Family & Student Weekly News
December 10, 2018
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
We invite you join us to recognize and honor the Class of 2019 this Friday, 12/14, for our annual College March--a "powerful ritual" that began at our network NYC Outward Bound school WHEELS.
Join the 610 Henry community in this celebratory occasion that will kick off in the Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. with a pep rally.
During the march, Grades 6-11 will line the sidewalk at 10:25a.m. and cheer the seniors as they march to the Red Hook Post Office to mail a college application, scholarship application, and/or thank you letters to symbolize that they are college-bound. The March celebrates the accomplishments, courage, responsibility, and persistence of our seniors in arriving at this point in their educational career.
The College March has grown nationwide with over 2700 seniors marching last year at 35 schools from 12 different cities across the country. As NYCOB states, the College March is a “symbol of the idea that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, can be prepared to thrive at a high-quality institution of higher learning. It is a powerful ritual that helps establish college-going cultures in our schools, reminding every student that with perseverance, resilience and hard work, each of them can earn a degree--and that we will challenge and support them all in doing just that."
As a demonstration of unity for this event, all BCS students will receive a College March shirt on Friday that we ask them to wear on the OUTSIDE of their jacket and clothing. We want to see a sea of College March shirts to celebrate our college bound culture at Brooklyn Collaborative. Grades 6-11 are expected to be outside for the March for about 20-25 minutes. Seniors are expected to be outside for the March for 75-90 minutes. Encourage your child to dress warmly and in layers.
We are so excited to celebrate this ritual and important tradition with our community!
With deep gratitude and appreciation,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- 12/14: College March
- 12/24 - 1/1/19 - Winter Recess
- 1/2/19 - School Resumes
- 1/11/19: New Beginnings: A Community Celebration of Hope (5:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
- 1/18/19: Fall Semester Ends
- 1/21/19: Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Day (No School)
- 1/22/19 - 1/25/19 - UG PBAT Week
Check this link for weekly highlights: https://www.bcs448.org/2018/12/09/12-3-7-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
Save the Date Winter Gala: Saturday, February 9, 2019
- The BCS PTA is looking for donations to our upcoming Winter Gala and Auction
- Please consider donating your goods and services. This may include:
- Volunteering your Professional Talents (Interior Design Consultations, Personal Training, Copy-writing, Organizational Skills, Home repair, Dog-Walking, Childcare, Housekeeping, Tutoring etc.)
- Donating items (Artwork, Home Goods, Jewellery, Sports Memorabilia, Collector's items etc.)
- Donating experiences (Vacation rentals, Theater and Sports Tickets, Museum Memberships, Coupons for Restaurants, Spa Gift Certificates, After-School Programs, Music Lessons, Summer Camps etc.)
- Sign Up Here: http://signup.com/go/wNzaaYz
STUDENT CLUBS
Hooray, Congratulations, & Kudos to our Middle School BCS Robo Sharks Team!
- On Sunday, December 10, 2018, our first ever Middle School BCS Roboshark Team 15392 competed in the US FIRST FTC (First Tech Challenge) robotics competition at John Dewey High School.
- Team from all over New York City competed in a game called Robo Ruckus where they had the task of building a robot that can move in a field with the goal of scoring as many points as possible.
- At the end of a long and tiring day, BCS placed 14th out of 25, which was exceptional for a 7th-grade rookie team ( BCS beat out a lot of high school teams).
- Our Middle School BCS Robotics team was persistent, responsible, and collaborative---putting in many hours and person power to come up with this robot. The team demonstrated skills including building, programming, and understanding rules, regulations, and strategies!
- The team celebrated and also immediately began to reflect and discuss areas of growth as they look ahead to their next competition in January!.
- If you have any questions please email our 7th-grade social studies teacher and robotics coach thomas@bcs.org
Join the Brooklyn Collaborative GSA BLM Collective
- The mission of Brooklyn Collaborative’s GSA BLM Collective is to provide an affirming space to support, advocate, and provide allyship for LGBTQ+ people and people of color. They use the 13 founding principles of Black Lives Matter to ensure that we remain open-minded and inclusive when we speak up and stand up for what is just.
- Brooklyn Collaborative’s GSA BLM Collective meets weekly on Wednesdays during the lower grades lunch in room 426.
- This student club is open to all Brooklyn Collaborative community members and allies. The GSA BLM Collective engages in intersectional discussions, uplifting the voice of young people making positive changes in our communities, and work on strengthening positive school culture within Brooklyn Collaborative and beyond the school’s walls.
- GSA BLM Collective has hosted guest LGBTQ authors, community members, and experts to interact with and to share their stories.
SPORTS CENTER
- Come and show your support for our Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball Teams!
- Join us for home games next Monday, 12/17, when our Boys Varsity Basketball Team take on the Juan Morel Campus Secondary School and Friday, 12/21, when our Girls Varsity Basketball Team meets Uncommon Charter High School. Games kick off at 4:30 p.m.
- Let's pack our bleachers, show your BCS school spirit, ad cheer our teams to victory!
- Cheer on our teams with the same passion and enthusiasm as our Brooklyn Collaborative Cheerleading Team!
- If you have a BCS shirt, please wear it to the games and show your school pride!
- For home games at BCS, please know that all students need to show their school IDcard for entry into all basketball games.
- Please address any questions to our Athletic Director Brandi.
- If you need a replacement ID card, you can see Chloe during crew (Monday--Thursday only) in Rm 507.
- GO BCS WOLVES!!!!!!
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
An Evening of Original Songs and Performances!
- Grade 6 ELA classes worked for two weeks to write original songs and compositions using the words of refugee women writers on behalf of the Passerine Project and the Afghan Women's Writers Project, alongside Grammy-award winner/songwriter Shevy Smith.
9th Grades Skype with Angie Thomas, Author of The Hate U Give
- Students in ELA Grade 9 were thrilled to participate in a Skype session with author Angie Thomas, author of the smash YA success The Hate U Give.
- Students were culminating their study of the novel with teachers Angela and Tamika.
Seniors Lobby for Change
- Seniors in Stephen & Tamika's government class protested in favor of better conditions for NYCHA residents at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
- Seniors visited state politicians’ offices to lobby for passage of NYS bill 2857a. If this bill passes into state law, state gun owners would be forced to buy health insurance and life insurance to pay for accidents committed with their firearms. The idea behind the bill is that its passage would make these specific insurance products so expensive that gun ownership would decline.
STUDENT CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
St. Francis College Summer Science Academy: 7/8- 7/19
- WHAT: A FREE two-week (Monday-Friday) summer program in which science and math are integrated with field trips in a warm, friendly setting, taught by St. Francis College science professors.There will be DNA barcoding experiments and activities in St. Francis College labs as well as field trips to places, such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the New York Aquarium, along with fishing and kayaking in Brooklyn Bridge Park. There will be pizza and an awards ceremony on the last day of the program!
- WHEN: July 8 through July 19 2019; Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
- WHERE: St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201 (Near subways)
- WHO: High School Students (Rising sophomores and above); (First Come-First Serve --- Up to 20 Students)
- NOTE: Students must provide their own Metrocards and lunches
- FOR APPLICATIONS:The application process will open starting February 2019. Please email Kathleen Nolan, PH.D. at knolan@sfc.edu by June 7th with a well written one page essay stating why you would like to attend our summer science program as well your full name, high school, anticipated year of graduation, address, phone number and your emergency contact’s full name and phone number.
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Falconworks Theater Company: 2018 Fall Off the Hook Performance
- WHAT: Fall Off the Hook Performances. Come see plays by Jazmin Castillo, Joy Castillo, Erickita Erazo and Mya Perez for this semi-annual Red Hook tradition that brings together members across the community to laugh, cry, think and strategize to transform the world as seen through the eyes of children.
- WHEN: Friday evening, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. & Saturday afternoon, December 15th, at 3:00 p.m.
- WHERE: The Patrick F. Daly School (PS 15)
- LOCATION: 71 Sullivan Street, Brooklyn, NY
- TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED AT https://offthehook.brownpapertickets.com/
- FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: info@redhooktheater.org
December Family PHOTO Fun Day @ Park Slope Armory YMCA
- WHAT: Join the Park Slope Armory YMCA for family portraits, picture frame decorating, and holiday crafts. FREE EVENT is open to the community!
- WHEN: Saturday, December 15th
- TIME: 3:00 -5:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Park Slope Armory YMCA
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA @ BCS After School Program: Grades 6 - 8
- Homemade Pizza! This week the YWCA @ BCS after-school program’s cooking class prepared pizza from scratch! Our students learned how to use make their own sauce, dough and other ingredients used to make this popular kid favorite. Next week we’re making jam!
- Girl Power! This week our after-school girls had a successful youth development class where they learned about healthy friendships, communication and team building skills. We facilitate these classes every Tuesday and we are looking forward to the upcoming projects and trips for the new year.
- For more information on our after-school program and how to enroll your child for our upcoming semester, please contact the Program Director, Janet Cooper at Jcooper@ywcanyc.org
LIBRARY CORNER: STRAIGHT FROM THE SHELVES
ComicCon is coming to the BNS/BCS Library!
- We are looking for family volunteers with all kinds of superpowers.
- Are you crafty? Can you help us transform our beautiful library into a comic wonderland? Do you have friends in the comics or publishing industry? Are you good at getting free stuff?
- Are you available February 8th for set-up, or February 11-13 for the big event?
- Please let us know! We'd love your help and creativity! Contact Amanda at amandac@bcs448.org.
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
- 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