Newsletter Translation
A message from Mr. Kilburn
I hope you are as excited as I am that your children are back with us full-time. I can share with you that our mitigation of COVID-19 continues to be extremely successful. While we have had some positive cases reported throughout the year, I am convinced that we are doing a very good job of the prevention of spreading the virus at Unity. In short, your children are safe!
One thing you haven't heard me talk about this year is attendance. We have been extra lenient and considerate of good attendance practices in light of the pandemic. I now believe it time to encourage positive attendance. Our data points indicate we are making great growth in your child's literacy knowledge. Great attendance creates a consistent approach for us to continue to instruct and intervene as necessary.
Your child's teacher will be sharing your children's gains and work throughout the first semester at conferences. We always expect to meet with 100% of our parents. Please sign up now using the link your child's teacher sent. We want to be flexible to your needs, so contact us any time with anything you want to discuss!
It is an honor to serve your children! Happy February!
Lost and Found
Parent/Teacher Conferences
*Conferences will be encouraged to be virtual unless we receive different directions in the coming days.
Monday, February 15th: 3:50-5:50 - Language Supported Conferences
Monday, February 22nd: 8:00 - 6:00 - Conferences (No School for Students)
Tuesday, February 23rd: 3:40 - 6:20 - Conferences (Regular school day)
Friday, February 26th: Conference Exchange Day (No school for students or staff)
Your child's teacher will be sending communication with a link to sign up for your child's conference. Please follow their direction. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask us, 712-279-6839. We look forward to these discussions about your child's progress
News From Unity's Title Team
The Title teachers recently held a “Take a Book” event with 5th graders. This event takes the place of our previous “Bring a Book, Take a Book” events. Students were able to choose a book and receive a book chain tag. The books can be taken home to be read with parents & families. Happy Reading 5th Graders!! J
Also, the Title teachers would like to thank everyone for tuning in to our Warm Up With Winter Reading and Snowman Soup event on Thursday, January 21st. We will be delivering a Ready Freddy book to all those who completed the link in the comment section & a Smencil to all those who complete and return the activity sheet. This event was for our 3rd grade, 4th grade & 5th grade.
Unity Students Earn Incentive!
Counselor's Corner with Kelly Nelson
Teaching Kids Self-Control
The ability to manage their emotions in healthy ways will serve our kids quite well in life. Kids will be happier and healthier if they are able to master the following concepts:
· Delayed gratification
· Empathy and social responsiveness
· The ability to calm oneself when experiencing strong emotions
· Cause-and-effect thinking
Modeling these concepts in your own life is the best way to instill self-control in your kids’ lives. You can begin experimenting with one of the most powerful teaching tools offered by the Love and Logic approach: Allow your children (or your students) to overhear you talking about how you apply self-control. Examples include:
· I saw this new TV that I really wanted, but I said to myself, “No. My old one is just fine. I’ll just be all stressed out about how to pay for it.”
· The other day one of my friends said something that really made me mad. I kept having to remind myself, “Stay calm. If I say something nasty, I’ll feel horrible later.”
· I always have an easier time being nice to difficult people when I remember to put myself in their shoes.
Remember: Children are typically more likely to learn when they overhear these things rather than being lectured.
Love & Logic, Dr. Charles Fay
Counselor's Corner with June Mikkelson
On-Line Learning Tips for Parents
Check out this article with these online learning tips. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/08/06/covid-19-tips-parents-successful-online-learning-virtual-classes-zoom/3303918001/
1. Reduce Distractions
2. Plan for Brain Breaks
3. Time Management
4. Positive Feedback
5. Be Flexible
6. Help Students Stay in Touch with their Friends
7. Stay in touch with the Teacher
8. Special Needs
Notes from the Nurse
Frostbite—A Winter Weather Hazard
Frostbite is a condition in which skin or part of the body becomes partially frozen due to exposure to cold. Body parts most likely to be frostbitten are the fingers, toes, ears, nose and cheeks. In the beginning stages of frostbite, the skin will become very red and then pale.
DO:
· Do bring the child indoors.
· Do warm the area in a pan of lukewarm water.
· If hands or feet are affected, elevate them above the heart level.
· Keep exposed areas dry to help prevent more frostbite.
DO NOT:
· Do not rub or massage the area.
· Do not warm with a heating pad.
· Do not break blisters that have formed.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF:
· The skin blisters.
· The area feels numb after 15 minutes of warming.
· The skin is cold, white, hard and waxy feeling. This usually means the frostbite is severe.
PREVENTION:
· Protect children from cold, wind and moisture.
· Dress them in proper clothing:
Ø Dress your child in several layers of light, loose clothing rather than one heavy garment.
Ø Protect the child’s head and neck with a hat and scarf and his/her face with a mask.
Ø For outdoor play, boots high enough to cover the ankles, two pairs of socks and mittens or gloves should be worn.
Ø Try to make arrangements for your child’s transportation to and from school, instead of walking, on extremely cold days.
Box Tops
Dear Families,
During this challenging time, our teachers and students need more help than ever.
No matter what school looks like, Box Tops for Education is a fast and easy way for
you to help out from home.
The Box Tops program has been around for over 20 years, and it really works. In fact,
Box Tops for Education has helped give almost a billion dollars to schools since 1996.
In 2019, the program evolved to become digital so that you can earn for your school
with just the touch of a button.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Buy participating products and use the Box Tops mobile
app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and automatically
adds Box Tops to your school's earnings online. Even if you’re shopping online or
doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your e-receipts and earn Box Tops. Twice a
year, our school gets a check!
Your earnings may seem small, but they really do add up. The more people that participate,
the bigger the impact we can make. So let's give our teachers the support
they need and help give more kids the opportunity to dream. Little by little, we can
help make a big difference!
HyVee Receipts
All receipts must be from the Sioux City or South Sioux City HyVee's or the HyVee Mainstreet Store. Receipts must be dated August 1, 2020 - April 25, 2021. Please do not send receipts that are outside of the dates listed. No fuel, postal, money order, Western Union, lottery, Quest, Mid-American or gift card receipts will be accepted.
Let's Talk
An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.
Communication and Preparedness
Student and staff safety is of paramount importance in the Sioux City Community School District. For this reason, the District exercises a host of crisis prevention and planning tactics. Should an emergency occur, the school notifies you through our Blackboard phone system. In an emergency, the system calls every phone number associated with your child in order to reach you. The message will give you details about the emergency and provide directions on when/where to pick up your child if the normal school day is altered. Learn more about school safety.
Focus 2022 Strategic Plan
Unity Elementary School
Principal: Eric Kilburn
Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/unity/
Location: 1901 Unity Avenue, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6839
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnityKnightsk5/
Twitter: @UnityFuture
