Visitors to the University Public School (UPS) did not find a full house in May and June this year.

Many of Wayne State University's youngest students were studying in far off places - England, France, Italy, Toronto, Canada and Washington D.C.

Those closer to home demonstrated their academic achievements at a Wayne County Art Fair in Wayne State's Community Arts Foyer. During the UPS Century Celebration Days in June a sample of achievement from each student in the middle school was on display.

"Student academic achievement and personal growth are measured in many ways," says Principal Fred Borowski about the recent plethora of student activities at UPS.

"In the classroom students study different cultures, learn how our government works, learn to paint, to act out a piece of drama and to write a composition," he says.

"Their learning can be most authentically assessed when they travel and experience firsthand the people they studied, see our federal government inaction in Washington D. C., perform for an audience of more than 500 people or showcase examples of their achievement to their parents," he concludes.

The UPS calendar included the following traveling experiences in May:

Twenty-three students visited England, France and Italy with the seventh grade social studies teacher, Tonya Corbitt;
Thirty-two students studied the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. with sixth grade social studies teacher Karen Saunders; and Seventh grade life skills teacher Sylvia Willis crossed our northern border to Toronto with 39 students. June, meanwhile, was a month of significant art endeavors.

Fifteen art students displayed their work to the citizens of Wayne County at the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency with UPS fine arts teachers Alana Barter, Anita Ricks-Bates and Cheryl Ross. More than 125students sang, danced, played a musical instrument or acted in 20th century dramas about the Holocaust, the spirit of Anne Frank and the magic of Shakespeare's, A Midsummer Night's Dream, at Wayne State's Community Arts Auditorium.

Other arts activities included:

The Community Arts Foyer was used as the backdrop for artwork of 55 UPS students; a Holocaust Museum, created by 85 students, brought to life for a new generation the tragic effects of hatred and prejudice on the human race; and a showcase of the academic achievement of 470 students included English compositions, dramatic poetry readings, science projects, social studies projects, art work, dramatic presentations and musical events, displays of student mathematics projects and physical education and health events celebrating the 20th century.

For more information about the UPS or events, call Borowski at (313) 964-1600.