I have served on Ukiah Unified School District's Board of Trustees for around 18 years now, and I have enjoyed every second of it. I enjoy working with a team of people dedicated to helping our kids be the best they can be. I am in awe of what our staff accomplishes every day to get their job done for our kids. I want to thank each one of them for their hard work, professionalism, and the love they share with our students.
It's easy enough to get tied up in the big issues surrounding education and not notice the little things. As much as I enjoy working on our challenges, I also treasure attending events at Ukiah Unified schools to see some of our hard work in action. Our schools just finished their back to school celebrations, but don’t worry, there will be another chance to attend similar events later in the school year. If you want to see and experience what is happening around our district, I invite all of you to get involved with your student's school and attend some of the terrific events they host every year. Here are a few of my favorites:
Halloween Celebrations - Halloween is right around the corner, so this might be a great place to start attending school events because many schools will have Halloween celebrations or parades. It's great fun to see all of the costumes and creative treats that students, parents, and guardians prepare. Grace Hudson Elementary's March of the Masks/Marcha de las Mascaras is on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
Holiday Celebrations - Schools around Ukiah Unified School District schedule a wide variety of holiday parties and celebrations throughout the year. Students always have their creativity on full display with essays, art projects, and other examples of their latest and greatest work. Many will have prepared music and skits with holiday themes. Yokayo Elementary will host its annual Holiday Program on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.
Musical Performances - We have a nice variety of instrumental music and choir performances throughout the year. I am happy to report that the music scene around Ukiah Unified is alive and well. Ukiah High School's Vocal Music Department's Dinner & A Show performance will be on Thursday, October 24, 2019, in the UHS Cafetorium. Attending this show would be a great way to see our students shine.
Literacy Nights and Book Fairs - These are important events where we can learn how we can help our students become great readers. Book Fairs give students exposure to books they would not usually see and help create a reading culture. Please take your kids to a book fair. I can't stress enough how important it is for them to read!
Math Nights - You can count on math night for some calculated family fun! At these events, you can get updates on curriculum and learn about fun math games, math activities, and learn about how to support students with their math homework. For example, Calpella Elementary has their 2nd Grade Math Night later this month on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Robotics Competitions - I am very proud to say we have an excellent robotics program at several Ukiah Unified schools! Our UHS Underwater Robotics Team placed 7th out of 84 high school teams last school year at The SeaPerch Challenge, their national competition.
This list only touches briefly on the variety of events you could attend at your child's school. If you don't already do so, I urge you to please attend school events and get involved with your student's education whenever possible. If we all get involved and understand more about our schools and become partners in education, our children will benefit. With our increased understanding and assistance, they will be more prepared for life, and our community will continue to prosper. Check your student's school website for event details or contact them directly for information.