The Unity Scoop – February 14

Dear Unity Families,

I hope you and your loved ones had a great week!

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, we’re excited to share highlights from our science classrooms, a spotlight on one of our alumni, photos from a recent college trip, our new Core Value leaders, and our Student Athletes of the Month!

Wishing you a healthy and restful February break! We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, February 24th.

Best,
Josh

Josh Beauregard
Head of School / Co-founder
Updates as of February 14, 2025:

1. New – Highlights of Students and Their Teachers in Action This Week!: Enjoy the photos below of our 8th graders and staff in action during science class last week! Students explored the properties of magnetism by making magnetic slime and observing how magnets interact with objects.

We’re also excited to share photos from our high school Anatomy and Physiology class, where students conducted a forensics blood lab. In a CSI-like scenario, they collected samples and tested evidence for blood type and Rh factor to investigate a simulated crime scene.

2. New – Alumni Spotlight of the Month – Carlos Goulias, Unity’s Class of 2021: We are thrilled to share with our entire community the accomplishments of our alumni whenever we can.  This month, we proudly provide an update on the postsecondary success of Carlos Goulias ‘21.

Carlos Goulias is a class of 2021 Unity graduate who is passionate about learning and youth development. He has consistently attended SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cayuga Community College and is slated to finish his Bachelor’s Degree in January 2026.

He has previously been a Teacher’s Assistant (TA) for college courses and is currently working as a substitute special education teacher and is a registered Behavioral Technician. Carlos is no stranger to the classroom, and loves supporting students using evidence-based practices along with his charismatic and patient personality.

Carlos is also SCIP trained (Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention, or SCIP Intelligence Certification) and may one day apply to work at a Unity Prep. He remains connected to his alumni community and offers his support for new high school graduates who are entering the SUNY system. We can’t wait to see Carlos (and his impressive resume) earn his degree!

3. New – Unity High Students Visit Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute – One of the Top Art Universities in the World!: Unity High’s art students toured Pratt’s campus this week and learned about its interior design, architecture, and graphic design programs.  Kudos to Ms. Gjakova for making the trip possible!

4. New – Kudos to our P.R.I.D.E. Leaders From January!: Our P.R.I.D.E. Core Values—Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy—are the foundation of our school community. They empower our students to lead fulfilling lives, and we are committed to actively teaching and reinforcing them.

The students below were our leaders in January, recognized by their teachers for exemplifying these values. We’re proud of them and look forward to celebrating all students who demonstrate P.R.I.D.E. in our community!

5. New – BHM Festivities Continue at Unity Middle After the Break!: See the fliers below for a summary of exciting events happening upon our return from winter break!

6. New – Unity’s Athletic Teams In Action this Week!: Congratulations to our Student-Athletes for the month of January.  And congratulations to our Middle School Varsity Basketball teams who were victorious in our playoff games yesterday.  Go Panthers!

7. Updated – Unity’s Family Ambassadors Meeting on Thursday, February 13th, 6pm!: All Unity families are welcome to participate in this Thursday’s Family Ambassadors Meeting (via Zoom).  Ambassadors help play an active leadership role in providing the best possible educational experience to our students!  Ambassadors meet monthly to plan new events and initiatives and play a significant role in accentuating school community experiences.  The Zoom meeting link is here.  See you Thursday on Zoom!

8. Recap – February 2025 School-wide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a school-wide calendar of events for the month of February – 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.

9. Recap – Stellar Attendance in January – 98% and Above!: The following lengthy list of students demonstrated a strong and consistent dedication to their education by showing stellar attendance in January.  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 – Unity’s Staff and Student Hoop’s Teams Face Off at the Barclay Center!: Kudos to the many members of our school community who came out to join in the festivities!

11. Recap – Unity Wear Red in Support of Heart Health Awareness!: Kudos to our staff and students who wore red to show their support for heart health awareness and the fight against heart disease this past week.  Learn more about this annual event as well as heart disease and how to reduce risks here.

12. Recap – Know Your Rights: Resources for Interacting with ICE: At Unity, we are committed to supporting and informing our community. We want to ensure that all families have access to important resources regarding interactions with non-local law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Below, you’ll find helpful guides on understanding your rights, how to respond in various situations, and where to seek legal assistance if needed. We encourage all families to review these materials and share them with those who may benefit.

• Community organizations that help multilingual learners and immigrant students: This map shows organizations that serve our students and families. Learn about the organizations in your community. Contact them to find out what services they provide.
• A Guide for Multilingual and Immigrant Families in New York City Public Schools: A guide highlighting how to navigate the NYC public school system for multilingual and immigrant families.
• Immigrant Family Empowerment: Your Advocacy Guide A resource guide for Immigrant and Multilingual Families in NYC Public Schools.
  • Empoderamiento de las familias inmigrantes
  • تمكين الأسرة المهاجرة
  • Otonòm Fanmi Imigran yo

13. Recap – 2024-25 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families: Calendars for the 2024-25 school year can be accessed using the links below.  Note that we have two versions this year – one version for our middle school (grades 6-8) and another version for our high school (grades 9-12).

• Grades 6-8 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families
• Grades 9-12 School Calendar of Key Events and Vacations for Families