From the Director: The Daily Tension

by Vince Durnan, director

As we at school try to strike the right balance between current events and our educational purpose, please make time for kitchen table conversations and active expressions of civic engagement.
We're conscious of news breaking all around as each new school day begins. The question of when to change plans, of how much to divert from regular, familiar routines is particularly top of mind for me and for colleagues at USN.
 
Maybe first on the list is the question of our place in the national conversation about community safety and gun policy. I'm actually typing this message from the National Association of Independent Schools conference in Atlanta, where that topic is gobbling up conversation time in every meeting I attend — with no consensus opinion other than the importance of supporting young people motivated in this moment. USN students have been asking about the right approach to next week's walkout, or about attending the Washington, D.C. rally during Spring Break, and we're listening closely in Middle and High Schools. I've been impressed by their thoughtfulness.
 
Meanwhile, the Contemporary Civics class I'm lucky enough to convene has more to talk about than we ever imagined two months ago, even though we knew we'd be busy with transit and housing and healthcare and finance questions of lasting importance for our city. There's such value in their developing a knowledge base about fundamental policy questions for a metropolitan area, and yet it feels wrong to miss the chance to work from one headline to the next in the trying times for Nashville.
 
And just this Tuesday, while Minnijean Brown-Trickey returned to campus for what we think is the 16th year to share recollections as a member of the Little Rock Nine, with fifth graders who read "Warriors Don't Cry," another guest arrived. Heather Warren '77, University of Virginia professor and Rhodes Scholar, offered a lunch and learn about what really happened last summer in Charlotteville — and on pretty short notice. But how could we say no? Listening to Heather provided an eerie echo of what Minnijean recalled, a reminder to know our history and see its relevance.
 
Friday, March 9, we'll celebrate the beautiful variety of cultural backgrounds represented by USN families,  as we gather for the annual International Fair to break bread in many of its iterations. With the debates about trade wars and nuclear security and Olympic diplomacy, highlighting the benefit of people learning from difference strikes me as a  particularly important message to reinforce. Making time to gather in that way is actually a pretty topical thing to do in this geopolitical climate.
 
There's an old saying about not letting school get in the way of your education. Maybe it's better to think about the way education, more broadly defined, is at the core of the best kind of school experience, amidst classes and credits and curricula. We are, most certainly, a kind of sanctuary for children (and for many adults), called on to strike the right balance between current events and permanent purpose. But we can't live in isolation. Please join us in the effort by making time for kitchen table conversations and for active expressions of civic engagement, as you strive to keep the news cycle in perspective. Let's set that example for the young people in our care in anxious times.
 
That's enough for now,
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School News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Get crafty with USN Evening Classes

    There are a variety of USN Evening Classes available this fall to help you create special gifts for yourself and others. These one-night classes are open to the Nashville community and benefit University School of Nashville's need-based scholarship endowment.
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  • Secure your tickets to Artclectic Patrons Party today

    For more than 30 years, Artclectic has been one of Nashville's premier juried art shows, welcoming nationally recognized artists and visitors from across the city to USN's Sperling Gym turned art gallery. The weekend features exceptional artwork, artist demonstrations, student experiences, family activities, and special events that celebrate creativity, with proceeds benefiting USN. Purchase your tickets today.
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  • Travel grant takes naturalist to Galápagos Islands

    The Helen Meador Summer International Fellowship funded a summer of professional development in South America for Lower School Naturalist Carrie Riley. Through this profound experience, she said she plans to bring these lessons into her teaching, grounding her voice in wonder, joy, and a commitment to protecting the natural world, which she loves.
     
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Archive

Athletics News

List of 3 news stories.

  • HS athletics recaps for September 11-17

    Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.
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  • MS athletics recaps for September 11-17

    Middle School volleyball and tennis teams are nearing the final games of their seasons, with the competition heating up while the Tigers play to determine their HVAC rankings. Cross country was finally able to race at the River Campus despite the heat, and our mountain biking team traveled to Oakfield, Tennessee, for a high-temperature race weekend.
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  • MTB Race #2 Report - Rockabilly Ridge Trails, Oakfield, TN

    Steve Smail
    The MTB team returned to the the twisty trails of tranquil Oakfield, TN on Sept 13th to take part in the second race of the season, as part of the 5-race series hosted by the NICA/TICL League.
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Contact

Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212

Phone:  615-321-8000
Fax:       615-321-0889 
Email:    info@usn.org

River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218

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USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.