Newsletter Translation
Welcome to March! Thank you for your attendance at our Spring Conference. We strive to meet with each and every one of our parents during our conferences. Even more importantly, thank you for your ongoing communication with our teachers via Class Dojo, email, and phone. Your partnership is absolutely critical in your child's successful academic life.
We are gearing up for our "assessment season!" First, our students that have language needs will take the English Language Proficiency Assessment" in the coming weeks. Then we will give our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders the Conditions for Learning (CFL) survey and then the biggie: Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The CFL and ISASP inform the state on our progress towards growth and proficiency. We then get a "designation" from that score. It is and will be absolutely crucial that your child does their absolute best on these surveys and assessments. We will be ramping up for these in April with a spirit week, breakfast, and theme days during testing. Stay tuned for more information, ask your children about them, and stay engaged in the process.
I always look forward to hearing from you, working with you, and celebrating alongside of you. Thank you for sharing your children with us!
Yours in Education,
Eric Kilburn | Unity Principal
Spring Picture Day will be held on Wednesday, March 8th! Watch for the flyer that will be coming home with your student. Spring Pictures will be taken of all students and pictures can be ordered online either prior to picture day or up to one week after. All ordering of pictures must be done ONLINE ONLY! DSSCHOOLS.COM
If you have questions about how you can be a part of the Unity PTO, please email us at:
This program takes place in the library on the following dates from 8:20 - 8:35 am:
Friday, March 31st
Friday, April 21st
Friday, May 19th - All school day event where all students receive a book for summer break
Pop Open a Good Book
4th & 5th Grades ~ March 15, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Parents are invited to a parent connection time learning how to help your 4th and/or 5th grade child with their reading at home. Time will be given to use what you learn as you spend time reading with your child. Popcorn and a drink along with information and books will be given to each family that attends
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.)
All Iowa public school districts are required to administer an annual school climate and culture survey to students in grades 3-12 called Conditions for Learning Survey. The survey is designed to measure their engagement in school, safety, and the overall learning environment. The survey will be administered to students in early April.
In April, parents and families of students in preschool through grade 12 will also have the opportunity to participate in the Parent Conditions for Learning Survey. The survey contains similar items to those on the student survey, focusing 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.
Please watch your email for more information on the 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.
Unity Student Leadership
Unity Student Leadership showed kindness to the student body at Unity with a small token on Valentine’s Day. USL students were responsible for filling small gift bags with stickers or treats for each classroom with Valentine items purchased through a grant received from the Siouxland Community Foundation.
Next up, USL is making plans to purchase playground equipment with money from the same grant. Plans in April include an Arbor Day appreciation which will include grounds clean up and planting a tree with assistance from the City of Sioux City.
Weekly jobs that USL manage include K/1 lunchroom support, playground equipment inventory and helping with announcements twice per week.
Unity teachers sponsoring USL include Ms. Terry, Ms. Hanson, Ms. Davis and Ms. Mikkelson
The in TEAM U stands for Excellence.
We can show excellence by:
· showing up to school on time.
· keeping my hands to myself.
· saying thank you when I get my lunch.
· studying my spelling words.
· listening to my teacher.
· completing my work on time and doing grade level work.
· using my manners, saying please, thank you, pardon me.
· saying thank you to my teachers for working so hard for me and my classmates.
Elementary Mental Health
Everyone feels sad, mad or worried sometimes. While it may be hard to let others know how you are feeling, you may show it in how you think, feel, or act. You may
· Eat less or more
· Argue more
· Cry easily
· Feel bored with things you like
· Have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep
· Want to be alone a lot
· Act before thinking
· Have less energy
· Feel nervous/stressed
When you feel this way, you may want to do something to help you feel better, such as
· Write a story
· Play outside
· Do a puzzle
· Smile or laugh
· Ride a bike
· Draw or paint
If this does not help, talk with a parent or grown up! They should be able to help.
https://www.gizmo4mentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GizmoPawesome.pdf
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