Upper Nyack Elementary School SCOOP

PTA BINGO NIGHT - Friday, March 3

Please join us on Friday, March 3 for our UNES PTA BINGO NIGHT!! Doors open at 6pm and the first game is called at 6:30pm. Our very own STREAM teacher and parent extraordinaire, Dean Gianakouros, will be the Bingo host!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE BINGO NIGHT FLYER

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO HELP...

Community Engagement Parent Meetings

It's clear to me that effective communication and parent engagement efforts are key to a strong school community, and there is always room for improvement. To this end, I'm working to set up some parent engagement meetings for the various grade levels. There will be no set agenda, except to talk, hear your voice, share key information and engage. I have hope and faith that if we work together in partnership, we can create the strong schools that we so strongly need and deserve.

Please consider joining me on the following dates in the Global Learning Commons at 5pm. I will also open the meetings for virtual attendance at this link - CLICK HERE to attend virtually.

Grades 4/5 - Tuesday, February 28 @ 5pm

Grades 2/3 - Tuesday, March 7 @ 5pm

Grades K/1 - Tuesday, March 14 @ 5pm

SNOW MAKEUP DATE - Tuesday, March 21 @ 5pm

Please know that I work hard to have an open door policy and want to work together with you about any concerns you may have. I try to respond to emails within 24 hours and will often just pick up the phone and call. You can also call me at 845-353-7260 and Ms. Contreras will either pass on a message or connect you directly if I'm free. Additionally, I hold monthly virtual parent coffees - CLICK HERE FOR THE PARENT COFFEE SCHEDULE. Finally, I also believe that there are times when we need to come around a table and meet face to face. If you feel that you'd like to meet with me in person, please call Ms. Contreras and she'll find a time.

Penguin Plunge - Sunday, March 5

Principal Dreves, Mrs. Maddalena (speech and language teacher) and Ms. Nikocevic (UNES Social Worker) will all be participating in the NYACK PENGUIN PLUNGE on Sunday, March 5. The Penguin Plunge is scheduled between 12 & 2pm at Memorial Park in Nyack. This fundraiser raises money for local children (including a Nyack MS student) who are facing difficult health challenges.

We invite anyone interested to support this incredible cause and/or come out to watch (or join) the fun! Principal Dreves will be plunging in full principal gear! Guaranteed for some laughs!

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBSITE AND MORE INFORMATION.

Scholastic Book Fair - March 13-17

Get ready! This year's Book Fair is going to be epic! UNES is joining Nyack Middle School, Liberty, and Valley Cottage in hosting a Scholastic book fair March 13-17, 2023.

Book Fair Homepage: https://bookfairs.scholastic. com/bf/uppernyackelementaryschool

We're looking for parent/guardian volunteers to help us to run the bookfair. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP for a slot.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE OF CLASS VISITS. You'll note that there are two short visits to the book fair scheduled for each class. On Monday and Tuesday, students will browse and shop for books that they're interested in and will compile a wish list to bring home. On Wednesday and Thursday, classes will make a return visit for students to purchase books.

Parents/guardians can also create an EWALLET (CLICK HERE FOR EWALLET INSTRUCTIONS) Any parents/guardians who would like to visit the fair is welcomed to do so any day at dismissal time or all day Friday, March 17. Your child can be called down to join you on Friday if you notify the teacher.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER FROM OUR IDEA COMMITTEE REGARDING BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY

PTA / IDEA NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023

The next meeting is of the PTA will be next Wednesday, March 8 at 6:30 pm in the Global Learning Commons at UNES. The IDEA committee will meet immediately after that meeting in the same space.

I will be attending this meeting as part of my listen and learn efforts, while also inviting our new Family Resource Coordinator - Yessi Santana. We'd like to discuss better ways to engage our parent and guardian community. Please consider joining!

Additionally, the IDEA committee has been developing a listen and learn survey for families that I'll be sending out shortly once it is translated. We hope to gather some valuable feedback from all those who participate.

KINDERGARTEN SCREENING DATES

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE KINDERGARTEN SCREENING DATES for the Nyack Public Schools. If you have a child who will be starting to attend the Nyack Public Schools as a kindergarten student, please plan ahead for registration to happen at UNES from June 12-15. We expect Kindergarten Orientation to occur during August.

Applications for free/reduced lunch will be inserted in the 2023-2024 school calendar that will be mailed to you in late August. Bus information will be sent electronically via email and available through the Parent Portal after enrollment.

FOR YOUR FUTURE PLANNING

Please note that the following dates have been set for two big events at the end of the year. We know that many people have to plan very far in advance so please mark your calendars:

5th Grade Graduation / Moving Up Ceremony - Friday, June 16 (@ 9:30am)

Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony - Wednesday, June 14 (@ 9:30am)

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!

Friday, March 3 - PTA BINGO NIGHT
Sunday, March 5 - Penguin Plunge @ Memorial Park in Nyack.
Friday, March 10 - Superintendent Conference Day - No School
March 13-17 - Scholastic Book Fair
Monday March 20 - Colonial Arts Presentation (4th Grade)
Friday, March 24. - Day in Clay Project with Cliff Mendelson
Thursday, March 30 - Safety Assembly (Bus, Pedestrian, Parking Lot and Bicycle Safety)
April 3-7 - Spring Recess (No School)
April 19-20 - NYS ELA Exam