Volume 1 | April 2020

Remembering Skylar Herbert

We are so sad that we have lost Skylar Herbert,a kindergarten scholar at UPA Elementary–Mark Murray campus, to COVID-19. Please takea few minutes with your family and create a redheart to display in one of the windows in yourhome in tribute to the lives lost to coronavirus.Alternately, share on your social channels, usingthe red heart emoji with the hashtag#ourhearts2U.

As a memorial to those in the U Prep SchoolsCommunity who have lost their battle againstCOVID-19, we have created a tribute page onour website.

View Our Memorial Page

Meet Taylor Childs - Class of 2017

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Taylor Childs, a Craftsand Fibers teacher at U Prep Art & Design HighSchool, graduated from the College for CreativeStudies in 2017. She attended U Prep Schoolsfrom ninth through twelfth grade, appreciatinghow her U Prep teachers taught in a loving andcompassionate way.

"My teachers poured love and support into meand gave me opportunities I wouldn't getelsewhere," Taylor said. "I want to give thesame experience to my students. I challengethem, but I am also a listening ear and an

extension of support. I don't only focus onacademics, I also remain committed to ourschool's mission to grow and shape eachstudent’s character. This is what distinguishesour school community from others."

Read More About Taylor Childs

Celebrating U Prep Crew with 10+Years of Loyalty

This month, we are recognizing our UniversityPrep Schools Crew who have been with us forten or more years. Their loyalty and educationalleadership is appreciated by the entire U Prepfamily.

Christa AdamsJaimecee BakerAndrea BanderNicole Burris

Kyla ByasMartina CarrollCarmen Dotch

Lashonda FielderTheresa Franklin

Rita GarciaEthel Gayles

Tamara GarnerEthel Gayles

Michelle GriggsAlexander Gui

Cherese HarrellSharon HopkinsDanielle JacksonShakina JonesManal Kadry

Shila KennedyPamla King

Santosha KingDelores Koenig

Angela KundingerKimberly LlorensKari Marentette

Matthew MclarenJames Miller

Monica MotonWanda OlugbalaUrsula RaglandBernice SeatonMonica SmithJennifer Tiggs

Cecilia Whitley

Thank you so much for your serviceto our students and their families!

Learn About U Prep Culture

Tell Us What You Love About U Prep

We are sharing #UPrepPride on social media!Take a look at what some of our students andfamilies had to say about U Prep:

Davion, who attends 3rd grade at UPAD - ES,said, "I like my school because they listen tohow I feel. I feel like I can be myself and stilllearn. My teacher is nice to me and I have a lotof friends in my class."

Mrs. Henderson, who has two students at UPA -HS, told us: “We like the various educationalexperiences that U Prep engages their studentsin. Also, I like how the teachers encourage thestudents to be their best. GO PANTHERS!!”

“The Williams' Family can attest that U PrepSchools have provided a wonderful environmentfor our Kindergartner, 1st, 3rd and 6th gradestudents to thrive on their educational journey.The exposure to the various learning techniqueshave allowed each child to excel at their ownpace,” Mrs. Williams said. The Williams familyhave children at UPSM - ES and UPSM - MS.

Madison, a Junior at UPA High School, said, “Ilove the relationships I have with my teachers. Ilove how there’s so much freedom, so I can bewhoever I want to be. U Prep is like a family.”

The Day family has had students at U Prep foreight years. Mrs. Day, who is also a teacher atMark Murray, shared, “During our time here,there has always been a strong sense ofcommunity and family. U Prep focuses on somany important values like cooperation, caring,perseverance, and accountability, and does notonly educate scholars for greatness but createsproductive human beings for society.” Dayfamily members attend UPSM - MS and UPA -Mark Murray.

Briana, a member of the 8th grade class of2020, said, "One thing I love about UPSMMiddle School is that the teachers are alwayswilling to hear us out. We learn and have funwith them. They really understand and relate tous.”

The Hurst family told us, “We are a proudfounding family of UPSM - ES. We were drawn

Davion

The Henderson Family

The Williams Family

Madison (left) and her Mother

to UPSM - ES because of the community feeland the focus on science and math, which istruly needed in the black community to enhanceour children’s path towards careers of thefuture.”

Third grader Nija, who attends UPA - EllenThompson, told us, "My favorite teacher is Ms.Vallone, my 5th grade math teacher, becauseshe is nice and helps us with our work when wedon’t understand. My favorite subject is mathbecause of the challenge it gives mesometimes. I want to be a famous singer likeBeyonce’ when I grow up because I can singvery well; I just need some vocal lessons."

Tell us what you love about U Prep. Send yoursubmissions, with a photograph, toDarlene.Shropshire@uprepschools.com

The Day Family

Briana

The Hurst Family

Nija

U Prep Students Develop CareerInterests Starting on Day One

When a student becomes a member of the UPrep Crew in kindergarten, our team ofprofessional educators, aka Crew Leaders,begin helping them assess their strengths andinterests. As Crew Members matriculate throughthe years, they learn more about themselves,their interests, and one another, exploring who

they are and where they want to go throughexperiential activities related to personality,interests and careers.

By the time they enter the eighth grade, ourCrew Members are immersed in careerexploration through assessment and fieldstudies. They focus on the interconnectednessof standardized tests and post-secondaryoptions as they prepare for PSAT’s. They arealso actively engaged in service learningprojects based on original research of the needsof the local community.

When the students reach 10 th grade, they haveworked with a Crew Leader for several years,and are ready to prepare for post-secondarywork and their future careers. Juniors start thecollege search process, post-secondaryplanning, resume writing and mock interviewing,while Seniors meet with Crew Leaders bi-weeklyto monitor their progress with academics andwork habits, and to help them prepare theircollege applications. Crew also providessupport related to senior year stressors,graduation and life after high school.

In all three districts, students are immersed inthe exploration of unique future careers, inspecific Pathways. Many of these career fieldsare in high demand and/or lack diversity in bothrace and gender including: Zoological &Aquarium Studies, Gaming, Material Science &Advanced Manufacturing, Urban Ecology, Lawand Public Service related fields, and the Art &Design industry.

Each pathway has a selected number ofstudents and an accompanying partner – eithera learning institution or an industry partner.Upon completion of course requirements foreach pathway, students will have developedemployable skills to enter into the workforce.

Click here to read the Career Interest resultsfrom the survey our 2020 U Prep seniors took inthe fall of 2019: Top Prospective Careers

Learn More About U Prep Schools

UPSM High School Class Makes CandyGlass in Pathways Program

University Prep is fortunate to have an on-siteLIFT Lab—Lightweight Innovations ForTomorrow. LIFT is a national manufacturinginnovation institute operated by the AmericanLightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation

Institute (ALMMII). In this Learning Lab, scienceteacher Ms. Angela Anatalio teaches a hands-on curriculum on Materials Science working withdiverse types of materials such as metals,polymers, ceramics and glass. This lab is a partof U Prep's Pathways, wherein students areimmersed in unique career experiences.

“It’s hands-on science,” Ms. Anatalio told us.“Students become engaged and invested intheir own learning. They’ve been involved withdecision making, designing, building andbrainstorming. I was impressed at how studentswould go above and beyond what was asked attimes to ‘perfect’ their own vision for a project.”

Earlier in the year, the class made “sugar glass”by melting Jolly Rancher candies. Theyexamined the properties of the sugar glass, andcompared it to other forms of glass. Otherprojects have included designing a car andexamining properties of nanocoatings formetals.

UPSM HS student Kamryn Crain, a 2020graduating senior, said, “I enjoyed the hands on-activities and practical life skills such as takingon new challenges I didn't think I would enjoy.But doing it hands on and the structure we did itin made it fun.”

"I really enjoyed making the cement, learningmetals, coating metals and sugar glass," UPSMtenth grader Kemp Weathers shared, "It wasreally fun."

More About Our Pathways Programs

High School Sports at the U

Did you know? U Prep Schools' has a robustsports program. 2019-20 has been amemorable year in University Prep Science &Math Athletics, with the Cobras experiencingnew beginnings all around. The Cobraswelcomed new athletic coaches and started theyear showcasing Football, Cheerleading,Volleyball and Cross Country. Our Springseason was set to showcase our track team,baseball team and our very firstdevelopmental/intramural softball and soccer

team, though with the pandemic, sadly, all ofthese sports were cancelled. Read more aboutthis year’s UPSM High School sports teams.

In the 2019-20 year, University Prep Art &Design was introduced as the new school namefor Henry Ford Academy: School for CreativeStudies. Poised for a year to remember, theMustangs started the year off with Volleyballand Cross Country. Winter season began withBoys Basketball, Cheer and Girls Basketballprograms. Our spring season was set toshowcase our track team, softball team,baseball team and our very firstdevelopmental/intramural soccer team, thoughthose seasons were canceled. Read more aboutthis year’s UPAD High School sports teams.

This past fall and winter, the coaches andstudent-athletes at University Prep Academywere focused on making UPA Panthers athleticsa household name throughout the city of Detroit.Football, Volleyball, Cheer, Cross Country andBoys Soccer led us out the gate to start the2019-20 school year at University PrepAcademy. Our Spring season was set toshowcase our track team, baseball team andour very first developmental/intramural soccerand softball teams. Our hearts are saddenedthat our seniors and teams aren’t able to playtheir seasons. Read more about this year’s UPAHigh School sports teams.

We'll provide updates for our Elementary andMiddle Schools in the May e-newsletter. We areso proud of our student athletes and lookforward to coming back together when schoolstarts!

Will You Please Review the U?

Hey U Prep Parents! We need your help. Willyou please REVIEW THE U on Google Maps?

Here is what you need to do. First, go to GoogleMaps and search for your school’s name (UPrep Science & Math Elementary, etc.) Then,click the “Write a Review” button. And finally,share how you feel about U Prep Schools. Wewould love to share your thoughts with otherparents looking for a great school for theirchildren in Detroit.

Go to Google Maps

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