Newsletter #32

05/14/2023

Dear parents,

Every year, I find in one of Blaise Pascal's quotes, the famous French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher, the justification to write a short newsletter. "The present letter is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter" has always been one of my favorite quotes for that reason.

Today it's Mother's Day, a day I should not stay too long on the computer to inform you and share with you the past week's experiences of our students. But after using the French philosopher to save my lack of words in December 2017, December 2018, November 2020 (twice), November 2021, June 2022, and November 2022, I am not sure this will be enough to step away from my responsibilities so I can celebrate the two most important women in my life, my mother Bernadette, and my wife Arasy.

"Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose," said William Zinsser, but I have already used his quote. Samuel Johnson? No, I already used his own words in the past when he admits, "in all pointed sentences, some degree of accuracy must be sacrificed to conciseness." Henry David Thoreau, of course! His letter to Harrison Blake in 1857 is perfect, specifically when he said, "Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short." Already used? Asking our students to be creative and resilient every day does not allow me to reuse my past ideas to justify this newsletter being shorter.

It is not easy to be a son, a father, and a Principal on Mother's Day. And on top of that, May 1 was School Principals' Day, an opportunity to recognize the importance of principals annually, from elementary to high school, and all the work they do for the betterment of the school. Nobody seems to know it, not even my mother and my wife.

Being frustrated not to find ideas to justify today's shorter newsletter due to the circumstances of today's celebration will not solve my problem. I could try to tell my mother, who is in France, that Mother's Day is on June 4. It would work. Mother's Day is a bit like the metric system, not sure why we are doing things differently in the US, but it will not work for my wife: she is here and she will have for sure high expectations.

"Brevity is the soul of wit" - William Shakespeare

In a dramatic twist worthy of a Shakespearean play, I find myself in a predicament that even Hamlet would empathize with. Here I am, composing this newsletter to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students and express our gratitude to the parents, while the clock ticks ominously, reminding me of my sacred duty to honor my wife and mother on this most auspicious of days - Mother's Day! Caught between the weighty responsibilities of my profession and my personal commitments, I feel like a modern-day Hamlet, grappling with existential questions, such as: "To write or not to write, that is the question!" The intensity of the situation is palpable, and the ghost of Shakespeare himself seems to be whispering in my ear, "Brevity is the soul of wit!".

Just like Hamlet, who found himself cornered by the expectations and duties placed upon him, I too face a dilemma. It is said that Claudius not only usurped the throne but also married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. While my situation may not be as dire, I would admit, the ghosts of the past newsletters haunt me, forcing me to recognize that I must continue to deliver valuable information while also dealing with feelings of guilt, procrastination, and the fear of disappointing my wife and mother on their special day. In an attempt to escape my fate, I search for comfort in typical French humor, hoping that laughter might serve as a cloak to shield me from the expectations placed upon me. Yet, as the clock continues to tick away, I cannot help but think of Hamlet's own struggles, wondering if he too wished for a bit of comedic relief as he faced his destiny.

Last week's twister of learning, celebrations, and opportunities for our students was so incredibly packed that even the ever-concise Blaise Pascal would find it impossible to summarize in just a few words. The task of capturing the essence of this spectacular week on Mother's Day is a Herculean feat, one that might leave even the most seasoned skilled user of words trembling in their boots. And for those who believe I can triumph in the face of such a daunting task, bear with me as I share a few examples that would test even Shakespeare's indomitable spirit!

In an act of theatrical mastery that would make Molière and Aristophane envious, our J3 and J4 students, led by their phenomenal teacher Ms. McBoom, took to the stage in a stunning performance of "Newsies," embracing the spirit of activism that flows through the veins of our school. As they sang and danced, our students became the very embodiment of courage and determination, proving that even the youngest among us can make a difference.

But wait, there's more! As if the week weren't already brimming with excitement, our students paraded their love for literature in the dazzling Book Parade on Friday. With the Parent Association working tirelessly behind the scenes, the Book Fair became a veritable abundance of literary delights, ensuring that our insatiable young readers would never be without a new adventure to dive in.

We were further graced by the presence of not one, but two esteemed guest speakers! Salome Egas, who shared her expertise with our eager JAs and PKs, and the ever-inspirational Gita Varadarajan, who met with our J1, J2, J3, and J4 students, igniting their passion for writing and storytelling. In a series of enchanting sessions, our young students were regaled with tales of creativity and wisdom. The words of our guest speakers danced through the air, captivating the minds and hearts of our students and further cementing the importance of the literary arts within our lives.

And as if all that weren't enough, we also had the honor of celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, where our wonderful parents showered our dedicated educators with gratitude and praise. As the week drew to a close, the halls of our school echoed with the laughter and joy of a Shakespearean comedy, leaving us all with a profound sense of pride and accomplishment.

And now, dear parents, as we reach the conclusion of this inevitably brief newsletter, I must, with embarrassment, offer my apologies for not being able to dedicate time to chronicling the extraordinary events of last week, given that today is Mother's Day. I have endeavored to craft a newsletter so succinct that even Blaise Pascal might raise an eyebrow. I must admit. I hope you will read my words with empathy and compassion, recognizing that the myriad of wonders that unfolded within our school's hallowed halls cannot be shortened to only a few sentences, so I shall pass.

 I will, therefore, choose to be simply concise. Here is today's Newsletter's final version:

Dear parents,

 Let us raise a toast to the incredible week that was and to all the magnificent mothers out there, for whom today is a day of well-deserved celebration. 


Pascal Vallet, Junior School Principal

Alessandra Camilo, Junior School Assistant Principal

I promise: I will do better next time.

IMPORTANT DATES

THIS WEEK: MAY 15

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE ENDING - UPDATE YOUR CALENDARS

TO DO NOW


LANGUAGE AFTER SCHOOL LAST CLASS DATES

Final Classes for Mandarin Intensive, Portuguese, Francophone Enrichment Program:


SPORTS PROGRAM AFTER SCHOOL LAST CLASS DATES



AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LAST CLASS DATES


Tuesday EXCEPTIONS:

GERMAN & SWEDISH Last class date will be announced by the classroom teachers.


Wednesday EXCEPTIONS:

ARABIC will run until June 7 (including makeup classes)  

ITALIAN will run until May 31 (including makeup classes) 



Friday EXCEPTION: 

CLAY DESIGN will run an extra 20 minutes class on May 12th + 19th + June 9th, in compensation for the missed class on MARCH 17th. 

LOST & FOUND

With the change of seasons, please take time to label all clothing, school supplies, water bottles, lunch boxes, athletic gear, etc. with your child’s first and last name and homeroom before they are brought to school.

Students are expected to be accountable for their own possessions and we encourage clear labeling on all of your child's clothing and school supplies (both first and last names) including coats and jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, athletic gear, backpacks, pencil cases, lunch boxes and water bottles. Your reinforcement of this at home with your children is encouraged.

Note that:

JS faculty and staff do their best to reunite students with misplaced items, but without a full name and homeroom it is not possible.

Labels like these are recommended: Name bubbles 

Jacket or Sweatshirt Needed Every Day

Spring weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to continue to send their child to school each day with a jacket or sweatshirt (labeled with your child's name and homeroom class). Students are outside on the playground twice a day and will need an outer layer with them for chillier days.

And, once the weather heats up, the air conditioning will be on. There may be days when your child will need an extra layer indoors as well.

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IMPORTANT: 

All departments at UNIS, including the nurse, rely on the information that you provide in the Veracross Parent Portal to contact you. 

The only way you or your caregiver can be reached in an emergency, or when there are schoolwide announcements, is through the information that your family adds to our UNIS Portal. 

Please review your family profile and contact information to ensure that all of your local cell phone numbers, work phone numbers, email addresses and home address are correct and are entered in the correct fields. 

If you have not reviewed your information since the start of this school year, we encourage you to do it today so that we can reach you quickly if needed, especially if you have relocated from abroad.

After logging into the Portal at myunis.vc , you may review and update all of your family contact information by:


Thank you for taking the time to review and update your contact information now, and throughout the school year if your contact information changes.


If you need support in order to make your updates, please email tech.support@unis.org

IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDERS

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

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

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

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

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

REMINDER: JA SPRING CONCERT MAY 18th

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 . 

We hope to see you at the JA concert this week:

REMINDER: MAP TESTING J3 & J4

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.

INFORMATION: STEAM CAMP REGISTRATION JUNE 20-23

INFORMATION: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE ENDING

TO DO NOW


LANGUAGE AFTER SCHOOL FINAL CLASS DATES

Final Classes for Mandarin Intensive, Portuguese, and Francophone Enrichment Program:


SPORTS PROGRAM AFTER SCHOOL FINAL CLASS DATES



AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FINAL CLASS DATES


Tuesday EXCEPTIONS:

GERMAN & SWEDISH Last class date will be announced by the classroom teachers.


Wednesday EXCEPTIONS:

ARABIC will run until June 7 (including makeup classes)  

ITALIAN will run until May 31 (including makeup classes) 



Friday EXCEPTION: 

CLAY DESIGN will run an extra 20 minutes class on May 12th + 19th + June 9th, in compensation for the missed class on MARCH 17th. 

REMINDER: M1 WELCOME FOR J4 PARENTS - MAY 23

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! 

INFORMATION: COLOMBIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST WITH J4 SPANISH

J4 Spanish Language A students had a video conference with Francisco Vera, a young environmentalist considered the Greta Thunberg from Colombia, who shared with the students, among other things, his motivation to have become a activist and advocate for the climate. 


Idoia Tapia | JS Spanish Teacher


INFORMATION: STUDENT WITHDRAWAL

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:

PARENT ASSOCIATION CORNER: SPIRIT WEEK / NEW FAMILY PLAY DATE / VIDEO LIBRARY / ARCHIVE LINKS

Spring Spirit Week, May 15 - May 19

 

The Tut House Student Council is organizing a Spring Spirit Week from May 15 to May 19. All school divisions are welcome to join. Please see the flyer if interested.

 

 Spring Spirit Week

Save the Date for JS New Families Play Date, 

Saturday, June 10th, 2-4 pm

UNIS Playground

 

The Parents Association, in collaboration with the school administration, will host a Junior School New Families Play Date on Saturday, June 10th, 2-4 pm, at the UNIS playground.

 

The goal of this event is to give new families an opportunity to get to know one another, and to help new families settle into the UNIS community. We are looking for current families who might be interested in welcoming new families. 

 

If your family would like to participate in the play date and meet some new families, please sign up here.

 

Thanks in advance! Questions? Email: pa_jscoordinators@pa.unis.org.

SUMMERTIME ON YOUR MIND

 

PA EVENTS OF 2023 CALENDAR 

Need a one-stop at-a-glance document that provides information about past, present and future PA-hosted events? Bookmark this calendar with activities and projects that the PA has facilitated in calendar year 2023. Webinar links will be updated as they are available. 


VOLUNTEER OR SUGGEST ACTIVITIES/EVENTS FOR THE PA COMMUNITY

If you have any suggestions for volunteering, events for our community or speakers to invite, please email us at unispa@unis.org.


April marks several themes including Arab American Heritage Month. We also recognize community topics this month in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Should you have resources to share for knowledge sharing in our community, please contact us.

Email unispa@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 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 them Instagram too! 


Book Club Join a UNIS Parent book club!  We have an active parent book club in each division (JS, MS, TH) for you to join.  Send an email to parenthelpnetwork@pa.unis.org to sign up.  


Publicize your Business or Seek Services - UNIS marketplace. Submit your info on this form to publicize. Scroll through businesses/services here. 


Never too late to volunteer with the PA. Submit your interest here. 


Green the Blue. Watch this short video clip and help us keep it green at UNIS!


Top Summer Camps and Programs recommended by UNIS parents here. Share your favorites here.


Affinity Groups. Please complete this survey if you are interested in joining a parent affinity group.


Watch recordings from virtual meetings Visit the UNIS video library on Vimeo located here at https://vimeo.com/unisny 

REMINDER: NO MONEY & NO TOYS IN JUNIOR SCHOOL

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

REMINDER: HEALTH REMINDERS

COVID PROTOCOLS

If your child had any symptoms that could be consistent with COVID, they need to remain at home and take a rapid test. 


Students can return to school under the following conditions:


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

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

HEALTH PROTOCOLS

We would like to remind everyone about our health protocols:

You may review the full protocols on our website COVID & Health Protocols. 

Thank you for supporting the entire UNIS community by keeping your children at home when they are not well. 

When your child will be absent, please email your homeroom teacher before 8:00am with a copy to jsattendance@unis.org . We also encourage families to update SDM in order to alert all other departments, especially After School activities and Transportation.

REMINDER: ARRIVAL

IMPORTANT REMINDER: 

Be on time for class:

LATE ARRIVAL

The late arrival of students in the morning is disruptive for faculty and staff and your child's classmates.

 J2, J3 and J4 students are expected to arrive at 8:15 and proceed directly to their homeroom. 

PK, JA and J1 are expected to arrive at 8:20 and proceed directly to their homeroom.

Please ensure that your child arrives at the time assigned for your child's grade.

IF YOU DROP OFF YOUR CHILD AT ARRIVAL TIME FOR THEIR GRADE

IF YOU GO TO THE CAFETERIA BEFORE DROPPING OFF YOUR CHILD

2. RULES

3. ARRIVAL TIME

REMINDER: DISMISSAL

IMPORTANT NOTICE: JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS ALONE, OR WITH A SIBLING IN M1 or M2. JS STUDENTS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO LEAVE CAMPUS WITH ADULTS IDENTIFIED IN THE UNIS DATABASE AS PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, M3 - T4 SIBLING, OR CAREGIVER/RELATIVE AUTHORIZED BY PARENTS TO PICK UP THE STUDENT.

2. RULES

There is a strict hand-to-hand policy in the Junior School for dismissal:

JS teachers will only dismiss at the end of the day to a parent, authorized caregiver, after school/after care/athletics teacher/coach, or bus supervisor. JS students are not permitted to leave the front gate of the campus without adult supervision. Only a sibling in M3 or older may be given permission to escort their sibling from campus.

During Dismissal time, legal guardians should not gather inside the school premises to wait for their child. If their child is not at the designated location, they should continue to walk, following the flow, until their child arrives.

PreK through J4 students are not permitted to meet parents or caregivers outside the school’s front gate. Teachers must release students whose dismissal is indicated as being “Pick-up” in SDM, to parents, or another adult authorized by the parents, following the dismissal guidelines as indicated below.

Please note that parents and caregivers are expected to arrive at UNIS no later than the time indicated in this section. If parents or caregivers are not able to arrive on time on a regular basis, please contact our Office of Special Programs to register for the Care Program. If you or your caregiver is running late in unusual circumstances and will arrive later than the time indicated, the school will place your student in the Care Program. Parents are aware that Non‐Registered Care Program drop off has a specific cost (see After Care protocol for most updated fees).

To give permission for a new caregiver to enter UNIS to pick up or drop off your child, please log in to the Veracross Parent Portal at myunis.vc:

After you enter that information in Veracross, your caregiver can have a UNIS ID made that will allow him/her access to the school to pick up and drop off. In the interim, until the caregiver information is populated by IT to the Security Access card system, fill in this ID Authorization Form, print and sign it, and have the caregiver carry this form along with a photo ID to present to Security at the front gate until a physical UNIS ID card is printed.

Parents are asked to retrieve and turn in ID cards issued to caregivers who are no longer employed.

ID Authorization Form for Caregivers

3. DISMISSAL TIME

To support our Security team and ensure a smooth transition, parents and guardians arriving to pick up their children at dismissal should avoid entering the school building.

4. DISMISSAL PICK-UP

Any student scheduled to be picked up at school by the parent/caregiver, and that parent/caregiver fails to collect the child at dismissal, will be brought to the Care Program and the family will be billed accordingly. Parents are aware that Non‐Registered Care Program drop off has a cost (see After Care protocol for most updated fees).

At dismissal please stay in motion, circling around the outside of the tents as you wait to pick up your children, or wait outside the main gate between pick ups. The school has not relaxed it's policies regarding gatherings. Please do not linger or sit down in the tents to wait for a second child, or gather within the school gates to speak with other parents or teachers. At dismissal our goal is to have as few people on campus for the shortest time possible, and always in motion. Thank you for understanding and support as we work to keep our community safe. 

REMINDER: WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SICK

When Your Child is Sick

When your child is sick with runny nose, cough, stomach ache, fever, headache, etc. there is no expectation from the school that they should attend school in person or attempt to learn from home. 

If your child has symptoms that would normally have kept them at home prior to COVID-19, we ask that families not send their children to school or request for schoolwork to be sent home.

We hope that time will be taken for your child to rest and recover at home as the school believes that children recover more quickly when they are permitted to disconnect and rest, and when care is taken by everyone to avoid spreading communicable illnesses.

Pack a Jacket or Sweatshirt Every Day

The weather can be changeable and we encourage all JS families to send their child to school with a warm jacket or sweatshirt every day. Students are outside on the playground twice daily and they will need an outer layer with them on most days. They should be dressed appropriately for rainy days as well.

REMINDER: PK-J4 LUNCH BROUGHT FROM HOME

Please be mindful as you pack lunches for your Junior School child(ren) as these will remain stored in their backpacks until snack or lunch time. If lunch items require cooling, please be sure to include insulated ice packs in the packaging for your child's lunch. No additional heating or cooling options are available. 

REMINDER: JS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION POLICY 

For reasons related to student allergies and health, the policy for JS student birthday celebrations on campus has been updated.

REMINDER: MASK WEARING AT SCHOOL

At this time, mask wearing while on campus is optional and the discretion of your family. Be assured that all JS students whose families choose to have them remain masked at school will be fully supported by our faculty and staff.

If your child will wear a mask at school be sure you have packed at least 2 spare masks in a clean bag in your child's backpack, as well as an extra bag to hold used masks if they aren't disposable. 

REMINDER: UNIS IS AN ALLERGY AWARE SCHOOL

This means that students, families, faculty and staff are respectfully asked to refrain from bringing peanuts, nuts, and seeds of any kind or foods processed with these items or their by products, such as oils, into the school. This includes products which state "may contain traces of nuts/peanuts/tree nuts” or "manufactured in a facility which processes" nuts/peanuts/tree nuts.

For example, tree nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, cashews, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and foods associated with them (such as nutella, pesto, granola bars, marzipan, macaroons, hummus (containing sesame), etc.) may present a risk to others.

If you have technology issues, please send an email to tech.support@unis.org

If you have academic tech questions, please contact Ms. Zammarano at fzammarano@unis.org