Family Weekly News
Welcome Back! (September 2, 2018)
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
With the summer break nearing a close, the count down to the start of school is moments away.
Last week 610 Henry was pulsating with the energy of teachers who were excitedly preparing to welcome your children to the new school year----reviewing their lesson plans, setting up their classrooms, preparing bulletin boards, getting supplies, preparing materials, and so much more!
Teachers and staff are eagerly awaiting your child's arrival this Wednesday, September 5th at 8:45 a.m---the first day of school!
We can't wait to have our classrooms once again animated by student learning and buzzing with creativity!
We invite all new 6th and 9th grade families to the New Families Welcome Info Session on Tuesday, September 4th from 5:30- 7:00 p.m. in BCS/BNS Library or on Wednesday, September 5th from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Please rsvp to Imani at imani@bcs448.org if you wish to attend.
The BCS PTA is looking forward to greeting you with their Back-to-School Bake Sale this Wednesday from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Please email bcsptatreasurer@gmail.com
We hope that you are safe and enjoying this extended holiday weekend.
We feel privileged and humbled to have you as a member of the Brooklyn Collaborative Studies school family. Let’s make 2018-2019 a great year!
In partnership,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- 9/4 - 6th & 9th Grade New Families Welcome Light Dinner & Info Session (5:30 -7:00 p.m.)
- 9/5 - 6th & 9th Grade New Families Welcome Light Breakfast & Info Session (9:00-10:30a.m.)
- 9/5 -9/6 - All Crew Days: First days back for students
- 9/7 - Academic classes begin
- 9/10-9/11 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
- 9/12 - YWCA @ BCS Lower Grades After School begins
- 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 Schol (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 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
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
Arrival and Dismissal on First Day of School
- Grade 6 students should enter through the cafeteria doors where his/her Crew leader will pick the students up at 8:45AM from the cafeteria. After the first day of school, Grade 6 students enter through the Coles Street yard at 8:45AM.
- Grades 7 & 8 students should enter through the Coles Street yard at 8:45AM and go up to their regular Crew classrooms.
- Grades 9-12 students should enter on Henry Street at 8:45AM at the doors farthest to the left when facing the building (by Coles Street) and go directly upstairs to the 5th floor to their Crew rooms.
Daily Arrival and Dismissal
- School begins at 8:45AM and ends at 3:05PM.
- Lower grades (grades 6-8) are dismissed on the Rapelye Street side of the building.
- Upper grades (grades 9-12) are dismissed on the Coles Street side of the building.
First Day of School: Wednesday, September 5th
- You should receive a welcome phone call from your child’s crew leader on Tuesday afternoon, September 4th,
- Grades 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 are in the SAME crews as last year, in the same crew rooms. At BCS, all crews loop so that your child builds a strong relationship with their crew and crew leader.
- If you have not received a phone call by Tuesday afternoon, your child should report to their same crew room as last year. They will be with the same crew leader.
- Lists of crews will also be posted on the morning of Wednesday, 9/5, and staff will be available to help your child find their crew room.
All Crew Days: Wednesday, September 5th & Thursday, September 6th
- During the first two days of school (9/5 and 9/6), students will be with their crews all day. At Brooklyn Collaborative, we always begin the school year with two all-Crew days. Crew days help orient your child to the year and help them to build a lasting community with their crew and crew leaders. Crew is a central structure at Brooklyn Collaborative and all EL Education schools.
- Students will engage in activities that set a strong foundation for success throughout year, including building a crew community, establishing crew routines & rituals, goal setting, exploring BCS core values, engaging in discussions that explore issues of identity, reviewing school-wide policies (e.g. attendance, lateness, electronics, HOWLs), and going over transcripts and schedules.
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.
School Lunch Form: Please Complete As Soon As Possible
- Students will receive important forms on the first day of school which must be completed by families and returned the next day.
- One of those forms is the school lunch form which you may fill out electronically now at https://www.applyforlunch.com/Application.
- In applying online, you will avoid the hassle of submitting a paper form in September. 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, designates your child as eligible for a financial scholarship, and may qualify your child for free lunch so no lunch bill is generated.
Friendly Request for Donations
WHERE: Drop your donations off in room 516.
PTA CORNER
PTA Back to School Bake Sale-Wednesday, 9/5, from 8-9 a.m.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 5th
TIME: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Corner of Henry & Rapelye
EMAIL bcsptatreasurer@gmail.com if you would like to donate baked goods.
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
New Family Info Session: Tuesday, 9/4 & Wednesday, 9/5
- WHEN: On Tuesday, September 4th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 5th from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. we invite all 6th and incoming 9th grade families to join us for either a light supper or a light breakfast and information session..
- WHAT: You will have an opportunity to meet other parents, learn more about the programs BCS offers, receive information about scheduled family events, have an opportunity to ask questions, take an opportunity to tour the school’s library and learn about its resources, and much more.
- We look forward to seeing you at this beginning of the year kick off parent event.
- RSVP to Imani at imani@bcs448.org if you wish to attend the event.
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM
Get a head start: SUPPLY LISTS
- You can assist your child in preparing for the school year by equipping him/her with the supplies they will need to support classroom instruction.
- We encourage students to have the supplies by Monday, 9/11.
- Please label with child’s name any supplies you would like to keep.
- Please find below the links to each grade’s recommended supply list.
- 6th Grade Supply List
- 7th Grade Supply List
- 8th Grade Supply List
- Upper Grades (Grades 9 - 12)
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA @ BCS Lower Grades After School Program: Grades 6 - 8
- WHEN: Lower Grades After School Program begins Wednesday, September 12th.
- 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!
- 80 after school slots are available. Sign up now.
- Applications will be available beginning Wednesday, September 5th,
- 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!
SPORTS CORNER
Important Dates for Girls Varsity Volleyball Tryouts
WHEN: Wednesday, 9/5; Thursday, 9/6; Friday, 9/7
TIME: 3:15 to 5:30 p.m.
You must have a signed permission and a PSAL medical form filled out in order to tryout! Please be advised that only a PSAL medical form is acceptable.
FOR LINKS TO THE MEDICAL FORMS AND PERMISSION SLIPS, PLEASE SEE BELOW:
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Brandi at 718-923-4700 ext.1291 or email brandi@bcs448.org
READING/LISTENING CORNER
NYC Schools Chancellor Promises Parents More Outreach and Accountability
https://www.wnyc.org/story/schools-chancellor-parents-more-outreach-accountability/