Newsletter Translation
And just like that our year is wrapping up! As I write this we are in the midst of ISASP testing. I am so very proud of your children, their teachers, and YOU for preparing our children to take these assessments. I am confident that when we get our scores back they will show growth for our 4th and 5th graders, and a strong foundation for our 3rd graders.
No matter what the outcome of our test results I have felt extremely proud of your learners and their teachers this year. They are working hard and want to do well. This world is in for a treat when your kids grow up!
As we transition into the summer, you may receive a phone call from your classroom teacher regarding summer school. If your child needs a little extra literacy or math support, we have the program for you! Transportation, breakfast, lunch, and a cool Science/Technology/Engineering/Math program will be available in June. If you haven't heard from your teacher and are interested, give us a call!
Lastly, I have plans this summer to engage a group of parents that are interested in learning more about a "Balanced Calendar" approach to education. You may know this as "Year-round school/calendar." This will simply be an educational experience for myself and a group of parents wanting to know more about this approach and potentially exploring it for Unity Elementary. If you are interested please give us a call in the main office!
I'm finishing up six years (what!!) here at Unity. Each year I feel more and more blessed and fortunate to serve this community of learners. If there is ever anything I can do for you or your family please reach out and let me know!
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:
North High School Boys Soccer is sponsoring a Youth Soccer Camp on Saturday, May 6th, at Leeds Elementary School. The Youth Camp is open to boys and girls grades K-6th. Athletes should bring tennis shoes or soccer cleats, their own water bottle, and a soccer ball if possible.
Registration needed by Friday, May 5th
This event is ran by North High School Boys Soccer players and coaches as a season fundraiser.
Contact Drew Gerch at gerchd1@live.siouxcityschools.com with any questions.
Cost is $30 per athlete and includes a T-shirt!
- Grades K-3: 9:30 - 11:30 am
- Grades 4-6: 12:00 - 2:00 pm
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 in May:
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
This program takes place in the library on the following dates:
Friday, May 19th - All school day event where all students receive a book for summer break
The Sioux City Community School District is once again participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals are available Monday through Friday for all children ages 1-18 years without charge. Please visit the District’s website for more information including serving sites and schedules.
There are a variety of community events, camps, and more to keep your student active and learning during the summer months. Check out the latest Virtual Backpack newsletter, emailed to district families every month, or click here for a calendar of upcoming events.
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.
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.
Children and Video Games
What do some parents think about video games?
Pros
Video games Provide Children with positive reinforcement
Videogames encourage children to problem solve
Videogames improve hand eye coordination
Video games build upon a child’s team working skills
Cons
Video games distract children from school education academics and homework.
Children do not know when to stop and become addicted to video games
Children are missing activities, which are fundamental to physical social,
Intellectual and emotional development.
Playing video games can be extremely damaging for children by dangerous exposure to violence.
Research tells us the Following:
Video gaming is exciting and fun for children BUT when children play video games, they feel stress-like symptoms in their bodies.
Some games can help children’s development in the areas of:
* Fine Motor
* Visual Attention
* Visual Attention
* Reaction Speed
* Spatial Perception
* Strategic Thinking Skills
BUT other games negatively affect skill in:
· Language
· Social Development
· Emotional Regulation
· Impulse Control
Children meet up with their friends through online games to socialize and can learn useful social skills like taking turns.
BUT not all games are teaching children appropriate social skills. There is a risk of interacting with strangers online. Also, too much screen time will mean children are not socializing as much in the real world.
* Encourage your child to play educational video games rather than solely entertaining and /or violent ones.
* Interact with your child during the game. You can play with your child or watch them and interact by asking questions.
* Find exercise video games to help your child get some movement while improving their overall brain function.
https://ei.northwestern.edu/video-games-and-child-development--what-does-the-research-say?share
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
