UCDS Schools - UCDS

Developing Expansive Thinkers
Encouraging Unique Strengths
Igniting Positive Change

Where Learning Has No Limits

Welcome to UCDS. We encourage students to stretch, reflect, collaborate, and think expansively—enriching their educational growth and ensuring they thrive in school and beyond.

UCDS Schools 18

Infant-Toddler Education

UCDS Schools 4

Early Elementary

UCDS Schools 2

Elementary

We’re driven by the idea that learning is as varied as each individual. So we’ve designed innovative educational programs that activate personal learning styles and set students up for the rewards of life-long learning. Become part of the UCDS community.

UCDS Schools 13

Our Mission

We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities.

UCDS Schools Blog

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Being Brave

Design-led Learning, Education Hub

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Being Brave

UCDS is having a birthday! As we celebrate our 110th year, we are rolling back the clock and re-sharing six highlights of an innovative school: Culture of Inquiry, Sticky Curriculum,…

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Coaching Independence

Design-led Learning, Education Hub

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Coaching Independence

UCDS is having a birthday! As we celebrate our 110th year, we are rolling back the clock and re-sharing six highlights of an innovative school: Culture of Inquiry, Sticky Curriculum,…

Design-led Learning, Education Hub

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Mentorship Through Collaboration

Design-led Learning, Education Hub

Six Highlights of an Innovative School • Authentic Assessment

All Blog Articles

ucds_seattle

Preschool-5th Grade. We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities.

Enjoy this second of two highlight reels from our

Enjoy this highlight reel from our year of SHAPE @

UCDS teachers Deb, Kylie, and Melissa just returne

UCDS teachers Deb, Kylie, and Melissa just returned from visiting Ascend International School (AIS), our partner school in Mumbai, India. There, they hosted two workshops for AIS faculty. The first focused on how to develop and implement curriculum that helps students construct mathematical understanding, what we call "Math Vitamins" at UCDS. The second workshop dove into two hallmarks of our UCDS program: the importance of social-emotional learning and the use of non-directive communication in classroom management (if you're curious about that, there's a relevant article by teacher Jenn Drake at the link in our bio).

Our visiting teachers and the entire school send their thanks for the opportunity to work with AIS faculty again this year and especially send gratitude for the wonderful welcome from the AIS community. From dinners out on the town, trips to see sights around the city, and a roof-top send-off party, our partnership with AIS is full of engaging professional and personal connections. As Melissa said in one of her daily photo updates, "India is magical!!!" Until next time, AIS...happy school year!
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@ascendspeaks
#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #AlwaysAscending #mumbai #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool #mathteacher #socialemotionallearning

Summer Math Workshop for Educators: Constructing M

Summer Math Workshop for Educators: Constructing Mathematical Understanding
August 15-19, 2022

Looking for differentiated, project-based mathematical learning? Math Vitamins are designed to make math meaningful with hands-on, manipulative-based learning opportunities. Connect your math curriculum to project-based learning to ignite curiosity and develop conceptual understanding.

UCDS is excited to offer a public educator grant to join our week-long Math Workshop! Visit the link in our bio to learn more and register. Clock Hours available!

Questions? Email us at institute@ucds.org. We look forward to meeting you!
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#ucdsinstitute #ucdsseattle #professionaldevelopmentforteachers #mathteachers #math #teachingforunderstanding #seattleteachers #seattlepublicschools #lifelonglearning #individualizedinstruction #profdev #teacherpd #deeperlearning #growthmindset #projectbased #projectbasedlearning #seattle
#mathworkshop

On this day that celebrates our country's independ

On this day that celebrates our country's independence, we wish for everyone happiness, community, and unrelenting patriotism that inspires us to continue fighting for freedom, equality, and rights for all.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #womensrightsarehumanrights #independenceday #fourthofjuly #america #patriotic #independence #happyindependenceday #happyfourthofjuly #scotus #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool

Happy Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Em

Happy Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day. Today we celebrate the day the Union army enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after it had been declared. Now a national holiday, this celebration highlights the importance of honest history and the relevance of the past in the struggles of the present. To learn more about Juneteenth, we invite you to explore the resources linked in our bio; there you'll find articles about the holiday's complex history and why it should be taught in schools, as well as a read aloud book, educational video, and song about Juneteenth for students.
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@learningforjustice
@nytimes
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@alphabetrockers
#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #juneteenth #juneteenthseattle #alphabetrockers #floydcooper #juneteenthformazie #blacklivesmatter #blm #juneteenthcelebration #freedom #blackhistory #happyjuneteenth #diversityandinclusion #diversity #diversitymatters #inclusion #representationmatters #diversityisbeautiful #equity #education #diversityequityinclusion #antiracism #DEI #parentmap #PNWfamilies #seattlefamily #seattlekids #familiesofcolorseattle #programforearlyparentsupport

Presenting the UCDS Class of 2022! These incredibl

Well, that’s a wrap, everyone! Thanks for joinin

Well, that’s a wrap, everyone! Thanks for joining along our journey of SHAPE this year, both in real life and in this documentation shared on social media. We couldn’t do it without all our amazing students, families, teachers, faculty, staff, and wider community—enjoy the summer, and we’ll see you back here in mid-August when we gear up for ‘22-23 (with a few posts here and there, we’re sure 🙂
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #summervacay #seattlesummer #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool

We couldn’t resist sharing some scenes from afte

We couldn’t resist sharing some scenes from after the Moving-On Ceremony today. Lots of fun, family, friends, and photos!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #movingon #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool

What an incredible and momentous day! Our fifth-gr

What an incredible and momentous day! Our fifth-grade students presented their Moving On Ceremony to family and friends. This year’s ceremony was a collection of vignettes and songs about their UCDS memories, some reaching as far back as eight years. From digging up jewels in the sandbox in the Labyrinth to making new friends, meeting older reading buddies and using up all the disposable camera pics before arriving at camp, each scene filled the room with heartwarming smiles and laughter. During musical performances, a handful of student musicians accompanied Skúli and Drew, adding a special touch to each number. Our Art Specialist, Jessica, revealed the fifth-grade art piece that will join our school’s permanent collection, and each student received their certificate from our Head of School, Paula Smith, and Assistant Head of School, Jen Vary.

To our new alums, we’re so proud of you and are excited to hear back from you during your middle-school years and beyond!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #movingon #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool

Looking for a feel-good moment? Read through these

Looking for a feel-good moment? Read through these words of welcome and advice that our first graders wrote to our rising kindergartners who will join them in the 1-2s next year. Last week, they had an opportunity to meet up and have some open-ended playtime (i.e. Investigation) all together in the 1-2 classrooms. In addition to having a total blast, there was some serious excitement for everything that lies ahead next fall!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalums #movingup #kindergarten #firstgrade #allarewelcome #communitybuilding #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattledad #seattlemom #seattleparents #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleschool #seattleindependentschool

There is so much to celebrate this time of year, i

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