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Good morning families,
11 more days of classes for high school students, 21 for middle school. Check your students progress in Infinite Campus, ensure there are no surprises at the end of the year. All teachers have been instructed to reach to families whose students have grades lower than a 70% for this quarter. Talk with your students about taking steps to finish the year strong.
A quick reminder on how final grades are calculated:
The final grades (F1) for most classes are calculated as an average of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 grades. End of Grade tests (EOG's) do not count towards a student's F1 grade for middle school courses, but will affect students' placement in future courses and our school's report card
Classes with a state-administered End of Course (EOC) exams or CTE exams calculate their F1 grade as an average of Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, and their E1 (exam) grade
Final exams will be administer during the last 10 days of the school year.
Looking ahead, we will celebrate our 12th grade students on June 5 and our 8th grade students at 8th Grade Graduation on June 8. All families are invited to join us at our inaugural Senior Graduation as we celebrate the students that have led the way for so many years.
You have always been, and always will be, our best source for new families. Know a family that would be a good fit at UDS? Encourage them to reach out and come by for a tour, we would love to add them to the community for the 26-27 school year.
As always, make sure to read the whole-school newsletter.
Thanks,
-Foster
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
May
5/14 - Upper School field day (details to come)
5/15 - Lower School field day (details to come)
5/25 - Memorial Day (no school)
5/27 - EOG, EOC, and CTE exams begin
June
6/4 - Fifth grade promotion
6/5 - Twelfth grade graduation (all are invited)
6/8 - Eighth grade promotion
6/9 - Last day of school, last day for EOG, EOC, and CTE exams
Counselor's Corner
with Mr. Shuford
College Acceptance Update
Acceptance and Scholarship Update: As of Friday, March 6th : 15 Seniors have completed 75 applications to 44 different schools with 51 acceptances. 12 Students have been offered a total of $2,235,400 in Merit based scholarships. Way to go Gryphons!
Graduation Information
Graduation Information
Graduation Information
Date: June 5, 2026
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Forest Hill Church - 8120 Kensington Dr, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Guests
All seniors may invite as many guests as they wish to attend, there will be no tickets.
Caps, Gowns, and Regalia
Students will be responsible for the purchase of their own cap/gown and tassel. It should be well maintained and wrinkle free at time of graduation.
All stoles, honor cords, etc will be distributed by the school. Students may not present or wear any unauthorized regalia
Students may not decorate their caps in any manor
Prohibited Items
Phones, backpacks, purses, bags or anything that will disrupt or distract from the formal nature of the ceremony. These items may be left with family.
Dress Code
Female
Dress not exceeding the length of the gown or dark (black/navy) dress pants
Dark Shoes - low heels or flats
Male
White shirt and dark tie
Dark dress slacks
Dark dress shoes with solid dark socks
No jeans, khakis, short pants, tennis shoes, sandals, or flip flops
Requirements
Graduates must attend all Graduation week activities and be on time. That includes, graduation practice (TBD) and being at the graduation site at the designated time to line up for graduation.
Students must have a clear financial record before being allowed to walk.
CFNC Scholarship Search
CFNC Scholarship Search
Its never to early to start searching scholarships/ This is a good place to start...
College for North Carolina (CFNC) Scholarship Portal
College for North Carolina (CFNC) Scholarship Portal
CFNC's scholarship and grant database allows students to search for financial aid opportunities in one place and filter by their specific needs.
Visit the CFNC Scholarship Portal here.
SAT Dates for 2026-2027
SAT Dates for 2026-2027
Note: Do not miss registration Deadlines. Union Day School will be a Testing Center on December 5th
Competitive Scholarships...Full Rides to Great Schools
Competitive Scholarships...Full Rides to Great Schools
Highly Competitive Full Scholarships at Prestigious Institutions
Deadlines in the Fall of 2026
Morehead-Cain at UNC Chapel Hill
Belk Scholarship at Davidson College
Levine Scholars at UNC Charlotte
Jefferson Scholars at the University of Virginia
Robertson Scholars UNC and Duke
Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars at Vanderbilt
40 Acres Scholarship Univ of Texas
Woodruff Scholarship Emory University
Gabelli Scholarship Boston College
Trustee Scholarship Boston University
Email Mr. Shuford for November Scholarship Newsletter
Why Everyone Should fill Out the FAFSA
Why Everyone Should fill Out the FAFSA
Everyone should complete the FAFSA because it's the only way to access federal student aid like Pell Grants, work-study funds, and loans, and many states and colleges use it to determine eligibility for their own aid. It provides a clearer picture of your potential costs and financial options, even if you don't think you'll qualify for aid, as some scholarships and grants require it and the benefits can be surprising.
Key reasons to complete the FAFSA
Access to financial aid: It is the application for federal grants, work-study programs, and loans, which are the largest source of student aid.
Eligibility for state and school aid: Many states and individual colleges use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for their own grants and scholarships.
Opens up opportunities: Completing the form doesn't commit you to anything. It simply provides possibilities and a clearer picture of your costs once all potential aid is factored in.
No income cutoff: There is no income cutoff to qualify for some forms of aid, and many scholarships are based on financial need, not just high grades or test scores.
It's free: The "F" in FAFSA stands for "free," so it costs nothing to submit the application.
It's quick and easy: For most families, the application can be completed in under 30 minutes.
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Mr. Shuford serves as counselor for grades 7-12. His office is located in room 203 in the high school hall. He can be reached at barry.shuford@uniondayschool.com
or Ext. 9000
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