Family Weekly News
April 24, 2019 - Happy Spring Recess!
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
Student Led Conferences (SLCs) are a little less than three weeks away, scheduled for Thursday evening, May 9th and Friday afternoon, May 10th. We expect all families to attend with their child on one of these dates and hope to achieve a 100% turnout.
As you know, SLCs provide an opportunity for your child to formally present and engage you in a dialogue about their learning, academic work, and habits of scholarship. Students will share with you their areas of strength as well as their areas in need of improvement and provide an action plan to address such areas.
SLCs shift the focus of the conference to students being the leaders of their own learning.
We mailed home PupilPath snapshots on Wednesday, April 10th. In preparation for the upcoming SLCs, we encourage you to speak to your child about their progress in their classes.
Expect to hear from your child’s crew leader when we return from spring recess to schedule a time slot for your child’s SLC. Your child will also be given by their crew leader a Parent Confirmation Response Sheet to bring home with a time slots. Please complete and have your child return to their crew leader.
We welcome your continued partnership in supporting your child and look forward to seeing you at the SLCs.
In partnership,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
Mark Your Calendars
4/30 - Reading in the Round Parent Book Club (6:00 -7:30 p.m.)
5/1 - 5/2 - Math State Tests
5/1 - 5/2 - Better World Service Day (Upper Grades)
5/3 - Better World Service Day (Lower Grades)
5/3 - Showtime @ BCS Talent Showcase (4:30 -6:30p.m.)
5/6 - 5/17 - NYSESLAT Reading, Writing, Listening Test
5/9 - Student Led Conferences (SLCs) evening
5/10 - Family Breakfast Series
Check this link for important dates: http://www.bcs448.org/monthly-calendar/
to see our updates on the web.
Contact Information:
To sign up for our parent mailing list, please email scill@bcs448.org with your name, your child’s name and grade level. Note: if you are receiving this email, you are already on our parent mailing list.
If you have any additional questions, please email imani@bcs448.org or tracey@bcs448.org.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
PupilPath Snapshots Mailed Home Wednesday, April 10th
PupilPath snapshots were mailed home on Wednesday, April 10th
In preparation for Student Led Conferences (SLCs), take the opportunity to continue a dialogue with your child about their overall performance in their classes, areas in need of improvement, and their habits of scholarship needed to demonstrate mastery and to end the semester on a high note.
Continue to encourage your child to persist and to attend Tuesday Mastery Support after school if they need additional academic support
Join BCS Reading in the Round Parent Book Club on Tuesday, April 30th
- WHAT: Join our Brooklyn Collaborative Parent Book Club!
- APRIL BOOK SELECTION: RicanStruction: Reminiscing and Rebuilding Puerto Rico by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez (parent of BCS 9th grader).
- WHEN: Tuesday, April 30th.
- TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- WHERE: BCS/BNS Library
- WHY: A wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, read some of the ‘hottest’ Young Adult (YA) authors that our students are reading, use fiction to explore, address, and discuss issues our students may face around race, gender, class, sexuality, equality, etc.
- BOOK AVAILABLE: At your local library and through Amazon. If you have any difficulty getting the book, please email Imani ASAP at imani@bcs448.org or BCS librarian Amanda C at amandac@bcs448.org
- LIGHT SUPPER PROVIDED
- PLEASE RSVP TO IMANI at Imani@bcs448.org and librarian Amanda Clarke at amandac@bcs448.org
Join us for Showtime @ BCS Talent Showcase on Friday, May 3rd at 4:30 p.m.
WHAT: Showtime @ BCS Talent Showcase.
WHEN: Friday, May 3rd
TIME: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: BCS/BNS Auditorium
We have singers, dances, poets, beat-boxers, and more!
Snacks available for sale!
Join us for Family Fun Day Trip to Bronx Zoo: Saturday, May 11th
- Join us Saturday, May11h for a family fun day trip to the Bronx Zoo.
- All BCS families are welcome. We will meet at BCS at 10:15 a.m.sharp. and return around 3:30 p.m.
- Transportation is provided. Admission is FREE.
- Bus seats are filling up quickly.
- RSVP to Imani@bcs448.org and tracey@bcs448.org.
BCS PTA CORNER
PTA Nominations on Tuesday, May 7th: BCS PTA Needs Your Ideas & Enthusiasm
- WHAT: PTA Executive Board Nominations for co-presidents, co-secretaries, co-treasurers, and members-at-large.
- WHY:The PTA is an essential part of our school. The 2018-2019 PTA is so proud to have served! They got a lot done! Now it’s YOUR turn - please consider nominating yourself, or a parent you respect, to serve on the PTA. Supporting and serving on the PTA is about your choices for the kind of school you want BCS to be! The PTA needs 8-10 parents to come forward to create a board that represents parents, stands up for students, and supports the teachers and administrators at BCS
- WHEN: Tuesday, May 7th; Board nominations will take place during next month’s PTA General meeting:
- TIME: 6:30 pm
- WHERE: BCS/BNS Cafeteria
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Co-presidents Veronica Cruz and Reshonah Bennett at bcsptapresident@gmail.com
Be the difference in your child’s educational experience!
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Student Panels on Mastery-Based Grading
- We held a student panel during our recent staff PD to deepen our understanding of students' experience with and understanding of mastery based grading and culturally responsive curriculum.
- We eagerly listed to what students had to share about mastery grading and how they feel their identities are reflected in our school program and curriculum.
Congrats to Seniors who Registered to Vote!
- Shout out to our seniors who made one of the biggest decisions of their lives. They registered to vote!
- A huge thank you to Tamika for registering our seniors and some of our BCS alum.
- Kudos to the class of 2019!
7th Grade ELA Annual Debate: Should human genetic modification be allowed in America?
- The 7th grade students were well prepared, passionate, persistent, courageous, impressive, and insightful as they ably debated the question: Should human genetic modification be allowed in America.
- Kudos to the students and to their teachers Jane, Christina B., and Devon.
8th Grade Science Annual Dissection Lab
- Students were open-minded, curious, collaborative, persistent, and engaged as they studied anatomical features through dissection.
- Kudos to the students and to their teachers Vibert and Christina T..
9th Grade Crew Orientation Camping Trip
- Our 9th graders had an incredible Crew Orientation camping trip from 4/16-4/18. The faced undertook the High Ropes Challenge course and made multiple long hikes to different several campsites each night.
- They prepared their own meals, built campfires, and pitched their own shelters. They were present for one another and exhibited the BCS core values: courageous, open-minded, persistent, collaborative, kind, and responsible.
- A huge round of thanks to crew leaders Alex, Arden, Brittany, Phil G., Phil S., Sarah, and Stephen. Major kudos to Brittany who is our Crew Orientation Camping Coordinator.
- Check out the blog: https://nycoutwardbound.wordpress.com/
STUDENT CLUBS
SHOUT OUT to Eddie and the BCS Robosharks Team!!
- Kudos to our BCS Robotics Team--the Robosharks for their solid performance in the annual First Robotics PowerUptournament held at the Armory Track & Field Center on April 5-7.
- Hoorays and high fives for placing 18th out of over 50 teams competing.
- A huge shout out to Ed for his persistent dedication and unwavering support of the Robosharks and his commitment to developing and growing our Robotics team.
Congratulations to team members Jalen Ayala, Khalil Baidhani, Zachary Kenny, Thomas Clarke, Marcela Castro, David Hudson,Jaylah Roberts, Taneequa Miller,Jonathan Saavedra, Angel Negron,Jingyu Liu, Natan Birnbaum, Ethan Yeung,Stiven Vasquez-Nunez, Damaris Pérez ,Micheal Moreles-Guzman, Hernan Cortez,Jenia Steele,Kwayera Greene, and Cristian Colon
- The competition welcomed teams from all over the world!
Congratulations to the BCS Debate Team!
The BCS Debate Team participated in the Middle School State Championships on April 5th-7th--their final tournament of the year! The following teams represented BCS:
- Benji Weiss & Clyde Konty (Novice Public Forum)
- Rahm Kosman & Atticus Piano (Novice Public Forum)
- Eliza Kahn & Elijah Godsberg (Intermediate Public Forum)
- Shai Chiappetta & Tovi Albores-Falk (Open Public Forum)
- Luke Dahlhaus & Leo Godsberg (Open Public Forum)
Congratulations to our Debate Team for being persistent and keeping a winning attitude through many tough matches! Benji & Clyde reached top 16 and earned speakers awards. Luke & Leo reached top 4 and earned speaker awards. In fact, because the tournament ran long the semifinal and final matches still haven't happened in open public forum! Stay tuned to hear how Luke & Leo do.
Kudos to Adam and the BCS Debate Team for a wonderful season. We look forward to growing the team next year and including and high school students.
BCS is becoming a school to watch out for on the tournament scene.
Student Council Weekly Update
- On Friday, April 12th, Student Council had its weekly meeting (Grades 6-12).
- Grade representatives continued their committee work.
- The Beautification/School Facilities Committee met with Custodian Engineer Manny to share and discuss their findings from the circles, survey, and meeting with Johanna and to collaborate with the custodial team on how to efficiently and effectively implement the Committee's ideas about school cleanliness.
- The School Spirit Committee engaged in a glows/grows activity as they reflected upon the March Madness events that included the staff vs. student basketball game and the pep rally preceding the game, spirit days, the Middle School Glow Dance Party and the High School "Rep Your Flag" Dance Party. They were deservedly proud of the success of March Madness!They Committee also began to plan for the next staff vs. student volleyball game and pep rally on Friday, May 24th.
- The Fundraising Committee is planning additional fundraising bake sales.
- Student Council as a whole also drafted a response letter about closing the bathroom doors for the first and last 10 minutes of each class period. The letter will be shared with BCS community after spring recess. Student Council also began a discussion about a school store for next year.
- Social Justice Committee: Shout out to our middle school student council members Isabella, Clyde, and Benji for raising awareness at BCS about the Youth Climate Strike and spearheading student participation.Over 30 students and families participated!
- Student Council meets weekly periods 5 & 6 in the Health Studio (room 124)
FAMILY & STUDENT PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, & EVENT
U.S. Census 2020 Jobs Available
- WHAT: The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting for thousands of temporary job positions across the country.
- WHY: Opportunity to help your community be counted while earning some extra income. To qualify, you must:
- QUALIFICATIONS: Be at least 18 years old. Have a valid Social Security number. Be a U.S. citizen. Have a valid email address. Complete an application and answer assessment questions (some assessment questions are available in Spanish. However, an English proficiency test may also be required). Be registered with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959. Pass a Census-performed criminal background check and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting. Commit to completing training. Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.
- REQUIREMENTS: Most jobs require employees to have access to a vehicle and a valid driver's license, unless transportation is readily available. Have access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).
- TO APPLY: If you qualify and feel this is a good opportunity for you, please apply online at https://2020census.gov/jobs.
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020) or 800-877-8339 for Federal Relay Service. You may also speak directly with the Recruiting Assistant of the Field Division for the North Brooklyn Census Office, Ms. Shaniquoa Elrington by calling 646-598-7222.
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA @ BCS After School Program
- This week the YWCA @ BCS After school made homemade Carribean style patties! Our cooking class prepped, seasoned, cooked and served delicious patties for their after-school peers. They also learned some fun facts about the Carribean culture and signature foods.
- Our Art class is still working on their cool “World Map” project. This is where geography meets Art as students create a beautiful wooden piece that will be on display in an upcoming YWCA art gallery this month.
- Our group “The Eliminators” is working on a much longer and more difficult routine than ever before. We are excited to see them perform for the showcase.
- For more information on our program, please contact Janet Cooper at jcooper@ywcanyc.org
FUNDRAISING CORNER
Brooklyn Collaborative Wish Lis
- We greatly appreciate you taking a look at our wish list and supporting us in whatever ways you can.
- Link: http://a.co/bb5yXoj
Box Tops for Education Box Tops for Education
- BCS participates in the Box Tops for Education program. This program provides schools with a way to raise funds by turning in cut-out box tops from specially marked General Mills products.
- Each collected box top can be redeemed for ten cents.
- Please collect your box tops and submit them to Tracey in Rm 410