Family Weekly News
September 17, 2018
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
We look forward to seeing you on Curriculum Night next Wednesday, September 26th, from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
On Curriculum Night you will have an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, learn more about the curriculum, after school program, internship program, Crew program, supporting your middle schooler, transitioning your 8th grader to 9th grade, the path to your child graduating on time, Mastery Passage PBATs, Engrade, IXL, the college application process, building relationships with your teenage child, resources available to support your child, and so much more!
Please see the schedule below. We suggest that you check in with your child about their schedule so that you know which teachers to see on Curriculum Night.
During the evening you will also be able to speak to BCS PTA Co-presidents Veronica Cruz and Reshonah Bennett and learn about the exciting things that the PTA Executive Board has planned for the school year. If you have a child in the Lower Grades, we encourage you to speak to Janet, Program Director and Obie, Assistant Program Director of the YWCA Lower Grades After School Program, and learn about their offerings including STEM, cooking, dance, art, and theater. Students will be provided with a nutritional snack and scheduled time for homework help. The program is free. Pick up and application and enroll your child.
Our ENL teachers, Melissa McClure and Michele Rayvid, will conduct our ELL Parent Orientation for newly enrolled English language learners. The orientation describes the identification and assessment process and outlines the available program options to English language learners, including English as a New Language and the various Bilingual Education program models. Translation will be provided.
Our art teacher Jill Mee invites you to stop by Room 514 for the Black Light Art Show & Gallery Fundraiser.
We celebrate your commitment to be engaged in your child's education.
See you next Wednesday!
In partnership,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- 9/18 - SLT Meeting
- 9/18 - PTA Executive Board Meeting (6:00 - 6:30 p.m.)
- 9/18 - PTA General Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
- 9/19 - No School (Yom Kippur)
- 9/26- Curriculum Night (5:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
- 10/2 - SLT Meeting (4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
- 10/2 - PTA Executive Board Meeting (6:00 - 6:30 p.m.)
- 10/2 - PTA General Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
- 10/4 –Lower Grades Expeditionary Thursday (ET)
- 10/5 - Family Breakfast Series
- 10/5 - New Families Fall Potluck (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
- 10/8 - No School (Columbus Day)
- 10/11 - Upper Grades Expeditionary Thursday (Social Studies)
- 10/18 - Lower Grades ET
- 10/21 - BCS Walking for Change: Making Strides at Brooklyn (Coney Island Boardwalk MCU Park)
- 10/25 - Upper Grades ET (Science)
- 10/27 - BCS/BNS Apple Fest
Check this link for weekly highlights: https://www.bcs448.org/2018/09/16/912-14-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
BCS welcomes Occupational Therapist Fiona Letts
- Fiona Letts is delighted to join BCS as an occupational therapist. She comes to us from a District 75 school in BedStuy.
- Fiona received her masters in occupational therapy from LIU Brooklyn and was an Adjunct Professor at LIU’s OT Program. She has been a therapist for five years.
- Fiona lives with her family in Brooklyn and has a 3rd grader at BNS.
- Fiona enjoys traveling with her family. She travels every year to St. Lucia where she was born. Fiona has also traveled to countries including Austria, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Bahamas and widely across the United States.
BCS Adopts PupilPath: Online System to Check Your Child's Academic Progress & Attendance
- In mid/late October, we will be sending out parent and student log-ins for Pupilpath - our online platform where you can stay up to date with your child's progress, attendance, and academic history.
- This system replaces Engrade Pro, which is no longer operationable.
- We trust parents and students will appreciate the user-friendly nature of Pupilpath, and we appreciate your patience as we transition to the new platform.
Mastery-based Grading at BCS
- One way to think of your child's grade is like a cup that they fill with water.
- At the beginning of the semester, the cup is empty because your child has not learned the content nor shown his/her skills.
- As they turn in work that demonstrates their skills, it's like pouring small amounts of water in the cup, and little by little, it adds up over the semester.
- When they complete the semester, how much "water" in your child's cup is their grade-- the level of water is their mastery level.
Join us for the BCS/BNS Book Fair: September 24 - 27
- WHAT: The Book Fair will take place in the BNS/BCS Library. You child will have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair independently during the school day.
- WHEN: September 24-27!
- TIME: However, if you would like to shop with your child, the Book Fair will be open from 4pm-8pm for BCS CURRICULUM NIGHT.
- We hope you'll stop by!
BCS New Families Fall Potluck: Friday, October 5th @ 5: 30 p.m
- WHAT: New Families Fall Potluck--a fun and festive way to settle into the new school year! Bring a favorite main dish, side dish or salad, and/or a delicious dessert that tickles your appetite! Bring enough to share with at least 5-6 people. Paper goods and plastic ware will be provided.
- WHY: A wonderful informal opportunity to meet other new families and build a community over the coming years in middle and high school! The Fall Potluck is for all families with a new student entering Brooklyn Collaborative AND any current BCS families who wish to welcome our new families.
- WHEN: Friday, October 5th
- TIME: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- WHERE: BCS/BNS Cafeteria
- PLEASE RSVP OR FOR MORE INFORMATION: Imani at imani@bcs448.org or Tracey at tracey@bcs448.org
School Lunch Form: Please Complete As Soon As Possible
- Please complete your lunch form online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application as soon as possible.
- In applying online, you will avoid the hassle of submitting a paper form. You can apply online using any computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. When asked to find your child's school during the application, on the drop down menu, please find 15K448 - Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies.
- Reminder that successful completion of the forms by all BCS families brings additional money to the school for student programs and designates your child as eligible for potential financial scholarships.
Attendance Matters
- The DOE considers students who are absent about two (2) days a month to be "chronically absent." This means they have less than 90% attendance.
- At the end of the year, a student under 90% attendance has around 18 days of absence, or the equivalent of approximately two absences per month.
- As such, we encourage your child to be present each day in school and to always bring in doctors notes to excuse absences when sick. .
- We also encourage your to schedule vacations/appointments outside of school hours/days whenever possible.
Important Vaccination Info 2018-2019
What vaccinations should my child have?
- All students entering the 6th grade must have a TDAP vaccine on or after the age 11.
- All students entering the 7th grade are required to have a Meningitis vaccine prior to the start of school.
- To learn more about required vaccinations for school, please go to this link: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/immunizations
What Happens if your Child is Missing Required Vaccines
- If your child has not received the required vaccinations by the specified date, they will be excluded from attending school.
- For your child to return to school, you have to show proof to the school that they have received the required vaccinations.
PTA CORNER
PTA Needs Your Idea, Volunteer Spirit, & Enthusiasm: Join us on Tuesday, September 18th at 6:30 p.m
WHAT: PTA General Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month.
WHEN: Next PTA meeting is on December 5th
TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cafeteria
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Co-Presidents Veronica Cruz and Reshonah Bennett at bcsptapresident@gmail.com
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Submerge NYC Marine Science Festival: Saturday, 9/22, from 11-4p.m.
WHEN: Saturday, 9/22
TIME: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pier 84 in Manhattan (on the Hudson at West 44th St) is the 5th annual Submerge NYC Marine Science Festival. It's a free, all-ages event where scientists and other marine science experts are on hand to share their knowledge of our oceans, coasts, and conservation. The day-long extravaganza provides opportunities to fish, kayak, and participate in interactive science-related activities such as touch tanks, viewing microscopes, experiments, and theater performances.
LIBRARY CORNER
BCS/BNS Library Bustles During School!
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA @ BCS Lower Grades After School Program: Grades 6 - 8 -- Slots are still available!
- WHAT: Brooklyn Collaborative has partnered with the YWCA of Greater New York to provide an exciting after school program for our lower grades students (Grades 6-8)
- Our after school program is offered at no cost to our families in Grades 6-8.
- Students will be provided with a nutritional snack and scheduled time for homework help.
- Students will have a choice of engaging educational and enrichment classes from which to select, including STEM engineering, dance, cooking, art, leadership development, and so much more!
- FOR MORE INFORMATION about registration forms for our after school program and a handbook of the course and club offerings, please email Program Director Janet Cooper at jcooper@ywcanyc.org or janet@bcs448.org.
- We look forward to your child joining us for another wonderful year!
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
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 41