Some of the things that we did to help support our students include:

• striving for a sense of normalcy throughout our day while proceeding with sensitivity to emotions and energy. Normal activities continued as planned.
• Clinical staff were available all day to support student, or staff, needs.
• District clinicians from across the district were also available to support UNES, and continue to be on call.
  
• We asked teachers to consider rescheduling tests or similar stressful activities.
• I walked the building a number of times today, and had lunch in the cafeteria to keep a close read on the energy of our students.
• While we did not directly speak about this tragedy with students, if they expressed concerns, we provided trained counselors to support them, and they contacted the parents.

Please know that if you are struggling with what to say or how to speak with your child about death and/or grief, you may find this document - CLICK HERE - helpful. You can also reach out to our clinical staff and they'll be happy to give you some advice.

While we support Rona's family with love, prayers and the support of the community, please allow them privacy as they work through their grief. The school community will no doubt come together to handle collections and develop plans for a memorial, but please hold for further information.

As we work to honor the light of dear Rona, the family would like us to extend a request for people to register for the BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY - CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to see the presentation slide deck of items to be discussed.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH ON THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 FROM 5-7PM.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED BACK TO SCHOOL BASH FLYER

This Friday 9/22 is Upper Nyack’s night. While it is ultimately the same night as our Back to School Bash, the football game starts at 7pm which is when our bash ends. The entire school is invited to attend the game. There will be a section in the stands reserved for Upper Nyack Students and family.

Attendance at this event is completely voluntary.

Game starts at 7pm at Nyack High School

$2 for adults, Upper Nyack Students Free

Please see this message from Val Schmidt who is spearheading the 5th grade committee this year. She needs your help. See below:

The 5th grade committee will be organizing the traditional events that occur throughout 5th grade and we would like to make sure that all of our families are included and have an opportunity to participate in helping out.

One of our first events will be hosting a bake sale at back to school night. Please see the attached link and donate if you are able! Going forward, we would like to communicate all information with you directly. If you are interested in receiving 5th grade communications related to 5th grade events, and have not already done so, please email Val at the following address and indicate that you would like to receive emails pertaining to 5th grade related events.

Hope to hear from all of you and am looking forward to sharing fun times together this year.

Valerie Schmidt

vmeleschmidt@gmail.com

Please check out the sign up for Thursday, 9/28 Back to School Night Sale:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D45AFA929ABF94-back

Even with daily morning inspections for bees nests and making every effort to have our playground structures inspected for bees, there are occasional stings that will occur. Our students have been very brave and our nurse is well equipped to support students who are stung.

Students who are uncomfortable around bees are welcomed to stay on the blacktop during recess as this is a relatively bee free space. We are also recommending closed toe shoes be worn to school each day as some of the bees are down near the clover flowers in the grass.

Some things to remember:

• We ask that students arrive at UNES between 8:30am and 8:40am each morning, UNLESS they are registered for the morning breakfast program which entitles them to arrive as early as 8am. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER if your child will be coming for the BREAKFAST PROGRAM.
  
• Please remember that our doors are only open for registered students between 8am and 8:30am, but the doors are open to everyone starting at 8:30am.
• Students who arrive after 8:50am will have to get a late pass, and will go directly to their classes after checking in with the main office. It's so important that we have all of our students together with us in the cafeteria when we share community announcements and say the pledge as a whole school. Please make every effort to have your child arrive by 8:40am if at all possible.
• Please speak with your child as to whether they should be buying breakfast in the morning. There is a cost involved with eating breakfast ($1.10) and we are finding that even kids who clearly state that they already ate breakfast are sometimes buying a second breakfast. This is ok with us, as long as they have your permission because there is a charge associated with it.

Start with hello week raises awareness about social isolation and educates students and the community on how to prevent it by reaching out to others who may feel left out, lonely or invisible. Our goal is that all students in Nyack feel a sense of belonging and celebrate spreading kindness to all.

Monday 9/18:

Say Hello to somebody in our school community and introduce yourself. Wear yellow or green (The colors of inclusion).

Tuesday 9/19:

Wear an article of clothing displaying a positive message or represents something important to you.

Wednesday 9/20:

"BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE ELSE'S CLOUD." Wear rainbow colors.

Thursday 9/21:

Kindness always wins! Wear KINDNESS from head to toe! Mix & match SOCK DAY!

Friday 9/22:

Task for the day: Nyack spirit: Wear school colors(Red and Black) to show we support each other in this great community!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE FLYER FOR START WITH HELLO WEEK

The 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month theme is "Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America."

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage, we have created this HISPANIC HERITAGE SLIDE SHOW and are working to celebrate hispanic culture, authors, leaders, musicians, etc. during this month. If you notice that your country is missing from this slide deck, please feel free to share information with us so we can honor all hispanic countries and cultures that represent our families.

Additionally, we will be hosting, Anna De La Paz, a former UNES parent and salsa/flamenco/tango/merengue dance instructor, at UNES. On October 2,3,4 during recess time, kids who choose that they want to learn some latin dance moves will be welcomed to participate.

• Monday, September 18 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm

• Monday, September 18 - Friday, September 22 - START WITH HELLO WEEK

• Friday, September 22 - Parent Coffee with Principal Dreves & BACK TO SCHOOL BASH RESCHEDULED

• Monday, September 25th - Yom Kippur (NO SCHOOL).

• Thursday September 28th - Elementary Back to School Night.

• Monday, October 2 - Stomp out Bullying Day - Wear Blue
  

• Monday, October 2 - Wednesday, October 4 - Hispanic Heritage Salsa Dancing Event!

• Wednesday, October 4 - Walk/Bike to School Day

• Friday, October 6 - Picture Day

• Monday, October 9 - Indigenous People's Day (NO SCHOOL)

• Friday, October 27 - TRUNK OR TREAT!

If you are interested in being a class parent for your child's class, please complete THIS SURVEY - CLICK HERE. While submitting your name does not guarantee that you will fulfill the role, we would love to have 2-3 interested class parents to help make each of our classrooms a special place this year! Please complete this survey by 9/28 (Back To School Night).

Mr. Dreves is hosting virtual parent coffee sessions on the third Friday of each month from 9:30-10am. There is no set agenda, and parents are welcome to come and discuss what's on their minds.

The first Parent Coffee will be held Friday morning (9/22) at 9:30am.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE AND LINK.

I will send a reminder again, but please mark your calendar for our IN PERSON BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT at Upper Nyack Elementary on Thursday, September 28 @ 6:30pm.

The basic plan is as follows:

Session 1 =
-Grades K-2 go directly to the classrooms to meet the teacher
-Grades 3-5 go to the All Purpose Room (Cafeteria) to meet with Mr. Dreves and support staff

Transition time - Grades 3-5 transition first and K-2 families follow after an announcement

Session 2 -
-Grades 3-5 go the classrooms to meet the teachers
-Grades K-2 go to the All Purpose Room to meet with Mr. Dreves and support staff

If you have additional children in other grades and were not able to make both sessions, or if you'd like to meet a special area teacher, teachers will be available in their rooms for a short period of time after the two sessions.

Updated Contact Information: Please make sure that your information in the Infinite Campus student information Parent Portal is up to date. In case we need to reach you immediately, it is important that we have the correct contact information. Should information need to be updated or your parent portal password needs to be reset, please contact the district registrar at 845-353-7038 or email MaryEllen Lydecker at

mlydecker@nyackschools.org.

Breakfast will be available for students each morning; the cost will be $1.10 this year. Those students should report to the cafeteria and breakfast will be provided. Lunch is available each day for students and the cost will be $2.45; students have an option of a hot meal or a cold meal. Meal accounts can be prepaid weekly or monthly for your convenience through MyPaymentsPlus.com (online payment plan).

As both breakfast/lunch is NO LONGER FREE, it is important for you to return your completed FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH applications to the main office for processing if you qualify. Free & Reduced Meal Application Forms are now available in FILLABLE PDF format. Simply click on the form, fill it out electronically, download to your device and attach it to an email addressed to phickey@nyackschools.org.

Free and Reduced Meal Application SY 2023-24 Opens in a new browser tab

Solicitud de Familia para las Comidas Escolares y Leche Gratis o Precios Reducidos SY 2023-24Opens in a new browser tab

Aplikasyon Pou Mangi Ak Let Gratis Ou Pri Redwl Nan Lekol Yo SY 2023-24Opens in a new browser tab

The District still accepts hard copies as an option. Please call 845-353-7036 with questions or if you need assistance.

Access the Translation and ADA bar:

On the top of the page, you'll see the ADA and Translation features (SEE PHOTO). To translate your newsletter, click on the Translate button and choose your desired language.

Acceda a la barra de Traducción y ADA:

En la parte superior de la página, verá las funciones ADA y de traducción (VER FOTO). Para traducir su boletín, haga clic en el botón Traducir y elija el idioma deseado.

Aksè ba Tradiksyon ak ADA:

Anlè paj la, w ap wè karakteristik ADA ak Tradiksyon (GADE FOTO). Pou tradwi bilten ou a, klike sou bouton Tradui a epi chwazi lang ou vle.