:30 PM)

28 - HS Golf - Twin Creeks GC (4:00 PM)

30 - High School Cross Country - Arthur Ashe (Knoxville)

Please note the following changes to our schedule this fall:

• August 20th - Early Dismissal Day for all students; students will be dismissed at 1:00PM on this day due to a University Meeting for the College of Education and Human Development that our faculty will need to attend.

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