Newsletter #14

Dear parents,

"Do you want to be the MC for the Junior School Talent Show?” my mom asked me after-school one day. “What is a MC?” I asked. My mom explained, “Well, MC stands for Master of Ceremonies.  This person is the host of the show.  You introduce each performer and will be responsible for keeping the audience entertained and the show moving.” “Hmm,” I thought. “That sounds interesting.” “Ok, I’ll do it!” I exclaimed. 

As the day of the Talent Show approached, I started to have some doubts. What if I can’t memorize my lines? What if the microphone stopped working halfway? What if I tripped and fell on the stage? And I split my pants in front of everyone?! I was going to be partners with Erin Martin from J3. We barely knew each other and we hardly had any time to rehearse! Maybe we’ll just have to wing it…

On the day of the Talent Show, as we were driving to school, all my fears flew out the window. “I got this!” I told myself. We arrived at the theatre about 2 hours before the Show began.  It was already a hive of activity, with performers practicing and parents setting up.  I met up with Erin and we went over the script about 100 times.  We also practiced walking across the stage, using the microphones and eating burritos (just kidding).   By the time the Show started, it was like we had been partners forever. We had this in the bag! 

Things could not have gone better. There were even moments when I was able to slip in a few of my favorite jokes (I heard they opened a restaurant on the moon. It has good food, but the problem is … it does not have any atmosphere….) Every single performance was fantastic and the audience was enthusiastic and supportive.  I knew UNIS kids are a talented bunch, it was nevertheless amazing to discover we have drummers, pianists, singers, fencers, dancers, magicians … walking our halls every day. 

Despite my doubts, my MC gig with Erin worked out perfectly. I felt good about collaborating with the kids in the Junior School even though I had moved up to Middle School.  Best of all, I had a lot of fun doing something I had never done before.  

I encourage everyone to be a part of next year’s Talent Show, as a performer, a volunteer or maybe even as the MC. It was simply awesome seeing the youngest members of the UNIS community get on stage, and share their talents with a roomful of people. You Rock!

Thanks,

Colton B., M1O4 and Talent Show 2022 Master of Ceremonies

Dear parents,

The talent show was amazing! There is a lot of talent in the junior school. I felt really good being the MC of this talent show. I strongly recommend that next year you either watch the talent show or perform in it. There is something different in each performance and it is amazing. I’m very grateful to have helped  make the talent show a success, but who did a lot of the work was the performers and Mr. Vallet Jen and the parent volunteers. I really enjoyed being the MC of that show with Colton. next year we might have new MC’s and that great so more people can feel that goodness of being a UNIS talent show MC.

Erin M., J3R and Talent Show 2022 Master of Ceremonies

• • Monday, December 12 | Send your child to school with $5 and a shopping bag (see Toy & Book Sale details in this newsletter)

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

  • Wednesday, December 14 | Book Sale for Parents 8:00-8:45 Lobby (details in this newsletter)

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

  • Wednesday, December 28 | Deadline to order Stomping Ground photos (link in this newsletter)

  • Tuesday, January 3 | Classes Resume

  • Tuesday, January 10 | JS Parent Coffee: School Lunch  8:30-9:20 in Cafe (details in this newsletter)

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

• • SDM: Update for January

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

  • Tuesday, January 3 | Classes Resume

  • Tuesday, January 10 | JS Parent Coffee: School Lunch  8:30-9:20 in Cafe (details in this newsletter)

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

  • Saturday, February 4 | Lunar New Year Celebration (details in this newsletter)

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

  • Thursday, February 23 - Friday, February 24 | No Yellow Bus Service (update SDM)

I wanted to demonstrate how creating music is like any other form of communication in that we 1) begin with an idea or a goal, 2) organize basic elements into larger units, 3) and make creative decisions about how to use these units to express ourselves. For example, in writing (or speech), we have words, sentences, paragraphs, and finally stories. In music, we have pitches, phrases, arrangements, and finally songs. 

When we got together, we decided as a group to record and produce a new version of one of the kids’ favorite songs, Funga Alafia. The guiding idea here, which the kids came up with, was that we would do a rock and roll version of the song. We determined the key and tempo after trying out a few options and deciding on what worked best. Next, the kids sang together into the microphone, keeping time with the metronome. Then we applied some effects to the vocal recording to eliminate and boost certain frequencies and create a rich, full sound. From there, we decided which instruments to add, what kinds of counter melodies to incorporate, and how each track should sound. Ultimately, we created a heavy 4/4 drumbeat, keyboard arpeggios, and distorted electric guitars, in addition to doubling the vocals and adding some cool echo, delay, and reverb effects to create space in the mix. 

We had a lot of fun. We started with a familiar melody, but we transformed it with our arrangement. And we could’ve settled on any number of alternate arrangements: Instead of rock instrumentation, we could’ve used a string quartet, or trap beats, or “found sounds.” And each arrangement would’ve been a valid, unique form of expression. 

What I really wanted to get across is that communication can take all kinds of forms, and there is not one right way. Expressing our ideas is an intensely personal practice. I hope the kids feel empowered to make their own kinds of music, write their own kinds of stories, and be themselves without regard for what everyone else is doing or what anyone else might think. 

TL/DR: we arranged a familiar melody using unexpected instrumentation to demonstrate how we can use elements of sound to express ourselves creatively. 

Billy, father of Hannah J1B

This year’s Toy & Book Sale will be held on Tuesday, December 13, when JS students will be visiting the Sale with their homerooms. Please send $5 in a ziplock bag plus a shopping bag to school with your child, with your child's name and homeroom written on both.

The Toy and Book collection has been phenomenally successful.  We have collected over a thousand titles of picture books, chapter books, young readers and novels of all genres.  All books are in great condition.  

In addition to offering these books for sale on Tuesday, we will be running a standalone Book Sale on Wednesday morning December 14.  This will take place during drop-off, from 8:00-8:45am in the school lobby. Parents and children will have the opportunity to browse and purchase together.  All books will be sold for 2 for $1, with proceeds going to the PA, which will be funneled back to benefit the school. 

The PA is looking for volunteers to help set up on Monday 12/12 from 4:30 - 6:00pm and on Wednesday 12/14 from 8:00 - 10:00am. 

Please email the JS Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org if you are available to help.

Thank You, 

Zhenzhen Huang, Mindy Tan, Sue Jing and Conwell Tam

International Human Rights Day is recognized annually on December 10

The UNIS Human Rights Club would like to join you in recognizing this year's International Human Rights Day on December 10th. Human Rights Day, marking the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, celebrates the progress the global community has made in advancing the protection of human rights worldwide and underscores the important steps that still must be made. This year's theme is centered around Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All, values promoted in SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. 

The UN Human Rights Commission welcomes ALL to join them for a year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To learn more about Human Rights Day and this year’s theme, visit the UN’s website. You can also test your knowledge about human rights with a UN quiz here.

-- Happy Human Rights Day!

This limited edition 75th Anniversary weekender tote is the perfect UNIS accessory! Made of 24 oz. cotton canvas, and includes a front pocket, top zippered closure, and 30-inch handles, it's the perfect weekend getaway bag or carry-on for your upcoming holiday travels. The best part is that it is just $20! Shop now.

For all our UNIS gear, check out the UNICORN STORE.  

 JS Books & Toy Sale for Students: Tuesday, December 13 

• Books and Toy Sale will take place on Tuesday (December 13). Students will visit the sale with their homeroom.

• Please send $5 in a ziplock bag with your child's name and homeroom written on it so they can participate in real life purchase decisions and can work on their math skills if they wish to make a purchase. Proceeds from the sale will go towards activities that the PA will organize for the children and the school. 

• Also, send a recyclable shopping bag with your child's name and homeroom written on it to hold their purchases!

• Unsold items will be donated before the holidays.

Book Sale for Parents & Children: Wednesday, December 14 from 8:00 - 8:45

• Book collection has been phenomenally successful.  We have collected over a thousand titles of picture books, chapter books, young readers and novels of all genres.  All books are in great condition. The Book Sale will be extended so that parents and children can shop in the school's lobby on Wednesday (December 14) from 8:00-8:45. Parents and children will have the opportunity to browse and purchase together.  All books will be sold for 2 for $1, with proceeds going to the PA, which will be funneled back to benefit the school. 

We are looking for volunteers to help set up on 

Monday 12/12 from 4:30 - 6:00pm and 

Wednesday 12/14 from 8:00 -10:00am. 

Please email JS Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org if you are available to help. 

Junior School Parent Coffees

• Parent Coffee: School Lunch - Tuesday, January 10 at 8:30 - 9:20 am 

Mark your calendar to join us on Tuesday, January 10 at 8:30am in the Cafe for the next JS Parent Coffee on the topic of School Lunch. Join Tara Marcelle from FLIK DINING and the Administration Team to learn about lunch and lunch routines in the cafeteria. Please send questions in advance to your class parents by Friday, December 16.

• Parent Coffee: Science & Design Engineering Curriculum (November 30)

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

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. 

We would like to remind everyone about our health protocols:

• When your child is sick with runny nose, cough, stomach ache, fever, headache, etc. there is no expectation from the Junior School that they should attend class 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 your child had any symptoms that could be consistent with COVID, they need to remain at home and take a rapid test. Students can return to school under the following conditions:

  • • they have tested negative on a rapid antigen

    • are afebrile for at least 24 hours

    • their symptoms have resolved or are greatly improving

    • If your child's test is positive, please email a picture of the test to covid@unis.org.

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.

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.

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 were 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.