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Remembering Skylar Herbert
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We are so sad that we have lost Skylar Herbert, a kindergarten scholar at UPA Elementary–Mark Murray campus, to COVID-19. Please take a few minutes with your family and create a red heart to display in one of the windows in your home in tribute to the lives lost to coronavirus. Alternately, share on your social channels, using the red heart emoji with the hashtag #ourhearts2U.
As a memorial to those in the U Prep Schools Community who have lost their battle against COVID-19, we have created a tribute page on our website.
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Meet Taylor Childs - Class of 2017
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Taylor Childs, a Crafts and Fibers teacher at U Prep Art & Design High School, graduated from the College for Creative Studies in 2017. She attended U Prep Schools from ninth through twelfth grade, appreciating how her U Prep teachers taught in a loving and compassionate way.
"My teachers poured love and support into me and gave me opportunities I wouldn't get elsewhere," Taylor said. "I want to give the same experience to my students. I challenge them, but I am also a listening ear and an extension of support. I don't only focus on academics, I also remain committed to our school's mission to grow and shape each student’s character. This is what distinguishes our school community from others."
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Celebrating U Prep Crew with 10+ Years of Loyalty
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This month, we are recognizing our University Prep Schools Crew who have been with us for ten or more years. Their loyalty and educational leadership is appreciated by the entire U Prep family.
Christa Adams
Jaimecee Baker
Andrea Bander
Nicole Burris
Kyla Byas
Martina Carroll
Carmen Dotch
Lashonda Fielder
Theresa Franklin
Rita Garcia
Ethel Gayles
Tamara Garner
Ethel Gayles
Michelle Griggs
Alexander Gui
Cherese Harrell
Sharon Hopkins
Danielle Jackson
Shakina Jones
Manal Kadry
Shila Kennedy
Pamla King
Santosha King
Delores Koenig
Angela Kundinger
Kimberly Llorens
Kari Marentette
Matthew Mclaren
James Miller
Monica Moton
Wanda Olugbala
Ursula Ragland
Bernice Seaton
Monica Smith
Jennifer Tiggs
Cecilia Whitley
Thank you so much for your service
to our students and their families!
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Tell Us What You Love About U Prep
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We are sharing #UPrepPride on social media! Take a look at what some of our students and families had to say about U Prep:
Davion, who attends 3rd grade at UPAD - ES, said, "I like my school because they listen to how I feel. I feel like I can be myself and still learn. My teacher is nice to me and I have a lot of friends in my class."
Mrs. Henderson, who has two students at UPA - HS, told us: “We like the various educational experiences that U Prep engages their students in. Also, I like how the teachers encourage the students to be their best. GO PANTHERS!!”
“The Williams' Family can attest that U Prep Schools have provided a wonderful environment for our Kindergartner, 1st, 3rd and 6th grade students to thrive on their educational journey. The exposure to the various learning techniques have allowed each child to excel at their own pace,” Mrs. Williams said. The Williams family have children at UPSM - ES and UPSM - MS.
Madison, a Junior at UPA High School, said, “I love the relationships I have with my teachers. I love how there’s so much freedom, so I can be whoever I want to be. U Prep is like a family.”
The Day family has had students at U Prep for eight years. Mrs. Day, who is also a teacher at Mark Murray, shared, “During our time here, there has always been a strong sense of community and family. U Prep focuses on so many important values like cooperation, caring, perseverance, and accountability, and does not only educate scholars for greatness but creates productive human beings for society.” Day family members attend UPSM - MS and UPA - Mark Murray.
Briana, a member of the 8th grade class of 2020, said, "One thing I love about UPSM Middle School is that the teachers are always willing to hear us out. We learn and have fun with them. They really understand and relate to us.”
The Hurst family told us, “We are a proud founding family of UPSM - ES. We were drawn to UPSM - ES because of the community feel and the focus on science and math, which is truly needed in the black community to enhance our children’s path towards careers of the future.”
Third grader Nija, who attends UPA - Ellen Thompson, told us, "My favorite teacher is Ms. Vallone, my 5th grade math teacher, because she is nice and helps us with our work when we don’t understand. My favorite subject is math because of the challenge it gives me sometimes. I want to be a famous singer like Beyonce’ when I grow up because I can sing very well; I just need some vocal lessons."
Tell us what you love about U Prep. Send your submissions, with a photograph, to Darlene.Shropshire@uprepschools.com
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Madison (left) and her Mother
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U Prep Students Develop Career Interests Starting on Day One
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When a student becomes a member of the U Prep Crew in kindergarten, our team of professional educators, aka Crew Leaders, begin helping them assess their strengths and interests. As Crew Members matriculate through the years, they learn more about themselves, their interests, and one another, exploring who they are and where they want to go through experiential activities related to personality, interests and careers.
By the time they enter the eighth grade, our Crew Members are immersed in career exploration through assessment and field studies. They focus on the interconnectedness of standardized tests and post-secondary options as they prepare for PSAT’s. They are also actively engaged in service learning projects based on original research of the needs of the local community.
When the students reach 10
th grade, they have worked with a Crew Leader for several years, and are ready to prepare for post-secondary work and their future careers. Juniors start the college search process, post-secondary planning, resume writing and mock interviewing, while Seniors meet with Crew Leaders bi-weekly to monitor their progress with academics and work habits, and to help them prepare their college applications. Crew also provides support related to senior year stressors, graduation and life after high school.
In all three districts, students are immersed in the exploration of unique future careers, in specific Pathways. Many of these career fields are in high demand and/or lack diversity in both race and gender including: Zoological & Aquarium Studies, Gaming, Material Science & Advanced Manufacturing, Urban Ecology, Law and Public Service related fields, and the Art & Design industry.
Each pathway has a selected number of students and an accompanying partner – either a learning institution or an industry partner. Upon completion of course requirements for each pathway, students will have developed employable skills to enter into the workforce.
Click here to read the Career Interest results from the survey our 2020 U Prep seniors took in the fall of 2019:
Top Prospective Careers
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UPSM High School Class Makes Candy Glass in Pathways Program
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University Prep is fortunate to have an on-site LIFT Lab—Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow. LIFT is a national manufacturing innovation institute operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII). In this Learning Lab, science teacher Ms. Angela Anatalio teaches a hands-on curriculum on Materials Science working with diverse types of materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics and glass. This lab is a part of U Prep's Pathways, wherein students are immersed in unique career experiences.
“It’s hands-on science,” Ms. Anatalio told us. “Students become engaged and invested in their own learning. They’ve been involved with decision making, designing, building and brainstorming. I was impressed at how students would go above and beyond what was asked at times to ‘perfect’ their own vision for a project.”
Earlier in the year, the class made “sugar glass” by melting Jolly Rancher candies. They examined the properties of the sugar glass, and compared it to other forms of glass. Other projects have included designing a car and examining properties of nanocoatings for metals.
UPSM HS student Kamryn Crain, a 2020 graduating senior, said, “I enjoyed the hands on-activities and practical life skills such as taking on new challenges I didn't think I would enjoy. But doing it hands on and the structure we did it in made it fun.”
"I really enjoyed making the cement, learning metals, coating metals and sugar glass," UPSM tenth grader Kemp Weathers shared, "It was really fun."
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High School Sports at the U
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Did you know? U Prep Schools' has a robust sports program. 2019-20 has been a memorable year in University Prep Science & Math Athletics, with the Cobras experiencing new beginnings all around. The Cobras welcomed new athletic coaches and started the year showcasing Football, Cheerleading, Volleyball and Cross Country. Our Spring season was set to showcase our track team, baseball team and our very first developmental/intramural softball and soccer team, though with the pandemic, sadly, all of these sports were cancelled.
Read more about this year’s UPSM High School sports teams.
In the 2019-20 year, University Prep Art & Design was introduced as the new school name for Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies. Poised for a year to remember, the Mustangs started the year off with Volleyball and Cross Country. Winter season began with Boys Basketball, Cheer and Girls Basketball programs. Our spring season was set to showcase our track team, softball team, baseball team and our very first developmental/intramural soccer team, though those seasons were canceled.
Read more about this year’s UPAD High School sports teams.
This past fall and winter, the coaches and student-athletes at University Prep Academy were focused on making UPA Panthers athletics a household name throughout the city of Detroit. Football, Volleyball, Cheer, Cross Country and Boys Soccer led us out the gate to start the 2019-20 school year at University Prep Academy. Our Spring season was set to showcase our track team, baseball team and our very first developmental/intramural soccer and softball teams. Our hearts are saddened that our seniors and teams aren’t able to play their seasons.
Read more about this year’s UPA High School sports teams.
We'll provide updates for our Elementary and Middle Schools in the May e-newsletter. We are so proud of our student athletes and look forward to coming back together when school starts!
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Will You Please Review the U?
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Hey U Prep Parents! We need your help. Will you please REVIEW THE U on Google Maps?
Here is what you need to do. First, go to Google Maps and search for your school’s name (U Prep Science & Math Elementary, etc.) Then, click the “Write a Review” button. And finally, share how you feel about U Prep Schools. We would love to share your thoughts with other parents looking for a great school for their children in Detroit.
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