Newsletter #08

Dear parents,

Last week, our Junior School, Middle School, and Tutorial House students joined their efforts together to celebrate Spirit Week, a tradition that our eldest students have introduced and the younger ones have embraced this year. The invitation extended from the Tutorial House student council was inspired by their involvement in the Junior School Parade on UN Day, symbolizing our growing interconnectedness. Spirit Week unfurled as a tapestry of shared joy, each day offering a new opportunity to weave this profound emotion into the fabric of our school life—joy that hums in the background of our collective journey, as bright and uplifting as the echoes of laughter in our halls.

Monday brought the comfort of pajamas. Tuesday's Halloween costumes were a playful illustration of the stories our students carry, the heroes and ghosts they admire and are gently feared, while Wednesday's sports gear paid homage to the athletes our students aspire to be. Thursday saw our students' clothes worn inside out—an acknowledgment that there is not just one way to wear a shirt, just as there is not only one way to see the world, and that all views are valid and compatible. The crescendo of our symphony of spirits arrived on Friday when our students filled the school as one large ocean of blue, the color of UNIS.

Spirit Week was a resounding success, all thanks to the creativity of our students and teachers, coupled with the steadfast support from our parents. It blossomed into a light-hearted, contemplative, and pure celebration of joy, breathing life into the legacy of Friedrich Schiller's esteemed German poem—the very stanzas that stirred Beethoven to create his symphonic opus. The essence of joy—a deep sense of unity and exhilaration—was as much a craft of the composer as it was the ink of the poet. It embodies a universal fraternity and a shared triumph, sentiments embraced by our entire community of students, from PreK to T4, during Spirit Week. Adorned in every thread of blue and every character costume we admired, we joined in a greater melody, a resonance of joy that deeply permeated the soul of our community, reverberating with Schiller's timeless words and the sublime harmony of Beethoven's notes.

"Joy, [...] your magic reunites those whom stern custom has parted, all men will become brothers under your protective wing. Let the man who has had the fortune to be a helper to his friend"... 

The joyful refrain of "Ode to Joy" that rang through our festivities carries an undertone of sobering truth: happiness has not yet reached all corners of this world. Schiller's verses, exalting unity, subtly plead for necessary empathy for those facing the overwhelming challenges of life. Our joyful Spirit Week celebration does not turn us away from the darker places where the fraternity's song is muffled by desperation. We grasped this joy, well aware that it remains out of reach for some, hoping our unity reflects some harmony of the vision Schiller inked and Beethoven scored. For the artists, joy is more than a feeling; it is a call for unity and peace, a call to end conflict and division—a chorus of humanity's joyful brotherhood.

At UNIS, we aim to nurture a safe environment of joy that is thoughtful and empathetic. Through community and learning, we guide our students to become global citizens who carry this spirit of unity and compassion into the world, working towards the harmony that has not yet reached all people. We hope the bonds forged here support not only our students but also radiate outward, inspiring decision-makers as they work to build a world that our students firmly ask to be better.

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

• Thursday, November 9 | JS Parent Coffee Follow-up 8:40 - 9:25 (details in this newsletter)

• November 9 at 7:00pm - November 13 at 9:00am | Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up is Open (details in this newsletter)

• November 13 - November 17 | City Harvest Food & Toiletries Drive (details in this newsletter)

• Wednesday, November 15 | Admissions Application Deadline (details in this newsletter)

• November 15 - November 17 | Parent Teacher Conferences (details in this newsletter)

  • • Wednesday, November 15 (5:00 - 8:00pm Evening Only / Full Day of Classes) 

    • Thursday, November 16 (8:30 - 3:00 Day / No Classes for Students) 

    • Friday, November 17 (8:30 - 3:00 Day / No Classes for Students) 

• November 22 - 24  |  Thanksgiving Break

• Tuesday, November 28 |  Photo Makeup and Retake Day (students absent on October 3 can have their portrait taken, or request a retake, using the link in this newsletter)

• Saturday, December 9 | JS Talent Show 1:00 - 2:30 / November 19 Deadline to Register (details and link in this newsletter)

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

• Wednesday, January 3 | Classes Resume

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

• Monday, February 19 - Friday, February 23 | No Classes for Students / President's Week Break

AFTER SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS DURING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES 

Update SchoolPass with your Wednesday, November 15 dismissal plan, especially if you need to authorize bus ridership for your child that afternoon. 

• November 15 - November 17 | Most After School Programs are Cancelled during Parent Teacher Conferences (Wednesday through Friday)

  • • • Activities: JS After School Activities Classes are Cancelled Wednesday through Friday

      • Language: JS French Enrichment, Mandarin Intensive, Hebrew, and J4 Korean classes are Cancelled Wednesday through Friday

      • Athletics: After School Athletics for JS students will not take place Wednesday through Friday

      • Private Music Lessons: Thursday & Friday Private Music Lessons for JS students are Cancelled 

      • Private Music Lessons: Wednesday November 15 Private Music Lessons for JS students will take place from 3:00 - 5:00 / Wednesday lessons after 5:00 are Cancelled

      • Care Program: The Care Program will be available from 3:00 - 6:00 pm Wednesday, November 15 only

Note: Even if their Wednesday after school activity has been cancelled, Transportation will not allow your child to board a bus on November 15 unless SchoolPass has been updated to authorize it.

JS Photo Make Up and Retake Day - November 28

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

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

Tuesday, November 28 is Photo Makeup & Retake Day.

• Students who were absent on October 3 can have their individual portrait photos taken on November 28. 

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

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. Only group photos will be featured in the yearbook for JS & MS classes.

Please complete the form below to schedule a makeup or retake portrait for your child.

• Makeup / Retake Day photos are ready to be viewed 2 weeks after November 28.

• Photos from your Makeup / Retake Day will be added to your existing gallery and will also include all photos from October 3rd Picture Day using the same online code from Picture Day.

• Please submit one form for every student makeup and/or retake you are signing up. 

If you have questions for Stomping Ground Photo, please email help@stompinggroundphoto.com

Sign up here for a makeup day portrait

Each year, we are delighted to welcome new students who are siblings of current UNIS students.  If you have younger children and are intending to apply for their admission for the 2024-25 school year, please submit initial application materials by our first round deadline, November 15.  

Where possible, we prioritize sibling applications, but we are unable to apply this priority for late applications.  

You will find relevant details and a link to the online application here.  

If you have any questions, please contact the admissions office: admissions@unis.org. 

We would appreciate the support of the UNIS community to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of our fellow New Yorkers - there are over a million New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves currently.

How can we help: By donating food items and toiletries.

Food:
What to donate: Canned veggies and fruit, Canned Meats, Fish & beans, boxed pasta items, hot and cold cereal, rice, grains, pasta sauce and peanut butter in plastic jars.

Please NO EXPIRED FOOD OR GLASS JARS.

Toiletries Collection:
Additionally, we are also collecting toiletries for a Homeless Outreach program in NYC. The toiletries we collect will be made into gift bags by TH volunteers.

The following items are greatly needed: shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste., sanitary napkins, diapers. Small unused sizes from your last hotel stay are perfect!

When: 13-17 November, 2023

Where: Please drop them in the donation bins, which will be located in the lobby

How many items: Between 10-15 food items per student

Virtual Fundraising for City Harvest by UNIS Community - November 13th, 2023 to January 15th, 2024

We have also created a Virtual Fundraising Drive - we would love for our UNIS community to come together and support this cause. Whatever your age you can use your talents to raise awareness and funds--ask your family and friends to sponsor your push-ups, jumping jacks, playing a musical instrument, running a mile, singing, dancing, creating art and help feed our fellow New Yorkers. So, make your team using the instructions below, and let's get going! Every $1 donated helps City Harvest feed two New Yorkers for a day. Together, we can make a difference one day, one meal, one New Yorker at a time.

Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and support the UNIS City Harvest Drive!

Here is the link to the virtual Drive:

http://secure.cityharvest.org/goto/UNIS2023 

Questions? Please contact the PA Social Responsibility Committee Co-chairs:

Abhilasha Mahan  (Abhilasha.mahan@pa.unis.org)

Ellen Nidy  (Ellen.nidy@pa.unis.org)

Saima Faruqui  (Saima.Faruqui@pa.unis.org)

IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT EARLY DISMISSAL REQUESTS

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 needs only or exceptional circumstances approved directly by the Executive Director, Dr. Dan Brenner.

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.

Over the past weeks, the Student Support Team has been attuned to our students' needs concerning the situation between Israel and Palestine. In the Junior School, we emphasize listening to and following our students' lead. Conversations can evolve based on the topics and concerns they express, always ensuring our responses are appropriate for their developmental stage. We believe in the importance of addressing their inquiries directly, rather than guiding the conversation ourselves. In classes where no questions or concerns arose, especially in the lower grades, we refrained from introducing the topic, adhering to our Junior School ethos.  Our primary focus in the Junior School remains to anchor our students in their regular school routines and foster their social connections.

For those of you who wish to continue these conversations at home, the team has curated a list of age-appropriate resources to assist you:

• Helping Children Cope With Terrorism - Tips for Families and Educators

• Common Sense - Explaining the News to Kids

• APA - Building resilience in response to indirect terrorism

• SAMHSA - Talking to kids after trauma

• Child Mind - Helping kids cope after trauma

If you observe shifts in behavior or hear concerns at home, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Support Team:

Dr. Dana Marnin dmarnin@unis.org (JS Psychologist)

Amy Iamundo aiamundo@unis.org (Counselor for J1, J3 JAS)

Alyssa Frost afrost@unis.org  (Counselor for J2, J4, JAW, JAF, JAK)

JS PARENTS: LAST CHANCE TO BUY ANTIGONE TICKETS! 

PURCHASE TICKET NOW AT unis.org/antigone

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Written by Stef Smith, this production is an epic and lyrical reimagining of the classic story of Antigone, her siblings and her city. This contemporary retelling of the classic Greek tragedy mixes ancient legend with modern perspective, resulting in a powerful exploration of generational damage, family devotion and how we find hope in the most desperate of places.

Originally commissioned for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. UNIS is proud to present the US Premiere of Antigone.

Due to mature themes, Antigone is not recommended for JS students, but we extend an invite to all parents who want to enjoy a night of theatre.

Outdoor Activity & Recess Policy During Cold Weather

As winter approaches, please be sure your child is dressed for outdoor play every day, with a warm coat, sweatshirt, gloves and hat as needed.

UNIS JS follows the Dept of Health guidelines for outdoor play: "New York City Department of Health Guidelines regarding outdoor play in cold weather policy states “Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Unless it is snowing or there is ice on the playground low temperatures should not be a barrier to outside play, as long as children are appropriately dressed. The City’s Health Department strongly encourages principals to maintain outdoor play periods on the vast majority of winter days.”

Recommendations are as follows: If the wind chill factor is above 20 degrees, it is safe to play outside. If the wind chill factor is 0-20, outside play is advised provided that students are appropriately dressed and under observation to make sure that they are wearing their coats, hats and gloves." 

From:  New York City Department of Education and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Labeling Clothing

With students wearing extra layers of clothing, it's time for families to be sure that all coats, jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats, etc. are clearly labeled with your child's first and last name and homeroom. Our faculty and staff do their best to return misplaced items to their owners, but clear labeling is needed to do that.

Lost & Found

Please visit the UNIS Lost and Found. Items are on display by the A Stairwell behind the security desk. Please stop by or send your child to be reunited with lost items. All unclaimed items will periodically be donated. 

For more information on donations, please contact the PA Social Responsibility Committee at abhilasha.mahan@pa.unis.org  

RECYCLE YOUR OLD SNEAKERS!

The Junior School GREEN TEAM is launching a gotsneakers recycling program.

Don’t throw away your old sneakers - donate them!

Donations will be accepted from October 16 through June 2024

gotsneakers is an organization that takes used or old sneakers and refurbishes them for reuse, or turns the unusable sneakers into playground surfaces. 

We will take sneakers in any size and any condition!

Your sneakers can have holes in them and the elastic falling off!  We will take them!

Any size kid and adult sneakers are accepted!

IT'S AS EASY AS 1 2 3 

DONATE YOUR OLD SNEAKERS AND THE JS GREEN TEAM WILL EARN MONEY TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT’S GREEN INITIATIVES!

Donate your old sneakers by putting them in a box with the label gotsneakers. Boxes will be placed in the UNIS lobby and near the JS morning entrance.

Thank you for supporting us!

Rose Fico | JS Sustainability Coordinator

In celebration of Zero Waste Month, let's embark on a journey towards a greener future! The little things matter: from bringing your own cup to cafes, to growing greens at home, and even switching to alternative energy sources. Small steps like using glass jars instead of plastic containers and embracing reusable bags can significantly reduce our environmental footprint. Remember, sustainability isn't just a trend—it's a lifestyle. 

Reminder: JS Parent Coffee on Thursday, November 9 at 8:40-9:25, Oman Hall

In the spirit of collaborative progress,

we invite all parents for a follow-up JS Parent Coffee 

This parent coffee is a follow up to the last parent coffee on October 10th, where approximately 40 parents gathered together to brainstorm on actions to strengthen the school's academic and cultural paradigms. The next step is to design and conduct a survey for the parent community. Please join the school in this effort and make your opinions heard! 

Trick or Treat for UNICEF - We reached our fundraising goal! 

A HUGE thank you to the UNIS community for supporting the UNIS Junior School Trick or Treat for UNICEF initiative. 

We raised more than $500, which will enable UNICEF to deliver essentials to the world's most vulnerable children, such as two sets of school-in-a-box to help 80 students keep learning through crisis. 

Thank you again! 

Parent Engagement Opportunities

Hiking Club

The PA Hiking Club invites all New2UNIS families and staff to join us for a leaf-peeping hike to Bull Hill this Saturday, November 4.  This 4.3 mile trail in Cold Spring, NY, is accessible by car or Metro North 1.5 hours from the City. For those traveling by train, we will meet at 10:20 a.m. at the clock in Grand Central returning around 5:00 p.m. $30.50 round-trip/$15.25 for students. If interested, please join this Whatsapp Chat November 4, Bull Hill Hike.  If you'd like to join the hiking club, please email New2UNIS@unis.org 

LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group

The UNIS PA invites community members to join the LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group.

What's an affinity group at UNIS? The purpose is to provide an opportunity for the adults in our community to share and explore life and experiences within safe and supportive spaces defined by membership in a specific identity group. Self-managed, members take collective responsibility for ensuring respectful interaction. Affinity group participants celebrate identities, share successes and challenges, advocate for and support the community at UNIS and engage freely. LGBTQIA+ Parents/Staff/Caregivers and Parents of LGBTQIA+ students are welcome. If interested in joining the UNIS PA LGBTQIA+ affinity group, please email Yvonne.Brown@pa.unis.org

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.

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. 

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

Lost & Found Location

UNIS Lost and Found items are on display by the A Stairwell behind the security desk. Please stop by or send your child to be reunited with their lost items. All unclaimed items will periodically be donated. 

For more information on donations, please contact the PA Social Responsibility Committee at abhilasha.mahan@pa.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).

MEDICAL RECORDS COMPLIANCE

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