Dear Families of Unity,

I hope that the week has been good to you and your loved ones.  As we move into the month of October, it feels like our school community is now getting into a familiar and predictable routine, which is comforting given the sense of unpredictability that we continue to experience in our broader society.

For the coming week, and in this edition of The Unity Scoop, we offer three new announcements regarding voter registration, college workshops and virtual college visits, and a fun event at Unity High.  We also offer a number of reminders from prior editions that are still relevant and serve to support you and your family during remote learning.

Please review the updates below and reach out with any follow-up questions by emailing help.ms@unityprep.org or help.hs@unityprep.org.

Again, best wishes to you and your loved ones.  Have a delightful weekend!

 

In unity,

Josh

Josh Beauregard

Head of School

 

Updates as of October 2, 2020:

1. New -Unity’s Partnership with When We All Vote Campaign – Voter Registration Drive this Coming Week!: During the 2016 presidential election, only 53% of eligible voters in Brooklyn voted.  We must do better!  It is imperative that we increase voter registration and turnout so that our voices are heard and interests are presented.  If you, any family member, or your neighbors need to register to vote, please come to our in-person voter registration events this coming week – see the schedule below:

1. Monday October 5th, from 4pm – 6pm, @ Unity HS (584 Driggs Avenue)
2. Thursday October 8th, from 4pm – 6pm, @ Unity HS (584 Driggs Avenue)

Please bring your state ID and your Social Security Number – but if you don’t have either of these, still come through!  These events are for anyone 18 years old or older: Unity students, alumni, families, and neighbors!  The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 9th.

 

2. New –Jeopardy at Unity High, Friday October 9th!: The Dean Team at UPHS will host the first-ever game of Unity Jeopardy. The game will feature students competing against one another for the esteemed title of Unity High Jeopardy Champions.  Which grade level will take home the gold?  Tune in next Friday as we stream from UPHS Studios in Brooklyn, NY.   More details to come, including invites for students, will arrive via Jupiter message next week.

 

3. New– College Information for Students and Families of Unity High:

• Mandatory Financial Aid Workshop for 12th Graders and their Caregivers: On Wednesday, October 7th, at 5pm, Mr. Gonzalez will lead a workshop to prepare parents/caregivers and seniors to apply for financial aid.  All families in the Class of 2021 are required to attend.  The workshop will be held via Zoom.  The link for the workshop is here: Link for Financial Aid Workshop #2.
• College Visits Next Week: The Counseling Team has arranged for another set of college visits and workshops this upcoming week!  It is highly recommended that seniors attend all college visits in order to learn about the variety of options available.

• • Tuesday, October 6th at 4pm: SUNY University at Buffalo (link)
  • Wednesday, October 7th at 4pm: University of Pittsburgh @ 4pm (link: to be provided by Mr. Gonzalez)
  • Wednesday, October 7th at 5pm: Mandatory Financial Aid Workshop #2 (link)
  • Thursday, October 8th at 4pm: SUNY School Overview – a review of the entire SUNY system (link: to be provided by Mr. Gonzalez)

• PSAT and SAT Updates: The College Board has not yet clarified testing options for students, but we want to enable students in different grade levels to take either the SAT or PSAT this fall or winter.

• • 12th Graders: Please contact Mr. Gonzalez before 12pm on Friday, October 9th, if you want to take the SAT in either October or November.
  • 11th Graders: We are assessing the possibility of administering the PSAT to juniors in January.  More information will be provided as we get closer to the testing dates.  Please note that in addition to the PSAT, 11th graders should strongly consider taking the SAT twice this spring (in March and either April or May).  More information will be provided later in the school year.  Until then, students may join Khan Academy to prepare for the PSAT in the event that it is offered in January.

• Senior To-Do List: As described in last week’s CUNY Application Creation Workshop, seniors should be doing the following:

• • Search for your desired majors here.
  • Check for academic (GPA) “match” here.
  • Find six (6) different programs/majors.
  • Email the list of six (6) to your counselor.

 

• Questions about College, Career, or Credits for Seniors?
• Email Mr. Gonzalez: egonzalez@unityprep.org
• Schedule appointments here: https://calendly.com/mr-gonzalez

 

• Email Ms. Roth: aroth@unityprep.org
• Schedule appointments here: http://calendly.com/aroth-3

 

4. Reminder -Unity Middle’s Lit Mag is Launched!: Unity Middle’s Lit Mag is a publication run for and by students to highlight the ideas and talents of our young writers and artists.  Students are encouraged to share their poems, stories, artwork, films, and essays to unitylitmag@gmail.com.  See the flyer below for details, including the first calling of work related to the theme, EARTH.  The deadline for submission is today, October 2nd.  #theearth #unity #litmag #savetheearth

5. Reminder –Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services at Unity: If your child receives mental health counseling at Unity, please expect to hear from their counselor in the coming days to coordinate services and identify needs.

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/.

 

6. Reminder –A Special Message to the Families of our Senior Class – The Class of 2021!: Senior parents & students – we know that you may have a ton of ideas and questions regarding class festivities and celebratory events. We are currently seeking parents and students to join The Class of 2021 Celebratory Committee. If you are interested, please send a Jupiter message or email (blopez@unityprep.org) Mr. Lopez who is serving as an advisor to the senior class this year. This Celebratory Committee, which will comprise of students, staff, and parent volunteers, will lead the way in creating, organizing, and facilitating senior activities throughout the school year.

 

7. Reminder –Unity Middle School has 6th Grade Seats Available!: Unity’s 6th grade still has a few remaining seats available.  Please spread the word throughout your respected networks!  If you know a family looking for an amazing middle school, please encourage them to apply today, or complete the following form: Unity Prep Interest Form.  Key features in our 2020-21 program include:

• Each scholar will receive a laptop
• Engage in classes from the safety of home
• Five days of virtual, live instruction each week

Any questions? Please reach out to cbeckford@unityprep.org

 

8. Reminder –A Website Resource High School Caregivers: The Unity Prep High School Parent Corner is here to assist you with the tools and resources necessary to make your role as a Panther Parent easier. At UPHS, we see you as our partner in education and understand the crucial role you play in the lives of our students. There is no doubt you will have questions and concerns as your student journeys through high school; this page will help to serve as a resource to support you.

Please review the information provided on this page – from calendars to quick navigation to helpful webpages, ways to stay connected, and of course, a place to call or email when you need it. The site is updated weekly, so bookmark it and check it frequently for new information.

 

9. Reminder –Unity Caregiver Checklist: Now that we are a full week into the school year, you have likely checked a number of the items below off the list.  Again, kudos to you – these are challenging times for families in balancing school from home along with all of the other commitments we are juggling in our lives.  To help you in best supporting your child to get off to a strong start this school year, here is a list of important things that you should be doing:

• Secure a functioning laptop and reliable internet service (we can help here – #10 below)
• Arrange your child’s workspace (see #11 below for tips here)
• Obtain school supplies (see #12 below)
• Purchase Unity school attire – parents and families are encouraged to purchase the Unity uniform now, as uniforms will be required whenever we return to in-person instruction.  During remote learning, students are encouraged, but not mandated, to wear a school uniform (see #13 below)
• Plan your child’s daily routine and schedule to accommodate their class schedule.
• Attend Unity’s Family Orientation Night on September 24th and/or watch the recording of the event (see #14 above for more information).

 

10. Reminder –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.

 

11. Reminder –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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

 

12. Reminder –School Supply List: For remote learning, the supply list may appear different than previous years.  Please refer to the two supply lists below:

• Middle School Students: All students are expected to have the following school supplies:

• • 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: High school supplies are organized by course and can be found here.  Students are expected to have the supplies listed for each of the courses they are taking.  In addition, we thank all of the families that picked up their class resource bags today.  Members of our high school operations team have been contacting students and families who were unable to pick up their bags to coordinate alternative pick up times and will continue to do so this coming week.

 

13. Reminder– Information on Uniforms: Students are not required to wear uniforms during virtual learning. However, uniforms and school attire may be purchased by visiting the following links below.

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

 

14. Reminder –Recordings of Unity’s Annual Back to School Night: Recording of last night’s Back to School Night can be accessed with the links below.  If you were unable to participate in last night’s festivities, we strongly encourage you to watch the recording to be fully abreast of all supporting your child’s education in the 2020-21 school year.

• Unity Middle’s Back to School Night
• Unity High’s Back to School Night

 

15. Reminder– 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.

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

 

Relevant Information from Past Editions of The Scoop:

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.