Newsletter #05

Dear parents, 

In the past year, as I sat down to write my weekly newsletters, there was always one topic that hovered in the back of my mind, patiently waiting for the right moment. As Indigenous Peoples' Day approaches, that moment has arrived. Remember, three years ago, I was fortunate to share a story with you, one deeply intertwined with my personal journey and memories. Some of you might recall the tale of my first encounter with the Flower People of the Mentawai, not in person, but through soul-stirring photographs. These pictures, which adorned the walls of my office, while Head of School in Indonesia, were captured by Thierry Robinet, a French adventurer and a parent at our school. His images were like windows into another world, hinting at stories untold and cultures unexplored. Their presence was a daily reminder of my own time in Indonesia, and the Mentawais' profound impact on me. It was a tale that felt close to my heart, and sharing it was like unveiling a cherished memory.

But just as memories evolve and grow, so does our understanding of the world. Recently, I came across another narrative that stirred my soul, not through images but melodies. A video of Francis Bebey introduced me to the spellbinding music of the Pygmies - 'Hindewhu' – a unique musical style of the Ba-Benzélé pygmies of Central Africa. Unlike any music I had encountered before, 'Hindewhu' is an intricate dance of voice and whistle. The term itself is an onomatopoeia, echoing the distinctive sound created when a performer alternates between singing pitched syllables and blowing into a whistle crafted from the twig of a papaya tree. As the resonating sounds of 'Hindewhu' flowed, I felt transported to the heart of Central Africa, immersed in the lush green of its forests. The rhythms and melodies of the Ba-Benzélé pygmies, in their simplicity and purity, reminded me of my own memories with the Mentawais, painting a vivid picture of the beauty, depth, and resilience of indigenous cultures.

Bebey's narrative was a testament to the transformative power of art and music. The way he illuminated the story of the Pygmies, it felt personal, as if he was inviting each one of us on a journey of discovery, understanding, and appreciation. Just as the photographs of the Flower People resonated with my own memories and adventures, Bebey's melodic exploration of the Pygmies tugged at my heartstrings, making me realize that while our worlds might be miles apart, our stories, emotions, and cultures are intricately woven together.

Before you delve into this exquisite musical experience, I urge you to fetch your finest headset, take a deep, calming breath, and switch off anything that might divert your attention. Now, let Francis Bebey, from his 1995 performance, enchant you with the mesmerizing music of the Pygmies. Immerse yourself, and let the rhythms transport you...

As I delved deeper into the echoes of 'Hindewhu', the unique musical style of the Ba-Benzélé pygmies of Central Africa, there was a familiar refrain tugging at the back of my mind, like an old tune you can't quite place. It took me on a reminiscent journey through the vast, interconnected world of music. You see, music has this enigmatic quality of intertwining times, cultures, and histories. But back to the Pygmies. That familiar tune I couldn't quite place? It resided in the melodies of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man". Hancock, a beacon of jazz, drew from the very rhythms of the 'Hindewhu'. He recounted memories of his Chicago childhood in the 1940s, echoing the rhythmic clatter of a watermelon seller's wagon navigating cobbled streets. Yet, the true inspiration for the flute in "Watermelon Man" is the Ba-Benzélé Pygmies' music. The intro and outro of the song capture the essence of hindewhu, emulating the style using beer bottles.

But the history of the song "Watermelon Man" is complex and multifaceted. While Herbie Hancock's jazz standard is celebrated for its intercultural influences and musical bridges, it is important to acknowledge the uncomfortable truths surrounding the title of the song. The title "Watermelon Man" has a controversial history, harkening back to a song written in 1916 by vaudeville performer Harry C. Browne, which was performed in blackface and perpetuated damaging racial stereotypes about African Americans. The song was later covered by other performers, including Al Jolson, who also performed in blackface, and became a popular minstrel song. 

The stereotype associating African Americans with an excessive love for watermelons has deep roots in American history and is intrinsically tied to post-Civil War racism. The association of Black people with watermelon is not just a casual stereotype; it has a specific historical context that was weaponized for derogatory purposes.

After the Civil War, freed slaves grew, ate, and sold watermelons, making the fruit a symbol of their newfound freedom. Southern whites, threatened by the newly gained economic independence of African Americans, responded by making the fruit a symbol of poverty, idleness, and unwanted public presence. Minstrel shows, which involved white performers "blacking up" to provide a caricatured and derogatory representation of Black people, played a significant role in spreading this stereotype. "Watermelon Man" from 1916, written by Harry C. Browne, is a product of this era, and it further entrenched the stereotype in American culture. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the image of Black people gleefully consuming watermelon was reproduced on home goods, postcards, and in children's literature. These images were intended to caricature, lampoon, and deride African Americans.

While minstrel shows have disappeared, and such blatant racist representations are no longer mainstream, the stereotype persists. It's often used covertly, subtly intended to demean or diminish African Americans, especially in political and media settings. The stereotype is a manifestation of the broader, systemic issue of racism, using what seems like a simple fruit to perpetuate derogatory assumptions. Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man," written in the 1960s, is a reflection of his childhood memories of a watermelon vendor in Chicago and is distinct from the 1916 song's racist connotations. However, given the history of the stereotype, any association or reference to it, even if unintended, is potentially loaded with deeper implications. Understanding this context is vital, as it underscores the way seemingly innocuous or casual stereotypes can have profound historical and racist underpinnings: while we can appreciate the positive aspects of cultural exchange and musical fusion, we must also confront the uncomfortable truths of our history and work towards a more equitable and just future.

In our shared journey through music and history, we encounter a rich tapestry of sounds, emotions, and memories that both uplift and challenge us. As we've ventured from the haunting melody of Herbie Hancock's Jazz music to the troubling past of the "Watermelon Man", it's the resilient spirit of the Ba-Benzélé Pygmies and their 'Hindewhu' that beckons us back to the core of our discussion.

Francis Bebey, in his soul-stirring exploration of the Pygmies' music, provides us with an illuminating beacon. He showcases how the very essence of music transcends boundaries, reaffirming our shared humanity. With every note, he invites us to immerse ourselves, not just in the mesmerizing melodies of the Pygmies, but also in understanding and appreciating the profound cultural depths from which they emerge. Yet, we must also shine a light on the pressing contemporary challenges they face.

The Pygmies of Central Africa, heralds of an ancient culture, are confronted by a multitude of existential threats today:

• Loss of Land and Habitat: Their ancestral lands and forests are under siege due to timber production, mining, deforestation, and forced evictions for national parks and other protected areas.

• Marginalization and Discrimination: Bantu communities often marginalize the Pygmies, siding against them in disputes. This has further exacerbated their lack of civil and land rights.

• Diseases: The Pygmies face a slew of health challenges, from malaria and cholera to the life-threatening Ebola. The recent onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded their vulnerabilities.

• Loss of Cultural Identity: If the Pygmies lose their forest lands and traditional livelihoods, they risk the devastating loss of their rich cultural traditions and identities.

Despite these challenges, international efforts, especially from the United Nations, offer a beacon of hope:

• The World Food Programme is currently assisting around 1,100 Pygmies among the Congolese refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

• The Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) on Indigenous Issues seeks to support the mandate of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

• The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, serves as a protective framework for the rights of indigenous peoples, including the Pygmies.

• UN-Habitat has undertaken a significant project settling Wambuti Pygmy families in the DRC's Mambasa Territory.

• The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has launched initiatives for the Pygmies that include capacity-building, entrepreneurship programs, and environmental protection policies.

While these initiatives signify a positive trajectory, the enormity of the challenges indicates that we're only at the beginning of this journey. As we immerse ourselves in the harmonious echoes of Francis Bebey and the Pygmies' 'Hindewhu', let it serve as a clarion call. It is upon us to advocate for their rights, survival, and prosperity, ensuring that the world never loses the irreplaceable cultural wealth and wisdom they bring.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal
Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

Sources:

• The Flower People, Junior School Newsletter #05, October 11, 2020

• Francis Bebey, Wikipedia

• Pygmy music, Wikipedia

• Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock, Songfacts

• Watermelon Man, The Ethan Hein Blog

• Blacks and Watermelon,  Jim Crow Museum

• How Watermelons Became Black, William R. Black, Journal of the Civil War Era

• First estimate of Congo Basin’s pygmy population comes with warning about increasing threat of deforestation, Mongabay

• Deforestation Threatens Pygmies, Study Finds, New York Times

• Life for the Baka Pygmies of Central African Republic, The Guardian

• The COVID-19 Pandemic Endangers Africa’s Indigenous Pygmy Populations, National Library of Medicine

• Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests, National Library of Medicine

• Livelihood of Cameroonian pygmies at risk from persistent logging, Africanews

• The Pygmies’ Plight, Smithsonian Magazine

• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• UN-Habitat spearheads unique project to settle DRC’s pygmy communities

• Indigenous Peoples Still Suffer from Poverty, Climate Change and Loss of Ancestral Lands, Delegates Highlight in Third Committee, United Nations

• Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG)

• • Monday, October 9 | No Yellow Bus Service from OPT - arrange alternate transportation & update SchoolPass 

  • Tuesday, October 10 | JS Parent Coffee: Community Conversations Launching Pad 8:40-9:25 (Oman Hall) (see newsletter for details)

  • Tuesday, October 10 | Special Event - World Mental Health Day 4:00-5:15 (see newsletter for details)

  • Thursday & Friday, October 12 & 13 | MAP Tests for J3 & J4 (see newsletter for details)

  • Saturday, October 14 | Cardboard Challenge (rescheduled)

Week of October 9 - October 12 | Winter Coat & Boot Drive for Ages 3-15 

(see newsletter for details)

• Monday & Wednesday, October 16 & 18 | MAP Makeup Tests (details in this newsletter)

• Friday, October 20 | UN Day Celebrations

• October 23 - October 25 | October Break

• Monday, October 30 | Classes Resume

• Tuesday, October 31 | Halloween Dress Up day (optional)

• November 15 - November 17 | Parent Teacher Conferences (details to follow)

• November 22 - 24  |  Thanksgiving Break

• Tuesday, November 28 |  Photo Makeup and Retake Day (students absent on October 3 can have their portrait taken)  Stomping Ground

• December 18 - January 2 | Winter Break - No Classes for Students

• Monday, January 3 | Classes Resume

• Monday, January 15 | School Closed (MLK Day)

You are invited to a unique parent coffee event on Tuesday, October 10th, from 8:40 AM to 9:30 AM in the Oman Hall.

Why This Gathering is Different:

Rather than a traditional meeting, we've organized this session to be highly collaborative, focusing on building our school community through open dialogue. We've designed three interactive stations where your insights and experiences will play a pivotal role in shaping our collective journey:

• Setting Expectations: Dive into discussions about your expectations as parents. Together, we'll explore how we can harmoniously align our visions, fostering a strengthened partnership for our children's benefit.

• Learning Visibility: A platform to delve deeper into understanding your child's educational experiences. Let's brainstorm on augmenting the transparency and visibility of their learning journey.

• Communication & Culture: Let's critically examine our existing communication channels and deliberate on how we can better acknowledge, represent, and celebrate the rich diversity within our school community.

The Path Forward:

Your insights during this session will be invaluable in charting our path forward. The intention is to harvest actionable ideas, rooted in your perspectives as parents, which will guide us in enhancing our services and crafting an environment that best serves our children.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding, we anticipate organizing a subsequent working session with parent volunteers, focusing on designing a survey. This will allow us to collate feedback from our entire parent community, especially those who might not be able to attend this session.

Join Us in Crafting the Future:

Your voice, collaboration, and commitment to our school's growth are truly invaluable. I cordially invite you to be a part of this engaging morning dedicated to community building. Together, let's sculpt an inclusive culture that not only celebrates achievements but also resonates with our shared ethos and aspirations.

Message from Dr. Brenner

Dear UNIS Community,

Ensuring the health and compliance of our students with the regulations set forth by the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) is of paramount importance to us.

Annually, the NYCDOH provides UNIS with a 30-day window following the commencement of the school year to collect physical examinations, immunization records, and other essential medical information from our student body. This crucial process ensures that we possess the most up-to-date information required to deliver proper care and support throughout the academic year. We have messaged you many times about this beginning in the late summer and continuing throughout the current school year.

We would like to draw your attention to a pertinent excerpt from our Schoolwide Student & Parent Handbook, conveniently accessible via the Veracross Parent Portal:

"Physical examinations, immunization records, and all other forms must be submitted annually for all students. All forms, except for immunization records, remain valid for 12 months. Immunization due dates align with NYC vaccination requirements and schedules. Until these vital forms are completed, students will not be able to attend classes, join sports teams, or participate in pre-season athletic training. Your cooperation in diligently completing these forms in their entirety is instrumental in ensuring UNIS' continued compliance with NYC Department of Health regulations. This vital information also enhances the capacity of our school nurses to provide safe and effective care and support to your children throughout the school year.

*Please be aware that all documentation requiring physician completion and signatures must be handled by the child's physician(s). UNIS does not accept signatures or physician stamps from a student's parent(s)/guardian(s) who are physicians. This policy is rooted in the AMA Code of Medical Ethics' Opinion on Physicians Treating Family Members."

The conclusion of our 30-day grace period is swiftly approaching. Unfortunately, students for whom we do not possess all updated documentation on Magnus Health by this deadline will be unable to attend school or partake in student-related activities such as Week Without Walls, Middle School Camps, and sports activities.

To access all necessary information and forms, please visit our Veracross Parent Portal Health & Wellness Center Page, where you can conveniently upload new documentation through Magnus Health.

For any inquiries or assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at schoolnurse@unis.org.

Please help us and your children be safe at school as well help UNIS stay in compliance with City law.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Dan Brenner

Early dismissal for students is strongly discouraged. Parents are expected to schedule their child’s appointments and travel plans outside of school hours. Early dismissal is reserved for urgent circumstances only.

In no event should requests be made for an early dismissal to attend an athletic activity, class or lesson outside of UNIS. The expectation is that after school activities be scheduled at a time that aligns with the dismissal time for your child’s grade or, if that is not possible, your child arrives late to their after school activity:

PK & JA: 2:45

J1 - J2: 2:50

J3 - J4: 2:55

Early dismissals disrupt academics in the classroom for your child as well as all students in the class. Early dismissals pull our faculty and staff away from instruction time and tasks that affect the smooth and safe operation of the Junior School. 

Thank you for supporting the UNIS community and scheduling your child’s outside activities at times that do not interfere with teaching and learning.

The Cardboard Challenge was postponed because of the rain forecast for October 7.

• The Cardboard Challenge is rescheduled for Saturday, October 14. 

• Thank you to everyone who registered for October 7. Your registration is confirmed for you to attend on October 14 instead. 

• If you are not able to join us on October 14, please email the PA  at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org to release your family’s spot.  

• To make the day a huge success, we’ll need as much cardboard as we can get - nothing is too much and no box is too small!  Whether or not your family is participating, we hope that you can support this special event by dropping off clean cardboard at the tent in front of the school on Thursday, October 12 and Friday, October 13, at either arrival or dismissal. 

• And, for those of you attending on Saturday, October 14, we encourage you to bring more cardboard with you that morning and remember to bring refillable water bottles too!

Dear J3 and J4 Families, 

We will be administering the NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test for J3 to T1 students in the final weeks of September and in early October, 2023.

In the Junior School, the tests will be administered on October 12 and 13, with makeups taking place on October 16 and 18. 

The purpose of MAP Growth is to compare learning growth from one point in time to another. Because the assessment is a growth measure, it can track the growth of the student between testing events and over multiple years of testing. Here is a presentation on how we use these data at UNIS.  Students will be retested in late May/early June. We will share the results after that testing session once the Family Reports are available, as this will provide two data points (fall and spring) to compare learning growth.

MAP Growth reports give us an external measure to continue to monitor our student learning. It is one data point among many that we collect in order to inform and adjust our instruction to meet the needs of our students. MAP scores are not factored into student grades; UNIS report cards include information about student learning from both formal and informal assessments, which are conducted in the context of our curriculum.

Your child does not need to do anything special to prepare for MAP assessments.  As for all school days, we encourage a good night’s rest the night before and a healthy breakfast on the mornings of MAP.

Thank you.

JS Photo Make Up and Retake Day - Mark Your Calendar for November 28

Junior School students had their individual, as well as homeroom group photos, taken last week on Tuesday, October 3.

These photos will be available to parents for purchase directly from Stomping Ground, and will be used in the annual UNIS yearbook.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 28: Photo Makeup & Retake Day.

• Students who were absent on October 3 can have their individual portrait photos taken that day. 

• Parents may also coordinate directly with Stomping Ground to retake their child's October 3 portrait. 

• Use this link to coordinate a retake directly with Stomping Ground:  STOMPING GROUND PORTAL

Note: Homeroom group photos will NOT be taken on November 28. Attendance on October 3 was the only opportunity for a JS student to be included in their homeroom's group photo. 

STOMPING GROUND PORTAL

Message from Dr. Brenner:

Dear UNIS Community,

The upcoming Youth Mental Health Discussion featuring the Second Gentleman of the United States, Mr. Douglas Emhoff, and U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has generated an overwhelming response from our community and sold out in a matter of hours.

For those who were unable to secure a spot at the event, please know the Child Mind Institute will film the entire discussion and a video of the event will be shared with the entire UNIS community as soon as it’s available.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who expressed interest in participating. Your enthusiasm underscores the importance of the conversation about youth mental health, and we are truly grateful for your commitment to this vital cause.

We apologize for not being able to have everyone attend, but we were severely limited by our room capacity and the limitations of the event itself.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best,

Dan 

Halloween is a time of joy, creativity, and community - a tradition we embrace at the United Nations International School with our annual Halloween Dress Up Day, particularly in our Junior School. On Tuesday, October 31, we invite students who wish to participate in this celebration to come to school wearing their costumes. However, we would also like to ensure that our focus remains squarely on our educational responsibilities and fostering a conscious and respectful school environment.

This year, we kindly ask you to help guide your child in making a thoughtful decision when selecting their Halloween costume, bearing in mind the following guidelines:

• Halloween Dress Up Day is a regular school day, so dressing up is completely optional.

• Students choosing to dress up should arrive at school fully dressed in their costumes – there will be no time allotted for costume changes at school.

• Please make sure your child’s costume is comfortable and suitable for a full school day.

• If a student has PE on this day, they should wear their PE clothes underneath their costume.

• Costumes should not stereotype or insult any particular culture, ethnicity, religion, or gender, and should be entirely safe. Any props or costumes that depict violence or resemble weapons are strictly prohibited.

We invite you and your child to consider and discuss the following questions regarding their costume choice:

• Does this costume stereotype or marginalize a group of people?

• Does it symbolize colonial rule?

• Does the object or image carry any cultural or traditional significance?

• Does the use of this costume or object trivialize a culture or group of people?

• Could this costume be mistaken as a misuse of another person's culture?

If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', please rethink the costume choice. Our pursuit of a non-bias, inclusive school community calls for avoiding any form of cultural appropriation.

Moreover, we ask:

• Please avoid any full-head masks for safety reasons.

• Ensure your child wears comfortable and secure footwear.

• The costume should be easy for the child to remove should they need to use the bathroom or feel uncomfortable.

• We discourage the choice of political costumes and do not permit candy or treats to be brought or shared at school.

Our teachers are prepared to engage students in discussions about these crucial topics, encouraging respect for cultural diversity and understanding different cultures' significance.

We appreciate your support and thank you in advance for assisting your children in making thoughtful and respectful costume choices and fostering a fun, educational, and inclusive environment.

Dreambox for JA, J1, J2 Families

As a reminder, please review these directions for accessing your child's Dreambox account on a personal device:

Dreambox How-to Login for JS Families

 October Sports Camps

Registration is now open for the MultiSports and Basketball Camps which will take place during the October break. The camps will be run by coaches who are part of the UNIS Athletics and AfterSchool and Weekend Sports Department.

The dates of the camps are October 24 - 27, from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Register for the full or half day, one or all four days. 

Students should wear Athletic clothing and sneakers, and need to bring lunch, plenty of snacks, and drinks.

All the information can be found on the registration forms below.

Register for the MultiSports Camp for PK to M4 Students here.

Register for the Basketball Camp for M1 to T4 Students here.

The Basketball Camp is a great way to prepare for the Basketball season with tryouts taking place the following week for M3 to T4 students for the Middle School and High School teams.

For more information email Daniel O'Connor doconnor@unis.org 

JS Parent Coffee - Tuesday, October 10

Please join us for the first JS Parent Coffee of 2023-24, a Community Conversations Launching Pad.

Tuesday, October 10 

8:40 - 9:25

Oman Hall - 1st Floor

Hosted by Pascal Vallet, Alessandra Camilo and Francesca Zammarano (JS Science & Design Engineering Teacher and JS Academic Technology Coordinator)

 UN Day International Breakfast - Friday, October 20

When: Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, following the UN Day parade in the morning

Where: Homeroom Classroom

Who: Class Parents will organize for each homeroom

How: Families bring a dish to share with their homeroom

More details will come through your class parents!

THIS HALLOWEEN, LET'S TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF!

Do you know that $208 could provide a school-in-a-box to help 40 students keep learning through crisis? Do you know that $525 could deliver 2 months of therapeutic food to 10 children to help them recover from severe acute malnutrition? 

This Halloween, join many families in the UNIS community to give every child the future they deserve. Let's help UNICEF deliver health care and immunizations, nutrition, safe water and emergency relief to the children in need. Every donation counts. No amount is too small! 

Please make your donations to UNICEF now through this link:

https://unicefusa.donorsupport.co/-/NDSFFSNN

Upcoming Events

• Monday, October 9 - Friday, October 13 - Social Responsibility Committee Collection Drive for Migrant Families and Asylum Seekers

• Thursday, October 12, 5:45pm - 8pm - UNIS PA Meeting and Social

PA Meeting and Social

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023

Time: 5:45pm-8:00pm

Location: UNIS Oman Hall

RSVP HERE by Friday, October 6 (first 50 to RSVP enter a raffle for a gift card)

The PA’s next meeting - in conjunction with its Bridge2UN Committee and DEI Committee - invites all UNIS community members to pre-UN Day talk and reception, a fun social event that will also include an interesting discussion about what builds our sense of belonging at UNIS today and tomorrow. Wine and light dinner fare will be served. Music and fun games will be played. Attendees also enter a raffle for merchandise and first 50 to RSVP enter a raffle for a special gift card.

Speakers:

Dr. Judith King-Calnek, UNIS DEI Director

Geeta Narayan, UNIS parent and UNICEF Advisor on Organizational Culture

Milena Vasic, UNIS alumna

Moderator: Fadwa Abbas, UNIS TH Teacher, English

You are welcomed to join for any part of the evening. Note that the panel discussion will be livestreamed. 

Event Schedule

5:45-6:00 - Check in, Merch Sale, and Drinks Reception

6:00-6:50 - Panel Discussion with Guest Speakers on Building Community (with livestream)

6:55-7:50 - Light dinner fare, music, and fun

Event is geared for the UNIS community including parents, TH students, alumni, and UNIS staff, faculty, and leadership. RSVP HERE by Friday, October 6.

Parent Engagement Opportunities

Hiking Club

Anyone interested in a parent-led hiking club?  If you are, please email New2UNIS@unis.org with the subject line Hiking Clubdifficulty.  All families and UNIS staff members .  We will survey interested parents and determine whether and how to organize into groups based on hiking are welcomed.

LGBTQIA Caregiver Group 

If interested in joining a caregiver group to support our LGBTQIA students and community members, please email Yvonne.Brown@pa.unis.org

General Volunteering

To volunteer in any way - help sell “merch” or photographers/designers welcomed as well as potential event planners, please contact us at unispa@unis.org and we will direct your request accordingly.

There are several communities commemorating their heritages, identities, and histories this month including Filipina/o/x American History Month, Polish American Heritage Month, and National LGBTQ+ History Month. If you’d like to share information about your cultures’ heritage or historical celebrations or events with the UNIS community, contact us at unispa@unis.org. We wish everyone a great start to the autumn season!

UNIS IS AN ALLERGY AWARE SCHOOL

This means that students, families, faculty and staff are respectfully asked to refrain from bringing peanuts, nuts, and seeds of any kind or foods processed with these items or their by products, such as oils, into the school. This includes products which state "may contain traces of nuts/peanuts/tree nuts” or "manufactured in a facility which processes" nuts/peanuts/tree nuts.

For example, tree nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, cashews, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and foods associated with them (such as nutella, pesto, granola bars, marzipan, macaroons, hummus (containing sesame), etc.) may present a risk to others. 

Please be mindful of the type of snacks that you pack for your child. UNIS is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all the children in our school. Food allergies are becoming increasingly common among children, and we have several students with severe and/or life-threatening allergic reactions to nuts, peanuts, and seeds of any kind, as well as other allergens, including wheat, eggs, gluten and other food items.

Strict avoidance of the allergen is the ONLY way to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. Due to the nature of peanut/nut products, it is more challenging to prevent contamination of surfaces in the classroom, cafeteria, bathrooms, keyboards and other areas in the building.

In order to enhance safety for all students, UNIS is an “Allergy Aware” school. This means that students, families, faculty and staff are respectfully asked to refrain from bringing peanuts, nuts and seeds of any kind or foods processed with these items into the school. This includes products that state "may contain traces of" nuts/peanuts/tree nuts.

While some allergic reactions can be mild, many students with severe food allergies experience serious and potentially life-threatening reactions. You can help by not sending your child to school with foods that contain nuts, peanuts or seeds of any kind.

We ask our students and families to help make the school environment safer for all students, by following these simple suggestions:

• Please remind your child never to share his/her food and drinks with other students.

• If your child has eaten nuts prior to coming to school, please make sure they wash their hands and face before leaving home.

• Please remind your child often to wash their hands before and after eating.

• While some may perceive this as “inconvenient”, for many others it is simply a matter of life or death. We believe all families understand a parent/guardian’s concern and worry about safety and will join us in ensuring that our learning environment is conducive to this goal. Together we can make a difference!

IMPORTANT: UPDATE YOUR HOUSEHOLD CONTACT INFORMATION

All departments at UNIS, including the nurse, rely on the information that you provide in the Veracross Parent Portal to contact you. 

The only way you or your caregiver can be reached in an emergency, or when there are schoolwide announcements, is through the information that your family adds to our UNIS Portal. 

Please review your family profile and contact information to ensure that all of your local cell phone numbers, work phone numbers, email addresses and home address are correct and are entered in the correct fields. 

If you have not reviewed your information in September, we encourage you to do it today so that we can reach you quickly if needed, especially if you have relocated from abroad.

After logging into the Portal at myunis.vc , you may review and update all of your family contact information by:

• Going to Veracross

• Clicking on Household Information

• Updating Household Profile -> Contacts.

Thank you for taking the time to review and update your contact information now, and throughout the school year. The school's ability to contact you depends on it.

If you need support in order to make updates, please email tech.support@unis.org

PreK - J4 Lunch Brought from Home

Please be mindful as you pack lunches for your Junior School child(ren) as these remain stored in their backpacks until snack or lunch time. If lunch items require cooling, please be sure to include insulated ice packs in the packaging for your child's lunch. No additional heating or cooling options are available. 

No Money, Toys, Electronics, Smartwatches at School 

Junior School children should not bring money to school and they are not permitted to purchase food in the Cafeteria.  If they forget their lunch from home one day, they can ask the JS Office to help arrange for school lunch for that day. Parents are expected to send payment of $8.00 cash for the Food Service Director the following day in an envelope with their child’s name and homeroom. 

JS students are not permitted to bring toys from home, including electronics, balls and trading cards. Aside from often being lost, these items are a distraction from learning in the classroom, and a cause of conflict at play and during after school programs.

We understand that some families provide their children with smartwatches or cell phones for safety reasons. However, upon entering the school building, all watches and phones are to be silenced and placed securely in the students backpack and remain there until they are dismissed. We ask that parents not attempt to text, call or send alerts to their Junior School child during the school day. If you need to reach your JS child on an urgent matter, please phone the JS Office at 212-584-3190 or email jsoffice@unis.org with a copy to your child's teacher.

Gum chewing is not permitted at school at any point during the school day, including during playtime, and students are not permitted to bring any gum or candy to school.

Note that the school is not responsible for the loss of any personal items, valuable or not, that students have brought from home. This includes jewelry, smart watches, cell phones, electronic devices, toys, etc.

Birthday Celebrations Outside of School

We understand the importance of celebrating our students' milestones outside of school, particularly birthday celebrations, and how they can foster stronger bonds among classmates. However, to maintain an environment focused on academics within the classroom and to preserve the feelings of all students, we kindly request your cooperation with the following policy regarding birthday invitations:

• Invitations to birthday parties held outside school may not be distributed or communicated in the classroom.

• Families wishing to invite classmates to a party held outside of school should utilize the WhatsApp group set up for their class, or reach out to their Class Parents for support.

• This policy allows our faculty to focus on academics in the classroom and preserves student trust and confidence in them in the event that an invitation is not received.

We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this policy.

JS Birthday Celebration in the Classroom Policy

For reasons related to student allergies and health, this is the policy for JS student birthday celebrations on campus:

• Birthdays will be acknowledged and celebrated in the JS Homeroom and/or with the Mother Tongue group. 

• Students may bring a special food treat for themself from home on their birthday to enjoy at snack or lunch time.

• Instead of bringing food treats from home to be shared with classmates, the birthday student may choose from a menu of fun activities offered by the Homeroom or MT teacher for the class to participate in together. The activities will be age-appropriate and vary by grade.

• At the discretion of the Homeroom teacher, there may be individual celebrations for each student, or there may be grouped, monthly birthday celebrations. 

• For details about the birthday celebration policy for your child’s homeroom please reach out to your teacher by email.

HEALTH NEWS FROM THE NURSE

Current COVID Guidelines 

We are all excited to welcome our students back and are looking forward to a healthy and happy school year. We would like to share the current COVID guidelines for NYC schools in an effort to keep us all healthy and off to a good start.

Students and staff who are feeling sick should stay home and test (at home-tests are fine). 

Please send a picture of your COVID test results to covid@unis.org

For positive COVID results:

No symptoms:  Isolate 5 days and return on Day 6

With Symptoms:  Isolate for 5 days 

  Symptoms must be improving AND Fever free (without medications) for 24 hours

  Masks need to be worn on Days 6-10

When determining how long to isolate and wear a mask, Day 0 is the day of COVID-19 symptom onset and Day 1 is the first full day after when symptoms started. 

For people who had no symptoms, Day 0 is the test date and Day 1 is the first full day following the test date.

Marisa Rivera, MS, RN, FNP, CPN 

mrivera@unis.org

Mask Wearing at School

Mask wearing while on campus is optional and the discretion of your family. Be assured that all JS students whose families choose to have them remain masked at school will be fully supported by our faculty and staff.

If your child will wear a mask at school be sure you have packed at least 2 spare masks in a clean bag in your child's backpack, as well as an extra bag to hold used masks if they aren't disposable. 

Health Protocols

We would like to remind everyone about our health protocols:

• When your child is sick with runny nose, cough, stomach ache, fever, headache, etc. there is no expectation from the Junior School that they should attend class in person or attempt to learn from home. 

• If your child has symptoms that would normally have kept them at home prior to COVID-19, we ask that families not send their children to school or request for schoolwork to be sent home.

• We hope that time will be taken for your child to rest and recover at home as the school believes that children recover more quickly when they are permitted to disconnect and rest, and when care is taken by everyone to avoid spreading communicable illnesses.

• If your child had any symptoms that could be consistent with COVID, they need to remain at home and take a rapid test. 

You may review the full protocols on our website COVID & Health Protocols. 

Thank you for supporting the entire UNIS community by keeping your children at home when they are not well. 

When your child will be absent, please email your homeroom teacher before 8:00am with a copy to jsattendance@unis.org, and update SchoolPass to alert all departments, especially After School Activities and Transportation, that your child is not at school.

Magnus: Make Sure Your Child's Health Records are Up-to-Date

In keeping with state laws and UNIS policy, several student health and medical forms must be completed annually and submitted directly by parents via Magnus Health Student Medical Record (SMR). These forms may be uploaded, faxed or mailed directly to Magnus. In order to protect the confidentiality of student health and related information, please note that the health office is unable to accept and upload health forms. Once completed and received by Magnus, the forms are available to our school nurses for final review and approval.

If you are experiencing delays to obtain an appointment with your regular doctor/pediatrician, note that you can also obtain these medical forms through any urgent care center in New York City without any appointment. You can always update your records at a later date once you have been able to also see your regular doctor/pediatrician.

Required health forms which MUST be uploaded/acknowledged on Magnus Health:

• Annual physical exam

• Up-to-date immunization record

• Vital health record

• Consent to treat form

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medication form

If you experience difficulty with uploading, please contact Magnus Health SMR customer support at service@magnushealthportal.com or by phone 877-461-6831. If you have trouble accessing Magnus, please email the tech team at websupport@unis.org. 

A school nurse is available during the school day, from 8am to 6pm. You can contact our Health Office at schoolnurse@unis.org, or contact Nurse Marisa Rivera, Director of Student Health and Nursing, at mrivera@unis.org (212-584-3078).