Dear parents,

Our recent Parent Coffee, on January 10, 2024, was an opportunity to have a valuable discussion about homework and our school's approach to it. We're truly grateful to all the parents who participated. Your involvement is a testament to your dedication to your children's education and overall well-being.

In 2019, the Junior School embarked on a comprehensive review of existing homework research, spanning from 1800 to 2016. This intensive study was undertaken to ensure that our homework policy was not only research-driven but also aligned with our own expertise and experience, aiming to make the best decisions for our students' growth and well-being.

Over the recent winter break, in response to parents' desire for a deeper understanding of our policy, we undertook a further review. This time, we delved into 15 pieces of research, including theses and university studies, with the most recent from 2021. This endeavor was significantly aided by the use of a specialized AI application, designed specifically for analyzing academic research. The AI's capabilities allowed us to complete this analysis in just one day—a task that would have likely taken us three weeks without this technology. The results of this work are available for your review, maintaining our commitment to full transparency. This latest analysis has allowed us to surpass our analysis from 2019, reaffirming and strengthening the foundation of our homework policy. It underscores our dedication to continually evolve our practices in support of our students' academic and personal development.

As promised, the presentation and its recording from the meeting are now available in this Newsletter with other links to further resources that were mentioned during our discussion.

As discussed during the Parent Coffee, research indicates that the benefits of homework for elementary school students are not universally supported. In fact, many studies suggest the contrary, showing that excessive homework can lead to stress, anxiety, and a disruption in the balance of students' lives. Therefore, it's essential to implement a balanced homework strategy. This strategy should enhance student learning while avoiding undue stress, especially considering that research indicates minimal impact of systematic homework on elementary-grade students. It's important to adopt a differentiated approach to homework, ensuring that tasks are specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of each student, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all methodology. We are confident that our research-informed homework policy strikes the right balance, promoting both the academic growth and well-being of our students. 

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the policy and feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

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

• Friday, January 26 | Semester 1 Last Day

• Monday, January 29 | Semester 2 First Day

• Friday, February 2 | Semester 1 Report Cards Published

• February 8 - February 10 | MS/JS Musical Mary Poppins (tickets available in this newsletter)

• Wednesday, February 14 | Friendship Day

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

• Monday, February 26 | Classes Resume

• Friday, March 1 | UNIS Gala (donation and early bird ticket details in this newsletter)

• Monday, April 1 - Friday, April 12 | No Classes for Students / Spring Break

• Monday, April 15 | Classes Resume

Our Physical Education teachers remind all JS families about appropriate dress on days when their child has PE lessons. 

Students in JS are expected to arrive at school wearing their full UNIS PE uniform on days when they have PE.

IMPORTANT: 

• If your child wears boots to school because of the weather, please pack a pair of sneakers on PE days. 

• They cannot safely participate in PE without them.

Uniform Expectations:

• UNIS shirt

• Dark shorts / athletic pants / black or blue leggings

• Short athletics socks 

• Athletic footwear, securely closed with rubber soles (pack separately if your child wears boots to school)

• Winter gear (includes full warm-ups, jacket and pants, with the UNIS logo - see below)

For Safety During PE Lessons:

• In accordance with safety protocols, all types of jewelry are prohibited in all PE classes

• Students with long hair should have it tied up securely when they arrive at school

January 22 is the Deadline for Submissions

Calling all Students and Faculty

EARTHDAY.ORG

is launching their

Your Art, Our Earth Poster Competition for Earth Day 2024!

EARTHDAY.ORG’s Your Art, Our Earth poster competition for Earth Day 2024 is underway and open to student submissions until January 22, 2024!

This year’s Earth Day theme is

PLANET vs. PLASTIC

Please visit the link for rules and regulations: earthday.org/your-art-our-earth/

Any poster submitted by a JS student will be displayed at school! Share your .jpg digital file with rfico@unis.org and don't forget to name it with the student's first and last name and homeroom.

Rose Fico J1TA/Junior School Sustainability Coordinator  

Semester 1 Report Cards for Junior School students will be published on Friday, February 2 at 5:00pm on the Veracross Parent Portal. We encourage you to review this report card with your child to celebrate his/her achievements during this past semester and engage in conversation about their potential growth.

Your child’s academic achievement for each individual subject is reported separately from his/her learning skills. The descriptors for academic achievement levels ensure a greater JA to T4 alignment and provide clarity in the transition between the word-based scale used in JA to M2 and the numeric scale used from M3 to T4. Previous used Learning to Learn Skills have been replaced by the IB Approaches to Learning Skills. The skills selected for a K-12 progression (Social Skills, Communication Skills, Self-Management Skills, Thinking Skills) are developmentally defined and will be assessed from a frequency of observable behavior.

What is the purpose of the report cards?

The purpose of the report card is to communicate your student’s achievement and learning goals. It is designed to provide you with clear and specific information about your child’s academic progress and the development of behaviors that support lifelong learning. This information includes identifying your child’s level of progress; areas of strength; areas needing additional time, effort, and/or support; and opportunities for growth, based on assessments that demonstrate evidence of learning and teachers’ evaluation.

What grade descriptors are used (JA-M2 Descriptors)

• MASTERING: The student is mastering the required grade level concepts, knowledge and skills by applying and extending these in a wide range of complex situations independently.

• PROFICIENT: The student is proficient in demonstrating understanding of the required grade level concepts, knowledge and skills with minimal or no teacher support needed to transfer learning to new situations.

• PROGRESSING: The student is progressing in demonstrating, with some gaps, understanding of the required grade level concepts, knowledge and skills by applying them in familiar situations with occasional teacher support.

• EMERGING: The student demonstrates emerging understanding of the required grade level concepts. The student is beginning to apply related knowledge and skills but needs a high level of teacher support.

How do I access my child’s report cards?

The Report Cards will be published on the Parent Portal of Veracross on February 2. To view them, access the Parent Portal of Veracross (link found on the Parent Portal from the UNIS Website). After logging in to Veracross, simply click on "Classes & Reports", and then on "Report Card".

Friday, February 9 will be the deadline for questions about a specific JS teacher’s grading. Please contact the teacher directly by email no later than the 9th of February with a copy to jsoffice@unis.org.

If you do not yet have access to the Veracross portal and need instructions on how to do so, please contact veracross@unis.org for support.

Detailed instructions for accessing your child's report card will be shared closer to the February publication date.

IMPORTANT: 

REVIEW & UPDATE YOUR HOUSEHOLD CONTACT INFORMATION

All departments at UNIS, including the nurse, rely on the information that you enter 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 or weather emergencies, 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 since 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

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.

To accommodate JS families during winter months, caregivers arriving before 8:15 are welcome to supervise their children in the main school lobby instead of lining up outside the Stairwell D entrance to wait for the JS doors to open at 8:15/8:20.

If they wait in the lobby, caregivers of  J1 - J4 students escort them to the Stairwell D entrance outside at 8:15, as usual, so students can use the D stairs to their 2nd floor homeroom.

If they wait in the lobby, caregivers of  JA - PK students escort them to the Staircase D entrance outside where they will be welcomed at the door at 8:20 and escorted by their teachers to their classrooms as usual.

• To maintain the safe flow and continuous supervision of all JS students at arrival please do not escort students to any other interior hallways or stairs if you have been waiting in the lobby. 

• All JS students must use the exterior JS entrance at Staircase D to access their homerooms in the morning. 

• Caregivers are expected to supervise JS students at all times until the JS doors open at 8:15/8:20 whether they wait in the lobby or outside the building.

• The only change to JS arrival is the option to use the lobby to wait if caregivers arrive earlier then 8:15/8:20. 

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:

• NYC DOE Resources    

• 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)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:  A Day of Service

On Thursday, January 11th, dozens of UNIS students from JS to TH joined parents, faculty and staff in the Oman Hall to accept and package food for One Love Community Fridge to distribute throughout New York City.  The event, organized by the PA DEI Committee and supported by our DEI office, was a call to action in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  In addition to the donated items, students created handwritten notes to go inside each of the packages.  Many thanks to parents Perky Noah-Effik and Shaneke Bains for organizing everything, and a special thanks to all who showed up and lent their time and effort to help make MLK Day more than a day of remembrance, but also a call to action to make a better world.  Below are some photos from the afternoon.

Judith King-Calnek, PhD | Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

2024 Observance of the International Day of Commemoration 

in memory of the victims of the Holocaust 

We invite you to the annual memorial ceremony that takes place on Friday, 26 January 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, in the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications will lead the solemn ceremony. Survivors of the Holocaust will share their experiences. Speakers include the United Nations Secretary-General; the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly (through recorded message); the Permanent Representative of Israel, and the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Cantor Daniel Singer will recite the memorial prayer. 

The ceremony will be livestreamed globally on UN Web TV, the United Nations YouTube Channel, and the X broadcast of @UNWebTV.

Register here to attend in-person

Please note: Registration closes on Monday, 22 January 2024 at 12:00 p.m. EST (New York time). 

United Nations Outreach Programme on the Holocaust

Dear UNIS Community,

The UNIS Performing and Visual Art Department is thrilled to present the timeless Disney classic, Mary Poppins featuring our talented Junior and Middle School students. Prepare to be captivated by their extraordinary performances that promise to transport you to a world of wonder, filled with enchanting songs and spectacular dance!

Dates/Times

•  February 8th @ 6:00 PM

•  February 9th @ 6:00 PM

•  February 10th @ 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Directed by Mr. Tim Hall and Ms. Madeline McBroom, this annual UNIS event promises to be an magical experience for the whole family. Join us in celebrating the talent and dedication of our students as they bring Mary Poppins to life. Get your tickets today and let the magic begin!

Tickets can be purchased at www.unis.org/marypoppins

Nous sommes la classe de J4 Mother Tongue French. Cette année, nous travaillons sur un projet basé sur l’environnement. Nous avons travaillé sur les films et un livre de Yann Arthus-Bertrand, qui était le premier Ambassadeur des Nations Unies pour l’environnement. C’est un photographe, cinéaste et écologiste français très célèbre qui a fait plusieurs films, parmi eux, Legacy, Home, Planète Océan, Human, La Terre vue du ciel, Vivant… Nous avons eu l'énorme privilège de le rencontrer sur Zoom car il ne prend plus l’avion depuis plusieurs années, afin de minimiser son empreinte carbone. Lors de cet échange, nous avons pu poser toutes nos questions sur son travail et sur les actions que nous pouvons faire en tant qu’enfants mais aussi en tant qu’élèves de l’École des Nations Unies. C’est une superbe expérience qu’on n’oubliera jamais!

We are the J4 Mother Tongue French class. This year, we are working on a project based on the environment. We have worked on films and a book by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, who was the first United Nations Ambassador for the environment. He is a very famous French photographer, filmmaker, and ecologist who has made several films, including Legacy, Home, Planet Ocean, Human, The Earth from Above, Vivant... We had the enormous privilege of meeting him on Zoom because he has not been taking flights for several years in order to minimize his carbon footprint. During this exchange, we were able to ask him all our questions about his work and the actions we can take as children and as students of the United Nations School. It was a wonderful experience that we will never forget!

Led by Amara, Naomi, Bode, Santi, Joyce, and Daphne, a group of enthusiastic J4 students have embarked on an exciting venture that promises to be a shining highlight of the Junior School: the creation of our very first digital newspaper. This student-driven initiative exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration among our young learners. As the team diligently works on the technical aspects of distributing the newspaper, Daphne has already contributed a captivating article. Her enthusiasm was evident in our Publication Discussion Group on Schoology, where she highlighted the urgency of timely publishing: "When are we publishing? In a week this won't be news!" In response to this, I am delighted to share Daphne's article with you. Meanwhile, the students continue to develop the Newsfeed portal, a digital platform designed to showcase and disseminate their articles. 

• Please calendar the dates when your child's Semester 1 After School Activities end and their new classes for Semester 2 begin.

• Important: There may be dates between Semester 1 and 2 when After School Activities and Sports are not in session. 

• Your child's SchoolPass account must be updated to reflect your pick-up plans on the dates when After School Classes are not held (for example, indicate that you will use the Care Program, Yellow Bus, or Pick Up/Carpool):

1st Semester Activities - Final Classes

Monday Classes: 

January 22  

Monday Exception: J3 - J4 COMPUTER PROGRAMMING MAKEUP CLASS January 29

(to cover December 11 teacher absence)

Tuesday Classes 

January 16

Tuesday Exception: JA - J2 ACTING WORKSHOP MAKEUP CLASS January 23 

(to cover December 12 teacher absence) 

Wednesday Classes 

January 24  

Thursday Classes 

January 25 

Friday Classes

January 26 

2nd Semester Activities Classes Will Be Held On:

Mondays: 

February       5, 12, ---, 26  (No class Feb. 19)

March            4, 11, 18, 25

April               ---, --, 15, 22, 29  (No class Apr. 1 & 8)

May                6, 13

Tuesdays 

February       6, 13, ---, 27 (No class Feb. 20)

March            5, 12, 19, 26

April               ---,---, 16, 23, 30   (No class Apr. 2 & 9)

May                 7, 14

Wednesdays 

February       7, 14, --- , 28  (No class Feb. 21)

March            6, 13, 20 --- (No classes Mar. 27)

April               ---, ---, 17, 24  (No class Apr. 3 & 10)

May                1, 8, 15, 22 

Thursdays 

February       ---, 8, 15 , ---, 29  (No class Feb. 1 & 22)

March            7, 14, 21, --- (No classes Mar. 28)

April               ---, ---, 18, 25   (No class Apr. 4 & 11)

May                2, 9, 16, 23

Fridays

February 9, 16, --- (No class Feb. 23)

March            1, 8, 15, 22 ---   (No class Mar. 29)

April               ---, ---, 19, 26,  (No classes Apr 5 & 12)

May                3, 10, 17, ---, 31   (No class May 24)

• Please calendar the dates when After School and Weekend Sports Classes take place.

• Important: There may be dates between Semester 1 and 2 when After School Sports and Activities are not in session. 

• Your child's SchoolPass account must be updated to reflect your pick-up plans on the dates when After School classes are not held (for example, indicate that you will use the Care Program, Yellow Bus, or Pick Up/Carpool):

1st Semester Final Classes

Mondays

January 22 

Tuesdays 

January 23 

Wednesdays 

January 24  

Thursdays 

January 25  

Fridays 

January 26

Saturdays

January 27

Sundays 

January 28

2nd Semester Classes Will Be Held On:

Mondays

February 5, 12, ---, 26 (No class Feb. 19) 

March 4, 11, 18, 25 

April ---, 15, 22, 29 (No class Apr. 1 & 8) 

May 6, 13, 20

Tuesdays 

February 6, 13, ---, 27 (No class Feb. 20) 

March 5, 12, 19, 26

April ---, ---, 16, 23, 30 (No class Apr. 2 & 9) 

May 7, 14, 21, 28

Wednesdays 

February 7, 14, ---, 28 (No class Feb. 21)

March 6, 13, 20 --- (No classes Mar. 27) 

April ---, ---, 17, 24, (No class Apr. 3 & 10) 

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Thursdays 

February ---, 8, 15,  ---, 29 (No class Feb. 1 & 22) 

March 7, 14, 21 --- (No classes Mar. 28) 

April ---, ---, 18, 25 (No class Apr. 4 & 11) 

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Fridays 

February 9, 16,  — (No class Feb. 23) 

March 1, 8, 15, 22, --- (No class Mar. 29) 

April ---, ---, 19, 26 (No classes Apr 5 & 12) 

May 3, 10, 17, --- (No class May 24 & 31)  

Saturdays

February 3, 10

March 2, 9, 16, 23

April 20, 27

May 11, 18

June 1, 8, 15

Sundays 

February 4, 11

March 3, 10, 17, 24

April 21, 28

May 5, 12, 19

June 2, 9, 16

Dear UNIS Community:

It is my pleasure to invite you to A Festival of Orchestras, a spectacular musical event at NYC’s world-renowned Carnegie Hall. This extraordinary concert will showcase the talents of our Tut House Wind Ensemble, Camerata Strings Ensemble, and UNIS M3 and M4 string students.

Our UNIS musicians will not be alone on this grand stage, as they will be joined by students from The Brearley School, Saint David’s, Collegiate School, The Spence School, and Packer Collegiate Institute, creating a collaborative and harmonious celebration of musical artistry.

Date: Sunday, January 28, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Venue: Carnegie Hall, New York City

Ticket Information: Exclusive discounted tickets for this unforgettable concert are now available for $25. To take advantage of this special offer, enter the promo code CAR43137 when purchasing your tickets through the Carnegie Hall website.

Don't miss this chance to witness the dedication and talent of our students as they grace the iconic Carnegie Hall stage. We look forward to sharing this unforgettable musical journey with you.

Thank you for your continued support of the UNIS Music Department, and we hope to see you there!

Best,

Kim Bruno | Director of Arts 

Outdoor Activity & Recess Policy During Cold Weather

Winter is here so 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

Tut House Student Club AFYA@UNIS Presents the Trivia Night Fundraiser to J2-M2 Students

When: Friday, February 2, 2024, 4:00-5:30 PM

(Supervised childcare will be available from 3 PM to 4 PM)

Where: UNIS Cafeteria

Members of the TH Club AFYA@UNIS are excited to present: Trivia Night Fundraiser for J2-M2 UNIS Students! The Trivia Night will take place in the UNIS Cafeteria on February 2nd, 2024 from 4:00-5:30 PM. 

The Trivia Night will consist of Jeopardy-style questions and fun additional activities including Pictionary and cup stacking. The entry fee is $25 and includes prizes and snacks! 100% of the proceeds will go directly to The Afya Foundation to support them in delivering medical supplies to communities in need worldwide.

To sign up, please use this link. Students who need supervision from 3-4 PM can find us in the Cafeteria at 3 PM and will then be brought to a supervised room with activities until the Trivia Night begins. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email Hahnah Hochman at 26hhochman@unis.org. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Parent Engagement Opportunities

UNIS Connect

We are inviting you to create a profile on our UNIS Connect platform where UNIS community members can create a profile. The profiles can be accessed by UNIS staff who are organizing events with students, faculty or parents and who are looking for speakers to cover themes in the range of UN work and/or values. 

By utilizing this platform, teachers can search for parents, alumni, teachers, and students who possess specialized knowledge, skills, or real-world experiences relevant to their subject areas.

Please scroll down to find a “Create Your Profile” button. When your profile is finished please press the green button “Publish” so we can enter it into our catalogue.

Please also forward the link with your friends and colleagues who you think would want to share their profiles with the UNIS community.

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!

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).