Newsletter Translation
Assessment Season!
There comes a time in every educational year that we have to discuss the state exams. The test that our state requires every one of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to take is called the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (what our teachers refer to as ISASP). You probably know these tests as ITBS. We also administer the Conditions for Learning (CFL) survey to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This survey is a measure of how safe our students feel in our building (using a variety of measures).
We are working hard to make sure our students understand how important the CFL & ISASP are. During the weeks of testing (April 17 - 27) please make sure your children are well-rested, have breakfast, and are ready to do their best.
The week before the assessments (April 11th - 14th) will be a spirit week to pump up our students (more information to come). We want the world to see what we already know about our kids: They are brilliant, they are capable, and they have a lot to offer this world! Thank you for your help!
Yours in Education,
Eric Kilburn | Unity Principal
If you have questions about how you can be a part of the Unity PTO, please email us at:
With the help of the ISEA Community Outreach Grant, Unity Elementary’s 5th Grade class had an opportunity to take a field trip to Koated Kernels and Palmer Candy. The students were in the middle of learning about the Industrial Revolution. Each business gave their history, showing how they originated in Sioux City, some of their original machinery from the factories, and how they have grown and expanded within our community, nationally, and even internationally! This really showed our 5th graders how our local businesses affect our local economy! Both places were so welcoming, and each gave the kids a small treat to take with them! The ever so popular Twin Bing from Palmer Candy and their choice of a small bag of popcorn from Koated Kernels! With the help of the grant, students were also given the opportunity to deliver popcorn to a few of our local community members who support Unity Elementary, the Quota Club and Midwest Honda Suzuki Kubota. We appreciate the support from all our community members throughout the year.
Unity Elementary
Thank you,
5th Graders and Teachers
Family Fun Night
3rd, 4th and 5th Grades ~ April 13, 2023 5:45 – 7:30 pm; Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm
Parents and students are invited to a night of learning and fun! Families will play “Bingo for Books”, learn new fun math games, and receive valuable information to help your child prepare for upcoming testing. Each family that attends will receive a book and math games to take home. Dinner will be provided.
This program takes place in the library on the following dates from 8:20 - 8:35 am:
Friday, April 21st
Friday, May 19th - All school day event where all students receive a book for summer break
Our 3rd grade classes will once again have the opportunity to visit Fairview School, the one room school house. This is a unique learning experience where students have the opportunity to see what school was like for students 150-200 years ago.
For generations children have taken their lunches to school. Pioneer boys and girls usually carried their noon meal in a tin syrup pail, lard can, or basket. A replica of these lunch pails can be made from a large coffee can. Cans to be used can be covered with brown paper, cloth, or left plain. Punch holes in the can for a handle using a nail and hammer. A piece of wire or heavy twine is fastened through the holes to make the handle. A scrap of cloth makes the cover. As for girls, baskets were often used to carry their lunches.
With the theme, we are asking you to prepare an old-fashioned lunch. For example,
Sandwich (cheese, peanut butter and jelly, turkey, egg, or meat)
Hard-boiled egg
Fresh fruits and vegetables
If you would like, you may wrap these items in napkins or waxed paper as opposed to plastic baggies.
On the day of the visit to Fairview School, some of us plan to dress in clothing worn in the 1880’s. The girls may wish to wear a long skirt or dress. Their hair should be worn up in braids, pigtails, or a bun as pioneer girls did not wear their hair long. The girls also wore bonnets to protect their hair or aprons to protect their dresses. The boys may wish to wear blue jeans rolled up at the bottom with suspenders, overalls, or khaki pants. A plain white t-shirt, flannel, or plaid shirt and a rope belt may also be worn. We are just trying to make this experience as realistic as possible.
We will be doing lessons in books that are 150 years old, viewing 200-year-old maps, and doing many lessons orally as were done in that time period.
Students may bring a camera to take pictures of their experience. I truly appreciate all of your help to make this a meaningful experience that they will not forget. I am sure that they will have many exciting things to share with you after their trip.
Please see below for the dates that the classes will be going:
Thursday, April 20th, - Mrs. Murman's class
Monday, April 24th - Mrs. Koser's class
Monday, May 8th - Mrs. Beller's class
This Grand Finale concert will be held on Tuesday, May 9th, @ 7:00 pm at East High School, and will include orchestra students from East High, East Middle, and 4th & 5th grade students from Morningside, Spalding, Sunnyside, and Unity. Students should report at 6:30. Students should "dress nice" for the concert. For example, slacks, dress shirts, dresses, skirts, khakis. Please avoid jeans, pants with rips in them, and/or anything that violates the school dress codes rules.
ALL STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC
The District’s new 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! (Please note: If you have an older version of the District mobile app, you will need to delete that app before downloading the new app.)
Do you have school fees that need to be paid? Visit the Sioux City Community School District website and click on the “Parents” tab. On the Parents page, you will see a button for “Pay Fees” which will take you to MySchoolBucks where you can pay your student’s school fees online.
From April 1 through 28, parents and families of students in preschool through grade 12 have the opportunity to participate in the Parent Conditions for Learning. It coincides with the Conditions for Learning student survey which students in the District take the week of April 11. The parent survey focuses on areas that range from student safety and positive adult and student relationships to school rules and how they are enforced. Participation in the survey is encouraged, but it is completely voluntary, and all questions are optional to answer. Visit the District website for more information and a link to the parent survey.
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 and a child in another grade level we can make special accommodations so that you can pick up all of your children at the preschool door. Please contact your child's teacher to work through this.
Tips for Healthy Eyes
Your eyes are your window to the world. Keep your eyes healthy:
* Get an eye exam by an eye care professional. An eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy and if you are seeing your best.
* Eat right to protect your sight. Try to eat fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens and foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids.
* Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home.
* Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet rays.
* Give eyes a rest from a computer or video screen. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, lookaway about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.
For more information about eye health, visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes
Unity Elementary School
Principal: Eric Kilburn
Email: kilbure@live.siouxcityschools.com
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