Week of 9/5/2022
.... 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
9/5/22 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 9/5
- No School, Labor Day Recess
Tuesday, 9/6
Wednesday, 9/7
Thursday, 9/8
- PTA Clearinghouse Meeting (All Parents Welcome to Join Via Zoom), 1:15 PM, Zoom Link
- Grades 5/6 Curriculum Night: 6-8 p.m.
Friday, 9/9
Upcoming Dates:
- Deadline for BCS Spirit Wear Orders, Thursday, September 15. Link to BCS Spirit Wear.
- Grades 3/4 Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 15, 6-8 p.m.
- Grades 7/8 Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 22, 6-8:45 p.m.
- Picture Day: Thursday, September 22.
All School News
Greetings BCS Families!
Linked below are some of the documents we shared last week but wanted to include them again for your review now that school has officially started.
- BCS 22-23 School Year Reminders
- Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off Protocols
- BCS 22-23 Drop-Off and Pick-Up Map
Please review new information below from the BCS PTA. We value your insight and collaboration as we work to continue and provide the best educational experiences for our students.
We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable extended Labor Day weekend!
Yours in BCS Solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
BCS Connect with Us!
BCS PTA Updates
- Thank you to everyone who has already supported BCS through your donations to the PTA. This year we are trying to support $54,000 worth of Curriculum Enrichment. It is through these passion projects of the staff that makes BCS a great place to be! If you haven’t updated your information in Membership Toolkit, please do so we may have an up-to-date directory. You can join the PTA and make a direct donation all through Membership Toolkit: http://bcspta.membershiptoolkit.com/
- New BCS Spirit Wear is here! Check out the link below to order to order some BCS gear! https://bcsspiritwearfall2022.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
- BCS and the PTA wouldn’t be able to provide these programs without your help. There are various ways you can help, please fill out the Volunteer Form. https://forms.gle/UCzw5Bmn8wexatnk9
- Our next PTA Clearinghouse Meeting is Thursday, September 8th at 1:15 via zoom. All parents are welcome to join us. Visit the BCS Website for the previous meeting Minutes and upcoming agenda. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89037879711?pwd=aVM2UFhjMzJJK3h0TXllQ3VIUUMzUT09
Covington Tie-Dye Pullover
BCS Touchstone Logo Tri Long Sleeve T-Shirt
BCS Touchstone T-Shirt
BCS PTA Parent Survey - Please complete!
- The PTA committee is hoping to make improvements to our monthly meetings. We need your help to determine what would be the best direction to move forward with our meetings. Please fill out this PTA survey so we can better support the BCS community.
- Click survey embedded below.
BPS & BCS Finalized 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.
New (Some Familiar) BCS Staff, Names, and Roles!
We are excited to welcome some new and familiar faces, names, and roles at BCS this year! Please join us in welcoming these wonderful staff members:
- Mrs. Shannon Torres, 7/8 Spanish
- Ms. Rebecca Goldberg, 5/6 ELA/Social Studies
- Mrs. Terri Grantling, Office Assistant
- Mrs. Lynne Rivera, Building Guest Teacher
- Mrs. Victoria Engel, Building Guest Teacher
- Mrs. Pauline Roberts, Administrative Intern (& Instructional Specialist)
- Mrs. Carol Carnley, Speech Pathologist (Long-Term for Monica Boudreau)
- Mrs. Michelle Kniesteadt, 3/4 Teacher, formerly Ms. McNulty
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.
BCS Picture Day - 9/22/22
Bus Route Information
Bus route information has been updated since Wednesday afternoon and is available to those with PowerSchool access. Bus route information will be located on the left side and will include a bus icon. PowerSchool parent portal
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.
Chartwells Lunch/Breakfast Information & Menus
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.
BCS PTA & Call for Volunteers
Sincerely,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
Parent/Guardian Schoology Access
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. Here are directions to create your parent account - https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/11350
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.
BCS Choice Hour
Important Reminders
- Choice Hour begins Tuesday, August 30
- Choice Hour runs daily from 3:20-4:10pm
- Busses come AFTER Choice Hour
Choice Hour Schedules
Schedules will be given in student homerooms by Tuesday, August 30. Homeroom teachers post a copy of their class’ schedule. 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 week!
Choice Hour Changes
Drops and adds accepted through Tuesday, September 6. Forms are available online.
Still need to sign up for Choice Hour?
The Late Choice Hour sign up form is available on the website. Late enrollment is being made on a rolling basis.
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
Early Dismissal Procedures
Please review these procedures to help keep your students and school safe.
Parents
- Buzz the front door
- Show identification to the camera
- Enter building and sign out student on blue sheet on clipboard
- Wait in vestibule for student
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 through the vestibule door
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 refer to our district's technology website for the appropriate contacts: https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/6258
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.