Newsletter #28

"In the turquoise lagoons of Vanuatu, an archipelago of dreams, there lived a boy. He was born on an island where the tales of his ancestors echoed in the rustling leaves and the sighing waves. His name was Tamati, and his heart was as bright as the sun that rose each morning over the coral reefs. Tamati spent his days wandering the islands. He discovered the hidden caves where the spirits of the ancestors whispered secrets of a time long past. He ventured into the lush jungles, where he would listen to the songs of the birds and the laughter of the monkeys, and learn the wisdom of the plants that grew there. The sea was his playground, where he would join the fish in their endless dance through the coral gardens, and swim with the turtles and the manta rays, gentle giants of the deep. He marveled at the colors that painted his world, vibrant shades of green and blue and gold that filled his soul with wonder.

But as the years passed, Tamati noticed a change in the land and the sea. The water crept closer to the shore, swallowing the beaches where he had played as a child. The vibrant coral reefs, once teeming with life, now lay pale and lifeless beneath the waves. The tales of his people, passed down through generations, spoke of a world in harmony, a balance between land and sea. But Tamati could see that balance slipping away, the victim of a force he could not understand, one that reached far beyond the islands he called home. The colors of Tamati's world began to fade, washed away by the rising tides that threatened to drown the beauty of Vanuatu. He watched as his favorite place, a secluded cove where he had once whispered his dreams to the stars, vanished beneath the hungry sea.

Heart heavy with sadness, Tamati knew he could not stand in silence while his home, his very heritage, was consumed by the eroding and devastating waters. He became a voice for his people, sharing their stories and their wisdom with the world beyond the islands. He told of the delicate balance that bound them to the land and the sea, and of the terrible cost of disrupting that balance. Tamati's words reached the ears of the world, echoing through the hallowed halls of the United Nations General Assembly. Vanuatuan Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau listened, struck by emotion as he remembered being that boy long ago, reveling in the innocent paradise of his island home. The words moved him, and he knew it was time to act. Ishmael Kalsakau addressed the United Nations, imploring the world to stand together to protect the planet and save Vanuatu, along with all the other vulnerable people facing the devastating effects of climate change. The story ends here, with hope in our hearts that those who hold the power to make a difference will choose the right path. It is up to us to keep reminding them, to ensure that the world hears the voices of Tamati and all those who call for a future where the beauty of the earth can be preserved for generations to come."

THE END

Dear parents,

As Tamati's tale comes to an end, I have to recognize that his story, while inspired by Vanuatuan tales and the beauty of the islands, is an imaginary one. Yet, the climate change that threatens his world is very real. Tamati represents every child who may face the devastating consequences of climate change in their lifetime. And it is specifically to avoid this that Vanuatu has taken significant steps to address climate change. On March 29, a UN General Assembly resolution, which started as a humble campaign on the Vanuatu campus of the University of the South Pacific, requested an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice. This diplomatic feat could unlock the power of international law and bring forth the necessary transformations to combat the climate crisis. The International Court of Justice may clarify the legal obligations of countries concerning climate change and the legal consequences for those causing significant harm to the climate system. By doing so, the court could outline the responsibilities of states to protect the climate system and the rights of present and future generations from climate-induced harm. Such an advisory opinion could solidify the connection between climate change and human rights, emphasizing that raising mitigation ambition is a matter of legal obligation, not discretion.

The story of Tamati serves as a reminder that our children, too, could be Tamati – growing up in a world irrevocably altered by the consequences of our actions. Vanuatu's efforts at the UN General Assembly and their commitment to solidarity and collective action showcase the resilience of a small nation in the face of adversity. Their vision could hopefully become a testament to the power of global cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. 

As we head towards Earth Day celebrations at UNIS this coming Friday, Ada, Mireille, Adrián, Matteo, Ira, Lia, Zane, Emilia, Aiden, Abdulaziz, Ione, Eli, Prisa, Allison, Olivia, Josephine, Connor, Oscar, Oliver, Moon, Logan, Colin, Ando, Liv, Jotham, Anya, Poppy, Noah, Claire, Anna Minh, Juliette, Chloe, Isla, Lennon, Theodore, Layla, Rebecca, Farrah, Ziad, Aurelia, Martin, Mateo, Vesper, Paloma, Yuto, Gael, Ekrem, Emma, Lucia, Aidan, Russell, Sophia, Louis, Adrian, Dylan, Alvar, Lennox, Pascal, Beryl, Hamza, Peadar, Michael, Hana, Sara, Sophie, Leo, Luna-Sophie, Cody, Liat, Noa, Naho, Abigail, Sebastian, Paul, Fedor, Jason, Sofia, Azra, Benjamin, Teresa, Milo, Grayson, Nora, Ariel, Luca, Anna, Beatriz Alba, Noa Grace, Lake, Reina, Leandra, Salvador, Ella, Kenzo, Zeina, Haruka, Lucy, Riley, Violette, Arthur, Arch, Philip, Viaan, Riyu, Matilda, Yasha, Sébastien, Gabriel, Rhea, Jeremy, Delia, Alice, Lipika, Shun, Hannah, Olivia Therese, Vihaan, Adam, Tuesday, Tristan, Bianca, Alpha, Rakesh, Crispin, Samay, Honor, Elizabeth, Sahib, Alexander, Nathan, Samantha, Evelyn, Alexandra, Nevaire, Chiara, Rosie, Henri, Laila, Mariam, Mika, Amelie, Sahil, Eliot, Kristina, Ana, Celeste, Edem, Aria, Sanaya, Balqis, Jones, Caden, Felix, Kili, Stepan, Astrid, Iannis Enea, Amaya, Edward, Lillian, Stella, Daniel, Lev, Phoenix, Colette, Satsuki, Omar, Alexandria, Scarlette, Evangeline, Siddharth, Isabelle, Sahir, Jack, Elaf, Weston, Ayla, Jerald, Morgan, Jacob, Gili, Wesley, Jonas, Keira, Carlotta, Ema, Valerie, Matthew, Nadezhda, Anastasia Sarah, Noelle, Henrik, Roman, Cameron, Adelyn, Arden, Ethan, Venny, Lucille, Kai, Ved, Rey, Richard, Eve, Edith, Nina, Vincent, Luke, Abdul Malik, Samuel, Lucas, Leonor, Tane, Oriane, Lana, Mason, Julian, Gento, Alya, Rhys, Rose, Erin, Luka, Elinor, Inaya, Konner, Myrah, Mia, Ava, Arin, Sia, Grason, Luna, Mikel, Gustavs, Mira, Javier, Yisu, Nahom, Jaiden, Naomi, Wolf, Ayaan, Bode, Zachary, Taiga, Tomoki, Pierre, Santiago, Joyce, Daphne, June, Trishna, Yas, Salma, Kenta, Kako, Ishani, Clara, Spencer, Tingjun, Shira, Jay, Tobias, Francesco, Francesca, Aiko, Simone, Kiichi, Markuss, Sienna, Olympia, Chenyi, Okechukwu, Ryo, Lucian, Charlie, Meera, Michal, Lukas, Elise, Mila, Solange, Matilde, Milena, Isabella, Omaima, Darya, Marcelo, Leopoldine, Willa, Tomoyuki, Meikan, Dev, Scarlet, Elsa, Giorgio, Avery, Carson, Teigen, Klara, Emily, Raya, Ivan, Effie, Danika, Paula, James, Cleo, Aneurin, Itunu, Annika, Aarav, Celine, Ludovic, Alessio, Noah Sebastian, Bryan, Rameen, Olivie, Alejandra, Ofir, Thomas, Aki, Maia, Caitlin, Avighna, Avaneesh, Elena, Yasmeen, Louisa, Grace, Maxime, Leila and Julia ask you to do everything in your power to preserve the beauty of their world, our world, for them and for generations to come. Be inspired by the real-life determination of the people of Vanuatu to make a difference.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

• • Tuesday, April 18 | Iftar at UNIS 7:15pm (details in this newsletter)

  • Mark your calendars for the upcoming JS concerts (details in this newsletter):

    • • • Tuesday, April 25 - J1 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Wednesday, April 26 - J2 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Thursday, April 27 - J3 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Friday, April 28 - J4 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Thursday, May 18 - JA Concert (8:45 - 9:15) Omani Assembly Hall

WEEKLY PRIORITY: Update your child's SDM account for 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.

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

• • Tuesday, April 25 - Friday, April 28 | J1-J4 Concerts (details in this newsletter)

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

  • Friday, May 12 | Book Fair (Save the Date)

  • Thursday, May 18 | JA Spring Sing (Save the Date)

  • Friday, May 26 & Monday, May 29 | School Closed / Memorial Day Weekend

  • Friday, June 2 | 1/2 Day School for TH Graduation (11:45 Dismissal for JS)

  • Friday, June 16 | JS Last Day of School

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 tech.support@unis.org

Parents are invited to join us on campus for an annual celebration of MUSIC and THEATRE performed by our JA - J4 students! 

JS students and their teachers have been working together all year in preparation for this event. All are  very excited to share their acting, dancing and singing accomplishments with the UNIS community. 

Mark your calendars for upcoming JS concerts:

• • • • • Tuesday, April 25 - J1 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Wednesday, April 26 - J2 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Thursday, April 27 - J3 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Friday, April 28 - J4 Concert (8:45 - 9:30) Theater

        • Thursday, May 18 - JA Concert (8:45 - 9:15) Omani Assembly Hall

JS Parent Coffee on April 12:  JS Math Program & Dreambox 

For those of you not able to join us on Wednesday, April 12 for the discussion led by Amy Morris, Math & Science Curriculum Specialist, on the JS Math Program and Dreambox, you can view the slides and the event here:

Amy Morris Slide Show

April 12 JS Parent Coffee

Exhibition of Story Cloths 

Thanks to PA Bridge2UN Committee Chair/T1 Parent Vesna Golic, Common Threads Project, in collaboration with the Laurie M Tisch Illumination Fund, is inviting interested UNIS community members to an exhibition of story cloths - "The Fabric of Healing." These are beautiful textiles made by women and girls in the program of recovery from war, displacement and gender based violence. 

Guests will view intricate story cloths made by survivors of human rights violations around the world. Common Threads Project (CTP) offers a unique and effective healing program for survivors of gender-based violence, war, and displacement in partnership with local organizations in Ecuador, Bosnia, Nepal, DRC, and the United States. Through the creation of story cloths, participants express and process their traumatic experiences. To view a digital gallery of story cloths please use this link

The spaces are limited and will be managed on the first-come-first- served basis. Please sign up by April 17.

Dates:

We are offering free guided tours on:

Wednesday, 19th April @11.00

Wednesday, 26th April @ 3.30

Wednesday, 3rd May @11.00

Tuesday, 16th May @1.00 (particularly geared for New2UNIS parents)

Sign up:

UNIS members can sign up to attend the exhibition by using this form. The exhibition can be viewed by invitation only. It is held at the premises/gallery of the Laurie M Tisch Illumination Fund on 56th street (near Carnegie Hall). The address will be provided to those who register to attend.  

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. 

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

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.

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.