Newsletter #09

11/12/2023

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES: DON'T FOGET TO USE THE JUNIOR SCHOOL APP TO FIND THE ROOMS!
js.unis.org/ptc-rooms

Welcome to episode 9 of the UNIS podcast. In this episode, we delve into Richard Feynman's captivating quest to discover what essential knowledge we should pass on to future generations. Following that, we'll dive into some crucial school updates. To gain a comprehensive understanding of these discussions, as well as other school-related activities, we encourage you to check out the complete newsletter online. Your active participation in our community is immensely appreciated, and we're grateful for your continued listenership. Thanks for tuning in.

Dear parents, teachers and students,

As we navigate the myriad mysteries of the universe, I'm often reminded of Richard Feynman, a Nobel Laureate whose brilliance in theoretical physics was matched only by his childlike curiosity. Despite unraveling some of science's most complex enigmas, Feynman found himself perplexed by the simple act of breaking spaghetti. This humble experiment, a testament to his inquisitive nature, illustrates how even the most mundane phenomena can challenge a great mind.

In our 2018 newsletter, I explored Richard Feynman's bewilderment with spaghetti that refuses to break into just two pieces. This simple kitchen observation became a subject of scientific curiosity for Feynman. For those intrigued by this quirky phenomenon, I invite you to revisit that Newsletter.

This blend of profound scientific inquiry and playful exploration came to my mind vividly last summer. While listening to a podcast, I was captivated by Feynman's legendary challenge to his Cal Tech students in 1961: 

"If in a certain cataclysm, where all of the scientific knowledge is to be destroyed, but only one sentence is to be passed down to the next generation of creatures, what would be the best thing? The thing that contains the most information in the least number of words?” 

This profound question, contrasting with his lighthearted spaghetti trials, sparked a deep and unexpected conversation with one of my closest friends who happened to stay with us at home.

AI Generate image with DALL-3. Prompt for Image Generation: "An illustration of Richard Feynman, a middle-aged Caucasian male with short, dark hair and a distinctive smile, engaging with a diverse group of students in a 1961 classroom setting. The classroom has a vintage look, with chalkboards, wooden desks, and mid-20th century educational posters on the walls. Feynman is standing in front of a chalkboard, holding a piece of chalk, with a thoughtful expression on his face. The students, a mix of genders and cultural origins, are seated at their desks, looking intrigued and thoughtful as they ponder Feynman's question. The atmosphere is one of intellectual curiosity and respectful debate."

Our discussion, initially intended to be a light-hearted accompaniment to the evening's festivities, evolved into a profound reflection on what we consider the most valuable legacy for future civilizations. It was a reminder that the most engaging conversations often arise from the most unexpected sources.

Now, I extend this fascinating exercise to you, our vibrant school community. What sentence would you pass on to the next generation, encapsulating the most significant wisdom or knowledge? I am genuinely curious to see the diversity of thoughts and perspectives that emerge from this endeavor. Every response will be a valuable contribution, offering a unique lens through which to view and understand the diversity and richness of our community.

In a future newsletter, I plan to share these insights, celebrating the collective wisdom that defines us. This is not just an exercise in hypotheticals but an opportunity to reflect on what we, as a community, value most deeply. Let us embrace this challenge with the same spirit of inquiry that Feynman brought to both the grand cosmos and a strand of spaghetti.

Please feel free to fill out the form below, and I encourage you to involve your child in this thought-provoking exercise – they can also fill out the form! As the original question may be a bit too complex or intense, we have adapted it to be more suitable for younger minds. Here’s how we rephrase it for the students: "Imagine if we could only teach people in the future one really important thing – what do you think that one thing should be? What's the most special piece of knowledge you would like to share?"


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

AI Disclaimer: This newsletter's language, transcription, and content have been initially enhanced and supplemented using AI engines including OpenAI (ChatGPT), Claude.ai, Notta.ai for video transcription, and Perplexity.ai for research assistance. While these advanced technologies play a supportive role in improving language, transcription, and research, the core ideas and intentions behind this newsletter remain human-generated. Our team's oversight stays paramount to ensure quality and precision of communications, as the innovative advantages of AI serve as an aid rather than a replacement for traditional methods. The concepts and substance within this newsletter ultimately come from a human perspective, with AI functioning as a tool to streamline certain processes.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS


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. 



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.

CLASSES WILL NOT BE IN SESSION ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 and 17

Please Plan Ahead

SIGN UP FOR CONFERENCES

PTC Sign-up is available through the link on the Veracross Parent Portal (myunis.vc) until Monday, November 13 at 9:00am.

Without access to Veracross, you will not be able to book conference times with your children’s teachers.

If you have not yet received notifications regarding your Veracross login credentials, or have forgotten your password, please send an email message now to tech.support@unis.org to retrieve them.

If you have your credentials you must use your Veracross credentials to access the Parent Teacher Conferences sign up system.

When you login to the Conference portal, you will be able to sign up for conference slots for each of your children.

Registration opened November 9 for the Parent Teacher Conferences held on November 15 - November 17. 

If you have questions or concerns about the sign up process, please reach out to tech.support@unis.org as soon as possible.

SIGN-UP PERIOD

SchoolPass & After School Activities





MARK YOUR CALENDARS

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

 

CALL TO ACTION: PHOTO MAKEUP & RETAKE DAY NOVEMBER 28

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.



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.


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



Sign up here for a makeup day portrait

CALL TO ACTION: PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES NOV 15 - 17

Classes will NOT be in session on Thursday and Friday, November 16 and 17

Please Plan Ahead

Wednesday through Friday, November 15 - November 17, will be the opportunity to meet with your child's teachers for our traditional in person Parent Teacher Conferences. 

Please review important information regarding this event:

CONFERENCE DATES

SIGN-UP PERIOD


Important information


20-minute Conferences with the Homeroom Teachers and Mother Tongue Teachers may cover:

Check-in

Sharing information


10-minute Conferences with your child's specialist (as needed) and language teachers will focus on:

Check-in

Sharing information


Conferences with Art, Music, Technology and PE Specialist Teachers:

Due to the high number of students taught by our specialist teachers, and a fixed number of appointment slots, not every parent will have the opportunity to meet with each specialist. 

Therefore, we encourage you to book an appointment with specialist teachers only if you have a concern regarding your child and the subject taught by that specialist. This ensures that specific concerns are addressed as a priority. This is not the case with our homeroom and language teachers as every parent is expected to take the opportunity to meet with them. 


About time!

Please note that teachers will use a timer or clock to be sure they don't go over the allotted conference time for each family. We want to ensure that the parents who are waiting are welcomed on time to their meeting. Thank you for your understanding - our goal is to give everyone the same opportunity to meet with their child's teachers.


Sign-up process

Sign-up is available through the link on the Veracross Parent Portal (myunis.vc).

Without access to Veracross, you will not be able to book conference times with your children’s teachers.

If you have not yet received notifications regarding your Veracross login credentials, or have forgotten your password, please send an email message now to tech.support@unis.org to retrieve them.

If you have your credentials you must use your Veracross credentials to access the Parent Teacher Conferences sign up system.

When you login to the Conference portal, you will be able to sign up for conference slots for each of your children.

Registration opened November 9 for the Parent Teacher Conferences held on November 15 - November 17. Registration closes at 9:00am on Monday, November 13.

If you have questions or concerns about the sign up process, please reach out to tech.support@unis.org as soon as possible.


Activities After School and After Care Programs

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

TO DO: If your child has a Wednesday class after school that's been cancelled, update SchoolPass with your Wednesday, November 15 dismissal plan, especially if you need to authorize bus ridership for November 15.


Childcare

The Junior School is pleased to provide limited childcare to UNIS JS families during Parent Teacher Conferences. 

CALL TO ACTION: ADMISSIONS SIBLING APPLICATION DEADLINE NOV 15

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. 

CALL TO ACTION: TALENT SHOW WAITLIST

Junior School 2023 Talent Show / Registration full / Waitlist open until November 19


Registration is full for the Junior School Talent Show!

·     Waitlist is open until November 19, 2023.

 Sign up through the registration link here: https://js.unis.org/talentshow


·     Submit a photo of your performer(s) if your registration is confirmed.

Deadline of photo submission: November 19, 2023.

How to submit your photo? Open the link to your registration form contained in the registration confirmation email and upload your photos there!


·     Can’t make it to the Talent Show?

Please go to your registration form and cancel your registration so your spot can be given to performers on the waitlist.


A delightful display of creativity and community spirit was witnessed at our Junior School when several J3 parents, alongside their children, joined Ms. Nugent, our art teacher, to create a vibrant backdrop for our talent show poster. This collaborative effort not only reflects the artistic talents of our students and parents but also strengthens the bonds of our school community. The resulting poster, a mosaic of color and enthusiasm, beautifully sets the stage for the upcoming talent show.

CALL TO ACTION: CITY HARVEST NOV 13 - NOV 17

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)

CALL TO ACTION: UNIS FUNDRAISING GALA


THE UNIS FUNDRAISING GALA IS BACK!


When: Friday, March 1, 2024

Where: The Prince George Ballroom

Why: To come together as a community and support our school

How: With the help of all facets of our community, we can create a wonderful evening of dressing up, dancing, auction items, performances, and more to support our school!

WE NEED YOU!!!!


Sign up below by Wednesday, November 15. 2023 to volunteer to join us in planning and making this a wonderful evening and successful event for UNIS.



SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER!


Looking forward to working with you on the stellar event!!!!

HIGH-PRIORITY NEWS: EARLY DISMISSAL REQUESTS

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:

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.

HIGH-PRIORITY NEWS: SUPPORT TEAM RESOURCES & CONTACT INFO (ISRAEL / PALESTINE)

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:



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)

CLASSROOM CHRONICLES: PEACE LEAF IN J1 HUNTER 

Noa showed her appreciation for her classmate Martin’s help by writing a Peace Leaf for him to add to our J1H Peace Tree. Their smiles say it all! When students take action like this, all on their own, we’re reminded of how lucky we are to be a part of our UNIS community.  

Erin Hunter | J1 Homeroom Teacher

IN THE LOOP: JS STUDENT LEADERSHIP CLUBS

The Junior School is committed to supporting and inspiring our students to follow, develop, and expand upon their interests, skills, and talents, to live the UNIS mission and demonstrate the IB Learner Profile. We are very proud of our Student Leadership Clubs, and we are thrilled to be able to reopen all Junior School Student Teams to J3/J4 students for the 2023/2024 school year. While the members of the Student Leadership Clubs are elected, we believe that every child can make a difference, be a role model within the community, and shape a better world. 


What are the JS Student Leadership Clubs?


Who are the Clubs’ Supervisors?


Club Meetings will be held twice a month on Wednesdays, from 8:20 to 8:50 am.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6.

IN THE LOOP: OUTDOOR PLAY IN COLD WEATHER / LABELING CLOTHING / LOST AND FOUND

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  

IN THE LOOP: SNEAKER RECYCLING CONTINUES

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 THE LOOP: ZERO WASTE AT UNIS

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. 

PARENTS ASSOCIATION CORNER: TALENT SHOW UPDATE / IFFF SURVEY / PARENT OPPORTUNITIES / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVES

Junior School 2023 Talent Show / Registration full / Waitlist open until November 19


Registration is full for the Junior School Talent Show!

·     Waitlist is open until November 19, 2023.

 Sign up through the registration link here: https://js.unis.org/talentshow


·     Submit a photo of your performer(s) if your registration is confirmed.

Deadline of photo submission: November 19, 2023.

How to submit your photo? Open the link to your registration form contained in the registration confirmation email and upload your photos there!


·     Can’t make it to the Talent Show?

Please go to your registration form and cancel your registration so your spot can be given to performers on the waitlist.

Survey for International Food and Fun Fair from the PA Cultural Events Committee 


Dear families,


As you might know, our school comes together with a huge celebration of the diversity of our community with our International Food and Fun Fair in May. This is a parent volunteer run event through and through. And we would love to have you on board in any capacity! 


Before we get into the details of how you can help, all we need is what country your family identifies with. This could be your home country/passport country, or as we call it in UNIS your heart country. It could be more than one country too! 


Please fill this form out if you haven’t already completed it.

SIGN UP

https://forms.gle/n2yUaooUHWcXtf4W6

Parent Engagement Opportunities


As we have entered the month of November, we would like to acknowledge it is National American Indian Heritage Month. To learn more visit https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/. To visit some top sites that celebrate the contributions of Native Americans in New York State visit here.



UNIS Connect

Please visit UNIS Connect and create a profile so that the school community can connect with you to enrich student experiences at UNIS. Our goal is to have 100 profiles completed by December 1 so we hope you join us in this effort.



LGBTQIA Caregiver 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.



Cultural Events Committee Launches Supper Clubs

The UNIS PA Cultural Events Committee has launched monthly supper clubs. If you're up for delicious meals and great conversations on world culture, join us! Please email Marie at marie.libeson@pa.unis.org. 



Parent Book Clubs

Hello UNIS Parents!  Want to meet other parents and talk about books?  Join a UNIS Parent Book Club.  Please send your name and child's grade to marie.libeson@pa.unis.org and we will get you connected with a book club.  Happy Reading!



Hiking Club

The PA Hiking Club invites all New2UNIS families and staff to join. If you'd like to be part of the hiking club, please email New2UNIS@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 VIDEO LIBRARY

If you missed a meeting or want to review what you remember from a past meeting, UNIS maintains a library of recordings available at https://vimeo.com/unisny.  Some highlights include a Fireside Chat with the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and a This is Junior School video. 

ARCHIVE

New2UNIS If you’d like to meet other parents - new or current to UNIS- sign up for the New2UNIS listserv at new2unis@unis.org Follow them Instagram too! 


Book Club Join a UNIS Parent book club!  We have an active parent book club in each division (JS, MS, TH) for you to join.  Send an email to parenthelpnetwork@pa.unis.org to sign up.  


Publicize your Business or Seek Services - UNIS marketplace. Submit your info on this form to publicize. Scroll through businesses/services here. 


Never too late to volunteer with the PA. Submit your interest here. 


Green the Blue. Watch this short video clip and help us keep it green at UNIS!


Top Summer Camps and Programs recommended by UNIS parents here. Share your favorites here.


Affinity Groups. Please complete this survey if you are interested in joining a parent affinity group.


Watch recordings from virtual meetings Visit the UNIS video library on Vimeo located here at https://vimeo.com/unisny 


VOLUNTEER OR SUGGEST ACTIVITIES/EVENTS FOR THE PA COMMUNITY

If you have any suggestions for volunteering, events for our community or speakers to invite, please email us at unispa@unis.org.


Email unispa@unis.org 

REMEMBER THIS

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:

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:


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

Jacket or Sweatshirt Needed Every Day

Fall weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to send their child to school each day with a jacket or sweatshirt (labeled with your child's full name and homeroom class). Students are outside on the playground twice a day and will need an outer layer with them for chillier days.

And, on warm days the air conditioning will be on indoors. There may be days when your child will need an extra layer in the classroom as well.

LOST & FOUND

Please take time to label all clothing, school supplies, water bottles, lunch boxes, athletic gear, etc. with your child’s first and last name and homeroom before they are brought to school.

Students are expected to be accountable for their own possessions and we encourage clear labeling on all of your child's clothing and school supplies (both first and last names) including coats and jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, athletic gear, backpacks, pencil cases, lunch boxes and water bottles. Your reinforcement of this at home with your children is encouraged.

Note that:

JS faculty and staff do their best to reunite students with misplaced items, but without a full name and homeroom it is not possible.

Labels like these are recommended: Name bubbles 

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:


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:

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:

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:

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

If you have parent portal or technology issues, please send an email to tech.support@unis.org

If you have academic tech questions, please contact Ms. Zammarano at fzammarano@unis.org