Co-Curricular Activities
Co-curricular and E period courses and activities are many and varied at Urban. In addition to the four academic courses and lunchtime clubs, students may take co-curricular electives that meet during periods reserved for year-long classes, as well as physical activities and/or study halls. The credit for these activities and courses varies.
Urban's Green Team is a student group that aims to analyze and shift Urban's institutional practices toward greater environmental sustainability. The group will focus primarily on addressing physical/plant sustainability, rather than how sustainability is addressed within the curriculum. A large part of the group's goals is to educate the Urban community about how to make our institutional and personal choices and habits more sustainable. (Meets during one E period)
HIPE The purpose of Health Initiatives for Peer Education (HIPE) is to support health education within the Urban community. It complements the Health program, by helping support freshman and sophomore Health curriculum, as well as assisting in the planning of and participation in additional health learning opportunities and health days over the course of the academic year. (Meets during one E Period)
Library Leaders is a student group that aims to make the Urban Herbst Library a better place for all community members. Group members will support library usage at Urban in order to promote a lifelong love of reading. Activities include working with the librarian to figure out what the best books are, create book displays, plan library activities and determine the best ways to increase library usage. Members will be expected to write book reviews, collaborate with other student groups, and market the library and library events. (Meets during one E period.)
The MultiCulti Leadership Team is committed to identifying, exploring and working on multicultural issues to create a more inclusive school community. It serves as a home base for the Urban affinity groups (GSA, SOC, MESH, SWEAR and WPA) to find support, share ideas and work together as a cohesive entity. MultiCulti strives to create a safe space for all students to meaningfully engage in these issues through events such as all-school meetings, open and respective club lunch time discussions, film screenings and guest speaker presentations. MultiCulti hosts two major school events: the Multiculti Festival in the fall and the Month of Understanding in the winter. More importantly, our goal is to expand Urban's amount of "safe space" by giving students the tools to digest and openly confront multicultural issues at Urban and in their own lives. We are dedicated to working on topics relevant to all students to ultimately build a more socially aware student body.
Peer Resource The Peer Resource Project explores issues of concern to high school youth and the Urban community. PR sponsors events and promotes a rich community experience and dialogue around student concerns. We support each student having an experience of belonging and connection while at Urban. Students in PR take the Peer Education Theater class in the fall term, facilitate group discussion at variety of school events and performances, make at least a one year commitment to the Peer Resource Project, attend all PR meetings and two overnight retreats. (Meets during one E Period + additional responsibilities.)
The Peer Tutoring Program is available to all Urban students who are having difficulties in a class due to challenging material, gaps in their preparation, or absences caused by illness. In weekly one-on-one meetings, Juniors and Seniors who have performed well in specific academic areas help their peers develop learning strategies, understand concepts, clear up misconceptions, and complete homework in all subjects. Peer tutors complete several hours of training before they begin weekly tutoring sessions which typically take place during study halls. Peer tutors possess a high degree of approachability and patience, as well as the ability to listen, ask questions, maintain confidentiality and problem-solve -- without necessarily solving any problems her/himself.
The Senior Playwriting Workshop will meet during winter term. With the help of exercises, play readings and regular deadlines, Workshop students will develop an original 10-minute play. This workshop is required for Seniors who want their plays to be eligible for inclusion in the spring One Act Festival. (Seniors Only) (Meets during T2)
Portfolio Prep serves as a structured environment in which students compile a portfolio of 16-20 works of art, shoot slides, and write artist's statements and slide scripts to include in their college applications in the fall. The portfolio should reflect craftsmanship, creativity and content by including pieces that reflect your understanding of the elements of art and design in addition to more personal ideas and images. This time also allows for admissions representatives from art schools to speak about their individual programs, to share their knowledge about what constitutes a solid portfolio and to meet with individual students for portfolio reviews. Sustained work, deadlines and documenting work are a necessary component to the completion of the portfolio. (Meets during two specified E Periods.) Prerequisite: instructor approval. (Seniors only)
Technical Theater Production and Design facilitates students who want to engage more fully in the crafting of theatrical productions. This course will focus on understanding the roles in all areas of technical design and stagecraft, including: scenic design and construction, costume design, sound design, lighting design, projection setup and design, and backstage assistance and stage management. Students will work individually and in small groups on class projects that will benefit their understanding of technical theater as well as benefit the current production that term. Following their training, students will have an opportunity to directly support one of Urban's many productions, which include Theater Production, Musical Theater Production, Peer Education Theater or the spring One Act Festival. (Meets yearlong during E1).
UrbanX Labs: Design is an introduction to applied science at Urban and is open to all students. Major topics include basic structural analysis of electronic systems, essential principles of engineering, and the fundamentals of iterative design. Students learn skills such as computer assisted design, 3D modeling, systems analysis, and proper use of advanced tools and lab equipment. (Meets during E2)
UrbanX Labs: Research and Development (RnD) is an advanced level applied science module for Juniors and Seniors. Students apply their foundation of scientific knowledge to engineer solutions to practical problems. Students will explore project challenges of their own choosing as they are exposed to major applied science and engineering topics, including mechanical, electrical and systems engineering. (Meets during E4)
Additional E period options include:
Chamber Orchestra
Advanced Jazz Band
Lab Jazz Band
Urban Singers
Journalism / Urban Legend Student Newspaper
Yearbook