F E AT U R E S science classes, students planned and built roller-coaster models. As part of maintaining the energetic spirit and community building that are a defining part of Summerbridge, students participated in cooking and movement classes and weekly All School Meetings (ASMs). In cooking classes, students shared photos of the recipes they made, inspired by the cooking videos produced by the teaching fellows. In movement classes, they
learned a dance routine from High School Musical and shared videos of themselves dancing. And at ASM, everyone’s favorite event, students earned spirit points by participating in a Battle of the Classes. Summerbridge alumni answered the call to participate in the annual College and Career Day, and since it was virtual this year, presenters hailed from all over the country, from the Bay Area to New York City. Students
enjoyed learning about a variety of careers and were particularly entertained when presenters shared stories and pictures from their middle-school years at Summerbridge. Every year, Summerbridge culminates the summer with a Celebration event, and this year’s virtual presentation was a success, with students and teachers sharing about the summer through video clips, songs, and speeches.
Accomplishing a successful Summerbridge virtual program took an incredible amount of teamwork and perseverance, and the Summerbridge faculty, students, and families, as well as the UHS technology team and senior administrative team, are to be commended for the invaluable partnerships that led to a rewarding summer. n
Undeterred: The Generous Spirit of Giving in the UHS Community — Shaundra Bason, Director of Development
T
he philanthropic spirit in this country is truly an inspiring phenomenon. Billions of dollars are donated annually to causes that people feel strongly about, and important social change is bolstered, in large part, by the generosity of individual donors. What happens to this generosity when times get tough? What have we seen within the UHS community as the economy remains uncertain, a pandemic changes our everyday lives, and wildfires ravage our state? Here are just a few of my most encouraging experiences. DOUBLING DOWN The UHS and Summerbridge Annual Fund is a cornerstone of support for our faculty and students. As campus was closing, our fundraising goal of $2.2 million was still significantly short of being realized. Knowing that the pandemic would financially and emotionally affect a significant portion of our donors, the energized and creative development team, alongside key volunteers, revised our strategy and committed to
redoubling our efforts, including reaching out to all current and past families, alumni, and friends of UHS. The response from our community was dazzling. An online effort to match a generous alumni gift to financial aid encouraged many first-time alumni donors to support their alma mater, while some of the school’s most dedicated supporters increased—some even doubled—their contributions. A final appeal and push by our hard-working volunteers in June brought us over our goal, helping us meet our community’s needs and enter the 2020–2021 school year on a stronger footing. THE VIRTUAL SHOW(CASE) GOES ON Across 44 years, the Decorator Showcase has raised more than $17 million in support of the UHS financial aid program. As our world moved to shelter in place, the work that was well underway at 22 • 22nd Avenue was brought to a screeching halt, and it was unclear how this beloved and important event could weather the storm. How
could we complete the work, offer a visually rich experience without public gatherings, and safeguard the money raised to guarantee access for our students and families? Undaunted, Showcase volunteers, designers, and staff completed work on the beautiful home once construction was permitted again. The first-ever virtual Showcase is now open, complete with an interactive 3-D tour, video interviews with designers, and the ability to zoom in on items of interest. Because of the dedication of our designers, volunteer leaders, and long-time supporters, Showcase is alive and well, and is generating critical financial aid support for students of promise. EMPOWERED FACULTY As UHS was forced to close its campus, the faculty and administrative team rallied to pivot quickly to online instruction. The last months of the school year provided valuable lessons on what it would take to offer meaningful virtual learning over a longer period of time. To prepare for this eventuality
in the fall, faculty members went through training over the summer to hone their online teaching skills. Understanding the importance and additional cost of this training, an anonymous “grateful family” contributed funding to underwrite generous summer study stipends for the teaching faculty. This generosity not only benefits our students, but also represents deep appreciation for the commitment of our faculty and meaningful recognition of the additional time and expertise required to create and deliver curriculum under these circumstances. One grateful faculty member wrote, “Navigating this school year will undoubtedly be quite challenging,
August 8, 2020 UHS announces ONE MEDICAL access to community members—including health screenings, COVID testing, and flu shots.
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