MINA FEDOR, BY AMANDA PHINGBODHIPAKKIYA, Time for Kids, Calling for Change April 23, 2021

Dear parents,

In August 2014, our family embarked on an exciting new journey as we moved to New York from South Korea, embracing the vibrant community at UNIS, the United Nations International School. I vividly remember the pride and admiration expressed in my mother's eyes when I told her about my new position at the school of the United Nations. With a heart filled with hope, she believed that UNIS, embodying the core values of peace, equity, and diversity, would be the perfect nurturing ground for her multicultural grand-daughter, Leila, who proudly carries her American, Indonesian, and French heritage.

Leila instantly felt a profound sense of belonging in her diverse classroom, where her three nationalities harmoniously blended with 22 different nationalities represented among her 19 classmates. Under the compassionate guidance of her teacher, Mr. Tony O'Sullivan, Leila not only progressed in academics but also cultivated a strong sense of empathy, courage, and activism. He inspired her to stand against discrimination and racism and fostered the growth of a young activist within her, ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

At UNIS, our mission is, in part, to empower our students to become activists, standing up for what is right and fighting for social justice in a world that desperately needs their passion and determination. This leads me to share the deeply moving and inspiring story of Mina Fedor, a 13-year-old Asian American teenager who found the courage to raise her voice against the escalating anti-Asian violence she witnessed during the pandemic, including a harrowing incident involving her own Korean mother.

Channeling her emotions into a powerful force for change, Mina began by addressing xenophobia during a virtual school assembly, speaking up for her community and setting the stage for a more significant impact. Empowered by her determination, Mina later organized a rally to bring attention to the urgent need to stop racist violence against Asian Americans. The event exceeded all expectations, with 1,200 people attending, united in the common cause of promoting equality and justice. Through her unwavering perseverance and determination, Mina founded AAPI Youth Rising, a collective of middle school activists dedicated to uplifting their community and putting an end to racist hate. Mina's activism has led her to advocate for the inclusion of Asian American history in school curricula, asserting that "Asian American history is American history." She believes that educating people about the long history of anti-Asian violence in America can help prevent further incidents while fostering understanding and respect among different communities.

Many other incredible young Asian American activists are working tirelessly to raise awareness about the issues impacting their communities. From embracing sustainability to using music and art to reflect personal experiences, their inspiring journeys and unique personalities represent the diverse cultural backgrounds within the AAPI community.

Aditi Mayer, is a climate justice activist, explores style, sustainability, and social justice through storytelling. With South Asian roots, she redefines fashion and promotes true sustainability. Amanda Nguyen, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, CEO, and astronaut, ignites change by fighting for the rights of sexual violence survivors and shedding light on anti-Asian hate crimes. Kristy Drutman, a Filipina youth climate activist, addresses the intersection of diversity, media, and environmentalism through her podcast and media series, Green Brown Girl. Hana Razvi, driven by her passion for environmental sustainability, tackles climate action while acknowledging her experiences with environmental racism. Arin Siriamonthep, a Thai-American artist, photographer, and magazine founder, leads Asians Speak Up, a social activist platform that goes beyond words to take collective action. Kevin Aipopo, a Pacific Climate Warrior, challenges the status quo and uplifts voices in their communities through poetry, education, and community organizing. Ruby Ibarra, a Filipina-American songwriter, rapper, and artist, unites people through hip-hop, reflecting on her experiences and singing in Tagalog and Waray. Anne Castro, a Filipina-American artist, raises awareness of racism through her powerful art series, "What Are You?" And Selina N. Leem, a young Marshallese woman, fights to save her country from the devastating effects of climate change, inspiring us to speak up about the issues that matter most. These young activists, and many others, exemplify the power of diverse voices within the AAPI community, inspiring us to support and amplify their hopes and actions.

As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, let us honor the powerful experiences and stories of individuals like Mina Fedor, and many more, and recognize the profound impact our UNIS mission can have on shaping the hearts and minds of young activists like my daughters, Leila, Lucy, and on all of our children. But let's also recognize that their experience, their growth, their understanding of the concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Sustainability, and many more essential ideas, beyond our program at UNIS, is not only life-changing for them but also for us.

Our students never cease to amaze us with their unique ideas to make the world a better place: installing a turbine in the East River to generate our own electricity, creating a website to raise money and save animals, walking to the park next to the school to save our planet, standing in front of the United Nations to ask our leaders to stop the wars in Ukraine, fundraising to help the animals in Australia who have lost their habitat as fires ravaged their land, initiating efforts to support families who have lost their homes in the terrible earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, inviting friends, teachers, and parents to meet with students in Kenya who inspire our students on how being educated is the most precious privilege of all. And so on. There have been so many ideas and initiatives led by our students over the years. When I moved to New York in 2014, I anticipated that Leila would have a transformative experience and thrive as a precious little Asian, American, and French girl in a multicultural environment. I did not realize that I would follow the same journey and be deeply transformed by my inspiring student, colleague, and parent community.

Let's cherish our diverse community, which serves as our strength and inspiration. Together, led by our students, we can make a difference in the world, standing up against injustice, supporting one another, and being the change we wish to see. Let us celebrate the passion, resilience, and courage of young activists, knowing that they are the torchbearers of a brighter, more equitable future.

Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and admiration to Truike Boekholt, Madeline McBroom, and Karen Andrews, our exceptional music and drama teachers, as well as all the talented students from J1 to J4, for delivering a truly extraordinary performance during the Spring Concerts. The dedication, passion, and creativity that went into each act left a lasting impression on all who attended. In this newsletter you'll find many photos that capture the magic of the concerts. To explore the complete photo albums, simply click on the link below. We are also excited to announce that videos of the concerts will be made available soon so that you can relive the enchanting experience, or share it with family and friends who couldn't attend. Stay tuned!

• • Wednesday, May 3 | JS Parent Coffee 8:30 - 9:25  on JS Math (details in this newsletter)

  • Saturday, May 6 | International Food & Fun Fair 11:00 - 3:00 

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.

• • Friday, May 12 | Storybook Parade (Save the Date)

  • Friday, May 12 | Book Fair  8:00 - 3:00 JA Gym (details in this newsletter)

  • Friday, May 12 & Saturday, May 13 | Newsies Jr. Performances (details in this newsletter)

  • Thursday, May 18 | JA Spring Sing 8:15-8:45 (Save the Date)

  • Thursday, May 18 | J1 Author Readings for Parents 9:00-9:45 (Save the Date)

  • Tuesday, May 23 | J4 Transition to M1 Info Session for J4 Parents 6:00 - 7:00 (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 (1/2 Day)

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

Junior School's "Storybook Parade," will take place on Friday, May 12. We encourage all students, faculty, and parents to dress up as their favorite book character and proudly display a copy of the book during the parade. This is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the joy of reading. We hope you can join us that morning, dressed up as your favorite character, and participate in this delightful event.  

Please Join Us for the Junior School Production of Newsies Jr.

Directed by Madeline McBroom

You won't want to miss this talented cast of J3 and J4 students!

PERFORMANCE DATES:

May 12 at 6 PM

May 13 at 2 PM

May 13 at 6 PM

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

Due to the length and nature of the show, Newsies Jr. is recommended for students J1 and up.

Disney's Newsies JR. is a 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies JR. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.

When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right.

Including the now-classic songs "Carrying the Banner," "Seize the Day," and "Santa Fe," Newsies JR. is a timeless story full of spirit and heart.

TICKETS:

Click here to purchase your tickets today! 

Should you have an issues with tickets, please email Emily Reineke at ereineke@unis.org

JA parents are invited to join us on campus for an annual celebration of music performed by our JA students! 

JA students and their teachers have been working together in preparation for this event and are very excited to share their accomplishments . 

Mark your calendars for the upcoming JA concert:

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

J4 Mother Tongue Spanish students delivering the rug they made, inspired by traditional Maya artisan products, to J1 student Zeina, the winner of the silent auction during Student Led Conferences. By acquiring the rug, Zeina and her parents supported the community San Juan Comalapa in Guatemala, which the poet Negma Coy is part of. Negma shared with us a beautiful video of her poem and the JS students watched it as the opening of our assembly on Girls Education. Congratulations to Zeina and her parents for their support! And well-done J4 Mother-Tongue Spanish Students and Srta Tapia for the thoughtful project.

Charlotte Mourlot, JS Science/DE teacher, is looking for 2 parents to assist with reestablishing and maintaining the greenhouse as a learning space, particularly for all the Junior School students. It needs a little loving care! It would involve helping to set up the various spaces and then visiting the greenhouse frequently for plant maintenance and to restock supplies. Ideally we would like someone who would be able to check in during the Summer, but our UNIS maintenance team can help too. And, we are also wondering if there is anyone who is familiar with greenhouse irrigation systems. Thank you! 

For more information contact pa_jscoordinators@unis.pa.org or cmourlot@unis.org  

If your child is not returning to UNIS in September please make the withdrawal official, and facilitate the release of UNIS records needed to enroll your child in a new school, by emailing the Business Office, Registrar and JS Principal as soon as possible at:

• enrollment@unis.org (Business Office)

• evanaken@unis.org  (Estela van Aken, Registrar)  

• pvallet@unis.org  (Pascal Vallet, JS Principal) 

JS Parent Coffee, Wednesday, May 3, 8:30-9:25 am, UNIS Cafe

Topic: Join us in person for a follow up discussion on the Junior School math curriculum

Questions: Please send questions to the JS Parent Coordinators by Monday, May 1 (pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org)

Link: If you are not able to join in person, you can livestream here May 3 JS Parent Coffee

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 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.