Dear parents,

Michael Phelps, former American competitive swimmer, is known for being the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. He overcame many challenges, not only in sport but also in his personal life, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with which he was diagnosed at about 10 years old, and major depressive disorder. While he was a naturally gifted, talented, and skilled swimmer, his successes are the result of his hard work. He has said: "There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits."

With Omicron’s rise, we brace ourselves for returning to school and work after a well-deserved winter break. As Michael Phelps expressed, there will be obstacles, there will be doubters, there will be mistakes. But we will keep learning. As Phelps demonstrated during his exceptional career, with hard work we believe we can, individually and together, overcome any limitations that the pandemic may force upon us. We hope that everyone, our students, parents, and teachers, has had the opportunity to restore and rejuvenate over this winter break. Each of us can now work towards completing this school year as a profound success, which is my wish for the new year.

As you are aware, this new year begins on January 3 with a week of fully remote learning for everyone.  On Friday, December 17, or Saturday, December 18, you should have received an email sent from pvallet@unis.org, with the subject "[Information] Remote Learning Information for [your child's first name] | Homeroom: [your child's homeroom teacher]". In this email, you will find general information concerning the fully remote week ahead, and individualized information to allow your Junior School child to connect remotely (login information, QR code, schedule with Zoom links, etc.).

We encourage you to search for this email in your mailbox on Sunday in order for your JS child to be prepared for the start of class at 9:00am Monday morning. If you cannot find it, complete this online form by simply selecting your child's name in the dropdown menu below:

As a reminder, we share this general information concerning the fully remote week of January 3. Please note that the date of thye testing has been moved to Wednesday, January 5th.

Please note that as of today, when we return to in-person learning on January 10, we would like to remind all parents that access to fully remote learning going forward is an option offered only to:

• students from PK to T4 who have opted in for fully remote for a full marking period. Remote marking period #3 begins on January 24.

• students who need to quarantine due to direct contact with a positive case

• in the case of a student who tested positive and is asymptomatic

If your child is not at school for any other reason than the ones listed above, their teachers will not be able to welcome them on Zoom to learn remotely. Thank you for your understanding. 

Please note also that, as decided before the break, and considering the current situation, students will continue bring their school issued device (iPad or Chromebook) back and forth to school each day.

Finally, we would like to begin this new year with an invitation to become, once again, a "fly on the wall". After our first Episode in Pre-K, this second episode will invite you in to share moments of learning with some of our JA, J1, and J3 students in Science and Design Engineering. Ms. Go, Ms. Zammarano and Mr. Alvez have opened the doors to their classrooms so that we can join some outstanding moments of teaching and learning! Enjoy!

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal 

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

• Monday, January 3 | Classes Resume

• January 3 - January 7 | Week of Remote Learning (9am to 2:30pm schedule)

• Wednesday , January 5 | JS Pool Testing on Campus 7:30 - 9:00am

• Wednesday , January 5 | JS Remote Instruction begins at 10:00am

• • Monday, January 17 | School Closed (MLK Day)

  • Wednesday, January 19  |  JS Parent Coffee 7:00pm (save the date)

  • Friday, January 28 | Semester #1 Report Cards Published - Note that recently enrolled students who have attended UNIS for less than 8 weeks, will not receive a report card this semester.

  • Monday, February 7  | Semester 2 After School Activities Begin (registration in this newsletter)

  • February 21 - February 25 | February Break - School Closed

Please update your contacts.

• The new direct dial phone number for the JS Office is 212-584-3190. 

• The main number for UNIS is 212-684-7400. 

• To reach the Nurse directly please phone 212-584-3078.

Save the Date: JS Parent Coffee on Wednesday, January 19 at 7:00pm

UNIS Arts Festival: Call for Parent Photography!

This year UNIS will be mounting a school wide Arts Festival May 16th-20th and the UNIS PA Arts Committee will be curating a parents photography exhibition as part of it! Using the 17 SDG Goals as inspiration, and perhaps as you travel for the holidays during this or one of the other breaks, take a moment to share through photography what these goals mean to you or your family. Please email your submission to tali.harel@pa.unis.org by May 1, 2022.

Call for volunteers! If you are interested in helping us collect and manage submissions, including creating a slideshow, please email amanda.dubois@pa.unis.org as we would love to have your help!

Ms. Melillo's J3 class rode the Polar Express just before the Winter Break! They had quite an adventure and a magical day was had by all!

In keeping in line with COVID restrictions, the UNIS Performing and Visual Arts Department has developed a creative alternative to the traditional JS musical. This year we are proud to announce the Junior School arts initiative, "Step into the Spotlight"! In this series of dancing, singing, and acting workshops, J3 and J4 students will have the opportunity to develop the confidence and skills needed to perform on stage. This after-school program is the perfect place for all future Broadway stars to "step into the spotlight" and shine!

“Step into the Spotlight” is for J3 and J4 students, and will take place from 3 p.m.- 5 p.m. on Tuesdays-Thursdays. Classes will begin on April 12th and run through June 2nd. The cost for the program is $650. There will be a livestream showcase for parents in June.

This program is a three day commitment. Please realize that these classes take place at the exact same time as classes being offered in the after school, sports, or private lesson program. It will not be possible to be enrolled in both if the days coincide. Due to Covid restrictions, we are only able to enroll twenty-four J3 students and twenty-four J4 students.

Registration is now open for Step into the Spotlight. Students will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.

 If you are interested in registering for this program, please complete this Google Form.

Once completed, the form will send you a copy of your responses. Please keep this for your records. Please note: submission of this form DOES NOT guarantee a seat in Step into the Spotlight. The Performing and Visual Arts Department will contact you directly regarding your registration status.

Excerpt from December 7 email from Dr. Brenner:

When we return to school, we will revert back to 3 individuals to a table in the cafeteria to create additional social distancing in an attempt to limit contact while eating.

Additionally, when someone is a contact of a confirmed positive case, we will mandate a negative PCR test before returning to campus. A rapid test will no longer be acceptable. Remote learning will occur for any person who is mandated to quarantine pending their testing results.

The week of January 3-7 will become a fully remote week of learning for all students.

The COVID testing on both campuses is scheduled in a way that maximizes instructional time. The schedule will be:

• [Updated] Wednesday, January 5 --Manhattan Junior School test from 7:30 to 9:00 am. Students will return home for remote instruction beginning at 10:00 am. [...]

No student will be allowed on campus who does not test at school or who does not provide us with a PCR test privately administered no earlier than Wednesday, January 6.

All private testing should be emailed to mrivera@unis.org and elentini@unis.org and also printed and sent with your child(ren) to school upon return.

The school is NO LONGER accepting RAPID Antigen results.

Registration for Semester 2 CARE & AFTER SCHOOL Programs is open.

We invite you to register as soon as possible.

CARE PROGRAM

The Care Program offers a warm and welcoming daily child supervision. Space is limited. Priority is given to full time registration beginning JA. The Care Program runs on school days from 3:00PM to 6:00PM. The registration is on a first come first served basis. The operation of this program is contingent upon the safety guidelines of the school and may change at any time accordingly.

Care Program   Registration   Space is limited

Link to:  CARE Protocols

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

The After School Program offers an array of activities. It is designed to give the students an opportunity to explore activities of particular interest outside of the regular school program. For the description of the activities please refer to the brochure of the After School Program. The After School Program offers a series of Leadership, Debate & Public Speaking, Soft Skills and Critical Thinking courses. These courses give the students the skills they need to succeed in their future aspirations. The program also offers a series of workshops that promote the Foundation of Healthy Financial Habits and Entrepreneurship, as well as, Chess, Writing Workshops and more …

LINKS:  After School Brochure   &  Schedule   &   Registration

AFTER SCHOOL INFORMATION:

• The after school activities are scheduled face-to-face starting at 3:00PM

• All activities are subject to enrollment.

• The registration confirmation will be sent by January 20th

• The 2nd Semester activities resume on Monday, February 7th.

• Dismissal in the tent close to the security booth at the gate

Fee Structure – Time and Modality updates:

• Registration at discounted fees before December 17, 2021 = $600

• Registration regular fees = $650

• Face-to-Face classes start at 3:00 PM unless otherwise indicated.

• Mother Tongue classes require an annual commitment. The placement of the students is at the discretion of the teachers in order to preserve the integrity of the classes. The acceptance of new/late registrations is contingent upon the approval of the teachers.

CALENDAR for 2nd Semester

Mondays:

February  7, 14,---, 28 (No class Feb. 21)

March  7, 14, 21 --- (No class Mar. 28)

April  ---, 11, 18, 25 (No class Apr. 4)

May  2, 9, 16

Tuesdays

February  8, 15, --- (No class Feb. 22)

March  1, 8, 15, 22, --- (No class Mar. 29)

April  ---, 12, 19, 26 (No class Apr. 5)

May  3, 10, 17

Wednesdays

February  9, 16, --- (No class Feb. 23)

March  2, 9, ---, 23, --- (No classes Mar. 16 & 30)

April  ---, 13, 20, 27 (No class Apr. 6)

May  4, 11, 18, 25

Thursdays

February  10, 17, --- (No class Feb. 24)

March  3, 10, ---, 24, --- (No classes Mar. 17 & 31)

April  ---, 14, 21, 28 (No class Apr. 7)

May  5, 12, 19, 26

Fridays

February  11, 18, --- (No class Feb. 25)

March  4, 11, ---, 25 (No class Mar. 18)

April  ---, ---, 15, 22, 29 (No classes Apr 1 & 8)

May  6, 13, 20 (No class May 27)

June  3

I am at your disposal if you have any questions.

Lidana Jalilvand

Director of Special Programs

ljalilvand@unis.org

Return to School After Illness or Positive Result Protocol:

• All school students, teachers, and staff with new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19 must be excluded from school, regardless of vaccination status, and either

  • • • (a) provide a negative PCR COVID test result- We will accept a negative rapid test with PCR results pending. PCR results must be submitted to avoid exclusion, or

      • (b) remain excluded from school for a minimum of 10 calendar days from symptom onset, prior to returning to school, if you do not test.

• If student, teacher, or staff symptoms are improving AND they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicines, they may return to school with a copy of the negative test result.

• Given the growing prevalence of breakthrough infections among vaccinated populations nationwide, there is no recommended exemption for symptomatic vaccinated people.

PROCESS FOR QUARANTINE, CONTACT TRACING & RETURN TO SCHOOL

The Junior School Office, in collaboration with the Nurse's Office and Security Team, has set in place a process for contact tracing in the event of a positive case and for informing the family:

1. Parents are asked to inform the Nurse's Office schoolnurse@unis.org and the Junior School Office jsattendance@unis.org in the event that their child tests positive for COVID or is a contact of a positive case.

2. The Nurse's Office and the Director of Security, in collaboration with the Junior School, identify the students who may need to quarantine

3. The Nurse's Office and the Director of Security call the parents of any students who need to quarantine and give any information related to the quarantine over the phone.

4. The Principal sends an email containing important information about the quarantine (reiterating the phone call) and all the information needed to connect remotely to the student's class. However, students who are not feeling well are expected to rest and not to connect remotely to their class until they feel better.

5. The Junior School Office informs the student's teachers so they can be ready to connect the student(s) remotely during their quarantine.

6. The Parents send their child's PCR test results by email to jsattendance@unis.org with a copy to schoolnurse@unis.org. The Junior School Office will collect test results submitted by families.

7. The Principal sends an email acknowledging receipt of the negative test to the family with the updated return to campus date.

8. The Junior School Office informs teachers of student return dates.

PROCESS FOR STUDENT ILLNESS AND RETURN TO SCHOOL

The Junior School Office, in collaboration with the Nurse's Office and Security Team, has set in place a process for clearing students to return to campus after an absence due to illness.

1. Parents are asked to inform the Junior School Office at jsattendance@unis.org if their child is sick.

2. The Junior School Office sends an email containing important information about the protocol in order for the student to return to campus.

3. When the student feels better and has tested negative for COVID, the parents send the rapid test results by email to jsattendance@unis.org with a copy to the schoolnurse@unis.org. The Junior School Office will collect test results submitted by families.

4. The Principal sends an email acknowledging receipt of the negative test result to the family.

5. The Junior School Office informs the student's teachers that the rapid test result has been received.

6. With a rapid test negative result, and without any symptoms, the students is welcome back on campus.

STUDENTS WHO MAY CONNECT TO CLASS REMOTELY

Following Dr. Brenner's direction, access to fully remote learning is an option offered only to students from PK to T4 who have opted in for fully remote for a full marking period, or those who need to quarantine due to direct contact with a positive case, or in the case of a student who tested positive and is asymptomatic. Online learning may also be offered in exceptional or medical circumstances. 

Students who have returned from an international trip and are required to quarantine due to travel, do not have access to fully remote learning. Thank you for your understanding. 

For families with a JS child connecting remotely to class while under quarantine, a daily Academic Tech Support session has been scheduled.

Junior School Remote Student Live Support for ACADEMIC TECH

Monday - Friday from 8:20 - 8:40am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://unis.zoom.us/j/9673245905

Meeting ID: 967 324 5905 

Francesca Zammarano & Javier Alvez, JS Design Engineering Teachers, and/or a member of the JS office, will be available for the support or guidance that you and your child may need regarding connecting to the JS academic technology learning tools such as Seesaw, Dreambox, etc. 

When Your Child is Sick

When your child is sick with stomach ache, fever, headache, etc. there is no expectation from the school that they should attempt to learn remotely. If your child has symptoms that would normally have kept them at home prior to COVID-19, parents should not request to join classes remotely. We hope that time will be taken for your child to rest and recover as the school believes that children recover more quickly when they are permitted to disconnect and rest.

Learning Model Consistency

The expectation is that Junior School students attend school consistently, through the end of this marking period, in accordance with the learning model the family has opted for at this time (either fully in person or fully remote). Inconsistent in person attendance is disruptive for the class as a whole and for the individual student. The school believes that a consistent schedule reinforces learning and appropriate classroom behavior, and reduces anxiety.

Dismissal for Parents and Guardians

At dismissal please stay in motion, circling through the tents as you wait to pick up your children, or wait outside the main gate between pick ups. The school has not relaxed it's policies regarding gatherings. Please do not linger or sit down in the tents to wait for a second child, or gather within the school gates to speak with other parents or teachers. At dismissal our goal is to have as few people on campus for the shortest time possible, and always in motion. Thank you for understanding and support as we work to keep our community safe. 

1. Arrival: To speed arrival for everyone, please have your child take possession of their backpack and lunch before they approach the entry gate in the morning and check to see that their mask is on, fits well, and is covering their nose.

2. Late Arrival: The late arrival of students in the morning delay our faculty and staff moving back to their positions. JS students are expected to arrive no later than 8:20 and the front gates should be closing no later than 8:30. Please ensure that you arrive at the time assigned for your child's grade.

3. Masks: Be sure you have packed 2 or 3 spare masks in a clean bag in your child's backpack, as well as an extra bag to hold used ones. For the safety and peace of mind of all, do not send your child to school in a vented mask. We understand that many of you use vented masks with filters inserted. But our teachers cannot be certain that every vented mask has the filter necessary to keep them safe. Please respect our community and do not send your child to school in a vented mask.

4. Days with Appointments or Travel:

Because parents and caregivers are not permitted inside the school gate, a request for either late arrival or early dismissal for a JS student requires that school personnel leave their work in order to escort your child. 

Please support the school by arranging appointments and travel outside of school hours.

Of course, if your child falls ill during the school day, the nurse's office will coordinate an early pick plan with families.

5. Returning to Campus After Illness:  

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the community safe!  

Please use the guidance shared by our Nursing Staff in this newsletter in coordination with your physician to address any illness.

For health related questions please email: schoolnurse@unis.org and mrivera@unis.org

6. Social Distancing Outside of UNIS: Exercise caution and, whenever possible, to stay clear of gatherings where social distancing or face masks might not be the norm. We advise students and families to be particularly vigilant on playgrounds and during play dates, keeping in mind the impact they may have on the safety of everyone in our community.

7. COVID Testing: We recommend that students be tested at least ONCE a month, preferably every two weeks. All UNIS Faculty and Staff will be pool-tested regularly on campus.

Thank you for your support.

• • Instruction begins at 8:40 each morning. Remote learners are expected to connect with their homeroom no later than 8:40 to participate in Morning Meeting. Students who try to connect after that time disrupt the class and pull the teacher away from the rest who are already engaged in person or remotely. It is tremendously important that students are ready to join at 8:40. Meanwhile, we recognize that due to technical glitches or late arrivals, not all teachers will always be able to start at 8:40. We thank you for your patience. But, once the class begins, students who join between 8:40 and 9:00 are missing important direction and are inevitably disrupting the class. Let's try our best together!

  • Question related to technology should be addressed by email to tech.support@unis.org and fzammarano@unis.org only. Tech Support will need your child's full name, teacher name and grade in order to assist you quickly. Please do not disrupt your teacher's instruction time to address tech support issues for your family. We understand it can be frustrating sometimes; we recognize it and work hard to address the glitches we face. But we have noticed teachers trying to troubleshoot a system while teaching, a system that really requires technician intervention. They do it out of caring and concern about their students not being able to connect. Please help them by reaching out to our Tech Department for support instead. 

  • All families should check their internet connection. The audio when your child connects from home should never be distorted - it is disruptive to the class when that happens and is likely the result from a poor connection at home. You should have at least 3mbps up and download. A 5mbps up and download will ensure optimal quality. You can check your bandwidth here: fast.com 

Our homeroom teachers follow the instructions entered by parents in School Dismissal Manager (SDM) each day. Please update your SDM account to regularly indicate what the plans are for your child each day of the week. SDM is always mandatory for Dismissal but can easily be used for Attendance as well. 

On days when your child will not engage in classes, either remotely or in person, please use SDM to mark your child "Absent".

SDM is the only way of letting the dismissing teacher know where your child should go at dismissal. In addition to indicating that your child has an 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.

No student will be placed on a bus at dismissal if their SDM account does not authorize their ridership on that date.  They will be placed in the Care Program instead.