News Archive

The website usn.org/remotereplay curates activities Lower School and After-School faculty have created during remote learning for easily accessible summer fun.

Read on for faculty & staff summer plans to prepare for the next academic year. Expect to continue to receive regular email updates, read about future protocols on a safe return to Edgehill Avenue, and learn about virtual summer programming in the coming weeks. Please aid us by responding to surveys and participating in Coffee with the Director on Tuesdays.

Listen to recordings by sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

High School dancers will present their site-specific choreography pieces on YouTube. Click here to view their spring performances, premiering at 3 p.m. Friday, May 22.

Read on for details about book club options for Middle School and High School students in June and July.

Three observations on the remote learning experience that we consider as we move closer to summer break and prepare for school in August.

Director Vince Durnan will continue to host Zoom conversations for the USN community at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through July.

Take advantage of the opportunity to return Hassenfeld Library books and bags during the Lower School Parade on Thursday, May 21.  

Students, parents, faculty, and staff are welcome to submit a 5-inch square that captures their experience during the pandemic.

Despite the weather-related challenges this week, we've forged ahead with remote learning and celebrating seniors as we continue to look forward to brighter days and returning to in-person classes.

Now that summer reading lists have been published for rising fifth through 12th graders, families are beginning to ask: How can we access these books when libraries are still closed?

Lower School parents should click here to sign up to have a High School buddy work with their children. High School students should click here to sign up to be a buddy to help with homework, read, or serve as a mentor.

Given Nashville's extended Safer at Home Order and USN landing in phase three of the city's resumption of activity plan, USN Summer Camps will not take place on campus in June. We are considering virtual summer offerings instead and continue to prepare for the months ahead.

Through these strange new times, Neil '21 and his MSON class create a website about positivity.

Share a message to thank health care workers with the USN sophomore to be posted in hospitals nationwide

When book festivals began canceling in response to the coronavirus, a sterling group of children’s and young adult authors got together to create a free online alternative: the Everywhere Book Fest, happening Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2.

Two USN students have been serenading the elderly on violin during Nashville's Safer at Home Order and were featured in The Tennessean.

What is USN considering as it faces the possible economic consequences of COVID-19?

The Habitat for Humanity Club is collecting recipes from USN families to compile into a cookbook and sell this spring. Email your recipe to habitat@usn.org by Friday, May 1.

Remote learning will continue to be our routine through the end of the school year, and Commencement will likely take place mid-summer.

With the world turned upside down, how do you find a way to celebrate a child’s birthday?

When times are tough, many of us seek comfort in the familiar. Our librarians share what they’re reading — or re-reading — to unwind.

As faculty combine synchronous and asynchronous elements, define daily schedules, set mutual expectations for communication, and provide some vehicles for assessment — our transition to remote learning seems like a large scale design thinking project.

Several USN families have dusted off their sewing machines and tools to make thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment for health care workers.

As K-12 counselors, we want to share some valuable perspective on life “behind the computer” when a school is required to pivot into teaching and learning in an entirely different way. A 20-year veteran teacher noted that what we’re not doing is homeschooling, rather it’s crisis schooling, a distinction which is well worth making.

When will we return to face-to-face classes on campus? How long will major school events be postponed? How long will the community disruption last? What are students learning? What are administrators and faculty learning about what school is and what school could be?

Check out these literacy activities for Lower School students.

Although we’re apart, books can still bring us together.

Simple instructions to keep STEADY during stressful times.

High School service leaders are sharing opportunities to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although group volunteering and drives at USN are not feasible right now, there are still ways the USN community can aid Nashville. Read on to learn about three ways to serve health care workers, Metro Nashville Public School students, and Nashvillians in food isolation.

Director Vince Durnan will host Zoom conversations with parents at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays during remote learning.

We've added more photos to this gallery of USN-branded Zoom virtual backgrounds. Choose your favorite or rotate from the collection of 17 images. Read on for links to tips for using Zoom for virtual meetings.

Director Vince Durnan welcomes USN parents to use their phones, laptops, and desktops to catch up with him at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 31. He'll be drinking decaffeinated coffee. Bring your orange juice, tea, or other caffeinated beverage of your choice.

We’ll host a virtual Reunion from April 30 to May 2 to recognize the newest inductees into the Gold Circle, honor their contributions to recording the PDS history through The Past is Prologue, share campus construction and other school happenings, hold a private screening of the 1928 PDS Cinema Club film "Masque" last shown during our Centennial Celebration in 2015, and have a social hour with alumni. There is no cost to join us from your living room for any of these three events. Simply click here to register.

We want to feature you and your family in the Student Theatre Guild production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," on social media, and in division publications.

School is in session from kitchens, living rooms, home offices, and backyards across Middle Tennessee. Show us how you’re learning and what you're doing by sharing photos and videos. Use the hashtag #beyondEdgehill and tag @USN_PDS (Instagram & Twitter) or @USN.PDS (Facebook). Or email your visuals, student's name, and a sentence on what he/she is doing to Communications Director Juanita Traughber. 

Director Vince Durnan shared the following letter on Thursday, March 26 to update alumni, parents of alumni, parents, faculty, and staff on how the school is functioning during the first week of remote learning.

LS Librarian Emily Theobald shares tips and links on how to enjoy reading a variety of books and accessing other resources from home.

Although school is taking place in your home, the Hassenfeld Library is still here to support students, families, faculty, and staff in teaching, learning, and — of course — reading.

Division heads and grade-level leaders shared the following messages with students and their parents on Tuesday, March 24 to help them prepare for the first day of remote learning.

Use the links below to read recent emails from Division Heads to students and parents regarding plans for remote learning, which begins Wednesday, March 25.

The CDC shares ways families can make learning fun and keep their children safe while learning remotely.

We're aware that some parents are still required to travel to work to help meet our community's basic needs. Let us know how we can help you.

Given the dynamically changing situation, we are more motivated than ever to stay connected as the USN community. Here is what is on our minds. Director Vince Durnan shared the following column in the USN Newsletter sent Wednesday, March 18.

Editor's Note on Tuesday, March 24: Due to the Metro Health Department's Safer at Home Order issued this week, the USN Bookstore is no longer able to process orders during remote learning.

The following letter was shared with K-12 parents, faculty, and staff at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14 regarding conversations among heads of schools as well as between USN and local public health leaders.

The Alumni & Development Office shared the following message with alumni and their parents at 2 p.m. March 13 regarding the impact of the novel coronavirus on the Tiger Give Back Challenge & Kickoff Party and Reunion.

The following letter was shared with K-12 parents, faculty, and staff at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, March 12 regarding changes to Spring Break and a move to remote learning.

What scenarios is USN considering for school as concerns grow regarding the novel coronavirus? Director Vince Durnan shared the following column in division publications sent late Wednesday, March 11.

In a column previously shared with Middle School families, MS Educational Technologist Kari Luecke tells how you can put a new spin on “spring cleaning” by cleaning your smartphones, laptops, and other technology.

The following letter was shared with K-12 parents, faculty, and staff at 10 p.m. Monday, March 9 regarding Spring Break travel plans and Vanderbilt University suspending classes.

The following letter was shared with K-12 parents, faculty, and staff at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 5 regarding a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19 in Williamson County.

The following letter was shared on March 5, 2020 with families of students who planned to study abroad in Spain with USN.

The following letter was shared with K-12 parents, faculty, and staff at 4 p.m. Saturday, February 29 regarding the coronavirus COVID-19 and CDC recommendations.

The following letter was shared on February 11, 2020 with families of students who planned to study abroad in Spain with USN.