Week of 9/12/22
.... 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
9/12/22 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 9/12
- Launching the BCS Community Read, The Boy at the Back of the Class *
Tuesday, 9/13
Wednesday, 9/14
Thursday, 9/15
- Deadline for BCS Spirit Wear Orders, Thursday, September 15. Link to BCS Spirit Wear. *
- Grades 3/4 Curriculum Night: 6-8 p.m. (6:00-6:25, PTA Meet & Greet; 6:30-7:00 PM Homeroom Teacher Classroom Presentation, 7:05-8:00 PM, Principals, Co-Curricular, and PTA Presentation in Media Center)
Friday, 9/16
- Constitution Day!
- 7/8 Field Trip to Courthouse - Permission Slip Linked
- BCS Ice Cream Social, 6-8 p.m. *
Upcoming Dates:
- Grades 7/8 Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 22, 6-8:45 p.m.
- Picture Day: Thursday, September 22 *
Greetings BCS Families!
It was great to see our 5/6 families last night during Curriculum Night! We appreciate your contributions and participation with all aspects of our BCS community. We look forward to welcoming our 3/4 families this upcoming Thursday. As a reminder, the 6:00 PM start time is for an informal Meet and Greet with our PTA and BCS families outside of the Media Center in the main hallway. At 6:30 PM, you will then proceed to your child’s homeroom where you will get to meet your child’s homeroom teacher and learn more about the incredible opportunities in store for them this year. At 7:05 PM, we will invite all families to the Media Center for a presentation from us, our PTA, and our co-curricular teachers. The program is scheduled to conclude at 8:00 PM.
This week, we are launching our BCS Community Read supported and sponsored by our BCS PTA. This year, we are reading The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf. This text was selected by our BCS Character Education Team with teacher representatives from each of our grade levels. The team has crafted resources connected to the new BCS Cobra Compass, highlighting the RIKER core values: Respect, Integrity, Kindness, Empathy, and Responsibility. Each week we will include updates and discussion questions you may have at home about the book. As a reminder, all BPS students are eligible for a free Baldwin library card with online access to a digital and audio version of the book. Instructions for how to access this are included in the WAG below. We encourage all families to read with us and participate in this collaborative community experience!
Yours in BCS Solidarity,
Dr. Hakim & Mr. Hill
All School News
Community Read Discussion Questions for Home
Beginning the week of 9/12, students will begin a school-wide community read. The book chosen for the 22-23 school year is The Boy at the Back of the Class. This book is about how one ordinary nine-year-old child and three classmates that are full of empathy and curiosity become friends with the new boy in their class. For Ahmet, a boy that comes to their school as a refugee from Syria this means everything.
This week, students read Chapters 1-3 in our community read.
This week’s home discussion questions:
Have you been somewhere new before? Where was it? How did it feel?
What do you do to make others feel welcome?
One of the characters in the book started a rumor. Can rumors be dangerous?
Get a Baldwin Public Library Card!
All BPS K-12 students and staff are eligible for a Baldwin Library card! Use it to check out print books and access most online databases. For example, our Community Read, “The Boy at the Back of the Class” is available as an audiobook on Hoopla. Plus, curbside pickup is available! Go to https://www.baldwinlib.org/get-library-card/ for details, or watch this video for detailed instructions on how to sign up.
BCS Ice Cream Social Friday 9/16!
Join us on Friday, September 16th from 6-8. We will be serving pre-packaged ice cream bars, and will have peanut free, dairy free and gluten free options. Free to your family with $100 direct donation to the PTA, or $1 donation per ice cream, CASH ONLY. Donations can be made here. We need a few more volunteers. Volunteer here. In order to make sure we have enough ice cream for all, please RSVP.. Also note any food allergies in your RSVP.
BCS Bagel Sale!
We are excited to bring back bagel mornings to BCS for the 2022-2023 school year! The third Wednesday of each month (beginning 9/21 and ending 5/17) from 8:00-8:18am in front of the Media Center!
If you have not already done so (through Membership Toolkit) you can still pre-order your child’s bagels - $30 per student for the year. Includes bagel and cream cheese (plain or salt bagel only).
If you have not already ordered, please either:
1) Sign up via your Membership Toolkit account at:
bcspta.membershiptoolkit.com
- OR -
2) Turn in the attached form (link) and cash or a check (made out to BCS PTA Clearinghouse) for $30 per student to the main office
Bagels organized by (and proceeds go to) the 8th Grade Celebration Committee.
Questions? Contact Louisa Egido at espanolegido@gmail.com or Julia Christman at vereshju@yahoo.com.
Covington Tie-Dye Pullover
BCS Touchstone Logo Tri Long Sleeve T-Shirt
BCS Touchstone T-Shirt
BCS PTA Parent and Volunteer 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.
- The PTA is looking for volunteers. Please let us know where you and your talents will be best used.
- Click surveys embedded below.
BCS Picture Day - 9/22/22
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.
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.
Birmingham Education Foundation - Welcome Back to School
Each year, the BEF typically grants upwards of $100,000 towards projects that enrich and enhance education for all BPS students. If every family in our district gave just $35, we would start the year with more than $175,000 to grant, allowing teachers to provide innovative experiences and opportunities that go above and beyond for our kids. Please visit https://www.supportbef.org/make-a-gift.html and make your donation today.
Seaholm Boys Soccer Clinic
This half day clinic takes place on September 29th, which is a district wide half day. The clinic will be 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sign up here.
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.
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.
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 Terri Grantling at tgrantling@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
- 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...
BCS Connect with Us!
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.