Dear Families of Unity,

Congratulations to our 8th grade families on their graduation earlier this week!  Moreover, we look forward to this Friday’s virtual graduation ceremony for our high school seniors!   We are so proud of what you have accomplished at Unity and are excited for you as you embark on a new chapter of your educational journey.

In this edition of the Scoop, there are a number of updates on end-of-year festivities and school initiatives for the summer.  I have also included updates on the coming school year.

In unity,
Josh Beauregard
Head of School

Updates as of June 25, 2020:

1. High School Graduation is Tomorrow, June 26, at 6pm: We are especially excited to celebrate the achievements of our 12th graders as they graduate and embark on a new chapter in their education.  Here are the details:

• When: Friday, June 26th at 6pm
• Ceremony link to access
• Please make sure to have Zoom installed on your computer or mobile device
• Who to contact with questions: Ms. Bonaminio at abonaminio@unityprep.org
• If you have any trouble with access, please call Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575

2. Congratulations to Matthew D., 8th Grade Graduate! – Matthew is a talented scholar and team player.  Among his many accomplishments this year, he made the city-wide all-star team for flag football and played an important role on the boy’s basketball team. We wish you the best in high school, Matthew!

3. Chromebooks Return and Care –  All students returning to Unity for the 2020-21 school year can continue to use any laptops that were borrowed until further notice. Please continue to keep them safe and in good working condition as we look ahead to the fall.

Graduating High School Seniors and 8th Grade Students Not Returning to Unity High: Those 8th grade students who are not attending Summer Academy must return Chromebook laptops on Monday or Tuesday of next week (6/29 and 6/30) between the hours of 12:00PM and 3:00PM to our high school site, 584 Driggs Avenue. Since we have very limited access to our middle school at 432 Monroe Street, we will be utilizing our high school site located at 584 Driggs Ave.

• Chromebook & Charger Return for 8th Graders & 12th Graders
• Where: 584 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn
• When: 6/29 and 6/30, between 12pm – 3pm

Again, this does not pertain to your child if he/she is attending Summer Academy. Please contact Mr. Alli (kalli@unityprep.org) if you are unable to return your Chromebooks during the times listed above.

4. Middle School Summer Academy:  Middle school Summer Academy is mandatory for assigned students and will run Monday – Friday, 7/6 – 7/31.  Ms. Conner shared specific class schedules this week with all students who are required to attend.  Please reach out to Ms. Conner (lconner@unityprep.org) or Ms. Green (agreen@unityprep.org) with any questions about Summer Academy.

5. Middle School Summer Book Clubs:  Research shows that reading over the summer is the most important way to prevent summer learning loss.  We are excited to offer book clubs to all interested students this summer.  Teachers will be reaching out to students to share the book for each club and schedule 4 times to meet over the month of July.  If you did not sign up for book clubs but would like to participate, please contact Ms. Williams at (awilliams@unityprep.org).

6. High School Summer Academy – Students who have not completed their coursework in Quarters 3 and 4 of the 2019-2020 school year must do so this summer, when possible. For courses that are not available over this summer, there will be opportunities in the fall to make up that course work.  Summer Academy will consist of three, 2-week sessions, with Session 1 beginning on July 13th. Courses will be held virtually Monday through Friday from 8-11am.  Students who are eligible for Summer Academy will be notified of their course schedules during the week of July 6th via Jupiter and phone calls.

7. Brief Survey on Your Remote Learning Experience at Unity – The New York State Education Department is seeking to learn from you what went right and what can be improved with regard to your children’s education during the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to learn directly from you, the NYSED has created a brief survey.  Anonymity is assured so please be comfortable providing any honest feedback you feel is appropriate.  We believe your input is essential to inform both policy and practice as we move toward the re-opening of our schools.

To complete the brief survey: Click here to enter the survey or you may copy and paste following link into your browser:   https://tinyurl.com/csoparentcovid19 and enter the password: csoparent

It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and must be completed in one sitting, as you cannot save it and return to it later. The survey will be available to complete until 11:59 PM on Friday July 3, 2020.

8. First Day of School for the 2020-21 School Year: Wednesday, September 9th – While we are still awaiting for the New York City Department of Education calendar to be released, we wanted to provide you with the first day of school at Unity in the 2020-21 school year.   The first day of school will be Wednesday, September 9, 2020.  We hope to release our full calendar for the 2020-21 school year in the next two weeks.  We appreciate your patience.

9. Unity’s Format of Instruction for the 2020-21 School Year: We are now considering our options for operation in the coming year.  At this time, there are three possible scenarios for how we will facilitate instruction:

1. In-person classes that follow public education guidelines for social distancing
2. Remote learning, as we have over the past three months
3. Blended learning, in which students experience a combination of socially-distanced, in-person classes and remote learning

We intend to make decisions on which format we will adopt in late July, when we have more information from state and city on guidelines and best practices.  As always, our decisions will be based on what ensures the safety of our community, and what offers the best possible education to our students.

10. Unity to Provide All Students with Laptops Next Fall – As we build on our experiences and plan forward to the coming year, every Unity student in grades 6-12 will be equipped with a laptop computer this coming fall.  We are excited by this move as it will ensure that all students have full access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies, regardless of whether classes are conducted in-person or remotely.  We will provide additional details on policies and logistics over the summer leading up to the start of the new year.

11. Supply List for the 2020-21 School Year – Supply lists for the 2020-21 school year will be made available in late July via the Scoop and posted on our website.  Stay tuned.

12. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!  We are so excited for our seniors to engage in the next chapter of their educational lives.  Below is an updated list of postsecondary institutions that will be represented by a member of Unity’s first graduating class.  Class of 2020 – we could not be prouder of you!

Reminder: Free 6-Week Summer Enrichment Program for Students entering Grades 6-9 – Apply Today! – Practice Makes Perfect is offering a six-week virtual summer enrichment program for children who have just completed grades 3 – 8. Over the course of six weeks, children will engage in 18 instructional sessions with a Practice Makes Perfect Fellow and a small group of peers. Children will also be given one additional hour of self-paced work in math and reading to help with content retention.

The program is FREE for students attending NYC Public Schools. To be considered for a spot you must complete and submit this form by June 29th, 2020 (el formulario está en español aquí here). Your child’s enrollment will be confirmed by July 3rd, 2020. Spots are limited!

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Emergency Respite Reimbursement – Funding is available to help families pay for respite services in an emergency situation.  Covered emergencies can include:

• medical hospitalization and recuperation
• attending a funeral
• family member sickness
• assistance with challenging behaviors

For more information including eligibility requirements, please email: cheryl.jones@yai.org.

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.

Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner available for Students and Adults – Any New Yorker, child or adult, has access to three free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city (including PS44), between 7:30am – 11:30am for children and families and from 11:30am to 1:30pm for adults. More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Resources for Mental Health and Talking to Young People About COVID-19 – The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has provided this guide for self-care and strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people. In addition, here is a link for webinars for “Parenting During COVID-19” through the Weil Cornell Psychiatry Department. 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 (1888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.  In addition, a mental health hotline has been established in New York City that will provide FREE emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider. The hotline number is: 1-844-863-9314.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling – Social workers will continue to hold remote counseling sessions for all students who receive counseling throughout this week.  Please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org) if you have any questions about the continuation of counseling services or if you are concerned about your child’s mental health. Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, access to food, access to community mental health services, referrals to mental health providers, crisis intervention, etc.).

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.

Free Internet at Home – A variety of internet providers are offering free internet  access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have an internet subscription. Internet access at home will be critical for students to complete their remote learning assignments To enroll, call

• 1-844-579-3743 for Spectrum
• 1-844-488-8395 for Charter Communications
• 1- 866-200-9522 for Optimum

Note that Installation fees will be waived for new households.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that this note finds you safe, healthy, and in a resilient and hopeful state of mind.  While the last few weeks have been exhausting on so many levels, I also hope that you have found inspiration in those around you.  I continue to find inspiration through my connection with colleagues and those around me, who are seizing the moment to create positive and lasting change for our students and children.  Stay stronger than ever, Unity, and continue to show care for yourselves and others.

In solidarity,

Josh Beauregard
Head of School

Updates as of June 11, 2020:

1. Free 6-Week Summer Enrichment Program for Students in Grades 6-9 – Apply Today!: Practice Makes Perfect is offering a six-week virtual summer enrichment program for children who have just completed grades 3 – 8. Over the course of six weeks, children will engage in 18 instructional sessions with a Practice Makes Perfect Fellow and a small group of peers. Children will also be given one additional hour of self-paced work in math and reading to help with content retention.

The program is FREE for students attending NYC Public Schools. To be considered for a spot you must complete and submit this form by June 29th, 2020 (el formulario está en español aquí here). Your child’s enrollment will be confirmed by July 3rd, 2020. Spots are limited!

2. Update – End-of-Year Events to Honor Unity’s First-Ever Graduating Class – The Class of 2020!: We have one update for you this week re: end-of-year activities for our “one and only” senior class:

• Our Virtual Roast and Toast for the Class of 2020 (formerly known as Senior Signing Day) is happening tomorrow afternoon, Friday, June 12th at 2pm. We look forward to having our students and staff come together in an informal but important way to connect and rejoice in all that we’ve experienced over the past seven years, and look forward to exciting times ahead.  This day is meant to celebrate the next chapter of our 12th graders educational journey.  The event is open to families and students of our senior class.  Register here to take part.

• We will have a proper, in-person graduation ceremony when it is safe to do so – this is important to us.  In the interim, we will also hold a virtual graduation ceremony on Friday, June 26th, at 6pm.  Please save the date; all Unity families are invited to attend.  This is a milestone event for our school as we celebrate the accomplishments and future aspirations of our senior class.  Note that while Governor Cuomo recently announced that graduation gatherings of less than 150 are now permitted, this change will not accommodate our needs.  We will stay with our original plan and look forward to a full-blown, in-person graduation without restrictions on how many people can attend when it is safe to do so.

3. Emergency Respite Reimbursement: Funding is available to help families pay for respite services in an emergency situation.  Covered emergencies can include:

• medical hospitalization and recuperation
• attending a funeral
• family member sickness
• assistance with challenging behaviors

For more information including eligibility requirements, please email: cheryl.jones@yai.org.

4. More Celebration of Academic Excellence at Unity!: Our students have been working very hard this year, especially over the past month, during the transition to remote learning.  We are excited to celebrate their achievements in their coursework and learning.  Today, we highlight four new students at our high school who are excelling in their coursework and our middle school Students of the Month for May!

• Middle School Students of the Month from May!
  • 6th Grade:
    • Adriana P.
    • Donovan T.
  • 7th Grade:
    • Tawrey N.
    • Connor S.
  • 8th Grade:
    • Nicholas E.
    • Jayden F.

• High School Student Shout-outs from Teachers for Excellence in Remote Learning!
  • 9th Grade: Danille, you always have perfect attendance, show mastery of content knowledge and you show PRIDE daily, especially professionalism. You’re an overall great role model for all Unity students!
  • 10th Grade: Zariya, you have really stepped up your game in recent months, so much so that you’ve now assumed a student leadership role (at least in ELA!) helping other students get on track and finish their work, too!  You are on time to zoom classes, submit high quality work, participate frequently, and pretty much always know the right answer!  You’re a great example of a strong young woman taking charge of your own life and leading the way for others!
  • 11th Grade: Jaemiah, you consistently push yourself to go above and beyond in and out of class! You are mature, self-aware, and exceptionally good at identifying problems and working towards solutions.
  • 12th Grade: Aniya, you are our Senior of the Week! Thank you for being brave enough to speak your truth among adults in our Unity community, public forum. We will always remember the words and truth that came from you.

5. Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our students to their studies through their excellent attendance in our remote classrooms.  This past week, 163 students had 100% attendance in their classes.  Here is the all-star list with the 7th grade leading the way – go 7th grade!  And congratulations to our Seniors who completed their high school coursework last week!

Middle School Students:

High School Students:

6. Senior Spotlight of the Week Franklin F. is heading to Buffalo State next year where he will be studying criminal justice. He intends to become a chief officer and fight for justice in his community. He is going to miss the staff and the students at Unity and his advice to other students is to keep working hard! Don’t catch senioritis and keep your eyes on your goals! We are so happy for you, Franklin, as you chase your dreams. Congratulations on joining the Buff State family!

7. Reminder: Sexual Education Resources for Middle School Families:  Due to concerns about not being able to create a safe and supportive space for students while teaching remotely, we decided to hold off from teaching our sexual education unit in science classes this spring.  We plan to adjust our curriculum next year so that students cover developmentally appropriate and relevant topics, including what they would have studied during this school year.  In the meantime, we are providing these resources to families to facilitate discussions around relevant topics, including an Overview of Puberty, Menstruation, Puberty for Boys, Pregnancy and Reproduction, What is Consent?, Forms of Contraception, Being Safe Online, Sexual Orientations Explained, Gender Identity and Transgender, and additional resources.  Each topic has a short video clip and discussion questions for caretakers and students.  If you have any questions or concerns, our Science Department Chair, Ms. Diaz, and our Founding Physical Education & Health Teacher, Mr. Coleman, are available as resources.

Video: Sexual Health Overview of Resources

Slides:

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

While the past week has been among the most emotionally exhausting times of our lives, there has been a collective strength among our school community through our care and support of one another.  The honest discussions about our feelings, our reflections, and our ideas in how we move forward have been uplifting and resulted in stronger bonds among members of our community, including family members, students, and our staff and faculty.

In many ways, our community has demonstrated those qualities that we aspire for in our broader society, including courage, empathy, dignity, love, and truth.  I continue to feel blessed to be part of our community and firmly believe that our actions at Unity each and every day are impacting our larger society in profoundly positive ways.  Be proud, Unity, and continue to take pride in being a catalyst for positive and lasting change.

Sincerely,
Josh Beauregard
Head of School

Updates as of June 5, 2020:

1. Update – End-of-Year Events to Honor Unity’s First-Ever Graduating Class – The Class of 2020!: We have one update for you this week re: end-of-year activities for our “one and only” senior class:

• Our Virtual Senior Signing Day has been rescheduled to Friday, June 12th at 2pm. We look forward to having our students and staff come together in an informal but important way to connect and rejoice in all that we’ve experienced over the past seven years, and look forward to exciting times ahead.  This day is meant to celebrate the next chapter of our 12th graders educational journey.  More details will be provided early next week.
• We will have a proper, in-person graduation ceremony when it is safe to do so – this is important to us.  In the interim, we will also hold a virtual graduation ceremony on Friday, June 26th, at 6pm.  Please save the date; all Unity families are invited to attend.  This is a milestone event for our school as we celebrate the accomplishments and future aspirations of our senior class.  For now, please mark your calendars.  More details will be provided in upcoming editions of The Scoop.

2. Sexual Education Resources for Middle School Families:  Due to concerns about not being able to create a safe and supportive space for students while teaching remotely, we decided to hold off from teaching our sexual education unit in science classes this spring.  We plan to adjust our curriculum next year so that students cover developmentally appropriate and relevant topics, including what they would have studied during this school year.  In the meantime, we are providing these resources to families to facilitate discussions around relevant topics, including an Overview of Puberty, Menstruation, Puberty for Boys, Pregnancy and Reproduction, What is Consent?, Forms of Contraception, Being Safe Online, Sexual Orientations Explained, Gender Identity and Transgender, and additional resources.  Each topic has a short video clip and discussion questions for caretakers and students.  If you have any questions or concerns, our Science Department Chair, Ms. Diaz, and our Founding Physical Education & Health Teacher, Mr. Coleman, are available as resources.

Video: Sexual Health Overview of Resources

Slides: A Parent’s Guide to Sexual Health Education

3. More Celebration of Academic Excellence at Unity!: Our students have been working very hard this year, especially over the past month, during the transition to remote learning.  We are excited to celebrate their achievements in their coursework and learning.  Today, we highlight four new students at our high school who are excelling in their coursework and our middle school Students of the Month for May!

• Middle School Students of the Month from May!
  • 6th Grade:
    • Adriana Pollard
    • Donovan Taylor
  • 7th Grade:
    • Tawrey Norman
    • Connor Sylvester
  • 8th Grade:
    • Nicholas Edwards
    • Jayden Fajardo

• High School Student Shout-outs from Teachers for Excellence in Remote Learning!
  • 9th Grade: Joziyah – congratulations! You are always so high energy and you know the best time to do so without interrupting the class! you are always showcasing PRIDE, participating, and are very engaged in all that we do. Great job on all your growth throughout the year!
  • 10th Grade: Gertorian – your bounce-back game is strong! You had a moment where you were falling off due to circumstances that you couldn’t control, but you are back and the ball is now in your court! You’ve signed up for help from SGA, and you’ve reached out to your teachers often. We are so happy to see you at your best!
  • 11th Grade: Genesis – you have such a powerful hustle and positive energy! Thank you for keeping that spirit alive during regular school and remote learning alike! Your work ethic is consistent and you make things happen for yourself! Keep up the great work!
  • 12th Grade: Maurice is our Senior of the Week! Maurice has been on top of all his work, attending classes and communicating immediately if/when he cannot attend. He has shared positive energy consistently over online learning. We can’t wait to see how well you do next year as you head to college!

4. Celebrating Stellar Student Attendance!: In addition to academic excellence, it is also worth highlighting the dedication of so many of our students to their studies through their excellent attendance in our remote classrooms.  This past week, 139 students had 100% attendance in their classes.  Here is the all-star list with the 6th grade leading the way!

Middle School Students:

High School Students:

5. Senior Spotlight of the Week Leslie G. is heading to Guttman Community College next year to earn her associates degree in liberal arts. After two years she plans to transfer to a senior college to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. She will miss all of her teachers and the amazing staff at Unity.  Leslie will also miss her wonderful friends and her step team, the Unity Queen Steppers!

6. Unity Student-Athlete to be Interviewed on IG Live, 6pm tonight!: Tune in to view Unity Senior and Student-Athlete, Ade Fasanmi discuss his basketball career, his MVP season, and his future plans in college and beyond on IG Live.  We are proud of you, Ade!

7. The Queens Steppers of Unity High Take 2nd Place in Virtual Competition!:  Congrats to our talented step team of Unity High in taking 2nd place in the World of Step’s virtual competition last week.  The team thanks its fans for their support!

8. Unity’s Weekly Trivia Contest for a Seamless Gift Card: Congratulations to Mr. Oke for winning last week’s trivia contest! Each week, The Scoop will feature Unity Trivia!  Answer each question correctly for an opportunity to win a Seamless gift card. The winner will be selected at random and announced in next week’s Scoop.  Click here to access this week’s trivia contest (due Monday at 5pm) and reach out to cbeckford@unityprep.org with any questions.  Students and caregivers are both eligible to participate.

9. Reminder – Middle School End-of-Year Reflections Update: Please see the video clip and slides below with important information about End-Of-Year Reflections at the middle school!  .

Video: Unity Middle School End Of Year Reflections 2020 Overview

Slides: Unity Middle School End Of Year Reflections 2020

10. Reminder: Unity’s Summer Academy will be Remote this Summer: Summer Academy for grades 6-12 will be held remotely this summer.  We will provide details to all families whose children are required to attend summer school in the coming two weeks.

11. Reminder: High School Grading Policy Update: Please read the attached memo regarding Remote Grading Policy updates at our high school. For questions and clarifications about the policies or your student’s academic standing, reach out to their academic counselor.

• 9th and 10th Grade Academic Counselor: Mrs. Louise Eason
• 11th Grade Academic Counselor: Ms. Lia Simon
• 12th Grade Academic Counselors: Ms. Alia Roth and Mr. Eric Gonzalez

12. Reminder – Clarification on Unity’s Grading Policy in Relation to Attendance for Remote Learning: The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) recently released its Grading Policy Guidance for Remote Learning, which included a statement that it would not use attendance to calculate grades.  A few students and families have since reached out to inquire how this applies to Unity’s grading and attendance policy during remote learning.  In terms of attendance, the expectations for Unity students continues to be the same: student attendance during remote learning is mandatory and essential to successful academic outcomes.  We are committed to providing instruction and academic support during our remote learning period to ensure all Unity students are best positioned to begin next school year ready for the next grade level.  In order to accomplish this, students must engage in online remote learning with teachers every day.  Students who are not able to attend classes may fall behind in coursework and may be required to continue classwork during the summer.  Please reach out to your student’s middle school teacher or high school academic counselor if you have any questions about attendance.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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.

Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner available for Students and Adults: Any New Yorker, child or adult, has access to three free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city (including PS44), between 7:30am – 11:30am for children and families and from 11:30am to 1:30pm for adults. More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

Resources for Mental Health and Talking to Young People About COVID-19: The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has provided this guide for self-care and strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people. In addition, here is a link for webinars for “Parenting During COVID-19” through the Weil Cornell Psychiatry Department. 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 (1888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.  In addition, a mental health hotline has been established in New York City that will provide FREE emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider. The hotline number is: 1-844-863-9314.

Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling: Social workers will continue to hold remote counseling sessions for all students who receive counseling throughout this week.  Please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org) if you have any questions about the continuation of counseling services or if you are concerned about your child’s mental health. Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, access to food, access to community mental health services, referrals to mental health providers, crisis intervention, etc.).

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

I hope this note finds you in continued good health and safety.  We are now in our third week of remote learning and I want to thank everyone for their care and courage through these challenging times.

For this week, the school schedule at each campus is as follows:

Unity Middle School:

• Monday (4/6) to Wednesday (4/8) – normal remote learning schedule for all students
• Thursday (4/9) to Friday (4/10) – no classes
• Monday (4/13) to Friday (4/17) – independent assignments only – live, virtual classes will not take place

Unity High School:

• Monday (4/6) to Tuesday (4/7) – normal remote learning schedule for all students
• Wednesday (4/8) — Community Meetings for Students and Families (invitations will be sent via Jupiter)
• Thursday (4/9) to Friday (4/10) – independent assignments only – live, virtual classes will not take place

In this edition of The Scoop, I offer two new updates, including information on the extension of remote learning through April 29th and the cancellation of June Regents exams.  As a reminder, the Daily Scoop is posted on our homepage at unityprep.org.  If you have questions, concerns, and/or ideas in response to any update, don’t hesitate to respond to this note by email.  A Unity staff member will be in touch at their earliest convenience.

Updates as of April 6, 2020

1. New – Independent Assignments and Practice through April 17th: Starting on Thursday, April 9th, at the middle school and on Wednesday, April 8th, at the high school, we will not hold live virtual classes. This pause in virtual classes will continue through April 17th.  Instead, students will have assignments that they are expected to complete on their own during this time. Teachers will be available to answer questions via email during this time period.  Here are the details on assignments for our middle school students and high school students:

Middle School:

• Students should continue to log into their Google Classroom to see their work for each class.
• If your child has questions about their work, they should reach out to their teacher via Jupiter.  Teachers will respond to questions from students within 24 hours during the week of 4/13.

High School:

• Students will have assignments in math, ELA, history, and science classes. Students will have approximately one hour of work per class.
• Students may access their assignments via their Google Classroom accounts. This will send students to Albert.io to complete assignments.
• Students must also sign up for Albert.io. Invitations are in students’ Unity email accounts.
• Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teachers directly if you have questions during class time.
• Assignments will be graded and are due by 11:59 PM on Sunday, 4/19.

2. Updated as of April 6th – Zoom Logins Have Been Modified: Unity staff have reviewed the security features in Zoom and will continue using it for instruction. The settings for Zoom Instruction for classes at Unity have been updated to ensure our classes remain secure:

• Students are required to login using their @unityprep.org email address
• Students must enter a waiting room before entering the class and be admitted by the teacher
• Students will not be able to change their names nor use nicknames in the Zoom software

If any students have trouble accessing their Zoom account or their Zoom classes, please send a Jupiter message or email to Mr. Doscher.

3. Updated as of April 6th (updates are in green below) – Decisions to Frequently Asked Questions: A number of frequently asked questions, such as those listed below, have recently come up.  We are still seeking guidance on these important topics from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE).  For other school-based questions, we will be in touch with families as soon as decisions are made.  As always, our decisions are guided by our school mission and what is best for the safety and well-being of our school community.

• Will we be returning to school for live instruction on April 20th?

Unity will extend its suspension of all onsite educational programming, including extra-curricular events, through April 29th.  This timeline and plan aligns with the NYC Department of Education’s plan, as announced today by Governor Cuomo and the New York State Board of Regents.  Students will not report to our middle and high school sites for instruction during this time.

• Are Regents exams being administered in June?

At today’s New York State Board of Regents meeting, the Regents announced that the Spring Regents Examinations will be canceled.  The State Education Department will issue more guidance about this change tomorrow.  We will provide more information to our families as we receive it.

• What is the plan for Roundtables?

We are now considering what adjustments we would make to Roundtables in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction.  If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for Roundtables.

• What is the plan for middle school graduation, senior activities, and high school graduation?

We are now considering what adjustments we would make to our graduation festivities in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction. If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for graduation festivities.

4. Reminder – Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19: Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on New York City’s workforce, the City of New York 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.

5. Reminder – Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner available for Students and Adults: Any New Yorker, child or adult, has access to three free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city (including PS44), between 7:30am – 11:30am for children and families and from 11:30am to 1:30pm for adults. More details, including a search tool, is available by clicking here.

6. Reminder – NYC School Survey & $50 Seamless Gift Card: The NYC School Survey, administered every year to students, caregivers, and teachers, is due on Wednesday April 8th. The survey helps school leaders understand what key members of their school community think about the learning environment at their school. Your participation helps make Unity a better place for all of our students.  All caregivers who take the NYC School Survey and text a screenshot of the “survey completed” screen to Mr. Doscher at 347-746-1575 will be entered in a raffle for a $50 Seamless gift certificate! Click here to take the survey and email Mr. Doscher if you need access to your survey code.

7. Reminder – Resources for Mental Health and Talking to Young People About COVID-19: Feeling anxiety amid a global pandemic is normal and natural for everyone.  As adults, it is critical that we care for our own mental and physical health, and that will help us to better support our young people. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has provided this guide for self-care and strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people.

In addition, here is a link for webinars for “Parenting During COVID-19” through the Weil Cornell Psychiatry Department. The webinars are free, held in the evenings, and open to any parent looking to learn more about how to manage and cope with these stressful times.  The schedule for webinars are as follows:

• Wed. 4/1: Parenting Strategies for Challenging Times
• Thurs. 4/2: Creating Structure During Unstructured Times
• Mon. 4/6: Incorporating Validation into Parenting
• Tues. 4/7: Coping and Conflict Management
• Wed. 4/8: Making Meaning of Difficult Times

8. Reminder – Materials to Engage in Remote Learning – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Students should now have access to the resources and materials to engage in remote learning.  Moving forward, here is some helpful information for you:

Unity Middle School:

• Assignments for Friday, 3/27, and beyond will be posted to student’s Google Classroom accounts.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• For families receiving new technology in the mail, please be aware that you will need to sign for the package when it arrives.
• If you have questions concerning middle school materials or technology, contact Darline Charles via Jupiter, email at dcharles@unityprep.org, or 347-687-3650.

Unity High School:

• Students have received invitations in Jupiter with links to their virtual classrooms. Links for class will remain posted in Google classroom. Students may also access the link by returning to their teacher’s initial email in their message log.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• If you have questions concerning high school materials, including laptops, contact UPHS by emailing help.hs@unityprep.org or calling the main office at 718-682-3725. Please note that during this time, reaching the main office by phone will be limited and email is preferred.

9. Reminder – Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling:  If your child receives counseling, you will hear from their counselor in the next few days to coordinate services and identify needs.  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 (1888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.  Please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org) if you have any questions about continuation of counseling services or if you are concerned about your child’s mental health.  Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, access to food, access to community mental health services, referrals to mental health providers, crisis intervention, etc.).  Update as of March 26th: A mental health hotline has been established in New York City that will provide FREE emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider. The hotline number is: 1-844-863-9314.

10. Reminder – 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.

11. Reminder – Supplemental Resources to Continue Your Child’s Learning at Home: Between now and the launch of remoting learning, we encourage you to support your child at home in keeping their academic skills fresh.  The NYCDOE’s Learn at Home site provides learning resources to students to complete while they are receiving instruction.  It is important that students continue to read, write, complete social studies and science activities, and work on math problems.  The materials are organized by grade level and include the following:

• Suggested daily study schedules
• Guides and materials for instructional activities
• Recommended educational television shows
• Links to a variety of books, magazines, and websites on a wide range of topics that appeal to children at all ages

12. Reminder – Free Internet at Home: A variety of internet providers are offering free internet  access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have an internet subscription. Internet access at home will be critical for students to complete their remote learning assignments To enroll, call

• 1-844-579-3743 for Spectrum
• 1-844-488-8395 for Charter Communications
• 1- 866-200-9522 for Optimum

Note that Installation fees will be waived for new households.

In unity,

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

I hope this note finds you in continued good health and care as we reach the midpoint of the week.  As I mentioned in Monday’s Scoop, it is important to underline that we are in this together and that we are here for you.  Please do not hesitate to reach out should challenges arise and you believe that we can be of help.

In this edition of The Scoop, I offer two new updates along with a number of reminders that are still relevant to our community.  As a reminder, the Daily Scoop is posted on our homepage at unityprep.org.  If you have questions, concerns, and/or ideas in response to any update, don’t hesitate to respond to this note by email.  A Unity staff member will be in touch at their earliest convenience.

Updates as of April 1, 2020

1. New – Zoom Logins Have Been Modified: For security purposes, the settings for Zoom Instruction for classes at Unity have been updated to require students to login using their @unityprep.org email address. If any students have trouble accessing their Zoom account or their Zoom classes, please send a Jupiter message or email to Mr. Doscher.

2. New – Update on Spring Break: Yesterday afternoon, Governor Cuomo reportedly announced a mandate that all public schools continue in their remote learning services through spring breaks scheduled in April.  We are now awaiting further guidance from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) on what this means for our operations during the week of April 13th. Remote classes will not be in session on Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th.  We will reach out to Unity caregivers and students about the week of April 13th within 24 hours of receiving updated guidance from NYSED and NYCDOE.

3. Updated as of April 1st (see updates in green below) – Resources for Mental Health and Talking to Young People About COVID-19: Feeling anxiety amid a global pandemic is normal and natural for everyone.  As adults, it is critical that we care for our own mental and physical health, and that will help us to better support our young people. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has provided this guide for self-care and strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people.

In addition, here is a link for webinars for “Parenting During COVID-19” through the Weil Cornell Psychiatry Department. The webinars are free, held in the evenings, and open to any parent looking to learn more about how to manage and cope with these stressful times.  The schedule for webinars are as follows:

• Wed. 4/1: Parenting Strategies for Challenging Times
• Thurs. 4/2: Creating Structure During Unstructured Times
• Mon. 4/6: Incorporating Validation into Parenting
• Tues. 4/7: Coping and Conflict Management
• Wed. 4/8: Making Meaning of Difficult Times

4. Reminder – Materials to Engage in Remote Learning – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Students should now have access to the resources and materials to engage in remote learning.  Moving forward, here is some helpful information for you:

Unity Middle School:

• Assignments for Friday, 3/27, and beyond will be posted to student’s Google Classroom accounts.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• For families receiving new technology in the mail, please be aware that you will need to sign for the package when it arrives.
• If you have questions concerning middle school materials or technology, contact Darline Charles via Jupiter, email at dcharles@unityprep.org, or 347-687-3650.

Unity High School:

• Students have received invitations in Jupiter with links to their virtual classrooms. Links for class will remain posted in Google classroom. Students may also access the link by returning to their teacher’s initial email in their message log.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• If you have questions concerning high school materials, including laptops, contact UPHS by emailing help.hs@unityprep.org or calling the main office at 718-682-3725. Please note that during this time, reaching the main office by phone will be limited and email is preferred.

5. Reminder – Remote Learning at Unity – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Here are important updates that you need to know to engage in remote learning:

Middle School:

• Students should continue to log into their Google Classroom and Zoom meetings for each class.
• Jupiter messages were sent out on Friday, March 27th with your child’s updated schedule and log-in information for enrichment, PE/Dance, and intervention.
• If you have technical questions or other concerns, please reach out to your child’s advisor.  If they don’t have an answer for you, they will be able to share your question with the appropriate staff member.
• Here is what you need to know about grading:
  • Students should submit work by 2 PM each day.
  • Students will receive one daily participation grade for completing their work for each class.
  • If students submit work late, they can still receive full credit for their work.  Teachers will update the grade within 24 hours of receiving the completed work.
• Attendance for each class will be based on completing the assignment for that class period.  Work is due at 3 PM each day beginning today.

High School:

• Continue to check your Jupiter messages each evening for details on your child’s schedule, teacher contact information, and Google Classroom log-ins.
• For each class, students should go to their Google Classroom prior to the start of class and use the links in Google Classroom to open the Zoom meeting for their class and any class materials.  We encourage all students to have all platforms open 5 minutes before the class start time to ensure that they are able to start learning at the beginning of class.
• Reach out to your child’s teachers via the contact information provided if you have questions during class time.
• Here is what you need to know about grading:
  • Each week. students will be assessed using the following:
    • At least one classwork assignment per session
    • One homework assignment per week
    • At least one assessment per week (includes quizzes)
  • Homework is due by 11:59 PM the night prior to the next session
  • All classwork, whether student attends live class or not, is due by 11:59 PM on the day of session
  • Students who attend all sessions during the week in any given course will receive a “bonus” in that course
    • Example:
      • Student attends 2 out of 3 ELA sessions next week – no bonus
      • Student attends 100% of ELA sessions next week – bonus
• Attendance for each class will be taken in Jupiter. We will send a robocall to inform families when a student misses 1 or more classes on a remote learning day.

6. Reminder – The Scoop will be Disseminated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Moving Forward: Now that remote learning is underway and important setup information has been distributed, I will move to sending the The Scoop out three days weekly instead of five.  Effective today, The Scoop will be sent out to all families on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.  Thank you for continuing to stay informed by taking time to review announcements, updates, and reminders in The Scoop.

7. Reminder – No Updates as of April 1st – Decisions to Frequently Asked Questions: A number of frequently asked questions, such as those listed below, have come up.  We are still seeking guidance on these important topics from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE).  For other school-based questions, we will be in touch with families as soon as decisions are made.  As always, our decisions are guided by our school mission and what is best for the safety and well-being of our school community.

• Will we be returning to school for live instruction on April 20th?  At this time, we have no updates for you – we are awaiting guidance from the NYSED and NYCDOE and will be in touch within 24 hours of receiving updated guidance.
• Are Regents exams being administered in June?  At this time, we have no updates for you – we are awaiting guidance from the NYSED and NYCDOE and will be in touch within 24 hours of receiving updated guidance.
• What is the plan for Roundtables?  We are now considering what adjustments we would make to Roundtables in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction.  If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for Roundtables.
• What is the plan for middle school graduation, senior activities, and high school graduation?  We are now considering what adjustments we would make to our graduation festivities in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction. If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for graduation festivities.

8. Reminder – Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling:  If your child receives counseling, you will hear from their counselor in the next few days to coordinate services and identify needs.  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 (1888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.  Please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org) if you have any questions about continuation of counseling services or if you are concerned about your child’s mental health.  Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, access to food, access to community mental health services, referrals to mental health providers, crisis intervention, etc.).  Update as of March 26th: A mental health hotline has been established in New York City that will provide FREE emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider. The hotline number is: 1-844-863-9314.

9. Reminder – Free Breakfast and Lunch Grab-and-Go Meals are Available at All NYCDOE Public Schools: Unity students may go to any NYCDOE school building (including PS44) between 7:30am – 1:30pm today and until further notice to pick up a bagged breakfast and bagged lunch for free.  Here are a few additional updates:

• Grab and go meals are available at 439 sites – see the list of sites here.  Use this tool to find a location near you.
• Students will only be able to pick up one day’s worth of meals (one breakfast and two lunch meals).  Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children.

10. Reminder – 2020 Grades 3-8 State Testing is Cancelled: The New York State Education Department announced recently that state testing for grades 3-8 are cancelled.  This means that our students in grades 6-8 will not sit for their English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science state exams this year.  Additional details on how we plan to assess and celebrate our middle school students’ academic growth and successes this year is forthcoming.

11. Reminder – Tutorial on Using Zoom, Our Remote Classroom Platform: This helpful tutorial provides helpful information on the video conferencing application we are using while teaching remotely, including what you need to use Zoom, how you download it, how you can join a meeting, and what tools are available.

12. Reminder – 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.

13. Reminder – Supplemental Resources to Continue Your Child’s Learning at Home: Between now and the launch of remoting learning, we encourage you to support your child at home in keeping their academic skills fresh.  The NYCDOE’s Learn at Home site provides learning resources to students to complete while they are receiving instruction.  It is important that students continue to read, write, complete social studies and science activities, and work on math problems.  The materials are organized by grade level and include the following:

• Suggested daily study schedules
• Guides and materials for instructional activities
• Recommended educational television shows
• Links to a variety of books, magazines, and websites on a wide range of topics that appeal to children at all ages

14. Reminder – Extension of Remote Learning through April 20th: Unity will extend its suspension of all onsite educational programming, including extra-curricular events, through April 20th.  This timeline and plan aligns with the NYC Department of Education’s plan, as announced yesterday for all of its schools.  Students will not report to our middle and high school sites for instruction during this time.

15. Reminder – Free Internet at Home: A variety of internet providers are offering free internet  access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have an internet subscription. Internet access at home will be critical for students to complete their remote learning assignments To enroll, call

• 1-844-579-3743 for Spectrum
• 1-844-488-8395 for Charter Communications
• 1- 866-200-9522 for Optimum

Note that Installation fees will be waived for new households.

In unity,

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

I hope that the weekend was kind-hearted to you and your loved ones.  As we move into a new week together, it is important to underline that we are here for you.  Please do not hesitate to reach out should challenges arise and you believe that we can be of help.  Remember that there is strength in Unity.  I look forward to another strong week of collaboration as we continue to build on our recent successes in launching our remote learning program.

In this edition of The Scoop, I offer two new updates, including a change in how often The Scoop will be distributed moving forward, along with a number of reminders that are still relevant to our community.  As a reminder, the Daily Scoop is posted on our homepage at unityprep.org.  If you have questions, concerns, and/or ideas in response to any update, don’t hesitate to respond to this note by email.  A Unity staff member will be in touch at their earliest convenience.

Updates as of March 30, 2020

1. New – The Scoop will be Disseminated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Moving Forward: Now that remote learning is underway and important setup information has been distributed, I will move to sending the The Scoop out three days weekly instead of five.  Effective today, The Scoop will be sent out to all families on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.  Thank you for continuing to stay informed by taking time to review announcements, updates, and reminders in The Scoop.

2. New – Decisions to Frequently Asked Questions: A number of frequently asked questions, such as those listed below, have come up.  We are still seeking guidance on these important topics from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE).  For other school-based questions, we will be in touch with families as soon as decisions are made.  As always, our decisions are guided by our school mission and what is best for the safety and well-being of our school community.

• Will we be returning to school for live instruction on April 20th?  At this time, we have no updates for you – we are awaiting guidance from the NYSED and NYCDOE and will be in touch within 24 hours of receiving updated guidance.
• Are Regents exams being administered in June?  At this time, we have no updates for you – we are awaiting guidance from the NYSED and NYCDOE and will be in touch within 24 hours of receiving updated guidance.
• What is the plan for Roundtables?  We are now considering what adjustments we would make to Roundtables in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction.  If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for Roundtables.
• What is the plan for middle school graduation, senior activities, and high school graduation?  We are now considering what adjustments we would make to our graduation festivities in the event of an extended suspension of onsite instruction. If the suspension of onsite instruction is extended, we will promptly provide an update of our plan for graduation festivities.

3. Reminder – Resources for Mental Health and Talking to Young People About COVID-19: Feeling anxiety amid a global pandemic is normal and natural for everyone.  As adults, it is critical that we care for our own mental and physical health, and that will help us to better support our young people. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has provided this guide for self-care and strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people.

4. Reminder – This Week’s Virtual Spirit Week at the High School: With a real interest in infusing positivity and joy in our student’s (and staff’s) experiences while learning remotely, particularly given the stresses we have all endured over the past several weeks, our high school students are encouraged to take part in our Virtual Spirit Week this week. See the themes for each day of the week below. More details can be found on our HS Instagram account, unityprep_hs.

• Monday, March 30th: Issa’ Mood Monday
• Tuesday, March 31st: Hat Day
• Wednesday, April 1st: Workout Wednesday
• Thursday, April 2nd: TikTok Thursday
• Friday, April 3rd: Jammies and Jams

5. Updated as of March 27th (see updates in green below) – Materials to Engage in Remote Learning – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Students should now have access to the resources and materials to engage in remote learning.  Moving forward, here is some helpful information for you:

Unity Middle School:

• Assignments for Friday, 3/27, and beyond will be posted to student’s Google Classroom accounts.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• For families receiving new technology in the mail, please be aware that you will need to sign for the package when it arrives.
• If you have questions concerning middle school materials or technology, contact Darline Charles via Jupiter, email at dcharles@unityprep.org, or 347-687-3650.

Unity High School:

• Students have received invitations in Jupiter with links to their virtual classrooms. Links for class will remain posted in Google classroom. Students may also access the link by returning to their teacher’s initial email in their message log.
• Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-579-3743 or 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.  Alternatively, Optimum is offering Altice Advantage broadband free at home – call 1- 866-200-9522 to sign up.
• If you have questions concerning high school materials, including laptops, contact UPHS by emailing help.hs@unityprep.org or calling the main office at 718-682-3725. Please note that during this time, reaching the main office by phone will be limited and email is preferred.

6. Updated as of March 27th (see updates in green below) – Remote Learning at Unity – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Here are important updates that you need to know to engage in remote learning:

Middle School:

• We have expanded to our full schedule of remote classes today.  Students  have begun activities for their enrichment, PE/Dance, and intervention courses, in addition to continuing with their ELA, Math, History, and Science courses.  Students should continue to log into their Google Classroom and Zoom meetings for each class.
• Jupiter messages were sent out on Friday, March 27th with your child’s updated schedule and log-in information for enrichment, PE/Dance, and intervention.
• If you have technical questions or other concerns, please reach out to your child’s advisor.  If they don’t have an answer for you, they will be able to share your question with the appropriate staff member.
• Here is what you need to know about grading:
  • Students should submit work by 2 PM each day.
  • Students will receive one daily participation grade for completing their work for each class.
  • If students submit work late, they can still receive full credit for their work.  Teachers will update the grade within 24 hours of receiving the completed work.
• Attendance for each class will be based on completing the assignment for that class period.  Work is due at 3 PM each day beginning today.

High School:

• Continue to check your Jupiter messages each evening for details on your child’s schedule, teacher contact information, and Google Classroom log-ins.
• For each class, students should go to their Google Classroom prior to the start of class and use the links in Google Classroom to open the Zoom meeting for their class and any class materials.  We encourage all students to have all platforms open 5 minutes before the class start time to ensure that they are able to start learning at the beginning of class.
• Reach out to your child’s teachers via the contact information provided if you have questions during class time.
• Here is what you need to know about grading:
  • Each week. students will be assessed using the following:
    • At least one classwork assignment per session
    • One homework assignment per week
    • At least one assessment per week (includes quizzes)
  • Homework is due by 11:59 PM the night prior to the next session
  • All classwork, whether student attends live class or not, is due by 11:59 PM on the day of session
  • Students who attend all sessions during the week in any given course will receive a “bonus” in that course
    • Example:
      • Student attends 2 out of 3 ELA sessions next week – no bonus
      • Student attends 100% of ELA sessions next week – bonus
• Attendance for each class will be taken in Jupiter. We will send a robocall to inform families when a student misses 1 or more classes on a remote learning day.

7. Updated as of March 27th (see updates in green below) – Attention 8th Grade Families: See the important notes below in securing a high school seat for the 2020-21 school year:

• The deadline for the Unity Letter of Intent to attend Unity High for the 2020-21 school year has been extended to Tuesday, March 31st.  Eighth grade families who are interested in attending Unity High in the fall should contact Mr. Beckford at cbeckford@unityprep.org or 862-294-0219 as soon as possible. He is available to answer any enrollment questions and confirm your child’s acceptance for high school.
• NYCDOE high school offers were shared for Unity 8th graders last Friday.  If you would like to review your child’s NYCDOE high school offer, you are welcome to log onto Myschools account.
• To support you in making an informed final decision for your child, Unity is scheduling 1-on-1 meetings with each 8th grade family through next week.  Please complete the following form to schedule an appointment today.

8. Updated as of March 26th (see updates in green below) – Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling:  If your child receives counseling, you will hear from their counselor in the next few days to coordinate services and identify needs.  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 (1888-NYC-WELL) or text (text WELL to 65173) or by internet chat via their website: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/.  Please reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio via phone or text (347-688-9107) or email (tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org) if you have any questions about continuation of counseling services or if you are concerned about your child’s mental health.  Unity social workers can also be of assistance in providing information regarding social services (for example: housing, access to food, access to community mental health services, referrals to mental health providers, crisis intervention, etc.).  Update as of March 26th: A mental health hotline has been established in New York City that will provide FREE emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider. The hotline number is: 1-844-863-9314.

8. Updated as of March 30th – Free Breakfast and Lunch Grab-and-Go Meals are Available at All NYCDOE Public Schools: Unity students may go to any NYCDOE school building (including PS44) between 7:30am – 1:30pm today and until further notice to pick up a bagged breakfast and bagged lunch for free.  Here are a few additional updates:

• Grab and go meals are available at 439 sites – see the list of sites here.  Use this tool to find a location near you.
• Students will only be able to pick up one day’s worth of meals (one breakfast and two lunch meals).  Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children.

9. Reminder – 2020 Grades 3-8 State Testing is Cancelled: The New York State Education Department announced recently that state testing for grades 3-8 are cancelled.  This means that our students in grades 6-8 will not sit for their English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science state exams this year.  Additional details on how we plan to assess and celebrate our middle school students’ academic growth and successes this year is forthcoming.

10. Reminder – Tutorial on Using Zoom, Our Remote Classroom Platform: This helpful tutorial provides helpful information on the video conferencing application we are using while teaching remotely, including what you need to use Zoom, how you download it, how you can join a meeting, and what tools are available.

11. Reminder – 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.

12. Reminder – Supplemental Resources to Continue Your Child’s Learning at Home: Between now and the launch of remoting learning, we encourage you to support your child at home in keeping their academic skills fresh.  The NYCDOE’s Learn at Home site provides learning resources to students to complete while they are receiving instruction.  It is important that students continue to read, write, complete social studies and science activities, and work on math problems.  The materials are organized by grade level and include the following:

• Suggested daily study schedules
• Guides and materials for instructional activities
• Recommended educational television shows
• Links to a variety of books, magazines, and websites on a wide range of topics that appeal to children at all ages

13. Reminder – Extension of Remote Learning through April 20th: Unity will extend its suspension of all onsite educational programming, including extra-curricular events, through April 20th.  This timeline and plan aligns with the NYC Department of Education’s plan, as announced yesterday for all of its schools.  Students will not report to our middle and high school sites for instruction during this time.

14. Reminder – Free Internet at Home: A variety of internet providers are offering free internet  access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have an internet subscription. Internet access at home will be critical for students to complete their remote learning assignments To enroll, call

• 1-844-579-3743 for Spectrum
• 1-844-488-8395 for Charter Communications
• 1- 866-200-9522 for Optimum

Note that Installation fees will be waived for new households.

15. Reminder – We Encourage Families to Check NYSDOH’s website and the CDC’s website Regularly for Updates:  Here are the last recommendations as posted on the NYCDOE’s website as of March 17th, include the following:

Precautions:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
• Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
• Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
• Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.
• Get your flu shot – it’s never too late.
• Reduce overcrowding by walking or biking to work, if possible.
• If the train is too packed, wait for the next one.

If You Feel Sick:

• Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat.
• If you do not feel better in 24-48 hours, contact your doctor.
• Do not go to school or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
• If you need help getting medical care, call 311.

For More Information

• Please read the Health Department’s What You Need to Know factsheet for more information.

In unity,

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder