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

Zooming with Renee Watson!

Design-led Learning, Education Hub

Zooming with Renée Watson!

Jenni Walker, 3-4 Teacher This past March the UCDS community had the opportunity to attend a webinar-style zoom call with author Renée Watson. The 3rd and 4th graders read her…

The Magic of The 7 Sentence Story

The Magic of the 7 Sentence Story

Taya Beattie, Early Elementary Float Teacher This blog post will guide you through becoming your very own storyteller! Whether you are an adult wanting to have some creative fun with…

Coronavirus What Ifs

DEI, Design-led Learning

Teaching to Change the World

All Blog Articles

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Here in the UCDS Studio Infant/Toddler Education p

Here in the UCDS Studio Infant/Toddler Education program, these infants, waddlers, and teachers are exploring the art element of TEXTURE by combining clay and a range of materials that leave marks and impressions.
This school year, Studio teachers are actively thinking about the elements of art (with a current focus on texture, shape and line), the use of materials, and the ways that skills with these elements and materials develop over time starting in infancy. Their driving questions: What experiences help young children build familiarity and understanding about a material, its properties, and capabilities? How does this lead to children's ability as they grow older to use materials intentionally to communicate their thinking?
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #reggioemilia #reggioemiliaapproach #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #preschool #education #learningthroughplay #playbasedlearning #earlyyears #playmatters #toddler #learning #children #play #childdevelopment #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #PNWkids #PNWfamily #northseattle #seattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Welcome to UCDS, a Preschool-5th grade school in S

Welcome to UCDS, a Preschool-5th grade school in Seattle. We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities.

Our admission season is underway! Connect with us now. Visit our website at the link in our bio to learn more about our dynamic and individualized program for Preschool-5th grade.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #admission #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Enjoy this peek at Labyrinth recess today! Here's

Enjoy this peek at Labyrinth recess today! Here's a walk through the photos: Alyssa helping soccer players figure out a fair way to make teams and choose names (let's hear it for the Speedy Cats and Wild Tigers!), a tandem bike ride around the Rainbow Road, mixing potions in the sandbox, clearing a pathway through a giant puddle, digging for jewels, collecting jewels, cruising down the twisty slide, running so fast down the hill that your feet fly off the ground, climbing the stairs to the upper playground "base," and rock climbing with a friend...phew! It's been a busy day here on campus!

We look forward to meeting many of you, parents and guardians, next Monday and Tuesday for fall conferences and seeing many of your kids at our first All-Day EDPs of the year. Then we'll see everyone back at school on Wednesday, gearing up for school Halloween festivities next Friday, 10/29!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #playground #play #preschool #prek #kindergarten #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #playislearning #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

TONIGHT — Friday, 10/22, 7-8pm Join our Science

TONIGHT — Friday, 10/22, 7-8pm
Join our Science Specialist, Katie Morrison, and collaborators for a live virtual discussion about their exhibit at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History in Port Townsend. The link to register for free tickets and later access to the recording is available in our bio.
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From the museum:

Join us for Communicating Climate Change through Art, Science, and Education: A Discussion with Maria Coryell-Martin, George Divoky, and Katie Morrison. This virtual event will be live-streamed in real time as well as recorded for later viewing. By registering for this event, you will receive both the link to watch the live-stream and the link to access the recording after the event. You must register to receive these links.

In the summer of 2019, expeditionary artist Maria Coryell-Martin and science educator Katie Morrison traveled to Cooper Island, a remote island in the Alaskan Arctic. There, they assisted ornithologist Dr. George Divoky with his research on a Black Guillemot seabird colony, recording data on the population and health of the seabirds. Divoky has studied this colony since 1972, creating a unique, extended data set with 47 consecutive years that documents the decline of this seabird population in response to the warming Arctic. Speakers will discuss their current interdisciplinary exhibition at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History and reflect on the biological, atmospheric, and personal consequences of climate change.
This program is generously supported by grant funding from the Jefferson Community Foundation.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #witnessingclimatechange #climatechange #jeffersonmuseumofartandhistory #porttownsend #science #scienceeducation #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Want to learn to play Magic the Gathering or chess

Want to learn to play Magic the Gathering or chess? Hoping to perfect your soccer kicks or backflips? Our 3-4 community is here to help! They have spent the past few weeks digging into personal identity by thinking about all the strengths, talents, and interests each member brings. Based on this, each student has created opportunities to share their interests with the community—advertised with flyers, which are now on display in the second-floor hallway. As you can see, there has already been lots of interest in recess lessons, end-of-day sessions, and even some weekend get-togethers. This has been a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, deepen relationships, find connections, and learn something new too!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #community #communitybuilding #identity #strength #interest #talent #thirdgrade #fourthgrade #curriculum #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

🎺 [Cue the trumpets] "Do-do-do-doo! Announcing

🎺 [Cue the trumpets] "Do-do-do-doo! Announcing Penelope Pencil and Peter the Page! The 1-2s are hereby formally invited to join the Handwriting Extravaganza beginning tomorrow to perfect their letters and numbers!"

There's never a dull moment at UCDS so wouldn't you know during 1-2 READ time today, some VIP visitors arrived with invitations in the form of personalized wands (what we might call pencils!). These tools will help students tomorrow and in the coming weeks as they set out on their handwriting-practice adventure. There were lots of squeals and giddy acceptances as Penelope Pencil and Peter the Page made their way through the level!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #handwriting #handwritinginstruction #dnealian #handwritingwithouttears #firstgrade #secondgrade #pencil #paper
#nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Today, acclaimed Oaxacan artist Fulgencio Lazo ret

Today, acclaimed Oaxacan artist Fulgencio Lazo returned to UCDS for his annual tapete workshop with our fifth-grade students. He taught them about the traditions and celebrations around these sand paintings for Dia de los Muertos, leading them through the creation of their own collaborative works. Each year in collaboration with our Spanish and Art Specislists, our whole school community celebrates the Day of the Dead, and since their earliest years at UCDS, these fifth-graders have looked forward to their opportunity to work with Fulgencio on this treasured piece. Thank you to everyone who helped adapt the project and make it possible for students to take part this year! These completed tapetes will be on display for families to see in the coming days.

You can learn more about Fulgencio at http://fulgenciolazoart.com.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #fulgenciolazo #diadelosmuertos #tapete #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

The 5s students have been delving into their futur

The 5s students have been delving into their futuristic read aloud "The Lion Of Mars" by Jennifer L. Holm about a boy named Bell who is growing up on Mars. One of his chores is to harvest algae and make it into toilet paper, an idea that caught many students' attention and led to many questions about how and why this would work. Because of the emergent nature of our curriculum, teachers value providing provocations and experiences in direct response to students' questions and interests; since so many students were intrigued by homemade toilet paper, teachers led 5s students through a paper-making workshop, which gave them a deeper connection to and appreciation of Bell's experiences on another planet.
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📝 Their steps for recycled paper:
1) Harvest paper from the recycling bin. Sort it by color: green (like the algae), white, and everything else.
2) Tear it up and soak it in water. Add a little cotton paper for strength.
3) Blend it with water to make pulp.
4) Pour the pulp into a water bath and mix it up.
5) Submerge a mould and deckle (i.e. screen), and lift it through the slurry to cover the deckle and align the fibers. Let it drain back into the bath.
6) Transfer the covered mould and deckle to a towel, and use a sponge to extract extra water. Let the paper sheet slowly let go of the deckle, and place it to dry.
7) Ta-da! Now you have paper!
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@jenniferlholm
#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #papermaking #thelionofmars #🦁ofmars #jenniferlholm #mars
#kidlit #childrensbooks #spacetravel #fictionbooks #theme #readaloud #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Hispanic Heritage Month has been an educational ce

Hispanic Heritage Month has been an educational celebration here at UCDS. We teachers have pulled from many resources to continue educating ourselves and our students about the vast and differing Hispanic histories and cultures, as well as Latinx, Hispanic, and Latino-identified people and communities who are helping SHAPE the world. Included in these graphics are some of the people and stories shared at various grade levels over the past month.

Like many things though, we know these are ongoing conversations and connections as students and teachers continue to build upon the past month's experiences. Focusing in on and celebrating Latinx and Hispanic stories this past month has also helped everyone continue to hone their critical thinking around whose stories are being told, who is represented, and building understanding, empathy, and advocacy into our everyday lives.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #diversity #inclusion #equity #dei #abar #antiracism #antiracisteducation #antibias #antibiaseducation #diversityintheclassroom #education #representationmatters #inclusionmatters #familiesofcolorseattle #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #northseattle #seattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

We invite you to follow @leah_the_librarian, the I

Here’s a snapshot of this week at school! . . .

Here’s a snapshot of this week at school!
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #preschool #prek #kindergarten #elementary #firstgrade #secondgrade #thirdgrade #fourthgrade #fifthgrade #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

Last week during our teacher inservice day, our ED

Last week during our teacher inservice day, our EDP and Special Programs teams helped add new sets of “blue blocks” by @imaginationplayground to both playgrounds. They’ve inspired so many creative inventions and cooperative builds, including what you see here. In order: an exhilarating slide; a rocket ship; stilts; a car headed out on an adventure; ball ramps, more ball ramps, and even more ball ramps; jet packs; surfing; and a house.
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#ucdsseattle #ucdsalum #play #playground #nwais #psis #parentmap #peps #pnwfamily #pnwkids #northseattle #seattle #familiesofcolorseattle #seattlepreschool #seattlefamily #seattlekids #seattleindependentschool #seattleschool

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