Every Day Matters: Welcome Back to a New School Year

By Deb Kubin, Superintendent, Ukiah Unified School District, August 2026 School Desk Article

There is something special about the beginning of a school year.

Our campuses come alive again with the sound of students reuniting with friends, teachers putting the finishing touches on their classrooms, buses returning to familiar routes, and families beginning new routines. Across Ukiah Unified, hundreds of employees have spent the summer preparing for this moment, and we are excited to welcome every student back for another year of learning, growth, and discovery.

While each new school year brings fresh opportunities, our purpose remains the same: helping every child learn, grow, and thrive.

Academic success is always at the heart of our work, but we also know that learning doesn’t happen in isolation. Students do their best when they feel safe, connected, supported, and valued. These everyday experiences shape not only how students feel about school, but also how willing they are to attend, participate, persevere through challenges, and reach their full potential.

That understanding has led us to an important focus for the year ahead: the Seven Moments That Make Every Day Matter.

These seven moments are based on research about the positive experiences that help children build resilience, confidence, and strong relationships throughout their lives. This is not a new curriculum or another program to add to the school day. Instead, these are the small, meaningful interactions that happen every day between students and the caring adults around them.

The seven moments include:

• Talking with a trusted adult about feelings – a trusted conversation.
• Knowing someone is there during difficult times – a helping hand.
• Participating in traditions at home and at school – a shared tradition.
• Feeling a genuine sense of belonging – a place to belong.
• Building supportive friendships – a good friend.
• Connecting with caring adults at school – a caring connection.
• Feeling safe, respected, and protected – a safe space.

On the surface, these may seem like simple experiences. In reality, they create the foundation that allows learning to flourish.

Throughout this school year, you’ll see these moments reflected in our classrooms, our schools, and our communication with families. Our teachers, support staff, administrators, bus drivers, food service employees, custodians, and countless others each play an important role in helping students experience these moments every day.

Families are essential partners in this work, too.

The most meaningful moments happen long before the school bell rings or after students return home. Asking your child about their day, listening without distraction, celebrating successes, encouraging perseverance, attending school events, or simply spending time together all reinforce the same message: You matter, and you are not alone.

When schools and families work together to create these experiences, children benefit in remarkable ways. They develop stronger relationships, greater confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging that carries into the classroom and beyond.

As we begin another school year, I invite every family to join us in making these seven moments part of everyday life. Together, we can create school experiences where every child feels welcomed, supported, and inspired to succeed.

On behalf of our Board of Trustees and the entire Ukiah Unified team, thank you for the trust you place in us each day. We are honored to serve your children, and we look forward to partnering with you throughout another outstanding school year.

Welcome back, and here’s to a wonderful year ahead!