Week of 9/27/2021
.... 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
9/27/21 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 9/27
- BCS Pride Meeting 4:15-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 9/30
- Welcome Back PTA Event @ Beverly Park, 4:30-7:30 p.m.*
Friday, 10/1
- Half Day for Students in a.m. Professional Development for Teachers p.m.
Upcoming Dates:
- Wednesday, 10/6 Count Day
- Saturday, 10/9 Birmingham Physical Education 5th Grade Run
All School News
Greetings, BCS Families!
After last evening, we have officially finalized all BCS Curriculum Nights for the 2021-22 school year! It was wonderful to have all of our families learn, see, and feel what it is like for our Cobras. We hope you got a sense of our incredible staff and our innovative, student-centered curriculum.
As we continue to highlight, we depend largely on your support and reinforcement of the kinds of academic and social-emotional learning skills students gain at BCS. Earlier this year, we communicated instructions for setting up your individual parent Schoology account. If you missed that communication, please see the following link for instructions: Parent Schoology Account Instructions.
We hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
Yours in BCS solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
Strides for SOS - Sunday, September 26th!
The second annual Strides for SOS 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk is happening this Sunday, Sept. 26 at Seaholm High School. It’s the largest fundraiser of the year for SOS! Your participation will help SOS continue to provide financial and other support to BPS families in need.
The top 3 schools with the most participation will earn a cash award for their school's Community Council. BCS is currently in 3rd place! Let’s not lose our place!
Register today!
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Birmingham/SOSMilesforMeals5kand1MileRace
Race course map and more information about SOS can be found at: schoolsoffersupport.org
Count Day is October 6th
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6 is COUNT DAY: Please ensure that your child attends every class and does not arrive late or leave early as our school funding depends on it. Thank you for your support!
Next Level Literacy Night
Thursday October 7
6:30-8pm
BCS Library
Have you ever wondered how to foster - or continue to foster - a love of reading in your child? Are you familiar with the array of multimedia offerings available through our BCS library and the public libraries? From traditional print books, to ebooks and audiobooks there are more choices now than ever.
Please join our BCS Community as we consider how to sustain a lifelong reading habit in your child whether they are reluctant to read or can't turn the light off at night.
Questions? Email Rick Joseph at rjoseph@bps-schools.com
PTA Newsflash
- Welcome Back (Rescheduled!!): Thursday, September 30th from 4:30-7:30pm.
- BCS front office parent volunteers needed! Working the front office is a great way to connect with the school. Any volunteer time is appreciated. Please contact Kate Southby, katie_southby@yahoo.com (note katie with an “ie” in the email address) if you would be interested in learning more and getting on the volunteer email list and receive the sign up genius link to check out available days and times that might work in your schedule!
Thank you to parents who have filled many PTA Positions. We are still looking for one more Room Parent for Joseph/Warner classrooms.
- Families….Please update your *Directory* information. If you are a new family, all contact info needs to be entered in Membership Toolkit. All existing families need to review and confirm your contact info in Membership Toolkit. You can still purchase a Printed Directory for $10 on MTK.
- Have you joined the PTA?? Your Membership and Direct Donation (any amount) helps benefit your children’s learning. Did you know that the PTA is trying to support $54,000 worth of Curriculum Enrichment this school year? Your donations pay for these programs!! Log into your Membership Toolkit account: http://bcspta.membershiptoolkit.com/
- Having trouble accessing Membership Toolkit? Please contact Donna Kramer at dkramer216@yahoo.com for assistance.
- PTA Membership Thermometer is hanging near the front door. We have jumped up! 66% of our families have joined the PTA. Lets try to reach 100%!!
- The next PTA Clearinghouse Meeting is Thursday October 7th at 1:15pm via Zoom. All parents are welcome to join us! Previous Meeting Minutes can be read on the BCS Website/PTA including Superintendent Dr. Roberson comments.
Birmingham Physical Education 5th Grade Run!
BEF Homecoming Tailgate Events
Come cheer on your favorite football team at the BEF Tailgate Events in celebration of their homecoming games:
Friday, October 1st - Outside the entrance to Falcon Field, Groves HS 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday, October 8th - Inside the entrance to Maple Field, Seaholm HS 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Free cider & donuts from Franklin Cider Mill along with giveaways from our sponsors DTE Energy (Groves) and Dean Sellers Ford (Seaholm).
*Birmingham Education Foundation provides funding for teacher grants to support enrichment programs and activities to BPS students.
Media Center Notes
- FAQs: When does your class come down for checkout? What can you do in the library? What does the library curriculum cover? Get the basics on the BCS Library 2021-22 offerings here.
- Birthday Book Club: Celebrate your child’s birthday in a special way and help our library collection continue to grow! If you choose to participate in the program, your child will be invited to select a new book from our Birthday Book Club cart on or near your child’s birthday (summer birthdays will celebrated during the month of their half birthday). Inside the book we will place a bookplate with your child’s name, photo, and birthday. If you are interested in joining, complete the Birthday Book Club registration form and return it along with the $15 (per child) donation to the BCS Library. Make checks payable to BCS.
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.
Friends of Different Learners: Meeting Announcement
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
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!
Choice Hour Changes
The change period for Quarter I is over. Changes will be published on the public schedule no later than Monday September 13.
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
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
Other Helpful Resource Links...
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.