Newsletter #32
05/27/2024
Dear Parents,
André Malraux was a French adventurer, novelist, and statesman. Born in 1901 in Paris, he grew up in a rapidly changing world. Malraux sought action and meaning in life. He traveled to Cambodia, fighting against colonial exploitation, and later joined the Spanish Civil War, standing against fascism. These experiences forged his belief in the power of human will and creativity to defy fate. Malraux saw art as a defiance of the inevitable. He believed that through art, humanity could challenge and transcend its limitations. "Art is a revolt against fate. All art is a revolt against man's fate," he declared. To Malraux, creating art was an act of rebellion, a statement that human spirit could overcome the constraints of existence. Art was not just a reflection of reality but a force that could shape and transform it. He lived through times of great turmoil and saw firsthand the brutal impacts of war and oppression. His philosophy was born from these struggles, seeing in art a way to assert human dignity and resist the forces that sought to diminish it. Malraux's life and work were a testament to the belief that art could, indeed, be a powerful act of rebellion against the inevitability of human suffering and death.
French President Charles de Gaulle (left) with André Malraux (right)
Max Frieder reminded me of André Malraux. Max, with his boundless energy and passion, communicates with students in a way that lights a fire in their spirits. He carries art to the corners of the world, using it to build a better future. Through his work with Artolution, he supports the emancipation of young people, helping them find hope and expression through creativity. I met Max when Kim Bruno, our Director of Arts at UNIS, and Jen Fiorese, who oversees Arts for the Parent Association, brought him to our school. They wanted him to work on a project with our J3 and J4 student volunteers. Max’s enthusiasm was infectious, and the students responded with eager participation. Together, they crafted a project that was more than art—it was a testament to the power of the human spirit, much like Malraux's vision of art as a rebellion against fate.
Artolution operates on the belief that art can ignite social change and heal communities torn apart by conflict and trauma. Founded by Max Frieder and Joel Bergner, Artolution brings creative programs to some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Their projects span continents, reaching refugee camps, conflict zones, and marginalized communities. Artolution's mission is to empower individuals through collaborative art-making, fostering resilience, and building a sense of community. In the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda, near the southern border of Sudan, Artolution’s presence is transformative. Max and his team work with local artists and teachers, turning art into a lifeline for young people who have experienced the horrors of war and displacement. They provide materials and guidance, but more importantly, they create a space for these children to express their fears, hopes, and dreams. The students learn to see themselves not as victims of their circumstances, but as creators of their own stories. Through murals, sculptures, and performances, they reclaim their voices and find a sense of agency. Max’s method is inclusive and dynamic. He doesn’t impose his vision but facilitates a process where every participant contributes. This approach allows the students to feel ownership over their creations and see their collective effort materialize into something tangible and meaningful. The themes they explore—freedom, respect, hope—are not just abstract concepts but lived experiences that gain form and substance through their art.
This collaborative spirit was vividly demonstrated in the project undertaken by our J3 and J4 students at UNIS. Over several weeks, these young artists worked alongside students from the largest refugee camp in Uganda, connected by technology and united by a shared purpose. Together, they crafted a compelling story, wrote emotive songs, and built two striking statues from recycled materials. The process was intense and deeply rewarding, with each student contributing their unique perspective and skills. The students from both communities communicated regularly via Zoom, bridging geographical and cultural gaps with their creativity. The highlight of their collaboration was the creation of a giant monkey statue, a symbol of strength and resilience that embodied the spirit of their shared narrative.
The culmination of this extraordinary project was the assembly held on Wednesday. All J3 and J4 students, along with the parents of the volunteers, gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of their peers. The assembly was a vibrant display of creativity and unity, featuring live interactions with the Ugandan students. The event began with a presentation of the story they had developed together, followed by a joint performance of their theme song, "Song of Freedom, Respect, and Hopes." The powerful lyrics, sung with passion and conviction, echoed through the auditorium, touching the hearts of everyone present. The assembly also showcased the sustainable statues, with the gigantic monkey standing as a testament to their collective effort and imagination. This gathering was more than a celebration of art; it was a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when young minds come together to create and inspire.
This assembly was a profound reminder of the transformative power of art. It highlighted how creativity can transcend boundaries, fostering empathy and understanding among young people from vastly different backgrounds. The experience left an indelible mark on everyone involved, reinforcing the belief that art can indeed change the world. Under Max Frieder’s guidance, our students learned that their voices matter, and through art, they can make a meaningful impact. This project, embodying the ideals of Artolution and the vision of André Malraux, showed that all art is a revolt against man's fate, a beacon of hope and resilience in challenging times.
The Artolution project with Max Frieder exemplifies the core values of our school mission at the United Nations International School. We strive to develop students who are not only academically capable but also globally minded, compassionate, and committed to making a positive impact in the world. This project has provided a profound opportunity for our students to engage with peers from vastly different backgrounds, fostering a deep sense of empathy and understanding. Through this collaboration, our students have learned the importance of using their creativity to address global challenges. The themes of freedom, respect, and hope explored in their art resonate with the principles of the United Nations, which our school proudly upholds. By working together on this meaningful project, the students have experienced firsthand how art can be a powerful tool for social change, bridging cultural divides and promoting peace. This initiative has not only enriched our students' educational experience but also reinforced the mission of UNIS to cultivate responsible global citizens. The creativity and collaboration displayed in this project are testaments to the transformative power of education and the arts. As we continue to support and participate in such impactful endeavors, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of the United Nations and to nurturing a future generation that values diversity, compassion, and the pursuit of a better world for all.
Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal
Francesca Zammarano, Junior School Assistant Principal
UNIS Artolution Project Proposal 2024
Description: An Artolution lead artist will work with United Nations International School students to develop an interactive musical sculpture out of recycled materials, collected by the students from the local community. This will be an exchange sculpture program where a second musical sculpture will be created in the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda with South Sudanese refugee children and local Artolution artists. The children will have the opportunity to meet one another on zoom and discuss their sculpture design and develop a corresponding story as well as have the final performance which will be shown to each community by video call. The program will be a cultural exchange program through the arts, creativity, and collaboration.
Locations: The United Nations International School in Manhattan, New York and the Bidibidi South Sudanese Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District, Northern Uganda, on the border of South Sudan.
Timeline: A minimum of 6 days with 1 day per week over 6 weeks plus a final day for the final celebration.
Themes: this program will be a cultural exchange program between South Sudanese refugee children and children from the United Nations international school. The goal is that corresponding songs will be developed in each community so the sculptures will be activated through percussion and singing, which will correspond with an interactive storytelling workshop across the two different communities. The themes of the sculptures, musical songs, and performances will be developed by the children through the online workshops, with a particular focus on collaboratively developing a single concept, which will have two different versions of how it is cultivated in each of the two communities. Throughout the process, there will be a particular focus on sustainability, the environment and recycling, which will correspond with the final artworks.
Outcomes: the intended outcome will be to have two final performances, one in the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda and the second at the UN international school. The final public sculpture will be permanently installed in an agreed-upon location, which will then have corresponding drumsticks included, which will then be able to be used for ongoing music education programming. This will also be a collaboration with the UNIS theater departments who will be able to correspond this program with the ongoing curriculum. A public sculpture will also be permanently installed in Uganda, and there will be a corresponding film to document the process which will be shared with both communities. The final result will be the first global exchange Founstrument Soundstrument program of its kind, cultivating a groundbreaking initiative in a cross-cultural collaborative arts program across the world founded on developing new pathways of creative communication and connections through the arts, creativity and care.
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
Important This Week:
HALF DAY FOR UNIS on FRIDAY, MAY 31 (11:50 Dismissal for all of JS)
Mark your calendars, alert your caregivers, and update SchoolPass:
JS dismissal for all students will be at 11:50 on Friday, May 31
JS students will NOT have lunchtime in the cafeteria that day
Families are asked to pack a hearty snack to eat in the classroom on the morning of May 31 instead
Yellow Buses will depart at 12:15
The Care Program will NOT be in session on May 31
All UNIS Faculty and Staff are invited to attend T4 Graduation at the UN on the afternoon of May 31. There is no supervision available for students after 11:50 dismissal on May 31.
All students and caregivers are expected to depart campus immediately after 11:50 dismissal.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
Monday, May 27 | School Closed / Memorial Day Weekend
Friday, May 31 | J2 Wax Museum 8:30-9:30
Friday, May 31 | UNIS Half Day / All JS School Dismissal is at 11:50 / No Lunch (details in this newsletter)
Friday, May 31 | GotSneakers drive ends (details in this newsletter)
Saturday, June 1 | Summer Sports Camps Registration Deadline (links in this newsletter)
TO DO:
Keep your child's SchoolPass account up to date
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, 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, 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
June 3 - June 7 | JA Music Open Classes (details in this newsletter)
Tuesday, June 4 | PK/JA Sports Day (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Wednesday, June 5 | J1 Sports Day (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Friday, June 7 | J4 Graduation 9:00-10:00
Friday, June 14 | 8:30-9:30 PA End of Year Meeting Breakfast with Livestream
Tuesday, June 18 | Last Day of Classes for JS Students / Full Day
Wednesday, September 4 | First Day of Classes 2024-2025
Junior School Sports Days
Monday, June 3 | J2 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Tuesday, June 4 | PK/JA Sports Day at UNIS (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Wednesday, June 5 | J1 Sports Day at UNIS (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Thursday, June 6 | J4 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Friday, June 7 | J3 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Monday, June 10 | J2 Sports Day at Ferox
Tuesday, June 11 | J3 Sports Day at Ferox
Wednesday, June 12 | J4 Sports Day at Ferox
AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES ARE ENDING - Update SchoolPass
PARENT TO DO LIST (note new date changes in After School Activities):
Note the last class dates for your child's After School classes
Alert your Caregivers
Update your child's SchoolPass with their new dismissal plan: Pick Up, Care Program or Bus
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LAST CLASS DATES (Questions: ljalilvand@unis.org)
MONDAY Classes: May 13 is the Final Class
Monday EXCEPTIONS:
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING June 3 - Final Class - note date change
SPANISH June 10 Final class / any changes will be announced by the teacher
TUESDAY Classes: May 14 is the Final Class
Tuesday EXCEPTIONS:
GERMAN & SWEDISH Final class date to be announced by the teachers
MOVEABLE MACHINE (JA-J1) May 28 - Final Class - note date change
CHESS (JS / MS) May 21 - Final Class
MONEY MATTERS (MS) May 21 - Final Class
VIDEO GAME DESIGN (J3-J4) May 21 - Final Class - note date change
WEDNESDAY Classes: May 22 is the Final Class
Wednesday EXCEPTIONS:
ADVANCED COMPETITIVE DEBATE (TH) May 30 - Final Class
ITALIAN June 5 - Final Class / Any changes will be announced by the teacher
ARABIC May 29 - Final Class / Any changes will be announced by the teacher - note date change
THURSDAY Classes: May 23 is the Final Class
Thursday EXCEPTIONS:
JAPANESE May 30 - Final Class - note date change
ITALIAN June 6 - Final Class / Any changes will be announced by the teacher
FRIDAY Classes: June 7 is the Final Class - note date change
ALL Friday Activities end June 7
(Date change because Friday, May 31 ends at 11:50 for TH Graduation)
LANGUAGE AFTER SCHOOL LAST CLASS DATES (Questions: pbarbamoran@unis.org)
Wednesday, May 29 - Hebrew Program Final Class
Thursday, May 30 - Mandarin Intensive Program Final Class
Tuesday, May 28 & Thursday, May 30 - Korean Program Final Classes
Monday, June 3 - Portuguese Program Final Class
Wednesday, June 6 - Francophone Enrichment Program Final Class
SPORTS PROGRAM AFTER SCHOOL LAST CLASS DATES (Questions: doconnor@unis.org)
MONDAY Sports Program Classes: May 20 was the Final Class
TUESDAY Sports Program Classes: May 28 is the Final Class
WEDNESDAY Sports Program Classes: May 29 is the Final Class
THURSDAY Sports Program Classes: May 30 is the Final Class
FRIDAY Sports Program Classes: May 17 was the Final Class
Remember to update SchoolPass with your new dismissal plan after these classes end.
Students may not ride the Bus unless SchoolPass indicates it.
IMPORTANT: DISMISSAL UPDATES for the END of SEMESTER 2
Update your own calendar, your caregiver's calendar, and SchoolPass, with your JS child's:
Last Class dates for Semester 2 After School Athletics and After School Classes
new Bus ridership schedule
new Care Program or Pick-Up/Carpool schedule
When your child's Semester 2 Athletics and After School classes end, your child's SchoolPass account must be updated to give your authorization to ride the bus home on any given date.
Dismissing teachers, the Care Program and Transportation will follow the daily instructions that you, as parents, enter and authorize in SchoolPass each week.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
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:
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
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:
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.
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 rainy days, 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.
HIGH-PRIORITY NEWS: SUPPORT TEAM RESOURCES & CONTACT INFO (ISRAEL / PALESTINE)
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: 11:50 DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY, MAY 31
Important This Week:
HALF DAY FOR UNIS on FRIDAY, MAY 31 (11:50 Dismissal for all of JS)
Mark your calendars, alert your caregivers, and update SchoolPass:
JS dismissal for all students will be at 11:50 on Friday, May 31
JS students will NOT have lunchtime in the cafeteria that day
Families are asked to pack a hearty snack to eat in the classroom on the morning of May 31 instead
Yellow Buses will depart at 12:15
The Care Program will NOT be in session on May 31
All UNIS Faculty and Staff are invited to attend T4 Graduation at the UN on the afternoon of May 31. There is no supervision available for students after 11:50 dismissal on May 31.
All students and caregivers are expected to depart campus immediately after 11:50 dismissal.
Update SchoolPass to choose either Bus or Pick Up/Carpool
IN THE LOOP: SUMMER MATH ON IXL FOR J2, J3 and J4
Summer Math Practice on IXL
All J2, J3 and J4 students will complete the IXL Diagnostic Assessment before the end of the 2023/24 school year. Your child's IXL Recommendations Wall will show suggested practice skills based on the diagnostic assessment results. This wall of suggestions is adaptive and will update as students practice skills in IXL.
For summer practice, please encourage students to work on their IXL recommendations and update their diagnostic every 3-4 weeks.
Amy Morris | K-8 Math/Science Curriculum Specialist
amorris@unis.org
IN THE LOOP: JS SPORTS DAYS JUNE 3 - JUNE 12
Monday, June 3 | J2 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Tuesday, June 4 | PK/JA Sports Day at UNIS (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Wednesday, June 5 | J1 Sports Day at UNIS (sign up to volunteer in this newsletter)
Thursday, June 6 | J4 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Friday, June 7 | J3 Water Sports Day at Waterside
Monday, June 10 | J2 Sports Day at Ferox
Tuesday, June 11 | J3 Sports Day at Ferox
Wednesday, June 12 | J4 Sports Day at Ferox
IN THE LOOP: CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH - JUNE 6
‘24 Caribbean Heritage Month
As we move into the tranquil air of summer, this June, in celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month,
UNIS will delight in the sights, sounds and tastes of the region. Stay tuned for special activities
and treats on June 6th as UNIS will be invited to a special morning entry.
What a way to enter summer, celebrating an area steeped in history,
rich in cultures.
Welcome tropical breezes and sun filled days.
Valerie Powell M.Ed. | UNIS Physical Education Teacher & Black Student Union, Advisor
IN THE LOOP: JA MUSIC OPEN CLASSES
Dear JA Parents,
June 3-7 we will be hosting a JA Open Music Classroom. We are so excited to share some of
the songs/activities we’ve been working on and to welcome you into our learning space. You will
get to observe your children sing, use our classroom instruments/props, and do movement
activities.
Below I have a schedule of when each class will take place. Please arrive 5-10 minutes
early and wait in the hall outside of the theater. Even if my room is open I need to make sure I
have everything set up. I will bring you in right before the students arrive but please enter quietly
if the class has started.
Unfortunately due to the size of our classroom we will only have enough room for one grown
up per child to attend the class and I appreciate your understanding
MONDAY JUNE 3
JAS 9:10-9:40
JAF 10:05-10:35
THURSDAY JUNE 6
JAW 10:05-10:35
FRIDAY JUNE 7
JAK 10:10-10:40
Please reach out to me at ddimarco@unis.org if you have any further questions about this event.
Thank you so much!
Dina DiMarco | PreK-J2 Music Teacher
IN THE LOOP:
IN THE LOOP: SNEAKER RECYCLING ENDS MAY 31
Thanks for making the gotsneakers drive such a big success!
You have saved tons of sneakers from ending up in landfills.
The drive will end on May 31.
RECYCLE YOUR OLD SNEAKERS!
The Junior School GREEN TEAM is launching a gotsneakers recycling program.
Don’t throw away your old sneakers - donate them!
Donations will be accepted from October 16 through June 2024
gotsneakers is an organization that takes used or old sneakers and refurbishes them for reuse, or turns the unusable sneakers into playground surfaces.
We will take sneakers in any size and any condition!
Your sneakers can have holes in them and the elastic falling off! We will take them!
Any size kid and adult sneakers are accepted!
IT'S AS EASY AS 1 2 3
DONATE YOUR OLD SNEAKERS AND THE JS GREEN TEAM WILL EARN MONEY TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT’S GREEN INITIATIVES!
Donate your old sneakers by putting them in a box with the label gotsneakers. Boxes will be placed in the UNIS lobby and near the JS morning entrance.
Thank you for supporting us!
Rose Fico | JS Sustainability Coordinator
IN THE LOOP: STUDENT WITHDRAWAL PROTOCOLS
If your child is not returning to UNIS in September please make the withdrawal official, and facilitate the release of the UNIS records you'll need to enroll your child in their new school, by emailing the Business Office, Registrar and JS Principal as soon as possible at:
enrollment@unis.org (Business Office)
evanaken@unis.org (Estela van Aken, Registrar)
pvallet@unis.org (Pascal Vallet, JS Principal)
When asking your child's teacher for a letter of recommendation, please copy evanaken@unis.org and jsoffice@unis.org on your request. Note that recommendations are not returned to the family. They are officially transmitted from school to school through the Registrar's office.
IN THE LOOP: SPRING JACKETS & LABELS
Jacket or Sweatshirt Needed Every Day
Spring weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to continue to send their child to school each day with a jacket or sweatshirt (clearly labeled with your child's full name and homeroom class). Students are outside on the playground twice a day and will need an outer layer with them for chillier days.
And, once the weather heats up, the air conditioning will be on. There may be days when your child will need an extra layer indoors as well.
Label those Jacket and Sweatshirts
With the change of seasons, please take time to label all new clothing, especially outerwear, water bottles, lunch boxes, athletic gear, school supplies, etc. with your child’s first name, 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 supplies (both first and last names). Your reinforcement of this at home with your children is encouraged.
Note that:
Families may search for and reclaim lost items in the school lobby behind the security desk
Unclaimed clothing will be periodically donated by the school
All other items will be discarded
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
IN THE LOOP: SUMMER ATHLETICS CAMP REGISTRATION DEADLINE JUNE 1
Registration for Summer Sports Camps closes on June 1
Sign up for Summer Break Camps which include Sports Camp, Basketball Camp, Soccer Camp, and Volleyball Camp.
Join us for an unforgettable summer filled with sports, friendship, and fun at our Summer Sports Camps! Our camps offer an exciting opportunity for UNIS children to stay active, learn new skills, and develop a love for sports in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Activities:
Participants will have the chance to explore a variety of sports and activities, including:
Basketball: Dribbling, shooting, passing, and teamwork drills led by experienced coaches.
Soccer: Footwork, ball control, shooting techniques, and small-sided games to improve skills and strategy.
Volleyball: Serving, passing, setting, hitting, and blocking.
Multi-Sport Challenges: Daily challenges and games that incorporate a mix of different sports and activities to keep campers engaged and entertained.
Features:
Our camp features include:
Experienced Coaches: Our team of certified coaches are passionate about teaching sports and fostering a positive learning environment for all campers.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Campers will have access to top-notch facilities, both indoors and outdoors. All activities take place at UNIS.
Small Group Sizes: With a low camper-to-coach ratio, each participant receives personalized attention and instruction tailored to their skill level.
Camaraderie and Team Building: Through teamwork activities, friendly competitions, and group challenges, campers will build confidence, sportsmanship, and lasting friendships.
Safety First: We prioritize the safety and well-being of our campers with all coaches certified in first aid and CPR, and adherence to all health and safety guidelines.
Dates & Registration:
Our camp runs weekly sessions throughout the summer, starting in June and ending in August. Flexible scheduling options are available, including full-day and half-day sessions. Registration is now open, but spaces are limited, so reserve your child's spot today!
Conclusion:
Don't miss out on the ultimate summer sports experience! Whether your child is a seasoned athlete or new to sports, our Summer Sports Camp offers something for everyone. Join us for a summer of skill-building, camaraderie, and memories that will last a lifetime!
For more information and to register, visit our website or contact us directly.
Daniel O'Connor, CAA, CIAA. | Director of Athletics and Physical Education
doconnor@unis.org | Office: 212-584-3059
IN THE LOOP: STEVE & KATE'S SUMMER CAMP AT UNIS
Steve & Kate’s Camp is coming to UNIS this summer
available for children ages 4 – 12
Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s Camp has put kids in charge of their own learning experience – allowing campers to choose from a variety of activities in real-time. Activities include sewing, stop-motion animation, coding & gaming, sports & recreation, maker crafts, water play, baking, and more.
And there’s plenty of perks for adults too. Families can attend for a day, the entire summer, or
anything in between. There’s no weekly sessions or reservations required. Plus – they’ll
automatically refund any unused Passes at the end of the summer.
Lunch, snacks, and all hours (8am–6pm) are included.
Camp at UNIS runs from June 26 – August 16.
Learn more about Steve & Kate’s Camp – Manhattan–Kips Bay,
and reserve your spot HERE !
IN THE LOOP: OUTDOOR PLAY / LABELING CLOTHING / LOST AND FOUND
Outdoor Activity - Jacket or Sweatshirt Needed Every Day
Spring weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to continue to send their child to school each day with a jacket or sweatshirt. Students are outside on the playground twice a day and will need an outer layer with them for chillier days.
And, once the weather heats up even more, the air conditioning will be on. There may be days when your child will need an extra layer indoors as well.
Labeling Clothing
With the change of seasons, please take time to label all new clothing, especially outerwear, water bottles, lunch boxes, athletic gear, school supplies, etc. with your child’s first name, last name and homeroom before they are brought to school.
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
PARENTS ASSOCIATION CORNER: JS PARENT SURVEY / PARENT OPPORTUNITIES / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVES
TAKE THE JS PARENT SURVEY
As members of the Junior School, your insights and opinions are essential in shaping a caring, effective, and collaborative environment for our students. This survey is structured to gather your thoughts on several key areas including communication, making learning visible, and our school culture/community. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to our shared vision for a brighter future for our students.
Welcome to our Community Survey! CLICK HERE
Parent Engagement Opportunities
SUMMERTIME ON YOUR MIND
Find parents’ recent recommendations for over 40 programs HERE
Have a favorite to share? Post at PA Summer Program/Camp Survey
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.
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.
Are you looking for information on the PA or past newsletters?
Then visit this page https://www.unis.org/school-life/parents-association/current-member-info (you’ll have to enter your Veracross ID as we keep this information behind a firewall for current UNIS parents only)
*Past recordings of PA/UNIS meetings
Did you know that our live streamed meetings are automatically recorded? Just visit the same link circulated for livestream and you’ll see the recording.
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
REMINDER FROM ATHLETICS - APPROPRIATE PE GEAR
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)
Cold weather 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
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
Jacket or Sweatshirt Needed Every Day
Spring 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 first and last 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 the air conditioning will be on indoors. There may be days when your child will need an extra layer in the classroom as well.
LOST & FOUND
Please take time to label all clothing, school supplies, water bottles, lunch boxes, athletic gear, etc. with your child’s first and last name and homeroom before they are brought to school.
Students are expected to be accountable for their own possessions and we encourage clear labeling on all of your child's clothing and school supplies (both first and last names) including coats and jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, athletic gear, backpacks, pencil cases, lunch boxes and water bottles. Your reinforcement of this at home with your children is encouraged.
Note that:
Families may search for and reclaim lost items in the school lobby
Unclaimed clothing will be periodically donated by the school
All other items will be discarded
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:
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: April 2024 Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH) have recently updated their guidelines for COVID-19. As a result, we are updating our protocols effective immediately.
One of the most notable changes is the isolation time. Now, you may return to campus 24 hours after you have been fever-free without using fever-reducing medications and after the other symptoms have started to improve.
However, taking extra precautions in the following days is important, including wearing a mask, covering your sneezes and coughs, frequent hand washing, and using hand sanitizer.
If you experience a fever again, you must leave campus immediately and isolate yourself again.
Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/updated-respiratory-virus-guidance.html for additional information.
Marisa Rivera, MS, RN, FNP, CPN
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
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
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.
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:
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).
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