Week 3/7/2022
.... It's a GREAT place to be!
Birmingham Covington Schools (BCS)
Office Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Website: https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/bcs
Location: 1525 Covington Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, USA
Phone: 248-203-4444
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Birmingham-Covington-School-257853467700898/
Twitter: @bcs_cobras
3/7/22 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 3/7
- Grades 6-8 author visit with Gordon Korman 8:30-9:20 a.m. via zoom
Tuesday, 3/8
- BCS Pride Meeting 4:15-5:00 p.m. in Mr. Emmi's Room
Wednesday, 3/9
Thursday, 3/10
Friday, 3/11
Upcoming Dates:
All School News
Greetings, BCS Families!
As we move into the month of March, we want to recognize and highlight our new word-of-the-month: Integrity. Integrity, both personal and academic, is essential as we uphold BCS’ values, mission, and vision. As always, we encourage your partnership in helping students reflect on these values at school and at home, understanding the relevance of these traits in multiple contexts, drawing connections between what is taught at school and at home. Below, please find some helpful prompts that may help facilitate conversations with your children about integrity.
We look forward to a great month!
Yours in BCS solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
BCS Happenings
March is Reading Month
March is Reading Month and BCS is ecstatic to announce that author Gordon Korman will visit students in grades 6-8 virtually through a Zoom webinar Monday, March 7, from 8:30-9:20am. We want to thank the Birmingham Education Foundation for the generous funding of the Authors and Artists in Residence Program.
Gordon is the author of 90+ high interest books for kids and teens including Slacker, Restart, Son of the Mob, Ungifted, the Swindle series, the 2016 Birbery winner Masterminds, and the current Birbery pick Linked, just to name a few. If you are interested in supporting this visit and the BEF, please consider using Amazon Smile to purchase a Gordon Korman title. Autographed bookplates will be available for students to apply to their personal copies. There are also plenty of titles by Gordon Korman in our school library, too!
Final Chance for BCS Bagel Promo!
While the pandemic has sidelined several of the 8th Grade fundraising opportunities, we have partnered with the Bagel Boys (Birmingham Public Schools students and BCS alumni!) to bring delicious bagels, cream cheese and lox directly to your home. Bagel slicers are also for sale!
For the entire month of February, the Bagel Boys will offer BCS family and friends a 10% discount on all bagel orders AND will give 10% of all sales back to the 8th grade class to help supplement graduation fundraising needs. All orders (due by 1PM on Saturdays) are delivered to your doorstep on Sunday morning fresh from the Original Bagel Factory.
Bagel Boys deliver to: Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Southfield, Lathrup Village, Franklin, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Oak Park, and Royal Oak. So please extend this promotion to your friends and family as well.
Click on the link below and make sure to use coupon code: BCS10
BPS Outdoor Art Event
May 7th from 1-4 at Beverly Park, all of the art departments in the district will be hosting an out-door, hands on art making event in lieu of the normal district wide art show held at the EAC every year. Our hope as a department is this event gives us an opportunity to engage with our community. Every school will be offering a different art experience. BCS will be gathering materials for a large outdoor textile weaving. We are also offering staff, students, and families to participate in a large collaborative mural. If you would like to be a part of the BCS mural you will need to turn in a finished plastic container (see example below) by April 22, 2022.
We appreciate you participation and are excited to see what creative artwork you all make.
Amanda Husband
Art Teacher
BCS
Battle of the Books 2022
Registration for Battle of the Books 2022 is now open! The form can be found at the BPS Battle website: https://www.baldwinlib.org/battle-of-the-books/. Each team should submit only one registration. There is also a form on the website in case you need to make changes to your registration. If you need help finding a team, there will also be a form for that, which will open on Monday, February 21. Keep reading…the Battle is only a month away! :-)
Please return BCS Open House Yard signs!
BCS Choice Hour
Important Reminders
- Choice Hour runs daily from 3:20-4:10pm
- Busses come AFTER Choice Hour
Choice Hour Schedules
Schedules are available online listed by Student ID number HERE.
Updated class lists will also be given to the teachers weekly while we process choice hour changes. The master schedule is also posted on the Choice Hour Board in the main hall. Our teachers do a great job of acclimating our students to Choice Hour the first few weeks!
Reporting a Choice Hour Absence
Email BCSChoicehour@birmingham.k12.mi.us or leave a message at 248.203.4625
Questions? Contact Courtney Bassett at BCSChoicehour@birmingham.k12.mi.us
BCS Pride
Attention all students! Want to be part of a fun club dedicated to making B C S a safe space for everyone?
Join BCS Pride! We meet every Tuesday 4:15-5pm in Room 600B. Email Mr. Joe for more information: rjoseph@bps-schools.com
PTA Update
Road Rally T-shirt Sponsorship Opportunity - One Spot Remaining!
This year we have up to five sponsorship spots for the back of our Road Rally T-shirts!! Just imagine, the name of your business on the shirts of all of the participants running around town and at the tailgate- how fun!!
At this time, we have only THREE spots remaining!! The t-shirt sponsorship is $500 per business. They will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. The final deadline to be considered is March 10th, 2022. Please email Jenny Wheeler at jennybwheeler@gmail.com if interested and complete the T-Shirt Sponsorship Form
2022 BCS Blast Auction - Call for Volunteers
Please help us make the 2022 Blast Auction a huge success! Did you know that PTA fundraising is the primary source of financial support for BCS's unique curriculum? Our annual Blast Auction is the largest PTA fundraiser and supports the purchase of technology, books, supplies and programming not covered by public funds. Last year's Auction raised over $28,000 in funds to support BCS - we need your help to do this again!
Check out the positions we could use YOUR help with and volunteer! Please sign up by February 10th.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4FA8AD2AAAF85-bcsauction
Celebrate BCS!
Congratulations, Mr. Manchester - Coach of the Year!
BCS PTA Reflections 2021-2022 State Winners
The results from the State level of the Reflections Art Contest have been announced! The following students’ artwork has been recognized for awards at the State level in their specific categories and age groups:
Outstanding Interpretation:
Grace Y – Middle School Dance Choreography
Joseph R – Special Artist Photography
Award of Excellence:
Simreen P – Intermediate Literature
Areeya P – Middle School Photography
Award of Merit:
Charlisa P – Middle School Film Production
The student artwork that was given the award of Outstanding Interpretation now advances to the National level of judging!
Congratulations to all of our BCS winners! We are so proud of your accomplishments!
National Junior Honor Society Serves the Community
The 8th grade NJHS students went to Gleaners Food Bank on Friday. They volunteered for two hours. While there, they packaged 20,000lbs of food for the Detroit community.
Kids Heart Challenge for the AHA
We raised over 15K for the AHA which is the most we have ever raised since we have been doing the Kids Heart Challenge. Kids had a blast participating in our event. Top fund raisers earned the opportunity to put a pie in Mr. Hill's face!
BPS Community News
BEF "Stars of Tomorrow"
Register to watch "BPS Stars of Tomorrow" virtual talent show and vote for your favorite talents! The talent competition will be broadcast Thursday, March 10th at 7 pm. Watch at Home Charcuterie Kits from Beyond Juice are available for purchase as part of our VIP registration. Visit this link for FREE REGISTRATION and to reserve your kit today: https://supportbef.ejoinme.org/SOT. Be entered into a drawing for Birmingham restaurant gift cards just by registering! Value $275.
The silent Auction is NOW OPEN! Go to: https://birmedu2022.ggo.bid/bidding/package-browse to view our amazing auction packages including: Comprehensive orthodontics packages, a collection of premium wines from our Trustees, baskets from our wonderful PTA's, $500 gift certificates to Somerset Collection, reserved student parking spots at Groves and Seaholm, iPad mini and gift certificates to area resturants.
Vote For Elliott!
Vote for Elliott! He’s the sibling of a BCS student in Mr Rick Joseph’s class.
“I am asking for your votes, not donations, just your votes. The voting begins February 16 and ends March 16 so please help me win this adaptive bike & vote today! We have found an ideal adaptive bike I can ride with a family member or friend. It is made by Worksman Cycles and is a two-seater “Electric Lightning” Trike! That is right, it’s Electric and is made in the USA since 1898. I cannot wait to ride it if I win! It is so cool! You are welcome to ride with me too!!!”
MiSelf in Books
The Birmingham Public Schools Library Media Department is pleased to invite our community on a journey into the world of story. We hope to share with our community some of the diverse content in our libraries and how it impacts the way we walk in this world. We are inviting you to listen to a read-aloud and participate in a discussion of a selection of books chosen from the MISelf in Books list. This event occurs weekly on Thursdays 7-7:30pm, excepting school scheduled holidays.
For more information and to register for this event, visit https://www.smore.com/skn6a.
Announcements from Chartwells
BCS is going cashless:
If students would like to continue to make a cash payments, the student can find Mr. Allen in the cafeteria during breakfast.
Other Helpful Resources...
Student Medication
If the BCS Clinic needs to house medication for your student, please drop it off in the Front Office. Be sure you have an updated Permission to Administer form and Action Plan. These forms need to have a physician's signature. Contact Joni Say Gan at JSaygan@birmingham.k12.mi.us with any questions.
Early Dismissal Procedures
Please review these procedures to help keep your students and school safe.
Parents
- Buzz the front door
- Enter building and sign out student
- Show ID
- Student will be called to office
Students
- Will be released after the office staff calls the teacher
- Student will be sent to the office
- Student will be released to the parent
STUDENT IS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE CLASS UNTIL PARENT IS HERE. STUDENTS MUST BE SIGNED OUT IN THE OFFICE. STUDENTS CANNOT EXIT THROUGH ANY OTHER DOOR.
No Early Dismissal after 3:00 p.m
Counseling Corner
We are here to help support your child academically, socially and emotionally during this time. If you would like to request a counseling appointment for your son or daughter, just email his or her counselor using the contact information below. Your counselor will then respond in order to set up an appointment.
Please keep us updated if we can be of any help at this time.
Your BCS Counselors,
Karen Kohler - Last Names A-K (kkohler@birmingham.k12.mi.us) and
Jenny Wagner - Last Names L-Z (jwagner2@birmingham.k12.mi.us)
Schoology Help
If students are having trouble logging in to Schoology or if they found that upon entering, there were no classes, please contact the Help Desk at HelpDesk@birmingham.k12.mi.us or at (248) 203-3123.
Schoology Parent Introduction:
You should have received more information about Schoology, our learning management system. Please review the attached district resources for additional Schoology information.
Note: Your child's teachers will provide class-specific guidance to students/families as they begin to integrate Schoology's features in their courses.
Parent & Student Schoology Reference Page
Check out the Student Schoology Reference page! This document will provide students and parents with instructions on setting up their Schoology account, navigating Schoology, and performing everyday tasks in courses. This reference sheet may provide helpful resources for you to use to help your students become proficient with Schoology.
Emotional Health & Wellness Resources
Cobra Crew
On Thursdays during 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 lunch-recesses, we will be hosting Cobra Crew, an opportunity for peer engagement through games and conversation for any interested students.
A limited number of passes will be available each Thursday for those who would like to join. The purpose of Cobra Crew is to promote kindness, empathy and community at BCS.
If you are interested in opting your child out of this opportunity, please email your child’s counselor.