Dear parents,

On Monday, May 1, 2023, I was the JS principal. I was not really the principal, but I spent most of the day with Mr. Vallet and learned some of the things he does and what he likes about his job. I met several UNIS teams that have important roles. For example, the director of security explained to me that keeping us safe is the most important aspect of his job. In addition to spending time with Mr. Vallet; I met Dr. Brenner; the team in charge of campus security; the IT team; and Paco, the head of Modern Languages. Although I felt a little anxious the day before, I was able to overcome my fear and as I felt more comfortable, I enjoyed the experience. Perhaps that was the most important lesson, that sometimes I will have to gather the courage to do something scary.

While discussing the job with Mr. Vallet, I negotiated extra time for lunch, as many of us in JS do not have enough time to socialize and finish our lunch. Although we are not getting extra time this year, he said he will consider adding five minutes next year. He also told me that his favorite part of the day is going to the classrooms to observe what the students are doing and write some notes about that.

When I met Dr. Brenner, I asked him why MS and TH students have turf while we have to play soccer on concrete. He explained that our area is where the school buses park and if we had turf, the buses would ruin it. I negotiated some time for JS on the turf, but I failed.  I told him I think it is nice of him to greet us in the mornings. It turns out that is his favorite part of the day. I learned that when he was young, he played basketball and baseball, he showed me pictures of him with his team.

The IT team oversees all aspects of technology at UNIS. I enjoyed meeting them. They showed me a mother board of a computer and they explained to me that when a Chromebook or an iPad stop working, they can fix them. They also explained to me what they do at school. For example, there is an IT person in charge of helping with events at UNIS. This makes a lot of sense because plays and many events require technology for the music and video.

Talking with the head of security and his team was one of the best parts of the day. I learned that the most important aspect of their job is to keep us safe. They are very nice and let me use their radio. When I said “radio check” they replied “understood.” Although they oversee security, they have a good sense of humor. For instance, when Mr. Vallet said ``radio check" they replied ``not understood."

Mr. Vallet said that he can understand Spanish and therefore I was able to carry the conversation with Paco, the head of Modern Languages, in Spanish. I wanted to know how many languages are offered in the after-school program. Paco told me that Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish are offered. That is a total of 9 languages! I also wanted to know why French and Spanish are the only mother-tongue programs. Paco explained to me that French and Spanish were taught in after-school programs initially.

Thank you very much Mr. Vallet for spending time with me, for teaching me about your job, and for doing a very good job as principal. As much as I enjoyed being principal, I will go back to class to spend more time with my teachers and my friends.

Gabito A., J1H, Junor School Principal for the Day

We are excited to share the videos of the J1 - J4 concerts from last week so that you can relive the enchanting performances and share them with family and friends who couldn't attend. Please note that, unfortunately, the camera was unplugged by accident during the J3 concert and we regret any disappointment.

• J1 CONCERT 

• J2 CONCERT

• J3 CONCERT

• J4 CONCERT

To see the complete photo albums for each grade, simply click on the links below. 

• • Friday, May 12 | Storybook Parade (details in this newsletter)

  • 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)

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.

• • Thursday, May 18 | JA Spring Sing 8:15-8:45 (details in this newsletter)

  • 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 (details in this newsletter)

  • May 24 & May 25 | MAP Testing for J3 & J4 (details in this newsletter)

  • 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

Storybook Parade on Friday, May 12 at 9:00

Junior School's "Storybook Parade," will take place on the morning of Friday, May 12, from 9:00 to 10:00. 

All parents are invited to view the Parade and we also encourage everyone, students, faculty and parents, to dress up as their favorite book character and proudly display a copy of the book.

Spectators will follow the same directions as they did for the UN Day Parade and line up along the walls and fence outside the building, allowing plenty of space for the classes to pass them and end the parade in the playground, behind the school. 

Students will be photographed with their classes in the playground and should be back in the classroom by 10:00 to follow the special schedule for the day and visit the Book Fair.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the joy of reading. Whether you dress up or not (it is certainly not mandatory to dress up), we hope you can join us that morning to watch this delightful event.  

MAP Testing in May/June 2023

Dear J3 and J4 Families, 

We will be administering the third Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test for J3 to T1 students in the final weeks of May and in early June, 2023. In the Junior School, the tests will be administered on May 24 and 25, with makeups taking place on June 1 and June 2.

The purpose of MAP Growth is to compare learning growth from one point in time to another. Here is a presentation on how we use these data at UNIS.  We will share the results of the third and final testing session of the year once those Family Reports are available. 

MAP Growth reports give us an external measure to continue to monitor our student learning. It is one data point among many that we collect in order to inform and adjust our instruction to meet the needs of our students. MAP scores are not factored into student grades; UNIS report cards include information about student learning from both formal and informal assessments, which are conducted in the context of our curriculum.

Your child does not need to do anything special to prepare for MAP assessments.  As for all school days, we encourage a good night’s rest the night before and a healthy breakfast the mornings of MAP.

Thank you.

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

J2 students had a blast using their newly acquired reading and writing skills to participate in a thrilling word scavenger hunt! This exciting and interactive activity not only helps them sharpen their problem-solving skills but also reinforces the lessons they've learned in class. It's a fantastic way to make learning super fun and memorable! 

Petra Zerovnik | JS Teacher

Middle School Welcome Evening for J4 Parents 

Middle School Admin and Faculty gladly invite all current J4 parents to a Welcome Evening in the cafeteria on May 23rd from 6-7 pm. Parents will have the opportunity to learn all about the life of a middle schooler and what to expect as their J4 child transitions to middle school. There will also be a Q&A session at the end. We are very much looking forward to meeting our future M1’s so we hope to see you there! 

Congratulations to Emmanuella, former JS student, now MS student, who was named an Honorable Mention for her "Where I'm From" poem in the Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Competition  

Where I'm From

By: Emmanuella Anaela Ibeanu

An emulation poem inspired by George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From”

______________________________

I am from the African breeze

From west and central trees

Rich Igbo and Kasai traditions

I am from the Ibeanu and Ngandu

I am from the people

who opened doors for me

And the ones that never close

From their love and knowledge that shapes me

I owe them everything I know

I am from the Family that values Education

From the wisest of the wise

Where intuition, wisdom and structure

coexist.

I am from my Dad’s passion for Medicine

My Mom’s commitment to the most disadvantaged

My older brother’s quick wit

And my little brother bubbling over with joy

I am from a family of 5,

a family of hard workers

Who aim high, as high can be

The non-stop studies

and endless curiosity.

I am from a long line of success

One that I hope to follow

I am from the story tales of morals and dignity

And the never ending prayers

I am from the fresh smell of palm wine

From the delicious taste of egusi soup with lituma

And the special texture of ogbono soup

I am from kisses as sweet as the sugarcanes from Kisangani

And the hugs as warm as the sun

That shines from Anambra State to Kinshasa

I am from the dense green forest of the Congo basin

And the fresh rainforest

That protects the unique Bonobos

I am from the family that waits for me

The family that can't hold back tears

after a rollercoaster of emotions

I am from many places, you see,

And through them

you see me.

-Emmanuella Anaela Ibeanu

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

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) 

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.