Hello USD116 family and friends, and Happy Homecoming! I am ecstatic about this year’s homecoming and I’m looking forward to seeing all of you around during this year’s homecoming festivities.
Before I share homecoming details, I want to thank all USD parents and guardians who participated in last week’s parent teacher conferences as well as the students who participated in their student led conference. This was our first year implementing student led conferences across the district and I appreciate everyone for being so involved in this pilot initiative. I know there were amazing conversations happening with our talented students and supportive parents all across the district. Thank you again to everyone who came out to your child’s school, and thank you to all USD116 teachers who planned and implemented creative parent teacher conference activities.
A UHS parent teacher conference board focused on improving student and parent relationships. 
UHS students who created the parent teacher conference board.
As I’m sure you know, this week marks our 2019 Homecoming Week. UHS and other schools are celebrating homecoming with spirit days. Some of UHS’ spirit days include twin day, VSCO girl/boy day, and pajama day. Teachers and students really get into showing their homecoming spirit, so feel free to join in on the spirit days by posting your spirit day outfit on social media and tagging USD116 (@urbana116). Other schools across The District will also be celebrating homecoming with their own spirit days and activities, so feel free to reach out to your child’s building for any questions regarding homecoming festivities.
Dual Language team dressed as MnMs on Twin Day 
Staff twins battle it out on Twin Day 
An anonymous “masked singer” makes their way around UHS during sprit week.
One of my favorite parts of celebrating homecoming is the yearly homecoming parade! This year’s parade weather permitting will take place on Friday at 3 p.m. The homecoming parade will include the UHS Tiger Marching Band, this year’s homecoming court, UHS student groups and athletes, USD116 alumni, and administrators. I encourage you all will join us and line up on Race Street, Main Street, and Vine Street to take part in the homecoming parade. If you show up in your spirit gear and show your school spirit by cheering on our students, you could win special homecoming prizes, so come ready to cheer!
After this year’s parade there will be a homecoming tailgate sponsored by UHS Football Boosters at 4 p.m. in front of the athletic complex. Following the tailgate will be this year’s homecoming game at 7 p.m. I will be there to celebrate this year’s homecoming, and I hope to see a packed house in your orange and black cheering on our Tigers fresh from their win over Centennial in the Crosstown Classic game!
Later in the month, we have more good news coming from The District and our October Urbana community partner feature. October is Fire Prevention Month, so we will be spotlighting the Urbana Fire Department (UFD) for this year’s #UrbanaBetterTogether series. Urbana Fire Department will also be hosting this year’s UFD Family Night on October 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Square, so please take your children out for an evening of fun and informative activities. This month, we will also begin spotlighting more of our incredible USD116 students and staff through online posts and videos, so please follow all USD116 accounts on social media and keep a lookout for those student and staff spotlights. Lastly, the week of October 14 will mark our School Safety Week. All USD116 schools will be participating in our yearly school safety drills and taking part in conversations about crisis situations. We will be reaching out to all parents via School Messenger later this week with additional information.
Happy homecoming and stay safe this October!