Week 5/9/2022
.... 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
5/9/22 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 5/9
Tuesday, 5/10
- BCS Pride Meeting 4:15-5:00 p.m. in Mr. Emmi's Room
Wednesday, 5/11
- Half-Day for all students, PD for teachers in the afternoon
Thursday, 5/12
Friday, 5/13
Upcoming Dates:
- May 15 - BCS Blast Road Rally and Tailgate
- May 20 - BCS Volunteer Breakfast
All School News
Greetings, BCS Families!
As our Staff Appreciation Week comes to an end, we want to thank everyone for their thoughtful and generous contributions to a very grateful, dedicated staff! We could not be such a strong educational community without the support of our parents. As a token of our appreciation, we would like to extend an invitation to all BCS parent volunteers on Friday, May 20 from 8-9:30 AM in the media center for our annual BCS Volunteer/Parent Appreciation Breakfast! Our staff will be hosting and supplying all breakfast items in appreciation of all you do to support BCS!
We wish everyone a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. To all of our BCS moms, thank you for your active support and contribution to BCS- you make us an even GREATER place to be!
Yours in BCS solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
BCS Happenings
Food Delivery to Students
BCS Volunteer Breakfast
You are invited to a special breakfast in your honor
on May 20 from 8-9:30 a.m.
in the BCS Media Center
The BCS staff is excited to have this opportunity to thank our parents and guardians for the incredible support provided to BCS all year long. We are so excited that we are making you breakfast!! There is no doubt that your partnership with us has positively influenced the climate and culture that makes BCS a great place to be!!
In whatever way you have helped and supported the students or staff at BCS, we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts . We truly hope you are able to join in this celebration and to eat some yummy breakfast. It will be fun to see which staff members are whipping up hot waffles that day!!
Please drop in anytime between 8-9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 20 in the Media Center. Dr. Hakim will make special remarks at 9:00 a.m. – you won’t want to miss that.
Come and bring another BCS parent or guardian with you.
Sincerely,
The BCS Staff
Lost and Found
Garden Donations
The students and teachers in two Choice Hour classes this quarter are planning a clean-up and replanting of the Global Garden next to the BCS playground. Our goal is to have a garden for flowers, vegetables, and herbs to attract pollinators - honey bees and butterflies.
We welcome your donations of flower, herb or vegetable seeds and live plants that you may be dividing this spring. There is a plastic bin in the BCS lobby with a sign for your donations. Most of the garden is full sun, but there is one area of partial shade.
Students will be working in the garden every Wednesday and Friday, weather permitting. Interested parents/guardians are welcome to join us. Thank you.
Questions - mleduc@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Media Center Volunteers
BCS students visit the Media Center at least once a week for a library lesson about literacy, research skills, or Digital Citizenship, followed by time to check out materials. Be sure to ask your child what they’ve learned in the library each week!
Volunteering in the Media Center
We are always looking for volunteers in the Media Center! Please see the schedule below to find out when your child visits the Media Center:
3/4 Team
Bates/McNulty - Monday AM
Parkin/Wallington - Monday PM
Frishman/Butzin - Tuesday PM
Mali/Coletti - Friday AM
5/6 Team
*5/6 students visit with their ELA class; 6th grade ELA in AM, 5th grade ELA in PM
Cook/Lowery - Wednesday
Arbaugh/Brown - Tuesday
Joesph/Warner - Tuesday
Burns/Burdick - Wednesday
7/8 Team
*7/8 students visit with their ELA class
C-1, C-3, C-5 - Wednesday
C-2, C-4, C-6 - Thursday
Family Focus Groups - Assessment Pilot
At the start of the 2021-22 school year, Birmingham Public Schools embarked on a quest to establish an equitable, comprehensive, and balanced assessment portfolio that is student-centered and provides educators and administrators with actionable data. As part of our pilot program, the Student Learning and Inclusion team is engaging groups of stakeholders to determine which benchmark assessment BPS will use for the 2022-23 school year. Please complete the linked form to register for an upcoming focus session to discuss your experience with assessments in BPS. We value your opinion!
Form Link: https://forms.gle/VLfwhrz4e5BAgByv5
Thank you for your consideration. Have a great weekend!
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
BCS Blast Road Rally Pre-Sale is Open!
Available for pre-sale is VIP Parking at Tailgate, Raffle Tickets, BCS Car Sticker/Magnets and More! Click here to register!
Call for Volunteers for the BCS Blast
It takes our collective group to make this event a huge success. We have several volunteer opportunities spots on the Sign Up Genius's below.
There are volunteer spots for before the Rally (stuffing Bags with purchased items like T-shirts, Raffle Tickets, Wristbands) and donating sweets for the Cake Walk.
We will assemble the many t-shirt bags on Wednesday in the Library and distributed hopefully Thursday with kids to take home to their parents.
Blast: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4DADA922A4FA7-road
Cake Walk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4DADA922A4FA7-20221
BCS Blast Road Rally
Road Rally / Tailgate:
*The Road Rally (completed on the GooseChase App) starts from your home and you will be driving across the school district area to complete the tasks. This will be done between 2:30-5pm. The Tailgate (music, food, inflatables, cakewalk) will be located in the BCS parking lot from 5-7pm.
*Road Rally detailed Day of Instructions including game code/ password will be printed and sent home in the near future.
*Thank you to those that purchased your pre-sale admission tickets already! You will receive your Tshirts the week of May 9th.
*Other items purchased in Auctria like Wristbands (for Inflatables/CakeWalk), Raffle Tickets, BCS Car Magnets/Stickers, and the Car Decorating Markers will be send home the week of May 9th too. The bag will be going home with your child (if you have two children at BCS, it will go home with your oldest child).
*You may continue to purchase Wristbands, Raffle tickets, Car Magnets/Stickers, and the Car Decorating Markers in Auctria until Monday May 9th. Please note, after this date you can still purchase most of these items at the CHECK-IN Table at the tailgate the day of the event in the school parking lot.
*Admission to just the Road Rally will stay open until the day before the event, May 14th.
Auction:
*Thank you to the parents who have worked many hours setting up the auction website and collecting donations. The online auction in Auctria will start Wednesday May 11th at 9AM and end Wendesdday May 18th at 10pm. So mark your calanders because all those beloved Teacher/Staff donations are listed there too!
*Pickup of auction items will be after school May 19th and May 20th.
Disability Awareness Workshop - Volunteers Needed
BCS Parents,
The Disability Awareness Workshop will be presented to all BCS 5/6 grade students on Thursday, May 26th and Friday, May 27th. This program is a hands-on; activity based workshop whose main emphasis is to help student’s understand how difficult and complex daily living can be for individuals with disabilities. The program includes activities centered on an empathetic understanding of physical, speech, hearing, vision and learning impairments. The students participate in a wheelchair obstacle course wear glasses that give them momentary vision impairments, experience speaking with an electric larynx and experience several reading disabilities. The goal is for the students to learn through this hands-on experience that people should be resected no matter how they may look, act, walk or talk.
We welcome ALL parent volunteers, please consider volunteering for a full day or half day assignment. To make this workshop a success we need a minimum of 18 volunteers per day.
SIGN UP TODAY https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C49A9AD2FA5F58-disability
Questions, please feel free to contact DAW parent coordinator, Amy Slosar at 248-506-0060 or email amyslosar@gmail.com.
BPS Community News
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Michigan Lion Dance
The Michigan Lion Dance team is going to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the friends and family in our communities at Bloomfield Township on Saturday, May 7th, 11:00 -noon.
Michigan Lion Dance Team is a dedicated group of middle and high school students from the metro Detroit area who promote Taiwanese cultural diversity by performing eye-catching lion dance and a variety of community services as well. They have been invited to perform in many cities' culture fairs. They have performed at DIA to celebrate the Lunar New year in 2018 & 2019.
This year is the first time that the Michigan Lion Dance team celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Bloomfield Township Public Library because 3 members of the team are actually from the Bloomfield area. Jeremy Lien is a 10th grader who goes to International Academy in Bloomfield. Christopher Chiang is a freshman at Cranebrook High School and his twin sister goes to Bloomfield Hill High School. These young people would like to share their Taiwanese heritage culture with their community, family, and friends. Therefore, Ms. Teresa Lien, the parent coordinator of the Michigan Lion Dance Team brought these young people’s proposals to the BTPL. Ms. Jen Taggart, the department head of Youth Service of BTPL, and librarian Ms. Patricia Ballard accepted the proposal immediately. Ms. Jen Taggart said, “We will be promoting Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with an interactive display in the Youth Room, and The Michigan Lion Dance Team’s program sounds fantastic.”
The event on May 7th will include a presentation about the origin of the Lion Dance, origami lions, hands-on Lion Dance costumes, and procession experiences which will be held in the community room on the 1st floor. The grand finale is the live drum duet, and lion dance performance will be held in the front of the Youth Service Room.
The event is free and all are welcome!
Please visit the Michigan Lion Dance Facebook Instagram Website
Groves Student Congress Applications - Deadline May 12
Attention 8th grade parents!
Is your child is interested in being a leader at Groves and planning school events? Then Groves Student Congress is just for them! GSC is looking for incoming Freshman to join a vibrant, diverse group of leaders for the 2022-2023 school year.
GSC is an inviting group of students that plans all of the events that occur at Groves. We plan Homecoming, Spirit Week, Charity Week, Umatter Week, and much more. Not only is GSC a great way to get involved at Groves, but your child will also have the opportunity to meet students from all grade levels. GSC will teach your child essential life skills like communication, accountability, organization, leadership, and more.
If your child is interested in applying, please have them use the link below to complete the application. All applications are due by May 12th at 3pm. All 8th grade students are encouraged to apply!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FqnMBEb16dyPy3Zm5s5xgAUU-LTjgppsx7_rz1ZUYQU/edit
Birmingham Unified Hockey - Summer Training Camp
Registration is now LIVE for the Birmingham Unified Hockey Summer Training Camp.
You can register at this link – https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=MCK1196&s=hockey&p=registration
Camp is for all returning players, current high school players who are interested and incoming freshman who are interested.
For new players, we are also hosting a Zoom intro meeting on May 10th at 8pm with our varsity head coach, Zack Warson. Zack has a long history of coaching success at all levels, including college and AAA. He is excited about the future of our program and to meet all potential players. You can reach him directly at: (810) 287-7877 or zack.warson@gmail.com. If interested in the Zoom meeting, please email jimwalsh582@gmail.com and he can provide the Zoom link.
Summer Volleyball Camps
Sign your child up for one of the many volleyball camps run by Seaholm Varsity Coach and Berkshire Middle School teacher, Heather Gambone during the month of July. Heather and Jason Gambone are entering into their 17th year as coaches at Seaholm High School, and their 19th year of coaching National level club volleyball. Students Grades 1st-10th can train with the coaching staff and high school players from both Seaholm and Groves! Camps will be held at Seaholm and Groves High School. Questions can be sent to Heather at: Seaholmvball@gmail.com
For more information and to sign up, see this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcVws_DifCrWaducO1XqE322ygdsQqScqyAZT2tYb4qTkU6Q/viewform
BEF Shop for our Schools
- Shop for our Schools in downtown Birmingham | Wednesday, May 11 - Thursday, May 12
- List of participating businesses will be posted in schools and on the BEF website by May 1st: https://www.supportbef.org/events.html
- Be sure to mention Birmingham Schools and 20% will be donated to the Birmingham Education Foundation
Craig Ryan - 147 Pierce St.
EGG NEW YORK Children's Clothing - 244 E. Maple
Evereve - 138 S. Old Woodward Ave. *15%
Johnny Was - 115 S. Old Woodward Ave.
Steele Angel - 150 W. Maple
Stem & Stone - 122 W. Maple
Suhm-Thing - 138 W. Maple
Sundance Shoes - 235 S. Old Woodward Ave.
The Italian Dish - 288 E. Maple
Untied on Woodward - 223 S. Old Woodward Ave.
For more details visit: https://www.supportbef.org/events.html
Girls Seaholm Swim & Dive Announcement
Attention all 8th grade girls interested in becoming part of the Girls' Seaholm Swim & Dive Team next year. We want to encourage you to visit our booth at the Seaholm activities fair currently scheduled for 6/1/22. You will have a chance to meet some of your future teammates and learn more about this awesome team. If you are unable to attend the activities fair and want to learn more don't hesitate to reach out to:
Swim Team Reps
Kara Gifford - kara.f.gifford@gmail.com
Amy Murray - ctmurrays@gmail.com
Dive Team Rep
Jessica Ballard - jessicapottballard@yahoo.com
(Note: no prior diving experience necessary)
Be sure to submit your contact information via the activities fair sign-up sheet or through the above contacts, to ensure you receive early communications. We kick things off in July with team events, and practice begins in August. Looking forward to meeting all of you!
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.