MISSION STATEMENT - University School

Shaker Campus 

Handbook for Parents 

2009-2010 

MISSION STATEMENT 

The mission of University School is to develop promising and motivated 

boys into accomplished and independent young men who aspire to make 

a difference in the world. The school is rigorous. Our programs, led by 

challenging and supportive faculty, promote intellectual, physical, 

creative and moral excellence. We believe these goals are best achieved 

in a diverse community where tradition is valued and where every boy is 

known and loved. 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

MISSION STATEMENT----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 

THE HONOR CODE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS -------------------------------------------3-5 

GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE -----------------------------------------------------------------------5-7 

ORGANIZATION OF THE SHAKER CAMPUS ----------------------------------------------------7-8 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

SCHOOL HOURS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 

ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9-10 

AUDITORIUM ETIQUETTE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------10 

CALENDARS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10-11 

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE --------------------------------------------------------------------------11 

COMMUNITY SERVICE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------11 

DRESS CODE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-13 

FIELD TRIPS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 

FOOD SERVICE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-14 

HOMEWORK/PROJECTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------14-16 

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------16-17 

MEDICAL INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------17-19 

MESSAGES FOR BOYS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------19 

REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS ---------------------------------------------19-21 

REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS--------------------------------------------------------------21-22 

SAFETYAND SECURITY----------------------------------------------------------------------------22-24 

SHAKER CAMPUS TRADITIONS -----------------------------------------------------------------24-26 

STUDENT SUPPLIES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------26-27 

TRANSPORTATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------27-29 

USE OF TELEPHONES and PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES-----------------------------29 

MASTERS APPRENTICE PROGRAM-----------------------------------------------------------------29 

USPA -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29-30 

SHAKER FACULTY AND STAFF -----------------------------------------------------------------31-33

THE HONOR CODE 

Throughout most of this school’s more than one hundred years, three basic values have been 

cherished as part of the School’s motto: Responsibility, Loyalty, and Consideration. Everything 

that we believe here still revolves around these basic tenets, and from this common 

understanding a wholesome school community develops. Clear, logical, and high expectations 

make sense to children. As the most important adults in young boys’ lives, teachers and parents 

must agree upon certain basic standards and hold to them. By doing so we provide a sensible and 

clear framework within which young children can grow to their greatest potential. 

Boys are expected to do their best to meet the academic, physical and social tasks that they face 

daily; to respect the property of the School and the people who live, study, and work here; to be 

honest in all their dealings in and out of school; and to understand and abide by the rules that are 

established within their classroom or division. 

At every level students have the opportunity to discuss the rules and expectations, whether in 

class meetings in the Lower School, in the Student Council in the Middle School, or in the more 

intimate sponsor or homeroom groups. They learn that rules are important, that some rules are 

non-negotiable and that they are an important part of the process. Although they might not agree 

with the reasons behind the rule, through this process students learn not only appropriate 

behavior but also the necessity for rules, ethics and standards in a free society. 

The standards and expectations outlined here have been developed in accordance with the 

School’s essential mission and purposes. So boys and their families are asked to consider them 

carefully and to raise any questions with the appropriate person at school. Since these precepts 

are basic conditions of enrollment here, it is important that they be understood, accepted and 

followed by all concerned. 

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS 

Honesty 

We expect honesty in all regards. Lying, stealing and cheating (including plagiarism) will not be 

tolerated. At all levels of the school considerable trust is placed in students. Boys have a wide 

range of obligations, both personal and academic. Therefore, a boy is expected to be worthy of 

trust, be able to make a clear distinction between his own work and that of someone else, and be 

open and straightforward in his dealings with other people. 

Cheating 

All students are expected to be honest in their dealings with the school and honest to themselves. 

They must perform on their own academic merit. Cheating cannot and will not be tolerated by 

the School. All teachers are obliged to inform their Division Director of any instances of 

cheating. Parents of the offending student will be notified and appropriate action taken. 

Academic Responsibility 

Meeting appointments and deadlines teaches organization and self-discipline. Students are 

expected to attend school if they are physically able and to be on time in the morning. Boys 

should be on time for classes and for individual appointments that are scheduled throughout the 

day. It is the boys’ responsibility to organize themselves and their time so that all academic 

assignments are turned in on time. 

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Consideration for Others and their Property 

An important part of the School’s motto is consideration for the safety and well-being of others, 

and the faculty is devoted to helping young people learn this difficult lesson. Rudeness, teasing, 

bullying, fighting, running in the halls, horseplay, stealing (even as a prank), destruction of 

personal or school property (vandalism), verbal harassment - these things have no place in a 

wholesome school community and will not be tolerated. 

Common sense should affect the day-to-day decisions that a student makes. Most buildings have 

certain “off-limits” areas; students should remain out of them. Food and drink in lockers and 

halls are forbidden; students should eat only in the lunchroom or in designated break areas and 

any trash should be disposed of properly. 

Students may not chew gum at school, as gum dropped on carpets and stuck on furniture mars 

the appearance of the building. Snacks may be purchased at designated times after school by 

students and must be consumed in designated areas. 

Courtesy 

Boys are expected to treat all members of the University School community, as well as each 

other, with courtesy and respect. Boys are also expected to extend courtesy and offer assistance 

to any visitor to the campus. Teachers consistently review these expectations with the students. 

Damage to Property 

If boys damage or break any item of school property, or notice any damage, they must 

immediately report it to an adult. Where damage occurs as a result of carelessness or 

misbehavior, boys will be charged for repairs. 

Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco 

Students may not possess, use, or sell tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or any form of non-prescribed 

drug on campus or at any school-related event. It is not only illegal for students to buy or possess 

these products, but their use is counterproductive to everything that the School represents. The 

physical and psychological effects of these products on young people are discussed in homeroom 

and classes on the Shaker Campus, and information is sent home periodically to parents. 

Students who require prescribed medication must make arrangements with the School Nurse. 

(See Medications section.) 

Weapons 

Because of the potential danger to self, others, and property, the use or possession of fireworks, 

firearms, ammunition, knives (including pocket knives), or weapons of any sort (or items that 

mimic weapons) on campus is also strictly forbidden. Laser pointers are also forbidden. 

Gambling and Money 

Playing games of chance, such as poker, is not permitted. Gambling can lead to indebtedness, ill 

will, and even theft; unsupervised card playing and games of chance are not allowed at school. 

Teachers are discouraged from allowing games of chance to occur in their homeroom. In 

addition, we discourage the selling and trading of items for personal gain. All fundraisers for 

charitable causes must be approved by the Division Director. 

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Generally, boys in grades K-2 do not need to bring any money to school. The exception to this 

would be money for a field trip or contribution to a charitable cause. In Grades 3-5, boys who 

buy a snack after school from the snack cart need a maximum of $2.00. 

Language 

We expect that boys show respect by avoiding profanity or vulgar language. Boys who use foul 

language will be sent home for repeated offenses. Parents will be made aware of any incidents so 

that any communication from us along these lines will not be a surprise. 

Movement Around the School 

All movement of children around the school, to and from special classes, lunch and recess, must 

be in an orderly fashion. There will be no running in hallways and classrooms. 

Off-Campus Deportment 

All boys and their parents are expected to be familiar with the School’s position regarding the 

off-campus behavior of its students. That position is essentially this: University School cannot 

assume direct responsibility for the off-campus, “private” lives of its students, nor does it wish 

to; that must rest with them and their parents. But the School is involved because it is concerned 

with the personal as well as the intellectual development of its students and because their out-ofschool 

conduct directly affects the School’s stature and its capacity to serve its students. So, if a 

boy should be guilty of inappropriate or unlawful conduct (either on campus or off) the School 

will pass judgment and act accordingly. 

GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE 

Our aim is to create an encouraging and supportive atmosphere for teaching and learning. 

Students require a clear code of conduct that is understood, respected and implemented fairly and 

consistently. Most disciplinary consequences are handled by teachers in the classrooms or in the 

common spaces throughout the building. More serious offenses are handled by an administrator 

working in concert with the faculty. 

Homeroom teachers in Grades K-4 and sponsors in Grades 5-8 are responsible for the personal 

guidance of their students and spend regular periods discussing values and individual problems 

with them. Homeroom teachers and sponsors also keep records of each boy and are responsible 

for communicating a sense of each boy’s personal growth to his parents through periodic 

comments or conferences. 

Teachers are assisted as necessary by the Division Directors, on-staff school psychologists and 

the Director. Serious disciplinary matters (repeated small offenses or major infractions) are 

referred to the Division Director, who recommends action to the Head of the Shaker Campus. 

Merit / Reminder System 

The great majority of unacceptable behaviors are minor misdemeanors that nevertheless need to 

be dealt with quickly and fairly. In addition, boys need to be encouraged to give their best, to 

have a sense of achievement and to feel valued. To that end, we have initiated a system of Merits 

and Reminders for boys in Grades 3-8. This is one element in a teacher’s repertoire for 

developing responsible students. The purpose is to provide feedback or commendation to boys. It 

is critical that M’s and R’s don’t limit or replace discussion between teachers and students. 

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A “Reminder” tells a boy that he should make changes in his behavior so that the misdemeanor 

does not occur again. Reminders may be given for inappropriate behavior in the halls, Chapel, 

assemblies or classroom, for homework that is not completed, for inappropriate dress or for 

being late to class. Boys who display behavior that is inconsistent with our standards receive a 

Reminder from any teacher who observes the behavior. Reminders are recorded in the student 

notebook in a positive way, i.e. “Remember to walk in the hall,” or “Remember to keep your 

shirt tucked in,” or “Remember to listen when others are speaking,” and are signed by the 

teacher. Three behavioral Reminders in one week result in a meeting with the Division Director 

in Grades K-5 and a detention in Grades 6-8. During this time, boys are asked to reflect on their 

behavior in writing. Every Monday is a new beginning for Reminders. 

“Merits” are also recorded in the student notebooks by any teacher and are a way of publicly 

recognizing boys who give their best in the area of behavior. Merits are given for behavior that is 

above and beyond the expected, i.e. going out of the way to help another student or staff member 

or doing an exceptional job on an assignment. In addition, Middle School boys who have met all 

their responsibilities for the previous week and have received no Reminders are awarded a Merit. 

Academic achievement is also rewarded. Boys who receive First Honors are awarded five 

Merits. Boys who receive Second Honors receive three Merits. Merits accumulate throughout the 

year. After receiving 10 Merits, Lower School boys are awarded a certificate in the weekly 

assembly. To ensure the value of a Merit, further awards will be made every time an additional 

20 more Merits than Reminders are accumulated. Merit awards in the Middle School vary by 

grade level. 

Demerits 

To align Middle School discipline with that of the Upper School, “Demerits” will replace 

Reminders beginning in the third trimester of Seventh Grade and continuing through Grade 8. 

Demerits will be given for the same infractions that received Reminders. The accumulation of 

five (5) Demerits will result in a detention. 

Since Merits and Reminders and Demerits are recorded in the student notebooks, parents are 

kept aware, on a daily basis, of their son’s behavioral accomplishments. 

Serious Infractions 

Some behavior is serious enough to warrant more serious consequences. We will not tolerate 

aggressive behavior such as fighting, hitting, kicking, punching, bullying, repeated teasing or 

cheating. Behaviors such as these may require a student to serve a suspension either in school or 

at home. Such disciplinary action is not taken lightly and is usually handled by an administrator 

and requires a conference with the student’s parents. Repeated infractions may put a boy’s 

continued enrollment at US at risk. Boys who are subjected to such behavior are asked to report 

it at once to either their Sponsor or to the Division Director. 

The following measures may be employed in response to serious breaches of approved 

behavior: 

Detention 

Students in Grades 6-8 may be kept before or after school or on Saturdays to complete academic 

assignments that are overdue or to review, discuss, or describe in writing a disciplinary situation, 

or to make up time lost if a student is tardy five times in one trimester. These measures take 

precedence over all other commitments including interscholastic athletics. 

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Suspension 

Suspension from school activities is an infrequent and serious disciplinary action that removes a 

student from daily classes and extra-curricular events. Such an action is usually in response to a 

serious breach of expectations or the result of chronic misbehavior. Students may be required to 

serve an in-school or at-home suspension. Although reading or writing may be assigned in 

addition to the regular assignments, a student is also responsible for his daily school work during 

this period. Students who are suspended are reminded that they have already separated 

themselves from the common principles of the School by their actions and their removal 

constitutes a symbolic affirmation of that fact. 

Student Discipline Committee 

The Middle School Student Discipline Committee meets with individual boys to discuss more 

serious breaches of conduct or patterns of behavior. The Committee is made up of ten boys who 

have been recommended by the Executive Committee of Student Council and approved by the 

Head of the Shaker Campus. In addition, the Middle School Student Discipline Committee 

includes the Middle School Director and, schedule permitting, the sponsor of the student who has 

been called. The goal is to help the boy understand the impact of his behavior on the community 

and make recommendations for consequences both to the boy and to the Head of the Shaker 

Campus. 

Probation 

A student is placed on probation when, in the judgment of the faculty, the Division Director and 

the Head of the Shaker Campus, he fails to meet the minimum academic or behavioral standards 

of the School. This special status is used as a means of motivation for improved behavior and as 

a sign that a student’s continued membership in the School is uncertain. Parents and students are 

advised of the specific conditions of the probation. The status is usually maintained through the 

end of the school year. 

Expulsion 

Boys may be dismissed from University School for academic reasons or for major or continued 

breaches of school regulations. Such actions are taken reluctantly, however, and only after the 

most serious deliberation. To the best of its ability the School will assist in helping the student 

gain admission to another school. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE SHAKER CAMPUS 

The Shaker Campus (Grades K-8) has two Divisions - the Lower School consisting of Grades K- 

5 and the Middle School which is Grades 6-8 – each with its own Director. 

THE LOWER SCHOOL 

The Lower School is composed of homerooms in Kindergarten through Grade Five. Each grade 

level is divided into homerooms with two homeroom teachers in grades K-2 and one homeroom 

teacher in grades 3-5. Homeroom teachers and sponsors are responsible for coordinating 

schedules, developing curriculum, taking attendance, monitoring behavior, coordinating 

communication with and reporting progress to parents and generally supervising the students in 

their homerooms. 

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Classes in Kindergarten through Grade 4 are self-contained - the homeroom teacher teaches all 

major academic subjects. In addition, specialist teachers instruct students in science, art, music, 

library, computer, physical education and Spanish. In Grade 5 the students travel as a homeroom 

group from class to class where teachers provide instruction in English/social studies, math, 

science, Spanish, music, art and physical education. 

Support Staff 

In addition to the homeroom and special teachers, there are two learning specialists – Mrs. 

Lauren Calig and Mrs. Suzanne Fitzpatrick - who work with students in reading or language arts, 

and two math specialists – Mr. Dick Parke and Mr. Vin Fiordalis - who work with students in 

math. Dr. Debra Lawrence acts as consulting psychologist. 

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL 

The Middle School consists of grades 6-8 and each grade is divided into sponsor groups. 

Subjects are departmentalized and students travel from class to class. The goals of the Middle 

School program include: 

• The development of an independent approach to studies through efficient planning, 

organization, self-initiated efforts (going beyond the minimum), and persistence. 

• The achievement of conceptual understanding of subject areas and growing mastery 

in the skills of reading, writing, computing and applying the scientific method. 

• A spirit of cooperation: the recognition that effective learning requires the 

engagement of a student in a group process that includes peers and adults. 

• An understanding and acceptance of the individual's responsibility to the school 

community, including awareness of important values, commitment to obligations, 

reasoned judgment governing behavior, and adherence to a community code of 

honor. 

In Grade Six, English and social studies are integrated. The boys choose the foreign language 

they wish to pursue for three years from Latin, Spanish or French. Music is a choice of orchestra, 

chorus or music tech and all boys receive instruction in art, drama and computer. The boys have 

physical education (Field) four times a week for 45 minutes. 

In Grades Seven and Eight boys continue with the foreign language they began in Grade Six. All 

boys choose to participate in orchestra, chorus, music tech or drama. Seventh and Eighth graders 

all receive instruction in computer, technology and art. The boys attend physical education 

(Field) twice a week for one trimester. All boys are required to participate in two after school 

activities, one of which must be an interscholastic sport. All boys will complete a trimester of 

health education as part of their field requirement. 

Support Staff 

Boys and teachers are supported in their classroom endeavors by learning specialists. Mrs. 

Leslie Muha coordinates student support and Mrs. Patty Dowd coordinates enrichment in the 

Center For Excellence. Faculty members are available before and after school to provide 

homework and study support in the Center For Excellence. Dr. Ethan Schafer serves as 

consulting psychologist. 

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GENERAL INFORMATION 

SCHOOL HOURS 

Beginning and Closing Times 

GRADES BEGIN END 

Kindergarten 8:00 (M-F) 2:45 (M-Th) 11:30 (F) 

1 - 8 8:00 (M-F) 3:00 (M-F) 

Parents should make every effort to drop off boys between 7:30 and 8:00 am and to pick them up 

promptly following their last school commitment of the day. 

Early Birds and Late Birds 

Students in Grades K-5 who, for unavoidable reasons, must be dropped off at school prior to 

8:00 am are required to report to the Chapel for Early Birds which begins at 7:30 and where 

supervision is provided. Boys should be dropped off at the main entrance under the Tower and 

report directly to the Chapel. At the end of the day. Lower School boys are supervised by their 

homeroom teachers until 3:30 pm. Lower School boys who wait for late busses are supervised 

until 4:00 pm in Late Birds. 

Students in Grades 6-8 are not directly supervised before school begins, although faculty are 

often available for extra help at this time. Boys may go to the library or the computer center. 

Middle School boys are supervised after school until 3:30 by the teacher assigned to Circle Duty 

for that week. 

Boys in Grades K-8 who must remain after school beyond 4:00 participate in a structured 

activity-oriented after school program offered 5 days a week from 3:15 until 6:00 for a fee. This 

program is run by University School teachers and offers boys the opportunity to engage in arts 

and crafts, playground games, homework completion and much more. Families can sign up for 

as many days a week as they need and a daily "drop-in" option is available as well. Tuition for 

the after school program is in addition to the regular school tuition. 

Emergency Closings 

In case of inclement weather or other emergencies requiring the school to be closed, notice will 

be broadcast as soon as possible on radio and television. It will also be posted on the school web 

site (www.us.edu) and broadcast through the new Emergency Alert Phone System. Ultimately, 

however, it is the parents’ responsibility to know if school is open or closed. 

ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS 

Start of School Day 

School begins at 8:00 and boys are expected to be in their homeroom by that time. Boys who 

arrive after 8:05 are considered tardy. 

Late Students 

Boys who are late, and arrive after 8:05 am are considered tardy and must sign in at the Main 

Office. Boys leaving school early and /or returning to school must sign out / sign in at the Main 

Office. 

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Absences 

If your son is absent, please call Mrs. Joy Klein (216-321-8260) after 8:00 am and report the 

reason for his absence. Daily homework assignments are posted on the US website and boys are 

expected to make up any work they miss while they are absent. They have as many days as they 

are out to complete the assignments. 

In order to participate in after school activities, a boy must attend the regular school day. 

Chronic Absenteeism and Tardiness 

Chronic absenteeism and/or tardiness reflect a serious academic problem that may 

warrant disciplinary action and may also place re-enrollment in jeopardy. A continued 

pattern of tardiness will result in behavioral consequences and necessitate a note to parents. 

Special Vacations Policy 

The school strongly discourages vacations or excursions outside of the scheduled school 

vacations on our academic calendar. Teachers are not able to provide families with 

supplementary work to accompany such excursions. We believe that generous vacation time is 

planned into our academic year; thus we take a strong position and ask that no special 

concessions be requested. 

Written notice for absences 

On the rare occasion that a boy must be excused from school at a time other than school 

vacations, written notification to the Head of the Shaker Campus is requested in advance. Please 

copy this notification to the student’s homeroom teacher and division director. 

Medical and Dental Appointments 

Every effort should be made not to schedule medical appointments during the academic day. 

Please try to schedule all appointments, as difficult as that may be, outside of school hours. 

AUDITORIUM ETIQUETTE 

Members of the University School community are expected to develop and demonstrate courteous 

behavior while in Conway Hall and Conway Theatre. No food, candy, gum, snacks or beverages are 

allowed in the public spaces of the theatre including hallways, the seating areas and backstage at any 

time. This applies equally to staff, faculty, students, guests and the public. In addition, we expect all who 

use this space to treat it “with respect”. We expect boys to monitor their conduct and display exemplary 

public behavior at all times. This includes avoiding arriving or leaving in the middle of activities taking 

place on stage whether during day or evening performances. It also includes not speaking or whispering 

or behaving in any way that might detract from the performance. All audience members are asked to turn 

off electronic devices such as pagers, watch alarms, and cell phones when in the theatre. The use of 

recording devices or flash cameras by members of the audience is forbidden unless otherwise noted. 

CALENDARS 

E-Newsletter 

A bi-weekly Shaker Campus E-Newsletter is emailed to parents and posted on the U.S. web site 

every other Friday. This includes columns from the Head of the Shaker Campus and Division 

Directors, articles about events on campus and a calendar of upcoming events. 

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Monthly Calendar 

A monthly calendar that lists events occurring at US is available on the US website at the 

beginning of each month. 

CCIS Calendar 

The CCIS (Cleveland Council of Independent Schools) calendar is available on the CCIS 

website at CCIS.org. This calendar lists all of the important dates for events happening at each of 

the schools in the Council (Andrews School, Grand River Academy, Hathaway Brown School, 

Hawken School, Lake Ridge Academy, Laurel School, Lawrence School, Old Trail School, 

Phillips Osborne School, The Ratner School, Ruffing Montessori East, University School and 

Western Reserve Academy). Because this calendar covers so many schools, itis wise to confirm 

all dates with individual school calendars. 

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE 

Gail Stein and Brian Hart are the Co-Directors. Patty Dowd is the Coordinator of Student 

Enrichment and Leslie Muha is the Middle School Learning Specialist. The mission of the 

Center is the pursuit of excellence in teaching and in learning for boys, faculty, parents and the 

broader school community. It is a very exciting concept that has already captured the 

imagination and support of faculty. The Center will be responsible for not only coordinating the 

provision of extra assistance and enrichment to boys, but will be innovative in devising programs 

and opportunities that engage boys, faculty and parents in learning and personal development. 

The Center For Excellence is designed to provide the program, personnel, and facility to 

supplement the curriculum in such a way that it caters to the exceptional abilities and interests of 

students in Grades K-8. The Center thus enables the realization of our mission to take all boys to 

the full extent of their intellectual range. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

All boys of the School (K-12) participate in some type of community service. US has historically 

developed in its students a sense of commitment to the greater community, and alumni have gone 

on to serve Greater Cleveland as leaders of and volunteers for countless worthy civic, 

philanthropic, educational and social action concerns. 

Lower School boys are typically involved in community service projects related to the themes 

they are studying or current needs in the school, the neighborhood or the larger city. Some of 

these projects are sponsored by USPA. 

Middle School boys are expected to contribute five hours of community service in the course of 

the school year. A variety of in-school jobs are posted, but boys may also serve in approved offcampus 

programs. There are several community service events each year that involve the entire 

Shaker Campus or an entire division. These have included canned food drives, collection of toys 

and gifts for needy families during the holidays, collections of gently used books, etc. 

DRESS CODE 

We believe that it is important for young people to differentiate between school and recreational 

dress. All students should wear clothes for school that are clean, neat, and appropriately fitted. 

Shirts should be tucked in, socks should be worn at all times, shoes should be tied, and belts used 

with slacks that have belt loops. No hats are to be worn in the building. Please be sure that all 

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clothing is marked with the student’s name. The following guidelines apply to all boys K-8 from 

the time they enter the building in the morning until they leave in the afternoon. 

Standard Dress: Daily wear 

Pants: Appropriately fitted dress style khaki, navy blue, or black pants or dress style corduroy 

pants in khaki, navy blue, or black. Pants with belt loops must be worn with a belt. Khaki or 

navy dress shorts may be worn from the start of school through Thanksgiving and from Spring 

Break to the end of the year. Common sense should dictate when shorts are appropriate. Cargo 

pants or cargo shorts may not be worn. Boys are not to “sag” their pants. 

Shirts: Boys in Grades K-5 may wear cotton dress shirts in solid colors, small checks or narrow 

stripes. Collared long or short sleeved polo shirts are permitted in solid colors, checks or stripes. 

Solid color turtlenecks may also be worn. Boys in Grades 6-8 are required to wear cotton 

dress shirts in solid colors, small checks or narrow stripes. Polo and rugby shirts and 

turtlenecks are not permitted. 

No outerwear including sweatshirts, down or fleece vests, parkas, fleece jackets or 

overcoats are to be worn to classes or to lunch. 

Shoes: Boys in K-5 may wear either athletic or dress shoes. If they wear dress shoes they need to 

keep a pair of athletic shoes in their locker or cubby for use in gym. Boys in Grades 6-8 are 

required to wear appropriately fitted brown or black leather, dress shoes and must have a pair 

of athletic shoes for physical education. The athletic shoes can be either velcro or lace up in 

Grades K-1 and must be lace up in Grades 2-8. Slip-on or zipper athletic shoes are not 

appropriate. All shoes with laces must be kept tied. All shoes must be worn with socks. 

Timberland style shoes / boots may be worn from Thanksgiving to Spring Break. They must be 

tied at all times. Sandals of all kinds, slipper style shoes and clogs are not appropriate. 

Formal Dress: (Every boy must have the following for special occasions). Khaki dress slacks 

(no shorts), dress shoes, light blue or white dress shirt, navy blue blazer, and school tie (blazer 

is optional in grades K-2). Boys in musical groups in Grades 4-8 are required to wear a white 

shirt when performing. Middle School boys who do not wear formal dress on required occasions 

have the option of wearing their formal dress the following day or serving a detention the day of 

the occasion. 

8th grade graduation dress required: navy blue blazer, white shirt, white pants, dark socks and 

dark dress shoes. 

House Shirt Days: All boys wear their House Shirts on Fridays. House shirts should be worn 

with regular school pants and should be tucked in, except for the House rugby shirts which may 

be left untucked. 

Casual Dress: (used on dress down days): Shirts of any description (excluding those with 

inappropriate messages or pictures, or those that are torn.), pants of any description (excluding 

those that are torn or have holes) and shoes of any description, with socks are acceptable on dress 

down days which are announced ahead of time. Note: Hats are not a part of dress down days 

unless special permission is given. 

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Haircuts: All students must keep their hair combed, clean, and reasonably trimmed. Hair should 

not touch shoulders or hang over the eyes. Exotic haircuts, extreme coloring and/or bleaching are 

inappropriate. 

Jewelry: As part of the U.S. commitment to helping boys focus on important issues and not 

become absorbed in fads of style, U.S. students may not wear ear studs or bracelets or any other 

form of jewelry while in school or participating in any school activity. The only exception to this 

would be a religious symbol (cross, Star of David, etc.) worn on a chain under the shirt. 

FIELD TRIPS 

Day Trips 

Classes are encouraged to take field trips that relate to and extend their studies. Each student 

must have a signed permission slip on file before going on any field trips. Students without 

permission slips will remain at school, assigned to another class, until their class returns. 

Students may be charged for field trips to cover the cost of entrance to a museum or other costs 

associated with the trip. Classes use school busses for transportation on field trips. 

Overnight Trips 

During the year students in Grades 4-8 take overnight field trips that relate to the subject or 

theme being studied. These trips vary in length from one night to a week. The cost of these trips 

also varies depending on length and accommodations. You will receive complete information 

about each trip and a tearslip that must be returned as the year progresses. Destinations are as 

follows: 

Grade 3 Fall – extended day camping trip Camp Whitewood 

Grade 4 Spring – East Coast Whaling trip (5 nights) 

Grade 5 Spring – Williamsburg and D.C. trip (3 nights) 

Grade 6 Fall – Kelleys Island camping trip (2 nights) 

Spring Trip (4 nights) 

Grade 7 Fall – Ohio Trip (2 nights) 

Crossing Barriers Spring Projects 

Grade 8 Fall – Camping Trips 

Experiencing Cleveland Spring Projects 

FOOD SERVICE 

Snack 

Each day a snack is served. Boys in Grades 6-8 have their snack during the morning break. Boys 

in Grades K-5 have their snack when their schedule permits. Snacks are to be eaten in designated 

areas only (Chapel, Checkered Hall or outside) and boys are responsible for cleaning up any 

crumbs and disposing of milk cartons appropriately. 

Lunch 

Grades K-2 11:15-11:50 

Grades 3-5 12:00-12:30 

Grades 6-8 12:45-1:30 

The monthly lunch menu is posted on the US website. All boys eat lunch in the Chapel. Boys are 

to proceed to lunch with their teacher in a quiet and orderly fashion. Once in the Chapel, boys go 

13

to their tables and remain standing until grace is said. Two boys at each table are appointed as 

waiters, and they are the only boys who should be out of their seats during lunch. They are 

responsible for refilling dishes with seconds, getting milk if needed, and providing glasses for 

water if boys request them. 

The only reason for other boys to leave the table is to go to the salad bar. No boys may leave the 

table without permission from the teacher. Lunch is served family-style with an adult serving the 

table. No one is to begin eating until all are served. Boys may request a little of something or a 

lot or none at all. There is always bread, butter, peanut butter and jelly, as well as a salad bar for 

boys who wish an alternative to the entree. Dessert is not served until boys have finished the 

main course. Milk is drunk out of the half-pint carton; glasses are reserved for water. 

When all the boys at the table have finished the meal, silverware is collected in one plastic tub 

and dishes are scraped into the other. The waiters then carry the used dishes to the clearing carts, 

dispose of the garbage and return any leftover food to the tables in the back of the Chapel. The 

waiters then wipe down the tables with the rags provided in buckets of soapy water. The boys are 

expected to return to their seats and remain quiet for announcements. They may finish clearing 

after announcements if they have not finished before. Lower School boys are dismissed by grade 

level with their teachers when their tables are clear. 

Snack Cart 

Each day after school, the USPA operates two snack carts - one in the Checkered Hall for Grades 

3-5 and another in the Middle School Commons for boys in Grades 6-8. The carts sell juice 

boxes, crackers, cookies, dried fruit snacks, etc. Each item costs $.50. If your son will be 

purchasing snacks after school, $2.00 is the maximum he would need on any given day. Snacks 

must be consumed either in the Checkered Hall or outside the building. Snack containers and 

wrappers must be disposed of properly. 

Drinks Machine 

Boys in Grades 6-8 may purchase drinks from the machine near the gym. These drinks must be 

consumed in the area of the machine or outside the building and may not be carried throughout 

the school. Empty containers should be recycled in the containers provided. 

HOMEWORK/PROJECTS 

How much homework should my son have 

The average amount of homework per night increases from 15 minutes in Kindergarten to 1-2 

hours in Middle School. These are average times. Some nights your son might have less, some 

nights more. How long it takes your son to complete his homework has a great deal to do with 

how he uses his time. If he makes good use of his time in class and in study periods he will have 

less work to complete at home. In the Middle School, the time a boys spends on his homework 

will depend on his grade level, his schedule, due dates on long term assignments, and his 

individual study habits. 

What should we do at home to facilitate homework completion 

The most important thing parents can do to set aside adequate time for homework. Homework 

should take precedence over most outside activities including athletics. 

Creating a structured place for boys to do their homework, beginning in the Lower School 

grades, also helps them develop the routines they will need to be successful. 

14

What if my son is too busy to complete his homework 

Although we are sympathetic to the busy schedules of today’s families, homework is an 

important part of the educational program and is expected to take precedence over most 

outside activities. Missing or incomplete homework is expected to be completed and boys are 

rarely excused from completing homework assignments. 

How do I know what homework my son has 

Lower School teachers explain homework routines at parent conferences in September, at 

Curriculum Night and often through Friday letters. Beginning in third grade, boys are expected 

to write their assignments in their student notebooks. Boys write their homework assignments in 

their student notebooks. Check his notebook - nightly in Grades K-6 and weekly in Grades 7 

and 8. There should be assignments written in it for most nights beginning in Grade 2. 

What is the point of homework 

Homework serves many purposes including: 

• review of the day’s lessons (math problems, review class notes, answer questions) 

• preparation for the next day’s classes (practice spelling words or math facts, study for a 

test)develop self-initiated learning (choose materials for independent reading, extend 

research of a classroom topic) 

• practice using resources or techniques (practice musical instruments, using computer 

skills) 

• engage in more in-depth work (locating resources for a research project) develop 

independence, discipline, time management and responsibility (record, complete and 

return homework on time) 

The most important homework involves pleasure reading: reading to your son in grades K- 

2 and reading with your son in grades 3-8. Reading to and with your son are the most 

important things you can do to instill in him a love of reading. Boys become better readers 

by reading and reading and reading. 

What if my son doesn’t understand his homework or wants my help 

Offer him help with the general concepts his homework covers. For example, explain the process 

of long division but don’t do the problems for him; explain what makes a complete sentence but 

don’t correct all of his sentences. 

Encourage him to check over all of his work when he has finished it. As your son gets older, 

he will probably want your help less and less. If you do your son’s homework with him each 

night and all his answers are perfectly correct, his teachers don’t really know how much he 

understands and is able to do on his own. 

What if my son forgets his books or something else he needs to do his homework 

Don’t make it a habit to “bail out” your son. Don’t offer to take him back to school to get 

forgotten materials, don’t run out to buy tagboard at the last minute, and don’t write notes to his 

teacher asking that he be excused from completing an assignment. Your sons know that 

homework is usually meant to be completed the night it is assigned and they know the penalty 

for not doing it. 

What are the penalties for not completing homework 

15

In the Lower School a boy might be asked to complete the assignment the following night or to 

stay in from recess to complete it. In the Middle School boys who do not complete their 

homework serve an academic detention the same day after school. Boys are well aware of the 

penalties. 

How do I know if my son has a long-term project due 

Projects are done at all grade levels at University School. All long-term projects and their due 

dates are noted by the boys in their student notebooks. Teachers distribute written guidelines that 

clearly indicate timelines, due dates and checkpoints and allowable degree of parent 

involvement. Boys might be asked to keep a written record of their progress on the project and 

plans or blueprints may be required before work begins. 

How much should I help my son with projects 

Parents may make suggestions, help boys acquire necessary materials, and offer guidance but the 

majority of the actual work should be done by the boys. If parents are involved, boys should be 

honest in their discussions and reflective writing about the degree of parental involvement. 

My son seems to have a lot more homework than the “average”. When can I say enough is 

enough 

There might be a number of reasons it is taking your son longer than average to complete his 

homework. Is he taking advantage of time in school to get started Is he truly focused on his 

work at home Are there things that distract him from the work he is supposed to be doing If 

the problem is that he truly doesn’t understand the homework, and he has spent a reasonable 

amount of time trying to complete it, have him stop. Be sure to write a note to that effect in his 

student notebook. That way his teachers will be informed 

of any difficulties he is having. 

What about homework on religious holidays 

Faculty are expected to be aware of religious holidays that occur throughout the year. They are 

asked not to assign homework on those nights and to refrain from scheduling tests and projects 

for the following day. 

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

University School encourages all boys to accept responsibility and become leaders. There are 

several specific ways in which this is nurtured. Boys are expected to be responsible for their 

personal belongings, their academic assignments, and their lockers or cubby. Throughout the 

school, boys have regular classroom or school wide jobs for which they are responsible each day. 

These include being line leader, taking care of classroom animals, straightening various parts of 

the classroom, collecting attendance slips, being a waiter and clearing and resetting tables at 

lunch, collecting paper and cans for recycling, making and delivering soup to a Cleveland soup 

kitchen, etc. 

Fifth Grade Leadership Council 

In Fifth Grade, 8 boys are elected to Leadership Council in the fall, 2 from each homeroom. 

Boys are nominated, make a presentation to Grades 3-5 and are then elected by the boys in those 

grades. Leadership Council members have lunch meetings once a month during which they 

discuss possible activities, suggest solutions to common problems and generate leadership 

opportunities. 

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Student Council 

Student Council offers boys in Middle School a variety of opportunities for leadership. All boys 

participate in Student Council at one level or another. Student Council is organized into three 

levels of participation: 

(1) The General Assembly 

The General Assembly consists of all boys in Grades 6-8 and meets once a month. These 

meetings are conducted by the Student Executive to enable it to report back to, gain input from, 

and enlist volunteers for tasks and committees from the general Middle School Student body. 

(2) The Student Leadership Council 

The Student Leadership Council is comprised of homeroom representatives elected by each 

homeroom in grades 6-8 and House Captains elected by their houses. Leadership Council 

delegates lead discussions in their homeroom and solicit input from homeroom members. The 

Leadership Council meets every two weeks for decision-making, taking votes when necessary, 

giving progress reports and seeking membership for task groups or committees. 

(3) The Student Executive Council 

The Student Executive Council consists of 12 boys elected from and by the Student Leadership 

Council following an intensive Leadership Retreat. The President and Vice-President are elected 

from the Student Executive Council by the General Assembly. The Student Executive Council 

meets weekly with the Head of the Shaker Campus. 

Maroon Key 

Boys in Grades 6-8 are chosen to participate in Maroon Key based on their proven responsibility 

and leadership qualities. These boys serve as hosts for U.S. events such as Admissions Open 

Houses, Alumni Day and Grandparent’s Day. 

MEDICAL INFORMATION 

School Nurse 

There is a school nurse on duty daily from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. She treats injuries and illnesses 

that occur during the school day, administers medication and works with faculty and 

administration to develop and teach various health-related curriculum. Boys in grades 4-8 who 

visit the nurse must take their student notebooks and receive a sticker from the nurse indicating 

the time and length of their visit. 

Illnesses 

Please do not send your son to school if he is sick. We ask you to keep your son home when you 

observe any of the following: 

Fever over 100°F (within 24 hours) 

Vomiting / Diarrhea 

Discharge in or around the eyes 

Questionable rash 

Green or yellow runny nose 

Excessive coughing 

Any communicable disease (e.g. active chicken pox, impetigo, strep throat, lice, etc.) 

Wound infection 

Note: 

• If you have taken your son for a strep test, please keep him at home until the results are 

received. 

17

• If your son is being treated with an antibiotic, he should receive treatment for at least 24 

hours before returning to school. 

• If your son has a wound infection or drainage, it must be evaluated by a physician, kept 

covered and written notice provided by the doctor clearing your son for school 

participation. 

Health Reports 

A Health Form and an Emergency Authorization card is due to the nurse’s office by August 1st 

every year for each child. Without a completed student health record, we are not up-to-date on 

your son’s current health status. For this reason, boys will be excluded from field trips, physical 

education, and afterschool sports until we have received the completed record. 

Note: All boys entering the seventh grade are required to have documentation of having received 

a second MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination. 

Prescription Medications 

Prescription medications given to the boys must be prescribed by a physician for a specific 

illness and are kept with the school nurse. Should your child require prescription medication at 

any time during the school year, please stop at the Nurse’s Office for the Physician’s Prescribed 

Medication Request Form, which requires a parent’s signature and physician’s statement. 

Medication must bear the pharmacy prescription label and be clearly marked with name of drug, 

dosage, and administration directions. The medication must be brought, by an adult, to the 

Nurse’s office where it is kept in a locked cabinet and is administrated by the Nurse. Boys may 

not transport drugs on a school bus. In these cases parents or guardians must agree to deliver the 

medicine to school. Under no circumstances is any medication to be kept in lockers or 

classrooms or be self-administered. Note: Exceptions are made for specific medications, e.g. 

inhalers or EpiPens, that the doctor determines must be kept on a student’s person. By law, 

parent’s and physicians’ signatures are required for these. Changes in medication throughout the 

school year should be sent in writing to the school nurse. 

Over-The-Counter Medications 

The Nurse has a physician's order to dispense specific over-the-counter medications to students 

unless otherwise indicated. All medications are given judiciously according to label 

recommendations unless the nurse is notified in writing by the parents. The following 

medications are permitted to be dispensed to boys only according to the medication policy: 

Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin) 

Benadryl - oral 

Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) 

Cepacol lozenges 

Benadryl – topical 

Caladryl lotion 

Phenylephrine decongestant (with a phone call to parents) Tums 

If you have any objection to your son receiving the above medication, please advise the school 

nurse in writing; otherwise the nurse will assume permission is granted to dispense these 

medications if necessary. Agreement with the above protocol will relinquish any University 

School employee from civil damages for administering or failing to administer the drug, unless 

he/she acted in a manner that would constitute “gross negligence or wanton or reckless 

misconduct.” Any other OTC medication must be brought in to the Clinic by the parent in the 

original labeled container. Written signed and dated instructions must be made on the medication 

form available in the Clinic. Without this form, no medication will be administered by school 

personnel. 

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Medical Excuses From Field 

If a boy is in school, we assume he is well enough to attend Field and Recess unless he has a note 

from a parent excusing him from these activities. If a boy feels ill during the day he should see 

the nurse to be evaluated. Unless instructed otherwise, a boy excused from field should still 

report with his class, in order to observe instruction. Boys who have missed half a day or more of 

school may not participate in athletic practices or contests or any other extracurricular activities 

on that day. 

Medical Care 

When a boy becomes ill during the school day, he is sent by the teacher to the Nurse’s office to 

be evaluated. If he is ill enough to be sent home, he waits in the Nurse’s office until a parent or 

other party can be reached. Boys may not dismiss themselves by calling home, and an ill child 

should not go home alone. Therefore, please list emergency telephone numbers on the Health 

Form and Emergency Authorization Form. We understand that sometimes you cannot pick your 

son up immediately after being called, but please attempt to arrive as soon as possible; some 

days we have Standing Room Only! 

Medical Screenings 

During the school year, vision and hearing screenings are given to all new boys and all boys in 

Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7. Other boys will be screened when parent or teacher requests this be done. If 

a child fails an initial screening, a 2nd screening will be conducted within two weeks. If results 

remain substandard, a referral form will be sent home and a follow-up call will be made by the 

nurse. Please attempt to expedite professional exams so interventions may be instituted in a 

timely manner. 

MESSAGES FOR BOYS 

When you have to get a message to your son or another boy during the day, please call before 

lunch if at all possible. It is difficult to guarantee delivery of the message after that time. If you 

are delayed in picking up your son, please call and inform the school before 4:30 pm as there is 

no one to answer the phone after that time. 

REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS 

Communication with parents is a top priority of University School and takes many forms. 

Parents who have a specific question or a concern should begin with their son’s homeroom 

teacher or sponsor. If the issue cannot be 

resolved, then parents should talk to their Division Director or the Head of the Shaker Campus. 

Parents who have questions or concerns are asked to communicate with school personnel in 

the following order: 

• Homeroom Teacher or Sponsor 

• Subject Area Teacher 

• Middle School Grade Level Dean 

Homeroom teachers and sponsors are the faculty members who best know your son. They act as 

liaisons with faculty in other subject areas. Homeroom teachers and sponsors will communicate 

your questions or concerns to team leaders, middle school grade level deans and division 

directors. 

Student Notebooks 

19

Each student in Grades K-8 receives a student notebook at the beginning of the year. Students in 

grades 3-8 are expected to record all assignments in the book daily. The book is also used to 

record the Merits and Reminders received by the student. Brief notes to and from parents are also 

recorded in the notebook. Students in Grades K-6 take the book home each night and have it 

signed by their parents. In Grades 7 and 8 the notebook is signed at the end of the week by the 

sponsor. Parents should check the book and initial it over the weekend. Sponsors will review the 

book on Monday, noting any questions or information recorded by the parents. All important 

notices / correspondence sent home are to be recorded in the notebook and must be signed 

for by a parent to indicate they have been received. 

Friday Folders 

Each student in Grades K-4 has a folder reserved for carrying papers and notices home on 

Friday. In addition, the folder may be used to send home work completed during the week, notes 

from teachers, permission slips and other items of interest to parents. Look for this folder on 

Friday, go through it with your son, remove the papers, and have him return the folder to his 

homeroom teacher on Monday. 

Students in Grades 5-8 do not have a Friday Folder, but notices are generally sent home with the 

boys on Friday. Parents should expect to receive these notices on Friday and should sign the 

student notebook indicating having received them. 

Newsletters 

A bi-weekly Shaker Campus E-Newsletter is emailed to parents and posted on the U.S. web site 

every other Friday. This includes columns from the Head of the Shaker Campus and Division 

Directors, articles about events on campus and a calendar of upcoming events. 

Weekly Letters 

Every Friday, homeroom teachers in Grades K-4 will post on the US website a letter or 

newsletter that briefly describes the week just ended and highlights upcoming events. These 

letters can be written by the teacher or can be a collaboration with the students. Some weeks they 

will be longer and more detailed than others. 

Classroom Visitation 

Parents are welcome to visit classes. Please call your son’s teacher/sponsor first so that we don’t 

have too many visitors on one day and in order to avoid a day on which a class might be testing 

or off-campus. Often particular grades will invite parents to class for special presentations. You 

are also welcome to join your son for lunch. Please send a note or call ahead first. 

Website 

The official University School website www.us.edu is designed for the general public and can be 

accessed by anyone with a computer connected to the World Wide Web. This website is a source 

of information for all members of the University School Community, especially parents. It 

contains a wide variety of general information about the school, calendars, weekly newsletters, 

daily assignments and announcements, Middle School sporting events and other pertinent 

information. 

It is our hope that parents will use the US website on a daily basis to keep informed and up to 

date on what is happening at the school. Below is a small listing of what you can find. 

• Daily announcements (These announcements are for all members of the University 

School community and may apply to faculty, students, and parents or to all of the 

20

above.) 

• Weekly Calendar (a daily listing of what is happening at the school Monday thru 

Sunday and 

upcoming events) 

• Yearly Calendar 

• Supply Lists 

• Shaker Campus Newsletter 

• Middle School Sports Schedules (by season) 

• Directions to Away Games (printable by location) 

• House Activities 

• USPA Information 

Additionally, there are links to many sites of value to students, teachers, parents and faculty 

members that can be accessed by clicking on the U.S.Public Website and then signing in and 

clicking on your particular area of interest. There you will find a plethora of information, not to 

mention pictures, from each and every grade. 

REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS 

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Although teachers willingly schedule conferences with parents throughout the year, formal 

conferences are scheduled at several times during the year. 

Introductory parent conferences are held with all parents of boys in Grades 1-5 during the 

month of September. These conferences give parents an opportunity to share information about 

their son with his new teacher and give the teachers an opportunity to share expectations. Middle 

School Sponsors conduct getting-to-know-you personal or telephone conferences with parents of 

their sponsees in September. 

Formal parent conferences are held twice a year, in December and March. One day is provided 

for conferences when students are not in school. Since not all conferences can be scheduled in 

one day, planning times (when students are in special classes) and before and after school times 

must be used as well. Lower School teachers are responsible for scheduling their own 

conferences with parents and send home a conference schedule that allows parents to indicate 

times that are convenient for them to come for a conference. Parents of boys in Grades 6-8 call 

the school to make an appointment. These conferences cover a boy’s academic progress as well 

as his social development. Parents of boys in Grades K-4 are given a copy of the written 

Conference Preparation Notes at the conference. Parents of boys in Grades 5-8 receive their 

son’s report card in the mail prior to the conference. 

Early Assessment 

In the Middle School Early Assessment Sponsor Comments are completed and mailed to 

parents early in October. The purpose of this is to enable the boys to become more adept at 

personally evaluating their progress and to identify any trends that may be emerging. Each 

sponsor has individual conference with their sponsees to review the comments and discuss the 

results. Parents are urged to discuss the comments with their sons. 

Formal Assessment 

21

In grades K-4 no letter grades are given. Formal assessment is communicated through parent 

conferences, written narrative summaries and checklists. In Grade 4, boys are introduced to letter 

grades after Spring Break. From then until the end of the year, boys will receive letter grades on 

quizzes in math and spelling. Major projects are assessed with project rubrics, but no letter 

grades are assigned. 

In Grades K-4 checklists have been developed to track boys’ progress during the year in relation 

to the overall goals and the skills of the subject at that grade level. In Grade 5, a progress report 

with grades and sponsor comments is provided to parents at the end of each marking period. The 

progress report includes a letter grade. 

In Grade 5, a progress report with grades and sponsor comments is provided to parents at the end 

of each marking period. As a transition from the Lower to Middle School, BGL (Below Grade 

Level) is given in place of a D or an F. 

Students in Grades 6-8 receive letter grades, checklists and comments at the end of each 

trimester and report cards are mailed at the end of each grading period. End-of-the-year report 

cards all include letter grades but have comments only in case of a dramatic change in 

achievement or work ethic. 

Students in Grade 5-8 receive letter grades as follows: 

(97% -100%) A+ (73% - 76%) C 

(93% - 96%) A (70% - 72%) C- 

(90% - 92%) A- (67% - 69%) D+ Fifth Graders who receive below a 

(87% - 89%) B+ (63% - 66%) D C- receive a BGL rather than a D or 

(83% - 86%) B (63% - 66%) D an F as a transition to letter grades. 

(80% - 82%) B- (60% - 62%) D 

(77% - 79%) C+ Below 60% F 

Students in grade 7 and 8 take final exams at the end of the year. These grades are noted on the 

final report cards. 

Sponsor Letters 

At the end of the year all sponsors and homeroom teachers write a letter summarizing each boy’s 

progress and accomplishments. 

SAFETY AND SECURITY 

Every precaution is taken to insure that the school is a safe environment. 

Building Security 

Your son’s safety has our highest priority, and while we have neither had nor expect a significant 

emergency situation, we are prepared for such an occurrence. It is just as important to be 

proactive as it is to be able to respond to such situations. For that reason a review of the security 

procedures that are now in place are as follows: 

• Two security cameras have been installed, one at the front entrance under the Clock 

Tower leading 

into the Checkered Hall and one at the back door next to Mrs. Klein’s office. 

• Doors in the front of the school will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. 

• All doors will be locked at 8:15 a.m. 

22

• After 8:15 a.m., entry into the building can only be accessed from the front entrance 

under the Tower and through the back entrance using the door next to Mrs. Klein’s 

office. Parents, visitors and students will need to be buzzed in by the office staff and 

then report to the Main Office to secure a visitor’s pass or to sign-in late. 

• Parents and visitors are asked to please sign-out in the Main Office before leaving the 

building. 

• After 3:00 p.m., the main doors (the front entrance under the Tower and the entrance at 

the back door next to Mrs. Klein’s office) will be unlocked until 6:30 p.m. Other doors 

at the front of the building will be unlocked until 4:30 p.m. and the field doors will 

remain unlocked until the end of practice or the end of a sporting event. 

We have developed and are continuously refining procedures for evacuation, shelter-in-place, 

and early dismissal. These could be put into motion in response to an imminent threat. The exact 

protocol would depend on the nature of the threat or event and would be determined by the Crisis 

Response Team made up of faculty and staff on the Shaker Campus. In the unlikely event that 

we would need to evacuate the School for any reason, we would relocate faculty and students to 

the Hunting Valley Campus or a neighboring school as determined at the time. Students would 

be under the direct care and supervision of their classroom teacher or sponsors. Parents will be 

contacted using the Emergency Phone line, as well as email, and information would be posted on 

our website, www.us.edu. Throughout the year we regularly rehearse evacuation procedures. 

Leaving Campus 

For safety reasons boys are not to walk off campus during the academic day, unless accompanied 

by an adult. Once at school they remain at school until school is dismissed or until the conclusion 

of their after school activities. 

Release of Students 

No boy will knowingly be released to any person other than a parent, legal guardian, or 

individual on record with the school without permission. If an emergency should arise and your 

son is to be picked up by someone other than the parent, legal guardian, or listed individual, 

please verify this over the telephone or with a note in the assignment notebook. If there is doubt 

or uncertainty on our part because we cannot confirm the situation, we will not allow Shaker 

Campus boys to depart school until the parents come. 

Release During the School Day 

Please inform your son’s homeroom teacher or sponsor ahead of time, in writing, of the time 

when your son is to be dismissed. At the appropriate time, the teacher will send the boy to the 

Main Office (Mrs. Klein’s office in the Checkered Hall) to wait for you. A parent or caretaker 

must come into the office and sign out the boy. Boys may no longer just sign themselves out and 

meet their parents outside. If a boy returns to school during the school day, a parent or caretaker 

must also sign him back in the Main Office. 

Fire Drills 

The school participates in a fire drill about once a month. When the fire alarm sounds, the boys 

close all windows, turn off lights, close doors and proceed in a quiet, orderly fashion outside by 

way of the nearest exit where they assemble at a predetermined location. The teacher with the 

class is responsible for determining that all boys are accounted for once they are outside. The 

boys are to wait quietly until the all clear is given and the signal to reenter the building is 

received. In addition, there are other emergency procedures that will be distributed to faculty 

early in the fall dealing with situations such as tornadoes, evacuation drills, etc. 

23

Recess 

Although Recess (K-4) and Break (5-8) are times for unstructured social interaction and play 

among the boys, teachers are on duty to provide supervision and insure safety. Boys are expected 

to behave appropriately. This includes appropriate use of hands, feet and language as well as 

positive social interactions. 

Dismissal 

Homeroom teachers in the Lower School escort their classes outside for dismissal and remain 

with them until they have boarded their busses or have been picked up. AMiddle School teacher 

is on duty each day after school to supervise dismissal. 

Valuables 

Students are strongly advised not to bring valuables or substantial amounts of money to school. 

If it is necessary to do so, boys are advised to leave the items with a teacher for safe- keeping. 

Boys may not use personal CD players, video games, cell phones or pagers during school 

hours. The school cannot be responsible for their loss. 

SHAKER CAMPUS TRADITIONS 

Houses 

All the boys in Grades K-8 are divided into Houses and will remain in the same House through 

Grade 12. Each house is named after a founder, headmaster, or notable alumnus of U.S. and 

certain events during the year are conducted by Houses. Within each House, each boy is also part 

of a smaller group of boys from all grade levels called “pods”. The pods do activities together 

throughout the year and the boys remain in their pod through their career at the Shaker Campus. 

Each house has an assigned color and the boys receive a House shirt in that color to wear during 

House events. All boys in Grades K-8 wear their House shirts every Friday. 

Assemblies 

Each division of the Shaker Campus (K-5 and 6-8) has its own weekly assembly. Formal whole 

Campus assemblies will be based on major events such as the opening day of school, before 

Thanksgiving, the day following Winter Break, and the last day of school. House Assemblies 

will be held every two weeks. 

Theme-Sharings 

At the conclusion of a theme, parents of boys in Grades K-4 are invited to school to view the 

work completed by the boys. This is an opportunity for the boys to share their research, display 

projects they have done, perform theme-related music, etc. Some theme-sharings are held in the 

evening and some during the day, depending on the grade level and the theme. 

Handshaking 

Following the first and last formal assembly of the year, the boys line up by grade level around 

the Front Circle. In September, all students and faculty new to University School walk the line 

shaking hands. In June the same ritual is repeated with the graduating 8 th graders, departing 

students and retiring faculty shaking hands. 

Curriculum Night 

24

During September the Shaker Campus has Curriculum Nights (one for Grades K-5 and another 

for Grades 6-8). These are open houses for parents during which they go to their son’s 

classroom(s) and the teachers have the opportunity to explain the curriculum and set expectations 

for the year. 

Founders’ Day 

Founders’ Day is a celebration of the founding of University School and is held in the Fall. Boys 

in Grades 6-8 travel to Hunting Valley to participate with the Upper School students. Boys in 

Grades 1-5 along with the 8th grade House Leaders and the Senior House Prefects compete in 

field events held on a different afternoon. 

Dads and Donuts 

Dads and Donuts is held in the fall. Boys attend with their fathers from 7:00 - 8:00 am and enjoy 

breakfast together. 

Parent Coffees 

Once or twice a year (usually October and February) parent coffees are held for each grade level 

K-8. These events begin at 8:15 AM and have included presentations by the faculty or 

administration on topics of interest to the parents such as curriculum, social development, 

learning styles, physical development, the education of boys, etc. These are recorded and 

available as podcasts on the web site. 

Thanksgiving 

Every year a food drive is held before Thanksgiving. Each House is responsible for collecting 

and packing food for several needy families. In addition, there will be a service/learning project 

as part of the House System tied into the Thanksgiving assembly. 

Book Fair 

During the fall, the USPA holds a Book Fair. This event gives students, faculty and parents the 

opportunity to review and purchase a variety of books. The timing makes it a good place to 

acquire holiday gifts. We encourage boys and their families to purchase books to donate to the 

library. Donated books bear bookplates listing the donor’s name. 

Holiday Ornaments 

A Holiday tree is placed in the Chapel between Thanksgiving and Winter Break. On a Friday 

afternoon the boys meet in houses with their buddies to make multi-cultural holiday decorations 

for the tree. Decorations created by the boys reflect a wide range of cultural backgrounds. 

Moms and Muffins 

Moms and Muffins is held in the winter. Boys attend with their mothers from 7:00 - 8:00 am and 

enjoy breakfast together. 

Concerts 

During the late Fall and in the Spring, there are both Lower School and Middle School music 

concerts. The Lower School concerts feature Lower School classes, the Lower School Choir and 

Instrumental Ensemble. The Middle School concerts feature both choral and instrumental groups 

in Grades 5-8. 

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Drama Productions 

There are two drama productions each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. These involve 

boys from a variety of grade levels depending on the play. 

Earth Day 

Instead of confining environmental projects to a single day in April, care for the environment is 

stressed throughout the year. Each grade level creates a project that has something to do with the 

environment to complete sometime during the year. These might include planting flowers around 

the campus, clearing brush, cleaning up litter, working in the school garden, etc. 

Eighth Grade Speaking Contest 

Held in February, the Eighth Grade Speaking Contest features the six finalists of a competition 

that involves the entire eighth grade. The speakers make their presentations in front of the 

Middle School students, faculty and three judges. Winners are announced following the 

speeches. This is a formal dress event for Middle School boys and requires jacket and tie. 

Grandparents’ Day 

In May, close to Mother’s Day, the school celebrates Grandparents’ Day. Boys invite their 

grandparents to come to school for a concert and to spend time in their classes sharing their 

recollections. Students whose grandparents are unable to attend participate in the activities with 

one of their friends and his grandparents. This is a formal dress occasion and requires jacket and 

tie. 

Art Show 

In May, there is a schoolwide Art Show. Every boy in Grades K-8 has art work displayed 

throughout the building. Families come and tour the show in conjunction with the Spring music 

concert. 

Stepping Up Day 

The last week of school, boys in Grades 1-7 meet the teacher or sponsor they will have the 

following year and are briefly introduced to the activities and expectations of the next grade. 

Boys who will be new students at U.S. in the fall are invited to attend. 

Eighth Grade Graduation 

Eighth Grade Graduation is held on the Wednesday of the final week of school. 

STUDENT SUPPLIES 

Supplies 

Students will be given ample time to obtain any supplies requested by teachers. The school 

purchases most supplies in bulk quantities to save money and to enable the students to have 

uniform folders, notebooks, etc. A list for each grade level will be posted on the web site in June. 

Bookstore 

The Bookstore is located in the Middle School. The bookstore stocks school supplies (notebooks, 

folders, pencils, computer disks etc.) which all boys may purchase at reasonable cost. 

26

Lockers and cubbies 

Boys keep their belongings in either a locker in the hall or locker room or a cubby in the 

classroom. No backpacks may be carried from class to class. Each boy is responsible for seeing 

to it that these areas are kept reasonably neat and tidy. Each boy in Grades 5-8 is assigned two 

lockers, one for his books, supplies, jacket, etc., and one for his athletic equipment. Boys must 

use locks provided by the school. 

Lost and Found 

There are several places in the school where lost items are stored. In the Lower School, items 

turned in are displayed in the hallway near the Lower School Director’s Office. There is a Lost 

and Found Locker (clearly labeled) both in the Fifth Grade Locker Area and in the main Middle 

School hallway. There is also a Lost and Found behind the Chapel stage, which can be accessed 

through the Tower door in the Checkered Hall. In addition, lost items are sometimes turned in to 

the Field Department office. Boys who find items around the school or on the playground are to 

place them in one of these areas if their owner cannot be identified. Boys should have their 

names on all of their belongings. 

TRANSPORTATION 

Thank you for helping to make the end of school day safe. 

Transportation Forms 

At the beginning of the year, each student in Grades K-6 must return a Transportation Form that indicates 

how he gets to and from school each day. In Grades K-4 the homeroom teachers make sure that the 

students are picked up by the proper car or school bus each day. 

Cars and Carpools 

Patience and common sense are needed at all times when delivering or picking up children. 

Please use only the Front Circle entrance where Brantley and Claythorne meet; driveways 

other than the circle are narrow and additional traffic on them creates a hazardous situation. The 

speed limit on all driveways and the Front Circle is 15 mph. Boys must exit the car from the 

passenger’s side to avoid stepping into traffic. Do not use the service driveway by the 

playground or the faculty parking lots by the athletic fields to drop off in the morning or to 

pick them up before 4:00. Our success at providing for the safe and expeditious dispatch of 

students is dependent on all adults honoring the letter and spirit of the following guidelines. 

1. Kindergarten students are picked up at 2:45 PM. Other than kindergarten, no private cars 

are to enter the Front Circle for pickup before 3:10 PM. The time from 3:00-3:10 PM is 

reserved for school busses. Drivers arriving early to pick up their sons may wait along the north 

side of Brantley Road. Drivers should not wait around the island directly across from the Main 

Gate nor should they park on the south side of Brantley. Cars should proceed around the circle. If 

your son is not ready to be picked up immediately, please make another pass around the circle. 

2. There is no parking in the drop-off zones on the Front Circle between 7:45AM - 8:15AM 

and 2:45PM - 3:30PM. Whenever you park on the Circle, please park as far from the front of 

the building as possible. 

3. Students with no after school commitments should be picked up promptly - by 3:30 at 

the latest. 

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4. Students should be picked up in the following locations: 

Kindergarten and Grade 1 at the entrance to the Primary Wing 

Students in Grade 2 outside the Primary Library entrance 

Grade 3 at the entrance to Pickands Hall 

Grade 4 at the entrance to the Living Room 

Grade 5 at the main entrance under the Tower 

Students in Grades 6-8 at the Brown Hall entrance. 

You should emphasize to your son where he will be picked up. If boys of various grades are 

carpooling, they should meet at the site of the youngest boy’s pickup. 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE CONCERNING AFTER SCHOOLPICKUP 

Please accept these requirements in the spirit they are intended, to encourage a sense of 

community responsibility and consideration for all, in the interests of safety and harmony. The 

Shaker Heights police have reviewed our traffic situation and have requested that all passenger 

cars adopt the following procedures: 

• NO PARKING or STANDING will be permitted on Claythorne Road between the front gates 

and Warrensville Center Road. 

• Cars waiting to pick up should wait on Brantley Road, not on Claythorne Road. 

• At pickup time, cars waiting on Brantley are to be admitted first. This will allow the busses, 

which have a difficult time turning down Claythorne, to get out. 

In addition, we wish to remind you of several other pickup requests, which are made for safety 

reasons. Between the hours of 2:30 - 3:30PM : 

• DO NOT – Park your car on the front circle in front of any part of the building or posted NO 

PARKING zones. 

• DO NOT – Pick up your son by driving in the playground entrance. At dismissal time this area 

is full of boys leaving the building and going to their sports, team busses and faculty leaving. 

• DO NOT – Ask your son to walk across the street to find you in your waiting car. Pedestrians 

are an endangered species at this hour! 

• DO NOT – Double (or triple) park on the front circle while waiting for your son to come to the 

car. If your son is not ready, keep circling. 

• DO NOT – Use your cell phone once you have entered the circle drive. 

• DO NOT – Park on the inside lane of the front circle. The fire department has insisted this lane 

be left clear at all times! 

Public School Transportation 

Families using public school busses are notified by their own Board of Education Transportation 

Departments of schedules and bus regulations. We have no control over these schedules but will 

inform students of changes as we learn of them. Because of insurance regulations boys from one 

school district may not invite boys from another school district to ride the bus with them. 

University School reinforces the standards set by the public school authorities. When a boy is 

reprimanded repeatedly by a bus driver, his parents and the School learn of the problem and must 

work together with the boy involved. U.S. reserves the right to discipline students for their 

behavior on school busses including giving reminders, detentions, work squads, etc. Since the 

safety of many children is concerned, please discuss bus behavior with your son when the rules 

from his district arrive. 

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Shuttle Bus to Hunting Valley 

Shuttle busses between the Shaker and Hunting Valley Campuses are available. Please call the 

Business Office (932-0400) for the fee. Shuttle bus time schedule: 

Departs Hunting Valley: 7:15 am, 3:35 pm, 4:45 pm, 6 pm 

Departs Shaker Heights: 7:40 am, 4:10 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:15 pm 

Bicycles 

Kindergarten, first and second grade students are asked not to ride bicycles to school; all others 

may ride bikes provided they follow proper bike riding procedures, including wearing a helmet. 

All students should chain their bikes to one of the racks by the Lower School Playground or 

beside the Middle School Science Wing. Motorbikes, mopeds, motorcycles, go-karts, 

skateboards and in-line skates should not be used on the campus. Since all are potentially 

dangerous, they should not be brought to school unless in connection with an authorized activity. 

USE OF TELEPHONES and PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES 

We encourage students to develop independence and to accept the consequences of leaving 

homework and/or belongings at home rather than telephoning a parent to bring the item in. We 

appreciate parent support in this goal. If a boy genuinely needs to use the phone, he may do so 

with adult permission. 

Cell Phones and other personal electronic devices (mp3 players, Ipods, video games, 

electronic spell checkers, etc.) may not be used on school property at any time during the day. 

This applies to before and after school as well as during school hours. These devices must be 

turned off and remain in the student’s lockers as long as the boy is in the building. They will be 

confiscated if we find students using them in the building and the student will earn a detention. 

Cell phones are to be used as a communication tool only. Cell phones may be used only to 

contact parents before and after school, outside the building, when such communication is 

a necessity. Recreational uses - texting friends, taking photos, surfing the Internet, etc. - are not 

permitted on school property at any time. 

MASTERS APPRENTICE PROGRAM 

University School sponsors a Masters Apprentice Program with Ursuline College. MAP students 

are graduates with BA degrees who desire to go into education. During the year-long program, 

these students earn their Masters degree as well as obtaining state certification. MAP students are 

assigned as apprentices to experienced classroom teachers and spend most of each day working 

with that teacher in their classroom. 

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL PARENT ASSOCIATION (USPA) 

The University School Parent Association (USPA) is open to all parents and plans and carries out a 

number of events each year. The USPA hands out a volunteer sheet at Curriculum Night in the fall that 

gives parents the opportunity to indicate how they would like to be involved. 

Meetings 

Meetings of the USPA are open to all parents. The dates are indicated on the CCIS Calendar and the 

monthly U.S. calendar. These sessions can be opportunities to discuss the School’s programs, general 

issues related to parenting, issues particularly relevant to raising boys, current topics of interest or book 

discussions. 

29

Volunteer Opportunities 

Parents provide invaluable support to classroom teachers and sponsors at the various grade levels helping 

with classroom projects, attending field trips, etc. In addition, USPA volunteers help organize and run 

various school-wide activities and staff the Snack Cart and Tower Trading Post. 

Tower Trading Post 

The Tower Trading Post, our school store which sells clothing, book bags, and accessories is staffed by 

USPA volunteers. The Post’s regular hours are posted on the door of the shop. In addition, the Trading 

Post is open during special events such as Orientation Day and Parent Receptions. 

For more information concerning USPA, check the list of officers, committee chairs and dates on 

the web site. 

30

SHAKER CAMPUS FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION 

ADMINISTRATION 

Head of the Shaker Campus 

Administrative Assistant to the Head 

Lower School Director and 

Co-Director Center For Excellence 

Admin. Assistant to the Lower School Director 

Middle School Director and 

Co-Director Center For Excellence 

Admin. Assistant to the Middle School Director 

Academic Coordinator K-8 

Liaison to Ursuline MAP Program 

Finance Director 

Admission (5-8) 

Admission (K-4) 

Admission Coordinator 

Main Office and Receptionist 

Manager of Food Services - Shaker 

Plant Services Director (Shaker and HV) 

Housekeeping Supervisor 

Mr. Clark Wight 

Mrs. Angela Warchock 

Mrs. Gail Stein 

Mrs. Renee Comella 

Mr. Brian Hart 

Mrs. Brenda Jackson 

Mrs. Christine Sumner 

Mr. David Wright 

Mr. Chris Barton 

Mrs. Marla Taub 

Mrs. Carol Thiele 

Mrs. Joy Klein 

Ms. Susan Zeaman 

Mr. Gary Warchock 

Mr. Windsor Sullivan 

LOWER SCHOOL HOMEROOM FACULTY 

Kindergarten Mrs. Christine Totte (Team Leader) 

Mrs. Morgan Murphy 

Mrs.Patty Askin 

Ms. Chelsea Knauer 

First Grade Mrs. Maryanne Ferraro (Team Leader) 

Mrs. Diane Meister 

Ms. Katherine Atherton 

Ms. Madeline Yano 

Second Grade Mrs. Linda Zelazny (Team Leader) 

Mrs. Lois Traweek 

Mrs. Lauren John 

Ms. Elizabeth Seidel 

Third Grade Mr. Brady Hurley (Team Leader) 

Mrs. Cindy Sloe 

Mrs. Lori Baris 

31

Fourth Grade Ms. Megan Rini (Team Leader) 

Ms. Linda Rohler 

Ms. Angela Kissner 

Fifth Grade Mrs. Laura Pickwick Eng./Soc. Stud. (Team Leader) 

Mrs. Kristin Hartman 

Math 

Mr. Robert Farrell 

Science 

Mr. Adam Marcia 

English / Social Studies 

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPONSORS 

Sixth Grade Dr. Roberta Brown Science 

Mr. Chris Steadman 

Math 

Mr. Bill Nobbe 

English / Social Studies 

Mrs. Lisa Carroll Library (5-8) 

Mr. Mark Krieger Art (6-8) 

Mr. Eric Dina 

Inst. Music (5-8) / Perf. Arts Dept. 

Chair 

Mr. Adam Lowenfeld 

Athletic Director 

Clark Wight 

Shaker Campus Head 

Seventh Grade Mr. Charlie Oberndorf English (7th Grade Class Dean) 

English Department Chair 

Mrs. Priscilla Wade 

Math 

Mrs. Kathy Osborne 

Science 

Mr. Bill Johnson 

Social Studies 

Ms. Kathleen Nile Latin (6-8) 

Mrs. Lindsay Arnoult 

French (6-8) / Foreign Lang. Dept. 

Chair 

Mrs. Leslie Muha Learning Specialist (6-8) 

Mr. Joseph Hollings Music (6-8) 

Ms. Sarah Lyon Drama (6-8) 

Mr. Mike Lovett Design Technology (7 and 8) 

Eighth Grade Mr. Bill Champ Math, (8th Grade Class Dean) / Math 

Department Chair 

Mr. Matt McCue Math (7-8) 

Dr. Robert Marquard 

Science / Science Department Chair 

Mr. Nate Burch English (8) Social Studies (7) 

Mr. Brian Hart 


Mrs. Carin Woolley Computer Instruction (6-8) 

Ms. Monica Echemendia Spanish (6-8) 

Mrs. Lorece Stanley English (7-8) 

Mr. Skip Walter 


Mr. Chris Barton Latin (8) 

32

SHAKER CAMPUS SPECIAL TEACHERS 

Science Mrs. Liz Spector (K-4) 

Foreign Language Mrs. Elizabeth Chois Spanish (K-5) 

Mrs. Ana McDougal Spanish (6-7) 

Visual Arts Mr. Chris Davis (1-5) 

Mr. Mark Krieger (6-8) 

Mr. Michael Lovett Design Technology Education (7 & 8) 

Performing Arts Mr. Eric Dina Instrumental Music 5-8 / Perf. Arts 

Dept. Chair 

Ms. Amanda Matthews 

Music (K-5) 

Ms. Sarah Lyon Theater Director / Drama (6-8) 

Mr. Joe Hollings Choral Music (6-8) Music Tech (6-8) 

Theater Manager 

Computer / Mrs. Karin Marsh Lower School Computer Instruction 

Technology 

and Support (K-5) 

Mrs. Carin Woolley Computer Instruction (6-8) 

Library Mrs. Elaine Mersol (K-4) 

Mrs. Lisa Carroll (5-8) 

Mrs. Patti Johnson (5-8) 

Physical Education Mr. William Jones Director of Physical Education (K/8) 

Mr. Adam Lowenfeld 

Athletic Director (K-8) 

Mr. Eric Rinehart 

(K-8) 

Mr. Robert Emmet 

(K-8) 

Mr. Michael Wilson 

(K-8) 

Learning Specialists 

Mrs. Patricia Dowd 

Coordinator of Student Enrichment 

Mrs. Leslie Muha Learning Specialist (6-8) 

Mrs. Lauren Calig 

Language Arts (K-5) 

Mrs. Suzanne Fitzpatrick 

Language Arts (K-5) 

Mr. Dick Parke 

Math (K-4) 

Mr. Vin Fiordalis Math (5-8) 

Mrs. Chris Sumner 

Lang. Arts / Study Skills (K-6) 

Consulting Dr. Debra Lawrence (K-5) 

Psychologists Dr. Ethan Schafer (5-8) 

Nurse Mrs. Tish Perin R.N. (K-8) 

Technology Services 

Mr. Dan Grossman 

Mr. Ross Duncan 

Assistant Network Administrator 

IT Installation and Security 

33

MISSION STATEMENT - University School

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