At Uni High, we strive to foster an environment where everyone, inclusive of race, color, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, ability, language, and religion, will feel welcome, visible, and heard.

Join the library for our March SLACers meeting on Wednesday, March 5 at 11:30 a.m. Feel free to bring your lunch or grab a snack from Ms. Arnold, Harrison, and Jack. See you there! 

Uni’s Asian American Association is collaborating with multiple language and cultural clubs to host a Multicultural Food Tasting Event for the Uni Community. This event will be Friday, Mar. 28 during Uni Period in Uni Gym. Individual students (not as members of a club) and parents are also welcome to participate by bringing a dish to share that represents your cultural background. We hope the event will be a great time to try new foods and connect with other cultures! If you are interested in bringing food please sign up here.

Uni's Multicultural Parent Advisory Group recently hosted a two-part discussion of Heather McGhee's The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, and we wanted to make sure students also had the opportunity to engage in conversations related to McGhee's timely argument. We invite up to 25 students to attend a catered lunch on Thursday, Mar. 27 to discuss selections from The Sum of Us in small groups. We're asking participants to read two chapters of the book ahead of the lunch (PDFs linked on sign-up form). To participate, please sign up here by Friday, Mar. 14.

The annual Sprabitat/PTSA Trivia Night & Silent Auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, from 6:45-9 p.m. in Uni Gym. The whole Uni community is invited: students, staff, and families. Start figuring out your teams and make plans to attend this super fun event!  Find some great deals, enjoy some friendly trivia competition, and support great causes!  We hope to see you there. 
Questions? Interested in donating an item for the Silent Auction? Contact Mary Kate Arend at uniptsa2021@gmail.com.

The Orchestra Outreach Club is running a St. Elmo Brady event all about the fusion of music education and environmental conservation. We need the following supplies: paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes, cereal boxes, and other cardboard boxes. Collection boxes will be located in Uni's stairwells, in the library, and in the kitchen (labeled "OOC BOXES"). Your help would be much appreciated!

Please join me in congratulating the following Uni students who were recognized for their outstanding work in the Insect Fear Film Contest.
Most Biologically Accurate: L.J. Lamera
Sam Dubbs Award: Lauren Kim
6-8 Grade, 1st place: Rissah Kumar
Honorable Mention: Kaedee Kircher and Aven Peters

Congratulations to the ICTM Math Competition team for their performance at Regionals on Feb. 22. The team brought home a 1st overall award along with the following team awards: 2nd in Algebra II and Jr/Sr 8 person; 1st in Algebra 1, Geometry, Precalculus, Oral, Calculator, Fresh/Soph 8 person, Fresh/Soph 2 person, and Jr/Sr 2 person. Additional congratulations to the following individual students on their awards: 
Algebra 1: 2nd Jaehyun Yi, 1st Chloe Lee
Geometry: 3rd Max Wang, 2nd Daniel Lee, 1st Anthony Yang
Algebra 2: 1st Renee Wang
Precalculus: 1st Katie Rasmussen

Uni’s Quarter 4 lunch program sign-up is now available. Menus for Spring 2025 are available here. If you’d like to participate in Uni’s Quarter 4 lunch program, please sign up by Friday, March 14.
We are offering a 3-day plan (Mon/Wed/Fri, $162.80) plan or a 5-day plan (Mon – Fri, $281.20). Families who are eligible for full or partial fee waivers can participate in the lunch program at no cost.
Checks for 4th Quarter lunches should be made out to "University of Illinois" and dropped off in Uni's main office by Monday, March 31, 2025. If you would like to pay by credit card, call 217-333-2870.

Uni's Main Office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon during spring break (March 17-21).

Uni students Diza Baryshnikov and Krishna Jaswal, along with social studies teacher Melissa Schoeplein, were interviewed last Thursday on "The 21st" radio show on WILL-AM580 about the latest oral history project. Diza and Krishna, along with Uni alum Maya Viswanathan, served as student producers of "Over the Wall: Remembering Life Behind the Iron Curtain" - a two-part podcast series based on interview conducted by the current sophomores when they were in subbie social studies. Listen here to their interview with 21st host Brian Mackey about the project. 

The first-ever Orange and Blue Week at the University of Illinois is happening now from March 3-9. During this time, students, parents, staff, and supporters can show their school spirit by supporting causes that matter to them. These projects across campus bring Illinois together and make a big impact. 
This year, Uni High is building the Annual Fund, which provides critical financial support to Uni’s areas of greatest need. 
Please help us reach our goal of raising $2,000 to strengthen the Annual Fund. Click HERE and make a difference today! Thank you for being part of our Uni community.  

Join us on March 11 during lunch in room 109 if you are interested in learning about volunteering at Carle Foundation Hospital. Carle has many volunteer opportunities in various departments and volunteering starts at age 14. Learn about what's available and how to get connected for the summer.

ISBE has changed its mandated spring tests for grades 9-11 from the PSAT/SAT to the PreACT/ACT. Subbies will take the IAR and ISA. Please note the following dates and information:
Main testing day: March 31 at the Illini Union. 
• This will be INCLUDE Subbies, 9th/10th and 11th grade.
• Seniors are scheduled for a volunteer day.
• Accommodated testing times and locations will be emailed individually
Subbie testing day #2: April 7 in Uni gym 
Make-up testing day: April 8 in Uni gym  
We will send out more detailed information including arrival times closer to the testing dates. 

Saturday Engineering for Everyone is an open and free lecture series aimed at people of all backgrounds and ages who are interested in learning about engineering. Talks take place from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Room 1013 of the ECE Building, located at 306 N. Wright St., Urbana. Upcoming Saturday talks include: "From Motion to Music - The Power of Electromechanical Energy Conversion" (March 8); "Quantum Steampunk - The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow" (April 12); and "How engineering was pivotal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic" May 3.

A nonpartisan group of U. of I. scientists are organizing a Stand up for Science rally for Friday, March 7 at noon at the alma mater on campus (Green/Wright). The rally will feature testimonies of scientists at the university impacted by recent federal funding cuts. After the rally, there will be a march around campus. 

The Champaign Park District is hosting a Summer Job Fair on March 8 from 12-2 p.m. at Martens Center. Opportunities such as lifeguarding, park maintenance, and working in summer camps will be highlighted at the fair. Various departments will be on-site to discuss open positions and ways to get involved.  
Note: The Urbana Park District also offers jobs for teens. For those opportunities, go to: https://www.urbanaparks.org/employment

Sail into CS @ Illinois! Experience life as a student at a top 5 Computer Science Program at CS Sail 2025, UIUC's Largest CS Outreach Event!
When/Where:
📍 Saturday, March 29 on-campus at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
📍Sunday, March 30 online
Completely free and open to all admitted, prospective, and high school students interested in CS or CS+X!
Why Should You Attend?
📚 Attend CS Classes
💻 Discover clubs
🍎 Explore campus
✨ Free food + merch
💫 See behind-the-scenes of a CS student at Illinois!

The PTSA is creating a special cookbook to celebrate the amazing diversity of our school community! "Uni_ted Around the Table: Celebrating Uni Kitchen" will feature beloved recipes from our potlucks, showcasing the rich cultural flavors that bring us together. We will include a “Potluck Dishes” section, a “Seniors" section of family favorites for students to take to college, and a “Freshman Pie Contest” section! Please submit your recipe(s) along with a brief note about the significance of the dish(es) and appropriate section(s) by March 31 to:  https://createmycookbook.com/projects/uHW6EbAxo

Thanks to all the families who have signed up thus far to bring a dish to our Spring Conference Meal for Teachers on Thursday, Mar. 6.  We have 13 out of 17 slots now filled!  We still need one main dish, two side dishes, and one vegetarian side dish.  
Food may be dropped off in the Uni Kitchen either before school or after lunch (between 12:15 and 3:00 p.m.)  Please follow this link to sign up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445AEA92AA64-54509809-spring
Questions? Contact Mary Kate Arend at uniptsa2021@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your help!

The Uni counselors see students for a variety of different reasons. Scheduling, connection to outside resources, mental health counseling, academic supports, summer opportunities, future career exploration and more. If you're interested in making an appointment with your counselor, please contact them directly or fill out the new form called "Counselor Appointments" on the "Resources" tab of the Uni website.

Trigger Warning: Suicide

Early intervention for declining mental health can be an important prevention measure for suicide. If you or someone you know are at an immediate risk of suicide, please dial 911. If you are having thoughts of suicide or suicidal ideation, please contact the resources below:
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
Call Blackline, support prioritizing BIPOC individuals: 1800-604-5841
Crisis Text Line: 741741
The Trevor Project LGBTQ Crisis Hotline: 1866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline: 1877-565-8860

We are here for you. You matter and we value you.