![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/vintage01.df2dbfd5.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/5dbb/thumb-27bff1d1bc18d19cc767c0316526777b.jpeg)
UNES REDHAWK REVIEW
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - April 8, 2024
HALF DAY OF SCHOOL THIS MONDAY (APRIL 8) AND FRIDAY (APRIL 12)
Please be reminded that we have AN EARLY DISMISSAL THIS MONDAY, April 8, due to the eclipse and then another EARLY DISMISSAL, Friday, April 12 due to P/T conferences in the PM.
Dismissal Schedule for UNES 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
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MONDAY MORNING ALL NYACK STUDENTS WILL BE RECEIVING SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES TO USE UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION AT HOME.
PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES THIS WEEK AND NEXT
Friday, April 12 and Friday, April 19 are Elementary Early Dismissal Days for Parent Teacher Conferences. Students will be released between 11:30am and 11:45am. Afternoon parent teacher conferences (generally from 12:45-3:15pm) will be in person at UNES on these days. On Thursday, April 18, we have EVENING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES that are VIRTUAL ONLY.
The schedule for dismissal on our half days for P/T Conferences 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
Computer Based State Testing 2024 - IMPORTANT!!
This spring Nyack Public Schools will be administering the New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science tests.All students in grades 3-8 will participate in computer-based testing (CBT). We encourage your child's participation in the grades 3-8 New York State assessments.The district will continue to use the results from these assessments to reflect on our programs and practices and provide the necessary support to our students. The data also assists us in evaluating our curriculum and prioritizing our existing resources and programs at Nyack Public Schools.
Benefits of the NYS 3-8 tests include:
help improve instruction by identifying standards on which large numbers of students demonstrate success or the need for growth
provide a means of comparison with other districts in the region and the State
one of multiple measures that principals and teachers use to best meet students' needs
help determine appropriate intervention and enrichment
If you decide not to have your child participate in the assessments, we ask that you notify your building principal, in writing, ASAP (AND NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY APRIL 10) as we have to make arrangements for the Testing Schedule and Opt Out Room...
CLICK HERE FOR THE TESTING CALENDAR
ELA EXAM
UNES - April 15 & 16
MATH EXAM
UNES - May 2&3
SCIENCE EXAM
Grade 5 (Elementary) - May 14
For more information about New York State assessments, please review the resource below:
DEADLINE TO OPT STUDENTS OUT OF STATE EXAMS - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10
Autism Awareness Celebrations - April 8-12
As we all know, April is Autism Acceptance Month. UNES will celebrate by participating in Autism Acceptance Spirit Week from April 8-12. Each day that week we will extend Morning Program by about 10 minutes to explain the day's theme and bring awareness to autism and how it can impact the lives of autistic individuals and their families. Please CLICK BELOW flyer for the Spirit Week information.
Spirit Week - APRIL 8-12:
Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition at Admin Building - April 15 @ 5pm
Please consider coming to the Administration Building on Monday, April 15 at 5pm to celebrate our grades 3-5 students wonderful art projects being displayed.
EARTH FEST - FRIDAY, APRIL 19
Thanks to our wonderful PTA parents, Audra Jones, Sam Wedelich, and Patti Hill, and a dedicated group of fourth graders, we will have a lot of great events scheduled for the morning of Friday, April 19. In the afternoon, there are P/T conferences.
Assuming that the weather is nice enough, we will have a number of tables / booths set up in the back playground near the basketball courts. (In case of rain, we'll shift to the APR) The students are organizing interactive booths with ecologically-friendly activities, seed starting, recycling & compost sorting games, crafts, and some outdoor planting. Several master gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension will also be leading activities. A schedule is still being finalized.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENT IS NOT OPEN TO FAMILIES.
Paul Forbes Visit to UNES
On March 20 & 22, Paul Forbes returned to work with the staff on his foundational work around Implicit Bias. Paul Forbes and his work has been warmly received by the staff and we plan to continue our work with Paul in May. For his May visit, I will be organizing small group focus groups with Paul to discuss issues of race, bias and polarization. He is currently scheduled to return on May 8 & 9. While we don't have firm plans set up yet, I will be inviting a small group of interested parents to join our focus groups during the school day. If you would be interested, please send me an email noting your interest. As space is limited, this will be handled on a first come, first served basis.
Going forward, Paul has some really interesting presentations centered on UNDERSTANDING THE STORIES OF OTHERS and THE POWER OF WORDS that we'd like to bring to UNES. Stay tuned.
FAMILY STREAM NIGHT
Congratulations to Dean Gianakouros and the STREAM team on an excellent Family Stream Night on March 18!! There was an incredible turnout of parents and students at the event and participants got to take part in using Ozobot Coding, augmented reality drawing, Keva Plank Building, a QR Scavenger Hunt and much more!
Overall, there must have been well over 100 people in attendance and the students were learning joyfully while demonstrating their STREAM skills to their parents! Excellent Work!!
WOMEN'S HISTORY CAREER DAY
I want to extend another hearty congratulations and deep gratitude to Andrea Perez and Valerie Mondesir who organized our Women's History Career Day last month, as well as all of our wonderful parents and community members who joined us!
It was so heartwarming to see parents and community members showing off their passion for their careers to our students! Making this event in person again was a great step in the right direction and their hard work truly paid off!
April Curriculum Updates
PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR THE GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM UPDATES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
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 21 (@ 9:30am)
5th Grade Graduation Dance - Friday, June 21 @ 5:30-7:30pm
Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony - TUESDAY, JUNE 18 (@ 9:30am)
UPCOMING PTA MEETINGS
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming meetings of our PTA:
THE PTA ZOOM LINK CAN BE ACCESSED AT THIS WEBSITE - CLICK HERE
Monday, April 8 (CANCELLED DUE TO ECLIPSE & EARLY DISMISSAL)
Monday, May, 13
Monday, June 10
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
LOTS OF GREAT EVENTS COMING UP!!
- Monday, April 8 - Eclipse @ 3:25pm (Half Day-11:45am)
- April 8-12 - Autism Awareness Celebration and Spirit Week
- Wednesday, April 10 - Agricultural Literacy Visit to Grade 1
- Wednesday, April 10 - DEADLINE TO OPT OUT OF STATE EXAMS
- Thursday, April 11 - Agricultural Literacy Visit to Grade 2
- Friday, April 12 - P/T Conference (Half Day Dismissal) & NEON DANCE
- Monday & Tuesday, April 15 & 16 - NYS ELA EXAM AT UNES
- Monday, April 15 - Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition at Admin Building
- Thursday, April 18 - Virtual P/T Conferences in the evening
- Friday, April 19 - Afternoon P/T Conference (Half Day Dismissal) & Earth Fest at UNES (AM)
- Monday&Tuesday, April 22&23 - NO SCHOOL FOR PASSOVER
- Wednesday&Thursday, April 24&25 - Seed To Salad Planting (Grades K&1)
- Thursday&Friday, May 2&3 - NYS MATH EXAM AT UNES
- May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
- Tuesday, May 14 - 5th Grade Science Exam
ARCHIVES ON OUR WEBSITE
Upper Nyack Elementary
Email: cdreves@nyackschools.org
Website: https://un.nyackschools.org/
Location: 336 North Broadway, Upper Nyack, NY, USA
Phone: 845-353-7260
Twitter: @NyackPrincipal