Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the weekend has been good to you and your loved ones.

Congratulations to our middle school leaders, teachers, and students for showing off all that we have accomplished this year with students’ academic progress on their second round of interim assessments.  Your focus, persistence, and support of another is noteworthy!

I want to provide one important note regarding our schedule.  Thursday December 23rd will be a synchronous, remote day of instruction at Unity for all students.  Students will participate in their coursework in real time with the teachers via Zoom from home; students will not attend school in person.  The exact schedule for the day will be provided in the next edition of The Unity Scoop.

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I highlight some of the recent academic work of our middle school students in their history classes.  I also offer updates on upcoming community events and initiatives.

Best wishes to all in the coming week.

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of Decemer 12, 2021:

1. New – Students and Teachers in Action this Week: We continue to honor the hard work of our students as they engage in their learning each and every day of school.  This week, we feature our middle school (MS) history classes.  Ms. Turner, our MS History Chairperson, would like to shout out her teaching team and our students as young historians.  Across all grades at the middle school this past week, our young historians in training presented their end-of-unit essays.  Essays ranged in topic by grade:

• 6th grade students conducted research and presented on the extent to which the encounters between Native Americans and European colonizers were positive.
• 7th grade students focused their research and presentation on the extent to which the United States has become more democratic over time.
• 8th grade students conducted research and presented on the extent to which the United States adequately responded to the social issues of the Progressive Era.

In writing their essays, students advanced their skills in crafting clear, persuasive thesis statements and supporting their statements with strong supporting evidence and explanations within the body of their essays.  Congrats to our MS history team and young historians!

2. New – Note to Families: All students will take part in their classes remotely on Thursday, December 23rd: Teachers will facilitate their classes in real-time via Zoom.  Attendance will be based on students attending and participating in their remote classes.  The exact schedule for the day will be provided in the next edition of The Unity Scoop.

3. New – 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 second annual GoFundme initiative to raise $2022 for a fellow non-profit in Bed Stuy, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).  The campaign began on Friday and 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.  While we are in a better position as a society now than we were at this time 12 months ago, the times continue to be hard on our most vulnerable neighbors and community members. If you are in a position to do so, consider making a donation to this important cause today.

4. New – Middle School Connect with our Co-Principals, Thursday, December 16th at 6pm: Unity Middle will be hosting a remote Connect with our Co-Principals event as an opportunity to discuss Unity’s progress and important updates directly with the Co-Principals, Ms. Williams and Mr. Burns, including a discussion with a Unity social worker regarding mental health.  To RSVP, please respond to the message sent earlier this week via Jupiter.  Feel free to email Ms. Charles with any questions.  Finally, click this Zoom link on Thursday at 6pm to participate in the event.

5. New – A Donation from the Islanders Sets our Students Up to Learn the Ins and Outs of Hockey!: Unity recently received a small grant and donation from the New York Islanders, which included hockey sticks, jerseys and other equipment for physical education (PE) classes.  High school students are now learning about hockey in PE classes.  Enjoy the photo below of Mr. Noblia and his students as they prepare to engage in some skill work and practice!

6. Recap – Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our middle students to their studies through their excellent daily attendance.  The students featured below achieved exemplary attendance over the month of November.  Congratulations to you all – we are proud of you!

7. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

8. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

9. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

10. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

11. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

12. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

13. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I want to thank our families who participated in our fall conferences just before the holiday weekend.  It was energizing to connect with family members and students to discuss experiences thus far this year and how we can best collaborate moving forward so that students are getting the most out of their experience at Unity!

We are now approximately three weeks away from closing out the 2021 calendar year.  We look forward to ending the year on a strong note and moving into the new year.  Over the coming two weeks, our middle school students will be completing their second interim assessment of the school year.  Congratulations to our teachers and administration for working diligently to prepare our students for these exams.  And congrats in advance to our students for putting forth their best effort on these assessments and for showing off all that they have learned under the direction of their teachers thus far this year.

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I highlight some of the recent academic work of our high school students in their history classes.  I also offer updates on upcoming community events at our middle school.  Finally, I honor our middle school students with stellar school attendance over the month of November.

Well wishes to all in the coming week.

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of Decemer 5, 2021:

1. New – Students and Teachers in Action this Week: We continue to honor the hard work of our students as they engage in their learning each and every day of school.  This week, we feature our high school history (HS) classes.  Ms. Marron, our HS History Chairperson, would like to shout out her teaching team and our students as young historians.  Specifically, she commends:

• Our 9th grade students for engaging in thoughtful and intense debate about India and China in the early modern period. Our 9th grade historians are learning about how Buddhism and Confucianism-made empires gain and maintain power.
• Our 10th graders for their in-depth study and reflections on the film Roots, and how racism and nationalism are related.
• Our 11th grade students for their assessment of the impact of the Three-Fifths Compromise on perpetuating slavery but also putting off the debate, which led to the Civil War.
• Our 12th grade government students for their critical thinking and discussion on the negative impact of fake news on our society and politics in our country.  Enjoy the photo of Ms Tartan working with several seniors during office hours.

2. New – Exciting Events at our Middle School this Month!: December will undoubtedly be a spirited month for middle school students with three big events in the mix, including a talent show, Spirit Week, and coat drive.  Details are provided in the flyer below!

3. New – Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our middle students to their studies through their excellent daily attendance.  The students featured below achieved exemplary attendance over the month of November.  Congratulations to you all – we are proud of you!

4. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

5. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

6. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

7. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

8. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

9. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

10. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the week has been good to you and your loved ones.

We have a short but important week of school ahead of us with fall family conferences on Monday evening and Tuesday during the day.  We are excited to meet with 100% of our families to discuss student progress and how we may continue our collaboration with you in providing the best educational experience possible to your children.  Details on conferences are provided below.

• November 22nd (Monday): normal day of school for all students with evening family conferences online from 5-8pm
• November 23rd (Tuesday): daytime family conferences online – no classes for all students
• November 24th-November 26th (Wednesday-Friday): no school for all students (Thanksgiving Break)

On behalf of Unity’s staff and faculty, I wish all of our families a delightful Thanksgiving holiday.  We are immensely grateful to you for supporting your children at home and at school to be their best each and every day.  We look forward to our continued collaboration in December and beyond.

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I highlight a number of recent school events and student accomplishments.  I also offer updates on upcoming community events and initiatives, including details on family conferences.

The next edition of the Scoop will be disseminated on December 3rd.

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of November 19, 2021:

1. New – Family Conferences, grades 6-12 – November 22nd-23rd: Family conferences for all Unity families will be held on the evening of November 22nd and during the day of November 23rd.  Conferences will be held virtually.  Students will have classes on the 22nd, however, there will be no classes for students on the 23rd.  Here are the details by campus:

• Middle School (grades 6-8):
  • Students will have an abbreviated day of classes on Monday, 11/22.  Students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.
  • Families should have received a request to RSVP via Jupiter.  If you have any questions or still need to sign up, please reach out to Ms. Charles (dcharles@unityprep.org).
• High School (grades 9-12):
  • Students will have an abbreviated day of classes on Monday, 11/22.  Students will be dismissed at 2:30pm.
  • Families who still need to schedule their conference should reach out to the school at help.hs@unityprep.org.

2. Recap – We Want to Hear from You!  Please Complete this Important Survey this Week!: In the spirit of wanting to be the best school we can be for our families, we want to hear firsthand from you.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey by Friday so that we may have your ideas and preferences fully in mind when making important decisions that impact our experiences and collaboration as a community.  We are aiming to have 100% of our families provide responses.  Families who complete the survey by 5pm on Sunday and email the screenshot to survey@unityprep.org will be entered into a contest for a $100 amazon.com gift certificate.  Thanks in advance for helping us be the best school for your family!

3. New – Middle School Coffee With The Co-Principals, Tuesday, November 23rd, 9am: Unity Middle will be hosting a remote Coffee With The Co-Principals event as an opportunity to discuss Unity’s progress and important updates directly with Ms. Williams and Mr. Burns this coming Tuesday at 9am.  They look forward to connecting with you and to sharing some exciting news regarding family engagement!  Here is the Zoom meeting link.

4. New – Calling all 8th Grade Families – Please Join us on Dec. 2nd from 6-7:30pm for A Virtual High School Information Session: The 2021-2022 school year is in full swing, and we want to ensure that all Unity 8th grade families are prepared for the next step in your child’s educational journey as they approach 9th grade. During the virtual event, families will learn more about Unity High and the high school options in NYC, how to navigate the myschools.nyc online platform, and more.  Please RSVP using this form.  And here is the Zoom meeting link for the session.  For questions, please contact Mr. Beckford at cbeckford@unityprep.org.

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

6th Grade:

• Citizenship – Jason S.
• Scholarship – Papa D.

7th Grade:

• Scholarship – Jayden C.
• Citizenship – Dacota P.
• Growth – Sydney D.

8th Grade

• Citizenship – Taylor B.
• Scholarship – James M.

6. Recap – Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our middle students to their studies through their excellent daily attendance.  The students featured below achieved exemplary attendance over the month of October.  Congratulations to you all – we are proud of you!

7. Recap – Introducing our High School Government for the 2021-22 School Year!: Congratulations to the newly elected members of Unity High’s student government.  We look forward to your leadership and service impacting our school community in meaningful ways.

8. New – A Shout-out to our Fall Student-Athletes and our Student-Athletes of the Month!: As the end of the fall season approaches, we commend our athletics for their determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Thank you to Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia for producing an impressive fall program with more student athletes taking part in sports than ever before.  We would also like to congratulate our two Student-Athletes of the Month, Katelyn and Aisha – see both student-athletes spotlighted below.  Go Panthers!

9. New – Unity High School Celebrates Spirit Week!: High school students and staff definitely showed their spirit this week in a host of fun and wacky ways as evidenced by the lovely photos below.  Thank you to all those who played a role in organizing!

10. Recap – After-School Clubs Launched at Unity High!: Last week, our high school students participated in our first annual college-style club fair (see the photo below).  Students had the opportunity to sign up for one (or more) of our 9 teacher-led clubs including: Double Dutch, Dance Exploration, Zoology and Culinary, to name a few. Meeting once a week, students will explore different cultures, participate in non-competitive athletics and explore various career paths through our diverse club offerings. Teachers are excited to share some of their out-of-school passions with students.  As Ms. West, mathematics teacher, states: “It’s exciting to share my love for dance with students and see how interested they are in learning new things no matter how scary it may be.”

11. Recap – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Applications and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Personal Statement and Financial Aid – All seniors should now have their personal statements completed and should have met with Mr. Gonzalez to discuss college lists.  Families should prepare their taxes from last year and be ready to use those to apply for financial aid with Mr. Gonzalez this month.  For more information, please contact Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org, or schedule an appointment with him here: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez
• Student Programs: Apply to CUNY’s STEM Research Academy!
  • The City University of New York (CUNY) just released the STEM Research Academy Pre-College Research Course registration materials for spring 2022. The College Now STEM Research Academy program is a two-part program designed to provide high school students with an opportunity to develop strong college-level research skills by engaging in authentic science inquiry and research activities. 25 student applicants will be enrolled into our spring pre-college research course. Please note that this course will be hybrid for the spring 2022 semester, therefore all participants will be required to submit COVID-19 vaccination verification upon enrollment.
  • Upon successful completion of the spring course, students will have the opportunity to apply for the 2022 STEM Summer Research Internship. Those who complete the summer internship program will earn a $1000.00 stipend.
  • Students interested in applying for the STEM Research program should see Mr. Gonzalez immediately. The required documents need to be completed and submitted by Monday, December 27^th.  The application is also available for download on the website: STEM RA Application Spring 2022. Please note that all applications must include the following:

1. Application Form
2. Parent Consent Form
3. HS Transcript
4. Response Essay

12. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

13. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

14. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

15. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

16. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

17. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

18. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

Congratulations on completing month two of the 2021-22 school year.  These continue to be unprecedented times for families and schools – we appreciate your continued collaboration, as it gives us strength and purpose.

In the coming week, we will engage in a fairly regular week of school before embarking on fall conferences with families on Monday evening and Tuesday during the day.  Details on conferences are provided below.  We look forward to a productive week ahead and to conferring with you on the Monday and Tuesday before the Thanksgiving break.

• November 22nd (Monday): normal day of school for all students with evening family conferences online from 5-8pm
• November 23rd (Tuesday): daytime family conferences online – no classes for all students
• November 24th-November 26th (Wednesday-Friday): no school for all students (Thanksgiving break)

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I spotlight a number of recent student achievements.  I also offer updates on upcoming community events and initiatives, including family conferences.

Enjoy the weekend!

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of November 13, 2021:

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

6th Grade:

• Citizenship – Jason S.
• Scholarship – Papa D.

7th Grade:

• Scholarship – Jayden C.
• Citizenship – Dacota P.
• Growth – Sydney D.

8th Grade

• Citizenship – Taylor B.
• Scholarship – James M.

2. New – Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our middle students to their studies through their excellent daily attendance.  The students featured below achieved exemplary attendance over the month of October.  Congratulations to you all – we are proud of you!

3. New – Family Conferences, grades 6-12 – November 22nd-23rd: Family conferences for all Unity families will be held on the evening of November 22nd and during the day of November 23rd.  Conferences will be held virtually.  Students will have classes on the 22nd, however, there will be no classes for students on the 23rd.  Here are the details by campus:

• Middle School (grades 6-8):
  • Students will have an abbreviated day of classes on Monday, 11/22.  Students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.
  • Families will receive a request to RSVP via Jupiter and text message early this coming week. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Charles (dcharles@unityprep.org).
• High School (grades 9-12):
  • Students will have an abbreviated day of classes on Monday, 11/22.  Students will be dismissed at 2:30pm.
  •  Families will hear from their students’ advisors or staff beginning early this coming week to schedule a conference date and time.

4. New – Introducing our High School Government for the 2021-22 School Year!: Congratulations to the newly elected members of Unity High’s student government.  We look forward to your leadership and service impacting our school community in meaningful ways.

5. New – A Shout-out to our Fall Student-Athletes!: As the end of the fall season approaches, we commend our athletics for their determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Thank you to Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia for producing an impressive fall program with more student athletes taking part in sports than ever before.  Enjoy the team photo of our MS soccer team below.  Go Panthers!

6. New – Unity High School Celebrates Spirit Week, November 15-19!: High school students are encouraged to show their spirit each day of the week in a host of fun and wacky ways this coming week.  See the flyer below for details.  We look forward to our students showing their school spirit and having fun while doing so!

7. New – After-School Clubs Launched at Unity High!: Last week, our high school students participated in our first annual college-style club fair (see the photo below).  Students had the opportunity to sign up for one (or more) of our 9 teacher-led clubs including: Double Dutch, Dance Exploration, Zoology and Culinary, to name a few. Meeting once a week, students will explore different cultures, participate in non-competitive athletics and explore various career paths through our diverse club offerings. Teachers are excited to share some of their out-of-school passions with students.  As Ms. West, mathematics teacher, states: “It’s exciting to share my love for dance with students and see how interested they are in learning new things no matter how scary it may be.”

8. New – Attention 8th Grade Families: Registration for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) is happening now!: The deadline to register for the test is this Monday, November 15th. If interested, families may be able register for the test at myschools.nyc. Note that you will need your child’s account creation code in order to create your account. Welcome letters were sent from the NYCDOE with this information.  Contact Mr. Beckford (cbeckford@unityprep.org) if you do not have a creation code and he can assist.  Additionally, Mr. Beckford is able to register your child for SHSAT. Please reach out via email or Jupiter confirming that you would like your child to take the test, and provide a list of the specialized high schools in your families true preference order.

9. Recap – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Applications and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Congratulations! – Please join us in congratulating the following seniors for submitting their college applications last week:
  • Samija Thomas
  • Jessie Vidal
  • Gregory Ward-Plante
  • Katana Kirton
  • Desiree Pilgrim
• Personal Statement and Financial Aid – All seniors should now have their personal statements completed and should have met with Mr. Gonzalez to discuss college lists.  Families should prepare their taxes from last year and be ready to use those to apply for financial aid with Mr. Gonzalez this month.  For more information, please contact Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org, or schedule an appointment with him here: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez​​​​​​​
• Student Programs: Apply to CUNY’s STEM Research Academy!
  • The City University of New York (CUNY) just released the STEM Research Academy Pre-College Research Course registration materials for spring 2022. The College Now STEM Research Academy program is a two-part program designed to provide high school students with an opportunity to develop strong college-level research skills by engaging in authentic science inquiry and research activities. 25 student applicants will be enrolled into our spring pre-college research course. Please note that this course will be hybrid for the spring 2022 semester, therefore all participants will be required to submit COVID-19 vaccination verification upon enrollment.
  • Upon successful completion of the spring course, students will have the opportunity to apply for the 2022 STEM Summer Research Internship. Those who complete the summer internship program will earn a $1000.00 stipend.
  • Students interested in applying for the STEM Research program should see Mr. Gonzalez immediately. The required documents need to be completed and submitted by Monday, December 27^th.  The application is also available for download on the website: STEM RA Application Spring 2022. Please note that all applications must include the following:

1. Application Form
2. Parent Consent Form
3. HS Transcript
4. Response Essay

10. Recap – We Want to Hear from You!  Please Complete this Important Survey this Week!: In the spirit of wanting to be the best school we can be for our families, we want to hear firsthand from you.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey by Friday so that we may have your ideas and preferences fully in mind when making important decisions that impact our experiences and collaboration as a community.  We are aiming to have 100% of our families provide responses.  Families who complete the survey by 5pm Friday and email the screenshot to survey@unityprep.org will be entered into a contest for a $100 amazon.com gift certificate.  Thanks in advance for helping us be the best school for your family!

11. Recap – Ms. Eason, High School Family Engagement Coordinator, Has Three Announcements for Unity Families:

• Virtual Session on Providing Academic Support at Home: On Monday, November 15th from 6pm-7pm, Unity High School will host the following workshop for families: I Don’t Understand the Content: Providing Academic Support for Your High Schooler at Home.  During the virtual session, families will be introduced to strategies and tools they can use at home to academically support their child when they don’t understand the content.  It will be a great opportunity to meet other parents and add to your parenting toolkit.  Please see the flyer below and complete this RSVP form by November 14th.

12. Recap – A Message from Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia about Playing on Unity’s Basketball Teams this Winter: As announced on August 20, COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all students (ages 12 and over) who participate in high-risk sports during the 2021-22 school year.  This requirement applies to all participants in high-risk sports, including students, coaches, and administrative staff.  Basketball is a high-risk sport. Participants (aged 12 and over) in winter high-risk sports must receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by Monday, November 22nd.  Contact Mr. Coleman (Acoleman@unityprep.org) or Mr. Noblia, (PNoblia@unityprep.org) with any questions.

13. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

14. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

15. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

16. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

17. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

18. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

19. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that marathon Sunday is treating you well and that you enjoyed the extra hour of shuteye last night.

I wish to congratulate our high school students for completing their interim assessments this week.  We applaud them for putting forth their best effort on these assessments and for showing off all that they have learned under the direction of their teachers thus far this year.

I also want to congratulate a number of our seniors who experienced milestone achievements this week by submitting their college applications and by voting in their first elections!

As we look forward to the rest of November, I want to again flag a few special dates in our school schedule so that you are clear on programming and can plan ahead accordingly.  Note that this is an extension of what I presented last week.

• November 11th (Thursday): no school for students in grades 6-12 (Veteran’s Day)
• November 12th (Friday): no classes for students in grades 9-12 (students in grades 6-8 will experience a normal Friday schedule)
• November 22nd (Monday): normal day of school for all students with evening family conferences from 5-8pm
• November 23rd (Tuesday): daytime family conferences – no classes for all students
• November 24th-November 26th (Wednesday-Friday): no school for all students (Thanksgiving break)

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you a number of updates on recent community events and initiatives, including vaccinations for students ages 5-11 and family conferences.

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of November 7, 2021:

1. New – Vaccination Appointments Available at our 432 Monroe Street Campus (Middle School) on Friday Afternoon, November 12th, through the NYCDOE – Students Aged 5-11 are Now Eligible: This coming Friday, November 12th, from 12:30-4:00 PM, there will be an onsite vaccination clinic for students ages 5-11 in Room #116.  All Unity students are eligible – here are the details:

• Students aged 5-11 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or by an adult designated by the parent or guardian, while receiving their vaccine. If the student is accompanied by an adult who is not the parent or guardian, the vaccine provider must either obtain verbal consent from the parent or guardian by phone at the time of vaccination, or parent/guardians may choose to send a completed consent form with the adult designee.
• You will not need to provide proof of immigration status or a social security number to get vaccinated.
• You do not need health insurance to get vaccinated – the vaccine is free.
• All records and information associated with vaccination are kept strictly confidential.
• Vaccines are administered by trained medical professionals.
• On-site telephone interpretation in multiple languages will be available.

2. New – Save-the-Date: Family Conferences, grades 6-12 – November 22nd-23rd: Family conferences for all Unity families will be held on the evening of November 22nd and during the day of November 23rd.  Conferences will be held virtually.  Students will have a regular day of school on the 22nd, however, there will be no classes for students on the 23rd.  Further details on scheduling will be provided in next week’s edition of the Scoop.  For now, save the date!

3. New – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Applications and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Congratulations! – Please join us in congratulating the following seniors for submitting their college applications last week:
  • Samija Thomas
  • Jessie Vidal
  • Gregory Ward-Plante
  • Katana Kirton
  • Desiree Pilgrim
• Personal Statement and Financial Aid – All seniors should now have their personal statements completed and should have met with Mr. Gonzalez to discuss college lists.  Families should prepare their taxes from last year and be ready to use those to apply for financial aid with Mr. Gonzalez this month.  For more information, please contact Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org, or schedule an appointment with him here: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez
• Student Programs: Apply to CUNY’s STEM Research Academy!
  • The City University of New York (CUNY) just released the STEM Research Academy Pre-College Research Course registration materials for spring 2022. The College Now STEM Research Academy program is a two-part program designed to provide high school students with an opportunity to develop strong college-level research skills by engaging in authentic science inquiry and research activities. 25 student applicants will be enrolled into our spring pre-college research course. Please note that this course will be hybrid for the spring 2022 semester, therefore all participants will be required to submit COVID-19 vaccination verification upon enrollment.
  • Upon successful completion of the spring course, students will have the opportunity to apply for the 2022 STEM Summer Research Internship. Those who complete the summer internship program will earn a $1000.00 stipend.
  1. Students interested in applying for the STEM Research program should see Mr. Gonzalez immediately. The required documents need to be completed and submitted by Monday, December 27^th.  The application is also available for download on the website: STEM RA Application Spring 2022. Please note that all applications must include the following:
  • Application Form
  • Parent Consent Form
  • HS Transcript
  • Response Essay
• Upcoming College Events – New York Urban League College and Career Fair, November 13th, 11:00am-3:30pm
  • Seniors and recent graduates, please sign up to participate in  the New York Urban League’s annual College (and Career) Fair this year! Join us as we return to Riverbank State Park to connect scholars to college admissions, scholarships, resources, and more! High School Seniors can register here: New York Urban League College and Career Fair | NY Urban League (nyul.org).
  • Considering COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines we will only be hosting 1500 High School and College Seniors as well as recent college graduates.  Be sure to RSVP today as you don’t want to miss this event.
  • Note: All attendees must present COVID-19 vaccination cards upon registration and admittance into the fair. Questions regarding this event, please contact Joery Francois, Director Of Program, at jfrancois@nyul.org.

4. New – Congrats to Unity’s Student-Athlete All-Stars!: Congratulations to the following middle school student-athletes for being selected by their coaches to represent Unity in the Middle School Athletic League’s all-star games.

• Nia Culpepper – Volleyball
• Khaya Khan – Soccer
• Seth Johnson – Flag Football

5. Recap – Highlights from Unity High’s College Fair!: Our high school students met with a host of college representatives during Unity High’s College Fair.  Thank you to Mr. Gonzalez and the College & Career Readiness team for organizing the event!

6. Recap – We Want to Hear from You!  Please Complete this Important Survey this Week!: In the spirit of wanting to be the best school we can be for our families, we want to hear firsthand from you.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey by Friday so that we may have your ideas and preferences fully in mind when making important decisions that impact our experiences and collaboration as a community.  We are aiming to have 100% of our families provide responses.  Families who complete the survey by 5pm Friday and email the screenshot to survey@unityprep.org will be entered into a contest for a $100 amazon.com gift certificate.  Thanks in advance for helping us be the best school for your family!

7. Recap – Ms. Eason, High School Family Engagement Coordinator, Has Three Announcements for Unity Families:

• Virtual Session on Providing Academic Support at Home: On Monday, November 15th from 6pm-7pm, Unity High School will host the following workshop for families: I Don’t Understand the Content: Providing Academic Support for Your High Schooler at Home.  During the virtual session, families will be introduced to strategies and tools they can use at home to academically support their child when they don’t understand the content.  It will be a great opportunity to meet other parents and add to your parenting toolkit.  Please see the flyer below and complete this RSVP form by November 10th.

• Attention – Families of 10th and 11th Graders: If your student is in 10th or 11th grade and is eligible for College Now, you should have received a Jupiter message about next steps, including an information session scheduled for  November 11th.  Please reply to that message if your student is interested.  Thank you!
• Getting Ahead! Academic Enrichment Program Virtual Fair, Wednesday, November 10th, 6-7:30pm: During this webinar, families will get to explore over a dozen free programs that can support their students’ academic success.  The event will showcase programs specifically for students in grades 4-10.  The event will be hosted in English and Spanish.  Participating programs include: A Better Chance, Breakthrough New York, Boys Hope Girls Hope, De La Salle Academy, ESPI: City Smart Scholars, George Jackson Academy, Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Let’s Get Ready, Oliver Scholars, Prep for Prep, REACH Prep, and REACH at Regis High School, SEO Scholars, and The TEAK Fellowship. Interested families can register here.

8. Recap – A Message from Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia about Playing on Unity’s Basketball Teams this Winter: As announced on August 20, COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all students (ages 12 and over) who participate in high-risk sports during the 2021-22 school year.  This requirement applies to all participants in high-risk sports, including students, coaches, and administrative staff.  Basketball is a high-risk sport. Participants (aged 12 and over) in winter high-risk sports must receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by Monday, November 22nd.  Contact Mr. Coleman (Acoleman@unityprep.org) or Mr. Noblia, (PNoblia@unityprep.org) with any questions.

9. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

10. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

11. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

12. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

13. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

14. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

15. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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 12 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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the past week was good to you and your loved ones.  As you take in the weekend and prepare for the week ahead, I want to flag a few updates to our school schedule for the coming two weeks so that you are clear on programming and can plan ahead accordingly:

• November 2nd (Tuesday): an asynchronous remote learning day for grades 6-12 (see details below) – students will be working on assignments from home
• November 5th (Friday): students in grades 6-8 will be dismissed at 1:15pm (students in grades 9-12 will experience a normal Friday schedule)
• November 11th (Thursday): no school for students in grades 6-12 (Veteran’s Day)
• November 12th (Friday): no classes for students in grades 9-12 (students in grades 6-8 will experience a normal Friday schedule)

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you a number of updates on recent community events and initiatives.  I offer a number of resources for families.  Take a moment to appreciate all that we have going on and are offering.

I wish you and your loved ones a fun, safe, and festive Halloween weekend.  If you are seeking ideas on the perfect Halloween costume, I offer as inspiration the photo below of our high school team showing off their creative costume talents on Friday!

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of October 31, 2021:

1. New – Details on Student Schedules on Tuesday, November 2nd:

• Grades 6-8:
  • Students will be assigned asynchronous independent work at home via Google Classroom.
  • All assignments should be completed and submitted by 3:30pm.
  • Attendance will be based on the assignments being submitted.
• Grades 9-12:
  • Students will join their advisories at 9:00am on Zoom where they will be able to exercise their voting rights and elect their class representatives!  Attendance will be taken.
  • Students will then complete independent work on their own. Work can be found on Google Classroom. The assignment should be submitted to Google Classroom no later than 3:00pm. This portion of the day is asynchronous.
  • If students are interested in becoming a teaching assistant (TA), they should attend the TA  meeting at 11:30am on Zoom. Details can be found in students’ emails.
  • Students who are 18 or older, be sure to vote!  Use this resource to find your local polling site.
  • Caregivers are welcome to join Co-Principals Louisma and Yun for a virtual Coffee with the Co-Principals at 9:30am!  Details and Zoom links will be sent out via Jupiter.

2. New – Unity Middle School Students and Staff Celebrate Spirit Week!: Students and staff had some fun while showing their school spirit as a community this week.  Enjoy the photos below of students and staff sporting their favorite pajamas on Friday and of students participating in Halloween festivities on Wednesday afternoon!

3. New – Highlights from Unity High’s College Fair!: Our high school students met with a host of college representatives on Friday during Unity High’s College Fair.  Thank you to Mr. Gonzalez and the College & Career Readiness team for organizing the event!

4. New – We Want to Hear from You!  Please Complete this Important Survey this Week!: In the spirit of wanting to be the best school we can be for our families, we want to hear firsthand from you.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey by Friday so that we may have your ideas and preferences fully in mind when making important decisions that impact our experiences and collaboration as a community.  We are aiming to have 100% of our families provide responses.  Families who complete the survey by 5pm Friday and email the screenshot to survey@unityprep.org will be entered into a contest for a $100 amazon.com gift certificate.  Thanks in advance for helping us be the best school for your family!

5. New – Ms. Eason, High School Family Engagement Coordinator, Has Three Announcements for Unity Families:

• Virtual Session on Providing Academic Support at Home: On Monday, November 15th from 6pm-7pm, Unity High School will host the following workshop for families: I Don’t Understand the Content: Providing Academic Support for Your High Schooler at Home.  During the virtual session, families will be introduced to strategies and tools they can use at home to academically support their child when they don’t understand the content.  It will be a great opportunity to meet other parents and add to your parenting toolkit.  Please see the flyer below and complete this RSVP form by November 10th.

• Attention – Families of 10th and 11th Graders: If your student is in 10th or 11th grade and is eligible for College Now, you should have received a Jupiter message about next steps, including an information session scheduled for  November 11th.  Please reply to that message if your student is interested.  Thank you!
• Getting Ahead! Academic Enrichment Program Virtual Fair, Wednesday, November 10th, 6-7:30pm: During this webinar, families will get to explore over a dozen free programs that can support their students’ academic success.  The event will showcase programs specifically for students in grades 4-10.  The event will be hosted in English and Spanish.  Participating programs include: A Better Chance, Breakthrough New York, Boys Hope Girls Hope, De La Salle Academy, ESPI: City Smart Scholars, George Jackson Academy, Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Let’s Get Ready, Oliver Scholars, Prep for Prep, REACH Prep, and REACH at Regis High School, SEO Scholars, and The TEAK Fellowship. Interested families can register here.

6. New – Two Featured Updates on Unity’s Athletics and Physical Education Programs from this Past Week: Our middle school athletic program hosted its first home game in 20 months with a volleyball match.  See the photo below of team members offering “U’s” for Unity!  In addition, congratulations to Emma C. as a recipient of Mr. Coleman’s Physical Education (PE) PRIDE Award!

7. Recap – A Message from Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia about Playing on Unity’s Basketball Teams this Winter: As announced on August 20, COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all students (ages 12 and over) who participate in high-risk sports during the 2021-22 school year.  This requirement applies to all participants in high-risk sports, including students, coaches, and administrative staff.  Basketball is a high-risk sport. Participants (aged 12 and over) in winter high-risk sports must receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by Monday, November 22nd.  Contact Mr. Coleman (Acoleman@unityprep.org) or Mr. Noblia, (PNoblia@unityprep.org) with any questions.

8. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 15th, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

9. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: We thank the roughly 75% of our families who have thus far completed this survey.  As we solidify our safety protocols for the coming year, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you have not yet completed this survey or your child was recently vaccinated, we ask that you take one minute to do so as soon as possible.  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.

10. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

11. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

12. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

13. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

14. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

15. Recap – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Workshops and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Options Center College Workshops – Options Center, one of Unity’s partner organizations, is hosting a weekly College Application series Wednesdays at 4pm. We highly recommend and encourage all 11th & 12th grade students to take advantage of this FREE college prep resource.
  • Fall Sessions:
    • 11/10 – Interviewing Tips
  • Use the following link to register: bit.ly/Optionsworkshop1
  • Once you’ve registered, send Mr. Gonzalez a message that says: “I signed up for Options’ workshops!”
• Scholarships – Review the plethora of college scholarships below by clicking on the links to learn more.
  • Coca-Cola Scholarship – $20,000 for College!  The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship.  High school seniors, apply here! The application will be open until October 31, 2021, at 5pm Eastern.  Register for a live webinar to learn more about the application process.
  • Search for Scholarships – Students and families should be looking for and applying to scholarships NOW!  These scholarships will provide free money for college!  Click on any of the links below to use the search engines to find and apply for opportunities – and be sure to work with Mr. Gonzalez to submit your materials by the deadline!
  • Going Merry – A free, one-stop scholarships platform. It matches you with scholarships and then helps you apply directly. It has both local and national scholarships and you can bulk-apply for multiple scholarships, which share similar essay prompts, using one application.
  • Scholar Snapp – A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information – including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. – from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.
  • Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
  • Peerlift – Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you. (Founded by a team of 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars!) Learn more about the creation of Peerlift.
  • Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships, colleges and more for you.
  • CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
  • Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
  • Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
  • Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
  • Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.
  • HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
  • Gates Millennium Scholars – Provides outstanding low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
  • Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
  • UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.
  • The College Board Opportunity Scholarships – The program guides juniors and seniors through the college planning process and offers the chance to earn scholarships, from $500 to $40,000, for every action that students complete.

16. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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 12 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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that you’ve been able to take in yet another weekend of beautiful fall weather in New York City.

As we complete our sixth week of the school year, we are now in the process of administering our first round of interim assessments.  Congratulations to our teachers and administration for working diligently to prepare our students for these exams.  And congrats to our students for putting forth their best effort on these assessments and for showing off all that they have learned under the direction of their teachers thus far this year.

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you a number of updates on recent community events and initiatives.  Indeed, there is a lot going on at Unity – we are proud to be offering so many opportunities in rounding out our students’ educational experience!

I look forward to the week ahead.  Continue to be well and be safe.

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of October 24, 2021:

1. New – Student-Athletes and Coaches in Action this Week: Our fall athletic season is now in full swing!  It is impressive to see our teams in action and demonstrating all of the qualities that are important in being a good teammate, including sportsmanship, discipline, perseverance, and encouragement.  The photos below feature our HS volleyball team and MS flag football team in action.  Go Panthers!

2. Updated – Note that November 2nd will be a Remote Learning Day for All Students: All students in grades 6-12 will engage in school via learning remotely from home on Tuesday, November 2nd.  Details on the remote schedule for the day and how learning experiences will be structured will be in next week’s edition of The Scoop.  As this is Election Day, a friendly reminder to find your local polling site and vote!

3. New – Middle School Students will be Dismissed at 1:15pm on Friday, November 5th: All middle school students (grades 6-8) will experience a shortened day of school on Friday, November 5th so that teachers can grade and analyze interim assessment results.  Note that students in grades 9-12 will experience a normal Friday schedule.

4. New – Unity Middle School Celebrates Spirit Week and HallowsFest this Week: Middle school students are encouraged to show their spirit each day of the week in a host fun and wacky ways.  In addition, Unity middle school students have the opportunity to participate in a number of Halloween activities on Wednesday afternoon, October 27th.  See the flyers below for details.  We look forward to our students showing their school spirit and having fun while doing so!

5. New – Unity High Students Enjoy Time Together and with their Teachers at Six Flags!: On Friday evening, high school students and staff ventured to Six Flags for a spooky time at Fright Fest!  Thank you to Ms. Jaquez and Mr. Lopez for organizing and for all the chaperones who made it all possible. Enjoy the photos below!

7. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity Middle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 1st, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

8. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: We thank the roughly 75% of our families who have thus far completed this survey.  As we solidify our safety protocols for the coming year, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you have not yet completed this survey or your child was recently vaccinated, we ask that you take one minute to do so as soon as possible.  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.

9. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

10. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

11. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

12. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

13. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

14. Recap – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Workshops and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Options Center College Workshops – Options Center, one of Unity‘s partner organizations, is hosting a weekly College Application series Wednesdays at 4pm. We highly recommend and encourage all 11th & 12th grade students to take advantage of this FREE college prep resource.
  • Fall Sessions:
    • 11/10 – Interviewing Tips
  • Use the following link to register: bit.ly/Optionsworkshop1
  • Once you’ve registered, send Mr. Gonzalez a message that says: “I signed up for Options’ workshops!”
• Scholarships – Review the plethora of college scholarships below by clicking on the links to learn more.
  • Coca-Cola Scholarship – $20,000 for College!  The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship.  High school seniors, apply here! The application will be open until October 31, 2021, at 5pm Eastern.  Register for a live webinar to learn more about the application process.
  • Search for Scholarships – Students and families should be looking for and applying to scholarships NOW!  These scholarships will provide free money for college!  Click on any of the links below to use the search engines to find and apply for opportunities – and be sure to work with Mr. Gonzalez to submit your materials by the deadline!
  • Going Merry – A free, one-stop scholarships platform. It matches you with scholarships and then helps you apply directly. It has both local and national scholarships and you can bulk-apply for multiple scholarships, which share similar essay prompts, using one application.
  • Scholar Snapp – A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information – including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. – from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.
  • Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
  • Peerlift – Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you. (Founded by a team of 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars!) Learn more about the creation of Peerlift.
  • Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships, colleges and more for you.
  • CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
  • Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
  • Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
  • Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
  • Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.
  • HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
  • Gates Millennium Scholars – Provides outstanding low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
  • Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
  • UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.
  • The College Board Opportunity Scholarships – The program guides juniors and seniors through the college planning process and offers the chance to earn scholarships, from $500 to $40,000, for every action that students complete.

15. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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 12 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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that you’ve been able to take in some of the beautiful fall weather we’ve had this weekend.

Before jumping into updates this week, I want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing collaboration and support.  Schools across the nation have been expected to go way beyond their core function of educating young people.  It has been a demanding time for teachers, staff, and school leaders.

Your support of Unity and commitment to our school have helped us in getting off to a relatively strong start to the school year.  On behalf of our entire team, I wish to express our gratitude to you.  There continues to be strength in Unity.

On a related note, I also want to thank our families for continuing to practice the 8 preventative safety measures at home that we have set forth as a school community:

1. Schedule a vaccination for your child and eligible family members
2. Wear masks
3. Be mindful of distance
4. Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated areas
5. Wash hands often
6. Cover coughs and sneezes
7. Clean and disinfect
8. Monitor family’s health

These measures must be a constant in how we go about our lives right now in order to keep our entire community healthy and allow us to experience the best of school without interruption.

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you some new photos of our students in action in class as well as some updates on upcoming events.

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of October 17, 2021:

1. New – Students and Teachers in Action this Week: We continue to honor the hard work of our students as they engage in their learning each and every day of school.  This week, we feature a number of middle school (MS) students in their English Language Arts (ELA) class.  Ms. Meza, our MS ELA Chairperson, would like to shout out our ELA students for seizing the opportunity to show off their current skills as young and promising writers this past week.  In addition, Ms. Abawi, our High School Math Chairperson, alongside her team, are excited by the new skills being developed by their mathematicians-in-training.  Congrats, all!  Expect more photos in coming editions of the Scoop!

2. New – Note that November 2nd will be a Remote Learning Day for All Students: All students in grades 6-12 will engage in school via learning remotely from home on Tuesday, November 2nd.  Details on the remote schedule for the day and how learning experiences will be structured will be in next week’s edition of The Scoop.  As this is Election Day, a friendly reminder to find your local polling site and vote!

3. New – Unity High Celebrates LatinX Heritage!: This past Friday afternoon, staff and students took part in cooking, movie-watching, dancing, and crafting alongside our staff.  See below for some photos capturing the experience!

4. Recap – A Message from Mr. Coleman and Mr. Noblia about Playing on Unity’s Basketball Teams this Winter: As announced on August 20, COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all students (ages 12 and over) who participate in high-risk sports during the 2021-22 school year.  This requirement applies to all participants in high-risk sports, including students, coaches, and administrative staff.  Basketball is a high-risk sport. Participants (aged 12 and over) in winter high-risk sports must receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by Monday, November 22nd.  Contact Mr. Coleman (Acoleman@unityprep.org) or Mr. Noblia, (PNoblia@unityprep.org) with any questions.

5. Recap – All Unity 12th Graders will be able to Register or Pre-register to Vote in Elections this Week!: As a school whose mission it is to empower students to lead fulfilling lives, we are excited to support all of our seniors this week to register or pre-register to vote in future elections so that their ideas may be represented in our political system.  This initiative is a milestone for our school and certainly a milestone for each of our seniors!  Be sure to congratulate them for their initiative and future self-advocacy!  Finally, to any and all family members who would like to join our seniors in registering to vote, you may register here.

6. Recap – Congratulations to our High School Students who Made the Honor Roll in the Spring of 2021!  As we kick off the new year, it is important to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our students from this past spring.  During Thursday evening’s high school Open School Night, we took a moment to congratulate our current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who earned Honor Roll status last year.  Congrats honorees!  We look forward to celebrating our Semester I Honor Roll students for this year in February!

7. Recap – A Few Open Seats Remain for Prospective Students at Unity MIddle School and at Unity High School  – Spread the Word!: Unity Middle School has seats available in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and Unity High School has seats available in grades 10 & 11!  If you refer a student that enrolls at Unity  by November 1st, you will receive a $100 amazon.com gift card for school supplies. Please contact Mr. Doscher for more information or if you know a family that might be interested in Unity.

8. Recap – Important Information Regarding Vaccinations Requested: We thank the roughly 75% of our families who have thus far completed this survey.  As we solidify our safety protocols for the coming year, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you have not yet completed this survey or your child was recently vaccinated, we ask that you take one minute to do so as soon as possible.  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.

9. Recap – Regular COVID-19 Testing of Students Conducted This Week: During the 2021-22 school year, Unity will be testing 20% of our unvaccinated student population once per week. This additional safety measure is intended to complement—and not replace—our current health and safety measures and other adjustments we have made to keep our community safe and our buildings open. The goal of this type of screening testing is to be able to identify individuals who have COVID-19 and enable them to take precautions immediately to protect themselves, their families, and the broader school community.

10. Recap – A Resource for Supporting Adolescent Mental Health During a Pandemic and Back to School:  Unity’s social work team would like to share a helpful resource with our families on how to best meet the needs of our students as they transition back to school ’ mental health as they (and we) all experience the transition back to school after a very challenging 18 months.

11. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from our Open School Night for High School Families: Here are the slides that Ms. Yun and Ms. Louisma shared.  Below is the slide that Ms. Eason presented regarding our HS Family webpage.  Visit the page for high school-specific updates and resources.

12. Recap – Slides and a Quick Recap from Thursday’s Open School Night for Middle School Families: Thanks again to our middle school families for participating in Thursday’s session.  Here are the slides that Mr. Burns and Ms. Williams shared.  Below is a list of 5 ways that middle school families can best support their children at home in getting the most out of their Unity education this school year.  Note that our Middle School Student & Family Handbook is on our website.

13. Recap – Footage of Our Family Information Sessions on August 26th: In case you missed the sessions and/or would like to review what was presented, here are video recording of each session:

• Middle School
• High School
• High School Guidebook

14. Recap – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last month, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up is whether families will be able to use past uniforms this year.  The answer is yes!  All past uniforms will be permitted this coming year.  Details on dress code for the 2021-22 school year for the middle school and high school are listed below:

• Middle School:
  • Details on the MS dress code can be found here.
  • Middle school shirts, sweaters, and gym uniforms can be purchased at FlynnO’Hara School Uniforms (flynnohara.com).
• High School: There are key components of our dress code that we would like to highlight – see below.  Additional details can be found here.
  • TOPS: Unity tops are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at unityprepuniforms.com/ for high school students. All tops must fully cover the torso and shoulders.
  • BOTTOMS: Bottoms must be knee-length or longer. No skin can be visible under small rips or tears.

15. Recap – Information on Supply Lists: See details below by site.

• Middle School: Details on the early school supply list can be found here.
• High School: Please purchase wired headphones, pens, and pencils. The full supply list can be found in the guidebook.

16. Recap – Attention Senior and Families of Seniors: Information re: College Workshops and Scholarships from Mr. Gonzalez: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Options Center College Workshops – Options Center, one of Unity’s partner organizations, is hosting a weekly College Application series Wednesdays at 4pm. We highly recommend and encourage all 11th & 12th grade students to take advantage of this FREE college prep resource.
  • Fall Sessions:
    • 10/20 – How to Pay for College
    • 11/10 – Interviewing Tips
  • Use the following link to register: bit.ly/Optionsworkshop1
  • Once you’ve registered, send Mr. Gonzalez a message that says: “I signed up for Options’ workshops!”
• Scholarships – Review the plethora of college scholarships below by clicking on the links to learn more.
  • Coca-Cola Scholarship – $20,000 for College!  The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship.  High school seniors, apply here! The application will be open until October 31, 2021, at 5pm Eastern.  Register for a live webinar to learn more about the application process.
  • Search for Scholarships – Students and families should be looking for and applying to scholarships NOW!  These scholarships will provide free money for college!  Click on any of the links below to use the search engines to find and apply for opportunities – and be sure to work with Mr. Gonzalez to submit your materials by the deadline!
  • Going Merry – A free, one-stop scholarships platform. It matches you with scholarships and then helps you apply directly. It has both local and national scholarships and you can bulk-apply for multiple scholarships, which share similar essay prompts, using one application.
  • Scholar Snapp – A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information – including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. – from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.
  • Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
  • Peerlift – Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you. (Founded by a team of 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars!) Learn more about the creation of Peerlift.
  • Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships, colleges and more for you.
  • CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
  • Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
  • Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
  • Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
  • Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.
  • HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
  • Gates Millennium Scholars – Provides outstanding low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
  • Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
  • UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.
  • The College Board Opportunity Scholarships – The program guides juniors and seniors through the college planning process and offers the chance to earn scholarships, from $500 to $40,000, for every action that students complete.

17. Recap – 2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may begin making plans for next year, with our school schedule in mind, the table below provides the vacation dates for students and families for the 2021-22 school year.  Students will not report to school on these dates.  Moreover, here are a few important notes regarding next year’s calendar:

• In addition to the dates listed below, there will be at least three additional days during the year in which students will not have in-person learning.  During these days, students will participate asynchronously from home as our staff participate in training.  These additional dates will be announced in late July.
• We will follow suit with the New York City Department of Education next year in providing remote classes on days in which in-person learning is cancelled due to inclement weather.  Additional details on how these days will be structured will be provided this fall.
• We will hold Information sessions, orientation for families and students, and other fun events as we kick off the 2021-22 school year.  The dates for these events will be announced in late July.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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 12 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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.