The Unity Scoop – August 20

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the summer is treating you and your loved ones well, and that you’ve had time to bond, rejoice, and enjoy the warm and sunny weather.

We are very excited to embark on the 2021-22 school year alongside you.  As I mentioned in my last correspondence, we share your interest and excitement in having your children re-engage with in-person learning this fall.  We also share a deep and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our community with the return to school.

With these mutual interests, I look forward to reconvening with you on Thursday, 8/26, to share our latest plans in returning to in-person learning in the safest way possible.  Participation is required; we will discuss our safety measures for the year, opportunities for collaboration, and important information about the school schedule, student dress code and school supplies to ensure a strong start to the school year.  See the first update below for information on how to register for the sessions.

In addition, I bring to you some updates regarding safety as well as updated information on school supplies and dress code.

The next edition of the Scoop will be disseminated on August 27th.

In unity,

Best

Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of August 20, 2021:

1. Updated – Upcoming Family Events – RSVP for this Thursday’s Information Sessions!: We have two important events for families.  Please reserve these dates and times in your calendars!

• Virtual August Information Session for Families – during these virtual sessions, you will learn about critical back-to-school information, including uniform details, the school year calendar, the daily schedule, and information on how to access your child’s grades and attendance:
  • Middle School: August 26th, 6pm
  • High School: August 26th, 7pm
• Back to School Night for Families – during this event, you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about our curriculum and programming for the school year:
  • Middle School: September 23rd, 6pm
  • High School: September 30th, 6pm

2. Updated – Important Information Vaccination Requested: We thank the roughly 75% of our families who have thus far completed this survey.  As we solidify our safety protocols for the coming year, one significant factor in our planning is the extent to which our students are vaccinated.  If you have not yet completed this survey, we ask that you take one minute to do so as soon as possible.  Note that we strongly encourage all of our families to take steps in getting their children vaccinated to best ensure that we are providing the highest level of safety for our community.  Information in doing so is available with update #5 below.

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

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

4. Updated – Information on Supply Lists: See details below by site.

• Middle School: Details on the early school supply list can be found here.
• High School: Please purchase wired headphones, pens, and pencils. More detailed information for other supplies will be provided by September 3rd.

5. Recap – Information on Getting Your Child Vaccinated Against COVID-19: Per the recommendation of the NYCDOE and CDC, we strongly encourage all of our families to get their children aged 12+ vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccinations are now available at select school sites across the city.  Visit www.schools.nyc.gov for information on sites and available dates.

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

• We are strongly promoting families to get their children aged 12+ vaccinated as soon as possible.
• We are requiring our staff to be vaccinated or take part in weekly testing per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We will require mask use among all staff, students, families, and visitors when inside our buildings.
• We will promote physical distancing to the greatest extent possible.
• We are in the process of equipping all of our classrooms with air purifiers, per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We will continue cleaning and disinfection protocols per NYCDOE guidelines.
• We are updating our procedures for test screening, contact tracing, and quarantining per the latest guidance from the NYCDOE, including randomly testing 10% of our community every week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. Updated – Technology Return for Students: For all students that still have a Unity laptop or chromebook, we are asking that they return their technology Please email help.ms@uniityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org to set up a time to return their device. Students should be returning their devices according to the schedule below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resources Regarding Unemployment Due to COVID-19 – NYC has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The website will be updated frequently and includes information on employment/unemployment, food assistance, financial assistance, rent arrears, health and medical assistance, and so forth.The Unity Scoop – August 20