On Dec 1, we held our 2021 HD Day. HD Days are unique at UHS because we ask our whole community to take a pause from our usual routines in order to be more reflective about ourselves and our community. This year's theme: "Art as Practice." 

"Art as Practice" was an arts and community building day intended to create a fun, interconnected environment where all community members can practice trying out an art form to create a stronger UHS community. The day was spearheaded by UHS Instructor of Community Engagement, Bianca Catalan.

We began the day at All School Meeting for a panel discussion led by students and their faculty coordinators of the day: Bianca Catalan, Susannah Martin, Bria Goeller, Gale Jesi, Lisa Carroll, Ernesto Mazar Kindelan, Nikhil Paladugu, and Joel Chapman. In this panel discussion, we learned what inspires these arts-based faculty members. All panel members were thoughtful about the artists they gathered from various parts of the Bay Area and the U.S. to share their journeys with UHS as young thinkers who will go on to shape our future. Following the panel, students broke into their Cluster groups and spent the day preparing, engaging, and then practicing the skills they learned in the workshops they attended.

Various workshops included: Swankety Swank Fashion, Recycled Art & Neighborhood Cleanup, Storytelling Through Film, Afro-Latin Rhythms, MultiMedia Music and Art and Creative Writing. We saw over 20 artists from within and outside the Bay Area engaging with students, faculty, and staff for a day of fun and learning.

Click here to view a slideshow of the day.

Learn more about our UHS HD Department here.