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

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Uni’s Asian American Association will be hosting a calligraphy event on Tuesday, Feb. 17, during lunch in room 303. Materials will provided. All are welcome!

Uni's second Saturday workshop--hosted by Uni arts clubs and supported by an Urbana Arts & Culture Grant--will be on Feb. 28, 12-2 p.m. We invite Uni families (or other families you may know) with a 4th-6th grader to participate. Attendees will participate in collaborative art activities, including creating a flower garden inspired by Kehinde Wiley's work, and learn about what it’s like to study the arts in middle/high school. RSVPs are required to attend. Lunch will be provided for attending students and caregivers. Please see the sign-up form for more details. If you know local 4th-6th graders, please help us spread the word!

Do you like to read picture books and make crafts with young kids? Uni High is participating in the Read Across America on March 7 at the Lincoln Square Mall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to read and make crafts with young kids during one-hour shifts. You can volunteer with your club, grade level, friend group, or individually. 
If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please complete this form. If more students sign up than there are spots available, volunteers will be selected based on this interest form was completed. 
Reach out to Mrs. Rodems or Dr. O'Brien with questions.

Do you love to bake? Do you love to eat yummy baked goods?  Either way, you should come to the Sprabitat Bake-Off in Uni Gym on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Lunch! 
• Bakers: Sign up using this webform and bring your food on Tuesday for a chance to win prizes and glory!
.• Tasters: Come on Jan. 30 with $5 and get to taste lots of yummy food and vote on the winner
This is a PTSA-sponsored fundraiser, and all proceeds will be donated to Fuller Center for Housing in Clarksdale, MS.

Inspired by NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert" series,Uni High is celebrating Black History Month by hosting UIUC Voice faculty Dr. Alonza Lawrence and his students for Uni's first ever "tiny desk" choral concert. Dr. Lawrence and his students have backgrounds in genres including gospel, jazz, R&B, and classical, and they will perform songs from these genres.
With the "Tiny Desk" format, space at the event will be limited to 25 attendees, so please RSVP by completing this form if you'd like to attend. Lunch from Neil St. Blues will be provided for attendees.
Please email Dr. O'Brien (vobrien2@illinois.edu) with questions.

Are you interested in law?  Do you want to be a lawyer?  The SSO is partnering with University of Illinois Law School to answer all your questions. Join us on Monday, February 23 during Uni Period to ask questions and learn about all things law. To help facilitate this discussion, please complete this survey.  https://forms.gle/7pkfBnxJdivbfBEf7
We will hold a follow up session on March 23 during Uni Period where lawyers from different specialty areas will join us.

Please join Uni's Multicultural Parent Advisory Group for our meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. MPAG welcomes ALL Uni families, students, and staff at our monthly meetings. We'll share updates about MPAG-led Agora classes, Black History Month activities, and other school events, and we'll discuss upcoming initiatives for the spring semester. We're happy to make time for attendees' questions or concerns. We'd love to have new folks join our meeting, so if you've been curious about MPAG, please hop onto our Zoom meeting and check us out. 
We'll meet on Zoom at go.illinois.edu/mpag (Meeting ID: 850 7082 8404, Password: unimpag)

Uni's Multicultural Parent Advisory Group (MPAG) is very excited to invite Uni parents, students, siblings, and staff to join us on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-4 p.m. to play multicultural games. Snacks will be provided! This event is open to the whole Uni community, and we'd love to see some new faces. We invite you to bring a favorite game to share or just show up and enjoy learning a new game. If you plan to attend, please RSVP so we can be sure to purchase enough snacks!

On Monday, April 20, Uni High will be holding a day-long outreach event at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. We're seeking proposals for 40-minute activities for grades K-5 related to water, Earth Day, or the scientist St. Elmo Brady. Activities may be proposed by Uni faculty, students (independently or on behalf of a club), or parents. Activity proposals do not need to be STEM-focused. To learn more or submit a proposal, please visit https://forms.gle/6tDdrVH4qNy8PyYx8.

National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is hosting an art competition for all Uni students celebrating the spring musical, Pirates of Penzance! Uni students, NAHS and the Pirates cast and crew will vote for winners in each of three categories:  Pirates, Pirate Flags and Ocean. Submit your art (8.5 x 11 inch or smaller) to Ms. Evans in person or via email by Friday, Feb 20. Entries should include name, email, entry category and locker number.  All art will be displayed.  Prizes:  stickers, baked goods and Uni theatre passes will be awarded during the play intermission on Sat., March 7.

STUDCO is in the process of choosing the directors for this year's Big Show. While we wait with bated breath, anyone who has a script ready for submission can send it to guyotte@illinois.edu. Fing will share it with the directors once chosen. In the meantime, here is a great retrospective of BIG SHOW over the years. https://uni.illinois.edu/alumni/uni-high-century-celebration/magic-big-show

National Art Honors Society (NAHS) will be hosting the second Saturday lunch arts workshop for 4th-6th graders. Visiting students and families will learn the meanings of colors & flowers; engage in colorful, floral art activities; and meet older students (you!) involved in fine arts. Volunteers are needed from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 to lead activities and talk about their experiences with fine arts. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.
Please fill out this form by 2/18 to sign up volunteer for the February session. More information will be sent to volunteers soon. Contact Max Wang (maxzw2@illinois.edu) with questions.

The Uni Subbie MathCounts Team shines! A huge congratulations to Aria Khandelwal, Joshua Koo, Paul Ouyang and Faith To who won first place as a team in the regional competition on Saturday, Feb. 7 and qualified to participate in the state competition. We are so proud of them! In addition, Paul Ouyang was the Countdown competition champion, and Joshua Koo won the Candy Gram Count.
All of the chapter round qualifiers, Trisha Gundapuneni, Aria Khandelwal, Jasper Kim, Joshua Koo, Jialong Li, Paul Ouyang, Jehun Park, Faith To and George Wang showed incredible dedication. Congratulations to all and keep shining!

Spring Athletics start March 2 for Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer and outdoor track & field. Subbie Track starts March 23.  Questions concerning those seasons please reach out to head coaches.  Tennis: Luke Bronowski- lukejb@illinois.edu, Soccer: Cora Messick -cjmcjm98@gmail.com, Track: Casie Pierce -pierceca@u4sd.org. To sign up please call the school office 217-333-2870.  

Winter formal is rescheduled to Friday, Feb. 20.
For guest permission forms:

• If you turned in a guest form to Mrs. Hughes before the dance was rescheduled, confirm with Mrs. Hughes if your guest is still planning to attend. 
• If you did not turn in a guest form yet, talk to Mrs. Hughes as soon as possible.

The Uni Athletics Booster club merchandise fundraiser web store is now open. It closes at midnight on Feb 23. All orders are either picked up at Dixon Graphics or shipped to you. Proceeds go toward team senior nights and other team needs. Thanks in advance for your support! Alison Smith Booster President aliso22@gmail.com
https://dixon-graphics.com/uni_high/shop/home

Applications accepted from current 10th and 11th graders
Apply by Feb. 20. 
Information about this residential summer program is available through this flier for your reference, and applications are due by February 20, 2026. The program is free for those who are selected and complete the program.

Uni High is a secure building that has entry limits for the protection of minors, requiring background checks per Faith's Law. You can read about Faith's Law in our Student-Family Handbook on pg 58. 
REMINDER: Entry Requirements
Parents of current Uni students are considered visitors.
ALL visitors need to be buzzed into the building at the main door. Following staff/students in an open door or encouraging others to open the door is a violation of that policy. 
ALL visitors need to check in at the Main Office immediately upon entering and present their ID to be checked in via the Raptor system. You cannot go directly to a classroom or office. 

Reminder: changes in your student's attendance need to be reported via appropriate channels. 
Types of absences with examples are documented on page 18-19 in the Student-Family Handbook.

• Excused absences should be reported the Uni High Attendance Office by email or Main Office by phone before the absence occurs. 
• Documented absence requests are required to be approved at least ONE WEEK before the absence (more if possible). You may request a documented absence by using the following form: Documented Absence Request Form
• Absences in which we are not notified by a parent and/or they are not supported by our policies are considered unexcused.

We are having reports that students who are visiting nearby places like Siebel are being loud and blocking doorways.  Keep in mind that our Code of Conduct applies in all University (not just Uni) spaces. 
Things to keep in mind:

• Having open campus is a privilege. Uni and the surrounding spaces are workplaces, and your socializing should not interfere with studying or working or be disruptive (in volume or otherwise). 
• When visiting another space on campus, reminder that you should remain in public spaces, not in classroom/office spaces or on other floors. 
• You should find appropriate seating that does not interfere with walkways or doorways.