The Unity Scoop – March 11

Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the week has been good to you and loved ones.  Before jumping into highlights and updates of all things Unity, I want to provide a huge shout-out to our middle school students and staff for their impressive efforts in preparing the upcoming state exams in ELA and mathematics.  The effort, focus, and support is noteworthy and bodes well for students as they show off all of the new skills that they have learned this year! I want to thank you for your thoughtful responses to our survey earlier this week; we reviewed all of the responses and took the needs and preferences of both our families and our staff into consideration in this decision.  Unity will take the following actions regarding masks in March:

In this edition of The Unity Scoop, I highlight a number of upcoming events along with some notable recent student achievements.  Scroll down to take in the many updates and offerings brought to you by Mr. Gonzalez and Unity’s Director of College & Career Readiness team!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best regards,

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Updates as of March 11, 2022:

1. New – Students and Teachers in Action this Week: This week, we spotlight our young high school mathematicians deep in thought alongside their teachers.  In the first photo below, Ms. West is offering some individualized support to one of her students during after-school tutoring hours.  In the second photo, Ms. Terry and Ms. Moore have their students collaborating in small groups as they practice graphing algebraic inequalities.

2. Updated – March 2022 Schoolwide Calendar: For your family’s convenience, here is a schoolwide calendar of events for the month of March – 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.  Notable events this coming week include:

• Virtual middle school conferences on 3/17 and 3/18
• Remote learning day on 3/18 for both school sites
• High School Regents/Mock exams on 3/22-3/24
• High School Career Fair on 3/25
• Various athletic events

3. Updated – Middle School Trimester-2 Conferences Next Week! (March 17-18th): We have our second round of family conferences next week! On Thursday, 3/17 (evening hours, 5pm-8pm) and Friday, 3/18 (daytime hours, 9am-1pm), advisors will be hosting these very important meetings with parents, guardians, and families via Zoom (remote only). Advisors have been reaching out to families to begin scheduling conferences. Please be on the lookout for a Jupiter message with a link to appointment options and reply at your earliest convenience. Our goal is that all students have at least one adult family representative attending conferences. If you have not received a request to sign up for conferences or if you have any questions or need additional support, please reach out to Ms. Charles (dcharles@unityprep.org) or call Unity’s main office at (718) 455-5046.

4. New – Kudos to our Middle School Students Who are Demonstrating our Core Values!:  We are excited to promote and celebrate moments when our students are demonstrating our P.R.I.D.E. values: Progress, Respect for All, Integrity, Discovery, and Empathy.  Below, we recognize our P.R.I.D.E. leaders for each grade level.  Kudos to these students!  Keep it up!

5. New – Attention All High School Students: Updates from Mr. Gonzalez and Unity’s College & Career Readiness Team: It is a busy time in the exciting world of college & career readiness at Unity!

• Celebrating Two of Unity’s Seniors! – For the past three years, Kenny Ramos and Sincere Baptiste have been participants in Summer Search, a multi-year program designed to expose students to leadership and adventure through travel and internships.  Unity partnered with Summer Search five years ago.  Kenny and Sincere attended Summer Search’s annual gala on Tuesday March 8th, and spoke about their experiences with the organization with hundreds of people in attendance.  Check out the attached photo to see them – they look sharp!

• College Application and Admissions Updates: Two exciting updates here!
  • As of March 10th, 81% of seniors have applied to college!
  • As of March 10th, 60% of seniors have been admitted to at least one college!  As we get into spring, more seniors should hear about acceptances, especially from CUNY and private colleges across the country.  So far, Unity seniors have earned admission to: CUNY Brooklyn College, CUNY Hunter College, CUNY Hostos Community College, CUNY Kingsborough Community College, CUNY Guttman Community College, CUNY LaGuardia Community College, CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY John Jay College, CUNY City Tech, CUNY Queensborough Community College, CUNY Medgar Evers College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Purchase, SUNY Buffalo State College, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY University at Buffalo, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY New Paltz, Clark University, Penn State University, St. Francis College, Spelman College, Marist College, Hampton University, Howard University, Hofstra University, Ithaca College, Long Island University, Temple University, and Quinnipiac University.

• FAFSA and TAP deadlines are coming up!  Applications for FAFSA (free money from the federal government) and TAP (free money from New York State government) must be submitted immediately!  Please contact Mr. Gonzalez (egonzalez@unityprep.org) to make an appointment to apply for this free money for college!

• Career Path Applications – congratulations to these two students in taking steps to realize their career aspirations!
  • Kaylan Mosley is on track to become a welder!  She applied to and has earned admission to San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas!  This will be the farthest any Unity student has traveled for post-secondary training.  We are proud of her accomplishment and the maturity and strength she has demonstrated throughout the college exploration process.
  • Michael Downes has applied to a pre-apprenticeship program to become a carpenter!  In earning admission to several different colleges, Michael has worked to set up vocational opportunities for himself – he has many options to choose from for next year.  Congratulations to him and his family!
• Upcoming CCR Events:  Again, it is a busy time in the exciting world of college & career readiness at Unity!
  • Best Fit Workshops – This session will help seniors identify which colleges or career training options best fit them for next year.  Sign up with Naseeba Ramjan, Unity’s Alumni Success Counselor, via email (nramjan@unityprep.org).
  • Personal Statement Writing Workshops on March 2nd, 9th, and 16th!  Nine juniors have already begun to write their personal statements, the most critical part of their college applications!  Please join us in celebrating them: Ashlee Deslandes, Mamadou Diop, Mekhi Herring, Danielle Howard, Kevin Jimbo, Nnaemeka Omeruo, Antonique Robinson, Giulian Saico-Falconi, and Dominiq Small.
  • Accepted Student Weekend @ SUNY Fredonia – On March 25th, over a dozen Unity seniors who have earned admission to SUNY Fredonia will travel to the school for the weekend.  They will stay on campus for the weekend and take part in SUNY Fredonia’s Multicultural Student Weekend, during which they will check out classes, dining options, and school culture.  We are excited for them to experience this opportunity and learn more about college life!
  • Our Sixth Annual Career Fair is on Friday March 25th, from 12:00pm to 2:05pm (details provided in the flyer below).  We would love to have family members of our students participating as presenters.  If you are able to take part, please complete this survey of interest.  Thank you!

• College Field Trips: On Thursday, March 31st, select students from grades 9, 10, and 11 will visit one of the following universities: Lehigh University or Villanova University.  Each trip is capped at 45 students.  Permission slips will be distributed to students on Monday, March 7th.  The first 45 to submit their paperwork for either trip will be able to attend.  Information on chaperones will be forthcoming.

7. Recap – Recent Happenings with Athletics, Physical Education, and Health at Unity: This week, we highlight two upcoming events, celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month, and offer details on an upcoming health initiative at our high school.

• The Unity Queen High School Steppers’ next competition is scheduled for Saturday, March 12th, at 2 pm.  Details are provided on the flyer below.

• Unity’s Student-Athletes of the Month for February!  Congrats to Sariah W. (6th grade) and Maykayla S. (9th grade) – we are proud of you!
  • Sariah boasts a 3.5 GPA, and is widely regarded as one of the kindest and most respectful students in school.  Sariah recently was named the Most Valuable Player of the Pink Classic Basketball Tournament, as she led her team to win the championship.  As a 6th grader, she was named one of the team captains for her leadership style and work ethic.  Sariah is consistently positive and upbeat in her classrooms as well as on the basketball court.

• Makayla is the epitome of a Unity scholar-athlete. Makayla currently maintains a 4.0 GPA, and is widely regarded as one of the kindest and most respectful students in school. She shows up to school everyday with a smile and positive attitude. She brings so much joy to all her peers and teachers. On the court, Makayla is one of our most well-rounded competitors. She has been appropriately given the nickname of “Mighty Mouse” for her fierce and aggressive style of play. Makayla was one of our top defenders and despite only being a freshman, she was a huge reason for our Unity Panthers’ successful season.

8. Recap – Free Resources for Unity Families: Unity’s social work team is always looking for resources that may be helpful and of interest to our families.  Three such resources are provided below.  Reach out to Ms. Del Purgatorio, Unity’s Director of Social Work, with questions.

• The recent events in Ukraine may be a source of stress and anxiety for some children.  Below are four resources that may be helpful for families:
  • Helping Kids Cope with Frightening News from Child Mind Institute
  • How to Talk to Kids About War from verywellfamily.com
  • How to Navigate Difficult Conversations with Children from The Relation Station
  • How to Talk to Children about War: An Age-by-Age Guide from Today.com
• Below are flyers for lists of low-cost dental providers in each borough:
  • Bronx PDF 
  • Manhattan PDF
  • Queens PDF
  • Brooklyn PDF
  • Staten Island PDF
• Free Child Nutrition Webinar Series: Register for the “An Alarming Rise in Excess Weight and Diabetes in Children: Strategies and Solutions” webinar on Monday, March 7th.  The webinar is presented by French-American Aid for Children as part of the new Child Nutrition Webinar series. Parents and educators will learn about practical nutrition tips and accessible information to encourage children to adopt good eating habits in school—and at home—through an interactive dialogue between Dr. Juliana Cohen, nutrition epidemiologist and associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Dr. Ileana Vargas-Rodriguez, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Children’s Hospital of New York. A Q&A session will follow the webinar.  Check out previous recordings of past webinars, including:
  • Engaging Children in their own Nutritional Journey
  • Smart Summer Shopping and Cooking
  • Nutrition’s Powerful Impact on Children’s Physical and Mental Health

9. Recap – Upcoming Events of Interest to Unity Families!:  Brought to you by Mr. Beckford, we are happy to highlight a number of fun upcoming events across Brooklyn for our families.  Here is one happening this coming Sunday!

• Illuminating Lewis Latimer’s Brooklyn History: A Conversation on Latimer’s Life + Work in 19th Century Brooklyn [Virtual] Sunday 3/6, 2pm:  Join Beam Center to celebrate public art sculpture BEACON and pay tribute to pioneer electrical engineer and Brooklyn resident, Lewis Howard Latimer. BEACON artist, Shervone Neckles; Brooklyn historian and scholar, Prathibha Kanakamedala; Lewis Latimer House Museum Director, Ran Yan; and Beam Center Director, Brian Cohen together explore Latimer’s life, work, and activism in Brooklyn during the turn of the 19th century.

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

2021-22 School Year Vacation Calendar for Students and other Key Dates: So that you may make plans for the 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:

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/.

Update on P-EBT Benefits for Families:  New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who are eligible to receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. Issuance of the food benefit will continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. For additional information visit NYSOTDA P-EBT Benefits Information Page.

• If your child(ren) is eligible and has not received P-EBT benefit by November 2021, you may fill out the P-EBT Information Form.
• If you have misplaced a P-EBT Food Benefit card issued to your child[ren), you may order a replacement card by calling 1-888-328-6399.  If your child(ren) received P-EBT benefits on a Medicaid card and you need to order a replacement NYS Medicaid card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp for more information.
• Once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.

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.

NYC Rental Assistance Program – The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a new program that will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. If you know of somebody who might be eligible for the program, please encourage them to learn more or apply here.