Knights News
Unity Elementary School
Happy February, Everyone. We are off to a good start to the third quarter of this school year. The district was affected by the weather already this year, including a full day cancellation and a 2-hour late start. I hope that the district communication about the weather-related changes was effective.
I wanted to share with everyone the processes for a late start or an early release. In these cases, if the district has a 2-hour late start or 2-hour early release the actual times will not be the same for elementary, middle school and high school. Each level has their own specific start time and end time. This is due to the need for busing and being able to serve all the students in the district. Unity, as well as all other elementary buildings in the district will start at 10:30 AM on a 2-hour late start and will end at 1:30 on a 2-hour early release. If you have any questions, please contact the Unity office.
Parking lot safety has become a concern. I would like to ensure that everyone understands the processes that we have in place for dropping off and picking up. From 8:00 am until 8:40 AM and from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM the drive through street immediately in front of the school is for buses only. We have had several near misses this year when cars do not use the parking lot entry and proceed down the street. The primary crosswalk for students is just in front of the school, however with buses parked in that area, it is difficult for people to see if there is anything coming. Although we have a crossing guard at this location, we still have excited students ready to leave and will often cross the street without looking. Additionally, we have had more than one near miss with the crossing guard and people disregarding the posted procedures. For safety reasons, if this happens, we will report license plate numbers to the authorities, and we appreciate everyone who helps identify those unsafe drivers.
Although we have seen a few milder days, we will still have many days when the weather temperature is cold in the morning prior to school starting. Students that eat breakfast at school are able to enter the building at 8:00 AM, but for students not eating breakfast, the doors do not open until 8:20. The reason for this is because there is no staff available before 8:20 to supervise. Speaking of weather, it is the district policy that if the “feels like” temperature is above 15 degrees then students will go outdoors for recess. I bring this up because already this semester we have seen students coming to school in sandals, or in shorts, and several without coats.
I know that often parents feel like communication could be better between the school and themselves. If you are having any issues, or you have concerns, please feel free to reach out to anyone at the school.
Thank you all for sending your student(s) to Unity. The Unity Team loves working with our students and feel like we are having a good year, and we are excited to see your students each morning!
Kevin Finkey, Principal
We decided to set a goal of receiving 300 positive referrals for our awesome Unity students over a two week period (the last 2 weeks of January)! We are excited to announce that we not only met this goal, but exceeded it!
We are so proud of our students here at Unity, and of all the positive things they do in class, at lunch, during recess, and throughout the day! A huge shout out to all of our Unity staff for taking the time to notice and recognize these positive behaviors among our students!
These referrals were then read aloud during the lunch hours so that all the students could hear and be proud of themselves and their peers! It was so wonderful to see how excited and proud they were to hear how amazing they all are, and their wide smiles upon hearing their names was so rewarding to witness! Congratulations Unity Knights! You are Positively Awesome!
The entire student body will be rewarded with a surprise treat next week!
The Unity PTO invites you to The Cupid Shuffle Dance on Friday, February 7th, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm!
Wristbands will be on sale in the main office from Monday, February 3rd through Thursday, February 6th, for $4.00. Or, they will be available on Friday, February 7th at the door for $5.00.
Wristbands include a slice of pizza, a cookie, and a drink. Fun novelty items will also be for sale at the door - CASH only!
In addition, there will be a Dance Competition and a 50/50 Raffle!
All Minors MUST BE ACCOMPANIED by an adult 18 or over! This is NOT a drop off event!!
Unity Elementary School Presents: A Cross Curricular Concert! All Grades will be participating in this concert. Each grade level will be participating on different dates and at different times. Parents and family members are welcome to attend. Please see the schedule below:
Tuesday, March 18th:
1:15 - Kindergarten
2:00 - 2nd Grade
2:45 - 4th Grade
Thursday, March 20th:
1:15 - 1st Grade
2:00 - 3rd Grade
2:45 - 5th Grade
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 am to 8:30 am (elementary school) OR 7 am to 8 am (middle and high school).
Visit the District’s website for more information on the District’s breakfast and lunch menus.
Please remember that students can not enter the building until 8:00 am (unless they are part of Beyond the Bell) because we do not have proper supervision for them. With the weather becoming colder, it is not advisable for students to sit outside in the cold waiting for the doors to open at 8:00. PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF STUDENTS EARLIER THAN 8:00 A.M. Also, please make sure you are dressing your students in appropriate winter clothing including coats, gloves, and hats because we are outside for morning walk and talk and all recesses as long as the "feels like" temperature is 16 degrees or higher.
Attention Parents of students in TK, K, and 1st grade, it would be very beneficial if you would pack an extra change of clothing to keep in your child's backpack or classroom. We do not have much clothing available in the office in the smaller sizes in case a student has an accident or perhaps spills their milk or water at lunch. Also, with the cold, wet, weather season approaching, sometimes students get their clothing wet at recess and need to change into something dry. Hopefully, this will keep us from having to interrupt you work day to bring a new set of dry clothing to your student. Thank you
Just a reminder from Mr. Chapman, our attendance specialist, that Attendance Counts Every Day!!
Mr. Chapman wants to remind everyone that if your child is not going to be in school for any reason, please remember to call the office first thing in the morning to report the absence. If you do not call the school, your student will be marked as truant.
Also, please remember that with the new attendance policy, all absences, including medically excused absences, will count against your student's total attendance record. It is very important that your student be: IN SCHOOL, ON TIME, EVERY DAY!!
WHAT ARE ENERGY DRINKS?
• Drinks that contain large amounts of caffeine, added sugars and other additives and stimulants such as guarana, taurine and L-Carnitine.
• Each energy drink can contain as much caffeine as 3 cups of coffee and up to 14 teaspoons of sugar.
• These drinks are not the same as sports drinks!
SIDE EFFECTS OF ENERGY DRINKS:
• Trouble sleeping
• Upset stomach
• Fast heartbeat
• Trouble concentrating
• Jitteriness
• Headaches
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Energy drinks are not a good substitute for the water that our bodies need each day. Water is the best choice to quench your thirst! Water is the best choice for hydration, before, during and after most exercise sessions.
ALTERNATIVES TO ENERGY DRINKS INCLUDE:
• Plain or unsweetened flavored water. Dehydration is often a reason for low energy. Add some lemon or lime wedges to your water to add some flavor.
• Unsweetened tea. A number of tea flavors are available in naturally caffeinated varieties that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice. There are many types of juices and juice combinations. Find one
that you enjoy.
• Whole fruit. Sometimes a snack can give you as much of a boost as a drink.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:
States that the caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.
It’s February Unity! With a new year comes a new start and usually includes goals that are difficult to keep up with 😉.
Last month, the Character Strong theme was Perseverance. Students learned about how to face problems and how to keep growing and trying.
With the new year, I want to share some at home apps that may help you and your child with social emotional learning and needs. Please know there are hundreds of apps, and many may work better for you, but these are some options that may be helpful and are free.
RainRain- an app that I personally use for soothing sounds- it has a variety of rain sounds and other background sounds that may help you or your child relax. You can set a timer for it to fade out, and I sometimes use it when it is difficult for me to sleep, or I need a gentle noise to do breathwork.
Voidpet Garden- a simple tool that allows students to collect different emotions as pet characters and challenges them to breathing exercises, journal prompts, and other coping strategies in order to ‘level up’ their pets.
Quabble- an app that will help students set up a morning and night routine for mental wellness, such as a morning self check in and gratitude note, and a breathing exercise and check in at night. As you do the ‘exercises’, you gain items to decorate a park for a duck friend.
Caitlyn Niehus
The District provides every student with a device to enhance the overall learning experience. When a student receives their device, it is their responsibility to take appropriate care of the device. Unfortunately, the District has hundreds of devices damaged or destroyed each year.
Damage to devices or lost devices could result in fines and reduced Internet access. Detailed information on fees is available in the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook on the District website. We encourage you to remind your student about the responsibility that goes with having a device.
The District’s mobile app provides quick and convenient information at your fingertips. Download the mobile to receive push notifications from the District about closings and cancellations and stay updated on today’s school lunch menu, upcoming events, and school news. Look for Sioux City Community Schools in your app store today!
The District has cell phone protocols in place to ensure an engaging and distraction-free environment for our students. The protocols restrict the use of electronic devices during the school day. For more information, please review the 2024-2025 Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook on the District website.
Do the terms Snap map, private account, or ghost mode sound familiar? If you answered no, you are not alone. Many families are unfamiliar with these social media terms and others. The District website offers information for parents on the most popular social media platforms and tips for keeping kids safe online. Information is available on the District’s website.
Parents and guardians have the right to decide to keep their child home on any day they feel it is unsafe for their student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home, or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you as a parent or guardian will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.
With the cooler temperatures upon us, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder winter. Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual, so it is important that students have the right winter weather clothing. When the temperature feels like 15 degrees or lower, students are kept inside for recess and activities. Students should be prepared for the cooler weather with a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. If your student does not have access to cold-weather apparel, please contact our school office.
The weather in Iowa can be unpredictable. If the weather requires us to delay the start of our school day, cancel school for the day, or dismiss school early, information will be sent to families through email, text, and voicemail. In addition, this information is posted to our social media sites and the District website.
Please remember that parents and guardians have the right to make the decision to keep their child home on any day they feel it is unsafe for their student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home, or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you as a parent or guardian will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.
Our TK & Kindergarten students exit from doors 25 and 26 (Mrs. Poulson and Mrs. Anderson's rooms). Our 1st and 2nd-grade students exit from the main entryway (door 1). Our 3rd-grade students exit from door 3 which is located behind our loading dock. The 4th and 5th graders exit from door 4 at the North end of the building. Please see the image below to assist you with this visualization. Please work with your family to agree to a common meeting place outside of the building. We do our best to limit student traffic within the building after school.
If you have a preschool child, they will dismiss out the main front entryway.
