Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the week was good to you and your loved ones.  I want to thank our families who participated in Thursday evening’s Family Ambassadors meeting.  Your engagement has contributed to many of our successes this year, and we look forward to continuing in our collaboration during our meeting on March 9th.

As a school, we are excited to continue in our celebration of Black History this coming week.  See the fliers below to appreciate the abundance of festivities we have scheduled.  Note that families are invited to take part in various events. Contact Mr. Beckford at our middle school and Ms. Young at our high school if you would like to join us!

We have plenty to share with you in this week’s edition of The Unity Scoop, including athletic highlights, a spotlight on one of our alumni, and a 10th grade field trip to The Intrepid Museum.

Have a terrific weekend!

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of February 11, 2023:

1. New – February 2023 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of February – 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. Note that this coming Friday, February 17th, is an asynchronous remote day of instruction for our students in grades 6-8 only.  Students in grades 9-12 will experience a regular, in-person day of school.

2. New – Unity’s 10th Graders Visit the Intrepid Museum!: As a part of their study of World War II, Unity’s 10th graders took the opportunity today to visit the Intrepid Museum on the west side of Manhattan. Students were able to examine original artifacts, view historic video footage, and explore interactive exhibits.  Enjoy the photos below!

3. New – Alumni Spotlight of the Month – Grace Ojatunwase, 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 Grace Ojatunwase, who is now in her 2nd year of college at SUNY Fredonia.  Kudos to Grace in making the most of her college experience thus far!

Grace was named Ms. ASU (African Student Union) at Fredonia in 2022!

Some Background:

Grace Ojatunwase graduated from Unity in 2021 with a cumulative GPA of 3.73 and earned a Presidential Scholarship to SUNY. She is currently in her 3rd year at SUNY Fredonia majoring in medical technology. She is currently excited to master college Chemistry this semester as she embraces being an upperclassmen at Fredonia.

Accomplishments:

• College Acceptances after Unity: Ithaca College, Manhattanville College, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Geneseo, Wheaton College, Spelman College, CUNY BMCC, SUNY Albany, CUNY Medgar Evers, CUNY City Tech, SUNY University at Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia, Penn State University

• Grace has completed all of the SUNY general education requirements and is now focusing on her major classwork.
• Grace has maintained good academic standing through 4 semesters of college, earning 49 credits so far!

Advice for Unity Underclassmen (middle and high school):

Grace would advise new college students to get involved with student life and activities. She has found joy in participating in Fredonia’s dance team and that it enables her to feel connected on campus.

Expressions of Gratitude:

Grace is grateful to stay connected to her Unity community and appreciates the support she receives from her Alumni Success Counselor.

4. New – Athletic Spotlight: Unity Panthers in Full Action!: Our athletic teams represented Unity with full force this week.  Panthers, we are proud of you!

Unity High’s Junior Varsity Basketball Team played solid team defense during their final home game of the season.

The team poses with their families and coaches following the game.  Thank you, families, for coming out to support our team!

Unity’s Step Teams joined forces to take home 1st and 2nd place titles in a competition last weekend at Brooklyn Tech.

5. New – Unity’s Speech & Debate Team to Compete at the University of Pennsylvania this Weekend!: Members of Unity High’s Speech & Debate will compete in a major competition this weekend at the University of Pennsylvania.  We are so proud of our team’s efforts this year – go Panthers!

6. New – Show Your Support for Unity to Open an Elementary School by Signing this Letter of Support: As we proceed in our aim of expanding our school to serve students in grades K-5, we kindly request that family members of our current students in grades 6-12 show your support for our expansion by taking a moment to sign a formal letter of support from Unity families.  The letter is here.  Simply enter your full name in the available space below the letter to actively show your support by March 1st.  This letter will be shared with the New York State Board of Regents before they vote on our proposed expansion this spring.  We thank you in advance for showing your support!

7. Updated – Unity Celebrates Black History this Month through a Host of Festivities!: Unity students on our middle school and high school campuses are in the midst of celebrating Black History Month with an array of events.  This coming week our middle school community will engage in a Black History Film Festival on the morning of Wednesday, February 15th.  The festival will be followed by a community celebration of Black History, including music, dance performances, and guest speakers.  See the first two fliers below for more information.

At Unity High, the community is engaging in three major events: a Black History Spirit Week during the week of February 13th, live performances on February 8th and 15th (see the photo below of the award-winning theater troupe, LEAP Artists LIVE, performing in our gymnasium this past week), and a pop-up shop in honor of Black History that features designs from the local community and our talented student and alumni designers.  See the last three fliers below for more information.  And thank you to our leaders in student government for curating the festivities!

8. Updated – Thank you, Families, for Taking Part in this Week’s Family Ambassadors Meeting!: We are grateful to our families who participated in Thursday evening’s Family Ambassadors meeting on Zoom.  Here are the slides from the meeting.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.  Unity’s Family Ambassadors will meet again on Thursday, March 9th, at 6pm – all families are encouraged to attend.

9. Recap – Congrats to our Middle School’s Students of the Month!:  Kudos to our Students of the Month from December for showing exemplary scholarship, citizenship, and growth – we are proud of you!

• 6th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Amair Sloan
  • Citizenship: Brook’Lynn Fields
• 7th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Emrick Francois
  • Citizenship: Anakin Dawkins
  • Most Improved: Ahmed Alsheikh
• 8th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Dacota Porter
  • Citizenship: Jeremy Brown

10. Recap – Resources for Supporting Your Children through Traumatic Events: In light of the recent tragedies in the news, we are sharing resources with our families for talking to children and youth about traumatic events.  Here is one resource from the U.S. Department of Mental Health Services.  In addition, here a some questions for prompting healthy discussion following a violent incident featured in the news:

•  What thoughts and feelings have you had?
• What thoughts might you want to share with the victims of the violence, their friends and families, and with others who are feeling vulnerable right now?
• What is one thing we could do – individually, as a group, or as a society – to show love for one another in the wake of this event?
• What do you want to say about [the issue]? What’s on your mind?
• What would you like to do for our community or the world to address [the issue or problem]?

11. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

12. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

13. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

14. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

Congratulations to our middle school students and educators for a strong and successful administration of math mock exams this week.  Moreover, congratulations to our high school students and staff for officially completing the first semester of the school year.  As always, thank you, families, for your showing of support and encouragement at home.

This coming week, there are a number of events that I want to put on the radar for our families including but not limited to: picture day for students in grades 6-8, a field trip to the Intrepid Museum for our 10th graders, and a Family Ambassadors Meeting.  As mentioned in last week’s edition of The Scoop, we will discuss ways in which we, as a community, respond to the recent tragedies involving gun violence and police brutality.  All Unity families are welcome and encouraged to participate.

In addition to these events, we will honor Black History through a host of meaningful festivities and events over the coming few weeks.  As a school, we take pride in honoring, celebrating, and learning about Black History every day of every month.  We are especially excited to pay special tribute to Black History in February through a host of events and festivities within our school community and beyond.

See the calendar and various updates below to appreciate a full list of coming events, as well as recent student accomplishments.  And best wishes to our high school students for a strong start to Semester 2!

Stay warm and stay safe this weekend.

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of February 3, 2023:

1. New – February 2023 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of February – 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.  Here are the noteworthy events for this coming week:

2. New – Congrats to our Middle School’s Students of the Month!:  Kudos to our Students of the Month from December for showing exemplary scholarship, citizenship, and growth – we are proud of you!

• 6th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Amair Sloan
  • Citizenship: Brook’Lynn Fields
• 7th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Emrick Francois
  • Citizenship: Anakin Dawkins
  • Most Improved: Ahmed Alsheikh
• 8th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Dacota Porter
  • Citizenship: Jeremy Brown

3. New – Unity Celebrates Black History this Month through a Host of Festivities!: Unity students on our middle school and high school campuses will celebrate Black History Month with an array of events over the coming few weeks.  At our middle school, our school community will engage in a Black History Film Festival on the morning of Wednesday, February 15th.  The festival will be followed by community celebration of Black History, including music, dance performances, and guest speakers.  See the first two fliers below for more information.

At Unity High, the community will engage in three major events: a Black History Spirit Week during the week of February 13th, live performances on February 8th and 15th (featuring the award-winning theater troupe LEAP Artists LIVE), and a pop-up shop in honor of Black History that features designs from the local community and our talented student and alumni designers.  See the last three fliers below for more information.  And thank you to our leaders in student government for curating the festivities!

4. New – Picture Day for Students in Grades 6-8 is this Wednesday, February 8th: See the flier below for details!

5. Updated – Help Shape Your Child’s Experience in School by Taking Part in our Next Family Ambassadors Meeting, Thursday, February 9th, 6pm!: The next Family Ambassadors of Unity meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 9th, at 6pm on Zoom.  Note that the date for this meeting was changed so that it doesn’t conflict with another Unity event.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.

6. New – Resources for Supporting Your Children through Traumatic Events: In light of the recent tragedies in the news, we are sharing resources with our families for talking to children and youth about traumatic events.  Here is one resource from the U.S. Department of Mental Health Services.  In addition, here a some questions for prompting healthy discussion following a violent incident featured in the news:

•  What thoughts and feelings have you had?
• What thoughts might you want to share with the victims of the violence, their friends and families, and with others who are feeling vulnerable right now?
• What is one thing we could do – individually, as a group, or as a society – to show love for one another in the wake of this event?
• What do you want to say about [the issue]? What’s on your mind?
• What would you like to do for our community or the world to address [the issue or problem]?

7. Recap – Senior Spotlight of the Month – Giulano Saico-Falconi!: We are immensely proud of Unity seniors and are excited – as all of their hard work in middle school and high school pays off – as they apply to and select colleges that best align with their postsecondary pursuits.  This month, we salute Giulano Saico-Falconi by sharing his story and recent accomplishments with the entire Unity community.  We are proud of you, Giulano!

Some Background:

For years, current Unity Prep High School senior Giuliano Saico-Falconi has dreamed of becoming a computer scientist and studying at Georgia Tech.  To make this dream a reality, he has maintained a cumulative GPA of 90.4 (3.73) in his first three years in high school, and participated in a multi-year mentoring program called The Fellowship Initiative.  His teachers describe him as driven, determined, respectful, quirky, and resolute.

Recent Accomplishments:

Giulano’s recent accomplishments include:

• Earning admission to four colleges so far (as of January 20th)!
• Earning scholarships totaling nearly $200,000 (so far!)
• Participating in JP Morgan Chase’s The Fellowship Initiative for four years.
• Earning a 3.52 GPA in the second quarter of his senior year

Advice for Unity Underclassmen (middle and high school):

“Please – figure out what you want to do in college and at least plan out what your personal statement is going to be about. These counselors do not play when it comes to tearing them apart with 100+ comments.”

Expressions of Gratitude:

Giuliano says he feels blessed to be in a position to have submitted 20 college applications.  He thanks his friends, some of whom he has known since the sixth grade: Mamadou, Josh, Giovanni, Jason, Kevin, Mekhi, Danille, Maiya, and many others.  He also appreciates his teachers (Mr. Russo!) and counselors for pushing him with his application materials (especially his personal statement).  Above all, he gives thanks to his mom for pushing him to do his best and for the sacrifices she’s made to make him the person he is today, and God for getting him to this point.

8. Recap – Unity’s Peer Mediation Teams Complete their Training and Are Now Ready to Launch!: A number of student leaders across Unity have been participating in peer mediation training over the past two months.  These students completed their training this month and are now ready to bring their expertise to their fellow classmates.  Their goal is to empower students to prevent, resolve, and transform harmful conflict by developing the values, attitudes, skills and knowledge towards building peace.  Enjoy the photos below of Unity Middle’s peer mediators hard at work during their recent training sessions.

9. Recap – Kudos to our Core Value Champions for the Full Month of December!: Our P.R.I.D.E. Core Values of Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy represent qualities that we covet as a school community.  They also represent qualities that we believe empower our students to lead fulfilling lives and, therefore, qualities that we have a responsibility to actively teach and positively reinforce.  The students listed below were leaders for the month of December in being recognized by their teachers for demonstrating our Core Values.  On behalf of our school community, we are proud of these students and look forward to continuing to shout out all of our students when they demonstrate P.R.I.D.E. in our community.

10. Recap – Stellar Attendance in December – 95% Above!: This lengthy list of students demonstrated a strong and consistent dedication to their education by showing stellar attendance to school in the month of December.  Kudos to these students – we love seeing you each and every day!  And, of course, we look forward to celebrating additional students at the end of this month!

11. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

12. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

13. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

14. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

Congratulations to our students and our team for a strong and successful administration of English Language Arts (ELA) mock exams and Semester I final exams this past week.  And thank you, families, for your support at home.

This coming week, Unity middle school students will complete mock exams in math on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  Our high school students will conclude the first semester on Friday.  Moreover, our high school students will complete their Star assessments to gauge academic growth in reading and math thus far this year.

As I messaged last week, families of our students at both sites can support their children in excelling on these exams by taking the following four actions:

1. Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and arrives at school on time with their full set of supplies and materials.
2. Ask your child about how things are going in their classes and their exams, and provide encouragement such that they feel confident and supported.
3. Help your child prepare for school by ensuring that they have a quiet, designated space and time to study each night.  Of course, feel free to pull up a chair and help them study!  Studying together can be a fun experience for all.
4. Be proactive in your communication with your child’s teachers about any questions or concerns.

Note that the actions above are helpful on any given day or week, not just during weeks in which we have assessments.  We are grateful to you for your continued collaboration in supporting your child at home with their studies at home.

On a very different but important note, as you well know, there have been a number of tragic and disturbing events that have taken place nationally over the past few weeks, including multiple mass shootings in California and the killing of a young black man, Tyre Nichols, at the hands of five police officers in Memphis.  As a school, we both grieve for the victims and their families and are determined to do our part in actively preventing such acts from occurring.

Last month, a number of our high school students were featured in The Scoop as they presented their research in Ms. Tartan’s Government and Economics course on gun violence at the NYC Bar Association alongside other students from other schools.  We are proud of these student leaders and, as a school and community, we must double-down on our efforts to address issues that continue to plague our society and our students’ lives.  During our next Family Ambassadors Meeting on Thursday, February 9th (6pm), we will discuss ways that are most powerful in accomplishing this.  All Unity families are welcome and encouraged to participate.

In this edition of The Scoop, we bring to you: the school calendar for February, a proud Unity senior and his recent accomplishments, the launch of our new peer mediation teams, the good work of Unity High’s National Honor Society, our Core Value leaders for December, and our students who exhibited excellent attendance in December!

Best wishes in the week ahead.

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of January 29, 2023:

1. New – February 2023 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of February – 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.  Here are the noteworthy events for this coming week:

• 1/30: Unity has school!  The DOE does not.
• 1/31-2/1: Mock exams in math for all students in grades 6-8
• 1/30-2/3: Star growth assessments in reading and math in grades 9-12 (see Update #4 below for details on Star)
• 1/31 & 2/2: Unity’s High National Honor Society Bake Sale (see Update #6 below for details)
• 2/3: First Friday Black History Month Festivities at Unity High
• 1/30-2/3: Athletics Galore!  Go Panthers!

2. New – Senior Spotlight of the Month – Giulano Saico-Falconi!: We are immensely proud of Unity seniors and are excited – as all of their hard work in middle school and high school pays off – as they apply to and select colleges that best align with their postsecondary pursuits.  This month, we salute Giulano Saico-Falconi by sharing his story and recent accomplishments with the entire Unity community.  We are proud of you, Giulano!

Some Background:

For years, current Unity Prep High School senior Giuliano Saico-Falconi has dreamed of becoming a computer scientist and studying at Georgia Tech.  To make this dream a reality, he has maintained a cumulative GPA of 90.4 (3.73) in his first three years in high school, and participated in a multi-year mentoring program called The Fellowship Initiative.  His teachers describe him as driven, determined, respectful, quirky, and resolute.

Recent Accomplishments:

Giulano’s recent accomplishments include:

• Earning admission to four colleges so far (as of January 20th)!
• Earning scholarships totaling nearly $200,000 (so far!)
• Participating in JP Morgan Chase’s The Fellowship Initiative for four years.
• Earning a 3.52 GPA in the second quarter of his senior year

Advice for Unity Underclassmen (middle and high school):

“Please – figure out what you want to do in college and at least plan out what your personal statement is going to be about. These counselors do not play when it comes to tearing them apart with 100+ comments.”

Expressions of Gratitude:

Giuliano says he feels blessed to be in a position to have submitted 20 college applications.  He thanks his friends, some of whom he has known since the sixth grade: Mamadou, Josh, Giovanni, Jason, Kevin, Mekhi, Danille, Maiya, and many others.  He also appreciates his teachers (Mr. Russo!) and counselors for pushing him with his application materials (especially his personal statement).  Above all, he gives thanks to his mom for pushing him to do his best and for the sacrifices she’s made to make him the person he is today, and God for getting him to this point.

3. New – Unity’s Peer Mediation Teams Complete their Training and Are Now Ready to Launch!: A number of student leaders across Unity have been participating in peer mediation training over the past two months.  These students completed their training this month and are now ready to bring their expertise to their fellow classmates.  Their goal is to empower students to prevent, resolve, and transform harmful conflict by developing the values, attitudes, skills and knowledge towards building peace.  Enjoy the photos below of Unity Middle’s peer mediators hard at work during their recent training sessions.

4. Updated – Round 2 of STAR Assessments in Reading and Math Being Administered this Week in Grades 9-12: Unity high school students will complete their second round of STAR assessments in both reading and math this week.  These short, computer adaptive tests allow us to measure student progress and growth in reading and math skills over the course of the school year.  We are excited to acknowledge students and the growth they have experienced over the past several months.

5. New – Kudos to our Core Value Champions for the Full Month of December!: Our P.R.I.D.E. Core Values of Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy represent qualities that we covet as a school community.  They also represent qualities that we believe empower our students to lead fulfilling lives and, therefore, qualities that we have a responsibility to actively teach and positively reinforce.  The students listed below were leaders for the month of December in being recognized by their teachers for demonstrating our Core Values.  On behalf of our school community, we are proud of these students and look forward to continuing to shout out all of our students when they demonstrate P.R.I.D.E. in our community.

6. New – Unity High’s National Honor Society Engages in Fundraiser in Honor United We Dream: Members of Unity High’s National Honor Society will hold a bake sale this week on Tuesday and Thursday during lunch periods to raise money for United We Dream.  United We Dream is a nonprofit immigrant advocacy organization with chapters operating in 28 states. The organization is an “immigrant-youth-led network” of 400,000 members in 100 local groups.

7. New – Stellar Attendance in December – 95% Above!: This lengthy list of students demonstrated a strong and consistent dedication to their education by showing stellar attendance to school in the month of December.  Kudos to these students – we love seeing you each and every day!  And, of course, we look forward to celebrating additional students at the end of this month!

8. New – Help Shape Your Child’s Experience in School by Taking Part in our Next Family Ambassadors Meeting, Thursday, February 9th, 6pm!: The next Family Ambassadors of Unity meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 9th, at 6pm on Zoom.  Note that the date for this meeting was changed so that it doesn’t conflict with another Unity event.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.

9. Recap – Unity High Students Engage in Day of Service through Partnership with I Am Cultured!: An amazing group of Unity High students, through our partnership with I Am Cultured, participated in a day of service. Students prepared and served meals to members of the local community and read stories to young children.  As a part of our partnership with I Am Cultured, this group of students (listed below) will travel to Costa Rica this spring alongside Unity Staff and the I Am Cultured Team!  Visit the I Am Cultured to learn more about the exciting opportunity!

• Roland Duroseau
• Pierrelyn Cineus
• Jayden Fajardo
• Malachi Clarke
• Ashley Estevez

10. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

11. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

12. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

13. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the month of January continues to treat you and your loved ones well.

As we approach the weekend and prepare for the coming week, I want to commend our entire community – staff, students, and families – for our ongoing efforts to make the most of the 2022-23 school year.  This coming week, we have the opportunity to honor our efforts as students complete their second interim assessments (IAs) of the year.

As the January calendar below reflects, our middle school students will take their English Language Arts (ELA) mock exams on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Exams will be administered in the morning with our regular arrival and dismissal times in effect.  In addition, our high school students will complete their Semester I final exams Tuesday through Friday.  Each high school student has a unique schedule over these four days – schedules will be shared with students and families today.  Monday is a regular day of school for all students.

Families of our students at both sites can support your children in excelling on these exams by taking the following four actions:

1. Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time with their full set of supplies and materials.
2. Ask your child about how things are going in their classes and their exams, and provide encouragement such that they feel confident and supported.
3. Help your child prepare for school by ensuring that they have a quiet, designated space and time to study each night.  Of course, feel free to pull up a chair and help them study!  Studying together can be a fun experience for all.
4. Be proactive in your communication with your child’s teachers about any questions or concerns.

Note that the actions above are helpful on any given day or week, not just during IAs.  We are grateful to you for your continued collaboration in supporting your child at home with their studies at home.

Enjoy the weekend and best wishes in the coming week!

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of January 20, 2023:

1. Updated – January 2022 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of January – 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.

2. New – Unity High Students Engage in Day of Service through Partnership with I Am Cultured!: An amazing group of Unity High students, through our partnership with I Am Cultured, participated in a day of service. Students prepared and served meals to members of the local community and read stories to young children.  As a part of our partnership with I Am Cultured, this group of students (listed below) will travel to Costa Rica this spring alongside Unity Staff and the I Am Cultured Team!  Visit the I Am Cultured to learn more about the exciting opportunity!

• Roland Duroseau
• Pierrelyn Cineus
• Jayden Fajardo
• Malachi Clarke
• Ashley Estevez

3. Recap – Thank you, Families, for Taking Part in Last Week’s Family Ambassadors Meeting!: We are grateful to our families who participated in our Family Ambassadors meeting on Zoom.  The meeting was productive, energizing, and fun!  Here are the slides from the meeting.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.  Unity’s Family Ambassadors will meet again on Thursday, February 9th, at 6pm – all families are encouraged to attend.

4. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

5. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

6. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

7. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the week was good to you and your loved ones.  I want to thank our families who participated in last night’s Family Ambassador meeting.  Your ideas, partnership, and leadership makes our school stronger, and we are grateful to you!

On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, I wish you a safe and joyous long weekend in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his lasting legacy.

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of January 13, 2023:

1. New – Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Event: Students are Encouraged to Take Part in New York’s Largest Public Celebration in Honor of Dr. King, Monday, January 16th, 10:30am: See the details for this celebration below.  To promote participation in this event either in person or virtually:

• Any Unity student who attends the event in person will earn 10 Unity Pride Points for Discovery.
• Any student who participates in the event virtually will earn 3 Pride Points for Discovery.

To claim your Points, simply take a selfie of you engaging in the event either at BAM or via livestream and upload it here.  Finally, the students submitting the best selfie from the event will win a $25 gift card to Amazon!

Tickets for the in-person event are free, and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8am on Monday, January 16th in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby.  Please note that an RSVP does not guarantee entry.  The link to the livestream will be made available on BAM.org on Monday, January 16th.  The livestream will not be made available after the program.

2. Updated – January 2022 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of January – 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.

3. Recap – Unity Engages in a Day of Service!: Unity students took part in a number of community service initiatives in late December, including a holiday toy/clothing/food drive, handwritten letters of recommendation, and providing a number of helpful services within our community.  Enjoy the photos below of our middle school students preparing gifts for families in the community who are facing hardship and proudly bringing the items collected to a local shelter.  Again, thank you to all families who contributed to the holiday drives!

4. Recap – The Winter Athletics Season is in Full Swing!: Congratulations to our athletic teams for a very successful week!  Below are photographs of our Varsity basketball teams just following their games at the Barclays Centers.  Also featured are our middle school basketball teams, who were cheered on by our high school student-athletes during home games this past Thursday.  Finally, our middle school teams were in action on Saturday.  All three teams won their games and did so with sportsmanship and pride!

5. Updated – Thank you, Families, for Taking Part in Last Night’s Family Ambassadors Meeting!: We are grateful to our families who participated in our Family Ambassadors meeting on Zoom.  The meeting was productive, energizing, and fun!  Here are the slides from the meeting.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.  Unity’s Family Ambassadors will meet again on Thursday, February 9th, at 6pm – all families are encouraged to attend.

6. Recap – Unity Raises $700 to Fund Over 500 Meals for Local Families Facing Hardship!: In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, Unity is engaged in our third annual #UnityGives initiative to support the cause of a fellow non-profit in Bed Stuy, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).  As a school, we raised $700 on behalf of TCAH. This funding will go directly to increasing access to nutritious food, social services, and a wide range of programming to underserved and disenfranchised members of the Bed-Stuy and greater Brooklyn community.  TCAH extends a hearty thank you to our school community for its generosity!

7. Updated – Round 2 of STAR Assessments in Reading and Math Being Administered this Week in Grades 6-8: Unity middle school students completed their second round of STAR assessments in both reading and math last month.  These short, computer adaptive tests allow us to measure student progress and growth in reading and math skills over the course of the school year.  We are excited to acknowledge students and the growth they have experienced over the past several months.  Assessment results will be disseminated to families in January.

8. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

9. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

11. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

12. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

I want to begin by conveying my best wishes to all of our families in the New Year!

It felt great to reconnect with students and staff this week following the break. With the month of January comes the midpoint of the school year and the end of the first semester at our high school.  In the coming two weeks and leading up to Semester 1 final exams later this month, we are encouraging all of our high school students to be their best selves as they finish the semester out strongly.  This means being in school on time every day, staying on top of all assignments, and seeking out extra help when they need it.

At our middle school, we are now midway through the second trimester of the school year.  Later this month, students will complete mock exams in ELA and math to gauge readiness for the spring state exams and identify levels of mastery on important skills and concepts.  This information will be used to modify upcoming lesson plans and assignments.

In addition to our academic priorities, January also marks the heart of the winter season with athletics.  Unity’s student-athletes continue to provide a strong sense of pride, joy, and connectedness for our community.  We had a number of events this week – including high school basketball games at the Barclays Center and middle school basketball games – during which our high school student-athletes were in attendance to provide support and encouragement.  We welcome our families to attend all of our games.  Unity’s athletic program is a major component of our school, and we are proud of the learning students experience alongside their teammates over the course of a season.  See the calendar below for a listing of our matches this week and over the course of the month.

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, we honor the generosity of our school in engaging in a number of community service initiatives before the winter break.  We also celebrate our athletic teams and their recent successes.  Finally, we highlight upcoming events this week, including a Family Ambassadors meeting on Thursday evening.

Well wishes in the week ahead!

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of January 8, 2023:

1. Updated – January 2022 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of January – 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.

2. New – Unity Engages in a Day of Service!: Unity students took part in a number of community service initiatives in late December, including a holiday toy/clothing/food drive, handwritten letters of recommendation, and providing a number of helpful services within our community.  Enjoy the photos below of our middle school students preparing gifts for families in the community who are facing hardship and proudly bringing the items collected to a local shelter.  Again, thank you to all families who contributed to the holiday drives!

3. New – The Winter Athletics Season is in Full Swing!: Congratulations to our athletic teams for a very successful week!  Below are photographs of our Varsity basketball teams just following their games at the Barclays Centers.  Also featured are our middle school basketball teams, who were cheered on by our high school student-athletes during home games this past Thursday.  Finally, our middle school teams were in action on Saturday.  All three teams won their games and did so with sportsmanship and pride!

4. New – Help Shape Your Child’s Experience in School by Taking Part in this Wednesday’s Family Ambassadors Meeting!: The next Family Ambassadors of Unity meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, January 12th, at 6pm on Zoom.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.

5. Updated – Unity Raises $700 to Fund Over 500 Meals for Local Families Facing Hardship!: In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, Unity is engaged in our third annual #UnityGives initiative to support the cause of a fellow non-profit in Bed Stuy, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).  As a school, we raised $700 on behalf of TCAH. This funding will go directly to increasing access to nutritious food, social services, and a wide range of programming to underserved and disenfranchised members of the Bed-Stuy and greater Brooklyn community.  TCAH extends a hearty thank you to our school community for its generosity!

6. Recap – Unity High Students Participate in Generation Citizen Civics Day at the NYC Bar Association!: A number of Unity 12th graders recently completed a 5-week civics project in Ms. Tartan’s Government and Economics course.  Projects focused on curbing gun violence and addressing mental health issues among adolescents.  As a part of their project, students contacted local representatives, administered student surveys, analyzed the responses, and presented their findings at the NYC Bar Association alongside students from other schools in the city and Long Island.

7. Updated – Round 2 of STAR Assessments in Reading and Math Being Administered this Week in Grades 6-8: Unity middle school students completed their second round of STAR assessments in both reading and math last month.  These short, computer adaptive tests allow us to measure student progress and growth in reading and math skills over the course of the school year.  We are excited to acknowledge students and the growth they have experienced over the past several months.  Assessment results will be disseminated to families in January.

8. Recap – Unity’s Dance Students Perform in Winter Recital!: Unity’s dance students across grades 6-12 performed in front of a large audience of students, families, and staff this last month.  Congratulations to all of our students who performed and showed off all that they have learned in their class thus far this year.  Thank you to many families (and staff) who came out to take in the performance and support the cause.  And, finally, congratulations to Ms. McCrae and Ms. Parnell – it is so exciting to see our burgeoning dance program reaching new heights!

9. Recap – Unity’s First Ever Core Value Auction!: Unity’s middle school students experienced an auction firsthand this past week with our inaugural Core Value Auction.  During the auction, students will be able to bid on prized items using Core Value Points that they have proudly earned thus far this year by demonstrating Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy.  Items that were auctioned included gift cards, food, toys, games, and electronics!

10. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

11. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

12. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

13. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

The festivities and holiday spirit continued this week with our full-school dance recital on Saturday and a Love Your Neighbor Day today!  Indeed, there is much to celebrate as we head into the December break and reflect back on the first four months of the school year.  On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, thank you for your continued partnership both at home and here at school.  We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the New Year!

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, we offer a look ahead to the month of January with our monthly calendar, highlight the civics projects recently completed by a number of our 12th graders, and recap our dance recital.  In addition, we showcase the abundance of recent experiences that students engaged in over the past few weeks, including our theatre showcase and athletics awards ceremony.  Finally, we pay tribute to our Core Value leaders and our students with stellar attendance from November.

Have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to reconvening with students on January 4th!

Warmest wishes,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of December 22, 2022:

1. Updated – January 2022 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of January – 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.  Note that the first day back from the break for students is Wednesday, January 4th.

2. New – Unity High Students Participate in Generation Citizen Civics Day at the NYC Bar Association!: A number of Unity 12th graders recently completed a 5-week civics project in Ms. Tartan’s Government and Economics course.  Projects focused on curbing gun violence and addressing mental health issues among adolescents.  As a part of their project, students contacted local representatives, administered student surveys, analyzed the responses, and presented their findings at the NYC Bar Association alongside students from other schools in the city and Long Island.

3. Updated – Round 2 of STAR Assessments in Reading and Math Being Administered this Week in Grades 6-8: Unity middle school students completed their second round of STAR assessments in both reading and math this week.  These short, computer adaptive tests allow us to measure student progress and growth in reading and math skills over the course of the school year.  We are excited to acknowledge students and the growth they have experienced over the past several months.  Assessment results will be disseminated to families in January.

4. New – Unity’s Dance Students Perform in Winter Recital!: Unity’s dance students across grades 6-12 performed in front of a large audience of students, families, and staff this past weekend.  Congratulations to all of our students who performed and showed off all that they have learned in their class thus far this year.  Thank you to many families (and staff) who came out to take in the performance and support the cause.  And, finally, congratulations to Ms. McCrae and Ms. Parnell – it is so exciting to see our burgeoning dance program reaching new heights!

5. Updated – Thank You to all Families who Contributed to our Holiday Drives to Support the Community!: Unity held a number of drives this holiday season to support our local community.  Through our efforts, toys, clothing, food, and other items are now available to families in the community who are facing hardship and lack resources.  Be proud, Unity!

6. Updated – Unity’s First Ever Core Value Auction!: Unity’s middle school students experienced an auction firsthand this past week with our inaugural Core Value Auction.  During the auction, students will be able to bid on prized items using Core Value Points that they have proudly earned thus far this year by demonstrating Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy.  Items that were auctioned included gift cards, food, toys, games, and electronics!

7. Updated – An Opportunity for Unity to Contribute to our Community this Holiday Season – the Last Day to Contribute is Today!: In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, Unity is engaging in our third annual #UnityGives initiative to raise $2023 for a fellow non-profit in Bed Stuy, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).  The initiative will run from December 4th through December 22nd.  All proceeds will go directly to supporting TCAH as it continues its efforts to increase access to nutritious food, social services, and a wide range of programming to underserved and disenfranchised members of our community.  What’s more, for every dollar donated from a member of our community, that dollar will be matched by an anonymous donor until our goal is reached.  In effect, when you donate a dollar, your donation will have twice the impact, as TCAH will receive two dollars!  If you donate $20, TCAH will receive $40, and so it goes.  If you are in a position to do so, consider making a donation to this important cause today.  Simply click here to make your donation!

8. Recap – Unity’s Theatre Students Showcase their Talents!: The auditorium at Unity Middle was standing room only as students, staff, and families took in an impressive production of theatre performances earlier this month.  Congratulations to Ms. Stevenson and all of our students who performed and helped to make the production possible, including the emcees for the event and the hard working stage crew!

9. Recap – Congrats to our Middle School’s Students of the Month!:  Kudos to our Students of the Month from November for showing exemplary scholarship, citizenship, and growth – we are proud of you!

• 6th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Sincere Grant
  • Citizenship: Komar Perry
• 7th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Jamari Ports
  • Citizenship: Anakin Dawkiins
  • Most Improved: NaKeira Banks
• 8th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Jeremy Brown
  • Citizenship: Jayla’rae Morales

10. Recap – Unity’s Alumni Success Coordinator Visits Unity Alumni in College!: Unity’s Alumni Success Coordinator, Ms. Hack, hit the road to visit a number of Unity Alumni on their respective college campuses to offer encouragement and support.  Ms. Hack and our entire community are proud of Jaylen Kelly and Gregory Ward-Plante at Quinnipiac University and Unity Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Kayla Tipton at Trinity College.

11. Recap – Unity’s High School Debate Team Continues to Make Waves!: Unity High debater, Jade Springfield, had an impressive showing in the competition at the Brooklyn Queen’s Forensic League.  She won first place in the varsity division, despite being a novice and competing against other veteran debaters from long running programs.  Enjoy the photos below of the team, including Coach Tartan and Coach Cirelli, enjoying some downtime after an intense and successful series of debates!

12. Recap – Unity’s Athletic Department Celebrates our Fall Season and Student-Athletes!: Awards ceremonies were held last week to honor fall sports teams and student-athletes.  Congratulations to all of our teams, our coaches, and our athletes.  Go Panthers!

13. Recap – Unity Students Step Up to Meet Jumping Jack Challenge!: Unity’s Physical Education Department organized a fitness challenge this week in which students were given the opportunity to show-off their physical health and stamina by collectively completing 100,000 jumping jacks as a community.  In Mr. Coleman’s words, “the community that exercises together stays healthy together!”  Congrats to our students who achieved this impressive feat!

14. Recap – Kudos to our Core Value Champions for the Full Month of November!: Our P.R.I.D.E. Core Values of Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy represent qualities that we covet as a school community.  They also represent qualities that we believe empower our students to lead fulfilling lives and, therefore, qualities that we have a responsibility to actively teach and positively reinforce.

The students listed below were leaders for the month of November in being recognized by their teachers for demonstrating our Core Values.  On behalf of our school community, we are proud of these students and look forward to continuing to shout out all of our students when they demonstrate P.R.I.D.E. in our community.

15. Recap – Stellar Attendance in November – 95% Above!: This lengthy list of students demonstrated a strong and consistent dedication to their education by showing stellar attendance to school in the month of November.  Kudos to these students – we love seeing you each and every day!  And, of course, we look forward to celebrating additional students at the end of this month!

16. Recap – Unity Students Continue in their Tour of Historical and Civic Institutions Across the City!: While our 9th and 12th graders learned about history and civics at the New York Historical Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and American Museum of Natural History today, our 6th and 7th graders visited the National Museum of American Indian.  Enjoy photos of the trips below!

17. Recap – Thank you, Families, for Taking Part in our Third Family Ambassadors Meeting of the Year!: We are grateful to our families who participated in the Family Ambassadors meeting on Zoom this week.  In case you missed it, here are the slides from the meeting.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.  Unity’s Family Ambassadors will meet again on Thursday, January 12th, at 6pm – all families are encouraged to attend.

One of the many exciting initiatives coming out of our recent meetings is the exclusive Unity Strength in Family hooded sweatshirts, which are available for sale to all families this month.  Note that these sweatshirts were designed specifically with the family members of our students in mind.  We look forward to having family members proudly sport this exclusive Unity gear in the New Year!  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.

18. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

19. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

20. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

21. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.

Dear Families of Unity,

It’s been an especially festive and exciting week at Unity!  Thank you to all families who came out this week to support the events.

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, we recap the abundance of recent experiences that students engaged in over the past week, including our theatre showcase and athletics awards ceremony  In addition, we congratulate students for their recent achievements, including our debaters, our athletes, our Core Value leaders, and our students with stellar attendance from November.  Finally, we offer important information on upcoming events in the coming week.  Stay tuned for more community highlights in next week’s Scoop!

Have a terrific weekend!

Warmest wishes,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of December 16, 2022:

1. New – Unity’s Theatre Students Showcase their Talents!: The auditorium at Unity Middle was standing room only as students, staff, and families took in an impressive production of theatre performances on Wednesday afternoon.  Congratulations to Ms. Stevenson and all of our students who performed and helped to make the production possible, including the emcees for the event and the hard working stage crew!

2. Updated – December 2022 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of December – 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.  Three notes of importance this week:

• 12/17: MS & HS Winter Danceland Recital, 432 Monroe Street
• 12/19-12/22: Unity Spirit Week at Unity MS
• 12/21: Star Assessments in Reading and Math, Grades 6-8
• 12/22: Unity MS and HS Students & Staff Engage in Community Service

3. New – Congrats to our Middle School’s Students of the Month!:  Kudos to our Students of the Month from November for showing exemplary scholarship, citizenship, and growth – we are proud of you!

• 6th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Sincere Grant
  • Citizenship: Komar Perry
• 7th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Jamari Ports
  • Citizenship: Anakin Dawkiins
  • Most Improved: NaKeira Banks
• 8th Grade:
  • Scholarship: Jeremy Brown
  • Citizenship: Jayla’rae Morales

4. New – Unity’s Alumni Success Coordinator Visits Unity Alumni in College!: Unity’s Alumni Success Coordinator, Ms. Hack, hit the road to visit a number of Unity Alumni on their respective college campuses to offer encouragement and support.  Ms. Hack and our entire community are proud of Jaylen Kelly and Gregory Ward-Plante at Quinnipiac University and Unity Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Kayla Tipton at Trinity College.

5. New – Unity’s High School Debate Team Continues to Make Waves!: Unity High debater, Jade Springfield, had an impressive showing in last weekend’s competition at the Brooklyn Queen’s Forensic League.  She won first place in the varsity division, despite being a novice and competing against other veteran debaters from long running programs.  Enjoy the photos below of the team, including Coach Tartan and Coach Cirelli, enjoying some downtime after an intense and successful series of debates!

6. New – Unity’s Athletic Department Celebrates our Fall Season and Student-Athletes!: Awards ceremonies were held last week to honor fall sports teams and student-athletes.  Congratulations to all of our teams, our coaches, and our athletes.  Go Panthers!

7. New – Unity Students Step Up to Meet Jumping Jack Challenge!: Unity’s Physical Education Department organized a fitness challenge this week in which students were given the opportunity to show-off their physical health and stamina by collectively completing 100,000 jumping jacks as a community.  In Mr. Coleman’s words, “the community that exercises together stays healthy together!”  Congrats to our students who achieved this impressive feat!

8. New – Kudos to our Core Value Champions for the Full Month of November!: Our P.R.I.D.E. Core Values of Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy represent qualities that we covet as a school community.  They also represent qualities that we believe empower our students to lead fulfilling lives and, therefore, qualities that we have a responsibility to actively teach and positively reinforce.

The students listed below were leaders for the month of November in being recognized by their teachers for demonstrating our Core Values.  On behalf of our school community, we are proud of these students and look forward to continuing to shout out all of our students when they demonstrate P.R.I.D.E. in our community.

9. New – Stellar Attendance in November – 95% Above!: This lengthy list of students demonstrated a strong and consistent dedication to their education by showing stellar attendance to school in the month of November.  Kudos to these students – we love seeing you each and every day!  And, of course, we look forward to celebrating additional students at the end of this month!

10. New – Round 2 of STAR Assessments in Reading and Math Being Administered this Week in Grades 6-8: Unity middle school students are taking their second round of STAR assessments in both reading and math this week.  These short, computer adaptive tests allow us to measure student progress and growth in reading and math skills over the course of the school year.  We are excited to acknowledge students and the growth they have experienced over the past several months!

11. New – Unity’s Full School Dance Recital is Tomorrow!: Please support the middle and high school scholars by attending the Winter Danceland Recital on Saturday, December 17th, at 12:00pm, in our middle school auditorium (432 Monroe Street). Doors open at 11:45 am for light refreshments and mingling. Tickets can be purchased in the main office, at the door, or online: Eventbrite link (also see the QR code below).  All proceeds fund the MS & HS Dance Teams.

12. Updated – Unity Students Continue in their Tour of Historical and Civic Institutions Across the City!: While our 9th and 12th graders learned about history and civics at the New York Historical Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and American Museum of Natural History today, our 6th and 7th graders visited the National Museum of American Indian.  Enjoy photos of the trips below!

13. Updated – Unity Drives to Support the Community!: Unity is holding a number of drives this holiday season to support our local communities.  The middle school is hosting a general goods drive while the high school is focusing their drive on children’s toys.  See the fliers below for details!

14. Updated – Unity’s First Ever Core Value Auction, Wednesday, December 21st!: Unity’s middle school will hold its inaugural Core Value Auction during Community Meetings on 12/21.  During the auction, students will be able to exchange Core Value Points that they have proudly earned thus far this year for a number of amazing items, including gift cards, food, toys, games, electronics and more!  Scholars – show off Unity’s Core Values and be ready to bid on Wednesday!

15. Updated – An Opportunity for Unity to Contribute to our Community this Holiday Season: In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, Unity is engaging in our third annual #UnityGives initiative to raise $2023 for a fellow non-profit in Bed Stuy, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).  The initiative will run from December 4th through December 22nd.  All proceeds will go directly to supporting TCAH as it continues its efforts to increase access to nutritious food, social services, and a wide range of programming to underserved and disenfranchised members of our community.  What’s more, for every dollar donated from a member of our community, that dollar will be matched by an anonymous donor until our goal is reached.  In effect, when you donate a dollar, your donation will have twice the impact, as TCAH will receive two dollars!  If you donate $20, TCAH will receive $40, and so it goes.  If you are in a position to do so, consider making a donation to this important cause today.  Simply click here to make your donation!

16. Recap – Thank you, Families, for Taking Part in our Third Family Ambassadors Meeting of the Year!: We are grateful to our families who participated in the Family Ambassadors meeting on Zoom this week.  In case you missed it, here are the slides from the meeting.  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.  Unity’s Family Ambassadors will meet again on Thursday, January 12th, at 6pm – all families are encouraged to attend.

One of the many exciting initiatives coming out of our recent meetings is the exclusive Unity Strength in Family hooded sweatshirts, which are available for sale to all families this month.  Note that these sweatshirts were designed specifically with the family members of our students in mind.  We look forward to having family members proudly sport this exclusive Unity gear in the New Year!  Contact Mr. Beckford (grades 6-8) or Ms. Young (grades 9-12) with questions.

17. Recap – Attention Middle School Families Who Are Interested in After-school Programming!: The partnership with our middle school and St. Nick’s Alliance continues this year.  St. Nick’s offers a rich array of afterschool programming in academic enrichment, leadership development, and extracurricular activities for our middle school students.  Programming kicks off on Monday, September 19th.  Contact Luis Rodriguez with questions by email at lrodriguez@stnickallliance.org or by phone at 646-676-1309.

18. Recap – Unity’s Health Policies and Protocols in 2022-23: Unity will follow guidance provided by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as of the start of the 2022-23 school year.  The NYCDOE’s guidance aligns with the CDC’s current guidance, which we have consistently followed over the past 2.5 years.  By adhering to the NYCDOE’s guidance, we believe that we are taking the proper approach to best ensure the health and safety of our community.  Details on our policies are provided on the NYCDOE website.

Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

19. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: As we continue monitoring current health safety protocols, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you are a new Unity family, or have not yet provided your child’s vaccination status, please complete the COVID Vaccination Form at your earliest convenience.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.

20. Recap – 2022-23 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations: The table below reflects our key events and vacations calendar for the 2022-23 school year, including key events we ask for your collaboration with caregiver involvement.  In addition, here is the updated PDF version of the table for your convenience. We look forward to meeting our newest families and reconnecting with our returning families at Family Kick-off-the-Year Festival & Family Orientation on August 31st!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Our Community Pledge as a school outlines the actions our staff, families, and students are committed to taking.  By following through on our commitments, we will undoubtedly have an enormously successful school year!

Information and Guidance on Unity’s Dress Codes for the 2022-23 School Year: Unity’s dress codes by grade level are provided below.

• Grades 6-8: Here is a link to all things dress code for all middle school students.
• Grades 9-12: Unity High’s dress code is outlined below:
  1. Tops:
     1. It is strongly encouraged that an official Unity top is worn in the spirit of school pride and in being united in our collective focus on learning. “Official” is defined as a top (T-Shirt or Polos) purchased from an approved vendor.
     2. In cases where students do not take our recommendation, students can wear tops of their choice so long as the top covers their entire torso and shoulders.
     3. Tops must not bear any offensive and/or inappropriate language and/or images and may not be crop tops, tube tops, halter tops or tank tops.
  2. Bottoms:
     1. Student bottoms must be long enough that the hem hits the top of the knee, shin, or ankle.
     2. Bottoms must properly fit and be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn if bottoms are unable to fit at the waist without sagging.
     3. Bottoms may have rips or tears.
     4. Bottoms may not be leggings, tights, catsuits/bodysuits, basketball shorts or display undergarments.
  3. Shoes:
     1. All shoes must have backs, be closed-toed, and low heeled.
     2. Sandals, flip-flops, and athletic slides ARE NOT permitted (worn with or without socks).
     3. Crocs ARE permitted so long as the backstrap is raised behind the ankle at all times.
     4. For reasons related to safety, the policy for shoes will apply for all dress down days and spirit days.

School Supply Guidance: Having all of our students equipped with the supplies they need is essential to getting off to a strong start to the school year.  We offer guidance below on school supplies by grade level:

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

COVID-19 Vaccines: Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. The vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination. Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments.

• See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today. To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder.
• Note, people who are 12 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If you would like to speak to a social worker about your child’s mental health or if you would like your child to receive support from a social worker in school, please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org).

Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, immigration, access to community mental health services & referrals to mental health providers, food security / access to food, public assistance, crisis intervention, etc.).

If your child or family member is experiencing a mental health crisis, NYC Well is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed by phone (1-888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.

Discounts on Home Internet Services Available: If your household is struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a monthly service discount through the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Please visit this information page or call 833-511-0311 for more information.