Upper Nyack Elementary School SCOOP

Parent Teacher Conferences are HERE

We had a wonderful round of P/T Conferences last Friday, December 9. We have another round of IN PERSON conferences coming up TOMORROW, Friday, December 16. This is also an Elementary Early Dismissal Day. Students will be released at 11:45am. Tomorrow's afternoon P/T conference sessions (generally from 12:45-3:15pm) will be in person at UNES.

TONIGHT, Thursday, December 15, we have EVENING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES that are VIRTUAL ONLY. Please ensure you've received a link in advance of the session. If you haven't received it yet, please contact your child's teacher.

Please note that our wonderful head custodian has arranged all of our lost and found onto tables in our main hallway. Please take a look and take anything that belongs to your child as they will be donated after December 16.

The schedule for dismissal on our half day on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 is as follows:

11:30 am - Kindergarten Students

11:35 am - Walkers & Grades 1 - 5

11:40 am - Car Riders Grades K - 5

11:45 am - Bus Riders K - 5

SPIRIT WEEK AT UNES

UNES is going to have a Spirit Week on December 19-23. This plan was spearheaded by some of our 5th grade leaders with support from our UNES PBIS team.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF SPECIAL DAYS.

PTA / IDEA NEXT MEETING - JANUARY 11

As I communicated in my last memo, the PTA meeting for December was cancelled, but they will be meeting in January. The next meeting is January 11 at 7pm in the Global Learning Commons at UNES. The IDEA committee will meet immediately after that meeting in the same space.

8:50 AM START TIME

As a parent myself, I know quite well how chaotic and difficult the morning routine can be to get everyone out the door to be at school on time, so we do everything we can to be understanding while also launching instruction at the first bell in the morning.

In the mornings, I stand outside until 8:50am with music and high fives at the ready. At 8:50am, I begin my "migration" towards the front door and try to inspire kids that are still making their way to school to "beat me through the doors" to avoid getting a late pass. After the front doors have closed, students are required to get a late pass.

Recently, it seems that there are more and more people coming later to school as the winter goes on. Please make every effort to have your children here and in the front door by 8:50am. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Virtual Parent Coffee with Principal Dreves

Please be reminded that I hold a virtual parent coffee for any interested parents to join me from 9:30-10:00 on the third Friday of each month. Our next Virtual Coffee is FRIDAY, December 16.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE AND THE LINK

Family Resource Center Support for the Holidays

Our Family Resource Center is working hard to support our UNES families in need during this holiday season. We have identified a total of 57 families in need of support and are coming up a little bit short. We still have 23 families in need of $25 gift cards, but I have faith that we'll reach that threshold.

Our Family Resource Center is currently collecting Shoprite and Target gift cards which will be offered to identified families in need in December. If you are able and interested to support this effort, you can contact Joanne Wallace at jwallace@nyackschools.org for more information, or simply drop them off in the main office.

Also, please note that we will have a new Family Resource Coordinator joining Joanne Wallace in the role as of January 3. Yessi Santana currently works in the district administrative offices and will be joining our team in the new year!!

Toys for Tots Collection

UNES is partnering once again with the Marines Toys for Tots Organization to provide new toys to children in need. We have a large cardboard bin to collect donations in our front entry vestibule. We would love to fill that bin many times over if our school community can come together to support those less fortunate. Please consider supporting this worthy cause. You can send donations with your child or simply drop off in the bin at drop off or pickup.

PTA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The PTA has a book fair scheduled for the spring but they can't do it without volunteers to pull it off. Any parents willing to volunteer to lead or assist in the book fair effort should email the PTA at unespta@gmail.com.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS FOR KIDS

Please see this article shared by our director of guidance for ways that parents can support their children in developing STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS. CLICK HERE

Elementary Winter Concert Dates

Please note that there were some errors in the printing of the calendar in regards to the elementary concert dates. The correct dates/times are as follows:

WEDNESDAY, January 11 - Grades 1, 2 & 3

Upper Nyack Elementary - Grade 1 (9:30am), Grade 2 (10:00am), Grade 3 (10:30am)

Thursday January 19 - Grades 4 & 5

Upper Nyack Elementary Grade 4/5 Concert: (9:30am)

Cold Weather and Recess

We will be going outside for recess whenever the REAL FEEL temperature is above 25 degrees.

The weather is quickly getting colder, please send your child with a warm jacket, winter hat and gloves so that they are prepared for the weather. Please reinforce your expectation that your child wear a jacket and warm clothes to school, and at recess. Our staff will do the same as we all work together to keep our students safe and healthy.

UNES SPIRIT WEAR FOR SALE

PLEASE CLICK HERE if you'd like to purchase UNES Spirit Wear from the PTA online store.

ONLINE SCHOOL ORDERS WILL BE READY FOR PICKUP SHORTLY. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO.

ARCHIVES ON OUR WEBSITE

There are archives of my community newsletter on the UNES WEBSITE - CLICK HERE, as well as on the UNESPTA Website (coming soon). If you can't find the old newsletters and are looking for info - you can find that info in these two places.

Mark Your Calendars!

Parent/Teacher Conferences - December 9 & 16 (early dismissal) & December 15 (evening)
Tuesday, December 20 - Sean Fleming Band in APR (K-2 @2pm / 3-5 @ 2:30pm)
Friday, December 23 - Sing Along with Mr. Yankou (APR) 2-3pm (STUDENTS ONLY)
Tuesday, January 3 - School reopens
Wednesday, January 11 - Grades 1-3 Concerts (Grade 1@9:30am/2@10am/3@10:30am)
Thursday, January 19 - Grades 4&5 Concert @ 9:30am