UDHS Community Update

Good afternoon, UDHS Family,

Our annual Program of Studies event takes place tonight. Starting at 6:30, parents and guardians of students in grades eight to eleven are welcome to start the evening in either the Cafeteria or Auditorium. The agenda is linked here. We look forward to sharing information about our courses and the selection process. Also available for your review is the 2024-2025 Program of Studies. Please begin to familiarize yourselves with the descriptions and videos for the classes available to UDHS students. The Infinite Campus (IC) portal is open to review teacher recommendations for core classes. From February 6 to 8, the IC portal will be open for students to add elective choices.

Julia Axler, Bryson Knight, and Albert Zeng have been selected as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Scholars are chosen based on accomplishments in academics, leadership, community involvement, and promise. We wish them all the best as they now apply for this prestigious award.

Mr. Ianni informed us that three of our students were featured in the US Torch, the official journal of the American Classical League (ACL) and the National Junior Classical League (NJCL). Two articles were published, one written by sophomore Brian Lester (pg. 12-13), the other by senior Julia Axler (pg. 20-21). Also, senior Prajvala Mysore, the current PAJCL editor (Keystone journal for PA), provided an update on Pennsylvania's status regarding Classics events (pg. 32). Please be sure to take a look at their great work.

The results of the SkillsUSA competition have been released and we are very happy to share that Upper Dublin students performed admirably once again. Congratulations to Jack Dempsey who placed first in the area of Information Services. He will now move onto the state level competition in April where he will represent UDHS and Eastern Center for Arts and Technology. We look forward to hearing about his performance at that next level.

The Rotary Club of Ambler is committed to making a difference in the lives of future generations. Twice a year Upper Dublin High School is asked to nominate a student for the Ambler Rotary Award and the nominee must possess the Rotary motto of service and scholarship. Congratulations goes to Asher Caplan as the spring 2024 Rotary recipient.

Yesterday our students and staff conducted a Secure drill. This is to prepare for an event in which there is something dangerous outside of the building. All were brought into the building and exterior doors were locked while business remained as usual within the high school. Thanks to everyone involved for a productive and educational practice drill.

Bella Loza's ceramic piece won an honorable mention at the Phillips Mill Youth Art Exhibition. The Phillips Mill Gallery is located in New Hope and the exhibit runs weekends until February 18 highlighting high school work from Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

With their victory on Tuesday, the UDHS chess team earned a place in the Lower Bucks County (misnomer) Scholastic Chess League playoffs for the first time since the pandemic. They will play a quarterfinal match on February 6 against North Penn, the defending champion. We wish them all the best in this postseason competition.

The Upper Dublin Chinese American Association (UDCA) and Upper Dublin School District Asian American Students and Families Committee (UDSD-AASF) invite you to celebrate the 2024 Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon! The gala will take place in the UDHS Performing Arts Center on February 10 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM.

Senior recognition ceremonies have been taking place with our winter sports teams. Those bowling are Maureen Hagerty, Joelle Jung, Grace Owens, Audrey Weeden, Mick Frayne, Owen O'Neill, Ethan Rosenberg, Sam Schneider, Mikey Shimko, Joe Theodorson, and Ben Wealand. The girls team won 4-0, while the boys tied on Monday versus Upper Moreland. Our wrestling seniors are Grace Higgins, CJ Ambrose, Odin Andrews, Noam Ishak, Noah Morginstin, Rylee Netter, Ally Stenstrom, and Joseph Vitale, and we saw them honored last night prior to their match against Abington.

Senior cheerleaders, Trinity Green and Allie Rubenstein, were recognized before the Tuesday boys basketball game. The boys recognized their four seniors as well that evening. Brady Fogle, Chris Kohlbrenner, Anthony Olivera-Shultze, and Chaim Zellis were part of the team’s winning effort that night against Abington. A win tonight at home against Plymouth Whitemarsh (PW) would secure the first outright league title since 2002. The girls basketball team also defeated Abington and Wissahickon this past week and hold a two-game lead in the standings. Tamia Clark scored 39 points combined in the wins.

The Unified Bocce team was back in action on Wednesday at PW. Team #1 is made up of Riley Stein, Emma Fricker, Brendan Murphy, Evelyn Stefankiewicz, Evelyn Gallagher, Rebecca Chilton, Tess Malizia, and Raegan Penna. They tied for the day. Team # 2 is comprised of Abigail Citro, Dakota Mass, Noella Carlo, Erin Seabrook, Lauren Hoffman, Shane Lincow, Sean Rickard, and Stella Klotkowsk. They battled hard in their two games.

Our swim and dive teams continue to prepare for Suburbans next week. Our divers compete in the Liberty Division Championships on Tuesday, while swimmers compete on Friday and Saturday. All of these events are in the Upper Dublin natatorium. We just learned that Olivia Vitella was selected by Suburban One as their Univest Featured Athlete. Please click here to read the article which highlights one of our wonderful student athletes and leaders.

The boys went to Glen Mills last Friday. Elijah Smith (200 meters) and the distance medley relay (DMR) both took first place. Also placing for UD were Owen Smith (third, 400 meters), Kevin Lim (eighth, mile), and Lee Noel (ninth, 55 meters). The girls will be back in action this weekend after a week off.

Important Spring and Fall 2024 dates are as follows: start date spring, March 4; FamilyID Registrations (non-winter athletes), February 26; start date football and golf, August 5; all other fall sports, August 12.

We are extremely proud to share that our own Mr. Stover has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaching Association Hall of Fame. He will be honored at a ceremony in May. This is an honor to Coach Stover and a testimony to his excellent character and talent, as well as to his staff, his players, and his family.

With Cardinal Pride,

Bob Schultz

Principal

Information Release Opt Out - Section 8528 of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the National Defense Authorization Act require all high schools, upon request, to share the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all secondary students with institutions of higher learning and military recruiters. Prior to the potential release of such information, parents, or the student, if they have reached 18 years of age, have the option of opting out of the disclosure of this information. To do so, please complete the attached form for seniors and juniors.

New Student Registration - Online registration is now open for the upcoming school year.

UDHS PTO - Please join us as we welcome our guest speaker Dr. Chang on February 13 at 7pm in the UDHS Library for a discussion about Culminating Projects, Community Study, Senior Disney Trip and ACT 158. Parents and Caregivers of Rising Seniors, and everyone else who might be curious, please join us for an evening of Q&A about all of this and more!

PTO Designer Bag Bingo - Support the UDHS PTO and enjoy a fabulous night of bingo, fashion, and fun at the UDHS PTO Designer Bag Bingo Fundraiser on Friday, February 23. Doors open at 6:30 pm, Bingo Starts at 7:00 pm, at The Mahoney Event Center, 15 Cavalier Drive, Ambler. Bingo Prizes include designers Michaels Kors, Kate Spade, Coach and more. Raffle Items donated by: Adventure Aquarium, ECCO, Expedition Escape, Helium Comedy Club, Kendra Scott, Longwood Gardens, The Philadelphia Eagles, The Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quintessence Theatre Group, Top Golf, and Very Special Games! Please register by using this form. Proceeds from this event will provide funds for Scholarships, Teacher Breakfasts and Luncheons, and other PTO activities. Contact UDHSPTO@gmail.com with questions.

Freshmen, Sophomore, and Juniors - Please join the Guidance Department for our Pennsylvania State School college fair scheduled on Monday, February 5, during office hours. The event will be held in the library and there will be representatives from eight different universities. Linked here is the flyer with more information. All students that are interested should attend . We look forward to seeing you there for this exciting opportunity.

UDHS Minithon - Happy Valentine's Day! UDHS MiniTHON's Send Some Love is BACK! Send some sweets to your loved ones for Valentine's Day. Please place all orders by February 12th at 8 pm. All treats will be delivered by February 14th! The proceeds go to the Four Diamonds Fund to help fight pediatric cancer. Place all orders here! For any questions please email @Danielle McNamara or @Jessica Sachson. Everything we do is for the kids!!

Culminating Senior Project - For his culminating project, Sam Fields is hosting a small car show at the UDHS Performing Arts Center on Sunday, February 4, from 10AM to 12PM. The goal of the show is to generate awareness for mental health, with all the admissions proceeds going towards Abbey's Bakery. Admission is $5 per car, while spectators are free. Thank you so much and hope to see you there! See flyer here.

UD Celebrate! 2024 Black History Event - The Upper Dublin African American and Black Students and Families committee would like to invite you to join us for a marvelous night of fun, entertainment, shopping and education during our annual UD Celebrate! 2024 Black History Event, held at Sandy Run Middle School on Thursday, February 15 (snow date 2/22).

This is free and open to the public. We ask that all attendees register here.