Newsletter #25

Dear parents,

In his speech on Monday, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern over the disappearing progress towards gender equality and estimated that it could take as long as 300 years to achieve full equality. He highlighted the alarming decline in sexual and reproductive rights, as well as the exclusion of women from public life in Afghanistan. Around the world, rallies and protests marked International Women’s Day, with many focusing on issues in Iran, Afghanistan, and other local and regional concerns. In Islamabad, Pakistan, police attempted to quell women protesting for equal rights. Meanwhile, young women protested outside Kabul University on Monday, as men returned to classes after the Taliban's ban on women and girls receiving education beyond primary school.

On March 8, Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur for the UN on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, alerted the international community as we all must "continue to provide robust support to Afghan women, reaffirm their commitment by taking concrete actions to support and realise the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, in particular their right to education and employment, prioritise women and girls rights in all their engagements with the de facto authorities and demand the immediate reversal of edicts and policies that assault women’s and girls’ rights, take proactive measures to support Afghan women to engage in decision making processes in Afghanistan and about Afghanistan, increase support to Afghan women so that they can resume employment, access aid and healthcare (including reproductive healthcare), and have an adequate standard of living.”

The same day, Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and head of the mission to Afghanistan said that "Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights [...] it has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere.” she added.

Yesterday, from Kabul, US Ambassador and Representative to the UN Human Rights Council Michele Taylor raised concern over the ban on female education in Afghanistan by the Taliban, reported Tolo News. Taking to social media she tweeted that female students in Afghanistan face unacceptable restrictions on their freedom and ability to pursue education: “Over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and math. In Afghanistan, girls are barred from attending secondary school and face unacceptable restrictions on their freedom of movement.”

This past Wednesday, our Junior School Students, from J1 to J4, welcomed women activists who stand strong for all girls, all around the world, to receive an education. They heard the words of Negma Coy, a Maya Kaqchikel writer, painter, actress, and teacher from Guatemala, Norma Isaczai, UNIS Human Resources Specialist and activist for the right of Afghan girls to be educated, Ms. Isaczai's relative in Afghanistan, Angela Sarwar, a student who doesn't have the right to hold a pen, with a moving testimony she recorded for our students, and Angie Murimirwa, a Zimbabwean social entrepreneur, activist, and advocate for girls' education, and Executive Director of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in Africa, a non-profit organization that works to empower girls and young women in rural areas through education.

We invite you to view the recording from the Assembly, and our slides, and continue this conversation at home with your children, at work, on your social media, and everywhere else. Everyone should have the basic right to go to school. Everyone.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School assistant Principal

1. We suggest that parents book Student-Led Conferences at a time that's best for their child(ren). For example a J1 might be feeling tired on Wednesday evening at 7:00 and might have more energy for presenting their learning on Thursday or Friday morning instead.

2. Note that all Student-Led Conferences are in person this year, to be held on March 22, March 23 or March 24. Zoom conferences are not an option and rescheduling an in-person conference for another date is not possible. 

3. Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24 are considered school days although classes are not in session. If for any reason parents are not able to be on campus for conferences between March 22 and March 24 we encourage you to email your homeroom and language teachers no later than Monday, March 20 to let them know. Teachers who have been alerted that a student will not be available to lead their conference on campus by March 20, can arrange to have materials sent home so that students and parents can engage together at home over Spring Break, without the teacher, to celebrate their learning.

The goal of these conferences is "to celebrate the Learning Experience and Successes of the school year, in connection with the IB attitudes and attributes". To reach this goal, as in the past, parents have a fundamental role to play as the main interlocutor with our students, your children. You will find below important information to support you in understanding the goal and organization of the conferences this year. 

Students

Before 

• Students and teachers work together on reflections and choose pieces of work which are representative of the student’s learning experience. 

• Students work with teachers to prepare for sharing samples of their work during conferences.

• Students reflect on their learning experiences and successes throughout the school year.

• Students reflect on and share report on their social and emotional lives at school.

• Students prepare for sharing their reflections and celebrations of the year. They will review with the teacher what they would like to celebrate and the pieces of work that will support their reflections.

During

• The student is the main speaker during the conference.

• Students will share their reflections and celebrations of the school year connecting them to the samples of work they chose to share with parents

Parents

Before

• Parents and teachers reach out to each other with any issues or concerns well before conferences.

• Parents attend the Student-Led Conference Parent Coffee on Wednesday evening, led by the Principal and Assistant principal to clarify expectations and the structure of the conferences.

•  Parents read the Parent Newsletter to understand the goals and structure of the SLC.

During

• Parents must remember to let the student lead the conversation, saving questions for the students until the end.

• Parents will listen to their child’s explanations and reflections as the student presents their celebrations, reflections, and work samples.

• Parents may provide feedback, ask the child questions about his/her work and offer encouragement to their child.

• Parents may ask how they can help and what the student needs from them.

The conferences will be held on Wednesday evening, March 22 (for J1, J2, J3, and J4), and during school hours on Thursday, March 23, and Friday, March 24 (for PK, JA, J1, J2, J3, and J4). 

Regular JS classes will not be held on Thursday and Friday. On those two days, JS students and their families are invited to campus for the length of their conferences only.

Important SLC Dates for PK - J4:

• • Wednesday, March 22: from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for J1 - J4 Student-Led Conferences (not for PK or JAs)

  • Thursday, March 23: from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for PK - J4 Student-Led Conferences 

  • Friday, March 24: from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for PK - J4 Student-Led Conferences 

Sign-Up Period 

• • Start / Open: Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm (To be confirmed this week)

  • End / Close: Monday, March 20 at 7 pm

Access to conference sign-up

• • Sign-up is available through the link on the Veracross Parent Portal (myunis.vc).

  • Without access to Veracross, you will not be able to book conference times with your children’s teachers.

  • If you have not yet received notifications regarding your Veracross login credentials, or have forgotten your password, please send an email message now to tech.support@unis.org to retrieve them.

  • If you have your credentials you must use your Veracross credentials to access the Parent Teacher Conferences sign up system.

  • When you login to the conference portal, you will be able to sign up for conference slots for each of your children.

Parents will make appointments with the homeroom teacher and the language teacher only. 

• Specialists will welcome families to their classrooms during Student-Led Conferences, without appointments, for a maximum of 10 minutes. 

• Families may visit specialist teachers before or after their homeroom appointment. However, if your homeroom teacher conference is the last of the day, ending between 2:20 - 3:00, kindly be sure to visit your specialist teachers before then.

• The specialist rooms will be open to all, so there may be students from other grades visiting at the same time. 

• Specialists may need to cap the number of students visiting at one time. Thank you for your understanding and note that you should only need to wait 10 minutes until another family is finished.

• Specialists may have activities set up where children can demonstrate the things they have learned. 

• Specialists will facilitate as needed by giving prompts and asking questions related to the work samples or activities being presented.

• Parents may ask the specialist teachers some general questions at this time. 

• Siblings are welcome. They can join in the classroom or wait outside on a chair.

And remember, the Student Led Conference is a time to pause and celebrate your child’s successes and understand their challenges. It is about your children, and allowing them to lead and take ownership of their learning journey and it is not a time to raise significant issues, or a time to discuss class placements for next year!

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

Accurate daily information entered by you in SDM 

is the only way that your child 

can be escorted to the correct location at dismissal.

• • Wednesday, March 15 | All-School PA Meeting (details in this newsletter)

  • Thursday, March 16 | Student-Led Conference Sign Up Opens for Parents 

  • Saturday, March 18 | JS Family Carnival Fundraiser (waitlist is open)

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

• • Monday, March 20 | Student-Led Conference Sign Up Closes 

  • Wednesday, March 22 - Friday, March 24 | JS Student-Led Conferences

  • Thursday, March 23 & Friday, March 24 | No Classes for JS Students

  • March 27 - April 7 | No Classes for Students / Spring Break (camp registrations are in this newsletter)

  • Monday, April 10 | Classes Resume (no yellow bus service)

  • Week of April 10 - April 14 | No Yellow School Bus Service / Make alternate arrangements & update SDM dismissal / Private Queens & Brooklyn buses will operate as usual

  • Saturday, May 6 | International Food & Fun Fair 11:00 - 3:00 (Save the Date)

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:

• Going to Veracross

• Clicking on Household Information

• Updating Household Profile -> Contacts.

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

As an important reminder, we ask all JS families to reinforce at home that JS students should not trade or sell any food or possessions at school, and to follow these Guidelines about money and toys:

No Money at School 

Junior School children should not bring money to school and they are not permitted to purchase food in the Cafeteria or from vending machines.  If they forget their lunch from home one day, they can ask the JS Office to help arrange for school lunch for that day. Parents are expected to send payment in cash to the Food Service Director the following day in an envelope with their child’s name and homeroom. 

No Toys at School 

JS students are not permitted to bring toys from home, including electronics, balls and trading cards. Aside from often being lost, these items are a distraction from learning in the classroom, and a cause of conflict at play and during after school programs.

The complete JS Guidelines are always available for review at: JUNIOR SCHOOL GUIDELINES FAQ

Our teachers will soon begin the process of creating class lists for the 2023-2024 school year. Homeroom teachers, specialists, the school psychologist and the counselors collaborate to create balanced classes across each grade. Friendships and social interactions from this and previous years are taken into account and care is taken to ensure that children are placed in a group with familiar friends and where they will also have the opportunity to develop new friendships.

While the Junior School does not accept requests for specific teachers, if you have any serious concerns about next year’s class placement for your child be sure to email their counselor by Friday, March 24, prior to Spring Break, to have those concerns addressed.

PK & JA Dr. Dana Marnin dmarnin@unis.org 

J2 & J4  Ms. Amy Iamundo aiamundo@unis.org

J1 & J3  Ms. Alyssa Frost afrost@unis.org

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

• Division 1 (JA-J4)    

• Division 2 (M1-M4)

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)

• Leadership

• Arts & Crafts

• Team Building 

• Art and Design 

Division 2 Program (M1-M4) (inclusive)

• Week # 1  Debate & Public Speaking / Student Government:  Exciting Simulation Model UN - Crisis Committee - Security Council 

•  Art and Design 

• Team Building 

• Week # 2  Debate & Public Speaking / Student Government:  Exciting Simulation Model Congress - Executive Power

• Art and Design 

• Team Building 

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  

All-School PA Meeting, Wednesday, March 15, 7:00pm

Would you like to know how UNIS Music teacher/ JS DEI coordinator Ms.Truike Boekholt founded a school, 13 years ago in India for underprivileged children and how Stevie Wonder got involved?

She has received numerous awards including two at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC for her dedication to this initiative. Truike Boekholt was born in a small rural village (Ospel) in the South of The Netherlands. After graduating from The Amsterdam School of the Arts, she found herself traveling to India, Nepal, Russia, Guyana, USA and all over Europe. For the last 20 years she has worked as a music educator and recently as a DEI coordinator at the United Nations International School in NYC. She is a proud mother of 20 year-old twins Ari and Bloeme. In the short new documentary “Journey to the Children of the Ganges” by award winning Cinematographer Rajeswari Thiagarajan (Chennai), you can follow her journey to Children of the Ganges in the majestic Himalayas.

Here is an interview Truike recently had with Kim Berns (Kim Berns Media Group) where she talks candidly about service, volunteering, and giving back to others and her inspiration for founding the small school - What's the Story with Kim Berns: Truike Boekholt - LMC Media. And here’s the trailer to the documentary to be screened at the virtual PA meeting on 3/15 - "Journey to the Children of Ganges".

This special PA meeting will also feature

• A screening of “Journey to the Children of the Ganges” as well as a Q and A with Ms. Boekholt and Maya Mukerjhee and Maya Mukherjee, T4 student, who was part of fundraising for the school when she was JA and J1;

• Dr. Judith King-Calnek. Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UNIS;

• PA Finance Report; and

• Panel Discussion with parents about volunteering with the PA Executive Committee.

• Link to be provided and meeting will be recorded. Questions? Contact us at unispa@unis.org

JS Parent Coffee on March 7 (Recording)

For those of you not able to join us last week for the JS Parent Coffee on the JS reading curriculum, library resources and Student-Led Conferences, you can watch it here

Save the Date: UNIS International Food and Fun Fair 2023!

May 6 from 11am to 3pm 

Mark your calendars!  The IFFF is back at UNIS on May 6, 2023!

This will be a day to taste food from across the globe, along with outdoor games, crafts and arts activities, dance floor, flower decorations, raffle etc.

We are looking for volunteers and if you can help out or if you know of someone who would like to volunteer, please get in touch with us.

Please fill in your details here 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QJ-gnGvIA3LxoU9-jIJ3KIIezyKRnxNE0mFdjdMlrGA/edit?usp=sharing

Please reach out if you have any questions and tune in to the PA meeting on March 15, as we will give more specifics on each role.

Looking forward to celebrating our wonderful community.

Best regards

Abhilasha and Sabrina

UNIS PA Cultural Committee Co-Chairs

Abhilasha 646 436 4047 (abhilasha.mahan@pa.unis.org)

Sabrina 917 270 0276 (sabrina.zancan@pa.unis.org)

Waitlist for JS Family Carnival Fundraiser, Saturday, March 18, 1:30-3:30 pm 

• We have SOLD OUT of tickets but you can still join the waitlist. Please sign up HERE (up to 4 tickets per family) to join the waitlist.

• If you want to sell your tickets, please contact the JS PA Coordinators at pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org so we can match you with people on the waitlist.

• Proceeds raised will go to the UNIS PA to support events for UNIS families.

• 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 beverages. 

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

 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: JS PARENT COORDINATOR (2 Positions Open)

Deadline: April 11

• Parents can either self-nominate or be nominated by a fellow parent. 

• Each Coordinator position is for a 2-year term. 

• Nominations should be provided NO LATER THAN APRIL 11th 2023 to the current school coordinators (pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org), who will make recommendations and review the nominees with the Junior School Principal.

• The By-Laws of the PA can be found here and have descriptions of the role of school parent coordinators.

• Questions? Please email the JS Parent Coordinators (pa_jscoordinators@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. 

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:

• they have tested negative on a rapid antigen

• they 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.

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:

• 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.