Week of 1/10/2022
.... 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
1/10/22 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 1/10
Tuesday, 1/11
- BCS Pride Meeting 4:15-5:00 p.m. in Mr. Emmi's room
- ADHD Panel via Zoom 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 1/12
- BCS Lottery
Thursday, 1/13
Friday, 1/14
- Records Day, Half Day in AM for Students
Upcoming Dates:
- Martin Luther King Day, January 17 - No School
All School News
Greetings, BCS Families!
All things considered, we had a wonderful start to the New Year at BCS this week!
Next week marks the last of the quarter with the end of Quarter 2 slated for Friday, January 14. This upcoming Friday, 1/14, will be a half-day for students. As the quarter comes to a close, we encourage you to work alongside your BCS Cobras to make sure they are up-to-date on all assignments.
Linked below you will find a planning document we have crafted that we encourage students to plan and reflect as this quarter ends. The document is read-only, but you are able to click FILE, MAKE A COPY to edit this directly on a Google Doc. We hope you find this document useful.
Linked:
END OF QUARTER 2 - PLANNING & REFLECTION DOCUMENT FOR STUDENTS/PARENTS
Yours in BCS solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
BCS Happenings
ADHD is my Superpower Panel
Do you know anyone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Would you like to learn how ADHD can actually be a type of superpower?
Join BCS students, alumnus Jacob Acey, teachers Elizabeth Cook and Jessie Heckman, school psychologist Jackie Tucker, former PTSA President and psychologist Alicia Acey, and ADHD Consultant Kevin Roberts who will talk about the challenges and gifts that come from living with ADHD. Moderated by Joe Leibson.
Tuesday January 11 6:30-8pm
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81300823707?pwd=ck9ydWcxdHRHdEhoN1JlQ2toQytSdz09
Presented by the BCS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Questions?
Email Rick Joseph at rjoseph@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Unselfie, Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in an All About Me World-Michele Borba
Our word of the month at BCS for January is Empathy and this book by Michele Borba is an excellent resource to learn about how to cultivate empathy in our children. If you do not have the time to read the whole book, linked is a quick break down of each chapter with useful tips. Thank you for supporting our work around character education and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to become more involved with our character committee.
BCS Musical Production:
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
News to Note
Thank you to all who contributed to Giftcrowd, the Teacher and Staff very much appreciate your kindness!
- 5/6 Grade Rescheduled for April 8th, 6-8:00 p.m. (This is a half day of school)
- Next PTA Clearinghouse Meeting is Thursday, January 13 at 1:15 p.m. via zoom
BCS Road Rally Blast - Planning Meeting
Our very first 2022 BCS Road Rally Blast Planning Meeting will be Jan 12th at 9AM. Please come join the PTA Co-Chairs to discuss all things related to the Blast over Zoom!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89037879711?pwd=aVM2UFhjMzJJK3h0TXllQ3VIUUMzUT09
Meeting ID: 890 3787 9711
Passcode: 614560
BCS PTA - Pistons Night!
Celebrate BCS!
Girls Swim Announcement
The girls swim team extended their win streak to 6 games with a 47-39 victory over a previously undefeated Berkshire Black team. Our 8th Graders let the way Maya S, Brooke T and Sadie K each won 4 events. Lauren G and Sylvia D were our other event winners. Claire P, Zoe W, Lyla S, and Stella M and Shipley G also swam very well. We hope to keep things rolling as we host Cranbrook on Wednesday, January 5th. Until then, we hope everyone is able to rest and recharge over the break. We also want to wish you Happy Holidays, enjoy your time together.
Co Cobras!
Mat Brown
Bill Johansson
Notes:
*Picture Day has been scheduled for Thursday, January 6th at 4:15. Please bring your team suit, we will have a practice after pictures.
*Please remind your daughters to let us know if they are not able to make it to a practice.
Upcoming events:
1/3 Practice 3:20-5:00
1/4 Practice 4:15-5:30
1/5 Home Meet vs. Cranbrook 4:15
1/6 Practice and Picture Day 4:15-5:30
1/7 Practice 4:15-5:30
1/10 Practice 3:20-5:00
1/11 COMSAC (League) Meet 4:00 @ Groves
BPS Community News
Dr. Gretchen Marsh presents Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma and Finding Solutions
Dr. Gretchen Marsh presents Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma and Finding Solutions
Thursday, Jan. 13, 6:15 p.m.
Join BPS on zoom Jan. 13 as Dr. Marsh, a clinical psychologist specializing in assessing and treating anxiety and depression-related disorders in children, teens, and adults, addresses ending the stigma around mental health. Dr. Marsh’s presentation will include the exponential spike in anxiety and depression-related disorders in children and adults and how the pandemic has increased that rate by twofold. During this presentation, she will educate the audience on how anxiety impacts how we feel, how we think, and how we behave. Participants will learn about:
- The continuum of anxiety and how this constant stressor (COVID-19) can result in symptoms of anxiety and depression;
- How anxiety impacts us and those around us;
- Specific actions to decrease and eliminate anxiety & depression;
- Tips and tricks for individuals, teams, and families; and
- When, where, and how to get help.
Join us via Zoom on Jan. 13 by following the link (this Zoom will allow up to 1,000 participants): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85347329751?pwd=VmNVVFc1eGVyMmQ4cWorOEtrbVJNQT09
Meeting ID: 853 4732 9751
Passcode: 303243
Support the BEF Annual Fund
Please support the Birmingham Education Foundation in their Annual Fund Campaign by making a donation TODAY!
The mission of the BEF is to create exceptional education experiences by connecting innovative teachers with community support. Each year the BEF provides teacher grants for activities that directly impact your children.
Visit supportBEF.org to learn more and to donate.
SOS Take Out Tuesdays
Take-Out Tuesdays starting next week!
Order carry-out from Griffin Claw Birmingham January 11 or 18 and Griffin Claw will donate 10% back to SOS. Just mention “SOS” when you order. (For online orders, PLEASE BE SURE to mention “SOS” when you pick up your order.)
Schools Offer Support (SOS) is a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer services and financial support to families throughout the Birmingham Public Schools community. During the pandemic, SOS was able to assist families in our community with more than $40,000 in grocery gift cards, monthly food boxes, laptops for graduating seniors, and financial assistance for childcare, medical, and utility bills.
Birmingham Girls Softball
Birmingham Girls Softball returns for its 23rd season! BGS is southeast Oakland County’s largest girls recreational softball league with over 300 players. Online registration is now open at www.birminghamsoftball.com. Birmingham Girls Softball is a community-based, non-profit organization providing girls ages 6 to 14 the opportunity to play organized recreational softball. The group is dedicated to teaching young ladies the fundamentals of softball in a safe and fun environment with teamwork and good sportsmanship being their top priorities. BGS is open to all girls interested in playing softball for the first time and those with prior experience looking to build on and develop the skills needed to play the game for years to come. All that BGS requires is a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. For questions, please email Jeff Weber at jweb666@me.com.
Maple Motion Dance Clinic
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.