Family & Student Weekly News
June 17, 2019
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
The countdown has begun as the 2018-2019 school year nears a close. This is the time of year when we simultaneously look back upon what we have achieved as a school with your partnership and when we look ahead to plan for 2019-2020 school year.
In this spirit, we would like to formally thank the 2018-2019 PTA Executive Board for their service! Co-presidents Veronica Cruz and Reshonah Bennett (parents of 7th graders), treasurer Edie Clarke (parent of 12th grader) and Caroline Falby (parent of 7th grade twins), secretary Cathleen Bell (parent of 7th grader) and members-at-large Lucia Edwards, Eddie Edwards, and Howard Clarke (parents of 12th graders) who have done a herculean job to engage our families and strengthened the partnership among parents, teachers, and the school in support of our students. They have supported our college tours, ETs, Intensives, yearbook, 8th grade promotion, graduation ceremony, and so much more! This Board inaugurated our first annual Night of the Stars Fundraiser--which we hope to see you at next year!
The 2018-2019 PTA Executive Board members have collectively and individually been some of Brooklyn Collaborative’s biggest cheerleaders! We are immensely appreciative of all they have done as volunteers!! Following is just a few of the Board's amazing accomplishments.
- Created a 501c3 to become a nationally recognized foundation --which will allow for grant opportunities, company matching donations, and tax benefits.
- Secured funds from City Councilman Brad Lander’s office that led to the installation of BCS water coolers -- a years-long priority among parents.
- Collaborated with administration to find solutions to our 6th/9th grade camping deficit crisis in order to save BCS's time-honored rite of passage.
- Created the framework for a successful, replicable benefit gala that raised an unprecedented $10,000.
- Nurtured relationship with our sister school BNS and increased attendance/participation at shared events like Applefest.
- Grew as a collective parent body.
- Solicited community donations at rates never before seen.
- ·Created financially successful Back to School, Curriculum Night, and Election Day bake sales.
- Implemented Annual Appeal campaign to sustain our students' educational experience.
- Improved donation payment methods- PayPal/Square introduced for added convenience.
- Launched brand new resource website
- Improved parent communications via new technology and social media outlets
This board has laid the foundation for our 2019-2020 PTA Executive Board.
Congratulations to Co-presidents Juanita Joseph (parent of 11th grader) and Gillianne Roberts-Atkinson (parents of 6th grader), treasurer Tanya Keefe (parent of 6th grader), secretaries Karen Bagnini (parent of 8th grader) and Cathleen Bell (parent of 7th grader), and members-at-large Caroline Falby, Reshonah Bennett, Veronica Cruz, Kymberly Conty, and Zac Martin (parents of 6th graders) for getting elected to be on the 2019-2020 PTA Executive Board. They have HUGE shoes to fill but we are confident that they will don their own clogs, click their heels twice, and create their own magic for a successful 2019-2020 year!!
In partnership,
Scill, Amanda, Imani (BCS School Leaders)
Tracey (BCS Parent Coordinator)
UPCOMING DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
6/17 - Last Day of Upper Grades Classes
Check this link for important dates: http://www.bcs448.org/monthly-calendar/
to see our updates on the web.
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 or tracey@bcs448.org.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Farewell, though never far from our heart: BCS family forever!
WHERE IS EVERYONE HEADED?
- Amanda B - In July my family and I are moving to Hudson, NY. We bought a fixer upper home that is slowly being fixed and are excited to have a backyard for the kids to play in. I'll be working a similar role to here, as an Assistant Principal of a middle school in Albany, NY.
- Arden - I'm moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and to work at Escola Americana de Rio de Janeiro (an American international school). I'll be working as Learning Support in their upper school, and will also continue teaching yoga.
- Dierre - Next school year I will be working with the Office of Teacher Development as a teacher evaluator.
- Jessica - I will be moving to St. Louis, Missouri to be closer to my family.
- Michele R - My plan for next year is to retire and spend several months in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a gorgeous, colorful, peaceful mountain town, with cobblestone streets and historic architecture, four hours northwest of Mexico City, where I hope to immerse myself in daily dance classes and Spanish lessons while relishing the town's endless festivals, parades, fine dining, perfect weather and warm, generous people.
- Sheila - It is with a heavy heart that I announce I am leaving BCS and moving out of the city to be closer to family at this time. I have grown and learned so much from all of you. Thank you for everything.
Library & Classroom Books
- Gentle reminder to return all library and classroom books
Report Card Pick Up: Wednesday, June 26th
- Report cards may be picked up on Wednesday, 6/26 before 10:00 a.m. in the main office, room 410.
- If a student does not come before 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, their report card will be mailed home.
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 26th
- in less than a week and a half, the 2018-2019 school year will come to a close.
- Wednesday, June 26th is a half day and the last day of school! Wooohoooo!
The Lower Grades Awards Ceremony: Student Achievement & Community Pride
- On Friday, June 7th, BCS families, teachers, students, and school leaders packed the Auditorium to celebrate the academic achievement and academic progress of our middle schoolers in our Lower Grades Awards Ceremony.
- Congratulations to all of our award recipients who demonstrated the growth mindset and the habits of scholarship---persistence, responsibility, and collaboration---that distinguished them amongst their peers in their academic classes and core values.
- Students received awards for noteworthy academic achievement in their core classes and selectives and/or for exemplary exhibition of core values.
- Major kudos out to BCS alumni Tanzima Umi (2015) and Amanda Martin Lawrence (2016) our keynote speakers who delivered inspiring and heartfelt speeches to our award recipients.
- Major shout of to 9th graders Zoe and Bianca for delivering beautifully moving poetic pieces that they crafted as part of a 9th grade poetry unit in their ELA class.
- Major thank you to Student Ambassadors Joseph, Micheal M., Oscar, and Gabriel R-M. who helped to host the event and to 7th grader Lily for her musical performance to kick off the evening.
- The Lower Awards Ceremony was a evocative testimony to student achievement, family engagement, teacher support and participation, alumni 'paying it forward', and community pride!
Our 8th Graders Make a Huge Splash at Six Flags!
- Neither rain nor strong winds could deter our animated 8th graders from their end of the year trip to Six Flags!
- Students (and adults) had a super fun time!
610 HENRY UNITY = BCS + BNS COLLABORATION
Beth & Phil's Climate Change Class: Students Take Action
- On Friday, June 7th, as part of the "Take Action" case study in Beth and Phil's Climate Change class, students were encouraged to use their talents to make products that could educate others about the climate crisis and what they can do about it.
- Seniors Emily and Ysabella partnered to create a children's book called Sammy Liu joins the Climate Patrol! which describes how Sammy becomes part of the a crew of children including a teacher, a hydrologist, a toxicologist and an ecologist, who use their powers to fight against climate change.
- Emily wrote the story and Ysabella provided the illustrations. They then shared it with BNS teacher Steve's third grade class at BNS. Emily reached out to Steve since he was her third grade teacher.
- Check out the link for the book: https://read.bookcreator.com/1N2zcUFUhyTZ8sf8cZbvoAd6s9j1/7M0vCJGsRzSJEGEQAES-hA
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Spanish Teacher Magen Presents @ 2019 Decolonizing Education Conference
- On Friday, 6/7 & Saturday, 6/8, Magen presented at the 2019 Decolonizing Education Conference with New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity & the Transformation of Schools in partnership with the NYC Department of Education Office of Equity and Access.
- Magen presented two workshops to educators, researchers, students, parents and administrators on an innovative way to incorporate a culturally responsive lens to teacher peer evaluations.
- Magen also led a workshop featuring her very own case study on Latinx cultures and histories that she uses in her Spanish classroom here at BCS.
- Take a look at the workshops in action!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Art of Me Honors Student Creativity: Lexi, Gabriel, Jeinise, Chase, James, & Rebbakkah
- On Wednesday, June 12th, Cecilia Mejia, Creative Director/NY Crew Leader of Art of Me, visited BCS for a very special creative gathering to reveal the winner of the 2018 Story Writing Contest and to present various other student-centered projects that will feature six of our 11th graders!
- Major shout out to Phill and Dwight who did an amazing work preparing and coaching the students through the writing contest with their unit on Love & Solidarity.
- Major kudos and honor goes to 11th grader Lexington Rivera’s story SO(U)L was selected to be turned into a film as the NY winner. They are set to begin working on her story this summer!
- Art of Me also decided that because there were so many powerful stories to tell, they are also taking on a few other stories to piece them together for a vignette series. These stories include Jeinise Castro’s Remember Her and Stella Chase’s Here.
- Art of Me has taken on different story formats including audio plays and graphic novels. Because he is a gifted artist in his own right, they have decided to bring Gabriel Rivera on board their crew next year to work with an artist on his story The Era of A Dragon Queen, which will be turned into a graphic novel.
- To round this out for BCS, they are going to place James Segura’s Spring as well as Rebakkah Ruffin’s If Only into their vault for audio recording.
- Lastly, as Cecilia and her staff provide college preparation support, Nirmeen Shumman, in grade 12, will be receiving a scholarship from the Joey Tsao “Dare to be You” Foundation.
STUDENT RESOURCES & PROGRAMS
NYPD Community Affairs Youth Programming Opportunities
- NYPD's Youth Strategies Division focuses on the well-being of the city's young people, working collaboratively with various department commands and other agencies to prevent and reduce youth crime and victimization. Department members also identify "at-risk" youth and design diversion, intervention, and educational programs for these groups.
- Please visit the youth services section to learn more about the programs the Community Affairs Bureau provides for young people, or learn about the services from your local precinct's youth officer.
Youth Programs
- The NYPD offers a variety of youth-related initiatives that focus on the challenges facing young New Yorkers as they mature into young adults, and that strive to help foster a positive outlook, education, and community-building.
- For additional information contact the Community Affairs Bureau (communityaffairs@nypd.org), visit the Community Affairs officer at your local police precinct, or call 646-610-5323.
- Law Enforcement Explorers: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/youth-programs/explorers.page
- Police Athletic League: https://www.palnyc.org/
- Options Program: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/youth-programs/youth-options.page
The NYPD has established a scholarship fund, through the generosity of the Police Foundation, in memory of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. The $10,000 award will be presented to two Explorers in the amount of up to $5,000 each. The award will be used for tuition and/or school expenses at an accredited college or academic institution during the upcoming semester. Your application must be submitted by no later than Wednesday, June 26, 2019. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Monday, August 5, 2019.
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Lower Grade Intensives = Learning, Engagement, & Fun
Model Job Fair
- Our Model Job Fair was another amazing success where our junior interns spoke with our freshmen and sophomores about their internship experiences!
- Shout out to the six 9th and 10th graders who earned gift cards for either being the best dressed or earning the most job interviews/offers.
- The winners for best dressed are 9th graders Zoe Davis and Jordyn Miller.
- The winners for most job interviews/offers are 9th graders Abigail Marchan and Esau Jones and 10th graders Clark Loeffler and Adama Diallo.
Internship Appreciation Luncheon
- On Wednesday, June 12th, Internship Co-Directors Tanisha and Jesse hosted the Annual Spring Internship Appreciation Luncheon Ceremony.
- Major kudos and huge shout outs to Tanisha and Jesse for creating a memorable and special event for our interns.
- They shared their experiences, reflected upon the lessons they learned during their internships, and celebrated their mentors.
FAMILY & STUDENT PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, & EVENTS
Community Education Council District 15 Events - Mark Your Calendars
- Tuesday, June 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Interim Sunset Park Library. You are invited to an Open House for the new Sunset Park Library! The architects are ready to share their designs for the new Sunset Park Library. Join them for a special presentation. Flyer is attached.
- Location: Sunset Park Interim Library, 4201 Fourth Avenue (at 43rd St.), Community Room, Brooklyn, NY 11232
- Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. - CEC15 Special Session Meeting. CEC15 and the Office of District Planning invites you to attend a community meeting on the Rezoning of P.S. 32 and SubDistrict 3. Flyer is attached.
- Location: P.S. 32, 317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
- Wednesday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.- Chinese Family Forum. The Department of Education, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs invite you and your community to learn about critical information in Chinese on Parent's Rights, high school enrollment, and much more. Please RSVP to Events@Schools.NYC.Gov
- Location: Church of Grace to Fujianese New NY (5212 6th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11220)
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