Newsletter #05
Dear parents,
There is much to be discussed within our community. We are facing unexpected challenges and we recognize that there are differing views held. There are facts, interpretations, emotions, and caring. We believe that everyone in our community has only good intentions. In this moment of gravity, our Mission Statement is what connects us all. I invite everyone to pause and to read it.
Under the auspices of the United Nations and guided by its ideals, UNIS provides an inclusive and diverse learning environment in which rigorous international programs foster academic excellence, innovation, creativity and cross-cultural communication to educate and inspire its students to become an active force in shaping a better world: peaceful, compassionate and sustainable.
After being used by psychologist Joseph Jastrow, The rabbit–duck ambiguous image was made famous by Ludwig Wittgenstein, who included it in his Philosophical Investigations as a means of describing two different ways of seeing: "seeing that" versus "seeing as" - Wikipedia
UNIS is the school of the UNITED NATIONS, the international organization formed in 1945 to increase political and economic cooperation among its member countries. Diplomacy is at is core and is the domain of political science and traditions that deal with international relations and mutual relations between states, the practice, the action and the way of representing one's country in a foreign country or in international negotiations, reconciling their respective interests or solving a problem without the use of force.
"It is very important for I think those of us who desperately want peace, who see war as, at some level, a break-down, a manifestation of human weakness, to understand that sometimes it’s also necessary – and you know, to – to be able to balance two ideas at the same time; that we are constantly striving for peace, we are doubling up on our diplomacy, we are going to actively engage, we are going to try to see the world through other people’s eyes and not just our own." - Barack Obama
In the UNIS Junior School we believe, and teach our students at the Peace Tables in their classrooms, that the first step in solving conflict is peaceful dialogue. Diplomacy. At UNIS we stand by the belief that all problems can be solved with the use of diplomacy.
You will find below the presentation we shared with our J3 and J4 students to engage them in the peaceful and respectful dialogue for which we are standing at UNIS.
Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal
Susan Scullin, Junior School Principal Assistant
At least 40 of our Junior School students marched in Friday's Climate Strike to save the planet. Thank you for standing up for our Earth!
See the "Peaceful dialogues" presentation shared with the J3 and J4 students during the Assembly, an opportunity for our students to reflect on many different ways to engage in dialogues to create the change respectfully, through arts, marching, seating at a table with those they disagree with, etc...
Congratulations and thank you to the ten student ambassadors and their families who proudly presented the UNIS Mission Statement and their own global concerns to the First Lady of the United States as they rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning.
Céline Cousteau brought to our J3, J4 and M4 students the voice of the indigenous peoples in the Brazilian Amazon who are suffering from land threats, health crises, and human rights issues. In the picture behind her, Céline was 9 years old,with her grandfather Jacques Cousteau, on the Amazon River and his famous boat, "La Calypso."
IMPORTANT DATES
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, September 23 - 1st Day Yellow School Bus for all JA
Monday, September 23 - After School Classes Begin
Wednesday, September 25 - JS Parent Coffee (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30 (details in this newsletter)
Thursday, September 26 - 1st Class Parent Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30
Friday, September 27 - J3-M4 Parent Q&A for Matilda: The Musical (Cafe) 8:30-9:30 (details in this newsletter)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, October 1 – Care Program in J1
Saturday, October 5 - Cardboard Challenge (see details in this newsletter)
Thursday, October 10 - JS Photo Day
Friday, October 11 - PA Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30
Friday, October 18 - UN Day Celebrations
Week of October 21 – 25 - No Classes for Students – October Break
Saturday, November 2 - PA Cultural Showcase
Monday, November 4 - PA Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30
Wednesday, November 6 - JS Parent Coffee (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30
Wednesday, November 6 - No After School Classes
Wednesday, November 6 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Evening (adults only event / childcare is not available)
Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Full Day -
Friday, November 15 - Admissions Deadline for Sibling Applications
Wednesday, November 27 to Friday, November 29 - School Closed – Thanksgiving Break
This is UNIS Junior School!
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
TO DO: CARDBOARD CHALLENGE REGISTRATION - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
HIGH PRIORITY: J3 AND J4 FALL MAP TESTING
HIGH PRIORITY: PARENT COFFEE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @8:30am
INFORMATION: UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948
INFORMATION: STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT PRESENTATION
BIT OF NEWS: AUDITIONS FOR MATILDA, THE MUSICAL (J3-M4 STUDENTS)
REMINDER: J3 AND J4 CHORUS ANNOUNCEMENT
REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION IN VERACROSS
REMINDER: UPDATE THE DISMISSAL INFORMATION & SIGN THE AGREEMENT
TO DO: CARDBOARD CHALLENGE REGISTRATION - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
UNIS invites you to our 7th Annual Cardboard Challenge. This is a family event that takes place on the UNIS campus on Saturday morning, October 5th from 10am-1pm.
Please talk with your kids and help them to think about ways they might incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their cardboard creations as:
garbage trucks for picking up recycling
solar panels that power their homes, computers, etc
electric cars
garbage eating robots
recycling stations and signs
and many more ideas!
Registration for the event is open for all UNIS Students!
This exciting day of building and design using recycled materials yields wonderful creations, brings the imagination to life and spurs collaboration and teamwork.
Please join us for loads of fun!
The event is free but space is limited to 250 people. Please, use the registration form below and be prepared to have 1:2 adult:child ratio.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 5th!
HIGH PRIORITY: J3 AND J4 FALL MAP TESTING
In support of UNIS’ comprehensive assessment program and mission, we will continue using an external adaptive assessment program, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP®) this school year.
MAP® assessments are unique in their ability to:
Measure an individual child’s academic growth throughout the school year – and from year to year – in the selected subject areas of reading, math and language usage,
Adapt to your child’s level of learning rather than a one-size-fits-all approach,
Provide each student the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward assessment,
Help determine your child’s instructional level, and
Receive timely and detailed external information about your child’s academic growth.
The data from this computerized, adaptive assessment will support teachers as they continue to:
Monitor student growth,
Set grade-level, classroom, and individual learning goals, and
Provide individualized enrichment and intervention for your student.
As was the case last academic year, the MAP® assessment will be delivered to students in grades J3 through T1 this academic year. Our testing window is scheduled for fall (October) and spring (April). The first round of assessments for J3/J4 students will take place on October 1, 2 and 3, 2019. The daily focus will be as follows:
Oct 1 - Reading
Oct 2 - Math
Oct 3- Language Arts
Attendance during MAP testing is important. We encourage you to avoid making appointments or checking your child out of school during the testing dates.
Students who are in Learning Support and our advanced ELL (English Language Learning) program will participate in MAP. Students who are in the beginner ELL program will not participate in the MAP test. Individual letters will be sent to the families of these identified students soon.
All parents will receive two individual student profile reports this school year. The first initial report will be sent by the first week of December and will provide the initial data for Math, Reading and Language Usage for academic year.
To learn more about the purpose of the test and how we will use the information obtained to promote your child’s learning, we encourage you to review the online resource: Parent Resources and Parent Toolkit. Translations of the parent guide are also available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
HIGH PRIORITY: PARENT COFFEE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @8:30am
Our first Parent Coffee will be held this Wednesday at 8:30 am in the Cafeteria. This is the Parent Coffee devoted to the goals for the year. We will take this opportunity to answer questions related to the homework policy as planned. We will give time to answer any other questions parents have regarding the Junior School.
INFORMATION: UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948
When walking through the main hallway leading to Junior School, take a minute to view the portfolio our Art teacher Anne Dohna has displayed for everyone to appreciate.
This portfolio was issued by the Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum in Denmark to commemorate 40 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UNIS received this copy years ago. The original artwork was designed by Octavio Roth. UNIS artists from J1 and J2 created the watercolor paintings that separate each of the articles within the frames.
Anne Dohna, Art Teacher
During their first unit of inquiry, J2 students learn about children’s rights and corresponding responsibilities. They will learn to differentiate between needs, rights and wants, and transfer this understanding into discussions and ultimately action. Students will examine children’s rights by investigating the history, purpose, and work of UNICEF. They will develop an understanding of this community group, it’s connection to the UN and the responsible actions it takes to create a better world for children everywhere. Students will use the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child as a key resource to examine case studies and examples of where children do not have their needs and rights met.
Marisa Mercurio, J2 Teacher
INFORMATION: STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT PRESENTATION
The presentations from the Student Support Team presented during the Back to School Night last Wednesday, September 18 can be found below.
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BIT OF NEWS: AUDITIONS FOR MATILDA, THE MUSICAL (J3-M4 STUDENTS)
Auditions for the first ever blended JS/MS main stage musical begin on September 30! See the attached production information packet for all of the important information. Parents, join the directors, Mr. Dod and Mr. Hall, for a Q&A session on September 27 at 8:30am in the cafeteria. All auditioners are required to complete this application form prior to auditions.
The Junior School and Middle School have combined forces this year to produce the main stage musical, MATILDA, THE MUSICAL. Note new performance dates of March 5-14, and auditions beginning September 30. Join the co-directors, Mr. Dod and Mr. Hall, for an information session on the production, audition process, changes from years past, and more. The session will be held on Friday, September 27 from 8:30-9:30am in the Cafeteria.
*Note that this musical is J3-M4 students only*
REMINDER: J3 AND J4 CHORUS ANNOUNCEMENT
The J3 and J4 Choruses have begun! There have been some exciting changes for this year:
There will be TWO CHORUSES: one for J3 and one for J4!
J3 Chorus will meet on Tuesdays during long play from 11:45-12:15 starting Tuesday, September 17.
J4 Chorus will meet on Wednesdays during long play from 10:45-11:15 starting Wednesday, September 18.
We are looking forward to another fun and musical year! If you have any questions, please contact Ms.Travis at atravis@unis.org
REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION IN VERACROSS
UPDATE YOUR FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION IN VERACROSS TODAY
All departments at UNIS, including the school nurse, rely on the contact information that your family provides to the school in Veracross. Please ensure today that your preferred email addresses, cell phone numbers and home address are up to date and entered accurately in your profile. The information that you provide here is the only way we can reach you regarding your child.