The Unity Scoop – October 31
Dear Unity Families,
I hope the week has been kind to you and your loved ones after a full stretch of learning. It’s been an eventful time at Unity, with Spirit Week at our middle school and the conclusion of Quarter 1 across grades 6–12. Congratulations to our students, staff, and families on reaching this milestone together—and best wishes for an even stronger Quarter 2 ahead!
Yesterday’s severe rainfall and flooding in our high school gymnasium required us to transition to a day of remote learning. I want to thank our high school families for your flexibility, partnership, and understanding as we acted swiftly to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community. We look forward to resuming normal programming next week.
Looking ahead, next week will be a four-day week, as there is no school on Tuesday in observance of Election Day. We encourage all families to take part in this important civic moment and engage in the democratic process together.
In this edition of the Scoop, you’ll find photos capturing our students and staff learning, exploring, and having fun together, as well as our November school calendar.
Enjoy Halloween festivities today, the marathon this weekend, and the extra hour on Sunday as we turn the clocks back for daylight savings!
In unity,
Josh
Josh Beauregard
Executive Director / Co-founder
Updates as of October 31, 2025:
1. New – Unity High Students Explore, Learn, and Lead Beyond the Classroom!: This past week, our high school students took part in a series of exciting enrichment trips across the city—including visits to Microsoft Headquarters, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and the Museum of Art and Technology. These experiences offered students opportunities to connect classroom learning to the real world, explore future careers, and engage with art, culture, and innovation in meaningful ways. Enjoy the photos below capturing our students learning, discovering, and representing Unity with pride!
2. New – Congratulations to Unity’s Newest National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society Members!: Unity’s chapters of the NJHS and NHS are growing, and we’re excited to celebrate our newest members and their achievements at the Induction Ceremony this Monday, November 3rd, at 5:30pm at our middle school campus (432 Monroe St.). Families and supporters are warmly invited to join us for this special celebration of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
3. New – November 2025 Schoolwide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of November – print it out and throw it on the refrigerator door! It is possible that events could change and new events could be added. An up-to-date events calendar can always be accessed on our website.
4. New – Middle School Fall Spirit Week Brought the Festivities!: Unity Middle celebrated its Fall Spirit Week and Annual Hallowsfest Extravaganza this past week and the energy was incredible! See the photos below of our students and staff showing their spirit on Twin Day and Character Day.
5. New – High School Fall Spirit Week Kicks Off Soon!: Unity High’s Fall Spirit Week begins on Monday, November 10th, and we can’t wait to see our students and staff show off their school pride and creativity each day! See the flier below for the full schedule of themed days and activities.
6. New – Alumni Spotlight of the Month – Keon Henry, Unity’s Class of 2021: We are thrilled to share with our entire community the accomplishments of our alumni whenever we can. This month, we proudly provide an update on the postsecondary success of Keon Henry ‘21!
7. New – Join Us for Our Next Family Ambassadors Meeting!: We invite all Unity families to join us for our upcoming Family Ambassadors Meeting on Thursday, November 6th at 6pm on Zoom. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow families, share ideas, and help strengthen our school community. We look forward to seeing you there!
8. New – Unity Campuses Joined Forces to Support The American Cancer Society!: Last Sunday, members of our community from grades 6 through 12 came together to participate in a 3-mile walk in support of The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The event raised lifesaving funds and awareness for breast cancer patients, survivors, thrivers, and caregivers. We’re so proud of our students, families, and staff for showing their Unity spirit and making a difference together!
9. New – Unity Prep Soccer Game at Sports Illustrated Stadium — Tuesday, November 4th!: Get ready for an exciting Unity community event at Sports Illustrated Stadium (also known as Red Bulls Stadium)! Parents, families, and supporters can purchase tickets using the QR code on the flyer to join in on the fun and cheer on our players.
This year’s game will have a fun twist — instead of our traditional Students vs. Faculty matchup, we’ll be mixing up the teams for a spirited and inclusive game showcasing Unity pride at its best!
10. Updated – Panther Athletics!: This week, we’re excited to share a series of new sports highlights as we enter the final stretch of the fall season and begin preparing the winter season — including action shots of our JV basketball team, HS soccer team and team photos for MS volleyball, MS cross country, and HS soccer.
11. Recap – Attention Middle School Families! Picture Day to Take Place on Wednesday, November 5th: We are excited to have our middle school filled with smiles!
12. Recap – Unity High Art Students Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden – One of the Premier Botanic Gardens in the World!: Unity High’s art students explored the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this week to draw inspiration from its stunning natural landscapes and refine their sketching skills. Kudos to Ms. Gjakova for making this enriching experience possible!
13. Recap – Attention Unity Students in Grades 8-11 – Apply Now for a Paid Internship with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is now recruiting students in grades 8–11 for the 2026 Garden Apprentice Program (GAP) at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. GAP is a great way for teens to get paid to learn about urban agriculture, science, and the environment while working in one of the most exciting public gardens in the world!
More information is available online at bbg.org/gap. Additional details include:
BBG Garden Apprentices:
• Earn a monetary award after apprenticeship (Tier 1: $600, Tier 2: $700, Tier 3: $800).
• Work their way up the program to become paid staff as a Tier 4.
• Learn about botany and environmentalism through hands-on lessons.
• Grow and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the Children’s Garden.
• Facilitate lessons to teach children about plants.
• Explore Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s amazing plant collections.
• Develop job skills, including teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Apprentices make a nine-month commitment to GAP, from March to November, which includes spring training, summer programming, and a weekly commitment after school or on weekends throughout the academic year.
Visit bbg.org/gap for applications, photos, a detailed program calendar, and answers to frequently asked questions. Applications are due December 5th.
14. Recap – Get Ready for Our October i-Ready Challenge!
Unity Middle is kicking off a fun, schoolwide competition from October 22nd–31st to get our students excited about learning and earning rewards! During this two-week challenge, students will log minutes on i-Ready Math and ELA, with prizes for top performers — including a pizza lunch, dress-down passes, and other fun surprises.
This kickoff round is designed to spark excitement, build great learning habits, and set the stage for our monthly i-Ready Challenges beginning in November. Let’s cheer on our students as they learn, grow, and have fun along the way!
15. Recap – Unity’s Annual Canned Food Drive!: Unity is proud to partner with City Harvest to collect non-perishable food items through November 17th. Every donation—big or small—will help support local families in need and remind us of the power of kindness and community.
Students who contribute will also earn Panther Pride Points for showing Empathy and making a difference in the lives of others.
16. Recap – Urban Advantage Family Science Days: Free Museum Admission for Unity Middle Families!: Through Unity’s partnership with Urban Advantage (UA), students in grades 6–8 and their families can enjoy free admission to some of New York City’s premiere museums and institutions. Vouchers will be handed out to students in their science classes next week. Each voucher provides free entrance for our Unity scientists plus three guests.
17. Recap – Unity’s 2025-26 Student & Family Handbook is Available Here!:
18. Recap – 2025-26 School Year Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families: Calendars for the 2025-26 school year are available below. Note that we have two versions this year – one version for our middle school (grades 6-8) and another version for our high school (grades 9-12).
- Grades 6-8 2025-26 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families
- Grades 9-12 2025-26 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families
19. Recap – Help Us Welcome New Panthers to Unity Prep!: Unity has a few limited seats available for the 2025–26 school year – and we’re looking to fill them with amazing families like yours!
Finding the right school can be a big decision, and our current families are our best ambassadors. If you know a family who would thrive in our small, caring, college-prep community, please connect them with Mr. Beckford via email or (862) 294-0219.
As a thank-you, both your family and the new family will receive a $100 Amazon gift card for school supplies when they enroll. Let’s keep building our small and mighty community—one Panther at a time!
20. Recap – Join our New Unity Prep Instagram (IG) Account Today!: We recently launched our new grades 6-12 IG account to bring our entire community together – @unityprepcharterschool. Don’t miss out – follow us now!
