Newsletter #20

02/05/2023

A Bag of Marbles, a film directed by Christian Duguay, based on French author Joseph Joffo's 1973 autobiographical novel, “Un Sac de Billes".

"Un jour la guerre sera finie. Un jour les soldats poseront leurs armes, les réfugiés rentreront chez eux, les enfants riront et joueront à nouveau. Mais pour ceux qui ont souffert, pour ceux qui ont perdu des êtres chers, les souvenirs resteront à jamais. Les souvenirs d'un temps où la peur régnait sur le monde, d'un temps où l'innocence était brisée et l'enfance volée. Les souvenirs d'un temps où un sac de billes valait plus qu'une vie." - Un Sac de Billes, Joseph Joffo

"One day the war will be over. One day the soldiers will lay down their arms, the refugees will return home, the children will laugh and play once more. But for those who have suffered, for those who have lost loved ones, the memories will remain forever. The memories of a time when fear ruled the world, a time when innocence was shattered and childhood was stolen. The memories of a time when a bag of marbles was worth more than a life." - A Bag of Marbles, Joseph Joffo

Dear parents,

Pedagogical theories have been discussed among educators and researchers for centuries, and many of those theories are led by very different perspectives on what successful learning is.

While at college in France, I learned (and was exposed to!) many different styles of teaching. For example, I remember being puzzled by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov's theory. Pavlov was Russian, and a Soviet experimental neurologist, psychologist and physiologist known for his discovery of classical conditioning through experiments with dogs. From his research with dogs, a theory of learning emerged: the Pavlovian approach to education, also known as classical conditioning, a theory of learning based on the idea that behaviors can be learned through the association of stimuli and responses. According to this approach, education is seen as the process of linking stimuli (such as a teacher's instructions or a particular task) with specific responses (such as completing the task or answering a question correctly). Over time, the association between the stimuli and response becomes stronger, leading to the development of new behaviors or habits. I quickly understood the limitations of the Pavlovian approach to support teaching more complex or abstract concepts, such as critical thinking or creativity, because it relies primarily on the formation of simple associations between stimuli and responses.

In this fascinating debate about the method that achieves the best results in terms of learning, there is support for the traditional approach of memorization as an effective method, while others believe that it is not enough to retain knowledge in the long run. On the other hand, approaches that support conceptualization through inquiry-based learning have gaining popularity due to their effectiveness in promoting critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and long-term retention of knowledge.

The practice of memorization has been used for centuries to teach students information and facts. It has been an effective method of learning when it comes to learning lists, dates, definitions, and formulas. However, memorization has its limitations. It does not provide students with a deeper understanding of the content of lessons. It is also a passive method of learning, which does not engage students in the learning process. This can result in students forgetting the material soon after the lesson is over. Inquiry-based learning, on the other hand, focuses on promoting critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It encourages students to ask questions, find solutions, and apply their knowledge to real-life situations. Inquiry-based learning helps students make connections between different concepts, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the material. This approach is also more active, as students are engaged in the learning process, which results in higher motivation and better retention of knowledge. More importantly, inquiry-based learning can help students develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are transferable to real-life situations. This is because students are not just memorizing information but also applying their knowledge to solve problems. This can help students develop a sense of ownership over the lessons, as they have a deeper understanding of how the information can be used in practical situations.

As a teacher, while I recognize the merits of memorization, I know that this approach is not enough to support long-term retention of knowledge. Approaches that support conceptualization through inquiry-based learning, what we employ at UNIS, are more efficient and lead to a deeper understanding and better retention of knowledge.

"One day the war will be over. One day the soldiers will lay down their arms, the refugees will return home, the children will laugh and play once more. But for those who have suffered, for those who have lost loved ones, the memories will remain forever. The memories of a time when fear ruled the world, a time when innocence was shattered and childhood was stolen. The memories of a time when a bag of marbles was worth more than a life." - A Bag of Marbles, Joseph Joffo

This week's Newsletter purposefully began with one of my favorite paragraphs from the novel "Un sac de billes", a book I read when I was 10 years old. "A Bag of Marbles" is a memoir by the French author Joffo, recounting his experiences as a young Jewish boy growing up in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The book tells the story of Joffo and his brother as they flee their home in Paris and embark on a dangerous journey through the countryside to escape the Nazis and find safety. Throughout the book, Joffo describes the hardships and challenges he faced, including poverty, hunger, and the constant fear of being caught by the Nazis. Despite these difficulties, he and his brother manage to stay one step ahead of the enemy and find refuge with the help of kind strangers. The story of "A Bag of Marbles" is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of hope, determination, and courage in the face of adversity. Joffo's memoir provides a unique and personal perspective on one of the most devastating periods in world history and serves as a reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the importance of remembering and honoring its victims. 

remember (v.)

mid-14c., remembren, "keep or bear (something or someone) in mind, retain in the memory, preserve unforgotten," from Old French remembrer "remember, recall, bring to mind" (11c.), from Latin rememorari "recall to mind, remember." Remember implies that a thing exists in the memory, not that it is actually present in the thoughts at the moment, but that it recurs without effort. Recollect means that a fact, forgotten or partially lost to memory, is after some effort recalled and present to the mind. Remembrance is the store-house, recollection the act of culling out this article and that from the repository. He remembers everything he hears, and can recollect any statement when called on. The words, however, are often confounded, and we say we cannot remember a thing when we mean we cannot recollect it. [Century Dictionary, 1895]

On Friday, 27 January 2023, the memory of Joseph Joffo and millions of Jews was celebrating during the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony. "The Holocaust Memorial Ceremony was hosted by Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. The event included remarks by United Nations Secretary-General; the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations.[...] Mr. Jacques Grishaver of the Netherlands shared his testimony as a survivor of the Holocaust."

Remembering is essential. Keeping tragedies from the past in human memory now prevents them from reoccurring in the future. So every year the United Nations, and many other organizations around the world, remember the Holocaust hoping to ensure that future generations never replicate the mistakes of the past. But is it enough?

ADL, the world's leading anti-hate organization, founded in 1913 “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all" released an audit in April 2022 * which found that antisemitic incidents in United States reached all-time high in 2021:

New York, NY, April 26, 2022 … Antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high in the United States in 2021, with a total of 2,717 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism reported to ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). This represents the highest number of incidents on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979 – an average of more than seven incidents per day and a 34 percent increase year over year. ADL’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, issued today, found that antisemitic incidents reached a high watermark across virtually every category. Attacks against Jewish institutions, including Jewish community centers (JCCs) and synagogues, were up by 61 percent, incidents at K-12 schools increased 106 percent, and incidents on college campuses rose 21 percent.

Memorizing facts from the past is not enough. Conceptual understanding is vital. The study of genocides and crimes against humanity is a critical component of a humanities curriculum. It is essential to understand the concept of genocide, its causes, and the elements that lead to its occurrence. This knowledge can then be used to anticipate and prevent future tragedies. Of course, the approach needs to be age appropriate. In Junior School our focus is on developing tolerance and encouraging our students to recognize kindness and act kindly toward others, to develop empathy by learning strategies that take others’ perspectives into account and to understand others’ points of view. T1 and T2 students focus on identity, oppression, civil rights, and elements that can lead to genocide as the dehumanization of a particular group, propaganda and hate speech, the violation of human rights, or the failure of international and national leaders to intervene, which can also contribute to the occurrence of genocide.

Education and awareness-raising can play a role in preventing future genocides by promoting tolerance, empathy, and respect for human rights. A conceptual understanding of genocide and the elements that lead to its occurrence is essential in order to prevent future atrocities. It is not enough to simply remember the past as a list of facts, but we must intrinsically understand it so that we can anticipate and stop future events. By conceptualizing the concept of genocide and crimes against humanity, we can take steps to avoid future tragedies and promote peace, justice, and respect for human rights.

As mentioned in my first Principal's letter, sent each year to new families, by joining UNIS your child embarks on a journey guided and shaped by the principles of the United Nations. Inspiring our students to become an active force in shaping a better world is at the heart of everything we do. As did Kofi Annan, we believe that “knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” By joining UNIS, you demonstrate a shared understanding of the essence of learning with us: a process that leads to a sustained and demonstrable consolidation of concepts, competencies, and character for our learners. 

To support our students’ success, our goal and yours, UNIS teachers will continue to focus, beyond the content of our curriculum, on necessary lifelong skills and a conceptual understanding the world so that they can make the world a better place for everyone. For us. 

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School assistant Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

THIS WEEK: FEBRUARY 6

DUE TODAY: Update your child's SDM account for Bus & Semester 2 Activities After School

Accurate daily information entered by you in SDM 

is the only way that your child 

can be escorted to the correct location at dismissal.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDER - Semester 2 Begins on Monday, February 6

If your child rides the bus or takes a class after school, remember to:

to reflect the updates in your JS child's Semester 2 after school Athletics and After School Class/Care Program schedule, and school bus ridership.

In order for your child to attend an Athletics or After School class or ride the Yellow Bus home, your child's SDM account must indicate that they are authorized by you to attend a specific after school activity, or take the bus. This must be updated for each day of the week.

Every afternoon, dismissing teachers and Athletics and After School instructors only follow the instructions that you, the parents, enter and authorize in School Dismissal Manager.

IMPORTANT: 

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 adds to our UNIS Portal. 

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.

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

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

REMINDER: SEMESTER 1 REPORT CARDS WERE MADE AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 3

Semester 1 Report Cards for Junior School students were published on Friday, February 3 on the Veracross Parent Portal. 

If you haven't done so already, we encourage you to review the report card with your child to celebrate his/her achievements during the past semester and engage in conversation about their potential growth.

Your child’s academic achievement for each individual subject is reported separately from his/her learning skills. The descriptors for academic achievement levels ensure a greater JA to T4 alignment and provide clarity in the transition between the word-based scale used in JA to M2 and the numeric scale used from M3 to T4. Previous used Learning to Learn Skills have been replaced by the IB Approaches to Learning Skills. The skills selected for a K-12 progression (Social Skills, Communication Skills, Self-Management Skills, Thinking Skills) are developmentally defined and will be assessed from a frequency of observable behavior.

What is the purpose of the report cards?

The purpose of the report card is to communicate your student’s achievement and learning goals. It is designed to provide you with clear and specific information about your child’s academic progress and the development of behaviors that support lifelong learning. This information includes identifying your child’s level of progress; areas of strength; areas needing additional time, effort, and/or support; and opportunities for growth, based on assessments that demonstrate evidence of learning and teachers’ evaluation.

What grade descriptors are used (JA-M2 Descriptors)

How do I access my child’s report cards?

The Report Cards were published on the Parent Portal of Veracross on February 3. To view them, access the Parent Portal of Veracross (link found on the Parent Portal from the UNIS Website). After logging in to Veracross, simply click on "Classes & Reports", and then on "Report Card".


This Friday, February 10 is the deadline for questions 

about a specific JS teacher’s grading. 

Please contact the teacher directly by email no later than the 10 February 

with a copy to jsoffice@unis.org.

If you do not yet have access to the Veracross portal and need instructions on how to do so, please contact veracross@unis.org for support.

1. From UNIS website, select “Parent Portal”

2. Click on "Veracross Parent Portal"

3. Select “Classes & Reports”

4. Under PROGRESS REPORT, select the required report card


Again, if you do not have access to the Veracross portal and need instructions or support, please contact veracross@unis.org to get information.

INFORMATION: BIRTHDAY BOXES / EIB PROJECT

Thank you to the community for your enthusiasm with our Birthday Boxes project. The project will last another week and the PA graciously extended their help and arranged great destinations for the boxes!


The families at Briarwood Family Center in Queens were the first recipients. The Briarwood Family Residence is a temporary housing shelter for over 90 homeless families. One of the goals of Briarwood is to provide a pleasant, safe and well-maintained environment that encourages families to use the available social-service programs in order to move into permanent housing. A highly skilled professional social-service team conducts comprehensive family-needs assessments.  Programs are offered for budgeting and saving, education and job training. Referrals for drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence are available.  It is confirmed that they have access to an oven to make the cakes!


Congratulations to Truike Boekholt and the students who made this happen! A huge thank you goes out to Jessica Veloso and Nini Selwanes who have a relationship with Briarwood, and are the ones who advocated for and coordinated donations. 

INFORMATION: DEI WITH JS FACULTY

Four TH Students Share DEI Experiences at JS Faculty Meeting


Four Tutorial House students joined the Junior School faculty meeting on Tuesday, January 31st to share their experiences and insights after attending the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in San Antonio, TX in November/December.  


Enkhdari Gereltogtokh (T2), Ria Minnam (T2), Helena Rocha (T3), and Saya Scott (T3) led the JS faculty through the ice breaker "Silent Movement" that focused on the significance of identities in a school community.  The students encouraged leaning into and embracing potentially uncomfortable (and important) conversations, and developing a mindset that replaces judgement with curiosity in order to "open your horizons" to foster an environment where all feel a sense of belonging and that differences are seen, heard and valued.  This was followed by an enriching Q&A session.  


Judith King-Calnek, PhD | Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

INFORMATION: MOANA TICKETS ON SALE

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR MOANA

Join us for the Middle School Musical, Moana!   Click here to purchase your tickets.


PERFORMANCE DATES AND CASTS:

Please note that Moana is double cast. This means that two different principal casts will share the performance dates. The Sa Donu (You're Welcome) Cast will perform February 9th at 7 p.m. and Feb 11th at 2 p.m. The Vinaka (Thank You) Cast will perform February 10th at 7 p.m. and Feb. 11th at 7 p.m.) The Ocean, Ancestor, and Village Ensembles will perform at all shows. Please click here to see the cast breakdown.


February 9 @ 7PM (Sa Donu Cast)

February 10 @ 7PM (Vinaka Cast)

February 11 @ 2 PM (Sa Donu Cast)

February 11 @ 7PM (Vinaka Cast)

ABOUT THE SHOW: Disney’s Moana is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, bringing the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,”“Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.”

This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.

INFORMATION: UNIS COOKBOOK CONTRIBUTIONS

Contribute to the UNIS Cookbook


Dear UNIS Community,

The International Baker's Club is revising the UNIS cookbook for the modern era, and we would like all of you, with your delicious recipes from all over the world to help contribute to it. We will collect and organize your creations into the cookbook, which will be released in June of this year. We hope that you will buy a copy or access the e-book version to cook all of these wonderful foods at home! 


Please fill out this form to submit your recipes. Thank you for your contribution.

INFORMATION: UNIS SPRING BREAK CAMP JA-M4

2023 Spring Break Camp (March 27 - April 7)


During the upcoming spring break, UNIS offers 2 weeks "Spring Camp" for students in JA through M4. The program description is attached for your convenience. 

  LINK to Registration

UNIS 2022-23 Spring Camp BROCHURE


Program Dates & Times: 

Week # 1: Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31, 2023

Week # 2: Monday, April 3 - Friday, April 7, 2023 


Arrival: 8:30am to 9:00am 

Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Extended Care Program: 3:30pm-5:30pm 


Division 1 Program (JA-J4) (inclusive)


Division 2 Program (M1-M4) (inclusive)

    


Registration Fees: 

Early Bird Fee: $700 per week (if registered by February 15 , 2023)

Regular Fees starting February 16, 2023: $750 per week


*Registration is open on a weekly basis. Families can choose to register their children for both weeks or one of the weeks. The program will be offered if the minimum number of participants is reached. Please register as soon as possible.


The confirmation will be sent on March 15th.


Note: Students must bring their own food and snacks as the cafeteria will be closed during this time.


If you have any questions, please contact:

Dr. Lidana Jalilvand, Director of Special Programs

Email: ljalilvand@unis.org

Tel: 212 584 3083  

INFORMATION: NEPAL CLUB AUCTION - FEBRUARY 22

Nepal Club Auction - Wednesday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m. 

The UNIS-Nepal Service Learning Trip will again occur this year! Together we raise money to support the school lunch program for schools in rural Nepal. Our funds help employ local women to prepare breakfast and lunch for all students attending our under-resourced partner schools.


We will hold an auction on Wednesday, February 22nd from 6-9pm, and would welcome your participation. 


Please use this link for further details: Nepal Club Auction

Mark your calendar and join us 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at UNIS.

PARENT ASSOCIATION CORNER: BAKE SALE / CARNIVAL FUNDRAISER / JS PARENT COFFEE / GREEN GUIDE TRAINING / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVE LINKS

BAKE SALE ON FEBRUARY 14 


UNIS Friendship Day Bake Sale

Tuesday, February 14, 2023




عيد صداقة سعيد

友誼日快樂!/友谊日快乐！

Happy Friendship Day!

Bonne journée de l'amitié !

С днем дружбы!

¡Feliz día de la amistad!


These are the 6 official UN languages and this is how we say Happy Friendship Day! The friendships built and fostered in UNIS serve as a reminder of the UN General Assembly’s position that friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals inspire peace and build bridges between communities.


On Tuesday, February 14th, the PA will be hosting the Annual UNIS Friendship Day Bake Sale. The Sale will be open to JS and MS students, faculty, staff and parents, with proceeds going to support community activities.  Please join us in this wonderful tradition by donating edible treats on the day of the sale.


In the spirit of sharing, we encourage parents to donate items that reflect the food and diet of their cultures, taking into consideration that UNIS is an allergy-aware school.  To meet the needs of our entire community, the PA is also looking for donations of edible treats that reflect different diet preferences, as well as allergen-free items. 


To address our community’s Social Responsibilities around environmental awareness and reducing waste, we ask that:



If you have any questions, please contact the JS PA Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org


Thank you for helping us make this event a great success!

JS FAMILY CARNIVAL FUNDRAISER - MARCH 18


Join us for the Junior School Family Carnival Fundraiser for 2 hours of carnival fun!

Date: Saturday, 18 March 2023

Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm   

Location: Cocoon Tribeca 316 Greenwich Street between Duane and Jay Street 

Price:

Tickets are online only. Buy your tickets here. Tickets are selling fast. Buy your tickets now!

What’s included: 2 hours of carnival fun! Ticket costs cover 4 carnival game tickets, magic show, balloon twisting, a dance party, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage. 

Special highlight: A silent auction featuring several sought-after unique experiences! 

If you have any questions, please contact the JS PA Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org

JS PARENT COFFEE - MARCH 7

Save the Date: The next JS Parent Coffee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 at 8:30am

GREEN GUIDE TRAINING

In keeping with the theme of UNIS - “Greening the Blue”, we would like to invite you to a Green guide training. This training will last around 20 minutes. And will focus on how to sort waste. If you’re interested in learning about this, please join us at UNIS on Wednesday, 18 of February, at 8:20 AM.

Abhilasha, Saima, Ellen | Social Responsibility Committee

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. 

COLD WEATHER REMINDERS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Cold weather is here and the Junior School has important 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 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 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:

REMINDER: HEALTH REMINDERS

COVID PROTOCOLS

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:


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

Please review the full protocols on our website https://www.unis.org/covid-protocols." 

HEALTH PROTOCOLS

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