Knights News
Unity Elementary School
Mr. Chapman, Unity's Attendance Specialist, would like to say "Let's finsh the year Strong!" Parents, please inform your student's that it is very important to attend school every day this last month or so. Even though everyone has Summer Fever, these last few weeks will be filled with very important learning and testing! A fun-filled summer will be here soon enough, but for now please remember Mr. Chapman's favorite saying, "In School, On Time, Every Day!"
Thanks to several generous sponsors, Mrs. Hanner's students received their very own Very Hungry Caterpillar story and caterpillar plush that went along with the shared reading story for the week. The students were able to follow along as Mrs. Hanner read while getting to cuddle their caterpillars. Mrs. Hanner and her students are so thankful for this experience!
Based at Iowa State University, Water Rocks! is an award-winning statewide youth water education program that fosters the interplay of knowledge, caring, and engagement among Iowa’s youth. Through a combination of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and the arts, Water Rocks! challenges and inspires all Iowans towards a greater appreciation of the water and natural resources in our state.
Water Rocks! team members Ann Staudt and Bill Carey visited Unity Elementary School on Wednesday, April 9 for presentations with each of the 2nd grade classes, setting up a temporary outdoor classroom by the main flag pole on a beautiful spring day. Through an interactive game show-themed lesson called “The Fabulous World of Wetlands,” the Water Rocks! presenters shared with 2nd grade students the importance of wetlands on Iowa’s landscape. Not only did students learn the three jobs of wetlands (filtering water, storing water, and habitat), they also summoned their inner goose and “migrated” from Canada to Mexico as wetlands disappeared in the Habitat Hopscotch game. With the loss of wetlands, students quickly grasped the challenges faced by migratory species, as well as the loss of the land’s ability to filter water, store water, and act as habitat. At the conclusion of each presentation, the Water Rocks! presenters left students with a multitude of action items—tangible ways to be good stewards of nature around them.
Water Rocks! classroom visits are offered at no cost to schools, thanks to support from Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Section 319 of Clean Water Act), Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Soil and Water Conservation Districts statewide, and personal gifts of support.
ISAAP Testing will be taking place at Unity from Thursday, April 24th - Tuesday, May 6th. ISAAP testing is for ALL 3rd - 5th grade students. It is VERY IMPORTANT that ALL students in 3rd-5th grade are present on these testing days! Please try to plan appointments and personal days off for your students either before or after these important dates. Thank you
Our 3rd–5th grade students were getting ready to ROCK their state tests, and our teachers have gone all out to show their support! We kicked things off with a fun-filled pep assembly featuring ROTC students who joined us for games and shared words of encouragement about the importance of doing our best. To keep spirits high, we’ve been playing upbeat music and cheering for our students in the hallways each morning—it’s our way of reminding them they’ve got a whole team behind them! Unity is proud of you!
EAST ELEMENTARY ORCHESTRAS
GRAND FINALE CONCERT
MORNINGSIDE, SPALDING PARK, SUNNYSIDE, and UNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Tuesday MAY 6 th @ EAST HIGH AUDITORIUM
Who: East Elementary Orchestra Students
What: Our grand finale featuring 4th and 5th grade orchestras from Morningside, Spalding, Sunnyside, and Unity Elementary Schools
Where: East HIGH School Auditorium
When: TUESDAY, MAY 6 TH, 2025
6 P.M. CONCERT – STUDENTS REPORT at 5:30 P.M.
Attire: Students should “dress nicely” for the concert, but remember it will be warm with many players under the stage lights. Avoid jeans due to the heat and of course anything that violates school dress code rules.
ALL STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR INSTRUMENT AND ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS BOOK!
On May 5th, 6th, and 7th, Unity's 3rd grade students will get to visit the Fairview Schoolhouse. This one room school house was built and used by students in the 19th Century. It is one of Sioux City's first early schools and is used today to teach 21st Century school students about the one room school houses of the past. The 3rd grade classes will visit on the following days:
Monday, May 5th - Mrs. Beller's class
Tuesday, May 6th - Mrs. Murman's class
Wednesday, May 7th - Mrs. Koser's class
The Title Team will be hosting this event on Wednesday, May 7th, from 2:15-3:15 pm.
This Pop Open a Good Book Event is for All 2nd and 3rd grade parents and their students!
If parents can't make it, grandparents or family friends are welcome to attend. You are invited to school to read and enjoy a snack with your child. You will also receive important information on how to help your child with fluency. Everyone who attends the presentation will receive information to help your child at home and also receive a free book for your family.
Please look out for forms that will be coming home with your child. Fill them out and return them to school with your child.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Field Day at Unity will be on Tuesday, May 20th! All classes will get the opportunity to spend an hour participating in fun outdoor activities and games!
Please ensure that your student dresses appropriately for outside games including running/tennis type shoes!!
A rain make-up day will be on Thursday, May 22nd!
Just a reminder that if your child brings a cold lunch and wants to purchase a milk here at school, it costs .55 cents. Please make sure that you send money with your child each day that they are going to want to buy a milk. Otherwise, please send a drink with your child to go with their cold lunch.
You can also put money in your child's lunch account so that they have money in the system to purchase milk. You can either do this online on the district website or by sending money to the school in an envelope marked with "Please deposit in lunch account for (child's name and grade)"
Student medication and/or medical supplies will be sent home with your child on the last day of school. If you would like to make other arrangements, please contact the school office before the last day of school. Any unused medication that remains at school will be disposed of in compliance with federal and state laws or will be given to the School Resource Officers for proper disposal.
Sleep for Success
School-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, video games, and hectic family schedules might interfere with kids getting enough sleep.
Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyper types of behavior and may make it difficult for kids to pay attention in school. It is important to have a consistent bedtime, especially on school nights.
Tips for a good night’s sleep:
* Include a winding-down period in the bedtime routine
* Stick to a bedtime and alert your child 30 minutes and 10 minutes beforehand
* Keep TVs and computers out of the bedroom
* Keep child’s bedroom dark, cool, and quiet
* Avoid caffeine
For more information visit kidshealth.org or www.sleepfoundation.org
Outstanding Fees? Pay Them Today!
Do you have school fees that need to be paid? Visit the Sioux City Community School District website and click on “Pay Fees”. This will link you to MySchoolBucks where you can pay your student’s school fees online. Questions? Please give our school office a call.
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.
