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March-20-2020

Unity Updates – 3/19/20

Dear Students and Families of Unity,

I want to begin today’s update with a note of appreciation.  Our staff have been busy collaborating over the past two days in the preparation and distribution of materials so that our students are equipped to engage in remote learning with their teachers.  I also wish to thank our teachers and instructional leaders for their preparation over the past several days in launching remote learning at Unity.

In my discussions with fellow educators today, we all miss our students and very much look forward to reuniting in the coming days.  While learning remotely will be a new venture for us, what is familiar, and perhaps most powerful, are our relationships and willingness to trust and support one another.  In Unity, there is tremendous strength.

I have several updates for you today, including information on the first day of remote learning at our middle school and remote orientation sessions at the high school.  It is critical that all of our high school students and families are fully prepared and equipped to engage in remote schoolwork this coming Monday.  Participating in remote orientation sessions will accomplish this.  Details for tomorrow’s orientation sessions are included below.

As a reminder, The Daily Scoop will also be posted on our homepage at unityprep.org.  If you have questions, concerns, and/or ideas in response to any update, don’t hesitate to respond to this note by email.   A Unity staff member will then be in touch at their earliest convenience.  Thank you to those who offered responses to updates over the past few days.

 

Updates as of March 18, 2020

 

1. Materials to Engage in Remote Learning – Communication and Support Moving Forward: Thank you to our families who picked up materials yesterday or today.  We are pleased that a vast majority of our students have what they need to engage in remote learning.  Moving forward, here is some helpful information for you:

Unity Middle School:

 

Unity High School: We will continue to distribute laptops tomorrow (3/20) from 12-3 PM.

  • A Unity staff member will contact you via Jupiter with your appointment time.
  • When picking up a laptop, students or family members will be required to sign a memo of responsibility,  outlining how to care for the laptop while in use during remote learning.
  • Students will be required to return the laptops after remote learning has concluded.
  • Students with full access to a laptop at home already are not required to pick up a laptop.
  • Spectrum is offering free internet for households with grades K-12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.
  • If you have questions concerning high school materials, including laptops, contact UPHS by emailing help.hs@unityprep.org or calling the main office at 718-682-3725. Please note that during this time, reaching the main office by phone will be limited and email is preferred.

 

2. Remote Learning at Our Middle School Begins Tomorrow (3/20); Remote Learning at Our High School Begins Monday (3/23) and High School Remote Orientations Happening Tomorrow (3/20): As we launch remote classes, here is what you need to know:

Middle School:

  • Check your Jupiter messages for details on your child’s schedule, teacher contact information, Google Classroom log-ins, and information about downloading Zoom.
  • For each class, students should go to their Google Classroom prior to the start of class and use the links there to open the Zoom meeting for their class and open any class materials. Please try to open everything 10 minutes before the class start time to ensure that your child is able to start learning at the beginning of class.
  • Reach out to your child’s teachers via the contact information provided if you have questions during class time.
  • Students must submit work for each class (ELA, Math, History, and Science) by 2 PM each day.  Students can submit work via Google Classroom (for those with computer access) or by sending a picture of completed work to their teacher via text or Jupiter (for those with hard copies of the packets). If students are completing the hard copy of the work packet, they should save any written work as proof of what they completed during their time out of the building.  It is important not to throw anything out.
  • Attendance for each day will be taken based on students completing work for each class period.

 

High School:

  • Remote orientation sessions will be conducted tomorrow (3/20) for high school students and families.
    • 9th and 10th grade students and families should be ready to attend their remote orientation session by logging into the Zoom meeting at 4:55pm Friday. The link to access the meeting is:
      • By Computer or smartphone (with the Zoom app): https://zoom.us/j/175109909
      • By Phone: Call 929-205-6099 and enter meeting ID: 175109909
    • 11th and 12th grade students and families should be ready to attend their remote orientation session by logging into the Zoom meeting at 5:55pm Friday. The link to access the meeting is:
      • By Computer or smartphone (with the Zoom app): https://zoom.us/j/961865535
      • By Phone: Call 929-205-6099 and enter meeting ID: 961865535

 

3. Reminder – Supplemental Resources to Continue Your Child’s Learning at Home: Between now and the launch of remoting learning, we encourage you to support your child at home in keeping their academic skills fresh.  The NYCDOE’s Learn at Home site provides learning resources to students to complete while they are receiving instruction.  It is important that students continue to read, write, complete social studies and science activities, and work on math problems.  The materials are organized by grade level and include the following:

  • Suggested daily study schedules
  • Guides and materials for instructional activities
  • Recommended educational television shows
  • Links to a variety of books, magazines, and websites on a wide range of topics that appeal to children at all ages

 

4. Reminder – Extension of Remote Learning through April 20th: Unity will extend its suspension of all onsite educational programming, including extra-curricular events, through April 20th.  This timeline and plan aligns with the NYC Department of Education’s plan, as announced yesterday for all of its schools.  Students will not report to our middle and high school sites for instruction during this time.

 

5. Reminder – Free Internet at Home: Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Internet access at home will be critical for students to complete their remote learning assignments To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

 

6. Reminder – Free Breakfast and Lunch Grab-and-Go Meals are available at all NYCDOE Public Schools: Unity students may go to any NYCDOE school building (including PS44) between 7:30am – 1:30pm today and until further notice to pick up a bagged breakfast and bagged lunch for free.  Meals will be in the lobby or cafeteria of each building.

 

7. Reminder – Mental Health Counseling and Social Work Services Available to Unity Students who Receive Counseling:  If your child receives counseling, you will hear from their counselor in the coming days to coordinate services and identify needs.  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/.  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 continuation of counseling services or 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.).

 

8. Updated – We encourage families to check NYSDOH’s website and the CDC’s website regularly for updates:  Here are the last recommendations as posted on the NYCDOE’s website as of March 17th, include the following:

 

Precautions:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
  • Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
  • Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.
  • Get your flu shot – it’s never too late.
  • Reduce overcrowding by walking or biking to work, if possible.
  • If the train is too packed, wait for the next one.

 

If You Feel Sick:

  • Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat.
  • If you do not feel better in 24-48 hours, contact your doctor.
  • Do not go to school or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
  • If you need help getting medical care, call 311.

 

For More Information

 

In unity,

Josh Beauregard

Head of School / Co-founder

Junior High School: 432 Monroe Street, Brooklyn NY 11221 • (718) 455-5046

High School: 584 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211 • (718) 682-3725
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