Family & Student Weekly News
December 5, 2019
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
We invite you join us to recognize and honor the Class of 2020 on Friday, 12/13, for our annual College March--a "powerful ritual" that began at our network NYC Outward Bound school WHEELS.
Join the 610 Henry community in this celebratory occasion that will kick off in the Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. with a pep rally.
During the march, Grades 6-11 will line the sidewalk at and cheer the seniors as they march to the Red Hook Post Office to mail a college application, scholarship application, and/or thank you letters to symbolize that they are college-bound. The March celebrates the accomplishments, courage, responsibility, and persistence of our seniors in arriving at this point in their educational career.
The College March has grown nationwide with over 2700 seniors marching last year at 35 schools from 12 different cities across the country. As NYCOB states, the College March is a “symbol of the idea that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, can be prepared to thrive at a high-quality institution of higher learning. It is a powerful ritual that helps establish college-going cultures in our schools, reminding every student that with perseverance, resilience and hard work, each of them can earn a degree--and that we will challenge and support them all in doing just that."
As a demonstration of unity for this event, all BCS students will receive a College March shirt on Friday that we ask them to wear on the OUTSIDE of their jacket and clothing. We want to see a sea of College March shirts to celebrate our college bound culture at Brooklyn Collaborative. Grades 6-11 are expected to be outside for the March for about 20-25 minutes. Seniors are expected to be outside for the March for 75-90 minutes. Encourage your child to dress warmly and in layers.
We are so excited to celebrate this ritual and important tradition with our community!
With deep gratitude and appreciation,
Scill and Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- 12/5 - LG Expeditionary Thursday (ET)
- 12/6 - Family Meet Up: Final State Visit Report
- 12/8 - Family Fun Trip: Holiday Train Show
- 12/11 - BCS/BNS Connections through Songwriting & Poetry Event (6-8pm)
- 12/13 - College March
- 12/16 - School Spirit Mondays: BCS T-Shirt Day
- 12/17 - BCS Parent Equity Workshop (6:00-7:30pm)
- 12/23 -1/1 - Winter Recess
- 1/10/20 - BCS New Year's Potluck Community Feast: A Celebration of HOpe
Check this link for weekly highlights: https://www.bcs448.org/2019/12/01/11-25-27-highlights-of-the-week/ of what's going at the school, in the classroom, in after school clubs, an at sports events.
Check this link for important dates: http://www.bcs448.org/monthly-calendar/
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 and tracey@bcs448.org.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friday Family Morning Meet Up: Discussion of NYS Final State Visit Report on 12/6
- You are invited to a morning chat on Friday, December 6th @ 8:15 a.m.with school leaders Scill and Imani as part of our Family Morning Meet Up.
- We will discuss the recently released New York State final report from state reviewers' visit in May.
- We welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and questions
BCS Book Talk & Potluck: Join us on Tuesday, 12/10 @ 6:00 p.m
- WHAT: Join school leaders Scill & Imani as they host Book Talks. If you enjoy reading, meeting other parents, exploring, addressing, and discussing issues our students may face around issues of race, gender, class, sexuality, identity, peer pressure, academics, and so much more, you won't want to miss this event.
- For families of middle schoolers, we will discuss Middle School Maker. For families of high schoolers, we will discuss How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk.
- Let us know if you need a copy of either book.
- WHEN: Tuesday, December 10th
- TIME: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- WHERE: BCS Library
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact imani@bcs448.org to RSVP or if you have any questions
BCS New Year's Potluck Community Feast: A Celebration of Hope
- WHAT: We warmly invite you to join us to celebrate the New Year at our second annual BCS New Year's Potluck Community Feast: A Celebration of Hope!
- Bring your family, friends, and a favorite New Year's dish for an evening of celebration, performances, community building, and breaking bread with other families and staff.
- WHERE: BCS Cafeteria.
- WHY: Let's kick off a Brooklyn Collaborative tradition and come together to bring in 2020 as a school community.
- What are we hopeful for as a community? What individual and community commitments will we make to support the mission and vision of Brooklyn Collaborative?
WHEN: Friday, January 10, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Join Us for BCS Parent Equity Workshops Series - Tuesday, 12/17 @ 6:00 p.m
- We invite you to join us for our monthly BCS Parent Equity Workshop Series in the Library.
- Be part of this important schoolwide conversation on equity and what it means at Brooklyn Collaborative.
- Mark your calendars for the upcoming workshops on the third Tuesday of the month.
- Our next meeting is Tuesday, 12/17 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Light supper provide
PTA CORNER
PTA hosts self-care workshop
- On 12/3, BCS PTA hosted a workshop on self-care led by creative arts therapist, clinical social worker, and PTA co-secretary and 10th grade parent Karen Bagnini. Karen provided an opportunity for respite, reflection, and community-building.
- Everyone left feeling invigorated and inspired!
CLUB CORNER
The BCS Gender and Sexuality Alliance + Black Lives Matter Collective (GSA+BLM) 2nd Annual Student Movie Night
WHEN: Friday, December 13th
TIME: 3:30 - 6:00 pm.
WHERE: BCS Auditorium
SNACKS will be available for purchase.
STUDENT SHOUT OUTS
Fall Student Panels: Student as Teachers; Teachers as Learners
- On Monday, 11/25, we held our fall student panels, where selected students answered questions to support the growth and learning of teachers!
- Students spoke about topics ranging from pride in our school community, PupilPath, electronics policy, restorative practices and more.
Students "Rep" BCS Core Values
- Staff shout outs for students representing our core values were put up!
- We are so proud of our awesome student body!
LUNCHTIME EXTRAVAGANZA
Lunchtime Dance Performance: Afterschool Eliminators Dance Crew
- On Tuesday, 11/26, the Afterschool Eliminators Dance Crew treated us to a lunch time performance!
December School Menu: Free Lunch for All Students
- Where can you have your child have lunch for free that includes a deliciously diverse menu such as teriyaki Chicken Sliders, garlic knots, spicy chicken sandwich, New York Hot pretzel, mozzarella sticks, turkey burgers, beef/cheese burger, tacos, vegetable egg roll and roasted zucchini, sweet potato flies, fresh green salad with chick peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and sooooo much more?
- Encourage your child to eat lunch daily in the cafeteria and enjoy our new lunch menu that provides meals that meet the needs of students who enjoy meat as well as those who identify as vegetarians, pescatarians, ovo-lacto vegetarian, and vegans!
- The salad bar will still be available to students as well as seasonal fresh fruit.
- If a student does not wish to eat a warm entree dish, the menu includes entree alternatives: peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, grab and go salads, humus gram & go, and assorted deli sandwiches.
- Please encourage your child to take advantage of the free lunches available to ALL CHILDREN. There is now something available to meet everyone's taste buds!!
- Check out the menu below.
- http://www.schoolfoodnyc.org/public/PDF_Handler.ashx?t=m&id=5497&name=High+School+Lunch+Menu
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA After School Program: Grades 6 - 8
- This week the YWCA at BCS after-school Robotics club is working on a making a Mouse Trap using Lego pieces. The students are fully engaged and excited to work on this project. We can't wait to see the final outcome of the experiment.
- We are pleased to announce that our photography class is going extremely well. Our students in Photography are learning about taking pictures from a Birds eye view and an Ant's eye view. The final project is a portfolio of the students' work to display for our end of year showcase. More information about the showcase will be in the next blurb.
- Our dance group "The Eliminators" are currently practicing for their final performance on December 19th. They are still excited from their last big performance, the YWCA annual luncheon hosted by NBC's Janice Huff on November 19th. Our students were asked to perform for the event and we are please to announce that we raised over $430,000 from the event for our organization. We look forward to performing again next year. For more information about our after-school program and offerings, please contact Janet at Jcooper@ywcanyc.org.
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Science 6
- Students in Science 6 collected data about their sunflowers. Which soil base will be the best?
ELA 8
- Students in ELA 8 played a fun competitive game with student-created questions about Of Mice and Men.
11th Grade Internship Seminar
- On Monday, 11/25, Connie Chi, founder of The Chi Group, the 2019 winner of NYC-based branding agency of the year, visited the internship seminar to share her view of business failure as business success.
12th Grade Government
- On Monday, 11/25, WNYC’s Jen Chung, founder of Gothamist, joined Stephen and Tamika’s government class to share her views on immigration and education reform news currently.
SCHOOL POLICY REMINDERS
BCS Electronic Policy
- During instructional time, students must put cell phones and headphones in bookbags or lockers everyday, including on fieldwork.
- During lunch, students may use cell phones to play a game on their device quietly, read an electronic book or listen to music with headphones.
- .We expect families to message that electronics are to be invisible at school. Families should not contact their children during school and expect a response. If a student is not responsible with their device during school hours, we encourage parents to contract with their child, confiscate the device, turn off particular apps/features on their child’s device, and/or work with the cellular carrier to limit internet/data access during school hours
Out-to-Lunch Pass Contract
6th-8th Grade Out to Lunch Pass Contract
- Lower Grade students will have to earn an out to lunch pass based on their overall attendance in their classes and their positive expression of our core values.They cannot go out to lunch until after their first semester grades.
- Here is the Lower Grades: Out to Lunch Pass Contract
9th Grade Out to Lunch Pass Contract
9th graders will have to earn an out to lunch pass based on their 7th period lateness and their first quarter grades. They cannot go out to lunch until after first quarter grades.
Here is the Grade 9: Out to Lunch Pass Contract
DOE POLICY REMINDER
Attendance Matters: DOE Attendance Policy
- The DOE identifies students who are absent two (2) days a month to be "chronically absent," even if the absence is excused. This means they have less than 90% attendance.
- Please make sure your child is present and on time every day and avoid scheduling appointments and vacations during the school year.
- Any absence that your child has needs to be accompanied by an excuse note from the parent and/or doctor. Lower Grades students (Grades 6-8) should give their notes to their crew leader, and Upper Grades students (Grades 9-12) should show their notes to their teachers each period and then submit the note to Office 507.
- Statistically, students who are identified as "chronically absent" are less likely to have grade-level academic performance and to be on pace for promotion and on-time graduation.
FUNDRAISING CORNER
Brooklyn Collaborative Wish List
- We greatly appreciate you taking a look at our wish list and supporting us in whatever ways you can.
- Link: http://a.co/bb5yXoj