Week of 4/17/23
.... 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
4/17/23 - This week at BCS
Monday, April 17: M-STEP
Tuesday, April 18: M-STEP
Wednesday, April 19: M-STEP, BCS Bagels, Girls Soccer vs. Berkshire (A)
Thursday, April 20: Half Day, Dismissal at 11:30 a.m. No Choice Hour, Boys Tennis vs. Bloomfield Hills MS (A)
Friday, April 21: 6th Grade Music Field Trip, Boys Tennis vs. NORUP (A)
Sunday, April 23: BCS Blast and Road Rally
Looking ahead:
April 17-27: M-STEP Testing
April 20-25: BCS Blast Auction
April 26: BCS STEAM Night
April 28-30: Optional 7/8 Music Trip
April 28: 5/6 Dance
Greetings BCS Families!
Next Sunday, April 23, is our BCS Blast Rally & Tailgate Event!
The BCS Blast Road Rally & Tailgate is just around the corner on SUNDAY, APRIL 23. As BCS PTA's largest fundraiser of the year and your support is essential to ensure the funds necessary to continue providing the high-quality project-based learning that makes Birmingham Covington School the top-tier school that it is. We encourage you to consider one or more of the following ways to support the event:
- Tickets are now on sale at bit.ly.bcsblast23. Be sure to purchase yours today! And if you can't attend the event, you are still eligible to win the 50/50 raffle. So stock up on those tickets!
- The auction committee is still seeking additional items for the online auction. Every year our amazing online auction is supported by local businesses whose donations of items, gift cards, and experiences. If you own a business, please consider contributing an item to the auction. And don't forget to bid high and bid often when that auction goes live!
- Volunteer for a day of help and/or donate baked goods/toys for Tailgate prizes at bit.ly/blastvolunteer
Please see the linked BCS Blast pdf for full event details and the auction donation form.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support! We hope that everyone has a fantastic and safe Spring Break!
Yours in BCS Solidarity,
Dr. Omar Hakim
BCS, Principal
Mr. Jason Hill
BCS, Assistant Principal
All School News
Introducing Riker!
We would like to introduce Riker, our BCS Therapy Dog! Please see the slides below to learn more about her and her transition to our school community. We are so thankful for our sponsors, The Rotary Club, Premier Pet Supply, DePorre Veterinary Hospital and Birmingham Education Foundation for their assistance and support! We are excited for our newest cobra to join us here at BCS!
BCS Celebrates Earth Week!
M-STEP Testing
BCS STEAM NIGHT
Where: BCS Cafeteria, Art Room and Main Hallway
When: April 26th 5pm-8pm
What is it: An amazing fun-filled evening! Come see student artwork done throughout the year. Engage in STEAM and hands on art activities that show the many ways Science, technology, engineering, art and math can be used together.
PTA Update
*Attention BCS BLAST!!! Don't forget to register for the BCS Blast Road Rally & Tailgate! On SUNDAY, APRIL 23, the BCS PTA will host our school's only major fundraiser, generating critical funds which allow us to continue providing the high-quality project-based learning that makes Birmingham Covington School the top-tier school that it is. Tickets are now on SALE. If you can't attend the event, you are still eligible to win the 50/50 raffle. Stock up on those tickets! We are also collecting tailgate prizes and need event volunteers! Prize Donations & Event Volunteers
*BCS's Volunteer of the Year is Wendy McDowall. Thank you for all your hard work at BCS, from PTA co-chair, to front desk volunteer, or swim mom! BCS is grateful for all your support.
* 5/6 Grade Dance is APRIL 28. You should receive more info from your room parents this week.
*Open PTA position for 2023/24 school year: Reflections chair. Please reach out to WendyMcDowall@outlook.com if you are interested.
*Next PTA meeting - Thursday May 4th 1:15pm via Zoom
*Parents Night Out - Join us at Dic o' Dows on Tuesday, May 2nd at 7pm. This is not a meeting, just an opportunity to meet other BCS parents.
*Proud Mom's Eat & Run - May 12th
*Teacher Appreciation Week - We are looking for motivated individuals to help coordinate the week of May 8th-12th for our awesome teachers. If you are interested in helping out, please reach out to Jenny Wheeler jennybwheeler@gmail.com.
8th Grade Celebration
Mark your calendars for the 8th Grade Celebration! It will be on Tuesday, June 6th, at 6:30pm.
For more information: 8th Grade Celebration
We are looking for volunteers to help with the 8th grade Lobby Photos! Would you be interested in editing the photos (to include name and future high school) and/or assisting in the hanging of them on Friday, May 26th after school? Please contact Meredith Carrel (mfcarrel@comcast.net) or Alifya Vohra (alifya@gmail.com).
Laptop Insurance - Purchase Deadline Extended
BPS Community News
Groves Performing Arts Company Announcement
Seaholm PTA Announcement
Seaholm PTA Executive Board Opening for 2023/24 School Year
The PTA is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to serve on the PTA Board next year. The Volunteer Coordinator attends PTA and PTA Executive Board meetings and helps gather volunteers for activities throughout the year. It is a relatively low time commitment and is a great way to meet other Seaholm parents and Seaholm administrators. Contact Andrea Long (a_long00@hotmail.com) if you’re interested in this position.
Save the date and spread the word! Next month’s Seaholm PTA Meeting will focus on welcoming incoming freshman parents and will offer a Q&A to help families prepare for the transition to high school. Join on May 9 at 7 PM via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2922464717?pwd=YUl4S29aZXc2QS9MV1gycWc4SmhRdz09
Parents of incoming Seaholm Freshmen, Fall of 2023:
Seaholm is looking for six parent volunteers to become Parent Reps for the Class of 2027 (Serve all 4 years). Parent Rep duties include:
- Helping the students with Field Day each year (after school the month of September).
- Assisting the class Teacher Rep and Student Government Reps throughout the year in a volunteer capacity as needed.
- Planning or soliciting volunteers to plan the Senior All Night Party (Senior Year Only).
If you are interested, please contact Leslie Voigt at leslie.voigt@me.com. The six parents will be chosen based on the order the responses are received. Volunteers selected will be notified and invited to an introductory meeting at Seaholm in May (date TBD).
BCS Reminders
8th Grade Families
We look forward to helping your student make a successful transition to high school! We have created a page to house all of the information families will need in one place. Please save this link and continue to check back for updates as new details are added.
Community Service/ Service Learning
We are so lucky that members of our Cobra Community are always finding ways to positively impact the school and wider community. If you have an idea for a community service, or service learning project please complete the form below and return it to the office in the bin provided. Please submit your proposal no later than the second Thursday of the month PRIOR to the month you would like to do your project. This ensures that the Service Learning Committee will be able to carefully consider all proposals and properly support those selected to ensure maximum success.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nD6WpbqCqFzW2hq1zinL_zz51qTzXLxUQXCHDTqOdNM/copy
Early Dismissal Procedures
Please review these procedures to help keep your students and school safe. No Early Dismissal after 3:00 p.m
- Buzz the front door
- Be prepared to show identification if asked
- Sign student out on the sign in/out sheet
- Students will be released after the office staff calls the teacher
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.
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.
Insurance for your device can be purchased through eFunds.
For technology support, students should write an e-mail directly to support@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Sending a message to this address will automatically create a ticket for students.
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.
Other Helpful Resource Links...
BCS Connect with Us!
All Students, Parents, Staff Can Report Safety Threats Using OK2Say
Not all heroes wear a cape and tights. A real hero speaks up for what's right. Be a real hero. If you see or hear something that threatens student or school safety, submit a confidential tip to OK2SAY.
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.
BPS & BCS 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.
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.
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. Linked are directions to create your parent account:
Emotional Health & Wellness Resources
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)