Newsletter #10

Dear parents,

In 2015, three researchers from the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick led research (1) on the correlation between happiness in the workplace and productivity. For them, greater employee happiness results in higher productivity without sacrificing quality.

Their conclusion was that “companies like Google have invested more in employee support and employee satisfaction has risen as a result. For Google, it rose by 37 percent; they know what they are talking about. Under scientifically controlled conditions, making workers happier really pays off. [...] The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality."

Interestingly, at the same time, an article published in the Harvard Business Review Magazine (2) presented... the opposite conclusion! The authors, who looked at many research studies (but surely not the one from the University of Warwick) came to the depressing conclusion that:

It is obvious that the Harvard Business Magazine needs to organize a retreat at UNIS on Halloween Day as none - or almost none - of their conclusions could ever apply to our Junior School!  See for yourself!

J3 "BIOME" TEAM

For Halloween, the J3 team dressed up as biomes. They chose this theme because it connects to our Global Connections unit, which explores interdependence within ecosystems. In the photo, you’ll see the rainforest, coral reef, tundra, deciduous forest, savanna, and desert biomes.

J4 "NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS" TEAM

"We enjoyed dressing up and it was wonderful to see the smiles from all the kids too. Happy Halloween everyone!"

The J4 teaching team found inspiration for our Halloween costumes from the J4 Humanities unit: Natural Hazards and Disasters. In class the students have been learning about the connection between geography and the occurrence of natural events, the cause and effect of natural disasters, and the ways community groups prevent, prepare for, mitigate and respond to disasters. So, to enhance the learning and to have a little fun, teachers have decided to represent some of the events we have been discussing. Introducing the extreme weather team...

With so much creativity, our JS students and teachers highlighted our joy and happiness to be together as part of the Junior School Community. We certainly feel more aligned with Steve Jobs than the Harvard Business Review's depressing article:

 "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

However, I have to admit that the research might be right when it finds that "Happiness doesn’t necessarily lead to increased productivity", at least when you are dressed as a blue genie riding a magic carpet. We confess that this is not the best outfit to get the maximum number of things done during the school day.

Note that not everybody wore a happy face on Halloween at UNIS. This is the J2 "ADDAMS FAMILY" TEAM. Spooky! And for those who are wondering where Ms. Turner is... look more carefully... she chose the most complex costume of all...she is "Thing" (aka that hand resting on Uncle Fester's shoulder). What a great performance Ms. Turner!

No matter what you think of happiness in the workplace, there is one thing everyone agreed upon on Thursday: the true highlight of the day was Remi's (J3 Heller) outstanding, creative, delightful and awesome car. Remi promised that he will share where the idea for the car came from and how it went from a dream to a Halloween reality. Stay tuned for more in our next newsletter!

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Susan Scullin, Junior School Principal Assistant

IMPORTANT DATES

EVENTS THIS WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

TO DO: PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES - SIGN UP IS OPEN

CONFERENCE DATES

SIGN-UP PERIOD

ACCESS TO CONFERENCE SIGN-UP

SIGN-UP PROCESS: DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions on booking conference times with your childrens' teachers  are available by following the link below.

QUESTIONS, ISSUES, CONCERNS AND FEEDBACK DURING THE SIGN-UP PROCESS

Send an email to veracross@unis.org

LIMITED CHILD CARE DURING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES - THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

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

Sign-in Process

Arrival and Departure from Childcare

During Childcare

Bathrooms

TO DO: CITY HARVEST AND TOILETRIES DRIVE

We would appreciate the support of the UNIS community to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of our fellow New Yorkers - there are 1.37 million New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves currently.  

Together let's make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers who need our help.

Toiletries Collection:

Additionally, we are also collecting toiletries  for a Homeless Outreach program in NYC. 

The following items are greatly needed: shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Small sizes from your last hotel stay are perfect.

Volunteers Needed:

Please signup using this link for helping to sort and pack. 

For more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Co-Chairs:

HIGH PRIORITY: JS PARENT COFFEE - NOVEMBER 6

Our Wednesday, November 6, the JS Parent Coffee will introduce parents to the Responsive Classroom approach. Responsive Classroom is a way of teaching that creates a safe, challenging, and joyful classroom and school wide climate for all students. This year, all of our Junior and Middle School teachers are being trained in this approach. We hope that you can join us in the Cafe on Wednesday at 8:30am to learn more.

INFORMATION: UNIS WASTE AUDIT 

On Wednesday, October 30, the school took another step toward building a more sustainable UNIS by hiring Common Ground Compost to audit our cafeteria waste for a day.  Volunteers from the UNIS community spent the day assisting the CGC team to weigh and sort all the trash generated in the front and back of the cafeteria.  The data gathered will be used to understand what we are consuming, what we are wasting, and how we can move closer to zero waste and a greener UNIS.

Two thumbs up for the a students who joined the effort and our parents volunteers:

INFORMATION: MOROCCO AT UNIS

Let's celebrate the diverse and lively Moroccan culture. This enchanted night is your chance to immerse into unique Moroccan Live Music, Food, Raffle, Fashion, Bazaar, and Fun Activities for children and adults.

Please join us at UNIS on Saturday, December 7th from 4:00PM to 7:00PM so that we can celebrate together!

Ticket sales have begun. Please note there are a limited number of tickets, so please purchase your tickets at www.unis.org/morocco 

General Admission is $25 per person and free for children 4 years old and under. Each ticket automatically enters you into raffle. The raffle prize is TWO round trip tickets to Casablaca generously provided by Royal Air Maroc. 

PA CULTURAL EVENTS COMMITTEE

INFORMATION: PHOTO PROOFS & RETAKES BY STOMPING GROUND ON NOVEMBER 14


Today - Photos from October 10th are ready to order online. Proofs and instructions were sent home in your child’s backpack last week.

Thursday, November 14 - Stomping Ground Photo will retake JS portraits upon request, or take portraits for students who were not at school on October 10. Sign up using the Retake Request Form below.

Monday, November 18 - Ordering deadline for photos taken on October 10th.

Orders will be shipped directly to your home.

Sign up here to request that your child’s portrait be taken on Thursday, November 14: JS RETAKE REQUEST FORM

Retakes and absentee photos are not coordinated through your teacher or the JS Office.You must sign up with the photographer directly using this Retake Request Form now if you want your child’s portrait taken on November 14th. 

BIT OF NEWS: CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. ROMANO ON HER MARATHON ACHIEVEMENT!

Ms. Romano, J3 Homeroom teacher, trained for many months and challenged herself to run in yesterday's NYC Marathon! Some of her students were there to support her just as she supports them every single day at school. This is the UNIS Junior School spirit! Well done Ms. Romano!

REMINDER: J3 AND J4 MATILDA - DESIGN TEAM INFORMATION

If your J3-M4 student is interested in the Design Team of Matilda, The Musical, please read the information below and complete the application. The Design Team are the students responsible for creation of props, projection, set decoration, and more.

REMINDER: LOST AND FOUND

Beginning Monday, October 28, 2019 UNIS is implementing new lost and found procedures.   Lost and found items will be collected weekly and displayed on racks just outside the front door of the school.  Any Items that are not retrieved by the end of each week will be deposited in our RefashionNYC Bin.  RefashionNYC is NYC's official clothing reuse program in partnership with NYC Department of Sanitation and Housing Works to make textile donations to those in need. Once items are deposited into the RefashionNYC bin, we cannot retrieve them.  We ask that you please label all clothing, lunch boxes and water bottles.  Labeled items will be delivered to the appropriate school office to be reunited with their owners. Please note that unlabeled lunch boxes and unlabeled water bottles will be discarded at the end of each week. We will no longer set out lost and found during parent teacher conferences.  Please stop by the racks on your way in and out of school to retrieve items and ask your children to check for any lost items.  

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

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

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.

REMINDER: UNIS PE UNIFORM POP UP STORE - WINTER SPORTS 2019

The deadline to order Winter Sports 2019 apparel for delivery before the holidays is Wednesday, November 6. The store will stay open until Friday, December 20 but delivery will be in 2020 if ordered after November 6.

REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR CHILD’S DISMISSAL PLANS

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.

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.