Newsletter #21

02/25/2024

Junior School Family, tune in to this week's podcast for all the latest! We're celebrating Dr. Alessandra Camilo as she embarks on an exciting journey and welcoming Ms. Francesca Zammarano and Ms. Rosemarie "Jill" Wilson to their new roles.  Plus, get the inside scoop on events that make our school so special.  Hit play for  a quick dose of Junior School news and inspiration – perfect for your commute or walk! Don't forget to subscribe and share the podcast with your community.

Dear parents,


We are happy to share some important transitions within our Junior School leadership team, alongside heartfelt messages for our esteemed colleagues.


Firstly, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude and best wishes to Dr. Alessandra Camilo, our Assistant Principal, as she prepares to embark on a beautiful journey of motherhood. Alessandra joined UNIS in 2018 as a J4 teacher and stepped into the role of Assistant Principal following the inspirational tenure of our esteemed colleague, Susan Scullin, who retired as the world was grappling with the onset of COVID-19. It was during this critical period that Alessandra took on the immensely important responsibilities crucial for the success of our students, teachers, and the trust of our parents. Her dedication and tireless effort have been nothing short of amazing, enriching the Junior School with her commitment.

Alessandra Camilo with her 4th-grade students in September 2019

Alessandra will soon welcome a daughter and will be on leave until June, planning to return for the last two weeks of the school year. We wish her and her husband Juliano all the best as they journey into parenthood. We lovingly support Alessandra as she takes the time this spring to focus on her baby, herself, and her family, marking a well-deserved pause from her work at UNIS, allowing her to fully dedicate her time to her new role as a mother. Alessandra, in her incredible diligence, has meticulously planned the next few months, ensuring a seamless transition for the Interim Assistant Principal. Thank you, Alessandra, for your unwavering commitment and for laying a strong foundation for continued success.


As we bid a temporary farewell to Alessandra, we are pleased to announce that Ms. Francesca Zammarano will be stepping into the role of Interim Assistant Principal for Semester 2, while Alessandra is on parental leave. Francesca, known for her hardworking nature, dedication to our community, and interest in leadership, brings creativity and a wealth of resources to the tasks initiated by Alessandra, promising a period of growth and support for everyone's success.

Francesca Zammarano, our current Science and Design Engineering Teacher and Academic Technology Coordinator will be our interim Assistant Principal through the end of this school year, replacing Alessandra Camillo while she is on maternity leave. Francesca has been at UNIS for twelve years and is also a parent of a UNIS graduate and a Tut 2 student. She speaks English, Italian, and French fluently and is working on her Spanish. Prior to coming to UNIS, Francesca worked at Marymount School in NYC where she was also the Summer Camp Director.  She has also worked in Paris and Rome and grew up going to international schools all over the world. Francesca holds a BA in Studio Art from Skidmore, a Masters in Academic Technology from NYU, and a Masters in School Leadership from St John's. She is also certified as a Teacher Leader from The Principals Training Center; and is currently working towards a Certification as a Concept Based Curriculum Instructor from Professional Learning International.  Francesca loves to learn and play. She will gamify anything she puts her hands on. She is enthusiastically ready to bring these traits to her new challenge of Interim Assistant Principal.

In ensuring the continuity of excellent education in the classroom, we are excited to welcome Ms. Rosemarie "Jill" Wilson as the interim replacement for Ms. Zammarano. Jill, an educator with extensive experience in elementary education and a cherished member of the UNIS faculty, was a unanimous choice for this role. Her appointment has been met with enthusiastic approval from colleagues, especially from our Science and Design Engineering Teachers, Javier Alvez and Charlotte Mourlot, who are thrilled to have her join the team. Jill's reputation for excellence and her beloved status among our community make her a perfect fit for this position.

We are confident that with Francesca's leadership and Jill's educational expertise, our Junior School will continue to thrive, providing a nurturing and innovative environment for our students.


To Francesca and Jill, we extend our warmest welcome into your new roles. We know that you both will carry forward the legacy of excellence and compassion that defines UNIS. And to Alessandra, as you step into motherhood, we leave you with this quote to ponder: "Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had.". I am sure that our parents will agree with Linda Wooten!


Thank you all for your dedication to our community. We look forward to the continued growth and success of our Junior School under your guidance and care.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School 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

TO DO: 

Update your child's SchoolPass account for Semester 2

Accurate dismissal information entered by you in SchoolPass

is the only way that your child 

can be escorted to the correct location at dismissal.

If your child's After School Activities have changed for Semester 2 remember to update SchoolPass.


SchoolPass


Hourly dismissal options have been set up so that parents of students who move between multiple activities on campus between 3:00 and 6:00, after dismissal from the academic day, can select each of the activities individually and sequentially, with the time that the student is expected to attend the activity clarified. 


Whenever a child stays for activities after dismissal, a "Carpool" must be designated for pick-up. The time of the pick-up does not have to be specified, but is expected that the student will be picked up and depart campus within 10 minutes of the end of that last registered activity. 


Important: If your child is already registered for a bus, to avoid confusion for dismissing teachers and disruption to the flow of buses departing campus, on any day when your child stays for an activity instead of taking the bus, you must move them to a Carpool as well. Selecting Carpool instead of bus on any day when there are activities also allows you to cancel the activities and Carpool and revert back to authorize bus ridership if your plans change at short notice.


Please take the time each week to review and refine your child's daily Activities plans in SchoolPass. 


To Do: Select all of the Activities (Athletics, Language, Mary Poppins, After School Classes, Care Program, Private Music Lessons, etc.) that your child attends each day after school and remember to confirm your Carpool at the end of your child's day on campus.


If you have questions please reach out to jsoffice@unis.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Note these dates in April when yellow bus service will not be provided by the DOE:

Remember to make alternate travel arrangements and update SchoolPass with your dismissal plan for these days (for example, Pick Up/Carpool or Care Program).

IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDERS - SEMESTER 2

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

CALL TO ACTION: BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Honoring Black History Month 

Each February, the United States recognizes the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have shaped the nation. Black History Month does so by highlighting the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an indelible part of our country's history. 


Click here to learn about Black History month at UNIS events! 


For more information on Black History Month: https://www.blackhistorymonth.gov/


UNIS Parents’ Association 

UNIS PA DEI - Black History Month Event


Date: Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

Time: 8:45a - 10:00a

Location: Oman Hall

Breakfast will be served

The PA Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee warmly welcomes all to an upcoming Black History Month event on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024 from 8:45am-10am. Please join us for a panel discussion on “Afro-Futurism - How the UNIS Community should Look Forward on Black History Month.” 

RSVP is encouraged.

Come join us in the lobby from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 1, as we celebrate

UNIS Black History Month, with Tastes of the Diaspora. 


Peruse the lobby exhibition of Arts, who is there, who do you find is missing? View the numerous postings throughout our school.


Experience the sights, sounds and tastes. Reflect on the many contributions made both stateside

and globally, and how you have studied, collaborated and volunteered, to enhance this rich history. 


As Woodson and Schomburg would agree, “If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go.” - James Baldwin (during his 100th year anniversary)

ALTHOUGH NOT ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE USA, 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH OR DAYS 

ARE CELEBRATED INTERNATIONALLY?


AUSTRALIA- BLAK HISTORY MONTH, yes without the c, JULY

BELGIUM- MARCH

BRAZIL- BLACK AWARENESS DAY, NOVEMBER 20

CANADA- FEBRUARY

COSTA RICA- BLACK AND AFRO-COSTA RICAN CULTURE DAY, AUGUST 31

GERMANY- INITIATIVE SCHWARZE DEUTSCHE, FEBRUARY

IRELAND- OCTOBER

ITALY- PROVINCES OF FLORENCE AND BOLOGNA, FEBRUARY

NETHERLANDS- BLACK ACHIEVEMENT MONTH, OCTOBER

PANAMA- DIA DE LA ETNIA NEGRA, MAY 31

PERU- AFRO-PERUVIAN CULTURE DAY, JUNE

UNITED KINGDOM- OCTOBER

UNITED NATIONS- INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT, AUG. 31, FIRST TIME CELEBRATED IN 2021


UNITED NATIONS DECLARED 2015-2024

INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR THE PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT



Valerie Powell M.Ed. | UNIS Physical Education Teacher & UNIS Black Student Union, Advisor

Looking for something to do on the weekends?  Consider taking a trip to lower Manhattan to visit the African Burial Ground and partake in some of the National Park Service’s Black History events.  

African Burial Ground National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Monument

New York

For more details: https://www.nps.gov/afbg/planyourvisit/calendar.htm


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

CALL TO ACTION: UNIS GALA FUNDRAISER | CELESTIAL CELEBRATION MARCH 1

CALL TO ACTION: SUMMER CAMP FOR JA-J2

play:science & design engineering

UNIS Summer Camp JA, J1, J2 Students


When? 

June 24-28 Five Days of STEAM Making

July 1-5 (July 4th camp closed) Four Days of Coding/Robotics

July 8-12 Five Days of Engineering a Lunar Colony


What? 

Join Ms Zammarano in the CoLaboratory Jr. for a week of play through science and design engineering experiences. You can sign up for one week or all three, we guarantee fun and play throughout! 


Structure:

The daily schedule will follow the design process model where the students will all be introduced to a 1) Problem to Solve, 2) Brainstorm solutions, 3) Design and Prototype, 4) Build, 5) Iterate and get Feedback finally 6) Share the Process with each other.


8:30 - 9:00 - Settle in to camp, free play

9:00 - 10:00 - Daily Problem to Solve and Brainstorm Solutions through

guided structured lessons

10:00 - 10:30 - Snack and short outside play

10:30 - 11:45 - Design and Prototype (Guided and independent work)

11:45 - 12:45 - Lunch and long outside play

12:45 - 1:45 - Build (Guided and independent work)

1:45 - 2:30 - Iterate / Test (Guided and independent work)

2:30 - 3:00 - Snack and short outside play

3:00 - 3:30 - Share Closing circle


Students will each get their own prototyping notebook and bring home design solutions - make sure you keep room for their creations at home! Snack and Lunch is not provided by the school, please plan on packing these for them. A Parent Showcase will occur at the end of each week. 


Fee: 

$800 per week per camper


Questions? 

Please email fzammarano@unis.org


Space is limited to 20 campers per week, so please fill out the interest form as soon as possible. 

HIGH-PRIORITY NEWS: REVIEW YOUR FAMILY'S CONTACT INFORMATION TODAY

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:


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

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: ARRIVAL

PK & JA Arrival Reminder

To ensuring a safe and orderly entry to the academic day for our PKs and JAs, the doors to the PK/JA area will be locked before 8:20 am and after 8:40 am, reinforcing not just the physical boundaries that protect our students, but also the temporal ones that frame their day with predictability and security. 

Arrival Reminder

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.

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)

IN THE LOOP: SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ STUDENTS WITH EMILY MEADOWS

Workshops with Emily Meadows:  Supporting LGBTQ+ Students


On Thursday, February 8th, a number of faculty, staff and administrators participated in workshops with Emily Meadows, PhD, a renowned LGBTQ+ consultant for international schools.  Dr. Meadows delivered three workshops throughout the day that addressed issues such as exposing the myth of binaries, strengthening capacity to support LGBTQ+ students, communicating rationale for decision-making on LGBTQ+ matters, and practice engaging in conversations around gender and sexuality within a school context.  


In addition to the wonderful and enriching workshops, one of the highlights of the day was that Emily Meadows had a chance to visit her former teacher, Virginia Whitelaw, whom Emily remembered fondly from her days in Ms. Whitelaw’s first grade classroom at the Anglo American School of Moscow.


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

IN THE LOOP: ATHLETICS CAMP REGISTRATION - SPRING BREAK

Spring Break Sports Camp Registration is open!   


You can find the Spring Break Camp on the website, or use the registration links below:


Spring Break Sports Camp: April 1st - 5th and April 8th - April 12th

April Spring Break Sports Camp Registration Link (PK-M4)

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

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  

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

PARENTS ASSOCIATION CORNER:  PAYING IT FORWARD / IFFF SURVEY / PARENT OPPORTUNITIES / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVES

PA Survey on Paying it Forward

During the coming weeks, the PA is launching a series of surveys to gain feedback and input.

This week’s survey focuses on paying it forward and pressing questions.

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


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. This event will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024. 


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


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

SIGN UP

https://forms.gle/n2yUaooUHWcXtf4W6

Parent Engagement Opportunities


UNIS PA Special Event

Date: Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024

Time: 6pm-7:30pm

Location: Oman Hall

Light refreshments will be served


Guest Speaker Ollivier Dyens

On Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024 at 6pm we will be hosting a speaker to discuss AI (artificial intelligence). Event will be in person and live streamed. Appetizers and drinks will be provided.


Professor Ollivier Dyens is Founder and co-Director of Building 21, an open lab dedicated to rethinking higher education in the 21st century. 


From 2013-2018, he was Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) at McGill University where he is currently Full Professor in the Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création. Ollivier Dyens is the author of twelve books including La Condition inhumaine, published by les Éditions Flammarion in Paris, and Metal and Flesh: The Evolution of Man, Technology Takes Over, published by MIT Press.


He was a guest speaker at the Parson School of Design, at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City, at the Maryland Institute College of Art, at the Centre Européen de Technoculture, at Ars Electronia, at the Digital Humanities Summer Institute, at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, etc.   https://www.ollivier-dyens.com/ 



SUMMERTIME ON YOUR MIND



Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Upcoming Potluck

As a way to add new year cheer, the PA sponsored a luncheon for UNIS staff and faculty on Friday, January 12. We thank Flik Dining, the Special Events team and the Communication team for all their support. See photos here. 


Save the date for our Annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon  - it is a beloved tradition and a way for parents to show appreciation for all that the UNIS teachers and staff do for our children. This year’s Staff Appreciation Luncheon will be a potluck for UNIS staff with contributions from families and will be held on Friday, April 19th from 11 am-1:30 pm in the Staff Lounge on the 3rd floor. Parent help is needed from 8 am to 2:30 pm. The success of this luncheon is entirely dependent on your contributions!


Thank you in advance for your food donation and/or volunteering to help. Here is the link for signing up to indicate whether or not you will donate food so we can gauge parent participation: https://forms.gle/3x5Ai21phwZJYXx17



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.  



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

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 bookclub.  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 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

Semester 1 Report Cards for Junior School students were published at 5:00pm on Friday, February 2 on the Veracross Parent Portal.

If you haven't already, we encourage you to save and review this report card with your child 

to celebrate his/her achievements during this past semester 

and engage in conversation about their 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)

How do I access my child’s report cards?

Semester 1 Report Cards were published on the Parent Portal of Veracross on Friday, February 2. 

To view report cards:

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

Go to myunis.vc and login with your username and password

Click on "Can't access password" and follow instructions if you do not remember your login and password

Click on "Classes and Reports" to access the Report Card for Semester 1

REMINDER FROM ATHLETICS - APPROPRIATE PE GEAR FOR WINTER

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: 

Uniform Expectations:

For Safety During PE Lessons:

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

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 extra layer with them for chillier days.

And, on warm days, 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.

LICE ADVICE FROM THE NURSE

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Head lice occur commonly among school age children, but can happen to anyone. This is a condition that each year affects approximately 6 to 12 million US children ages 3 to 11. Head lice are parasites, which are found on the scalp, around the ears, and at the back of the neck. Head lice cause itching, commonly at the back of the head and neck or behind the ears. The adult louse is the size of a sesame seed and can be the color of your child’s hair. Eggs, or nits, are smaller and silver in color.

Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene, and anyone can get them. Lice do not transmit infections and do not endanger a person’s health. Lice pass from person to person by direct contact or by sharing clothing with lice on them.

There are many effective creams and shampoos available over the counter or by prescription from your doctor. You may also seek treatment at any professional lice removal salons. The UNIS health office recommends you check your children frequently, and treat immediately. After initial treatment it is important to continue combing the hair daily for 14 days to prevent reinfestation. A retreatment may be necessary 10 days after the first treatment.

UNIS has a “no head lice and no nit” policy, which means that students found to have active cases of lice (live bugs), and those with moderate/severe cases of nits (eggs) will be sent home for treatment. Treatment can be provided by any company of your choosing or done at home. Students who are sent home for treatment will be required to follow up in the nurses office prior to entering class the next day for clearance. Once your child has returned to school, we will check to ensure that they, as well as any siblings, are free of lice/nits. If lice/nits are still present, the child/children sent home again. We continue to do this until we are as sure as possible that a child has no remaining lice/nits.

We would like to recommend that all parents be vigilant in checking their children for evidence of head lice on a frequent basis, as early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to prevent widespread transmission. If your child has long hair, please pull it back or keep it braided during the school day. Please remind your child not to share personal items such as brushes, combs or hats with other students. We ask that if you have found lice or nits on your child’s head, please inform the nurse’s office as soon as possible, even if your child has already been treated and appears to be lice-free.

We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that head lice are managed successfully, through a school and parent partnership. Working together, let’s limit lice interruptions in school. If you have any questions or comments, or would like additional information, please speak to your child’s pediatrician or feel free to contact the UNIS Health Office at 212-584-3078. You may also find more information on these websites: www.cdc.org or www.healthychildren.org.

Sincerely,

Marisa Rivera RN, BSN, CPN

Director of School Health and Nursing 

mrivera@unis.org

Facts about Head Lice


What are head lice?

Head lice are parasites, which are found on the scalp. Head lice cause itching,

commonly at the back of the head and neck or behind the ears. The adult louse is the

size of a sesame seed and can be the color of your child’s hair. Eggs, or nits, are

smaller and silver in color. Lice do not transmit infections and do not endanger a

person’s health.


Who gets head lice?

Head lice occur commonly among school age children. This is a condition that each

year affects approximately 6 to 12 million US children ages 3 to 11. Head lice are not a

sign of poor hygiene and anyone can get them. It doesn't matter how clean your hair or

home may be. It doesn't matter where children and families live, play, or work.


How is lice spread?

Head lice are crawling insects. They cannot jump, hop, or fly. Lice pass from person to

person by direct contact or by sharing clothing, items with lice on them. Anyone who

comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest

risk. Lice can also be spread by contact with clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or

other personal items (such as combs, brushes, hair ties, sports and bike helmets, or

towels) used by an infested person.


How can lice be prevented?

If your child has long hair, it is best to have it pulled back into a bun or braid during the

school day. Avoid sharing personal items


How to check for lice?

Regular checks for head lice are a good way to spot head lice before they have time to

multiply and infest your child's head.

•Seat your child in a brightly lit room.

•Part the hair and look at your child's scalp.

•Look through hair for crawling lice and for nits.


Live lice are hard to find. They avoid light and move quickly. Nits will look like small

white or yellow-brown specks and be firmly attached to the hair near the scalp.


The easiest place to find them is at the hairline at the back of the neck or behind the

ears. Nits can be confused with many other things, such as dandruff, dirt particles, or hair spray droplets. The way to tell the difference is that nits are attached while dandruff,

dirt, or other particles are not.


What is the treatment for lice?

There are several medicated shampoos or cream rinses that are available over the

counter. Retreatment after 7 to 10 days is usually recommended to assure that no eggs

have survived. Nit combs are available to help remove nits from hair. To avoid side

effects and toxicity, dose and duration of treatment should be followed according to

label instructions. Please seek further guidance from your pediatrician when using over-

the-counter products. You may also seek professional treatment for a lice-removal salon of your choice. Many of these salons use non-toxic, all natural products.


To prevent re-infection following treatment, clothing and bedding should be laundered in

hot water (140 degrees F for 20 minutes) followed by a hot drying cycle to destroy lice

and eggs. Since lice eggs hatch within 6 - 10 days, and lice can survive for only 1 - 2

days away from a scalp, storing infested items in a sealed plastic bag for 10 days is

effective for items that cannot be laundered. Hair should be pulled back in a braid or bun

at all times to reduce re-infection.


UNIS partners with Lice Treatment Center for our screening. They also provide in home

treatment, should you wish to use them. There are many companies you can find with a

simple online search. Should you wish to treat at home please use the video to assist

you. Please remember, after initial treatment it is important to continue combing the hair

daily for 14 days to prevent reinfestation. A retreatment may be necessary 10 days

after the first treatment.


Here is a link for a video that can assist you in the at home treatment and

removal of lice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9y6c3Opr9w


Recipe for natural lice shampoo:

Kill lice by stopping their respiratory systems with a mixture of 1-part baking soda and

3-parts hair conditioner. Apply the mixture and comb the hair by sections. Use a soft tissue to wipe off the comb and remove the nits, baby lice, and adult lice.

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).

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 

...