Week of 1/25/2021
.... 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
1/25/2021 - Week's Events
*denotes more information provided below
Monday, 1/25
- 8th Grade High School Selection Form DUE*
- Groves High School Virtual 8th Grade Parent Night*
- BCS Diversity Committee Meetings every Tuesday 7:30-8am. Please join at this link: https://zoom.us/j/94515515954?pwd=VGgvWVJUUWQ3SjdCWmhvWU9DRFhKdz09
- BCS Pride every Tuesday 4:15-5pm. Please email Rick Joseph at rjoseph@birmingham.k12.mi.us for details.
Thursday, 1/28
- Material Distribution, ALL VIRTUAL STUDENTS 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.*
- Virtual 3rd and 4th Grade Students: Laptop Return 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.*
- BCS PTSA Meeting, 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Friday, 1/29
Coming up...
Tuesday, February 2: Seaholm 8th Grade Student Curriculum and Parent Night
Thursday, February 4: Half Day/Teacher Professional Development
Greetings, BCS Families!
It has been so wonderful to welcome back many of our students to the building! With a lengthy WAG this week, we will keep this update short & sweet with a few highlights:
- All Families: The BCS PTA is hosting the PTA Blast Road Rally on Sunday, April 25, 2021. It is shaping up to be what we think will be an incredible event! Thank you to all who are helping organize and plan!
- 8th Grade Families: Be sure to read updates below regarding high school scheduling deadlines and parent information sessions for both Groves and Seaholm.
- 3/4 Families Laptop Return: Please have students return HP laptops this week to their homeroom teacher. Virtual families may drop this laptops off during Materials Distribution.
We wish you all a fantastic weekend!
Yours in BCS Solidarity,
Dr. Hakim and Mr. Hill
All School News
PTA Blast Road Rally - Call for Volunteers
The BCS Blast Road Rally is coming on Sunday, April 25, 2021!
The BCS Blast Committee is hard at work preparing this year’s Blast and we could use some help! Please join in supporting your child’s education by volunteering for the Blast! Please contact Donna Kramer dkramer216@yahoo.com or join our next BCS Blast Zoom meeting, January 27, 2021 at 9am.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88207752828?pwd=blFUMER3bXNKWnBoa3YzR1VzQmg5Zz09
Meeting ID: 88207752828 Password: 167735
Counselor's Notes for 8th Grade Families
Hello 8th grade families,
As a reminder, we are starting to get ready for our 8th grade students to transition to high school. Please see below for some important updates and details about this process.
Action Item:
- Complete this Google Form to indicate your child’s High School selection by Monday, January 25th
Upcoming Events:
· Monday, January 25th: Groves 8th Grade Virtual Parent Night (see agenda below)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WXMvLjbc4IPa_RIcxuzDmg1dfmdFAORiD9XYs4NBGmM/edit?usp=sharing
· Tuesday, February 2nd: DATE CHANGE Seaholm 8th grade Curriculum Student and Parent Night.
Message regarding this event is on our 8th Grade High School Scheduling 2021 document
· Week of January 25th: 8th grade students will receive their course selection recommendations via their school Gmail
· Fridays in February/March: Students will join a Zoom meeting with Counselors to input their high school course selections into PowerSchool. Details TBA
Save this Google Doc:
- 8th Grade High School Scheduling 2021 This will be updated with additional links and information throughout the scheduling window
We look forward to working with you and your child to help prepare him/her for a successful freshman year of high school. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Karen Kohler (last names A-K) - kkohler@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Jen Wagner (last names L-Z) - jwagner2@birmingham.k12.mi.us
BCS Choice Hour Updates
Choice Hour Quarter III
New Choice Hours begin on Tuesday, January 19th
- Choice Hour runs daily from 3:25-4:10pm - VIRTUALLY
- Students should only attend choice hour if the linked schedule below lists a student as in the class.
- Students can expect an introductory email from their choice hour teacher at some point, but it may not come before the initial class meeting. Use the zoom links document below to attend the class. If a zoom link is currently missing it will be updated before the first class.
Choice Hour Quarter III Schedules (listed by Student ID Number)
Choice Hour Quarter III Zoom Links
Do you still need to sign up for Choice Hour? Or is your student's choice hour schedule not listed?
Students can still sign up for Choice Hour, however, registrations received after January 15 will be processed late and those students can start attending on Monday, January 25. You can find the choice hour descriptions and sign-up forms here: https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/6952
Please direct any Choice Hour questions to BCSchoicehour@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Birbery Begins this Week!
Like most things this year, The Birbery Reading Program will be a little different than in the past. We are still excited to share great books from the past year with our 6-7-8th graders, but this year we have even more books to choose from -- and less requirements to participate. Our goal is to get your kids reading new titles with no stress…and the possibility of a small reward. Visit the BCS Media Center’s Birbery webpage for more details: https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/4309.
Water Results
Our follow-up water test for legionella came back negative (hurray). Water filling stations and showers may now be used, though due to Covid-19 restrictions drinking fountains remain inoperable.
Material Distribution - Thursdays 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Material distribution for VIRTUAL STUDENTS IN ALL GRADES will take place in the front vestibule of the school. This is the ONLY time we will have distribution during the week. Please confirm with your student's teacher if material will be handed out. If you cannot pick up material at this time, please coordinate with a friend or family member to do so. Not all Grades or Classes will have distributions each week. (If your student is hybrid, they will receive material in school.)
Thursdays: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Laptop Return - 3rd and 4th Grade Students
Now that students are acclimated to their district supplied chromebook, we are ready to accept devices that were previously checked out. Please label your student's laptop with their name (first and last) and academic lab teacher.
Virtual students who have a BCS or BPS Laptop checked out can return their device during material pick up on Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Engineering Technology Students
All K’nex on loan will need to be returned this week. If you are returning to in-person learning, please bring them to class on your schedule cohort day.
The following cohorts are do not have in person Eng Tech this week. I am asking that you please bring your K'nex to your homeroom class where I will collect it.
- 3/4 students in Cohort B Mrs. Parkin’s homeroom
- 5th grade students in Cohort A of Joseph/Warner
- 5th grade students in Cohort B of Cook/Lowery
If you are a student choosing the always virtual option, you will need to return the kit during the normal materials pick up time.
Ms. Sikand's Art Supply List, Grades 3-6
Dear Virtual Students,
Please have the following supplies on hand for our class:
-glue stick
-white glue
-scissors
-color pencils
-crayons
-markers
-watercolor paint set
-pencil and eraser
-ruler
-scotch tape
-yarn/string
In addition, 5/6 students will need the following:
- 9" x 12" sketchbook
- Sketching pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
- Eraser
- Blending Stump/tortillions (1-2)
- Color pencils
- Fine tip black marker (for illustration work)
Cohorts attending in person classes will be provided with the above supplies in class. If you prefer that your child not share supplies, please send them to school with their supplies. , There is a bin labeled ART – white and black paper in the vestibule on distribution day. Feel free to take several sheets of paper for your son or daughter’s art projects.
If a family requires assistance in purchasing these supplies, please contact Mr. Hill, as there is Nan's Fund available at BCS to assist families with art supplies.
Best Regards,
Ms. Sikand
ZOOMusical!
Breakfast and Lunch by Chartwells
Lunch is available free of charge to all students. There will be 2 cold lunch options provided by Chartwells.
Chartwells Meals for Distance Learning
Meeting Announcement from Friends
BCS Picture Retake Day - POSTPONED
Hello BCS Families!
Due to the change in our schedule, Picture Retakes are Postponed. We will update you as soon as a new date is set. Thank you for your patience!
Student Medications & Medical Updates
Attention to Attendance
Parents/Guardians must email the attendance line at bcsattendance@birmingham.k12.mi.us to provide detailed information regarding your students’ absence or tardiness by 8:45 am each day.
Absences or tardies not reported to the BCS attendance office will be recorded as unexcused (please note that sending a note to your child’s teacher does not excuse your child. Always contact the attendance office in the event of a student absence). Please send an accompanying doctor’s note as well (PDF format) if appropriate.
Hybrid Families - Starting January 11, 2021, Clear to Go MUST be submitted for your student BEFORE they enter the building for their cohort day.
Partnerships@Home Learning Series
The most important thing parents and caregivers can do right now is to keep a love of learning alive for their children. Parents and caregivers are essential partners in supporting learning at home, but what does this mean? Parents do not need to be teachers or content area experts. Please join our Partnerships@Home Learning Series for some ideas about fostering curiosity and a sense of wonder during everyday family life.
Please see this flyer to learn more and register for the events: https://www.smore.com/sb0xg-partnerships-home
This Series is brought to you by Oakland Schools. There is no fee, but registration is required.
BCS Student Opportunities!
BPS Saturday School
We are happy to announce that the BPS Saturday School will once again be operating throughout the school year to offer academic support and tutoring for all BPS students grades K – 12. Although we are currently operating virtually as a district, BPS Saturday School takes place every Saturday (excluding holidays and breaks) throughout the school year. Saturday School is normally hosted in the media center at Berkshire Middle School, but we are now operating virtually through Zoom from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. each Saturday on the following dates:
November: 21
December: 5, 12, 19
January: 9, 22, 30
February: 6, 27
March: 6, 13, 20
April: 10, 17, 24
May: 1, 8, 15, 22
The BPS Saturday School Coordinators will be working together with Groves’ NHS students as well as Oakland University student teachers to provide tutoring through Zoom and the use of “breakout rooms.” Our coordinators will be able to maneuver back and forth between breakout rooms to be able to monitor and support the tutorials. Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2047672482?pwd=T3pVU1REUXZTN09NM1MvSSsrVTJiZz09
Please visit the BPS Saturday School webpage to learn more and we hope to see you in this year’s virtual setting! https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/domain/839
Nurses' Update
Shop BCS!
2020-2021 Yearbook
Yearbooks for the 2020-2021 school year can be purchased for $35 with the given link.
https://yearbookforever.com/schools/birmingham_covington_school_buy_yearbook_308378/
https://snap.yearbookforever.com/index.html#/upload/308378
When uploading photos, use access code BCS.
BCS Tumblers & Bottles
Other Helpful Resource Links...
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)
Schoology Help
If students are having trouble logging in to Schoology or if they found that upon entering, there were no classes, please contact the Help Desk at HelpDesk@birmingham.k12.mi.us or at (248) 203-3123.
Schoology Parent Introduction:
You should have received more information about Schoology, our learning management system. Please review the attached district resources for additional Schoology information.
Note: Your child's teachers will provide class-specific guidance to students/families as they begin to integrate Schoology's features in their courses.
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.
Emotional Health & Wellness Resources
BCS Media Center Material Circulation
The BCS Library Media Center is excited to begin circulating materials for the 2020-21 school year! Until we are back in school face-to-face, we are implementing a holds-and-pickup system. All patrons are invited to find materials using our Destiny Library Catalog. If you find something you want, put it on hold! Mrs. Truesdell, your school library media specialist, will pull the materials that are available and have them ready for you by your next grade level pickup day at BCS. Please visit our library website or watch this video for more details.