You can sign up for USN Mobile, an emergency text messaging system we implemented a year ago. Read more, or sign up now.


Mark your calendars—it’s time for USN’s Annual Red Cross Blood Drive on January 30. Read more.


The Hill Property middle school book of photographs from the old growth forest is back on the Tennessean’s TennesseeGreen.com website. See the slideshow or read more.


Acclaimed pianist Nicholas Zumbro (PDS ’50), professor at the University of Arizona School of Music, visited USN last week, playing at MS Town Meeting and conducting a master class for Joey Capparella ’09 (pictured) and Derek Shyr ’11.






Don’t Go to the Mall
We know some other ways to solve your holiday gift giving dilemmas:
Honor a special teacher or staff member with a tax-free donation to sponsor a book for the USN Hassenfeld Library collection. Read more, or fill out the on-line form.

Have a paver on USN’s Buhl Terrace engraved with the name of anyone you would like to honor.

Give a signed and numbered 10x28” Phil Ponder color print of USN. Email Anne Westfall to purchase a print.


Thanks so much to all of you who have signed up to work shifts for both Registration and Hospitality for USN’s annual offering of Evening Classes. A few slots remain: Registration shifts in late January and early February and several Hospitality shifts in late January, February, and March. Read more.


With only 20 days left in this calendar year, we have an important item for your to-do-list.


USN singers will perform in the opening night of the Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker at TPAC tomorrow night. Read more.

High School exams begin tomorrow, December 12, and high school classes are dismissed at noon today. Read the exam schedule.



The high school follows a special schedule on January 5, the first day back from Winter Break. Read the schedule.



USN’s Quiz Bowl team has finished second in Tennessee in the national Knowledge Master computer tournament, a lengthy multiple-choice contest with difficult questions, behind rival Hume-Fogg. The team also competed in the first round of the new Quizbusters high school quiz program, seen on the WB18 at 9:00 on Sunday nights. Its airing is tentatively set for January 4.



The high school debaters, accompanied by coaches Varsha Ramakrishnan and Thom O’Rourke, came back from the University of Kentucky tournament last weekend laden with trophies and clutching a bid for one team to the prestigious Tournament of Champions. Read more.

Sam Fishell ’09 (l.) and Ian Ball ’10



Last week students from Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus classes travelled to Franklin High School to compete against other local math students on a written contest. Two students had perfect scores and three teams won. Read more.



This week Derek Shyr ’11 performed a Beethoven piano concerto with the Curb Youth Symphony at Ingram Hall. Caroline Awh ’10, Austin Criner ’09, and Josh Vann ’10 were in the orchestra accompanying him.



Josh Edelman ’10 made the Mid-State band, coming in 12th out of 130 or so trumpets at the auditions.  He is ranked 4th in the silver band.

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Middle school students in Mr. Wilson’s technical theatre class put their training to good use as they hang, test, and adjust new lighting fixtures in the recently renovated third floor theatre classroom.






Glyn Burton (r.) and Howard Rosen, the retired physician and USN granddad who volunteers in Mr. Burton’s 8th grade classroom, recently made a six-hour workshop presentation to the Tennessee Science Teachers’ Association, receiving the highest evaluation marks ever given to presenters to that organization.

A bake sale by sixth graders in Karen Knox’s advisory group raised $333.00, which they will use to buy a water buffalo through the Heifer Project, with enough left over to toss in some chickens and ducks.








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Next week is your chance to sing with your kids at USN’s traditional Holiday Songfests. Read the schedule and everything else you need to know, including parking information.



USN and Gilda’s Gang are teaming up again for the 2009 Country Music Kids’ Marathon. Read more.



Kindergarten children in Ms. Avington-Scott’s class went to Cheekwood last week to see the holiday decorations.









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Sports photos left to right: Erin Drake ’10; Meiko Lyles ’10; HS swim team; 6th grader Alexandria Yu
Photos by Michael’s Photography



Some of the middle school’s most outstanding athletes were recognized at the MS Fall Sports Evening last week. Read the lists of award winners.

HS boys’ basketball team improves to 4-1 before falling at MBA

HS girls’ basketball pulls out first two wins in non-region play

HS bowling finishes out regular season at Strike and Spare

MS boys’ basketball team loses

6th grade girls’ basketball start season with 2 wins, JV opens with big win versus Overbrook

MS Swimming takes on Harpeth Hall/MBA











MS Tigers of the Week



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