Knights News

We would llike to extend a warm "Welcome Back" to all our Unity families! We hope you all had an amazing summer, but we missed your smiling faces! We are positive that the 2025-2026 school year is going to be a fantastic one!

There will be no school for staff or students on Monday, September 1st, in observation of Labor Day! Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!

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.

At this time, school lunches are free to every student here at Unity! Due to the government program that allows us to offer free meals to students, each student must choose at least 3 of the offered breakfast and lunch items with their meal. If a student chooses to bring a cold lunch from home, please also provide a drink for your child. If your child wants to have a milk from school to have with their lunch, the cost is .55 cents per milk, unless they also take the minimum requirement of 3 of the items offered at that meal.

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

Now is the time of year that Parents/Guardians can go to the Sioux City Community School's website, www.siouxcityschools.com, and complete the Online Verification for this school year.

Online Verification gives parents/guardians the opportunity to modify and/or confirm contact information and complete appropriate forms for the school year. Within Online Verification, parents/guardians will:

• Update or change contact information

• Update a student's health history

• Apply for bus transportation

It is very important for every family to complete this process so that we have the most updated, accurate information for your student(s).

This is just a reminder that all students must pay school fees each year. The school fees per student for the 25-26 school year is $34. These fees can be paid on myschoolbucks.com by credit card, or they can be paid in the office with cash or check.

There will be important paperwork coming home with your students in the next few days, please be sure to check your child's backpack daily. It's vital that this paperwork be filled out and returned to the school. One of the things you may see is the Home Income Survey. We must receive one of these filled out for EVERY student at Unity in order for us to continue receiving free breakfasts and lunches for all of our students.

Some students may need prescription and non-prescription medication to participate in their educational program.

Emergency and non-emergency medication shall be administered when the student’s legal guardian and prescribing physician annually provides a signed and dated Medication Administration Authorization form requesting medication administration at school.

The medication must be in the original labeled container, as dispensed from the pharmacy or in the manufacturer’s container.

Authorization forms for medication and inhalers at school can be accessed at www.siouxcityschools.org under School Board, Board Policies (504.12).

Regular school attendance is very important for your child’s learning and success.

Please make sure your child is In School, On Time, Everyday.

If your child has an appointment, or will be absent for any reason, please call the school office to let us know. We also have a staff member who speaks Spanish, and can assist you if needed.

Thank you for your support in helping us provide the best education for your child.

A head louse is a tiny, wingless insect that can attach to a person’s hair, where it feeds on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Lice are not dangerous and they do not spread disease.

Signs and Symptoms:

o Severe itching of the scalp

o Nits (tiny oval specks of grey or yellow-white on the hair shaft)

o Lice (reddish brown tiny insects on the scalp or hair shaft)

o Small red bumps on the scalp or a rash with crusting and oozing (if severe), at this point seek medical attention.

What to Do:

A doctor can recommend treatment for continued lice infestations or the school nurse will have steps you can follow.

Here are some simple ways to get rid of lice and their eggs around the house:

o Check everyone in the house for lice and seek treatment if necessary.

o Wash all the bed linens and clothing in very hot water, then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.

o Vacuum carpets and any cloth-covered furniture in your home and car.

o Discard hair-care items or soak them in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour, then wash them in hot soapy water.

Think Prevention!!

You can help prevent head lice by telling kids:

o To try to avoid head to head contact with other children

o Do not share combs, brushes, hair ties, hats, etc.

o Do not lie on bedding, pillows, and carpets that have recently been used by someone

with lice

For more information visit:

www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/epi_manual/lice.pdf OR

www.cdc.gov/lice/head