After the fifth grade study of the Little Rock Nine’s integration of Central High School in 1957 and other moments in the American civil rights movement, students welcome Minnijean Brown Trickey to USN with poetry celebrating change.

This Friday, November 14 is the Junior Class Auction and Talent Night. Read more, or see the list of items to be auctioned.

Kelly Keffer (l.) and Abbey Brown with some of the items to be auctioned by the junior class



The HS musical, Company, played this past weekend to packed houses and rave reviews.





At USN’s “Wonders of Wetlands” workshop held at the River Campus last Friday, teachers from other schools dissected cattails to learn how to show students the plants’ adaptations to living in water. Read more.



USN’s annual offering of Evening Classes begins in January, and we need your help. Learn how you can volunteer to assist with Registration and Hospitality.



Show Your Tiger Pride! Celebrate the success of USN’s fall sports teams by joining the Tiger Club. You’ll benefit all the teams. Read more.



Music is in the air! The Fall Choral Concert for grades 6-12 is Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00. Read more.



Calling all kindergarten siblings. We’re scheduling kindergarten assessments in December for brothers and sisters of current USN students. Please tell Lynne Mosby in the Admissions Office if you have a child who fits this description (327-3812 or lmosby@usn.org).



Help USN’s Annual Fund reach its goal of 100% parent participation. Remember, your participation is more important then the size of the gift. Send in your Annual Fund gift or give online.



David Williams, Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics, General Counsel and Secretary of the University, came to USN last week to talk with our middle and high school coaches about the development of student-athletes and the Vanderbilt model of balancing athletics and academics.




Lower School naturalist Cynthia Lee presented USN’s Young Naturalist program and its place-based approach to learning at the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools meeting this week, spreading the word to hundreds of teachers from other schools.




Cedar trees planted in the back corner of the field were donated in honor or in memory of many with strong connections to USN. Recently a stone bearing the names of those honored was installed in the cedar grove.

USN students were recognized with many awards at the YMCA Model UN Conference in early November. Read more.






A USN tradition: seniors having lunch with Mr. Durnan in his office. Everyone takes a turn, going in groups. This is the last batch for the Class of 2009.

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The trumpet section of the 6th grade band heats up (l. to r.): Skye Cameron, Sam May, Nicholas Grizzell, Joshua Huang, Ashtan Towles.







Two dates remain for USN 8th grade parents to have coffee, conversation, and a quick tour with Steve Robins, head of High School. Please tell Lynne Mosby in the Admissions Office if you can join in the fun on November 18 or December 5, both at 8:00 a.m. in Morris Conference Room.



The middle school chamber ensemble, led by Katie Greenebaum, played at Classical Night earlier this week along with other accomplished middle school musicians.
Middle school chamber ensemble: (clockwise from left) Jessie Baskauf, Lena Friedman (6th grade violin), Arpan Sarkar (5th grade piano), Katie Greenebaum, Nora May (8th, cello), Louisa Friedman (4th, cello).



8th graders in Physical Science look on as Mr. Burton assists Zach Bugalla in examining the properties of zinc and hydrochloric acid.

Throughout lower school, children read every day, working in groups, in partners, and independently.










(above l.) Third graders learn base words and suffixes in morning message.
(above center) A first grader works with teacher assistant Brenna Gault.
(above r.) Fourth graders immerse themselves in chapter books.



(above l.) Kindergartners practice fluency by reading along with a tape.
(above center) First graders practice spelling words with doodle boards.
(above r.) A first grader reads to Joy, the high school dog.

A second grader reads about Robin Hood.

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HS Girls’ Soccer finishes season with tough loss in State Final Four

HS Bowling team continues to battle in Division II

MS Boys’ Soccer A-team is 8-1, B-team earns another win over FRA

MS Girls’ Soccer A-team pushes tough FRA to 0-0 tie, B-team wins 1-0



Middle School Tigers of the Week Rachel Freedman and Hannah Heitz

#10 Jenna Meyerowitz and #12 McKenzie Andrews
photo by Kimberly Manz



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