Family & Student Weekly News
February 12, 2019
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families and Students,
The BCS PTA's Mid-Winter Gala & Auction Fundraiser was a joyful, heartfelt, record breaking smash hit----our largest solo fundraiser raising well over $6000 to support student programming! We also honored our Parent Coordinator Tracey with a proclamation from the Brooklyn Borough President's Office for her outstanding dedication and service inside and outside of the Brooklyn Collaborative community, in particular for her advocacy work for NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority).
The Luso-American Cultural Center was packed with staff and families and abuzz with BCS festivity, warmth, and excitement! We showcased our eclectic dance moves, satiated our palates, generously bid on a wide range of items, snapped photos to capture the evening’s memories, and rejoiced in the amazing live entertainment from BCS UG history teacher John Schmitt and 9th grade parent Jose Garcia. Their soulful melodies left the crowd grooving ad yearning for an encore!
We are grateful to the families and staff who helped to make the Mid-Winter Gala Night a success by your generous donations, your attendance, your volunteerism, open hearts, and so much more!
We extend our deepest appreciation and sincerest gratitude to our PTA for their unflappable commitment, time, passion, sheer heart to make our auction fundraiser a galvanizing community event for all to remember!
#BCS PTA rocks!!!!
In partnership,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Tuesday Mastery Support -3:15 - 4:00 p.m. (Begins again on Tuesday, 2/12)
2/12 - SLT Meeting (4:30 -6:00 p.m. in room 105B)
2/12 - PTA Executive Board Meeting (6:00 -6:30 p.m.)
2/12 - PTA General Meeting (6:30 -8:00 p.m.)
2/18 - 2/22: Midwinter Recess
2/26 - School Safety and BCS/BNS Administration Meeting (1:40 p.m. in BCS/BNS Auditorium
2/28 - LG ET (Science)
3/5 - SLT Meeting (4:30 -6:00 p.m. in room 105B)
3/5 - PTA Executive Board Meeting (6:00 -6:30 p.m.)
3/5 - PTA General Meeting (6:30 -8:00 p.m.)
3/7 - Family conferences
3 /8 - Staff/Student Basketball Tournament & Mini-pep rally (3:15 - 5:15 p.m.)
3/14 - UG ET (Math on π day!)
3/15 - BCS/BNS International Food Festival
3/21 - LG ET (ELA)
3/22 - LG Dance
3/29 - UG Dance
Check this link for weekly highlights: https://www.bcs448.org/2019/02/10/2-4-8-highlights-of-the-week/of what's going at the school, in the classroom, in after school clubs, an at sports events.
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
Reading in the Round BCS Parent Book Club - Tuesday, February 26th
- Calling all parents to join our Brooklyn Collaborative Parent Book Club on Tuesday, February 26th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- If you enjoy reading, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, read some of the ‘hottest’ Young Adult (YA) authors that our students are reading, use fiction to explore, address, and discuss issues our students may face around race, gender, class, sexuality, equality, immigration, etc.
- We are excited to read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz for our February book selection. A tender, honest exploration of identity and sexuality, and a passionate reminder that love—whether romantic or familial—should be open, free, and without shame.
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is available at your local library and through Amazon. If you have any difficulty getting the book, please email Imani at imani@bcs448.org and school librarian Amanda Clarke at amandac@bcs448.org ASAP.
- Check out links --- https://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172495550/discovering-sexuality-through-teen-lit
Lower Grade Town Hall Meetings to Support Positive Norms
- On Friday, February 8th, school leaders Scill, Imani, and Amanda and the RPC team Taron, Jose, and Asha held Town Hall meetings with our Lower Grade students to re-establish positive norms for spring semester.
- We even had a funky dance initiative to start off!
Safety Meeting: Families Invited to Speak with our School Safety and BCS & BNS Administration - Tuesday, February 26th
- WHAT: We are required to hold a safety meeting every year for families to speak with School Safety and the administration of both schools on our campus (BNS + BCS) about any topics of concern related to school/building safety. We welcome your thoughts!
- WHEN: : Tuesday, February 26th
- TIME:: 1:40pm
- LOCATION: BCS/BNS Auditorium
We Need You: Host Our Danish Visitors on April 8h -10th
- On Wednesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th, we need your support in hosting visitors from Odense, Denmark.
- This will be the seventh year that we are hosting students and teachers from Tornjberg Gymnasium (TG), a high school located in Odense, Denmark.
- We need homes for 25 students (18 girls and 7 boys). Ideally, we would like to keep students in pairs (i.e. two students of the same gender in each home); students are generally between the ages of 17 -19 years old.
- Host families will see to it that all meals are provided: April 8th (dinner), April 9th (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and April 10th (breakfast and lunch), when they depart.
- Our relationship with TG began as a music exchange spearheaded by music teacher Christine.
- If you are interested in hosting our Danish visitors, please contact Stephen at Stephen@bcs448.org
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Junior Interns: Practice Makes Mastery!
- Our junior interns engaged in practice interviews with each other before they set off next week to meet their site supervisors!
SPORTS CENTER
Congrats to Coaches Brandi & Nikkie and the Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball Teams!
- Shout out to Coaches Brandi and Nikkie for a spirited season with the Boys Varsity Basketball Team and the Girls Varsity Basketball Team, respectively.
- The home games always brought school pride and enthusiastic and supportive cheers from BCS students, staff, and alum.
- Coaches Brandi and Nikkie modeled for their teams what real winning looked like---sportspersonship, teamwork, positivity, persistence, responsibility, and respect.
- They held the highest expectations of our students for being scholar-athletes.
- We are excited about what next year will bring! GO WOLVES!
Congratulations Coach Chrissy and the Ceerleading Team!
- Kudos to our Cheerleading Team for bringing school pride and choreographed joy to cheer on our Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Teams!
- Our Cheerleading Team are an invaluable part of our school school traditions, like our Community Feast snd College March, and the fabric of our school culture!
- A shout out to Coach Chrissy for upholding high expectations for our cheerleaders---on the court, in the classroom, in the hallways, in the Cafeteria.
STUDENT CLUBS
Join the Emoti-Con After School Club! Open to Grades 9-12
- WHAT: Informational Meeting about Emoti-Con club.
- WHEN: Wednesday, February 27th
- TIME: 3:10 p.m.
- WHERE: Room 505A
- WHO: Open to Grades 9-12
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email Brian at brian@bcs448.org or visit bit.ly/emoti-con-bcs
Join Reel Works Documentary Filmmaking Club @ Brooklyn Collaborative
- WHAT: Create films of your own: Tell your stories and have your voices heard. Use digital camcorders, tripods, and microphones to film.
- WHEN: Meets Mondays & Wednesdays, January through June
- TIME: 3:15-5:15 pm
- WHERE: Art Room 514
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email Imani@bcs448.org
Congratulations LG Debate Team!
- On Saturday, 2/9, our Lower Grades Debate Team competed at IS 281 in a public forum debate on the resolution: The United States should end arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
- We had teams in Novice, Junior Varsity, and Varsity public forum divisions.
- Several teams had winning records, which qualified them to compete in the NY state middle school championships this April!
- As the season wraps up, we are proud of all the growth this year.
- A shout out to the Lower Grades Debate Team and Adam, staff advisor to the team.
- Novice:
- Benji Weiss & Clyde Konty (qualified for state)
- Rahm & Atticus Scott-Williamson
- Beatrice Mcdorman & Sam Luria
- Isaiah Gonzalez
Junior Varsity:
- Eliza Khan (qualified for state)
- Elijah Godsberg (qualified for state)
Varsity:
- Shai Chiappetta & Tovi Albores-Falk (qualified for state)
- Luke Dahlhaus & Leo Godsberg (qualified for state)
BCS Student Council Weekly Update
- On Friday, February 1st, Student Council had its weekly meeting (Grades 6-12).
- Grade representatives worked in committees.
- The Beautification/School Facilities Committee drafted survey question for crews leaders to discuss with their crews about cleanliness throughout the school (I.e the conditions of school bathrooms, loitering in the staircase, garbage in classrooms, etc.). The Beautification Committee is also working on rebooting recycling and composting at BCS!
- The School Spirit Committee is planning and doing the outreach for March Madness! Show your school pride and support the March Madness activities: Spirit days, pep rally, staff/student basketball tournament and our dances!
- The Fundraising Committee is planning bake sales and other creative ways to raise funds for Student Council activities!
- Student Council meets weekly periods 5 & 6 in the Health Studio (room 124)
STUDENT CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Weekly Mastery Support: Every Tuesday, 3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
- EVERY Tuesday after school is mastery support time from 3:15-4pm.
- This is a chance for you to get extra help from your teachers.You are encouraged to stay for this time if there are any assignments they would like to work on or extra help they would like from teachers. All teachers are available during this time.
- We look forward to you remaining after school for support on Tuesdays!
- You are the leader of your own learning. Seize the Master Support opportunities!
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT & SHOUT OUTS
9th Grade Parent Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez Presented at BAM's Black Comix Expo
- On Sunday, February 10th, 9th grade parent and author Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez presented his work this Sunday at BAM's Black Comix Expo.
- Check out a recent interview with Edgardo on NPR about his work: https://www.npr.org/2018/08/30/643326450/edgardo-miranda-rodriguez-on-creating-a-superhero-for-puerto-rico
Reading in the Round Parent Book Club Kicks Off! Trevor Noah's Book Gets Two Thumbs Up!
- On Tuesday, January 29th we kicked off our 2019 BCS Reading in the Round Parent Book Club withTrevor Noah's memoir Born a Crime..
- We enjoyed a lovely evening delving into Trevor's book and feasting on
- Join us for our next book club gathering on Tuesday, February 26th when we discuss Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe.
- If you enjoy reading, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, read some of the ‘hottest’ Young Adult (YA) authors that our students are reading, use fiction to explore, address, and discuss issues our students may face around race, gender, class, sexuality, equality, immigration, etc
February Family Breakfast: CSI Upate
- Our February Family Breakfast focused on our school's recent Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) designation by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
- We were joined by Maggie Tang from Superintendent Kathy Rehfield-Pelles' Office and several parents.
- Thank you for your collaboration and advocacy, parents - we couldn't do this work without you!
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Assemblymember Robert Carroll Hosts Education Forum: Wednesday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m.
- WHAT: Assemblymember Robert Carroll hosts Education Forum. Agenda includes: State Education Budget and Fiscal Equity; Assemblymember Carroll's Dyslexia Funding Initiative, & Testing, Diverstiy and Title I Funding.
- WHEN: Wednesday, February 13th
- TIME: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- WHERE: PS230, 425 McDonald Avenue (Lower School - corner of Church Avenue).
How To File Your 2019 Taxes For Free In NYC
- Find out if you qualify to file your taxes for free, and how.
- https://patch.com/new-york/windsorterrace/s/gltpp/how-to-file-your-2019-taxes-for-free-in-nyc
LIBRARY CORNER
Library hosts BCS/BNS All School Great Read of Jacqueline Woodson's This Is the Rope: A Great Migration Story.
- The library is excited to present its first ever BCS/BNS All School Great Read!
- This presents an amazing opportunity for our entire school building to read and engage around a common text.
- Our pick is Jacqueline Woodson's This Is the Rope: A Great Migration Story.
- In the book, a Brooklyn girl tells the story of her grandmother, mother and a rope that forms a bond across three generations.
- We hope you will share the book with your family and share your family's journey, whatever it may be.
- Stay tuned for more information.
Library Time for 7th & 8th Graders!
- Last week, 7th and 8th grade classes began having dedicated Library time built into their ELA schedules.
- Students will be in the Library every week to learn valuable research and digital literacy skills.
- They will also have the opportunity to browse, borrow, and work closely with the Librarian and their ELA teacher(s) on exploring and building their reading lives.
- Open access remains, meaning that students are also free to come to the Library at any time during the day as long as they have permission from a teacher or visit during Library Lunch.
- Welcome 7th and 8th graders!
FUNDRAISING CORNER
Brooklyn Collaborative Wish List
- We greatly appreciate you taking a look at our wish list and supporting us in whatever ways you can.
- Link: http://a.co/bb5yXoj
Box Tops for Education Box Tops for Education
- BCS participates in the Box Tops for Education program. This program provides schools with a way to raise funds by turning in cut-out box tops from specially marked General Mills products.
- Each collected box top can be redeemed for ten cents.
- Please collect your box tops and submit them to Tracey in Rm 410