Newsletter #22

Dear parents,

Now that most of you have had the joyful experience of watching our students, your children, singing and acting on stage during our traditional grade-wide Winter Concerts, we can recognize together the emotional and intense power of music. Excitement and happiness merged in our UNIS Theatre throughout our students's stunning performances lead by Ms. Travis, Ms. Boekholt and Mr. Dod. And for those who need more than these words to be convinced, here are a few visuals of true happiness captured last week during the J1, J2 and J4 concerts.

I don't believe anyone can challenge Leonard Bernstein's thought about the attempts to deprive music of its mystery. Who could write an essay to truly explain why our body shivers while listening Maria Callas singing 'Vissi d'Arte' at Covent Garden 1964. It is doomed to fail. On that day, critics believed that Callas was not Tosca, but Tosca was Callas. How could anyone ever explain that? 

But there is so much more that we can say about music. During their Thursday concert, our J1 students were the inspiration for this Newsletter #22. Their words still resonate within me: "We are the future". While a song can create emotion, there is no doubt that it can also capture the spirit of a political movement and change the world. British journalist Dorian Lynskey whose book 33 Revolutions per Minute (1) tells the story of the protest song, believes that while a song alone cannot overturn a regime, it can have significant influence, even indirectly, on real change.

Pete Seeger, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jerry Dammers and many others, known and anonymous artists, have advocated for a Better World through their music.

Pete Seeger, We Shall Overcome (1963)

There's something about this song that haunts you, felt Martin Luther King Jr. the first time he heard We Shall Overcome interpreted by folk singer and activist Pete Seeger in 1957. When 250,000 voices picked it up in the March to Washington six years later, it had become America's best known protest song. (2)

This song, transformed into a union song, then into a hymn for civil rights, was steeped in history. In 1965, President Johnson cited it in his speech asking Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act allowing all blacks to vote.

John Lennon, Imagine (1971)

“Imagine there's no heaven - It's easy if you try - No hell below us - Above us only sky.” It has been taken up in chorus by millions of people on our planet. "Imagine" is one of the most famous, if not the most famous, protest song. It’s John Lennon’s naïve but vivid dream of seeing peace prevail all over the world. In 1971 he drew inspiration from a poem written by his wife Yoko Ono in the early 1960s. For the music magazine Rolling Stone, this disc is the greatest gift that Lennon ever gave to the world.

Bob Dylan, Hurricane (1975)

Dylan, who rejected the role of "voice of a generation", became obsessed with the Rubin "Hurricane" Carter case, a black American boxer tried for a triple murder in New Jersey in 1966. Dylan continued to work for Carter's cause by giving concerts for his benefit. The boxer's conviction was at first confirmed, but another appeal resulted in the charges being dropped in 1988. A 1999 biopic, Hurricane Carter, with Denzel Washington in the role of Carter, uses the song and pays tribute to Dylan for making famous a miscarriage of justice and giving it a lasting reputation.

The Specials, Free Nelson Mandela (1984)

Nelson Mandela is the symbol of the fight against apartheid in South Africa. He spent much of his life locked up in Robben Island Prison. In 80s South Africa, segregation was visible on a daily basis. But the world was changing, the call for equality and the demand to release Nelson Mandela growing stronger. The Specials puts that demand to music under the pen of Jerry Dammers who did not know much about Nelson Mandela before attending an anti-apartheid concert in London. But this concert gave him the idea for a song. He never imagined that his song could have such an impact, and certainly not that it would ever become an anthem. But it did.

Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. One of his most important legacies to the world is his book "Night", a book based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps during World War II. His words poignantly remind us that we should never fail to protest.

The United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, marking to the day the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, took place on 27 January 2020. The ceremony opened with remarks by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres who emphasized "the need to examine our own prejudices; guard against the misuse of our own technology; and be alert to any signs that hatred is being normalized", and noted that "our solidarity in the face of hatred is needed today more than ever". Holocaust survivors Irene Shashar and Shraga Milstein shared their moving testimonies. In his keynote address Judge Theodor Meron paid tribute to “those who were saved, and those who took courageous action to save their neighbours from certain death”. The ceremony included moving music by internationally renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. (3)

There is no doubt in my mind that my mission as a school Principal at the United Nations International School is bigger than the excellence of our teaching and learning policies and the rigor of our standards in all the aspects of our curriculum. This is what all independent and international schools promise to their community of parents and students. But in a World where crimes of hatred, intolerance, anti-Semitism, homophobia, misogyny, racism and many more shameful beliefs are alive and well, my responsibility is to lead, along with our faculty, a passionate and informed protest against anything that is dragging us back to the darkest ages of humanity. Side by side, with the United Nations, all together, we can and we must contribute to this effort. It is our Mission.


Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal 

Susan Scullin, Junior School Assistant Principal


IMPORTANT DATES

EVENTS THIS WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS


IN THIS NEWSLETTER

INFORMATION: JS FRIENDSHIP DAY BAKE + FLOWER SALE

It's happening this week! Our beloved tradition is coming soon! This 100% volunteer based event is surely one of the best days in JS. This Friday, February 14th, the children will visit the sale with their class. Please provide them with $5 to spend and a reusable container to store their purchase.

 Thank you in advance for all your contributions! It is a lovely day for the children & we cannot do this without your support. Please click on the button below to volunteer. Please drop off your donations in the lobby from 8:00am on the day of sale.

 Important things to remember:

Please feel free to contact us with any questions (nadine.lemm@pa.unis.org or denise.debono@pa.unis.org).


Aussie Mates Table on Friendship Day:

On Friday, 14 February, there will be a special "Mates Table" at the Friendship Day Bake Sale. The PA has graciously approved to donate some of the money raised at the bake sale to two organizations in Australia that are helping affected communities and animals. This stall will be run by the J4 students and parents, along with students from J1MP. We will be selling classic Australian treats and artwork, and a special Fairy Bread making station will be featured. 

We welcome any contributions to this stall. 

The money raised will be donated to the following two organizations:

1. Australian Red Cross: Helping bushfire affected communities in various ways. 

2. Koala Hospital - Port Macquarie NSW: Established in 1973 and is an activity of the Koala Conservation Australia Incorporated Not-for-profit organisation that is not only a hospital to treat sick and injured koalas but it is also involved in research.

To thank the UNIS community the students in J4JH will perform a student created and run "Thank You Talent Show" at the J3/J4 Friendship Day assembly. 

The Australian community wishes to thank everyone for their kind words, support and generosity. 

Meaghan Payne (J1MP classroom teacher), Jessica Hiebl-McArdle (J4JH classroom teacher) and Helen Stephan (J4JH parent rep)


INFORMATION: UNIS BOOK DRIVE MARCH 2ND – MARCH 6th, 2020

Give back to your community, donate your gently used children’s books

Children of Bellevue (CoB) is a non-profit organization established to improve the health and well-being of children at Bellevue Hospital Center.

Children of Bellevue’s Reach out and Read is part of a national initiative that encourages reading aloud as a regular, joyful home activity that can improve language development, parent-child interactions, and academic success. Pediatricians provide a brand new book to every child at regular well visits starting at birth. To find out more, please visit: childrenofbellevue.org/reach-out-and-read

Parent Volunteers: We are looking for parent volunteers to help assist in book collection, sorting, packing and delivering. To volunteer, please sign up at:

If you have any questions, please e-mail: Abhilasha Mahan: abhilasha.mahan@gmail.com Rachel Barbee: sungirlrmb@aol.com

INFORMATION: NYICFF 2020

It's finally time! NYICFF 2020 is just around the corner and will be showcasing the best new films for ages 3-18. The Festival is packed full of fantastic film programs for your family this year and, even better, our school earns $3 back for every ticket you purchase!

Check out the Festival's wildly-popular and diverse short film programs: Short Films 1 (ages 5-10), ¡Hola NYICFF! Shorts in Spanish (ages 8+), NYICFF Rocks: Musical Shorts (all ages) and more! 

Calling all animal lovers! Catch these Special Screenings of Disneynature’s Elephant and Dolphin Reef (all ages) for some big-screen nature thrills. 

And if it’s animation that you love, get on board with The Prince’s Voyage (ages 7+) to see what happens when a monkey prince washes ashore in this adventurous and mesmerizing film. 

To buy tickets and raise money for our school simply:

And just like that, for each ticket you purchase, $3 will be donated to our PA! 

REMINDER: WINTER AFTER SCHOOL AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES - LAST DAY OF WINTER CLASSES (UPDATE SDM)

The last days of After School and Athletic Activities for Winter session classes will be:

Note that government supported German and Swedish language classes may have different schedules. Please contact those teachers directly.

School Dismissal Manager (SDM) must be updated by your family throughout the school year to reflect all changes in your child’s After School and Athletics enrollment. The school does not make these updates for you.

Please enter the end date of your child's Winter session classes in SDM.  Then add the new Spring session class descriptions and all the dates that your child's Spring classes will meet.

Dismissing teachers rely on the information that families enter in SDM each day to direct their students to the correct After School or Athletic activity.

REMINDER: SPRING AFTER SCHOOL AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES - REGISTRATION IS OPEN

After School and Athletic Activities Spring session classes will begin the week of March 2. Registration is now open:

School Dismissal Manager (SDM) must be updated by your family throughout the school year to reflect all changes in your child’s After School and Athletics enrollment. The school does not make these updates for you.

Please enter the end date of your child's Winter session classes in SDM.  Then add the new Spring session class descriptions and all the dates that your child's Spring classes will meet.

Dismissing teachers rely on the information that families enter in SDM each day to direct their students to the correct After School or Athletic activity.

The Care Program is designed to meet the needs of JS working parents who want their children to do their homework and be engaged in relaxing activities after school hours. It provides a dependable daily program in a warm and safe environment, every school day from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Register for the Care Program at: Care Program Registration

REMINDER: SDG CLUB DRIVE - NEW EYES 4 SDGS (UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS)

DONATE GENTLY USED EYEGLASSES

A collection box is in the Junior School office from February 3 to - April 2. Prescription, Reading, Sunglasses, Children’s glasses are accepted. Please drop them off in a case, bubble wrap or envelope. No contact lenses. These eyeglasses will be donated to a nonprofit organization 20/20 for 2020 that provides eyeglasses to people who need them in the US and in developing countries.

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON ACHIEVING SDG 3

Nayesha Krishna, T2 student - Founder- President SDG club

REMINDER: UNIS FUNDRAISER GALA ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Don't Miss the Best Party to support our School!

Tickets are going fast

Click here to get yours today!!!


REMINDER: ADVERTISE IN THE MATILDA PLAYBILL

Interested in sending a shout out to a cast member in the Matilda playbill? Want your business to be seen by the 2,400 people that will be seeing Matilda? Advertising in the playbill not only gets your message seen by thousands, but supports the Theatre Program at UNIS. 

REMINDER: LOST AND FOUND UPDATED POLICY

UNIS has implemented 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 every Monday, and any unretrieved items will be donated on Friday. Items that are collected after Monday will remain in the lost and found crate by the playground doors until the following week. Any items that are not retrieved from the racks by the front doors after a week of display, 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: UPDATE YOUR PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION

Please take the time now to review your family profile and contact information to ensure that your cell phone numbers, email addresses and home address are correct. You may update your information at any point throughout the year, but if you have not reviewed your information since the school year began, we encourage you to do it today. 

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 can be reached in an emergency is through the information that you have entered in the Portal. After logging in to the Portal at myunis.vc , you may review and update all of your family contact information by:

If you need support in order to make your updates, please email veracross@unis.org

REMINDER: UPDATE YOUR CHILD’S DISMISSAL PLANS

Our homeroom teachers follow the instructions entered by parents in School Dismissal Manager each day. 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.