Dear parents, 

Parent Teacher Conferences are an important and very well attended bi-annual event. They are days when the concept of parent and teacher partnership, shared with you in last week’s JS newsletter, takes on its full meaning.

As we did in the past, we would like to share some informative data with you:

• During the three days of fall 2022 conferences, UNIS parents met 195 teachers for a total of 8,007 conferences, to give feedback and share information about 1,452 students. We note that 68 students are without appointments.

• 2,053 conferences were held on Wednesday evening, 3,014 on Thursday, and 2,940 on Friday.

• As every year, the busiest hour on Wednesday is 5 pm to 6 pm with 812 conferences.

• A maximum of 152 conferences were held simultaneously on Wednesday at 5 pm and 5:20 pm.

• In Junior School, every homeroom teacher and language teacher had an appointment available for every family. This is not the case for our specialist teachers. Specialists, who teach the highest number of students, have slots available for 25% to 74% of the total number of students they teach.

The initial data extracted from Meet The Teacher shows us that:

• Parent Teacher Conferences at UNIS are very popular; attendance is high.

• The majority of bookings take place right after the booking system opens.

• Evening slots are highly popular.

• In Junior School, every parent has an opportunity to meet the Homeroom teacher, but not the specialists.

• Collecting and analyzing quantitative data is an important task in order to assess the services we provide to our community and to improve our current systems. We will continue to collect and analyze this quantitative data in order to enhance the overall parents' experience.

We would like to express our gratitude to you, parents, for attending Parent Teacher Conferences and to our teachers for sharing information and collecting evidence of our students' growth, success, and well-being, while setting expectations for the months to come. Parent Teacher Conferences are an important moment of the year for our Junior School, a key element to supporting our students.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

• • November 14 - November 18 |  UNIS City Harvest and Toiletries Drive (details in this newsletter)

  • Tuesday, November 15 | UNIS PA Bridge2UN Panel Discussion 6:30pm RSVP and Question Submission  and  live stream link. 

  • Thursday, November 17  |  Photo Retake Day - Last Chance to Sign Up

    • • • • Purchasing details from Stomping Ground are here: School Photo Page  

          • Request a retake on November 17 here: Sign Up for Your Child's Retake

See the PA's section of this newsletter for PA-sponsored events  & information.

• • Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25 | School Closed / Thanksgiving Break

  • Saturday, December 3 | JS Talent Show 3:00 - 5:00pm (sign up & details in this newsletter)

  • December 5 - December 9 | Toy Sale Collections (Lobby 8:00 - 8:30 am)

  • Tuesday, December 13 | Toy Sale (details in this newsletter)

  • Monday, December 19 - Monday, January 2 | No Classes for Students / Winter Break

  • Tuesday, January 3 | Classes Resume

  • Monday, January 16 | School Closed / Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  • Thursday, February 16 - Monday, February 20 | No Classes for Students / President's Day Break

If your JS child was: 

• absent for Photo Day, or 

• you are not satisfied with the photos that were taken in October

please use this link to request makeups or retakes by Stomping Ground on November 17:

Request a Retake here

 Sign Up for Your Child's Retake

Note that unless your family makes a formal request using this link, Stomping Ground will not be prepared to take photos of your child on November 17.

Get into your gallery to view and purchase photos before the deadline arrives.

Your code from Stomping Ground Photo can be found in your email. If you don't see it, be sure to check your spam email folder.

Visit stompinggroundphoto.com and click View & Purchase in the top right to shop.

For shipping timeline, check out our school's Picture Day Page at iloveschoolpictures.com/unis .

HELP UNIS REACH OUR 2022 GOAL!

Your 100% tax-deductible donation to UNICEF USA will help UNICEF support children all around the World. The 2022 fundraising campaign has been extended. Please help UNIS reach the goal for 2022!

UNIS families can make their donation by visiting our fundraising page

UNIS City Harvest and Toiletries Drive November 14th -18th 2022

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 over a million New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves currently.

How can we help: By donating food items and toiletries.

Food:

What to donate: Canned veggies and fruit, Canned Meats, Fish & beans, boxed pasta items, hot and cold cereal, rice, grains, pasta sauce and peanut butter in plastic jars.

Please NO EXPIRED FOOD OR GLASS JARS

Toiletries Collection:

Additionally, we are also collecting toiletries for a Homeless Outreach program in NYC. The toiletries we collect will be made into gift bags by TH volunteers. The following items are greatly needed: shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Small unused sizes from your last hotel stay are perfect.

When: 14-18 November, 2022

Where: Please drop them in the donation bins, which will be located right outside the Manhattan school’s main gate.

How many items: Between 10-15 food items per student

Virtual Fundraising for City Harvest by UNIS Community - November 14th, 2022 to January 16th, 2023

We have also created a Virtual Fundraising Drive - we would love for our UNIS community to come together and support this cause. Whatever your age you can use your talents to raise awareness and funds--ask your family and friends to sponsor your push-ups, jumping jacks, playing a musical instrument, running a mile, singing, dancing, creating art and help feed our fellow New Yorkers. So, make your team using the instructions below, and let's get going! Every $1 donated helps City Harvest feed two New Yorkers for a day. Together, we can make a difference one day, one meal, one New Yorker at a time. 

Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and support the UNIS City Harvest Drive!

Questions? Please contact the PA Social Responsibility Committee Co-chairs:

• Abhilasha Mahan (Abhilasha.mahan@pa.unis.org)

• Ellen Nidy (Ellen.nidy@pa.unis.org)

• Saima Faruqui (Saima.Faruqui@pa.unis.org)

Welcome one and all!

We are SO excited to welcome the Talent Show back to the JS theatre this year.

The Talent Show will be held on Saturday, December 3rd from 3:00 - 5:00pm.

We welcome ALL performers, stage hands, technical assistants, audience members and volunteers to join us this year for a unique interactive experience.

If you would like to participate and share your talent please be prepared to stay for the entire show to support your fellow performers.

Kindly note that all performances must be two minutes or less and registration does not guarantee participation as the number of performances are limited.

We are excited to see you soon!

Jen Fiorese, Parent and Talent Show 2022 Coordinator

If you have any questions, please email: jen.fiorese@pa.unis.org

J4s will receive two individual MAP family reports this school year (one for the Fall MAP test and one for the MAP Spring test). The first initial report will be sent by December 1, 2022, and will provide the initial data for Math and Reading for this academic year. 

New J4 students and J3 students will not receive a Semester 1 report because the recent fall assessment was their first date point. They will receive it after they have a second assessment in Spring, so that the report can be generated. 

Please be reminded that all visitors and guests are required to show proof of Covid 19 vaccination in order to gain access to the UNIS campus. 

A big thank you to the UNiS community for coming together and making the clothing and shoe drive for the newly arrived migrants to NYC,  a huge success. Please rest assured that each of your contributions has landed in hands that really need it right now. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of people who have come here with nothing, except a dream to live a better life.

If you still wish to contribute, here is the link to an Amazon wish list.

ACCEPTING SHIPMENTS:

ATTN: Ms Collins 281 9th Avenue New York, NY 10001

If you wish to be part of an ongoing effort to help more migrant families, please feel free to join this WhatsApp group.

Please find below some photos from the Drive

In gratitude,

Abhilasha, Saima, Ellen, UNiS Social Responsibility Committee

FRANKENSTEIN Tickets Now On Sale! 

Adapted from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," this captivating physical retelling of the classic tale awakens new questions about moral responsibility. As Frankenstein prepares to right his greatest wrong by confronting the Creature, scenes from their past are replayed and the line between good and evil is debated, revealing a powerful and agonizing question about the ethical limits of science and human imagination. 

Click here to buy your tickets now! 

 JS TOY SALE - Tuesday, December 13 (Donations December 5 - 9)

• Save the date for the return of this UNIS classic event!

• Parents/students bring in gently used or new toys that they would like to donate from Monday (12/5) to Friday (12/9) between 8-8:30am. Toys to be dropped off in the school lobby.

• Toy sale will take place on Tuesday (12/13). Students will go with their homeroom to the toy sale.

• Toys are sold for nominal amounts ($1, $2 or $3 or $5). Parents send in money with their children. Proceeds from the sale will go towards activities that the PA will organize for the children and the school. 

• Unsold toys will be donated before the holidays.

• We’re also looking for parent volunteers to help with toy collection and storage during 12/5 - 12/9 between 8-8:30 am daily, as well as the toy sale on 12/13 from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm (TBD). Please email pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org with your availability if you’re interested.

UPCOMING PA EVENTS

• Wednesday, November 30:  Junior School Parent Coffee (Save the Date)

UNIS VIDEO LIBRARY

If you missed a meeting or want to review what you remember from a past meeting, UNIS maintains a library of recordings available at https://vimeo.com/unisny.  Some highlights include a Fireside Chat with the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and a recent This is Junior School video. 

ARCHIVE

New2UNIS If you’d like to meet other parents - new or current to UNIS- sign up for the New2UNIS listserv at new2unis@unis.org Follow us on Instagram too!  

Publicize your Business or Seek Services - UNIS marketplace. Submit your business description, website and image on this form to publicize. Scroll through services here. 

Never too late to volunteer with the PA. Submit your interest here. 

Buy UNIS merch online. Visit https://store.unis.org/ And if you want to join the UNIS PA swag team, email unis@unispa.org. 

Outdoor Activity & Recess Policy During Cold Weather

As winter approaches, please be sure your child is dressed for outdoor play every day, with a warm coat, sweatshirt, gloves and hat as needed.

UNIS JS follows the Dept of Health guidelines for outdoor play: "New York City Department of Health Guidelines regarding outdoor play in cold weather policy states “Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Unless it is snowing or there is ice on the playground low temperatures should not be a barrier to outside play, as long as children are appropriately dressed. The City’s Health Department strongly encourages principals to maintain outdoor play periods on the vast majority of winter days.”

Recommendations are as follows: If the wind chill factor is above 20 degrees, it is safe to play outside. If the wind chill factor is 0-20, outside play is advised provided that students are appropriately dressed and under observation to make sure that they are wearing their coats, hats and gloves." 

From:  New York City Department of Education and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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 8:15 and proceed directly to their homeroom. 

PK, JA and J1 are expected to arrive at 8:20 and proceed directly to their homeroom.

Please ensure that your child arrives at the time assigned for your child's grade.

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

IF YOU GO TO THE CAFETERIA BEFORE DROPPING OFF YOUR CHILD

• Legal guardians may access the school building to wait near the drop-off zone, and remain in the company of their children until the announcement is made for students to line up with their classes at 8:15 (J2/J3/J4) or 8:20 (PreK, JA, J1).

• Legal guardians may access the school building to sit in the cafeteria, beginning at 7:30 am, and remain in the company of their children until the announcement is made for students to walk independently to their classes at 8:15 (J2/J3/J4) or to line up outside Staircase D to meet their teachers and walk to their classrooms at 8:20 (PreK, JA, J1).

• Legal guardians may remain in the cafeteria until 9:00 am.

• Legal guardians who arrive earlier than 8:15/8:20 in order to have breakfast in the cafeteria must supervise their children at all times while on the premises until an announcement is made for students to line up with their teachers or proceed directly to their classrooms (dependent upon grade). 

• At no time is playground access permitted for students being supervised by their guardians. Playground access is reserved solely for students arriving by Yellow Bus who are in the care of school personnel.

• At no time may legal guardians enter the 2nd floor or access any classrooms.

• Legal guardians and students are expected to arrive at the campus no later than the arrival time for their grade as shared by the school's administration. Late arrivals impact the efficiency of our protocols designed for smooth transitions, as well as to detract from our community's safety. Families are strongly encouraged to ensure that their child(ren) arrives at UNIS at the time assigned for their grade, and no earlier or later.

• Students arriving at school by bus will be welcomed and supervised in the playground.

• J2, J3 and J4 students arriving at 8:15 am walk independently to their classrooms. If J2, J3 and J4 students have arrived earlier and are in the cafeteria supervised by their legal guardians, an announcement will be made at 8:15 for those students to proceed to their classrooms independently using Staircase D.

• J1 students arriving at 8:20 walk independently to their classrooms. If J1 students have arrived earlier and are in the cafeteria supervised by their legal guardians, an announcement will be made at 8:20 for those students to line up outside Staircase D with their legal guardians and then proceed to their classrooms independently.

• PK and JA are welcomed by their teachers at 8:20 at Staircase D and proceed directly to their classrooms. 

• PK and JA students who are in the cafeteria being supervised by their legal guardians will hear an announcement at 8:20 to meet their teachers at Staircase D to proceed to their classroom.

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:

• Log in to Veracross

• Click on Household Information

• Update Household Profile by clicking on Contacts for My Children and +Add New

• Enter that caregiver’s details under the Contacts section (add as many additional contacts and caregivers as you need)

• Next, grant the contacts Pickup Authorization as needed by clicking on Pickup Authorization on the right and +Add New.

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.

• PK and JA are dismissed by their teachers at 2:45 pm

• J1 and J2 are dismissed by their teachers at 2:50 pm

• J3 and J4 are dismissed by their teachers at 3:00 pm

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.

• Parents/legal guardians arriving on time at school for dismissal can pick up their child at designated areas indicated in the Dismissal Map.

• After JS dismissal and before 5:45pm: parents may pick up their child in the cafeteria by following the directions given by the security guards.

• Parents are required to indicate in the note field in SDM the identity of the parent/caregiver who will pick up their child, providing both the first and last name as it appears on that person’s identification. This information needs to be accurate on any given day. If the information is not provided correctly by the family, but the parent/caregiver is registered as a parent or an authorized caregiver in Veracross, and UNIS personnel are able to verify that information, the student will be allowed to leave with him/her. This information is required at dismissal as well as when the pick-up is scheduled after an After School, Care Program or Athletic activity.

• Parents are required to list all caregivers/babysitters on the portal in Veracross. Security will not allow entrance to caregivers/babysitters who are undocumented/not listed in Veracross. To avoid delay and complications at pick-up, please make sure to maintain an updated list of all caregivers/babysitters in Veracross on the portal. In case of an emergency, parents are required to call and email the JS Office or After School program (depending on the pick up time) providing the full name of the individual who is picking up their child and confirming that that person will carry a government issued photo ID.

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).

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.

Please be mindful as you pack lunches for your Junior School child(ren) as these will remain stored in their backpacks until snack or lunch time. If lunch items require cooling, please be sure to include insulated ice packs in the packaging for your child's lunch. No additional heating or cooling options are available. 

For reasons related to student allergies and health, the policy for JS student birthday celebrations on campus has been updated.

• Birthdays will continue to be acknowledged and celebrated in the JS Homeroom and/or with the Mother Tongue group. 

• Students may bring a special food treat for themself from home on their birthday to enjoy at snack or lunch time.

• Instead of bringing food treats from home to be shared with classmates, the birthday student may choose from a menu of fun activities offered by the Homeroom or MT teacher for the class to participate in together. The activities will be age-appropriate and vary by grade.

• At the discretion of the Homeroom teacher, there may be individual celebrations for each student, or there may be grouped, monthly birthday celebrations. 

• Details about the birthday celebration policy for your child’s homeroom will be discussed in more detail with parents at Back to School Night on September 28.

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 if they aren't disposable. 

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.