Newsletter #01

09/02/2022

COVID-19 REMINDERS

As a reminder, in order for parents or legal guardians to attend the Junior School orientations on September 2 or September 6, they must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. 

Wearing a mask is optional. 

 The COVID-19 vaccine is a mandate for all students, faculty and staff at UNIS. If a student's first dose has been administered prior to the first day of school on September 6, and the second dose administered 3 weeks after the first dose, students may attend classes. If the second dose is not administered as required, the student will be excluded from classes until it is administered.

Dear parents,

A few years ago I came across a fascinating lecture concerning educational systems in France. Although the speaker was addressing the French educational system, the tale he shared with his audience applies to any system of education. This is the entertaining story of Niels Henrik David Bohr, the Danish physicist, philosopher and promoter of scientific research, known for his contribution to our understanding of the atomic structure and quantum theory and Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. But this is not the story of Bohr's Nobel Prize or his interaction with Albert Einstein (a story I will probably share in a future Newsletter). Today, to launch the 2022-23 school year and as we await the arrival of our students, your children, with enthusiasm, I offer the story that the French lecturer shared with his audience - the story of Bohr's barometer and Bohr as a 23 year old student.

On a morning at the start of 1908, Ernest Rutherford, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry that year, received a phone call from one of his colleagues, a teacher at the same Danish University. The colleague was facing an issue with a student who strongly disagreed with his teacher's assessment on a physics test. Niels Bohr was contesting the 0 he was graded for an assignment as he believed he should have been awarded the maximum grade of 20. Bohr, who would not accept the explanation from his teacher, and his teacher, convinced about the fairness of his low grade, agreed to appeal to an impartial arbiter who could determine who was right or who was wrong.

The question was surprisingly simple: "How could you measure the height of a tall building using a barometer?". Rutherford turned to Bohr and asked him what he did to answer this very basic question of physics. The student, with calm and conviction, shared his answers:

"You tie a long piece of string to the neck of the barometer, then lower the barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the string plus the length of the barometer will equal the height of the building."

Rutherford, while admitting that in theory Bohr's answer could work, realized however this was not the solution that his teacher was obviously expecting. Therefore, the grade of 0 was well aligned with his answer. But, Rutherford decided to give the student in question a second chance and said to him: "Could you find a solution to calculate the size of the building, but this time, a real solution?"

And then, the student came up with a number of different solutions, all of which were in the same ilk:

Rutherford was perplexed and possibly frustrated. The expected answer was still missing, and the Professor was not going to give up on his student! He asked Bohr again if he knew the answer that's expected of him: "Mr. Bohr, please tell us, what is the correct answer? To which he answered:

"If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the ground, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building. But since we are constantly being exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him: "If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper". I know the formula of course, but I'm just tired of being told how I should think!"

The obvious and expected answer was to calculate the atmospheric pressure at the bottom of the building, and at the top of the building, and to deduce therefrom the size of the building in relation to the difference in atmospheric pressure.

Bohr, in this tale, demonstrated two of the ten Learner Profile Attributes which today drive our UNIS students' experience. Not only did the exceptionally bright scientist display being a "Thinker", as he "exercise[d] initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions", he was also "Reflective" as he gave "thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience [and was] able to assess and understand [his] strengths and limitations in order to support [his] learning and personal development. 

While we will be honored when some of our students one day receive the Nobel Prize, UNIS is not a place where we will explain to our students what they should think, and our teachers will not expect one single answer to a problem. At UNIS, our teachers will "foster innovation, creativity and cross-cultural communication" as this is what we believe will "educate and inspire" our students "to become an active force in shaping a better world: peaceful, compassionate and sustainable", and, incidentally, receive the Nobel Prize. And we believe this is why you share with us the tremendous responsibility of supporting your children in their journey.

But this is not the end of today's Newsletter, as another Learner Profile Attribute resonates in this story. Another attribute we should never lose sight of, especially now as facts and truth are challenged throughout our highly connected world, is an attribute that the French lecturer, unfortunately, did not demonstrate: 

"Inquirers: they develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives."

All of us need to practice and demonstrate this quality. I recently inquired about the lecturer's story and, while you may find the tale all over the internet, research shows that this is an urban legend. The first time Bohr and Rutherford met was in 1912, and Bohr was not a student anymore. The earliest account of the "barometer" legend wasn't published until 1958 in a Reader's Digest collection, written by Dr. Alexander Calandra, who included a first-person account of it in a 1961 textbook (The Teaching of Elementary Science of Mathematics) and published it as an article in a Saturday Review in 1968. Note that Dr. Alexander Calandra never mentioned  Bohr!

Along with demonstrating, with our students, how to be a Thinker and Reflective, we strive to be Knowledgeable, Communicators, Principled, Caring, Risk-taker, Balance, Reflective, Inquirers, and also Open-minded (always a reminder that there is not only one way to solve a problem!). At UNIS we believe that these are necessary attributes to develop in order to have a positive impact on our lives and on the world.

Finally, I have not forgotten what may be a priority for many of you and your children. The class lists will be shared this Friday, September 2 at 5:00 pm and you will find more information about accessing them (as well as a few other "to do" tasks) below. 

We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, September 6 for the launch of a successful 2022-2023 Junior School year together! 

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal 

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

Pack a Jacket or Sweatshirt Every Day

Fall weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to send their child to school with a jacket or sweatshirt every day. Students are outside on the playground twice daily and they will need an outer layer with them on chillier days. On warm days the air conditioning is on and your child may need an extra layer indoors as well.

THIS WEEK: SEPTEMBER 6

UPCOMING EVENTS

See the PA's section of this newsletter for more upcoming social events!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

TO DO: CLASS LISTS - NOTE YOUR CHILD'S HOMEROOM TEACHER

Homeroom Class Lists will be shared with parents on Friday, September 2 at 5:00 pm:

HOW CAN PARENTS ACCESS THE CLASS LISTS?

Option 1:

Class lists will allow you to see the other students in the same homeroom as your child.

Option 2:

TO DO: PRINT YOUR CHILD'S HOMEROOM CARD FOR SEPT 6

In order to support your JS child as they join their homeroom teacher at arrival during the first week of school, you may print a card that you will find by clicking on the link below and attach it to their backpack. If it's easier, you may print the card on a full sheet of paper for your child to carry in their hand instead. 

Note that you will need to wait until Friday, September 2 at 5:00 pm to know your child's homeroom teacher. Those cards are also available if you access the class lists using Option 1 (see above).  

TO DO: UPDATE YOUR PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION

As soon as possible, please review your family profile and contact information to ensure that your local cell phone numbers, email addresses and home address are correct and are entered in the correct fields. You may update your information at any point throughout the year, but if you have not reviewed your information recently, we encourage you to do it today so that we can reach you on the first day of school if needed. 

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, or when there are school wide announcements, is through the information that your family enters in our UNIS Portal. 

After logging into the Portal at myunis.vc , you may review and update all of your family contact information by:


Thank you for taking the time to review and update your contact information now. If you need support in order to make your updates, please email veracross@unis.org

TO DO: UPDATE YOUR CHILD’S DISMISSAL PLANS in SDM (STARTING THIS SATURDAY)

STARTING SATUUNIS JS will begin using SDM to organize dismissal 

on the first day of classes, Tuesday, September 6, 2022 

To facilitate a smooth dismissal for both teachers and students on the first day of school, all JS families are expected to have their SDM account set up for each JS child and have also entered their "Default Dismissal" plan by the morning of September 6.

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 attend school, please use SDM to mark your child "Absent".

SDM is the only way of informing the dismissing teachers where your child should go at dismissal each day. In addition to indicating that there is 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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PRE-K AND JA SHORTENED SCHEDULE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 6



Tuesday, September 6


Wednesday, September 7


Thursday, September 8


Friday, September 9


IMPORTANT INFORMATION: ARRIVAL

IF YOU DROP OFF YOUR CHILD AT ARRIVAL TIME FOR THEIR GRADE

IF YOU GO TO THE CAFETERIA BEFORE DROPPING OFF YOUR CHILD

2. RULES

3. ARRIVAL TIME

LATE ARRIVAL

The late arrival of students in the morning is disruptive for faculty and staff and your child's classmates. J2, J3 and J4 students are expected to arrive at the gate no later than 8:15. PK, JA and J1 are expected to arrive no later than 8:20. Please ensure that you arrive at the time assigned for your child's grade.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DISMISSAL

IMPORTANT NOTICE: JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS ALONE, OR WITH A SIBLING IN M1 or M2. JS STUDENTS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO LEAVE CAMPUS WITH ADULTS IDENTIFIED IN THE UNIS DATABASE AS PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, M3 - T4 SIBLING, OR CAREGIVER/RELATIVE AUTHORIZED BY PARENTS TO PICK UP THE STUDENT.

2. RULES

There is a strict hand-to-hand policy in the Junior School for dismissal:

JS teachers will only dismiss at the end of the day to a parent, authorized caregiver, after school/after care/athletics teacher/coach, or bus supervisor. JS students are not permitted to leave the front gate of the campus without adult supervision. Only a sibling in M3 or older may be given permission to escort their sibling from campus.

During Dismissal time, legal guardians should not gather inside the school premises to wait for their child. If their child is not at the designated location, they should continue to walk, following the flow, until their child arrives.

PreK through J4 students are not permitted to meet parents or caregivers outside the school’s front gate. Teachers must release students whose dismissal is indicated as being “Pick-up” in SDM, to parents, or another adult authorized by the parents, following the dismissal guidelines as indicated below.

Please note that parents and caregivers are expected to arrive at UNIS no later than the time indicated in this section. If parents or caregivers are not able to arrive on time on a regular basis, please contact our Office of Special Programs to register for the Care Program. If you or your caregiver is running late in unusual circumstances and will arrive later than the time indicated, the school will place your student in the Care Program. Parents are aware that Non‐Registered Care Program drop off has a specific cost (see After Care protocol for most updated fees).

To give permission for a new caregiver to enter UNIS to pick up or drop off your child, please log in to the Veracross Parent Portal at myunis.vc:

After you enter that information in Veracross, your caregiver can have a UNIS ID made that will allow him/her access to the school to pick up and drop off. In the interim, until the caregiver information is populated by IT to the Security Access card system, fill in this ID Authorization Form, print and sign it, and have the caregiver carry this form along with a photo ID to present to Security at the front gate until a physical UNIS ID card is printed.

Parents are asked to retrieve and turn in ID cards issued to caregivers who are no longer employed.

ID Authorization Form for Caregivers

3. DISMISSAL TIME

To support our Security team and ensure a smooth transition, parents and guardians arriving to pick up their children at dismissal should avoid entering the school building.

4. DISMISSAL PICK-UP

Any student scheduled to be picked up at school by the parent/caregiver, and that parent/caregiver fails to collect the child at dismissal, will be brought to the Care Program and the family will be billed accordingly. Parents are aware that Non‐Registered Care Program drop off has a cost (see After Care protocol for most updated fees).

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. 

5. SCHOOL DISMISSAL MANAGER

On Saturday, you should receive an email from SCHOOL DISMISSAL MANAGER with important information in order to share with the school how your child will be dismissed at the end of each day. We highly encourage everyone to review the information below.

REMINDER: MASK WEARING AT SCHOOL

At this time, mask wearing while on campus is optional and the discretion of your family. Be assured that all JS students whose families choose to have them remain masked at school will be fully supported by our faculty and staff.

If your child will wear a mask at school be sure you have packed at least 2 spare masks in a clean bag in your child's backpack, as well as an extra bag to hold used masks. 

PARENT ASSOCIATION CORNER: WELCOME TO OUR NEW JS PA REPS

We are very pleased to introduce our 2022-2023 Junior School Parent Association Representatives

MINDY TAN

We have been part of the UNIS family for the last 2 years and my son, Henrik is in J2. I love being an involved parent at UNIS as it is such a unique school with dedicated faculty, administration and wonderful families. After 2 years of being a class parent, I am excited to engage and contribute to the larger Junior School community. Now that parents are allowed back at campus, I look forward to building and managing community events to make this year a fantastic one.

ZHENZHEN HUANG

I work for the UN on policies and strategies to promote environmental sustainability. Our family is very proud to be part of the UNIS community for almost a decade, as we strongly support the values and principles of UNIS. In my role as Junior School Parent Coordinator, I will strive to strengthen communications between parents and the school, further promote trust and understanding, and work collaboratively with our community to support our children.

SUE JING

My son Spencer started at in JA and had to take a short break because of the pandemic. We were very happy be to back last year and looking forward to J3.  Being involved with the school is always something I want to do to show our support and appreciation. With parents allowed back on campus, we will work closely with JS to bring many fun events back for JS families!

PARENT ASSOCIATION CORNER: SAVE THE DATES & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

PA Volunteers Needed!

Getting involved with the UNIS PA is a wonderful way to connect with others. 

Please indicate your interest in helping to organize a wide range of events in the Junior School for the 2022-23 school year by completing this form: Junior School PA Volunteer Form. 

The deadline for submission is Sunday, September 18. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

REMINDER: UNIS IS AN ALLERGY AWARE SCHOOL

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.

REMINDER: WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SICK

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 from home. 

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 for schoolwork to be sent home.

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.

If you have technology issues, please send an email to tech.support@unis.org

If you have academic tech questions, please contact Ms. Zammarano at fzammarano@unis.org