Dear Families of Unity,

It has been a busy few weeks with middle school state exams and high school Advanced Placement (AP) exams.  Congratulations to our middle school students for completing their state math exams this week!  And congrats to our high school students who completed their AP exams, including those in Government, Environmental Science, Literature, Seminar, US History, and Art!  On behalf of our entire community, we are extremely proud of our students for their hard work in preparing for these exams over the past few months.  And we look forward to celebrating the efforts of our high school students who will be completing our remaining AP exams next week.  Again, we are proud of you!

I also want to thank everyone in our school community who contributed to Educator Appreciation Week at Unity.  Our team definitely felt the love and appreciation coming their way.  Here is a video clip that was shared with our high school team yesterday of students sharing honest, heartfelt messages of appreciation with individual educators.  Do take a moment to appreciate our amazing students showing appreciation for our team in the realest of ways!

In this edition of the Unity Scoop, I re-share with you our May calendar for your convenience.  In addition, I highlight a few exciting events happening in the coming weeks.  I also share our newest list of Core Value leaders and students with stellar attendance from April.

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of May 6, 2023:

1. Updated- May 2023 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of April – print it out and throw it on the refrigerator door!  It is possible that events could change and new events could be added.  An up-to-date events calendar can always be accessed on our website.

2. New – Unity Celebrates College Signing Day this Thursday, May 11th!: Our community is excited to experience one of our ritual annual events – College Signing Day – in which our graduating seniors announce their post-secondary intentions for the coming year.  So that you have a sense of how special this event is for our community and seniors, here is a short highlight clip from last year’s festivities!

3. New – Unity High Art Exhibit to Showcase our Student’s Artistic Talents, Friday, May 19th at 4:30pm!:  All Unity families are cordially invited to support our young and talented artists during an exhibition two weeks from now.  Student artwork will be exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Cave, at 897 Broadway in Brooklyn.  See the flier below for details!

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

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

Some Background:

Miguel Castillo made this year truly exciting.  For some unknown set of reasons, he waited until the winter to begin preparing his college application materials.  But, when he started working, he created a powerful personal statement, a perfectly matched college list, and coordinated his letters of recommendation from teachers like a pro.  He was also one of the first seniors this year to apply for financial aid by submitting his FAFSA and TAP applications.  The speed at which he completed all of these tasks made everything seem easy!  Clearly, the materials he submitted with his applications were convincing – he has earned admission to every college he applied to, including the Education Opportunity Program (EOP)!  Moreover, he has received incredibly supportive financial aid packages from each college, complete with scholarship money.  These impressive accomplishments might make someone think Miguel has it easy – in fact, he works hard in every area of his life: in the classroom, when coding to create computer applications, and when advocating for himself with colleges (he’s truly impressive when speaking with admissions and financial aid staff).  As his results demonstrate this year, hard work pays off!  We can’t wait to see which college Miguel decides to attend; he is set to announce his decision on College Signing Day (Friday May 12th)!

Recent Accomplishments:

Miquel’’s recent accomplishments include:

• Earning a 3.48 GPA for the year so far!
• Earned admission to all seven (7) colleges he applied to (100% success rate!)!
• Received $100,000 in scholarships.

Advice for Unity Underclassmen (middle and high school):

Miguel strongly advises other high school students to not “slack off” – he suggests getting everything done on time (personal statement, financial aid, assignments for class, college applications, and scholarship applications).

Expressions of Gratitude:

Miguel thanks his mom, his dad, Ms. Young, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Russo and Mr. Lazar (“thanks for the letters of recommendation!”).  And, perhaps most importantly, he wants to give gratitude to himself; he spent weeks in Unity’s Counseling Office working on essays, financial aid, and college applications (not to mention keeping his grades up).

6. Recap – New Students for Fall 2023 – Unity middle school has a few seats available for rising sixth graders for the 2023-24 school year. Finding the right middle school can be tough, and our current families (you!) are the best advocates. If you know of any interested families, please reach out to Mr. Beckford via email or cell (862-294-0219).

7. Recap – Juniors of Unity High Complete Training with Elevate Education: Over the past month, Unity students in grade 11 participated in a series of workshops to boost their study skills in areas such as time management best practices and tips on exam taking strategies.  The training, which totalled 8 hours, was free of charge and made possible through Unity’s affiliation as an AP for All school within the New York City Department of Education.  We are excited to see our juniors put these best practices and tips into practice as they finish out the school year and prepare for 12th grade!

8. Updated – Spring Athletics and Festivities are in the Air!: The spring athletic season at Unity is now in full swing.  Today, we highlight two exciting elements of our spring programming.  First, our high school volleyball teams are hard at work and getting better every day!  See the photos of both teams in action below.  And congrats to our boys team on their recent win against Capital Prep this week!  Second – save the date!  Our spring dance recital is happening on May 20th with our middle and high school dance performers joining forces.  See the details on the flier below.  Finally, don’t miss tomorrow’s step team competition – go Unity Queens and Royal Risers!

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

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

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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

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

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

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

• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the recent stint of spring weather has you feeling healthy, energized, and optimistic!

This past week was fun and festive for our community.  We continued celebrating Women’s History Month, engaged as a full community in our Unity Arts & Athletics programming, and took pride in recognizing the achievements of our recent graduation rates from last spring.  Each of these are showcased below.

Believe it or not, we’ve now finished six full, glorious weeks of school since the February week and have reached spring break.  I applaud our staff, students, and families in making the most of our learning time together.  I wish our entire community a restful and rejuvenating spring break in the coming week.

I look forward to reuniting on Monday, April 5th!

Best Regards,

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of March 26, 2021:

1. New – Newly Released State and City Graduation Data Highlights the Accomplishments of Unity’s Founding Class!: Graduation statistics from June 2020 for the state and city were recently made public.  In comparison, significantly more Unity students from our founding class graduated in four years compared to both the state average and NYCDOE schools.  Unity’s graduation rate of 98% was 13 percentage points higher than the state average and 19 percentage points higher than the city average (see the table below).  In addition, our graduation rate was in line with – or sometimes higher than – the graduation rates of the vast majority of the city’s well-established charter schools and selective public high schools. As a relatively new, open-enrollment, mom & pop, community charter school, we are honored to serve all students and have much to be proud of!

2. New – Congratulations to our Honor Roll Students!: We recently celebrated all students who earned Honor Roll status for Trimester 2 at our middle school and Semester 1 at our high school.  Congratulations to the many students who are listed – be proud of your accomplishments!  We look forward to celebrating your continued academic prowess this spring and to adding more to this list!

Middle School High Honor Roll

Middle School Honor Roll

High School Principal’s List

High School High Honor Roll

High School Honor Roll

3. New – Continuing in our Celebration of Women’s History!: As we honor Women’s History this month, one way we are celebrating is by spotlighting, studying, and discussing women who played a vital role in our history and advancements as a society.  As a part of the festivities, we had over 70 students and 30 staff attend our Women’s History Month Celebration on Wednesday afternoon!  Students presented poems, music videos, voted on female Mayoral Candidates, and spotlighted Black female-owned businesses within the Unity Community.  Jennifer S. and Samija T. hosted and introduced the Critical Race Scholar and Activist, Dr. Angel Jones, PhD. It was such an empowering event, as Dr. Jones fielded a range of questions from students and staff.

4. New – Unity Staff and Students Participate in Unity’s Arts & Athletics Classes!  Our community – both staff and students – participated in a variety of arts and athletics remote classes this week. The event was fun and a rich learning experience for all.  As a community, we are so fortunate to have a dedicated and talented team of educators leading our arts and athletics courses!

5. New – 8th Grade Graduation / End-of-Year Events Caregiver Survey: We are aiming to wrap up this remote school year on a high note and would love to hear from you! Please take this brief survey.  Thanks in advance for your input!

6. Reminder – College Information for Students and Families of Unity: See the updates below from our College & Career Readiness Team!

• End of the Quarter for Unity High Students – We are one week away from the end of the third quarter.  Now is the time for students to review their Jupiter Grades accounts to identify where extra effort should be applied.  Finish the quarter on a strong note by submitting any missing or incomplete assignments!
• Financial Aid Support – For the Class of 2021, you should be hearing from colleges this month!  After offers of admission, colleges will send financial aid packages to accepted students.  Please use these Calendly links for Mr. Gonzalez and Ms. Roth to make appointments to review and compare financial aid packages.
• Apply for Scholarships – The Class of 2021 should be searching for and applying for scholarships to help them cover the costs of college.  To help with this search, please create an account at College Greenlight or Fastweb.com.
• Summer Jobs and Programs – All students should make appointments with their academic counselors to discuss options for summer programs and jobs.  The Academic Counseling department also held a “Summer Job and Program Fair” designed to support students in finding and applying for jobs and programs.  Check out the recording of that Fair here, and the slides here.

7. Reminder – Update to our School Programming Plan for the Remainder of the 2020-21 School Year! Per the letter that was recently disseminated via Jupiter, we will continue with our remote learning program for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Given the successes that we have experienced with our remote learning program thus far this year, and considering a host of factors that inform how we best serve our students and families over the coming months – including updates on safety guidelines from the CDC and the input of our stakeholders – we feel that this is best course of action for our school community.  Please take a moment to read the full letter addressed to families.  Additional notes on our preliminary summer and fall plans are also included.  More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

8. Reminder – Take Part in our Opt-in, In-Person, Intramural Athletics Program!: As highlighted last week, Unity’s intramural program provides students with opportunities to exercise, learn, and interact with their peers six days a week.  We currently offer the following sports: Basketball, Soccer, Step, Volleyball, and Track.  If you are interested in registering your child, please contact Mr. Coleman (acoleman@unityprep.org) for the middle school or Mr. Noblia (pnoblia@unityprep.org) for the high school.

9. Reminder –  Issue No. 5 of the Unity Review is Available for your Reading Pleasure!  I am excited to share with you the sixth 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 Love and Hate and includes a number of impressive submissions.  Enjoy!

10. Recap – Working Papers for HS Students During Remote Learning: We know many students will be applying for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) or Ladders For Leaders in the coming weeks.  In order to do so, students may wish to obtain their working papers.  The process for obtaining working papers during remote learning is as follows:

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.

11. Recap – 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

12. Recap – Unity’s Panther Den is Open to Middle and High School Students who Demonstrate PRIDE!: The Panther Den is where students can redeem the Core Value (PRIDE) points that they’ve earned for prizes and gifts of their choice.

• Middle school students can submit their requests for the Panther Den prizes via the following link.  Middle school students should reach out to their grade level dean with any questions.
• The High School Den is open to students on Wednesdays from 3:05-3:50pm and can be accessed using this link.

13. Recap – 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/.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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.

Income Inquiry & Housing Status Form!  We are asking for your help by completing the questions on the form below so we can best assist you and your family during this school year. Your participation in completing this form allows Unity to receive grant money from the state and federal government. The information will be kept confidential.

• Link to complete form.

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the summer has continued to bring you and your loved ones an abundance of joy and well-being.  As we move into the tail end of August, we are increasingly excited to begin the 2020-21 school year!

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I highlight a number of items that are important to you in supporting your children for a strong start in September.  Please review the updates below and reach out with any follow-up questions by emailing info@unityprep.org.

Again, we look forward to kicking off the school year in just over two weeks!

Best wishes,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School

Updates as of August 26, 2020:

1. Key Features of our Reopening Model for the Fall 2020: Here the key features of our model for the fall of 2020.  If you would like more details, here is the recording and here are the slides from the Family Forum we conducted in late July.

2. Sample Schedules for Middle School and High School Students: Here are sample weekly schedules for what your children’s school week will generally look like:

3. Key Dates at Unity for September:

• September 3rd, 10am-12pm – Remote student orientation for middle school
• September 9th – Remote student orientation for high school (start times will vary by grade and be messaged next week)
• September 9th – First day of remote school at Unity
• September 17th – Middle School Remote Family Orientation Night
• September 24th – High School School Remote Family Orientation Night

4. Unity’s School Calendar through December 31st: In the spirit of providing you with the information you need to best support your child with school at home, here are our middle and high school calendars through December 31, 2020.  Full school calendars through June of 2021 will be provided early this fall after the New York City Department of Education releases their calendar.

• Middle School Calendar through December 31, 2020
• High School Calendar through December 31, 2020

5. Parent Checklist: To help you in taking the appropriate steps to best support your child to get off to a strong start for the 2020-21 school year, here are the things you should be doing over the coming few weeks:

• Complete Summer Assignments
• Secure a functioning laptop and reliable internet service (we can help here – #6 below)
• Arrange your child’s workspace (see #7 below for tips here)
• Obtain school supplies (see #8 below)
• Purchase Unity school attire – parents and families are encouraged to purchase the Unity uniform now as uniforms will be required whenever the school returns to in-person instruction.  During remote learning, students are encouraged but not mandated to wear school uniform.
• Plan your child’s daily routine and schedule to accommodate their class schedule (see #2 above for sample schedules)

6. Requests for Laptop and Support with Internet Access: Unity will provide a laptop to all students who need one.  If you are new to Unity and need to reserve a Unity laptop OR do not have internet access at home, please complete the following form: https://bit.ly/Unitylaptops.  If you are returning to Unity, you can continue using the laptop that was provided last year.  Students are also welcome to use their personal laptop or computer at home.  Our goal is for 100% of students to have access to the technology they need to fully engage in their studies, regardless of whether classes are conducted in-person or remotely.

7. Creating a 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.

8. School Supply List: For remote learning, the supply list may appear different than previous years.. Please see the Unity Prep Supply List below:

• Middle School Students:
  • 5 composition notebooks
  • 10+ pencils
  • 10+ pens
  • Ruler with centimeters (science only)
  • Blank white paper
  • Colored pencils
  • New York City Public Library Card
• High School Students: the high school supply list for students will be messaged early this coming week.  We are now in the process of finalizing student schedules, which inform student supply needs.

9. Uniforms Update: Students are not required to wear uniforms during virtual learning. However, uniforms and school attire may be purchased by visiting the following links below.  Our guidelines for attire during remote learning will be provided during student orientations.

• Flynn O’Hara for middle school students or high school
• Unityprepuniforms.com for high school only

10. Reminder – Support our Graduates as they Transition to College!:  Our academic counselors recently created a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $30,000 since June 15th!  Donations will support students in need of financial support as they transition to college.  Our fundraising goal is $50,000.  We aspire to the community school model, in which a school and the community it serves band together to support young people.  Please join us in our efforts by donating whatever you can to support our inaugural graduating class of students.

11. Reminder – An Important Message from Community Board 3 (CB3): The Black Lives Matter Mural on Fulton Street is a source of great community pride and has become, in little over a month, an iconic tribute to Black Lives.  CB3 recently launched the roadway with local artists showcasing themselves through the arts. If you would like to host a workshop or activity, click here to register. All activities are free to families, so feel free to bring your folding chair and enjoy the vibes.

Also, starting August 1st and every Saturday through August, CB3 will have a full day of activities for all ages. Dance, roller skating, Yoga, Jam sessions and much, much more. Schedule will be posted on IG.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

Air Conditioning to Select Households in NYC this Summer: If you live with any family members 60 years or older and do not already have an air conditioner, the city is providing free air conditioners. Contact New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) using the information below to find out more:

• Division: Maintenance Hotline
• Phone Number: (718) 707-7771
• Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Staff is available at all times to handle emergencies and schedule routine maintenance repairs for Mon – Fri: 6:00 AM – midnight. Automated assistance is also available in Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.
• https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03305

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.

Dear Unity families,

In classes today, students connected with their teachers and one another in processing the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade, as well as the ongoing protests.  Our community is what makes us strong, and we will continue to use our time together to process, reflect, grieve, and plan for action.

At the same time, we know that many of us are struggling to carry on in light of the trauma that has been happening in our country for centuries, but in renewed focus at the forefront of our national consciousness in the past week.  In order to support all members of our community, particularly our Black and Brown colleagues and friends, we are going to take a collective day off from school tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd.  School will not be in session and the day will be to support mental health and self-care for our community, as well as a public declaration of solidarity with those impacted by institutional racism and the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade.

While we will not have classes tomorrow, we do still want to offer ongoing support for our students, families, and staff.  The principals at each site, as well as Ms. Del Purgatorio, our Director of Social Work, will be available as resources for both students and staff throughout the week.  See the schedule and meeting links below:

• Middle School:
  • MS Families: Open Forum with Mr. Burns and Ms. Gaines at 11 AM tomorrow
  • MS Students: Structured Space with Ms. Rivera, Ms. Brookins, Ms. Kittoe, Ms. Tucker, and Ms. Del Purgatorio on Friday at 11:45 AM
  • For additional support: Email tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org or text 347.688.9107 to set up a time to talk
• High School:
  • HS Families and Staff: Open Forum with Ms. Fuller and Ms. Yun at 12:30 PM tomorrow
  • HS Students: Structured Space with Ms. Rivera, Ms. Brookins, Ms. Kittoe, Ms. Tucker, and Ms. Del Purgatorio on Wednesday at 11:45 AM
  • For additional support: Email tdelpurgatorio@unityprep.org or text 347.688.9107 to set up a time to talk

Our decision to not hold classes tomorrow, but to instead provide optional space for dialogue and support, represents what we believe to be right in caring for our community.  We look forward to our continued support of one another and to reflect with our community this week in charting our course forward.

In unity,
Joshua Beauregard
Head of School
Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn