Please be reminded that we do not dress up for Halloween during the school day in the elementary schools in Nyack. We had a wonderful Trunk or Treat Event on October 27 which allowed our children to enjoy the festive spirit with their classmates and to show off their costumes.

On Tuesday, October 31, we ask that students DO NOT come with costumes, masks, face paint or accessories. If they do, we will call parents for a change of clothes. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please be reminded that Tuesday, November 7 is Superintendent Conference Day and STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND SCHOOL ON THIS DAY.

Friday, November 10 is Veterans Day. SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.

If any families have veteran parents, guardians, grandparents, or other family members, please reach out to your classroom teacher and let them know. We'd love to have veterans speak to our students (before or after the holiday) if they are interested.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR THE GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM UPDATES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:

• Kindergarten
• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4

• Grade 5

October is national bullying prevention month. During the month of October our school counselor Ms. Perez used the Second Step curriculum to teach students how to identify the difference between mean and bullying behavior. They learned what to do in a bullying situation, how to be an upstander and how to report the bullying to a trusted adult. Students discussed how powerful and contagious kindness can be! We encourage families to speak to their children regarding what they have learned about bullying and to identify who their trusted adults are who they can turn to. It’s important that all students feel safe, respected and included.

Here is a useful resource to help you support your children in identifying if it is bullying or unkind behavior - CLICK HERE.

Also, if there is an issue of bullying, parents are welcomed to submit a DASA complaint form that will initiate an investigation into claims of bullying. CLICK HERE for the complaint form.

For more information on the Dignity for All Students Act legislation, please CLICK HERE.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR FALL SPIRIT WEEK SCHEDULE - NOVEMBER 13-17

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 IS UNES PICTURE RETAKE DAY.

If your child was absent, or if you want to have your child take a re-take, please notify your child's teacher.

On Wednesday, November 22, UNES will hold its first annual UNES HERITAGE DAY. That Wednesday is a half day before Thanksgiving. Last year, you may remember that we celebrated GRATITUDE DAY.

Our goal this year is to celebrate the diverse and rich heritage of our students on this day. The vision is that we will teach a little bit about what the meaning of the words heritage, diversity, and culture and then we will guide our students through a grade appropriate project that helps the kids to highlight their heritage.

On November 22, we would love to have our students dress in special ways to celebrate their heritage. As they prepare for their projects, families can support this work by sharing with their children a bit of background on what you consider to be your family heritage/culture. Topics to discuss could include: traditions/customs, history, language, food, national flag, sports, holidays/festivals, music, clothing, books, archeological discoveries, and many more. Starting the conversation and sharing, from your perspective, a bit about your family's culture/heritage will empower our kids to share what makes each of us special.

VERY IMPORTANT!!

If you are not part of the 5TH GRADE COMMITTEE EMAIL DISTRIBUTION, please reach out and share your email or cell so that you can receive important communications:

Valerie Schmidt - vmeleschmidt@gmail.com

Michael Lockett - michael.lockett@gmail.com

5TH GRADE SWEATSHIRTS - TIME TO ORDER!

There are three payment options. Please choose one. If you feel that you can contribute a little extra, there is an option to do that. Any amount will be appreciated and helpful toward ensuring that ALL students receive a sweatshirt so that they can enjoy this tradition together!

You may order via the attached google doc or by using the paper order form that is being sent home in your child’s red folder. ORDERS ARE DUE ON 10/30!!

CLICK HERE FOR ORDER FORM

5TH GRADE YEARBOOK

The 5th Grade yearbook Committee also needs your help as we start to make something all of our kids can cherish forever. Each 5th-grade yearbook has a section of numbered baby pictures where the kids can try and see if they know their friends.

REQUEST ONE: BABY PICTURES:
Please name your submitted picture in the following manner:
LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_TEACHER

You can upload the image directly to this folder:

https://community.lifetouch.com/invite?code=UNES_5THGRADE-24

(you must create a FREE account, but we will ask for other pictures throughout the year, so it’s worth it).

If you prefer to email your picture, they can be sent to me at michael.lockett@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for making the 5th Grade a little more memorable for all our kids.

Yessenia Santana, our Family Resource Coordinator, is relaunching the DONATION STATION PROGRAM at UNES. Donation Station is a service designed to help families anonymously with specific items in times of need or crisis. It is our way of making it easier for Nyack families to help and support other Nyack families.

If you would like to support this worthy cause, please add your name to our Donation Station group list by emailing Yessi at ysantana@nyackschools.org. Periodically, when we have a specific request from a family, she will email the Donation Station group list. Whoever can make a contribution or donation can do so. There is no obligation or pressure to join, but together we can help our community to thrive.

We are so grateful to all of the parents who threw their hats in the ring to become class parents for this academic school year.

PLEASE CLICK HERE for a list of the class parents for your child's class.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF A GROUP TEXT OR EMAIL DISTRIBUTION, THEN PLEASE CONTACT THE CLASS PARENT(S) TO OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION.

Also, if you note that there is no class parent for your child's class, please consider joining us.

Please consider joining our PTA! PTA Membership isn't required but,

if you sign up for our state-wide PTA Membership,

UNES will receive a portion of your contribution,

and you will gain access to additional

PTA Resources and discounts!

Please click below to register... Our PTA will deeply appreciate it!

MemberHub

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming meetings of our two parent groups - PTA and IDEA:

THE PTA ZOOM LINK CAN BE ACCESSED AT THIS WEBSITE - CLICK HERE

NOVEMBER:

PTA = Monday, November 13 @ 6:30pm

IDEA = Tuesday, November 21 @ 6:00pm

DECEMBER:

PTA = Monday, December 11 @ 6:30pm

IDEA = No meeting this month

Research shows that recess and exercise are incredibly important to children's well being. We will be working hard to give our students a taste of fresh air and exercise every day possible. To that end, we will be going outside for recess whenever the REAL FEEL temperature is above 25 degrees.

As the weather gets colder, please send your child with a warm jacket, winter hat and gloves so that they are prepared for the weather. Also, please discuss your expectations that they are properly dressed for the weather. They are only outside for 20-25 minutes but that short time can be incredibly important for their well being.

• Friday, November 3 - Box Out Bullying Assembly
  

• Tuesday, November 7 - Superintendent Conference Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
• Wednesday, November 8 - Grade 4 Wolf Conservation Center Trip
• Friday, November 10 - Veteran's Day (NO SCHOOL)

• Monday, November 13 @ 6:30pm - PTA MEETING

• Tuesday, November 14 - School Related Professionals Day (SRP DAY)
• Tuesday, November 21 - Redhawk Tribal Council Assembly
• Tuesday, November 21 @ 6:30pm - IDEA MEETING
• Wednesday, November 22 - UNES HERITAGE DAY
• Thursday/Friday, Nov 23&24 - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY (NO SCHOOL)

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