Knights News
Unity Elementary School
Hello Unity Families!
We have had an awesome first month at Unity, and everyone has fit into the routine of school life again after summer vacation. We are excited and hopeful that the 2025-2026 school year will be awesome.
I wanted to share with all Unity Families that a news story on KTIV that was presented about the Sioux City Community School District, and Unity, was a misrepresentation of the achievement that Unity had in the 2024-2025 school year, and did not reflect the hard work and dedication of some of the finest teachers in the city. The data was presented out of context, and the manor in which it was presented to the public was misleading, leaving listeners to believe that Unity students were not achieving.
Unity, as well as every other building in the district, showed growth during the 2024-2025 school year. This is the first time that all 19 buildings in the district all shared this success at the same time, and as a district and a building, we are celebrating this accomplishment.
We do understand that we have areas of focus that we will work on this year, but that is nothing new. Each year we review our data, analyze what it tells us, and then make decisions based on that information that will help our students to be more successful. One area that we can use family support in is attendance. Unity did have a high level of student absences last year, and one thing we know for certain, students can only learn when they are in class. While we do not want students who are ill to come to school, we do ask for parental support in getting students to school whenever possible and help us prioritize students learning time.
One final note on achievement scores. Unity has completed the baseline assessment score for this year and over 54% of our students were proficient in reading, and 56% in math.
Student attendance is one of the most influential components that can impact student achievement. The district has established a guideline for success with a minimum attendance rate of 95%. Currently, Unity has a 94.63% attendance rate, which is below expectations, but a major concern is that the first quarter of the year is generally the best for overall attendance. If that trend continues, Unity will fall below the expected attendance rate, and that will have a negative effect on our achievement scores, not to mention the educational success for students.
Parent-Teacher conferences are going to be held on October 28th and October 30th. There will be no additional ELL conference night as in the past. I urge all parents to not only attend the conferences, but take an active part in understanding your students’ educational learning and abilities. Be sure to ask your student's teacher about their grades and progress, but also be sure to ask about their work habits in class, their levels of preparation, their behaviors and anything else that may have an impact on their learning.
However, parent-teacher conferences are not the only time that parents can ask for information about their students and their progress. The district uses Talking Points as a primary means of communication for parents and teachers, but phone calls are also always welcome.
Thank you all for your support, and we look forward to having a amazing school year. Please make sure to follow Unity on our website and Facebook page.
Kevin Finkey, Principal
Unity Elementary School, Home of the Knights
On Friday, October 3rd, wear Black and Orange to show support for East High School
Have you been wanting to show your Unity pride by wearing some awesome Unity clothing?
Great news!! The online store is officially open! This is your chance to grab some fresh gear and show off your school spirit in style.
Here is the link to start shopping:
https://stores.inksoft.com/unity_elementary_fall_2025/shop/home
Don't wait too long, shop early to snag your favorites before they are gone!! The online store will close on Wednesday, October 8th!
Lets see who can bring the most school spirit to the hallways!! Happy Shopping!
On Friday, October 17th, wear Red and Blue to show support for North High School
It's that time of year again!! Unity's annual Sticky Stuff fundraiser will begin on Friday, October 10th, and run through Monday, October 20th. The delivery date will be on Monday, November 3rd.
The top selling boy and girl in Grades K-2, and the top selling boy and girl in Grades 3-5, will each win an Electric Scooter! Also, the top selling classroom wins a Pizza Party for their class!!
Look for the fundraising packets to come home soon with your student(s)!
Between October 6th and November 7th, the Youth Needs Survey will be administered by our school counselor to all 3rd-5th grade students whose parents have provided consent.
We are working to make sure each student in our school receives the support they need to be successful in school. In the spirit of continuously getting better at ensuring each student receives the support they need, we do screening in both academics and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Screening is a process of helping us gather data on student needs, and we use this information to plan supports for students to improve their well-being and functioning in school. Screening helps us be more proactive than reactive in supporting students' success. The screening in social, emotional, and behavioral functioning is a brief rating completed two times per year. This information is helpful to us to make effective plans at the whole school, class, and individual level. Screening is similar to going to the doctor and getting a blood pressure reading to determine if you may have a need for support to improve your cardiovascular health.
Unity will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week by having another Spirit Week, October 20th-24th:
Monday, Oct. 20th - Team Up Against Drugs - Wear your favorite team jerseys
Tuesday, Oct. 21st - Drugs Can't Find Me - Wear camouflage
Wednesday, Oct. 22nd - Living Drug Free is No Sweat - Wear workout clothes
Thursday, Oct. 23rd - Too Bright for Drugs - Wear bright colors & sunglasses
Friday, Oct. 24th - Proud to Be Drug Free - Wear red to celebrate life drug free
Unity's Annual Trunk or Treat event will be held on Thursday, 10/23, from 5:00-6:30 pm. Please dress in your best costume and come and enjoy an evening of spooky fun!
If you are willing to hand out candy from the trunk of your vehicle, please contact the office ASAP! If we don't have enough volunteers, we may have to cancel this event!
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on the following days:
Tuesday, October 28th -- 3:40-8:00
Thursday, October 30th -- 8:00 - 4:00
There will not be separate ELL conferences this year, but interpretation will be available during these times.
There will be no school for students on the following days:
Thursday, October 30th - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 31st - Exchange Day
Tuesday, November 4th - Professional Development
Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Break
Friday, November 28th - Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 22nd - Friday, January 2nd - Christmas Break
Friday, January 16th - Teacher Workday
Monday, February 16th - Professional Develpment
Thursday, March 26th - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 27th - Exchange Day
Thursday, April 2nd - Monday, April 6th - Spring Break
Monday, May 25th - Memorial Day
Mr. Chapman, Unity's Attendance Specialist, is bringing Student Council back to Unity this year! Student Council will consist of six 5th grade students nominated by their teachers, and here is the best part: A new group of six student council members will be chosen each quarter! By the end of this school year, Twenty Four 5th grade students will have had the opportunity to serve on Student Council, experience leadership, and make a difference this year!
Each student nominated for Student Council will receive a medal on a lanyard that they MUST keep at school during the quarter they are serving. They will be required to wear these lanyards anytime they are doing something for Student Council. At the end of the quarter, the students will be able to take the medals home with them to keep.
Students serving on Student Council for their assigned quarter will be busy helping with all kinds of projects, events, and activities throughout the school year to make Unity an even better place to be a part of. This could include delivering items to classrooms, escorting students, helping out with fundraisers, etc.
If your classroom has an activity coming up where extra hands might come in handy, please contact me, and I can see if any of the Student Council members are available to help out; as long as it doesn’t interfere with their academic learning.
Get ready Unity! This is going to be an amazing year of teamwork, leadership, and school spirit!
Quarter 1 Student Council Members
Congratulations to the following students who were nominated by their teachers to serve on Unity's Student Council for Quarter 1: Angel Garcia Ortiz, Alex Richer, Stenel Mavinga, Elle Daniels, Gwendolyn Thomas, Nayelis Blanco
Just a reminder about our morning drop-off procedures:
- If you are dropping off students, please use the farthest left lane before entering the parking lot.
- Parents should stay in the car, and students should exit the vehicle quickly (within a few seconds).
- If you need more time, please park in a designated spot inside the lot so traffic can continue moving smoothly
This helps prevent congestion and ensures all students get to class on time.
Important Parking Reminders:
- No parking in front of the school – this area is reserved for school buses only.
- Handicap parking spots are located in the front of the parking lot. Please only use these if you have the proper permit, as families who need them rely on those spaces.
- Always drive slowly in the parking lot, watch for students walking, and stop to allow them to cross safe
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping drop-off safe and efficient for everyone.
Studies show a strong connection between eating breakfast and improved academic performance. To support a healthy learning environment, our school provides breakfast daily in addition to lunch.
Breakfast is served at our building from 8:00 am to 8:30 am. At this time, we are fortunate enough to be able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all of our students here at Unity.
Visit the District's website for more information on the District’s breakfast and lunch menus.
School will dismiss at 1:30 on Fridays again this school year! Please be aware and make sure appropriate transportation has been arranged for your students. If your students take the bus, they will arrive at their bus stop 2 hours earlier than their normal time on Fridays
Every minute counts!! Bringing students late or checking students out early means they miss valuable instruction. Please try to schedule appointments after school gets out whenever possible so your child can get the most out of their learning day.
Research shows students who miss just two days a month are more likely to fall behind. Let's work together to make school attendance a top priority!
Showing up every day, all day, helps students learn more, connect with friends, and succeed!
Being in school = Being on track!!
Flu Season
Influenza (also called flu)
Influenza (also known as flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza is not a stomach bug. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly.
Flu symptoms
ü Fever* or feeling feverish/chills * Not everyone with flu will have a fever
ü Cough
ü Sore throat
ü Runny or stuffy nose
ü Muscle or body aches
ü Headache
The Flu Is Contagious
ü Flu symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body
ü Call your medical provider if your child has symptoms
ü Stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of medicine
Wash Your Hands!
Soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers for hands?
Both alcohol-based hand sanitizers and hand-washing are effective ways of preventing disease, but remember these important facts:
- Hand sanitizers are not as effective when dirt is visible on hands. Hand washing with soap and water, singing the “Happy Birthday” song, should be used to remove the oil and grime where bacteria can live.
- Hand sanitizers should not be used in place of soap and water:
ü when preparing food
ü after restroom use
ü changing diapers
- Hand sanitizers will not work in killing certain viruses or bacteria such as:
Ø Cryptosporidium - causes diarrhea.
Ø Norovirus – causes stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up.
Ø Clostridium difficile – causes watery diarrhea.
Clean hands are one of the best ways to prevent infection or disease. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing/