Newsletter #13

12/04/2022

BREAKING NEWS! 

THE JS TALENT SHOW WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! NEXT WEEK'S NEWSLETTER WILL BE DEDICATED TO IT. STAY TUNED!

During an official trip to the United States, French President Charles de Gaulle was received in Washington DC at the Capitol by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. He delivered a speech in which he celebrated Franco-American friendship and cooperation while recalling the dangers of confrontation, which threatened the international community.

"My journey takes place on the eve of an international meeting where the destiny of humanity may turn either towards misfortune or towards peace. This shows the importance I attach to the talks I have just had with the President and the government of the United States. So gentlemen senators and gentlemen representatives, in the contact that I have with you at the Capitol in Washington, I do not, in fact, believe that, at any time, the human species has been so threatened: the machine has taken the power on earth. It launched an immense material progress there but, at the same time, it provoked the appearance of two apparently irreconcilable systems which claim, each on its own, to define the only valid way of transforming society. France, for her part, has chosen: she has chosen to be on the side of the free peoples, she has chosen to be there with you. But Americans, in the very serious game that is taking place, know this: nothing counts more for France than the reason, the resolution, and the friendship of the great people of the United States. I came to tell you." 

- Charles de Gaulle, Remarks to the United States Congress, April 25, 1960

Dear parents,

A few days ago, two unexpected invitations reached my mailbox. Both were sent by the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. They were addressed to me, but they were an invitation to all of us. To our UNIS school community. They were calling me to represent all of you at two unique events celebrating French President Macron's State Visit at the White House.

A State Visit is the official visit that a foreign head of state makes to another country. It is considered the highest form of diplomatic relations between two countries. This visit is prepared well in advance and many protocol events are scheduled, such as commemorative ceremonies, visits to memorial sites, and various official receptions. UNIS, through the Junior School Principal, was graciously invited to participate in two of those official receptions celebrating the unbreakable relationship between France and United States of America.

Since the Revolutionary War, France and the United States have had a deep, productive and symbiotic relationship. This relationship was memorialized in 1884 by France’s gift to the USA, the Statue of Liberty (a monument that many of us see every day). France’s (and Haiti’s) motto is Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity and, this past week, the third word of the motto, fraternity, was on full display in Washington, D.C. Fraternity is a concept at the foundation of the French constitution and is defined as “the state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group.” The global community, now more than ever, needs to support one another and show fraternity in the face of shared global issues. UNIS, through its school mission and embodiment of Fraternity, “fosters innovation, creativity and cross-cultural communication, educating and inspiring its students to become an active force in shaping a better world: peaceful, compassionate and sustainable.” President Macron and President Biden, through their shared conversations and speeches, echo and validate the ideals that UNIS is striving to achieve and show us all how beautiful Fraternity can be.

With the support of Dorian Lacombe, UNIS parent, former Head of the Communications Unit, New York Office of UN High-Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Michelle Bertrand, Director of School Events at UNIS, and Danae Adam, Junior School Administrative Assistant, we decided to transform this invitation into an opportunity: we would seize this moment to invite Président Macron to visit UNIS and participate in major events organized by and for our students.

After consulting with the High School students in charge of the UNIS-UN conference this coming March, dedicated to the question of Education, and after asking Molida Khuon's J3 French Mother Tongue students what they would like to share with President Macron, I was ready to head to Washington, UN pin attached to my suit, with the goal of handing Monsieur le President our students' invitation to UNIS.

30 November 2022


Monsieur Emmanuel Macron

Président de la République française


Monsieur le Président,


I write on behalf of the students, faculty and staff of the United Nations International School. We would be honored if you would accept an open invitation to visit our school whenever you are in New York. Among our PreK - 12 grade students, approximately 7% declare themselves French nationals and 43% study the French language in either our Mother Tongue program or as a second language.


There are three occasions during the coming year, very important to UNIS, when your presence would be a special highlight.


First, it is our great honor to invite you to be a speaker for the 47th Annual UNIS-UN International Student Conference on Tuesday, 14 March 2023, and Wednesday, 15 March 2023  in the United Nations General Assembly Hall. This year’s conference topic will be titled Turning the Page: A New Chapter in Education. Our conference will address the education-related situation we are in today through meaningful discussions and debates that develop solutions to education's leading issues. Education is one of the fundamental human rights, and the lack of education for the 72 million children worldwide has a huge global impact on our growing population. An inadequate education can be linked to poverty, cultural relativism, war, and more; without advances in a sustainable education, these inequalities will only increase. The conference will feature captivating presenters who will speak on the future of education, addressing such topics as tackling the intricacies of mental health and special education, the role of opinion in the classroom, the rights of educators, and the development of education in various countries. Furthermore, we will investigate how climate change, the migration crisis, and the Coronavirus have indefinitely impacted education and the possible approaches toward a more equitable and accessible education in the future.


Second, we would be honored to have you celebrate the UNIS Class of 2023 at their graduation in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, scheduled to occur on Friday, 2 June 2023. As an important voice and leader in the international community, your presence makes for an unforgettable experience for our graduating class. On behalf of this year’s graduating class, we respectfully extend this invitation and hope that your schedule will permit you to attend. 


Third, the UNIS community is honored to invite you for a visit to our campus, at your convenience, when you are in New York, to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) opening on Tuesday, 12 September 2023.


Président Macron, we look forward to an opportunity to share the UNIS mission with you. Please accept, Monsieur Président, the assurances of our highest consideration.


Yours sincerely,         


Pascal Vallet

Junior School Principal

United Nations International School


cc:  Dr. Dan Brenner, PhD, Executive Director

George Bernard Shaw believed that we should not wait for opportunities but should create them. While waiting for President Macron to arrive, I was trying to locate the "Chargé du Protocole" for the President. The "Chargé du Protocole" intervenes for the Elysée (the French White House) to ensure the smooth running of official events. The person in that role coordinates external relations in accordance with state protocol and sets up the official events of the organization. This was when I realized that the Chargé du Protocol, Mr. Arnold Rocke, had been the Consul of France in South Korea, during the same period when I was Principal at the Lycée Français in Seoul. I called out to him. He recognized me. I handed him the invitation from UNIS, the letters from our J3 students, and a book celebrating our school and community. A few minutes later, President Macron approached me to shake my hand and that was the opportune moment to hand him a duplicate of our invitation letter while introducing myself and the UNIS-UN conference that our high school students are organizing in the UN General Assembly in March 2023. Macron paused and seemed intrigued by an invitation to the UN, expressed his gratitude, and continued his journey to the podium. While we recognize the challenges of convincing President Macron to join us, the UNIS-UN students committee will follow up with Mr. Rocke in the next few days. As we say in French: Qui ne tente rien n'a rien! (Nothing ventured, nothing gained!)

It is hard to find adequate words to describe my experience, walking towards the White House to participate in a historical moment: a State Visit by America's first ally, my home country. But, mixed with my powerful personal connection to this event, I was honored and proud to represent the students, parents, teachers and staff of the UNIS community, the reason I was chosen to be there. And while I was overwhelmed by the journey to the White House, I kept in mind my second goal for this journey: sharing the experience with the Junior School students by attempting to live stream, if protocol allowed.

We hoped I could live stream from my smartphone for a few minutes starting at 8:40 am, before the Presidents' speeches began. I was overwhelmed to see the number of classes, teachers, and administrators who connected to this Zoom event, hoping that it would work. While I was planning to share just a few brief anecdotes with my students, I was able to live stream for more than 30 minutes, encouraged by some of the attendees and moved by the realization that our JS students in New York were able to share the experience with me. With 2% remaining on my phone battery, I ended the live stream. Happy.

President Macron: “We stand together, shoulder to shoulder, precisely to be entitled to say, at the same time, “We the people” and “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.”..” this is how to build our future and how to work together for climate, to fight against inequality, for inclusive societies, to unify our nations.  Shoulder to shoulder, we will do so and we will prevail.”

President Biden: “Today, we’re still united by the greatest causes: democracy, liberty, equality, opportunity, and freedom.  We stand together against oppression and injustice.  We stick up for one another in our — and democratic values to which Washington and Lafayette dedicated their lives.  And we still strive to build a world that’s worthy of our highest hopes and of our future, knowing that we can always, always count on one another as allies and friends”.

At the end of the ceremony, I walked away feeling grateful for the opportunity to participate in a historical moment. And, feeling satisfied to have been able to virtually include our UNIS students in this event in Washington. President Biden and President Macron continued to celebrate the important visit while I headed back to New York. But the story for the UNIS community does not end then...

Suleika Jaouad is an American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker. She is the author of the "Life, Interrupted" column in The New York Times and has also written for Vogue, Glamour, NPR's All Things Considered, and Women's Health. Her 2021 memoir Between Two Kingdoms was a New York Times Best Seller. Her husband, Jon Batiste is an American musician and songwriter with outstanding achievements: Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Suleika and Jon are very special to our community. Suleika is M1 teacher, and former J4 teacher, Adam Jaouad's sister. As some of you may recall, Jon supported the UNIS JS during the Pandemic, in the spring of 2020, when he sang to cheer up our students.

Jon Part 1.mov
Jon Part 2.MOV
Jon Part 3.MOV

Jon Batiste was invited, with his family, to perform at the White House for the convivial and fraternal proceedings of the state dinner between France and the United States of America. UNIS had the opportunity to speak with Jon and Suleika regarding the historic proceedings:

UNIS: [For Jon + Suleika] First and foremost, in a couple sentences what were the VIBES like.

“Stately: It was full of decorations for the christmas season: candles, statues chandeliers, red carpets. Incredible historic artifacts in every room. The White House staff IS the VIBE.”

“Festive: Despite the grandeur and the history I was struck by the warmth and hospitality.”

UNIS: [For Suleika + Jon] What does the word Fraternity mean to you? Was it on display during the State Dinner? Why?

“Fraternity to me is really about community and the ways in which we can each show up in the spirit of generosity, mercy and compassion. It was on display from the second we walked through security and were greeted with big smiles by the secret service to the incredible fleet of waiters who served us delicious cross-cultural meals with a French and American twist. Of course with President Biden and President Macron and their wives who made it feel like we were at a family gathering.”

“My band, with whom I've been playing music with for almost 20 years is a fraternity in my own life. Fraternity is when everyone brings their life to the table and feels welcome. I felt that [fraternity] was on display at the end of the dinner when everyone was standing, singing, and dancing. Music is just one of the many powerful cultural forces that is available to us us to deepen our sense of fraternity.”

UNIS:  [Suleika]   You are half Tunisian, half Swiss, live in America, speak French at home and have experienced many different cultures throughout your life. You are like many of our students here at UNIS! One of our missions here at UNIS is enabling and fostering cross-cultural communication. You have had a lot of experience and opportunity for cross-cultural communication. Was there a sense of that during the state dinner? If so, how? What/who benefits from this?

“I think that Jon is a great cross cultural translator and embodies it in his music. The very first thing he played which was a blend of the French, American and Black national anthems. I think our power lies not in assimilation but in celebrating the beautiful fusion of different cultures, customs, languages, traditions, legacies from which we all come from. I think that we all benefit from examples of cross-cultural communication and gatherings. We all participate in them every day in both big and small ways. How we show up to those interactions, ideally with an open heart and mind, ultimately has a ripple effect beyond us.”

UNIS: [Jon]  Your 7 year old nephew attended the dinner. What did he have to say about everything going on?

“He thought that it was fun. He also was very tired at the end of the night because it was a very long day. He got up on stage - he was lifted up by President Macron! He was studying the White House at school last week and wasn't sure of the president's name… but he sure knows it now.”

UNIS: [Jon] You were asked to play the piano for the presidents and the attendees. What did you play and why?

“I wanted to play pieces that spoke to the Franco-American influence in all styles of music that I play- from classical all the way to contemporary music. In particular, New Orleans is an excellent example of the Franco-American blend of music. At the end of the night, in the New Orleans tradition, we did a second line through the crowd as we played “as the saints go marching in”

UNIS: [Jon] You are from New Orleans. A city that is a mix of French and American in its heritage, culture and history. How do you perceive/live/exhibit this beautiful mix of cultures in your life, music and history?

Jon: “Laissez les bon temps rouler: We grew up with the belief that celebration is important. Let the good times roll!”

UNIS: [Jon] You sat and spoke with President Macron and President Biden. What was the biggest takeaway from what they said? Does it make you optimistic for the future? Why?

“They said that they wanted to come together, not just in this time, but for many generations to come. I’m always optimistic about the future. I like hearing politicians feel that way as well and not be divisive.”

UNIS: [For Jon+Suleika] Thank you both for your generous time. One last question: What is your favorite American food? What is your favorite French food?

“I am gonna go with a perfect example of cross-cultural communication-the grilled cheese and the croque monsieur. Similar, but with their own individual twist.”

“French Fries and French Fries.”*

*Editor's note:  Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to Belgium what belongs to Belgium! French fries are Belgian!

This journey to Washington was an opportunity to meet great men and great women. Great men and women have great responsibilities. Great women and men have great power. It is easy, with great responsibilities and great power, to lose sight of where those responsibilities and power come from: the people they serve. When sitting among people with responsibilities and power it might be easier to lose sight of where we come from and our true purpose. That's why an essential quality of great leaders, and all great people, is humility.

"Le grand homme est comme l'aigle; plus il s'élève, moins il est visible, et il est puni de sa grandeur par la solitude de l'âme." - Stendhal

The great man is like the eagle; the higher it rises, the less it is visible, and it is punished for its greatness by the loneliness of the soul.

Back home, I take off my Principal's hat and put on the hat of a son. I call my dad to tell him the story of the last 48 hours. He smiles and he is proud of me. But he always is, as long as I am happy, as long as I am kind, as long as I am thoughtful. Then he shared a story with me.  

Great people are not only those who, with one decision, change the world for millions.  Great people are those who change the lives of their neighbors, their friends, their spouse, their son and their daughter. To me, my dad is a humble man, but the greatest of all.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Adam Jaouad, M1 teacher

Danae Adam, Junior School Administrative Assistant 

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

COLD WEATHER REMINDERS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

As cold weather has arrived, the Junior School has important transitions and reminders to bring to your attention:

​

STUDENTS ARRIVING BY YELLOW BUS

With colder weather, Junior School students who ride the yellow bus in the morning will now assemble in the tents in front of the school after leaving the bus and then, instead of remaining outdoors in the tents, will be escorted by school personnel to line up indoors in the cafeteria area until 8:15/8:20 when they transition to their homeroom classes.

Note that at arrival, designated school personnel are assigned to the supervision of bus riding students only.



STUDENTS ARRIVING WITH A CAREGIVER

Students who arrive with a caregiver in the morning may continue to line up outside Stairwell D to wait to enter the building at 8:15/8:20 or, if the weather is too cold or wet, may wait accompanied by their adult caregiver at all times in the cafeteria. At the 8:15/8:20 start time for their grade, students who are waiting in the cafeteria with their caregiver can transition to their homeroom by walking through Stairwell D.



UNACCOMPANIED JS STUDENTS

We have recently noted a number of Junior School students entering the school gates unaccompanied by an adult caregiver. These students are arriving between 8:00 - 8:15, which is too early for them to transition to their homeroom. School personnel are not available to supervise them prior to them joining their homeroom class.

As a reminder:

IMPORTANT DATES

THIS WEEK: DECEMBER 5

PURCHASING JS STUDENT PORTRAIT PHOTOS FROM STOMPING GROUND 


TO DO: Update SDM for the weeks ahead


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

UPCOMING EVENTS

DATES WITHOUT YELLOW SCHOOL BUS SERVICE DURING 2022-23

Note these dates in February and April when bus service will not be provided by the DOE. 

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

INFORMATION: J3 & J4 AUDITIONS FOR NEWSIES JR.

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

UNIS Junior School Theatre Department Presents: Newsies Jr.


Hello J3 and J4 Parents!


It was with great excitement that we had audition sign ups taking place this past week during your child's Music and Theatre class for the J3 & J4 Musical "Newsies Jr".


Auditions will be taking place on Monday, December 5, Tuesday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 7 during the students' Long Play (11:00 - 12:05 pm).


Things to know for the Audition:

1. Each student will have a 2-3 minute slot to sing a short cut of a song. The song can be as simple as "Happy Birthday"or a favorite song that they can sing well.


2. We would love to know if your child takes acting class, dance class, gymnastics or has past performance experience.


3. Every student who auditions will have a part in the show as a principal or ensemble role.


4. If your child is interested in being on the Production Crew please email Madeline McBroom directly at mmcbroom@unis.org

INFORMATION: TOY SALE - DEC 13

The Toy Sale Returns!

After a 2-year hiatus, the Toy Sale is back! 

This year’s Sale will be held on Tuesday, December 13, when JS students will be visiting the Fair with their homerooms. MS students are also invited to visit the Sale during break. In addition to toys, there will also be a range of used children’s books available. In addition to promoting sustainability, the Toy Sale will be a wonderful introduction to financial literacy. Even the youngest learners will benefit from an in-person opportunity to understand money, savings and purchase decisions. Good financial habits start by being able to distinguish between a “must have” and a “nice to have”. By teaching children how to differentiate between needs and wants, they become more aware of their choices from a very young age.

The PA will be collecting gently used toys and books in the lobby during the week of December 5 - December 9 during drop off. This is a school-wide effort and TH and MS families are encouraged to donate.

JS Parents are also asked to send $5 in an envelope written with your child’s name and homeroom to your class teacher by December 12. Toys and books will be sold for nominal amounts ($1, $2, $3), with proceeds raised from the Sale going towards activities organized for our school community by the PS. Any unsold toys or books will be donated. We hope you will continue to support this much-loved tradition. 

Any questions on the Toy Sale can be directed to our JS Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org.

Zhenzhen Huang, Mindy Tan, Sue Jing and Conwell Tam

INFORMATION: INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY & CHARITY SALE - DEC 9

 INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY is celebrated on Saturday December 10!

The JS Animal’s Rights club (aka A Squad) will celebrate Animal Rights Day on Friday, December 9 in the school Lobby between 8:00 - 9:00 am and also during Lunch.

Our celebration will include the following:

Why is the club having a sale? The club wants to support shelters that have a no kill policy, bring awareness to adopting pets instead of buying them, and support endangered animals.

Please mark December 9 on your calendar and consider sending your child with $5 - $10 to spend that day to support this important charity.

Rose Fico, Club Coordinator

Anika and Edie, Club Founders

INFORMATION: TAIGA PERFORMS IN THE NUTCRACKER

 We are very proud and excited for Taiga, J3 Melillo student and Nutcracker performer, featured in The New York Times article entitled "The Tiny Dancers Who Make "The Nutcracker" Sparkle".

INFORMATION: HOST FAMILY FOR T3 STUDENT NEEDED

Yusuke Kamimura (T3) has been a long-standing UNIS student, and a beloved member of our student body. Unfortunately, his family had to move back to Japan unexpectedly last summer, preventing from joining UNIS during the first semester as was expected. Yusuke and his parents are eager to have him return to UNIS to complete his T3 and T4 years with us, so he can graduate from UNIS: they are actively looking for a host family who could welcome Yusuke starting no later than Jan 30. If you are able to help or would like more information, kindly contact our T3 Counselor Demmy Lukas at dlukas@unis.org. Thank you so much in advance! 

PARENT ASSOCIATION CORNER: JS PARENT COFFEES / JS TOY & BOOK SALE / LUNAR NEW YEAR / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVE LINKS

Junior School Parent Coffees


Mark your calendar to join us on Tuesday, January 10 at 8:30am in the Cafe for the next JS Parent Coffee. The topic will be confirmed in the upcoming newsletters.


For those of you not able to join us on Wednesday, November 30 at 8:30am in the Cafe, you can watch the video of Ms. Zammarano, Mr. Alvez and Ms. Mourlot to learn about our Design Engineering and Science Curriculum here JS Parent Coffee Nov 30 2022

 JS Books & Toy Sale: Tuesday, December 13 (Donation Period: Week of December 5 - 9)

Lunar New Year - Saturday, February 4

UNISPA Cultural Committee invites you to bring in the Lunar New Year with us to celebrate the arrival of spring and the year of the Rabbit!


It is the time to reunite with the family and we would like to come together with our UNIS Family! Join us at UNIS  on Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 4 - 7pm


Tickets are $25 per person and free for kids 4 and under. Buy your tickets here: https://www.unis.org/cf_forms/view.cfm?formID=901


To usher in a year full of abundance, good luck and fortune, there will be a food feast, Lion dance, Korean dances, student led musical Performances, lantern making, calligraphy and more….


We are excited to see you all in person!


Abhilasha & Sabrina

Cultural Committee Co-Chairs

abhilasha.mahan@pa.unis.org; sabrina.zancan@pa.unis.org

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. 

IMPORTANT: 

Please review your family profile and contact information to ensure that all of your local cell phone numbers, work phone numbers, email addresses and home address are correct and are entered in the correct fields. If you have not reviewed your information since the start of this school year, we encourage you to do it today so that we can reach you quickly if needed, especially if you have relocated from abroad.

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 or your caregiver can be reached in an emergency, or when there are schoolwide 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, and throughout the school year if your contact information changes.

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

REMINDER: HEALTH REMINDERS

We would like to remind everyone about our health protocols:

You may review the full protocols on our website COVID & Health Protocols. 

Thank you for supporting the entire UNIS community by keeping your children at home when they are not well. 

When your child will be absent, please email your homeroom teacher before 8:00am with a copy to jsattendance@unis.org . We also encourage families to update SDM in order to alert all other departments, especially After School activities and Transportation.

REMINDER: PREPARING FOR COLDER WEATHER

Outdoor Activity & Recess Policy During Cold Weather

Throughout the winter season, 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.

Labeling Clothing

With students wearing extra layers of clothing now, it's time for families to be sure that all coats, jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats, etc. are clearly labeled with your child's first and last name and homeroom. Our faculty and staff do their best to return misplaced items to their owners, but clear labeling is needed to do that.

REMINDER: ARRIVAL

IMPORTANT REMINDER: 

Be on time for class:

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 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

2. RULES

3. ARRIVAL TIME

REMINDER: 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 around the outside of 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. 

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.

Pack a Jacket or Sweatshirt Every Day

The weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to send their child to school with a warm jacket or sweatshirt every day. Students are outside on the playground twice daily and they will need an outer layer with them on most days. They should be dressed appropriately for rainy days as well.

REMINDER: PK-J4 LUNCH BROUGHT FROM HOME

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. 

REMINDER: JS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION POLICY 

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

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 if they aren't disposable. 

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.

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