Dear Families of Unity,

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the summer and that August is upon us.

Right away, I want to thank the large turnout of families who took part in last week’s Listening & Sharing sessions.  We share your interest and excitement in having your children re-engage in the social benefits of in-person learning this fall.  Please know that the input and recommendations provided are invaluable as we put our best foot forward in providing the safest and strongest educational experience possible in the 2021-22 school year.

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you a number of updates on the upcoming school year, including family events in August and September, the most current information on our safety protocols for the start of the year, as well as other updates on start-of-year logistics.  Also included are some updates from the summer, including recent events and achievements by our athletics program.

The next edition of the Scoop will be disseminated during the week of August 16th.

In unity,

Best

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of July 31, 2021:

1. New – Save-the-Dates in August and September: we have two important events for families.  Please reserve these dates and times in your calendars!

• Virtual August Information Session for Families – during these sessions, you will learn about critical back-to-school information, including uniform details, the school year calendar, the daily schedule, and information on how to access your child’s grades and attendance:
  • Middle School: August 19th, 6pm
  • High School: August 19th, 7pm
• Back to School Night for Families – during this event, you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about our curriculum and programming for the school year:
  • Middle School: September 23rd, 6pm
  • High School: September 30th, 6pm

2. New – Important Information Vaccination Requested: 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.  We ask that all of our families take a moment to complete this short survey by Wednesday, August 4th, so that we may plan with the best information at hand.  We thank you in advance for supporting our efforts here.

Note: 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.  Information in doing so is available below.

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

4. New – Latest Information on a Safe Return to School: We thank our families for participating in our recent Listening & Sharing sessions.  As relayed during the sessions, we will abide by all state, city, and CDC safety guidelines as we return to school in September.  As of now, here are the measures we are taking:

• We are strongly promoting families to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible.
• We are requiring our staff to be vaccinated or take part in regular testing per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We will require mask use among all staff, students, families, and visitors when inside our buildings.
• We will promote physical distancing to the greatest extent possible.
• We are in process of equipping all of our classrooms with air purifiers per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We will continue in our cleaning and disinfection protocols per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We are updating our procedures for test screening, contact tracing, and quarantining per the latest guidance from the NYCDOE.

Note: We will update our measures according to any new guidelines received by the NYCDOH & CDC.

5. New – Update on Dress Code: During our Listening & Sharing sessions last week, a number of families inquired about our dress code for the coming year.  One question that came up was 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 2021-22 for middle school and high school will be disseminated during the week of August 2nd via Jupiter.  Questions regarding dress code may be directed to Ms. Charles at our middle school or to our operations team at our high school.

6. New – Information on Supply Lists by Site: The middle school supply list for the coming school year will be disseminated via Jupiter this coming week.  Questions regarding our middle school supply list may be directed to Ms. Charles.

The high school supply list is now being compiled.  An update will be provided via Jupiter in the next two weeks.  Questions about our high school supply list may be directed to our operations team via help.hs@unityprep.org at our high school.

7. New – Unity’s Step Team Puts on a Series of Clinics for Summer Camps Across Long Island!: Our talented Queen Steppers visited 11 different summer camps over the course days in July to teach and educate over 1,000 campers on the art, culture, and history of step.  Enjoy the photos below!

8. New – Two Long-Time Unity Coaches Honored by Unity’s Athletics Department!: Coach Champ and Coach Alley, both veteran Unity coaches of five years, were honored by their fellow coaches this month for their contributions to our athletic program and student-athletes.

During his five years at Unity, Coach Champ has coached both middle and high school students.  In 2018-19, he coached the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team to a championship.  In 2019-20, his Varsity Boys Basketball team recorded an undefeated season under his leadership and coaching.

Coach Alley has built the Unity Step program into a powerhouse in Brooklyn.  Over the past five years, she has led the team to place in 10+ local and national competitions.  Enjoy the photo of both coaches being presented with Golden Whistles to commemorate their dedication to our school and students.

9. New – Summer Enrichment at Unity in Full Swing!: This summer has been a busy and exciting one for our students, many of whom are participating in some of our 18 different enrichment offerings. Enjoy the photos below of our students taking part in trips to local museums, rock climbing, and basketball camp!

10. Updated – Summer Hours of Operation: Here is information on August office hours by site:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): August 16th – August 31st; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): August 2nd – August 31st; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

11. Updated – Technology Return for Students: For all students that are not enrolled in Summer Academy, we are asking that they return their technology, including their Unity laptop, chromebook, and/or hotspot (if applicable). If they did not show up to return their device earlier this week, please email help.ms@uniityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org to set up a time to return their device. Students should be returning their devices according to the schedule below:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): August 16th – August 31st; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): August 2nd – August 31st; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

12. Recap – Summer Assignment Information: Here are the descriptions for summer assignments for students by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Summer assignments for all incoming middle school students were sent out via email on June 30th.
• Grades 9-12: There are no formal summer assignments for high school students.  Students who are attending Summer Academy should focus on the summer course studies and assignments.  All high school students are encouraged to participate in Unity’s summer enrichment offerings (see #7 below).

13. Recap – Highlights from our Graduation Ceremonies!: Our graduation ceremonies last month were milestone events for our school and our families.  Thank you to all who contributed and took part.  Here are a few of the highlights from the ceremonies:

8th Grade Honorees:

12th Grade Honorees:

• Valedictorian: Kayla Tipton
• Salutatorian: Aniyah Lawrence
• Golden Panther Award Recipients: Jemuel Bartholomew, Damion Smith

Principal’s List (cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher):

High Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.99):

Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.0 to 3.49):

College Matriculation: Over 90% of the Class of 2021 has been accepted to and enrolled in college or a career training program.  Despite all the adversity they experienced this year, they have still been able to carve out their desired paths.  We are SO proud of them!  Next year, members of the Class of 2021 will be attending: Bard College, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY Guttman Community College, CUNY Hostos Community College, CUNY John Jay College, CUNY Lehman College, Georgia State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Russell Sage College, Skidmore College, St. Francis College, St. Joseph’s College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo State College, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Trinity College.

14. Recap – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Class of 2022 – Register Now for a Summer Consultation with Mr. Gonzalez: Believe it or not, but the Class of 2022 is already working on applying to college and to career-training programs!  They have been hard at work with Mrs. Eason and Mr. Gonzalez crafting personal statements, discussing their preferred pathway after high school, and attending virtual college visits.  Many have already signed up to meet with Mr. Gonzalez this summer to continue this work and to visit local colleges!  As a reminder for rising seniors, please make an appointment with Mr. Gonzalez immediately to begin working on your plan for senior year!  Use this link to schedule your appointment: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez.

15. Recap – Issue No. 8 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the final issue of the Unity Review literary magazine of the 2020-21 school year.  The Unity Review team has worked incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is A Walk Down Memory Lane and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Thank you, Unity Lit Mag team!

16. Recap – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

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.

18. Recap – 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.

19. Recap – 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/.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the front end of summer is treating you and your loved ones well.

I am excited to have so many of our students taking part in our expanded enrichment offerings this summer (see the second update below).  And I am proud of our students who are participating in our summer academies to continue developing important skills in preparation for the coming school year.  Finally, I am feeling energized by the prospect of returning to in-person schooling this fall.  As a school community, we are at our absolute best when we are learning alongside one another – I am excited to resume our best work together in September.

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I bring to you a number of reminders from our last edition.  Of note, we are holding virtual meetings this coming week with all families who would like to participate to share ideas, hopes, questions, and concerns as we prepare for the coming year.  See the first update below for dates, times, and RSVP links.  Families are strongly encouraged to take part!

Continue to enjoy the summer and stay cool!

The next edition of the Scoop will be disseminated during the week of July 26th.

Best

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of July 16, 2021:

1. New – We Want to Hear from You as We Prepare for 2021-22!  As we prepare for the 2021-22 school year and our return to in-person learning, we would like to hear from you.  We invite all of our middle school and high school families to take part in a virtual meeting with school leadership in mid-July.  During these meetings, families will have an opportunity to share ideas, hopes, questions, and concerns as we prepare for the coming year.  Information provided by families during these meetings will then inform our ongoing planning and preparation.  Your participation is greatly appreciated – simply RSVP by clicking on the middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) link below depending on your child’s grade level of the fall of 2021.

• Middle School Virtual Meeting, July 21st, 6-6:45pm
• High School Virtual Meeting, July 22nd, 6-6:45pm

2. New – Summer Enrichment at Unity – Spots Open!: This week closed our 2nd full week of enrichment programming at the middle school. We are excited to announce that we will be launching our Games Unleashed and Parks + Museums programs this upcoming week. If you are interested in participating in any programs please reach out to Ms. Alley Olivier (aolivier@unityprep.org) as seats have opened up for many of our programs.

• HS Enrichment Survey
• MS Enrichment Survey 

3. Recap – Highlights from our Graduation Ceremonies!: Our graduation ceremonies last month were milestone events for our school and our families.  Thank you to all who contributed and took part.  Here are a few of the highlights from the ceremonies:

8th Grade Honorees:

12th Grade Honorees:

• Valedictorian: Kayla Tipton
• Salutatorian: Aniyah Lawrence
• Golden Panther Award Recipients: Jemuel Bartholomew, Damion Smith

Principal’s List (cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher):

High Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.99):

Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.0 to 3.49):

College Matriculation: Over 90% of the Class of 2021 has been accepted to and enrolled in college or a career training program.  Despite all the adversity they experienced this year, they have still been able to carve out their desired paths.  We are SO proud of them!  Next year, members of the Class of 2021 will be attending: Bard College, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY Guttman Community College, CUNY Hostos Community College, CUNY John Jay College, CUNY Lehman College, Georgia State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Russell Sage College, Skidmore College, St. Francis College, St. Joseph’s College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo State College, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Trinity College.

4. Recap – Report Cards for the Spring Term and Year: Here are the descriptions for report card distribution for students by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Report card links were sent out via email to families on June 30th.
• Grades 9-12: Report cards will be sent out via email to families on July 2nd.

5. Recap – Summer Assignment Information: Here are the descriptions for summer assignments for students by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Summer assignments for all incoming middle school students were sent out via email on June 30th.
• Grades 9-12: There are no formal summer assignments for high school students.  Students who are attending Summer Academy should focus on the summer course studies and assignments.  All high school students are encouraged to participate in Unity’s summer enrichment offerings (see #7 below).

6. Recap – Summer Academy Information: Here is information on Summer Academy by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Letters were distributed to all families of students who are required to attend Summer Academy.  Student schedules are now being created and will be shared.
• Grades 9-12: Letters were distributed to all families of students who are required to attend Summer Academy.  Student schedules are now being created and will be shared.

7. Recap – July Hours of Operation: Here is information on July office hours by site:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): July 8th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): July 16th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

8. Recap – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Class of 2022 – Register Now for a Summer Consultation with Mr. Gonzalez: Believe it or not, but the Class of 2022 is already working on applying to college and to career-training programs!  They have been hard at work with Mrs. Eason and Mr. Gonzalez crafting personal statements, discussing their preferred pathway after high school, and attending virtual college visits.  Many have already signed up to meet with Mr. Gonzalez this summer to continue this work and to visit local colleges!  As a reminder for rising seniors, please make an appointment with Mr. Gonzalez immediately to begin working on your plan for senior year!  Use this link to schedule your appointment: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez.

9. Recap – Issue No. 8 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the final issue of the Unity Review literary magazine of the 2020-21 school year.  The Unity Review team has worked incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is A Walk Down Memory Lane and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Thank you, Unity Lit Mag team!

10. Recap –  Technology Return for Students: For all students that are not enrolled in Summer Academy, we are asking that they return their technology, including their Unity laptop, chromebook, and/or hotspot (if applicable). If they did not show up to return their device earlier this week, please email help.ms@uniityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org to set up a time to return their device. Students should be returning their devices according to the schedule below:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): July 8th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): July 19th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

11. Recap – Upcoming Food Benefits from Federal Covid Relief: This article shares details about an upcoming benefit for all NYC families.  Families will receive $132 for the months their child was out of school buildings for more than 12 days. That includes those who learned exclusively online, which makes up a majority of New York City students.

Families in charter schools and private schools who receive free meals through the federal school lunch program are also eligible.  Families do not have to apply to receive the benefit. For those who already receive food assistance, the money will be automatically added to their benefit cards. Children enrolled in Medicaid, whose families successfully used their food benefits last year, will see the money once again added to Medicaid cards. For those who received the pandemic relief funds on food benefit cards last school year during the first round of federal food relief — when all families received about $420 per child — the money will be added to the same card. All others will receive a new benefit card in the mail.

To order a replacement card, call 1-888-328-6399. If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the state’s marketplace, order a replacement by calling 1-855-355-5777.

12. Recap – 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.

13. Recap – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

14. 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.

15. Recap – 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.

16. Recap – 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/.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.

Dear Families of Unity,

Congratulations on concluding the 2020-21 school year – what a year it has been!

As I mentioned during our 8th grade graduation on Monday, our families and caregivers have been superheroes over the past year! I commend you for your adaptability, your collaboration with us throughout the year, and your love and support of your children and their education through all that we experienced.

I would also like to convey a special congratulations to our graduating 8th graders and our Mighty Class of 2021 – please continue to make us proud!

As summer begins, I bring to you in this edition of the Unity Scoop a number of important announcements and some helpful guidance on how to best collaborate with us in preparation for the coming school year.  The next edition of the Scoop will be disseminated during the week of July 12th.

Enjoy your summer, be safe, and have a terrific 4th of July!

In unity,

JB

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of July 1, 2021:

1. New – Highlights from our Graduation Ceremonies!: Our graduation ceremonies this past were milestone events for our school and our families.  Thank you to all who contributed and took part.  Here are a few of the highlights from the ceremonies:

8th Grade Honorees:

12th Grade Honorees:

• Valedictorian: Kayla Tipton
• Salutatorian: Aniyah Lawrence
• Golden Panther Award Recipients: Jemuel Bartholomew, Damion Smith

Principal’s List (cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher):

High Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.99):

Honor Roll (cumulative GPA of 3.0 to 3.49):

College Matriculation: Over 90% of the Class of 2021 has been accepted to and enrolled in college or a career training program.  Despite all the adversity they experienced this year, they have still been able to carve out their desired paths.  We are SO proud of them!  Next year, members of the Class of 2021 will be attending: Bard College, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY Guttman Community College, CUNY Hostos Community College, CUNY John Jay College, CUNY Lehman College, Georgia State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Russell Sage College, Skidmore College, St. Francis College, St. Joseph’s College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo State College, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Trinity College.

2. New – We Want to Hear from You as We Prepare for 2021-22!  As we prepare in detail for the 2021-22 school and our return to in-person learning, we would like to hear from you.  We invite all of our middle school and high school families to take part in a virtual meeting with school leadership in mid-July.  During these meetings, families will have an opportunity to share ideas, hopes, questions, and concerns as we prepare for the coming year.  Information provided by families during these meetings will then inform our ongoing planning and preparation.  Your participation is greatly appreciated – simply RSVP by clicking on the middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) link below depending on your child’s grade level of the fall of 2021.

• Middle School Virtual Meeting, July 21st, 6-6:45pm
• High School Virtual Meeting, July 22nd, 6-6:45pm

3. New – Report Cards for the Spring Term and Year: Here are the descriptions for report card distribution for students by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Report card links were sent out via email to families on June 30th.
• Grades 9-12: Report cards will be sent out via email to families on July 2nd.

4. New – Summer Assignment Information: Here are the descriptions for summer assignments for students by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Summer assignments for all incoming middle school students were sent out via email on June 30th.
• Grades 9-12: There are no formal summer assignments for high school students.  Students who are attending Summer Academy should focus on the summer course studies and assignments.  All high school students are encouraged to participate in Unity’s summer enrichment offerings (see #7 below).

5. New – Summer Academy Information: Here is information on Summer Academy by grade level:

• Grades 6-8: Letters were distributed to all families of students who are required to attend Summer Academy.  Student schedules are now being created and will be shared.
• Grades 9-12: Letters were distributed to all families of students who are required to attend Summer Academy.  Student schedules are now being created and will be shared.

6. New – July Hours of Operation: Here is information on July office hours by site:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): July 8th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): July 12th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

7. New – Summer Enrichment at Unity – Register Today!: Summer Enrichment spots are filling up quickly.  We have released two new updated forms with programs still containing seats. If your child already dreams of running their own business, has interests in becoming a published author, wants to refine their basketball skills, or simply wants to connect with peers and potential teachers, fill out the survey by Friday July 2nd to claim a seat.  If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Olivier: aolivier@unityprep.org

• HS Enrichment Survey
• MS Enrichment Survey

8. New – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Class of 2022 – Register Now for a Summer Consultation with Mr. Gonzalez: Believe it or not, but the Class of 2022 is already working on applying to college and to career-training programs!  They have been hard at work with Mrs. Eason and Mr. Gonzalez crafting personal statements, discussing their preferred pathway after high school, and attending virtual college visits.  Many have already signed up to meet with Mr. Gonzalez this summer to continue this work and to visit local colleges!  As a reminder for rising seniors, please make an appointment with Mr. Gonzalez immediately to begin working on your plan for senior year!  Use this link to schedule your appointment: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez.

9. New – Issue No. 8 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the final issue of the Unity Review literary magazine of the 2020-21 school year.  The Unity Review team has worked incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is A Walk Down Memory Lane and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Thank you, Unity Lit Mag team!

10. New –  Technology Return for Students: For all students that are not enrolled in Summer Academy, we are asking that they return their technology, including their Unity laptop, chromebook, and/or hotspot (if applicable). If they did not show up to return their device earlier this week, please email help.ms@uniityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org to set up a time to return their device. Students should be returning their devices according to the schedule below:

• 432 Monroe Street (grades 6-8): July 8th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-455-5046
• 584 Driggs Avenue (grades 9-12): July 12th – July 30th; 9am – 3pm; 718-682-3725

11. Recap – Summer Reading Tutoring Available with Read 718!: Read 718 is a Brooklyn-based non-profit that offers low cost reading tutoring for students who will be entering grades 3-8 this fall.  This summer, they are offering 10-weeks of tutoring over Zoom starting June 28th.  Students will be paired with a tutor and meet twice a week for 45 minutes.  Families can register at https://www.read718.org/summer-reading-room or email Esther Glasgow esther@read718.org for more information.

12. Recap – Upcoming Food Benefits from Federal Covid Relief: This article shares details about an upcoming benefit for all NYC families.  Families will receive $132 for the months their child was out of school buildings for more than 12 days. That includes those who learned exclusively online, which makes up a majority of New York City students.

Families in charter schools and private schools who receive free meals through the federal school lunch program are also eligible.  Families do not have to apply to receive the benefit. For those who already receive food assistance, the money will be automatically added to their benefit cards. Children enrolled in Medicaid, whose families successfully used their food benefits last year, will see the money once again added to Medicaid cards. For those who received the pandemic relief funds on food benefit cards last school year during the first round of federal food relief — when all families received about $420 per child — the money will be added to the same card. All others will receive a new benefit card in the mail.

To order a replacement card, call 1-888-328-6399. If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the state’s marketplace, order a replacement by calling 1-855-355-5777.

13. Recap – 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.

14. Recap – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

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.

16. Recap – 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.

17. Recap – 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/.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day?

Dear Families of Unity,

Happy Friday to you!  I would first like to commend our students in grades 6-8 for completing their end-of-year Reflection Presentations this week – congratulations to you!

Second, I cannot wait to celebrate our graduates in grade 8 and grade 12 over the coming few days. And to be doing so in-person is especially exciting!  See the details on both graduation ceremonies below.  I look forward to having so many members of our community come together to rejoice and celebrate!

In unity,

JB

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of June 25, 2021:

1. Recap – Milestone Dates and Events in June: In the spirit of concluding our school year as successfully as possible, here are some key dates for you to have on your radar.

• 6/25: MS Block Party (today!), 3pm – 432 Monroe Street in Bedford Stuyvesant, 3pm
• 6/26: 12th grade graduation – William Sheridan Playground in Williamsburg (Wythe Avenue & Grand Street), 10am
• 6/28: 8th grade graduation – 432 Monroe Street in Bedford Stuyvesant, 10am

2. New – Summer Enrichment at Unity – Register Today!: This summer, Unity will host summer enrichment offerings in Theater, Dance Intensives, Zoology, Intramural sports and much more. The goal is to reconnect students with each other, staff, and enjoy opportunities that align directly with your interests beyond academics. Each program is free of charge.  There are limited seats available for each offering.  Seats will be given to students on a first come-first serve basis.

• Middle School Sign Up Form (for students entering grades 6-8 this fall)
• High School Sign Up Form (for students entering grades 9-12 this fall)

3. New – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Alumni Reunion and Juneteenth Celebration: On Saturday, June 19th, Unity’s Class of 2020 gathered for its first reunion barbeque and to celebrate Juneteenth.  Alumni, staff, and parents had a great time remembering the “good old days at Unity High School” and updating each other on the latest and greatest successes of the inaugural class.  Unity’s Alumni Website was also revealed at the event – alumni are able to find and apply for jobs, share information, and register for events at the website.  Enjoy the photo below!

• Class of 2021 Highlights: As of June 25, 93% of the Class of 2021 have been accepted to and enrolled in college or a career training program.  Despite all the adversity they experienced this year, they have still been able to carve out their desired paths.  We are SO proud of them!  Next year, members of the Class of 2021 will be attending: Bard College, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY Guttman Community College, CUNY Hostos Community College, CUNY John Jay College, CUNY Lehman College, Georgia State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Russell Sage College, Skidmore College, St. Francis College, St. Joseph’s College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo State College, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Trinity College.
• Class of 2022 Highlights: Believe it or not, but the Class of 2022 is already working on applying to college and to career-training programs!  They have been hard at work with Mrs. Eason and Mr. Gonzalez crafting personal statements, discussing their preferred pathway after high school, and attending virtual college visits.  Many have already signed up to meet with Mr. Gonzalez this summer to continue this work and to visit local colleges!  As a reminder for rising seniors, please make an appointment with Mr. Gonzalez immediately to begin working on your plan for senior year!  Use this link to schedule your appointment: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez.

4. Recap – Summer Reading Tutoring Available with Read 718!: Read 718 is a Brooklyn-based non-profit that offers low cost reading tutoring for students who will be entering grades 3-8 this fall.  This summer, they are offering 10-weeks of tutoring over Zoom starting June 28th.  Students will be paired with a tutor and meet twice a week for 45 minutes.  Families can register at https://www.read718.org/summer-reading-room or email Esther Glasgow esther@read718.org for more information.

5. Recap – Upcoming Food Benefits from Federal Covid Relief: This article shares details about an upcoming benefit for all NYC families.  Families will receive $132 for the months their child was out of school buildings for more than 12 days. That includes those who learned exclusively online, which makes up a majority of New York City students.

Families in charter schools and private schools who receive free meals through the federal school lunch program are also eligible.  Families do not have to apply to receive the benefit. For those who already receive food assistance, the money will be automatically added to their benefit cards. Children enrolled in Medicaid, whose families successfully used their food benefits last year, will see the money once again added to Medicaid cards. For those who received the pandemic relief funds on food benefit cards last school year during the first round of federal food relief — when all families received about $420 per child — the money will be added to the same card. All others will receive a new benefit card in the mail.

To order a replacement card, call 1-888-328-6399. If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the state’s marketplace, order a replacement by calling 1-855-355-5777.

6. New – 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.

7. Recap – Technology Return for Students: For all students that are not enrolled in Summer Academy, we are asking that they return their technology, including their Unity laptop, chromebook, and/or hotspot (if applicable). If they did not show up to return their device earlier this week, please email help.ms@uniityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org to set up a time to return their device.

8. Recap – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

9. 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.

10. Recap – 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.

11. Recap –  Issue No. 7 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the seventh issue of the Unity Review literary magazine.  The Unity Review team continues to work incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is Fame and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Enjoy!

12. Recap – 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.

1.  Parent/guardian completes section I of this form:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/AT17-0320Fillable.pdf

(Form can be typed directly into and saved.)

2.  Email the form to Ms. Kim: ykim@unityprep.org.

3.  Ms. Kim must also see the student’s birth certificate and a completed physical from the student’s doctor dated within one year OR a letter from the doctor stating the student is physically fit to work also dated within one year.  These documents can be emailed to ykim@unityprep.org OR a Zoom call can be scheduled where the documents can be presented.

4.  After these steps are complete, the working papers will be mailed to your home.

If there are any questions about this process, please email Ms. Kim at ykim@unityprep.org.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Unity’s School Calendar for Families through the End of June 2021: In the spirit of providing you with the information you need to best support your child with school at home, here are our updated middle and high school calendars through June 2021.

• Middle School Calendar for Families through June 2021
• High School Calendar for Families through June 2021

Requests for a Laptop and Support with Technology or Internet Access: Unity will provide a laptop to all students who need one.  If you still need a Unity laptop OR do not have internet access at home, please complete the following form: https://bit.ly/Unitylaptops.  After completing this form, somebody from the school will reach out to you. Our goal is for 100% of students to have access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies.

Creating the Perfect Workspace for your Child at Home: Virtual learning can be challenging, but with a welcoming, comfortable learning environment, students are more likely to engage fully in their studies without distraction. Here are three simple best practices to turn a corner of your home into a workspace:

• Find a spot that has lighting: whether it’s natural sunlight from a window or light from an overhead lamp, it’s important that your workspace has enough light so that your student won’t need to strain to see.
• Make sure the table and chair are comfortable: working while sitting in a chair at a table increases productivity and focus, but it’s just as crucial that students are comfortable, since they’ll likely be sitting for long periods of time.
• Ensure that the workspace is free of distractions, noise, and clutter: games, toys, phones, laptops – they’re all fun, but they can be distracting to students while they try to learn. Therefore, the workspace should be spacious, quiet, clean, and clear of distractions.

For additional tips on making an ideal, remote workspace for your child, check out this guide and these suggestions.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the past week has been good to you and your loved ones.  It is hard to believe that we have only one week of school remaining in the 2020-21 year.  I want to commend our staff, students, and families for their commitment to finishing out the year strongly and to supporting one another in doing so.  I look forward to honoring all that we have accomplished this year during our:

• end-of-year Reflections presentations at our middle school next week
• 8th grade graduation ceremony on June 28th
• 12th grade Class of 2021 graduation ceremony on June 26th

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I bring to you several important updates and offerings that are available to families, including end-of-year events and a number of services that may be of interest to you and your family this summer.

I wish you a festive Juneteenth weekend.  A number of the city’s cultural venues are holding in-person and/or virtual performances and parties to mark the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.  In Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Weeksville Heritage Center, and Herbert Von King Park are all hosting events to honor the holiday.  For more details, see two resources here and here!

In unity,

JB

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of June 18, 2021:

1. New – Middle School End of Year Reflection Presentations:  We are excited to have all students share their reflections about the 2020-21 school year with their families next week!  Presentations are scheduled on Zoom, from Monday, June 21st through Thursday, June 24th in the morning  at 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, and 11:30. Please reach out to your child’s advisor to schedule a time if you have not already done so.

2. New – Summer Reading Tutoring Available with Read 718!: Read 718 is a Brooklyn-based non-profit that offers low cost reading tutoring for students who will be entering grades 3-8 this fall.  This summer, they are offering 10-weeks of tutoring over Zoom starting June 28th.  Students will be paired with a tutor and meet twice a week for 45 minutes.  Families can register at https://www.read718.org/summer-reading-room or email Esther Glasgow esther@read718.org for more information.

3. New – Primary Elections for New York City’s Next Mayor are Happening on Tuesday, June 22nd – Get Out the Vote!  Our school community’s engagement in the presidential election last fall was inspiring.  With the primary elections for our city’s next mayor happening this coming Tuesday, let’s continue to ensure that our community’s voices are heard by actively engaging in the process.  Information on each candidate can be found here.  Eight Democratic candidates debated on Wednesday evening – the footage is available here.

4. New – Upcoming Food Benefits from Federal Covid Relief: This article shares details about an upcoming benefit for all NYC families.  Families will receive $132 for the months their child was out of school buildings for more than 12 days. That includes those who learned exclusively online, which makes up a majority of New York City students.

Families in charter schools and private schools who receive free meals through the federal school lunch program are also eligible.  Families do not have to apply to receive the benefit. For those who already receive food assistance, the money will be automatically added to their benefit cards. Children enrolled in Medicaid, whose families successfully used their food benefits last year, will see the money once again added to Medicaid cards. For those who received the pandemic relief funds on food benefit cards last school year during the first round of federal food relief — when all families received about $420 per child — the money will be added to the same card. All others will receive a new benefit card in the mail.

To order a replacement card, call 1-888-328-6399. If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the state’s marketplace, order a replacement by calling 1-855-355-5777.

5. New – Technology Return for Students: For all students that are not enrolled in Summer Academy, we are asking that they return their technology, including their Unity laptop, chromebook, and/or hotspot (if applicable), following the schedule below:

• Unity Middle School Students: 3pm – 6pm on Friday June 25th
• Unity High School Students: 9am – 3pm anytime between Monday June 21 – Thursday June 24

6. Recap – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

7. 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.

8. Recap – Milestone Dates and Events in June: In the spirit of concluding our school year as successfully as possible, here are some key dates for you to have on your radar. One important date to note is Friday, June 18th – Unity will be closed on June 18th in honor of Juneteenth and the ending of slavery in the United States and to celebrate Black history and culture.

• 6/18: Juneteenth – no school
• 6/21-6/24: MS End-of-Year Reflection Presentations
• 6/25: MS Block Party, 3pm
• 6/26: 12th grade graduation, 10am
• 6/28: 8th grade graduation, 10am

9. Recap  – The Celebration Continues: We Salute the Recent Accomplishments of our Middle School Students: It is with pride and joy that we celebrate the recent successes of so many of our middle school students.  Congratulations to each and every student featured below – we are proud of you!

10. Recap – 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.

11. Recap –  Issue No. 7 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the seventh issue of the Unity Review literary magazine.  The Unity Review team continues to work incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is Fame and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Enjoy!

12. Recap – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Summer Job Alert! – St. Nick’s Alliance is hiring for summer jobs!  Positions pay at least $15/hour.  Seniors and Unity alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.  See the job description attached to this message for more information.  Students who are interested must sign up for an interview by emailing Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org.  Interviews will be held in-person at our high school location on Tuesday June 8th, between 11am and 3pm.  Seniors and Unity alumni should sign up immediately for an interview!

• College Scholarships! – SUNY has just announced that students who get vaccinated may be eligible for full-tuition scholarships!  12- to 17-year-olds are eligible to participate in the ‘Get a Shot to Make Your Future‘ COVID-19 vaccine incentive program.  Participants can enter into a random prize drawing to potentially receive a full scholarship to a SUNY or CUNY college beginning May 27.  New York State will administer the random drawings and select 10 winners a week over five weeks for a total of 50 winners.

• Celebrate The Seniors! – So far, 80% of the Class of 2021 has committed to a college or career training program for next year!  Despite the pandemic, remote learning, and all of the other challenges presented by this year, the senior class has persevered.  We are so proud of the resilience this class has demonstrated – please join us in celebrating them!
• Financial Aid Workshops – Beginning June 1st, SUNY will host Financial Aid Events for the Class of 2021. Students and parents/caregivers can attend a FAFSA Completion Workshop in English or Spanish.

13. Recap – 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.

1.  Parent/guardian completes section I of this form:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/AT17-0320Fillable.pdf

(Form can be typed directly into and saved.)

2.  Email the form to Ms. Kim: ykim@unityprep.org.

3.  Ms. Kim must also see the student’s birth certificate and a completed physical from the student’s doctor dated within one year OR a letter from the doctor stating the student is physically fit to work also dated within one year.  These documents can be emailed to ykim@unityprep.org OR a Zoom call can be scheduled where the documents can be presented.

4.  After these steps are complete, the working papers will be mailed to your home.

If there are any questions about this process, please email Ms. Kim at ykim@unityprep.org.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Unity’s School Calendar for Families through the End of June 2021: In the spirit of providing you with the information you need to best support your child with school at home, here are our updated middle and high school calendars through June 2021.

• Middle School Calendar for Families through June 2021
• High School Calendar for Families through June 2021

Requests for a Laptop and Support with Technology or Internet Access: Unity will provide a laptop to all students who need one.  If you still need a Unity laptop OR do not have internet access at home, please complete the following form: https://bit.ly/Unitylaptops.  After completing this form, somebody from the school will reach out to you. Our goal is for 100% of students to have access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies.

Creating the Perfect Workspace for your Child at Home: Virtual learning can be challenging, but with a welcoming, comfortable learning environment, students are more likely to engage fully in their studies without distraction. Here are three simple best practices to turn a corner of your home into a workspace:

• Find a spot that has lighting: whether it’s natural sunlight from a window or light from an overhead lamp, it’s important that your workspace has enough light so that your student won’t need to strain to see.
• Make sure the table and chair are comfortable: working while sitting in a chair at a table increases productivity and focus, but it’s just as crucial that students are comfortable, since they’ll likely be sitting for long periods of time.
• Ensure that the workspace is free of distractions, noise, and clutter: games, toys, phones, laptops – they’re all fun, but they can be distracting to students while they try to learn. Therefore, the workspace should be spacious, quiet, clean, and clear of distractions.

For additional tips on making an ideal, remote workspace for your child, check out this guide and these suggestions.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.

Dear Families of Unity,

We are now down to the final stretch of the school year!  The entire Unity staff is super excited to celebrate our 8th grade middle school graduates on June 25th, and our high school seniors – the Class of 2021 – when they graduate on June 26th.  And to be celebrating with in-person, safe, outside graduation ceremonies is thrilling!

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I bring to you several important updates, including those around our school programming for the 2021-22 school year, vacation dates for students for the 2021-22 school year, and some key events happening in the next three weeks as we conclude the school year.

I wish you a fantastic June weekend!

In unity,

JB

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of June 11, 2021:

1. New – An Important Update on School Programming in the 2021-22 School Year: As we begin to close out this school year and continue in our planning of the coming year, I have two important updates regarding our format of schooling for this summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

First, our Summer Academy classes in July and August will be facilitated remotely.  We will continue to provide Panther Pods for select students who would especially benefit from such a setting.

Second, we intend to be full in-person for our entire school, grades 6-12, for the 2021-22 school year starting in September.  Based on the guidance we have received from state and city officials, and from CDC, we are confident that we are able to provide a safe in-person setting this fall.  We are encouraged by the current health climate in the state and city, and we are excited to welcome our students back to our campuses.  While our remote program has had its successes, we, as a school and community, are at our best by serving your children when we are interacting in-person and alongside one another.

In July, we will provide details on the safety protocols that we will have in place as we return to in-person schooling.  We plan to offer a series of informational sessions for families as well as offering in-person school tours of our campuses for interested families.

If you have questions or concerns regarding our plans to return to in-person learning this fall, please contact Chris Doscher, Unity’s Director of Administration, at cdoscher@unityprep.org or at 347-746-1575.

2. New – 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.

3. New – Milestone Dates and Events in June: In the spirit of concluding our school year as successfully as possible, here are some key dates for you to have on your radar. One important date to note is Friday, June 18th – Unity will be closed on June 18th in honor of Juneteenth and the ending of slavery in the United States and to celebrate Black history and culture.

• 6/18: Juneteenth – no school
• 6/21-6/24: MS End-of-Year Reflection Presentations
• 6/25: MS Block Party, 3pm
• 6/26: 12th grade graduation, 10am
• 6/28: 8th grade graduation, 10am

4. New – Staff and Students Enjoy Intramurals Together: Unity staff and students enjoyed some time together this week to participate in some friendly competition.  Enjoy the photos below of our staff and students playing volleyball and basketball.  Thank you to our athletics department for organizing the festivities!

5. New – The Celebration Continues: We Salute the Recent Accomplishments of our Middle School Students: It is with pride and joy that we celebrate the recent successes of so many of our middle school students.  Congratulations to each and every student featured below – we are proud of you!

6. Recap – 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.

7. Recap –  Issue No. 7 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the seventh issue of the Unity Review literary magazine.  The Unity Review team continues to work incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is Fame and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Enjoy!

8. Recap – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Summer Job Alert! – St. Nick’s Alliance is hiring for summer jobs!  Positions pay at least $15/hour.  Seniors and Unity alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.  See the job description attached to this message for more information.  Students who are interested must sign up for an interview by emailing Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org.  Interviews will be held in-person at our high school location on Tuesday June 8th, between 11am and 3pm.  Seniors and Unity alumni should sign up immediately for an interview!

• College Scholarships! – SUNY has just announced that students who get vaccinated may be eligible for full-tuition scholarships!  12- to 17-year-olds are eligible to participate in the ‘Get a Shot to Make Your Future‘ COVID-19 vaccine incentive program.  Participants can enter into a random prize drawing to potentially receive a full scholarship to a SUNY or CUNY college beginning May 27.  New York State will administer the random drawings and select 10 winners a week over five weeks for a total of 50 winners.

• Celebrate The Seniors! – So far, 80% of the Class of 2021 has committed to a college or career training program for next year!  Despite the pandemic, remote learning, and all of the other challenges presented by this year, the senior class has persevered.  We are so proud of the resilience this class has demonstrated – please join us in celebrating them!
• Financial Aid Workshops – Beginning June 1st, SUNY will host Financial Aid Events for the Class of 2021. Students and parents/caregivers can attend a FAFSA Completion Workshop in English or Spanish.

9. Recap – NYC School Survey for Caregivers: Unity families encouraged to take the NYC School Survey, which is due on June 11th. The survey helps school leaders understand what key members of their school community think about the learning environment at their school. The information captured by the survey is designed to support a dialogue among all members of the school community about how to make the school a better place to learn. We appreciate your feedback!

• Click the link below to take the survey. Families should enter “f” followed by their child’s nine-digit Student Identification (OSIS) Number to access the survey. Note that “f” must be lowercase. Families can find their child’s Student Identification Number on their report card or in Jupiter. If you can’t find your student’s ID number, you are welcome to reach out to Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575 via text message.
• Click here to complete the survey
• After completing the survey, text a screenshot to Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575 for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card!

10. Recap – 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.

1.  Parent/guardian completes section I of this form:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/AT17-0320Fillable.pdf

(Form can be typed directly into and saved.)

2.  Email the form to Ms. Kim: ykim@unityprep.org.

3.  Ms. Kim must also see the student’s birth certificate and a completed physical from the student’s doctor dated within one year OR a letter from the doctor stating the student is physically fit to work also dated within one year.  These documents can be emailed to ykim@unityprep.org OR a Zoom call can be scheduled where the documents can be presented.

4.  After these steps are complete, the working papers will be mailed to your home.

If there are any questions about this process, please email Ms. Kim at ykim@unityprep.org.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Unity’s School Calendar for Families through the End of June 2021: In the spirit of providing you with the information you need to best support your child with school at home, here are our updated middle and high school calendars through June 2021.

• Middle School Calendar for Families through June 2021
• High School Calendar for Families through June 2021

Requests for a Laptop and Support with Technology or Internet Access: Unity will provide a laptop to all students who need one.  If you still need a Unity laptop OR do not have internet access at home, please complete the following form: https://bit.ly/Unitylaptops.  After completing this form, somebody from the school will reach out to you. Our goal is for 100% of students to have access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies.

Creating the Perfect Workspace for your Child at Home: Virtual learning can be challenging, but with a welcoming, comfortable learning environment, students are more likely to engage fully in their studies without distraction. Here are three simple best practices to turn a corner of your home into a workspace:

• Find a spot that has lighting: whether it’s natural sunlight from a window or light from an overhead lamp, it’s important that your workspace has enough light so that your student won’t need to strain to see.
• Make sure the table and chair are comfortable: working while sitting in a chair at a table increases productivity and focus, but it’s just as crucial that students are comfortable, since they’ll likely be sitting for long periods of time.
• Ensure that the workspace is free of distractions, noise, and clutter: games, toys, phones, laptops – they’re all fun, but they can be distracting to students while they try to learn. Therefore, the workspace should be spacious, quiet, clean, and clear of distractions.

For additional tips on making an ideal, remote workspace for your child, check out this guide and these suggestions.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the first week of June was good to you and your family. In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I bring to you some highlights from our recent student showcase events, a new batch of shout-outs for the accomplishments of our middle school scholars, and a host of updates for upcoming events.

Have an excellent weekend!

In unity,

JB

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of June 4, 2021:

1. New – Unity Students Showcase their Learning: As a community, we have had the honor of taking part in a number of showcase events in classes across our middle school and high school over the past two weeks.  Below are three screenshots from the recent showcases in our high school history classes.  Enjoy the photos of our young historians presenting their research and analysis!

2. New – The Celebration Continues: We Salute the Recent Accomplishments of our Middle School Students: It is with pride and joy that we celebrate the recent successes of so many of our middle school students.  Congratulations to each and every student featured below – we are proud of you!

3. New – 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.

4. Recap –  Issue No. 7 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!: I am excited to share with you the seventh issue of the Unity Review literary magazine.  The Unity Review team continues to work incredibly hard to bring to you the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  This edition’s theme is Fame and includes a number of powerful submissions created by our students and staff.  Enjoy!

5. Recap – College Information for Students and Families of Unity High School: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• Summer Job Alert! – St. Nick’s Alliance is hiring for summer jobs!  Positions pay at least $15/hour.  Seniors and Unity alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.  See the job description attached to this message for more information.  Students who are interested must sign up for an interview by emailing Mr. Gonzalez at egonzalez@unityprep.org.  Interviews will be held in-person at our high school location on Tuesday June 8th, between 11am and 3pm.  Seniors and Unity alumni should sign up immediately for an interview!

• College Scholarships! – SUNY has just announced that students who get vaccinated may be eligible for full-tuition scholarships!  12- to 17-year-olds are eligible to participate in the ‘Get a Shot to Make Your Future‘ COVID-19 vaccine incentive program.  Participants can enter into a random prize drawing to potentially receive a full scholarship to a SUNY or CUNY college beginning May 27.  New York State will administer the random drawings and select 10 winners a week over five weeks for a total of 50 winners.

• Celebrate The Seniors! – So far, 80% of the Class of 2021 has committed to a college or career training program for next year!  Despite the pandemic, remote learning, and all of the other challenges presented by this year, the senior class has persevered.  We are so proud of the resilience this class has demonstrated – please join us in celebrating them!

• Financial Aid Workshops – Beginning June 1st, SUNY will host Financial Aid Events for the Class of 2021. Students and parents/caregivers can attend a FAFSA Completion Workshop in English or Spanish.

6. Recap – NYC School Survey for Caregivers: Unity families encouraged to take the NYC School Survey, which is due on June 11th. The survey helps school leaders understand what key members of their school community think about the learning environment at their school. The information captured by the survey is designed to support a dialogue among all members of the school community about how to make the school a better place to learn. We appreciate your feedback!

• Click the link below to take the survey. Families should enter “f” followed by their child’s nine-digit Student Identification (OSIS) Number to access the survey. Note that “f” must be lowercase. Families can find their child’s Student Identification Number on their report card or in Jupiter. If you can’t find your student’s ID number, you are welcome to reach out to Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575 via text message.
• Click here to complete the survey
• After completing the survey, text a screenshot to Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575 for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card!

7. Recap – End-of-Year Trip for Unity High Students!: On Friday June 11th, Unity High students have the opportunity to have fun with classmates at Boundless Adventure Aerial Park in Purchase, NY. Activities include completing low ropes courses, high ropes courses, and air obstacle courses.  Participating students will travel to the park by bus, enjoy a catered lunch, and bond with classmates one last time before the school year ends.  RSVP now via Jupiter. For more information, reach out to Mr. Lopez or Ms. Jaquez.  HEALTH SAFETY NOTE: While on the coach bus, each student will have their own seat as set forth by social distancing guidelines & Department of Education regulation. Students will be required to wear a mask at all times while on the bus and submit to a health safety screening upon entry to the bus.

8. Recap – 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.

1.  Parent/guardian completes section I of this form:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/AT17-0320Fillable.pdf

(Form can be typed directly into and saved.)

2.  Email the form to Ms. Kim: ykim@unityprep.org.

3.  Ms. Kim must also see the student’s birth certificate and a completed physical from the student’s doctor dated within one year OR a letter from the doctor stating the student is physically fit to work also dated within one year.  These documents can be emailed to ykim@unityprep.org OR a Zoom call can be scheduled where the documents can be presented.

4.  After these steps are complete, the working papers will be mailed to your home.

If there are any questions about this process, please email Ms. Kim at ykim@unityprep.org.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Unity’s School Calendar for Families through the End of June 2021: In the spirit of providing you with the information you need to best support your child with school at home, here are our updated middle and high school calendars through June 2021.

• Middle School Calendar for Families through June 2021
• High School Calendar for Families through June 2021

Requests for a Laptop and Support with Technology or Internet Access: Unity will provide a laptop to all students who need one.  If you still need a Unity laptop OR do not have internet access at home, please complete the following form: https://bit.ly/Unitylaptops.  After completing this form, somebody from the school will reach out to you. Our goal is for 100% of students to have access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies.

Creating the Perfect Workspace for your Child at Home: Virtual learning can be challenging, but with a welcoming, comfortable learning environment, students are more likely to engage fully in their studies without distraction. Here are three simple best practices to turn a corner of your home into a workspace:

• Find a spot that has lighting: whether it’s natural sunlight from a window or light from an overhead lamp, it’s important that your workspace has enough light so that your student won’t need to strain to see.
• Make sure the table and chair are comfortable: working while sitting in a chair at a table increases productivity and focus, but it’s just as crucial that students are comfortable, since they’ll likely be sitting for long periods of time.
• Ensure that the workspace is free of distractions, noise, and clutter: games, toys, phones, laptops – they’re all fun, but they can be distracting to students while they try to learn. Therefore, the workspace should be spacious, quiet, clean, and clear of distractions.

For additional tips on making an ideal, remote workspace for your child, check out this guide and these suggestions.

Free Breakfast & Lunch are available for Students – Any student has access to free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.  More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Helpful Guidance on Obtaining the Perfect Book for Your Child – With the Unity Library closed for the time being, our public libraries in Brooklyn offer a vast majority of their books and resources online.  Additionally, many private companies are stepping up and offering their services for free.  Check out this helpful guide to gain access to ebooks or audiobooks from the Brooklyn Public Library.  In addition, see the list of resources below:

• Do you have dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers? Access Bookshare’s free online ebooks.
• Are you an English Language Learner (ELL) and interested in practicing your English? Are you looking to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone is being offered free for three months to all students.
• Are you finding it difficult to spend all day looking at a computer screen? Download BeeLine reader for free, which uses color gradients to make reading just a little bit easier.
• Worried that by spending so much time alone your vocabulary is growing more and more limited by the day? Dictionary.com has free daily activities such as puzzles, quizzes, and a word of the day to keep your vocabulary skills sharp.
• Want to practice your reading and thinking skills? Scholastic has a remote learning program where you can play games and participate in activities.
• Try using Newsela, which is an online news-as-literacy platform that features high-interest articles on everything from current events to myths and legends and from literature to science. Follow this link to create an account.
• Audible is offering free audio books for students. Click here to access a huge selection of audiobooks.

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.