School Desk Blog: Hope and excitement at Ukiah High School

The last few weeks have been great at Ukiah High School. The return of many students has warmed our hearts and energized our spirits. It’s been a long time coming, and each day feels like a celebration - simple gifts. Within this joy, we know the pandemic is not over. The challenges of distance learning remain, and we’ve embarked upon new challenges of attempting to combine teaching students simultaneously in classrooms and at home. These realities cannot dim the sense of hope we have found with the return of students. 

Amidst finding the road to normalcy, we are busy planning for the end of this year and a bright future in the 2021-22 school year. This work includes:

Graduation  

As the UHS Class of 2021 approaches graduation, we are excited to announce that we believe we will host graduation in the stadium on Saturday, June 5th, at 9:00 a.m. The event will include the traditional program. All members of the graduating class will be present as a group. The crowd size will be limited. We will rely on health guidelines regarding the number of guests allowed. As these guidelines evolve, we will communicate directly with seniors and their families. Please note that this plan is subject to change based upon current COVID-19 information and health guidelines. A traditional graduation ceremony is excellent news - thank you for your continued patience.

Athletics  

We are in the middle of the most ambitious sports program imaginable. From March to June, we are hosting athletic competitions in nearly every sport we offer. We limit the number of spectators to four household members for outdoor contests and two for indoor games. Our competing schools may have different admission rules or may not allow spectators. Ukiah High School coaches can provide you with more information. Thank you for your complete cooperation at all events - home and away.

New Ukiah High Schedule for 2021-22  

UHS has adopted a new schedule for 2021-22 and beyond. The schedule offers 8 classes, 4 classes will meet on one day, and the other four meet on alternate days. This schedule is typically called an 8 A/B Schedule. The classes meet for the entire year, and students will generally take fewer than 8 classes. Ukiah High School students begin registering for classes on April 18th. 

This new schedule’s benefits include: 

  • increased access to courses 
  • access to programs and support equal to other schools 
  • block period classes that foster hands-on, engaged learning 
  • independent time to complete work during the school day
  • complete multiple goals beyond meeting graduation requirements

We will continue to offer weekly school bulletins, counseling communications, and classroom notifications to provide parents, students, and the community with crucial ongoing information. If you have questions, please contact us at 707.472.5750 or [email protected].

It is a time of great hope and excitement - from our students' return to campus to celebrating a traditional graduation to adopting a new schedule that offers students many opportunities. As we move forward, let us work together with faith in one another, kindness in our hearts, and healing in our words and actions.