Newsletter #09

Dear parents,

It was great to welcome our students and their families back this morning after the well-deserved break. 

This Friday evening, November 1, you will be able to book conference appointments with your child's teachers. Detailed instructions in order to secure your appointments using our online booking system will be provided in a separate email from our IT Department.

Parents meet JS homeroom teachers, as well as Mother Tongue language, ELL and Learning Support teachers for 20 minutes and other specialist teachers for 10 minutes. Due to the high number of students taught by some of our specialist teachers, not every parent will have the opportunity to meet with each specialist. Therefore, we encourage you to book an appointment with specialist teachers only if you have a concern regarding your child and the subject taught by that specialist. This ensures that specific concerns are addressed as a priority. This is not the case with our homeroom teachers as every parent is expected to take the opportunity to meet with them.

We look forward to welcoming all of you next week at the conferences that will be held from

• 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6

• 8:30 to 3:00 on Thursday and Friday, November 7 and November 8 

Please see the additional details about conferences in this newsletter.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Susan Scullin, Junior School Principal Assistant

• Thursday, October 31 - Halloween dress up day / Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF (details in this newsletter)

• Friday, November 1 -  Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Boxes Brought to School

• Friday, November 1 – Care Program in J2 Classrooms

• Friday, November 1 through Tuesday, November 5 -  Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up Opens 7:00pm (details in this newsletter)

• Monday, November 4 -  PA Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30

• Monday, November 4 - Admissions Assessments and Q&A

• Tuesday, November 5 -  Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up Closes 7:00pm

• Wednesday, November 6 - JS Parent Coffee (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30

• Wednesday, November 6 -  No After School Classes (Parent/Teacher Conference Set Up) Care Program is in Session until 6:00pm

• Wednesday, November 6, Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

  • Wednesday, November 6 from 5:00 until 8:00 pm (PK/JA - J4) adults only / childcare is not available - Full Day of Classes in Session

  • Thursday, November 7  from 8:30 am to 3:00pm (PK/JA - J4) - No Classes for Students

  • Friday, November 8 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm (PK/JA - J4) - No Classes for Students

• Monday, November 11 - No Yellow Bus Service

• Monday, November 11 - Class Parent Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:20

• Tuesday, November 12 - JS Half Day 11:45 Dismissal for all JS Students (details in this newsletter)

• Thursday, November 14 – Stomping Ground Photo Retake Day (details in this newsletter)

• Friday, November 15 - Admissions Deadline for Sibling Applications

• Wednesday, November 27 to Friday, November 29 - School Closed – Thanksgiving Break

• Tuesday, December 3 -  PA Meeting (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30

• Wednesday, December 4 - JS Parent Coffee (Cafe) 8:30 - 9:30

• Saturday, December 7 - PA Cultural Showcase

• Saturday, December 14 - JS Talent Show

• Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3 – Winter Break

• Monday, January 6 – Classes Resume

• TO DO: PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

• HIGH PRIORITY: HIGH PRIORITY: PARENT COFFEE

• INFORMATION: LOST AND FOUND

• INFORMATION: UN DAY PHOTOS!

• INFORMATION: YELLOW SCHOOL BUS 'CODE OF CONDUCT (FOR JUNIOR AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS)

• BIT OF NEWS: UNICEF TRICK-OR-TREAT

• BIT OF NEWS: JS PHOTO RETAKE DAY AND ORDERING DEADLINE

• BIT OF NEWS: UNIS PE UNIFORM POP UP STORE - WINTER SPORTS 2019

• BIT OF NEWS: J3 AND J4 MATILDA - DESIGN TEAM INFORMATION

• REMINDER: HALLOWEEN DRESS UP GUIDELINES

• REMINDER: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 - 11:45 DISMISSAL FOR ALL JS STUDENTS

• REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR CHILD’S DISMISSAL PLANS

• REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION IN VERACROSS

• Wednesday, November 6: from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

• Thursday, November 7: from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

• Friday, November 8: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

• Start / Open: Friday, November 1 at 7:00 pm

• End / Close: Tuesday, November 5 at 7:00 pm

• Sign-up is available only through the Veracross Portal (myunis.vc)

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

• If you have not yet received notifications regarding your Veracross login credentials, send an email message now to veracross@unis.org to retrieve them

• If you have received your credentials you must log in to Veracross to access the parent-teacher conferences sign up

• When you log on to your portal, you will be able to sign up for conference slots for each of your children

Send an email to veracross@unis.org

The Junior School is pleased to offer limited childcare at no cost during the JS Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8  from 8:30 to 3:00

• Childcare is not available on Wednesday evening and it is expected that only parents attend the evening conferences.

• Childcare is limited to the duration of your family's Parent Teacher Conferences, while parents are on campus.  

• There is no need to sign up in advance of the Parent Teacher Conferences. Parents are welcome to sign their Junior School child in directly with the Teaching Assistants on duty on the day of your Conferences.   

• Childcare will take place in the JA Gym on the 1st floor on Thursday and Friday.

• Parents are invited to use the childcare option if they are unable to provide alternate childcare for Junior School students. Students can be enrolled only for the duration of their parent’s conferences, while parents are on the UNIS campus.   

• We cannot accommodate any child not currently enrolled at UNIS.   

• Please ensure that you pack a drink, a snack and some quiet activities for your child such as an iPad, reading books, coloring books, Sudoku, etc.

Sign-in Process

• Childcare will be available from 8:30am - 3:00 in the 1st Floor JA Gym.

• When you arrive you will be asked to sign your child in so that we know their name, homeroom, and how parents can be reached by cell phone in an emergency.

• Students can be signed up only for the duration of the time that their parents are present on campus attending conferences.

Arrival and Departure from Childcare

• Every student who arrives must be checked in and the parent must give the name of anyone, other than themselves, who will be collecting the child.

• When leaving, the student must be checked out by a childcare supervisor and the child’s name checked off as departing.

• Students will not be released to anyone other than the parent, or an alternate whose name has been given by the parent at check-in.  If there is a problem, a supervisor must call the parent to confirm their permission.

• Once a child has been checked out of childcare they are the responsibility of the adult who collected them and must remain with this adult. They may not use the school playground after being checked out.

During Childcare

• Students should have access to i-Pads, drawing, writing, appropriate activities or toys brought from home, with some periods of time in the playground.

Bathrooms

• When students are in the playground they will use the bathrooms located close to stairwell B (the bathrooms in the lobby are for adults only during the conferences).

• JA students will remain in line of sight of a supervisor at all times between the gym, the playground, or entering/exiting the bathrooms.

Our November 6 parent coffee will introduce you to the Responsive Classroom approach. Responsive Classroom is a way of teaching that creates a safe, challenging, and joyful classroom and schoolwide climate for all students. This year, all of our Junior and Middle school teachers are being trained in this approach.

The purpose of this section is to review expectations of UNIS students who ride the school bus. In order to make the school bus experience safe and pleasant for everyone, kindly share the following rules of conduct and behavior tips with your children.

• Follow the driver’s instructions. The driver is in charge of the school bus and will assign seats if necessary.

• Follow the safety instructions of the driver during pick up, drop off and while on the bus.

• Be courteous and respectful to the driver and other students. 

• Remain seated and wear your seatbelt at all times while on the bus.

• Don’t bring objects on the bus that may create a safety hazard (for example: a scooter). All large objects must be kept either in a backpack or in a closed case.

• No eating or drinking on the bus.

• Keep the bus clean and don’t throw trash on the floor or out of the windows.

• Keep all body parts and objects to yourself inside of the bus, and out of the aisle.

• Loud talking, laughing and yelling can be distracting to the driver. Speak at a moderate level and do not cause disturbances on the bus.

Also, with regards to the usage of chromebooks and electronic devices, please be advised that Middle School students are not allowed to use their chromebooks while riding the school bus.

Smart phones are allowed as long as:

• No sound is used on video games.

• Headphones are always used if sound is needed.

• There are no conflicts or arguments over these items.

Please be aware that students bring these items on the bus at their own risk and the school and the drivers are not responsible for lost or broken electronic devices.

Please remind your child/children that the failure to follow these rules of conduct may result in losing the privilege of riding the bus.

In the event of significant or recurring problems, further disciplinary procedures will follow.

Your support in this matter is much appreciated.

UNICEF collection boxes will be sent home in your childs backpacks on Wednesday, October 30th. Collection boxes are due back by Friday, November 1st. There will be a large box in the front office where students can drop off their collection boxes.

UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund that raises money to help children around the world to provide education, nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter, health/medicine, and emergencies.

Since 1950, millions of children across the United States have Trick-Or-Treated on Halloween with UNICEF collection boxes, calling out, "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!" Trick or Treat for UNICEF has helped to raise nearly $177 million since 1950. 

The donations that students collect on Halloween add up to lifesaving changes for kids across the world. For example, $1 can provide children important medical shots or provide pencils for a class of 30 students; $2 can provide 66 children with vitamin A capsules for a year which helps them grow strong and protects them; $2.46 can provide school supplies (pencils, books, chalk, slate board and paper) for one child; 

$9 can provide a pack of 200 water purification tablets for safe drinking water; and $55 can buy one box of therapeutic food treatment to save a child from malnutrition.

On Tuesday, November 12, to accommodate Faculty Professional Development, both Junior School and Middle School students will be dismissed early:

• JS dismissal at 11:45 (after lunch)

• MS dismissal at 11:50 (prior to lunch)

Tut Housewill follow their regular schedule.

Yellow school bus service will be available and buses will depart the school at approximately 12:00pm.

Athletics, After School classes and the Care Program are canceled for that day.

Our homeroom teachers follow the instructions entered by parents in School Dismissal Manager each day. Now that after school activities have begun please update your SDM account to indicate what the plans are for your child for each day of the week.

SDM is the only way of letting your homeroom teacher know where your child should go at 2:55 dismissal. In addition to indicating that there is an Athletic or After School Activity, you must enter a description of the activity in the box below. If the activity name is not entered in SDM your child may be placed in the Care Program instead.