Week of 6/5/2023
.... It's a GREAT place to be!
Birmingham Covington Schools (BCS)
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
6/5/23 - This week at BCS
Monday, June 5: Move Up Day
Tuesday, June 6: 8th Grade Celebration
Wednesday, June 7: Wacky Recess and Gold Rush
Thursday, June 8: End of Year Activities with Grade Groups
Friday, June 9: Last Day of School, Half Day, No Choice Hour
Greetings BCS Families!
Happy Last Week of School! We hope everyone enjoys the variety of activities and celebrations we have planned this week. Monday (6/5) is Move-Up Day where all of our new BCS families, including our incoming third graders and their families, are invited to participate in a meet-and-greet with their new teachers and classmates. And on Tuesday (6/6), we will celebrate our wonderful 2023 8th Grade Class and wish them farewell as they progress in the next chapter of their educational journeys. And just like that, the BCS 'Circle of Life' continues. We certainly are going to miss our Cobras and hope this last week of school is the kickstart to a well-deserved summer break.
As the year concludes, we want to extend our sincerest thanks to each of you for your support, encouragement, and generosity throughout the year. You are an integral part of BCS' success, and we appreciate all you do to help us provide our students with an exceptional educational experience
We wish you all a safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating summer!
Yours in BCS Solidarity,
Dr. Omar Hakim
BCS, Principal
Mr. Jason Hill
BCS, Assistant Principal
All School News
Save the date for Move Up Day!
Monday, June 5th from 9-10:30 a.m.
New students and parents are invited into our school for this event! While parents are educated on BCS through a series of different presentations, students meet their teachers, classmates and participate in activities to become acclimated to their new school.
Current BCS students will move up to their next grade level and meet their teachers!
We are looking for parent volunteers! Please considering helping out!
Please Check Lunch Balances!
https://birmingham.familyportal.cloud/
How to pay for deficit / negative lunch account balances:
Each student has their own lunch account. Lunch accounts should be prepaid. They are not to be used as a charge account; rather, much like a checking or debit account. However, we will never deny a student a lunch (unless there is a parental restriction). If your student's BPS breakfast/lunch account (Family Portal) currently has a negative balance we please ask that you pay this balance as soon as possible by either form of payment:
1. Online at Family Portal
2. To your child's school with a check payable to BPS or cash
Procedures for students with deficit / negative lunch account balances:
Students will be allowed to charge a complete school meal (entrée, fruit, vegetable, and milk) on their lunch account. Parents or guardians will be notified by email from Family Portal that their student has a negative balance and to pay the balance.
*We will never take a hot entrée from a student at point of sale - even if this is a second entree.*
If you have any questions regarding your student’s lunch account or would like to control what they are purchasing, please visit Family Portal as parents can change these settings. Any further questions, please contact Chartwells Administrator, at 248-203-3966
Notes from our TOA
8th grade: Laptop check-in will take place in the media center during Mr. Mixon's C1-C4 classes on Wednesday, May 31 - Friday, June 2nd. Students should check in with Mr. Mixon before turning in their laptop to the media center. If students need a laptop for summer school, there will be laptops available at their summer school building.
5th-7th grade: students will keep their laptop over the summer.
4th grade: students will return their chromebook to their teacher.
3rd grade: students will keep their chromebook over the summer.
Time to clear library fines!
Please remind your student to look in their lockers, backpacks, and at home for any missing materials. Students will not be able to participate in any of the fun activities/field trips coming up until their books are turned in and their lost book fines are paid. Any fines assigned to students should be handed in to the front office.
If your student thinks they turned a book in, but it is still on their account, please have them check the shelf in the Media Center where it should be located. If found, please have them put it in the Turn-In bin and we will ensure it gets properly checked in.
All books and MC materials need to be returned by Friday, June 2nd. There will be no book checkout after this point, unless a student is working on an end of year project.
Thank you for your help 😊
8th Grade Celebration
Please see the following sign up genius for opportunities to donate your time and resources! Note, if you are donating items, they can be dropped off in the office vestibule starting Tuesday, May 30th!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d45ada72baa8-8thgrade#/
June 5th - 2-3:30pm - Graduation Rehearsal during the school day at BCS (students only)
June 6th - 1:30-4:00pm - Celebration Set up
June 6th -
- 6:30pm: 8th Grade Celebration Ceremony
- 7:30pm: 8th grade Reception
- 8:00pm: 8th Grade Dance (students only)
7th Grade Parents, Graduation Day
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d45ada72baa8-7thgrade#/
June 6th
- 2:00-4:00pm: Ceremony Set Up (Gym)
- 12:00-4:00pm: Decorate School
- 2:00-4:00pm: Reception Set Up
Last Day of School: 7/8th grade breakfast (a great sneak peak for 7th graders to see what is to come)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d45ada72baa8-78#/
June 9th
- 8:00-11am: Breakfast Set up (cafteria)
- 8:00-11am: Clean up (cafeteria)
- 8:00-11am: Servers (cafeteria)
Questions? Please contact Alifya Vohra (alifya@gmail.com) or Meredith Carrel (mfcarrel@comcast.net
Quarter 1 Choice Hour 2023-2024
Choice Hour sign-up for Quarter I of the 2023-24 school year will go live the week of August 14, 2023. Check back then for the sign-up form link and booklet. As a reminder, Choice Hour sign-up is not first come, first serve. There will be a week long sign up period during which families can take time to look at the offerings and submit their forms. Payments will be due and accepted at the time of sign-up in August.
Questions? Email BCSChoicehour@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Choice Hour is looking for teachers!
Are you interested in teaching Choice Hour?
Do you have a skill, hobby, passion, or line of work that could lend itself to our amazing enrichment program? Some of our student's favorite classes have been taught by our awesome parents and family members. Consider this opportunity. Classes typically meet once a week for 10 weeks. Class size, age range, and budget are all customized based on the need of the teacher/course. Teaching Choice Hour is a great way to get more involved with our school.
Do you have a lead for a class or know someone that would be a great fit for our program?
Please contact Mrs. Bassett if so! As a reminder, while ideas are always welcome, it is helpful if you have a connection to accompany your idea!
The Choice Hour offerings are carefully put together to fit the needs of our students, staff, and budget. We reach out to our community for help and input but please know that the process of solidifying each quarter is a tricky one. Sometimes, it may take some time to roll out a new, great idea.
We are planning Quarter I classes for next school year, now. If you are interested, contact Mrs. Bassett now so that we can plan accordingly for the fall kick off!
Contact Courtney Bassett, Community Engagement Coordinator, at cbassett@birmingham.k12.mi.us in regards to the above opportunities!
PTA Update
Move Up Day is Monday, June 5th from 9-10:30am. Move Up Day is an exciting day where students will get to meet their teacher for the fall and we welcome the incoming 3rd graders. We are looking for a few volunteers to help with the day's event. Please sign up here.
Wacky Recess WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7TH
All BCS students will have a special WACKY RECESS on Wednesday, June 7th! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to make this day possible!! Please donate an hour or so of your time. Opportunities are on a Sign-Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4DADA922A4FA7-wacky1
Playground Fundraiser Update!
Our total sales were $32,419 and we have raised $16,209.50 with this fundraiser as well as $2,075 in direct donations for a grand total of $18,284.50 towards our $150,000 goal. If you missed out on the fundraiser and still want to help out, please consider a direct donation, it is tax deductible. The top 5 winners are:
1. Kadyn Mahluli
2. Reagan Stress
3. Asher Frank
4. Cora and Sloane Bogner
5. Kendall Gailliard
End of the year Gift Crowd
As the year is winding down, it's the perfect time to show our appreciation for all the wonderful teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond for our children this year! What better way to do that than through the gift of giving? I'd like to encourage you all to check out Gift Crowd, a fantastic website where you can easily donate to your child's teacher or school staff member.
And as an added bonus, we have added a special member of our school community who has brought endless amounts of joy and comfort to our children - our therapy dog, Riker! She has been an incredible asset to our school already, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety among our students, and we'd love to show our appreciation for her as well.
BPS Community News
Cobra Kits available through the BEF!
Groves Performing Arts Company Announcement
Seaholm PTA Announcement
Parents of Incoming Seaholm Freshmen, Fall of 2023
Join the Seaholm Class of 2027 PTA Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1804565839921537/?ref=share_group_link
BCS Reminders
8th Grade Families
We look forward to helping your student make a successful transition to high school! We have created a page to house all of the information families will need in one place. Please save this link and continue to check back for updates as new details are added.
Community Service/ Service Learning
We are so lucky that members of our Cobra Community are always finding ways to positively impact the school and wider community. If you have an idea for a community service, or service learning project please complete the form below and return it to the office in the bin provided. Please submit your proposal no later than the second Thursday of the month PRIOR to the month you would like to do your project. This ensures that the Service Learning Committee will be able to carefully consider all proposals and properly support those selected to ensure maximum success.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nD6WpbqCqFzW2hq1zinL_zz51qTzXLxUQXCHDTqOdNM/copy
Early Dismissal Procedures
Please review these procedures to help keep your students and school safe. No Early Dismissal after 3:00 p.m
- Buzz the front door
- Be prepared to show identification if asked
- Sign student out on the sign in/out sheet
- Students will be released after the office staff calls the teacher
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.
1:1 Laptop Technology Update
We are thrilled to announce that all students will have computer devices at BCS as our district officially becomes a 1:1 district!
For 3-4 students, students will receive Google Chromebooks as they have the past few years. Chromebooks will be distributed to incoming third graders during the first or second week of school.
All 5-8 students will receive a laptop during the first week of school. For all you need to know about 5-8 laptops, please review the linked 5-8 BCS 1:1 Laptop Information & Forms
Parents must review, print, and sign the linked agreement before receiving a laptop.
For technology support, students should write an e-mail directly to support@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Sending a message to this address will automatically create a ticket for students.
No Cell Phones/Smart Watches During School Day
Students will have access to their school-issued 1:1 device- either a Chromebook or Dell Laptop. This is the appropriate tool for all classroom related technology.
We believe this to be the safest and most productive approach we can use to keep students safe and keep them focused on their instructional and educational goals.
Other Helpful Resource Links...
BCS Connect with Us!
All Students, Parents, Staff Can Report Safety Threats Using OK2Say
Not all heroes wear a cape and tights. A real hero speaks up for what's right. Be a real hero. If you see or hear something that threatens student or school safety, submit a confidential tip to OK2SAY.
Safety & Security - School Resource Officer, Kelly McGraw
BCS works in partnership with the Bloomfield Township Police Department given our location in Bloomfield Hills. For the 2022-2023 school year, BCS has been assigned Officer Kelly McGraw, as our School Resource Officer. Her contact information is included for your reference: Office Phone: (248) 433-7772. E-mail: kmcgraw@bloomfieldtwp.org.
BPS & BCS Calendar for 2022-2023 School Year
On our BCS website, you will find the linked BCS 22-23 School Calendar organized by month. There are links for importing this calendar to your devices. If you notice an event missing or not included, please e-mail Joni Saygan, our building secretary, at JSaygan@birmingham.k12.mi.us.
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.
Parent/Guardian Schoology Access (this is separate from PowerSchool access which is the site parents should continue to use to check student grades). Schoology is where assignments are housed. Linked are directions to create your parent account:
Emotional Health & Wellness Resources
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)