Family & Student Weekly News
January 22, 2019
Dear Brooklyn Collaborative Families,
We are asking you to mark your calendars and save the date for our Mid-Winter Gala and Auction on Saturday, February 9th from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Luso-American Cultural Center at 619 Henry Street.
Mid-Winter Gala and Auction is the BCS PTA's most important fund-raiser of the year.
We need your support to make this event a success! Buy tickets, talk up the event to your friends, and donate and bid on auction items.
This will be a fun and entertaining evening for adults. There will be DJ/dancing, live musical performances from our super talented teacher John Schmitt, an open bar, and mouth-watering eats from Sahadi's and Gina's Cultural Catering, to highlight a few culinary delights!
Please look out for a separate email with the subject line BCS's Mid-Winter Gala's Auction -- NOW LIVE to buy tickets and bid on auction items.
A quick reminder that this Monday, January 28th, there is an ice skating trip for our middle school students. There is no school for students 9-12 for Chancellor's Day.
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)
- 1/21/19: Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Day (No School)
- 1/22/19 - 1/25/19 - UG PBAT Week/LG Intensives
- 1/29: Lower Grades Ice Skating Trip
- 1/29: College Invasion Trips
- 1/30 Spring Semester Begins
- 2/5: Lunar New Year (No School)
- 2/9 - BCS Mid-winter Gala and Auction (7:00 - 10:00 p.m.)
- 2/12 - SLT meeting from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
- 2/12 - PTA meeting from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- 2/18 - 2/22: Midwinter Recess
Check this link for weekly highlights: https://www.bcs448.org/2019/01/20/1-14-18-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
School Lunch Policy: Students may NOT order lunch for delivery to the building
- Ordering food for delivery is not permitted because it poses a distraction to learning - e.g. students step out of class to place their order on their cell phone -therefore missing instruction, the delivery does not come on time and students miss class waiting for the delivery, etc. School Safety has also said that it increases foot traffic to the school and also poses a safety concern.
- For students who have earned the out-to-lunch privilege, there are numerous eateries within 3-5 blocks of the school that students should walk to.
- School lunch is available to all students and is free and nutritious every day. We encourage all students and families to save money and eat school lunch!
- Did you know that multiple staff members pay $5 each to eat school lunch every day? They're paying money to eat the same quality food that all students can eat for free!
Reading in the Round BCS Parent Book Club - Tuesday, January 29th
- Calling all parents to kick off our Brooklyn Collaborative Parent Book Club on Tuesday, January 29th 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 will kick off this year's book club by reading Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. This compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man’s coming-of-age, is set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
- Born a Crime 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 to two interviews with Trevor Noah about his book Born a Crime.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hfMNTnBM4I
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEsWOZjjVt8
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 23 students. 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
LIBRARY CORNER
BCS/BNS Library and BCS Gender & Sexuality and Black Lives Matter Collection Host Drag Queen Story Hour
- On Wednesday, January 23rd during lunchtime, the BNS/BCS Library, along with the BCS Gender & Sexuality and Black Lives Matter Collective, will be hosting Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH).
- A nationally recognized program, DQSH celebrates gender diversity and introduces young people to positive queer role models.
- We are very excited to be working with DQSH as they introduce their new program for middle-grade and high school students!
- The NYT recently publicized DQSH and a variety of recent news outlets have applauded inclusion in schools from San Francisco to the Midwest to NYC!
STUDENT CLUBS
Gender & Sexuality and Black Lives Matter Collective Presents Movie Night this Friday, January 25th
- WHAT: GSA BLM Collective screens the full-length film Love, Simon and other GSA BLM themed film shorts.
- WHEN: Friday, Jan 25th
- TIME: Doors open at 3:45 p.m.
- WHERE: BCS Auditorium.
- Admission is free and snacks will be for sale.
BCS Student Council Weekly Update
- On Friday, January 18th, Student Council had its weekly meeting (Grades 6-12).
- Grade representatives formed standing committees, drafted a committee mission statement and identified identified committee goals.
- Student Council established the following committees: 1) Beautification/School Facilities; 2) School Spirit; 3) Fundraising; and, 4) Communication.
- Student Council meets weekly periods 5 & 6.
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
STUDENT CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
Weekly Mastery Support: Tuesdays 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. (BEGINS AGAIN ON FEB. 12th)
- 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!
Rosetta Stone: Study a New Language
- WHAT: Study a new language. Enrich yourself through independent language study!
- WHO: Open to all BCS students (Grades 6-12) for enrichment and for ELL students learning English. All accounts from previous years are still active, and you DO NOT need to email Chloe for a new login.
- HOW: To sign up: Please email chloe@bcs448.org from your BCS email address with the language you want to study. Chloe will send you an email from Rosetta Stone with your log in and password. All study is done online - you need a BCS email address, Internet connection, a computer with speakers, and headphones to take the course independently.
- WHY: Brooklyn Collaborative emphasizes cross-cultural competence for success in the 21st century and encourages all community members to strive to be multilingual. BCS is committed to developing students and staff who are kind, openminded, persistent, responsible, and courageous. At BCS, students learn to apply their intellect and effort to benefit themselves and their community.
- Languages Offered through Rosetta Stone: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English (UK)
- English (US), Persian (Farsi), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Latin American), Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Filipino (Tagalog), Turkish, Vietnamese
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT & SHOUT OUTS
6th Grade Parent Speaks Out: NYSED Designates Brooklyn Collaborative As Comprehensive Support and Improvement School
- On Friday, January 18th Columbia, 6th grade parent called in to the Brian Leher show and spoke to guest NYC Mayor de Blasio.
- Columbia asked Mayor de Blasio why has Brooklyn Collaborative---a highly diverse, truly integrated school, where "real learning is happening," and listed on the U.S News & World Report as one of the best high schools in the country--been designated by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) as a failing school.
- Columbia asked de Blasio if he and Chancellor Carranza are going to protect Brooklyn Collaborative--an "award winning, amazing, progressive school, highly diverse school, serving low income communities, but truly integrated, which is rare in city considering that schools are quite segregated in the city.
- Columbia invited Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza, and the NY State Regents to visit Brooklyn Collaborative and see the "real learning" that is happening here.
- Listen to the clip at 26:41: https://www.wnyc.org/story/askthemayor-public-trash-public-transit-and-shutdown/
- Our deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Columbia for her courage, open-mindedness, kind words, and activism!
Graphic Novelist & BCS Parent Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez Delights ComicBook Enthusiasts!
- Graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, parent of 9th grader, is on a book tour of his popular comic book La Boriquena.
- Edgardo was at the 5th Annual Black ComicCon Festival at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Saturday, 1/8 & Sunday, 1/19.
- Edgardo will be at the BAM Black Comix Expo on February 10th. For more information, please visit link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-black-comix-expo-2019-tickets-55006434727
- ELA teacher and fellow ComicCon enthusiast raves about La Boriquena.
- Edgardo kindly gifted signed copy of La Boriguena to Brooklyn Collaborative!
- Our sincerest appreciation for Edgardo's gift. We hope that he might include Brooklyn Collaborative on his book tour!
FAMILY CORNER: RESOURCES, EVENTS, & OPPORTUNITIES
[D15 Coalition] CEJ Culturally Responsive Curriculum Forum
- WHAT: Leaders from New York Communities for Change and New York Coalition for Educational Justice are holding a forum on Culturally Responsive Education. Parents from NYCC and CEJ have successfully organized for anti-bias trainings for over 140,000 DOE employees and ongoing supports for districts and schools in Culturally Responsive Education. This forum is an opportunity to engage the Brooklyn community on and continue to find ways we can build power together and push the Department of Education and City Hall to do what is right by NYC students.
- WHEN: Wednesday January 23rd
- TIME:5.30 p.m.
- WHERE: Borough Hall
- RSVP to nyccej@gmail.com
- Simultaneous Spanish interpretation and refreshments will be available
CLASSROOM, COLLABORATION, & CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
6th Grade ELA Roundtables
- On Thursday, 1/17, Grade 6 students had their first ELA roundtables. Students presented their writing based on short stories to an audience of parents, teachers, and seniors.
- One 6th grader reflected, "I loved having seniors as our panelists, they understood us as students".
- We are so proud of our students!
8th Grade Round Tables
- On Thursday, January 17th our Grade 8 students had their ELA roundtables.
- The PBATs were centered on a close-read of the themes and craft moves in Native Son by Richard Wright in order to determine to what extent the character Bigger Thomas should be blamed for the death of Mary Dalton.
- Students not only showcased their best writing, but also allowed them to apply their knowledge of these themes and craft moves to a broader context.
- Kudos to our students!
The Jungle: A Cultural Experience Our Students Will Remember!
- On Friday, January 18th several of our Upper Grade students and teacher Lauren S had the opportunity to see "The Jungle" (a new play about refugee) at St. Ann's Warehouse.
- Students attended a poetry workshop about the play on Tuesday, 1/15, taught by teaching artist Chesray Dolpha,
- Our students raved about the play and their poetry workshop experience!
AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
YWCA @ BCS After School Program
- This week the YWCA @ BCS After-School Program made cupcakes from scratch! Our students made a wide range of cupcakes from chocolate to red velvet and learned the science of baking sweets.
- Our students also made bracelets during our “Student Led Club” hour. A number of our students made name bracelets while others made more simple bracelets using some of their favorite colors! We look forward to facilitating more jewelry making workshops.
- This week our art students made beautiful pictures using oil pastels.
- For more information on our program, please email our Director, Janet Cooper at Jcooper@ywcanyc.org or call (347)781-0566.
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