Updates as of March 17, 2020
Dear Students and Families of Unity,
I hope that this update finds you and your family safe and healthy as we navigate these challenging times. We remain committed to keeping our community informed and supported to the greatest extent possible.
We have a number of important updates for you today, including information on picking up and accessing materials for engaging in remote learning with teachers. In addition, I have included a number of reminders that are still very relevant from yesterday’s Daily Scoop. Please review each update below so that you are fully informed on how to best support our scholars in providing the best educational experiences possible.
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 the information, 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 yesterday.
Updates as of March 17, 2020
1. Pick-up of Materials to Engage in Remote Learning on Wednesday and Thursday:
- Middle School Students, Grades 6-8:
- What will be picked up?
- A packet with 5 days of work for ELA, Math, Science, and History
- This work will also be posted to student’s Google Classroom accounts
- Families only need to pick up hard copies of the packet if they do not have computer or wifi access at home
- When is pick-up?
- Wednesday, March 18, 12 PM – 3 PM
- Thursday, March 19, 12 PM – 3 PM
- Pick up will be on the first floor, as students and families are not currently allowed in the building
- What else do I need to know?
- Students will be expected to be taking part in remote learning beginning on Friday, March 19
- Student attendance and grades will be based on their completion of their remote work
- All students must have this packet of work in order to earn credit toward Trimester 3 grades and be marked as “present” in school during the time out of the building
- Spectrum is offering free internet for households with K12 students; caregivers should call 1-844-488-8395 to sign up.
- If I have questions, who do I contact?
- Darline Charles via Jupiter, email at dcharles@unityprep.org, or 347-687-3650
- What will be picked up?
- High School Students, Grades 9-12:
- What will be picked up?
- Laptops
- When is pick-up?
- On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. A Unity staff member will contact you via Jupiter with your appointment time.
- What else do I need to know?
- If you need access to wifi, please call 1-844-488-8395 to have Spectrum setup free internet for your home.
- 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 is over
- To help us prepare for laptop distribution, please make sure you have filled out this survey: https://tinyurl.com/UPHSlaptop
- If I have questions, who do I contact?
- Brandon Lopez via Jupiter
- What will be picked up?
3. Information for Remote Orientation for Students and Families will be Provided in Tomorrow’s Scoop.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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 – 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.
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:
- Please read the Health Department’s What You Need to Know factsheet for more information.
In unity,
Josh Beauregard