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Student-Family Update

2/26 – Student/Family Update

Published February 26, 2023 by Scill Chan

Dear BCS Students/Families, we hope you had a restful mid-winter recess!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spirit Monday Mon 2/27 – Pajama Day

  • Mon 2/27 – Pajama Day – wear pajamas!
  • Be ready to take pics and share with photos@bcs448.org

MS State Tests are coming up

  • The New York State (NYS) grades 3–8 English Language Arts (ELA) and math exams will be administered on April 19–20 and May 2–3, respectively.
  • Students in Grade 8 can elect to take the Algebra Regents instead of the Grade 8 Math exam.
  • Exams are not required for promotion.
  • If parents wish to opt out their child out of testing, please complete this form as soon as possible.
  • During MS testing dates, HS students have Expeditionary Thursdays so that we can leave the building and provide a quiet testing environment for students.

Parents/guardians – Please take the DOE NYC School Survey

  • Every year, the DOE asks all families, teachers, and staff in grades 3-K through 12, and students in grades 6-12 to take the NYC School Survey. The information collected by the survey is designed to support a dialogue among all members of the school community about how to make the school a better place to learn.
  • The 2023 NYC School Survey launched on February 13, 2023 and will close on March 31, 2023.
  • Take the 2023 NYC School Survey (Open external link)
  • Families can also access the survey by logging into their NYC Schools Account (NYCSA).

Working papers – get ready for summer jobs

Upcoming Dances – save the dates

  • BCS Glow Party – Fri March 10th 5-8pm. All BCS Grades 6-8 students welcome!
  • BCS Rep Ya Flag Party – Fri March 31st 6-9pm – all BCS Grades 9-12 students welcome

Upcoming Dates

  • Half Days in March – dismissal at 11:15am:
    • Wed 3/1
    • Mon 3/13
    • Fri 3/24
    • Mon 3/27

March PROSE Half Days 

  • BCS is part of a select network of schools in PROSE, which permits DOE schools to innovate with deviations from the citywide calendar and UFT contract by vote of the staff.  
  • The DOE has approved our annual PROSE half days, which allow our staff to have additional professional development. 
  • Please note these dates in your calendar – half days – dismissal at 11:15am:
    • Wed 3/1
    • Mon 3/13
    • Mon 3/27
  • In addition, there is another citywide half day on Fri 3/24 for student-led conferences – dismissal at 11:15am.

Write for the BCS Newspaper – The Collaborative Chronicle

Convert previous grades (including January grades) to CR (credit – UG) or P (pass – LG) based on DOE academic policy

  • If you would like to request for a numeric grade from first semester or from 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 school year to be converted to CR or P due to the DOE’s pandemic academic policy, please let your crew leader know so they can submit a grade change request for you

Tues 4/25 Social Dilemma Panel at 4pm in the auditorium

  • All parents, students, staff welcome
  • We are screening the documentary The Social Dilemma about challenges with increased social media on our society and youth.  The screening is 45 min and we will have a panel afterwards with BCS staff, students, and our staff developers.
  • https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/
  • Sundance Official Selection – The Social Dilemma blends documentary investigation and narrative drama to disrupt the disrupters, unveiling the hidden machinations behind everyone’s favorite social media and search platforms.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

$$ Apply for Summer Youth

  • The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.
  • Through SYEP, participants can explore different interests and career pathways, develop productive workplace habits, and engage in learning experiences that strengthen their social, civic, and leadership skills.
  • By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future.
  • Apply here

Free Summer Camp for HS Students – Game Design

  • The School of Interactive Arts (SIA) from nonprofit Urban Arts, offers a FREE summer camp in game design and development for public high school students. This is the perfect opportunity for students to learn C# coding, learn arts forms (Narrative Writing, Pixel Art, Sound & Music), become a Unity Certified User (a certification designed for future developers who want to create their own game or apps), build a portfolio, prepare for college, and play some games too! SIA seniors have earned over $11 million in scholarships to attend top game design or computer science programs throughout the country. Applications are now open!  
  •  Offerings are for rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders based on the grade you are going into in the Fall 2023 school year. (There are limited spaces for rising 12th graders). It meets July 10 to August 18, Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
  • Apply here
  • Program flyer

Social Justice Summer Opp for HS Students

  • Project ROOTS is a week-long immersive social justice retreat for high school students from the NYC/NJ area. At Project ROOTS, students participate in experiential workshops and group dialogue to relearn wholeness and interconnectedness, and develop ways to heal beyond oppression towards freedom. Students will return to their schools and communities with tools for mindful activism and social change.
  • Project ROOTS 2023 will be held at a campsite in northwest NJ from Sunday, July 30 to Friday, August 4. Cost is $750 per participant but no one will be turned away. 
  • Apply to Project ROOTS here: https://www.inclusiveroots.org/project-roots 
  • Young adults can apply to join the Project ROOTS staff here: https://form.jotform.com/222876053052150 
  • For more information, you can contact info@inclusiveroots.org 

Youth Bridge NY Fellowship for Grade 10

  • Do you know of any 10th graders interested in learning more about diversity and issues affecting NYC? Encourage them to apply for our Fellowship today!
  • Eligibility:
  • Must currently be a high school sophomore
  • Must be able to travel to two meetings (weekday evenings) per month in NYC
  • Must be willing to learn about new perspectives and share yours
  • The link to apply can be found here: https://www.youthbridgeny.org/fellowship

Free Black College Institute for Rising Juniors and Seniors

  • Applications for Virginia Tech’s 7th annual Black College Institute (BCI) are now live! We invite high-achieving and intellectually curious rising high school juniors and seniors to apply and participate in this summer academic leadership program! Click here to download our flyer. 
  • This year’s BCI will be offered fully in person at Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. This residential program will offer one session for rising juniors and two sessions for rising seniors.
  • Current sophomores are encouraged to apply for the rising juniors session taking place June 11- June 14, 2023.
  • Current juniors are encouraged to apply for one of the rising seniors sessions taking place June 18- June 22, 2023, OR June 25- June 29, 2023. You can only participate in one of the two sessions. 
  • All programs are FREE of cost to students!
  • Rising Juniors apply here
  • Rising Seniors apply here

Published in BCS News