Dear parents,

"It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it."

Most people believe this quote is from Oscar Wilde, published in his famous book The Decay of Lying (1889). In 1952 the “Wilson Library Bulletin” published this quote in one of their editions, assigning the words to Oscar Wilde. In 1987 the “Great Falls Tribune” of Montana used the same quote as an epigraph to an article, while crediting Oscar Wilde once again.

A quick search on the internet will give you access to hundreds of images created with this quote attributed to the famous Irish poet and playwright. But here comes the controversy: in this Newsletter celebrating books and reading I have, however, no other choice but to warn you... Do not believe everything you read.

Indeed...Oscar Wilde never said those words that, since 1952, people seem to believe he did. 

First, the remark is not listed in the compendium “The Wit & Wisdom of Oscar Wilde” assembled by quotation expert Ralph Keyes. 

Second, Unitarian minister Charles Francis Potter deserves credit for the remark. Research shows that in June 1927 a Vermont newspaper reported that Potter had spoken to members of the local Athena Club on the topic of “Books and the Home”. This was when it was reported that he said: "It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it." Potter believed that libraries must be accessible to everyone and as much should be invested for libraries as it is for the streets.

So why attribute this quote to the world-renowned Irish author and not to the less famous theologist? Because, not only should we not believe everything we read, but we should also exercise great care while reading to avoid misunderstanding. 

In 1948 “The Macmillan Book Of Proverbs, Maxims, and Famous Phrases” included a quote from Oscar Wilde adjacent to a quote from C. F. Potter:

And this is the reason why, a few years later, the world began crediting Oscar Wilde with something he never said. So, read, read and read... with great focus and attention...and don't believe everything. 

This is enough for today. Rather than spending too much more time focusing on a school Principal elucubrating on the origin of quotes, I encourage you to read the rest of this Newsletter (with focus and attention), enjoy the photos of our students celebrating books, and when you are done, read a book with your child. 

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal 

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

• Week of May 16 | UNIS Arts Week 

• May 16 - May 20 | Retrieve Lost & Found Items at the Front Gate (details in this newsletter)

• Through May 22 | Book Fair Fundraiser Online Ordering is Available (details in this newsletter)

JS Spring Concerts (see additional details in this newsletter): 

J1 Concert: Monday, May 16 from 9:00-10:00 (dress-up/festive/traditional clothing in which students can easily dance and move + mask required) 

J1 parents may watch the J1 Concert  live streamed at 9:00am on Monday, May 16  https://vimeo.com/event/2112806 

J3 Concert 1: Monday, May 16 from 11:50-1:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J3 Concert 2: Tuesday, May 17 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J2 Concert 1: Tuesday, May 17 from 12:50-1:50 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J2 Concert 2: Wednesday, May 18 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J4 Concert 1: Wednesday, May 18 from 1:00-2:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J4 Concert 2: Thursday, May 19 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

JA Concert: Tuesday, May 24 from 9:00-10:00 (dress-up/festive/traditional clothing in which students can easily dance and move + mask optional) In Person for JA parents

REMINDER:

Arrive no later then 8:20 and

Update School Dismissal Manager (SDM) for Semester 2

with your child's dismissal instructions for Athletics, After School, Language, Care Program & Bus

• • Through May 22 | Book Fair Fundraiser Online Ordering is Available (details in this newsletter)

  • Tuesday, May 24 | JA Concert 9:00am

  • Tuesday, May 24 | End of Year In Person & Streaming JS Parent Coffee + Tours + Social  6:00-8:00pm (details in this newsletter)

  • Friday, May 27 - Tuesday, May 31 | Memorial Day - School Closed

  • Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3 | MAP Testing for J3 and J4 (details in this newsletter)

  • Friday, June 3 | TH Graduation (11:45-11:55 dismissal for JS Students / Yellow bus departs at 12:15)

  • Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7 | MAP Make Up Testing

  • Thursday, June 9 | J4 Graduation 4:30pm (1/2 day dismissal for all J4 students)

  • Friday, June 17 | Last Day of School for JS Students 

  • Friday, June 17 | 2nd Semester Report Cards Available

​JS Sports Week (a special morning of outdoor games from 9:00 - 12:00)

• Monday, June 6 - PK & JA

• Tuesday, June 7 - J1

• Wednesday, June 8 - J2

• Thursday, June 9 - J3

• Friday, June 10 - J4

Dear Parents,

We want to reach out with important information regarding the upcoming Spring Concerts. Unfortunately, the current rise in Covid cases at UNIS and across the city has once again caused a change of plans. While we had hoped to welcome parents into the building for these performances, it is not possible at this time. 

JA & J1 Concerts: 

J1 Concert: Monday, May 16 from 9:00-10:00 (dress-up/festive/traditional clothing in which students can easily dance and move + mask required). This is the link so that families can watch the J1 concert live stream:   https://vimeo.com/event/2112806 

JA Concert: Tuesday, May 24 from 9:00-10:00 (dress-up/festive/traditional clothing in which students can easily dance and move + mask optional) The JA concert will take place outdoors, on the playground. JA parents are invited to attend in person if they are available. The JA concert will not be live streamed or recorded because capturing the audio outdoors will not be possible. 

Please have your children dress-up or wear festive/traditional clothing in which they can easily dance and move.

JA students do not need to wear a mask because they will be spaced apart and outside on the playground.

J1 students will wear masks for the J1 concert, as they will be standing close to one another on the risers in the theatre. 

J2, J3 & J4 Concerts: To be Filmed

For J2, J3 and J4, we will film the concerts and prepare beautiful videos of the performances so that you can enjoy watching at home with your family to celebrate your child's hard work. 

In order to prepare a wonderful presentation, your child’s concerts will be filmed in two parts. The time we would have formerly used for a dress rehearsal will now be “Concert Part 1” and the time held for the Concert will be “Concert Part 2.” The filming for each grade will take place at the following times:

J3 Concert 1: Monday, May 16 from 11:50-1:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J3 Concert 2: Tuesday, May 17 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J2 Concert 1: Tuesday, May 17 from 12:50-1:50 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J2 Concert 2: Wednesday, May 18 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J4 Concert 1: Wednesday, May 18 from 1:00-2:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J4 Concert 2: Thursday, May 19 from 9:00-10:00 (wear dress up but comfortable clothing + mask required)

J2, J3 & J4: Concert Dress and Masks

With that in mind, students do not need to wear the same clothes for both performances, but you may want to be sure your child wears or brings concert clothing to change into both days, especially if your child’s class has P.E. on one of the days. There is no specific dress code, we just ask that students wear clothing in which they feel dressed up, but comfortable.

Due to the proximity of the children during the performance, we will also be asking everyone to wear masks during the concert. Since singing is considered a high-risk activity, we want to err on the side of caution.

Thank you for your continued support and flexibility. Your children have been working hard on their pieces in class and at home. We cannot wait for you to see the performances they have in store for you! They are doing a fantastic job. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Truike Boekolt at tboekholt@unis.org regarding the JA and J1 concert, for the J2 concert, Truike Boekholt or Amy Travis at atravis@unis.org, or for the J3 or J4 concert, Amy Travis or Jack Dod at jdod@unis.org.

Gratefully,

Kim Bruno

Director of Arts

kbruno@unis.org 

LOST & FOUND - Retrieve Items at the Front Gate May 16 - May 20

Over the past few months we have accumulated lost clothing and other miscellaneous items. In an effort to reunite these items with their respective owners, we will display the lost and found from Monday, May 16 through Friday, May 20 by the front gate.   

We invite you to please come by and retrieve any lost items your children may have left at school.  Please also encourage your caregivers and children to look for their clothing and miscellaneous items.

Any clothing that is not picked up by Friday, May 20 will be donated to the Tut House student club UNIS4THEWORLD who are themselves conducting a clothing drive.

In past years, we have also found this to be a useful moment to remind children to look after their items during the school day. We hope that next week you and your children are reunited with your lost items.

Any items not retrieved by Friday, May 20 will be donated 

UNIS4TheWorld Club: Clothing Drive May 16 - May 20

TH club, UNIS4THEWORLD is organizing a clothing drive for the Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services Corp.

What: Gently used clothing (any size) and new toiletries. 

NO toys, medication, over the counter drugs (bandages are acceptable)

The following items won’t be accepted unless they are new:

• Undergarments,

• Toiletries,

• Cosmetic Supplies, Bedding, and Sheets

When: Monday, May 16th through Friday, May 20th from 7:45 am to 8:15 am

Where: Bins are located at the front gate

UNIS Junior School Book Fair Fundraiser  

Online ordering will be available until May 22 at mainstreetbookfairs.com under the link to the UNIS JS book fair.   

Ordered books will be delivered to school for pickup at no additional charge or can be shipped to your home for an additional flat fee.

Additionally, you can contribute to teachers’ classroom libraries by using the eGift card option.  Just select the amount of the eGift card and enter the email address of the teacher.

Please join us in support of our Junior School: 20% of the total sales will be donated to the Junior School Fund.

3rd MAP Testing on June 2 & 3 

We will be administering the third Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test for J3 to T1 students in the final weeks of May and in early June 2022. 

In the Junior School, the tests will be administered on Thursday, June 2 (Reading) and Friday, June 3 (Math), with makeups taking place the following week, specifically on June 6 and 7.

The purpose of MAP Growth is to compare learning growth from one point in time to another. We explored how we use these data at UNIS in a presentation delivered at the March 16, 2022 Parent Association meeting.  We will share the results of the third and final testing session of the year once those Family Reports are available. 

MAP Growth reports give us an external measure to continue to monitor our student learning. It is one data point among many that we collect in order to inform and adjust our instruction to meet the needs of our students. MAP scores are not factored into student grades; UNIS report cards include information about student learning from both formal and informal assessments, which are conducted in the context of our curriculum.

Your child does not need to do anything special to prepare for MAP assessments.  As for all school days, we encourage a good night’s rest the night before and a healthy breakfast on the mornings of MAP.

Thank you.

When Your Child is Sick

When your child is sick with runny nose, cough, stomach ache, fever, headache, etc. there is no expectation from the school that they should attend school in person or attempt to learn remotely. 

If your child has symptoms that would normally have kept them at home prior to COVID-19, we ask that families not send their children to school or request to join classes remotely. 

We hope that time will be taken for your child to rest and recover at home as the school believes that children recover more quickly when they are permitted to disconnect and rest, and when care is taken by everyone to avoid spreading communicable illnesses.

As has been shared in this Newsletter, and our JS Guidelines, students with medical and other appointments during school hours are asked not to attend classes that day, either in person or remotely. Although the school fully understands and excuses absences for medical or other reasons, the Junior School cannot offer flexibility in the schedules and duties of our faculty and staff to escort students to or from the gate during school hours. All of the school's personnel are fully dedicated to the routines of our division, and our students, and follow a full daily schedule. In addition, leaving early or arriving late disrupts the flow of learning in the classroom and affects the entire class.

Note that, as the school's leadership has shared in previous correspondence, the school provides the option of remote learning to only those students in quarantine or for exceptional medical reasons. If it is necessary for your child to attend an appointment during school hours, the expectation is that they are absent for that full day.

Your child's teacher will support them with catching up when they return. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the school protocols.

JS Parent Coffee and Social - Tuesday, May 24 at 6:00-8:00pm

The final JS Parent Coffee will be held on Tuesday, May 24th at 6:00 pm on campus and also streaming. Parents are invited to join in person, on campus, for the Parent Coffee and will also be able to participate in parent-led school tours with an opportunity to peek inside your child's classroom. 

A JS Parent Social will be held outside in the tents following the Coffee. Space is limited to 250 parents (adults only please). Please claim your spot and RSVP here. 

Note that proof of COVID vaccination will be required. Masks will also be required when indoors. 

Auditions for New York City Children's Chorus

The New York City Children's Chorus is holding auditions for their 2022-23 season. Rehearsing weekly at Madison & 73rd Street, this nationally recognized ensemble has appeared on the Grammy ballot and NYC stages from Carnegie Hall to NBC's TODAY Show. A rigorous and rewarding choral experience, the NYCCC sings music from Bach to Broadway. 

For more information, visit nycchildrenschorus.org. Tuition aid is available.

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: If you want your JS child to be masked at school, 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. 

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. If it is necessary for your child to attend an appointment during school hours, the expectation is that they are absent for that full day. 

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.

This means that students, families, faculty and staff are respectfully asked to refrain from bringing peanuts, nuts, and seeds of any kind or foods processed with these items or their by products, such as oils, into the school. This includes products which state "may contain traces of nuts/peanuts/tree nuts” or "manufactured in a facility which processes" nuts/peanuts/tree nuts.

For example, tree nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, cashews, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and foods associated with them (such as nutella, pesto, granola bars, marzipan, macaroons, hummus (containing sesame), etc.) may present a risk to others.