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12/13 – Family/Student Update

Dear Families,

We hope you had a wonderful and safe weekend.

 

BCS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tech Issues?  Please reach out to Eddie@bcs448.org

  • If you are having tech issues, please reach out to Eddie@bcs448.org to help troubleshoot your issue
  • Eddie can fix broken devices including DOE ipads or troubleshoot connectivity issues
  • It’s so important for your children to be able to access Zoom classes, office hours, and Google Classroom so please let us know how we can help

 

Family Calendar this Week – please email Imani@bcs448.org with questions

  • School Leadership Team – Tues 12/15 @ 4:30pm
  • Student Town Hall Grades 6-12 – Tues 12/15 @ 6:45pm
  • Family Town Hall UG (Grades 9-12) – Tues 12/15 @ 7:30pm
  • Family Town Hall LG (Grades 6-8) – Tues 12/15 @ 8:00pm
  • Family Book Club – Thurs 12/17 @ 6:30pm

 

So proud of our Class of 2021 – Virtual College March!

 

Family/Student Town Halls this Week – Join Zoom Meeting (same link for all Town Halls)

  • Student Town Hall Grades 6-12 – Tues 12/15 @ 6:45pm
  • Family Town Hall UG (Grades 9-12) – Tues 12/15 @ 7:30pm
  • Family Town Hall LG (Grades 6-8) – Tues 12/15 @ 8:00pm
  • We want to hear from you, what’s on your mind?  What questions do you have?
  • Let Scill, Imani, Tracey know how things are going

 

Unselfie by Michelle Borba – Family Virtual Book Club – Thurs 12/17 @ 6:30pm

  • Are you interested in talking with other parents about how to raise successful, happy kids who also are kind, moral, courageous, and resilient? Why is a lack of empathy so dangerous, and how can you develop deeper empathy in your child?
  • Join school leaders Scill and Imani at our December Virtual BCS Family Book Club for a scintillating discussion of the book UnSelfie by Michelle Borba— a terrific blueprint for parents who want kids to shift their focus from I, me, and mine…to we, us, and ours.
  • Bring your questions, comments, suggestions, words of wisdom, and more as we grapple with what does it mean to raise an adolescent, particularly in these unprecedented times.
  • Here is the Introduction and the epilogue so you get a taste of the book!  You do not have to purchase the book to participate in the Family Book Club. However, if you are interested in reading UnSelfie in its entirety, you may purchase the book at your local bookstore and on Amazon. UnSelfie is a wonderful read!
    • WHEN: Thursday, December 17th TIME: 6:30 p.m.
    • RSVP to get the Zoom link: Contact imani@bcs448.org

 

Progress reports will be sent home this week – snapshot will be taken Mon 12/14 at 12pm

  • We will mail home progress reports one more time before final grades are due in January
  • We will mail home the PupilPath snapshot on Mon 12/14 at 12pm

 

OF INTEREST

 

“National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021”

  • The Consortium has been working with FairTest and other groups in New York and across the country to influence the suspension of standardized state testing in June.  
  • Please Sign and Circulate the new “National Call to Suspend High-Stakes Testing in Spring 2021”
  • There’s no standardized exam worth risking the lives of children, teachers and school support personnel!  
  • Initiated by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) and already endorsed by the Network for Public Education as well as many local groups such as Save Our Schools New Jersey, the campaign is designed to pressure federal and state policy makers to waive all standardized exam requirements at least for the 2020-2021 academic year and eliminate all consequences attached to test scores

 

Workshop (Celebra y Eleva) to Support Remote Learning with Spanish-Speaking Families

  • The DOE, in partnership with Ramapo for Children, is offering “¡Celebra y Eleva!,” a workshop offered in Spanish on strategies for families to strengthen their relationship and connection when students are learning remotely. Please share this optional workshop with your Spanish-speaking students and families. Families may register for any of the sessions below by completing this form; after registering, the webpage will display the link to access the workshop. 
  • The dates and times of the workshop sessions are:
    • December 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; and
    • January 6, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • For questions, email DML@schools.nyc.gov

 

Student Mental Health – Free App

  • DownDog is offering their app free to schools, teachers and students through July 2021. https://www.downdogapp.com/schools – you can find 10min up to 2 hour yoga exercises here

 

Coping During COVID-19 – Free Parent Workshops

    • Our partners at the Child Mind Institute are offering a series of free workshops. Interested caregivers can learn more about the workshops and register here.

 

  • Managing Grief and Loss – Monday, 12/14 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Mindful Parenting – Monday, 12/14 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST
  • Is My Child Going to Be Okay? – Wednesday, 12/16 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Managing Intense Emotions – Wednesday, 12/16 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST

 

 

Holiday Fun at the Met Opera – Free Met Opera 5-Day Family Holiday Festival

  • During this festive time of year, the Met Opera is presenting a series of virtual workshops (Thursday, December 17 through Monday, December 21) to guide kids and families through Hansel and Gretel, a wickedly entertaining, English language adaptation of the classic fairy tale.
  • All workshops will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. 
  • Visit www.metopera.org/family to learn more and register.

 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

 

DOE Announcement – middle/high schools remain in all-remote until further notice

    • Middle/high schools remain in all-remote through at least Dec 2020

 

  • Although there is no official announcement yet, there is some talk by the city that middle/high schools may likely remain in all-remote until at least Feb 2021 to give the city an opportunity to prioritize re-opening elementary schools safely

 

  • When blended learning eventually re-opens, no student will be permitted to return to the school building without a signed COVID-19 consent form for in-person learning. You can provide consent electronically by visiting mystudent.nyc. You may also find COVID-19 consent forms in all DOE languages here

 

Additional crew period Fridays 2:30pm, continuing every week in all-remote

  • We are adding an additional crew period each week Fridays 2:30pm while we are in all-remote in addition to Weds Crew
  • In normal times back in the building, students had crew daily for 30 minutes.  We hope more crew time in virtual allows students to build community and get academic check-ins with their crew and crew leader

 

Free New York Times Subscription for High School Students

  • All Upper Grades students received an email with subject “Activate your free New York Times subscription” – please search your email and click button in the email to activate a free NYTimes subscription for the year
  • All UG students got this invitation (it was only valid for high school students, not middle school unfortunately)
  • Ask Eddie@bcs448.org if you have any questions
  • The NYTimes is a great resource for current events and resources

 

Community Meals – Free Meals Available Daily to all New Yorkers

  • New York City is committed to making free meals available daily for all New Yorkers.  Text “NYC FOOD” or “NYC COMIDA” to 877-877 (text messaging and data rates may apply)