UHS: Weekly News and Notes, June 18

I have, over the years, used this medium as an opportunity to share some thoughts and feelings. After all, I always fancied myself to be somewhat of a writer, and I don’t get the opportunity to share my own personal thoughts in a written form - certainly not in any way other than the informative. While this message, coming at the conclusion of the year, may seem somewhat nostalgic or even emotionally driven, I assure you that it is more meant with a meaning of appreciation and deference, as I have once again been humbled by the contributions of so many to make Uxbridge a great place.

Interestingly enough, as I shared at our final faculty meeting of the year earlier this week, I was able to re-read a file that was called “Opening Remarks 2015.” They were penned in the weeks leading up to my first ever meeting with the Uxbridge faculty; many of the people who were in the room that day have since moved on, and most of our staff, at this point, has come on board over the course of my 11 years as principal. It was amusing for me to remark to the staff on that day that, in preparation for my first day as a principal, my first year as a principal, having never been a principal, that I read a book over that summer called The Principal, which fancied itself a how-to guide for new school leaders (no, not the Jim Belushi 80s movie featuring a bat-wielding school leader driving a motorcycle into the corridors of his building to remove gang members).

The book put together a number of different guidelines for a school leader. Admittedly, many of the experiences that we have had at UHS were not mentioned in the book. To name a few, they didn’t discuss how to decide on whether or not to keep graduation outdoors and navigate weather reports, how to navigate the public sentiment around an epidemiological study related to several staff members’ cancer diagnoses, or how to adjust to many, many central office changes in a short time. There were, however, some consistencies that emerge, particularly around working with excellent people, developing trust and efficiency in systems, and finding ways to maintain optimism and open dialogue in times of challenges. Another key theme tends to focus on surrounding oneself with those that bring out the best in others, something that has been a consistent conversation topic around the professionalism we hope to see in our staff at UHS.

There are some people leaving us at UHS this year who have brought much to our community, some in shorter windows of time than others. We offer them thanks and gratitude as they look ahead to their new adventures. Matt Erhartic, Long-term English Substitute, will be returning to the Worcester Public Schools, where he will assume a teaching role. Hilary Ritacco, School Psychologist, will be moving to a new role much closer to home, after spending the past nine years with us in Uxbridge. 

In particular, we have highlighted the work of Hurley Silbor and Christine Prior, two of our department leaders, who have earned their retirements after decades of service to Uxbridge. They have been confidantes and colleagues of the highest order, always focused on the students, and committed to the betterment of their colleagues and the community in general. There have been literally thousands of students to have passed through their classrooms, and they - and I - are better for having had them as colleagues.

When Michael DiMeglio retired in the summer of 2021, we were uncertain about who would fill his shoes. When we hired Matt Bertrand that August, he had to quickly acclimate to a different school and culture, and his work in the role, as my primary partner in the leadership of UHS, has been one of trust, collegiality, teamwork, and growth. I am excited to see his work at the Whitin School and to work with him in this new role, as we try and enhance what has already been strong synergy between our two school administrations - which can evolve further with Ms. DeMarco heading to a central office position. I do believe this is a win for all of us, and I am thankful for everything Matt has done for UHS over the past five years.

In addition, I am deeply appreciative for the collaboration and consultation of our School Council members, particularly parent co-chair Reasha Kling. Having people on the Council that consider student, parent, and staff perspectives has contributed to our consistent growth and focus, and our lofty goals as a school continue to be established and progress made because of all their support.

Summer typically brings with it a time to rest and reflect. For a principal, there is also the difficult task of filling positions left by the departure of excellent people. On the one hand, I welcome the challenge. On the other hand, I recognize that finding “perfect replacements” is an exercise in futility. I can assure the community that we are on our way to ensuring we are fully staffed for the coming year, and that I am already impressed with the caliber of candidates that we are attracting. That is as much a reflection on our school and its culture as it is the community that we serve - we want to make Uxbridge High School a great place to work, go to school, and excel, whether a member of staff or student.

I wish everyone a restful, enjoyable, and healthy summer. I anticipate taking some time off, particularly in July and early August, when I can recharge my own battery and come back ready to tackle 2026-27 with the gusto and energy that a job and school I love ultimately deserves, and for the scenarios ahead of us that are both in the textbook and that are chapters as yet to be penned. In the meantime, I thank you all for your support.

Travel Plans

In spring 2027, UHS is planning its first international trip in almost two decades, as a trip to Italy has been scheduled and approved. In the coming weeks, we will be working with our tour partner, EF Tours, to begin planning a trip for the spring of 2028, depending on interest. We are looking at opportunities that will again head to Europe, looking at both Spain and France, as well as the United Kingdom. There are a couple of options for South America as well. We will be planning on eventually falling into two-year cycles for trips, once we get a sense of what student demand for these opportunities could be.

We are also in the beginning stages of looking into a Washington, DC trip to be sponsored by our social studies department, while also seeking School Committee approval for a May 2027 trip to New York City for the drama club, which will involve theater workshops. Our Spartans will be on the go!

Schedules for Next Year

Student schedules for next year are currently being finalized by the School Counseling Department. They will be working some days over the summer, and they will be able to share some insight with students in the next weeks as well. Please keep in mind that there are some specifics that cannot be shared until July and August, particularly as we are still hiring some open positions, which could impact teacher schedules.

Office Closure

There will be some days where the UHS office will be closed this summer. Please be patient with us as we navigate some construction projects on campus, particularly in July. For example, the high school office will likely not be open during the week of July 6 or July 20, as the secretarial staff will be on vacation and the school administration will be involved with interviews and not available at the main desk. The best bet is to call to see if anyone is available before coming to what could be an empty office.

As I sign off for the school year, I’m reminded of a sentiment shared by Dave Grohl: "It's not about being the best, it's about doing your best." Like the teams currently battling on the World Cup pitch, we’ve played hard, supported our teammates, and hopefully given our all this year. Whether you’re cheering on your favorite squad with the passion of the Tartan Army or finding your own version of the "beautiful game" this summer, I hope you carry that same energy into a well-earned, restful break. Enjoy the matches, enjoy the sun, and I look forward to all that we’ll achieve when we return for the next school year!

Yours in Black and Orange,

Dr. Rubin