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Student Family Update

3/9 – BCS Student/Family Update

Published March 8, 2025 by Scill Chan

Dear BCS Students/Families, we hope you had a great weekend!

PARENT CORNER

Parent Support/ Parent Events
Please donate to our PTA – ONGOINGWe rely on the PTA to supplement our school budget for teacher requests and student programming – consider making a donation to support BCSSuggested donation of $50 for families who canhttps://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=C35TWC68PCJZC
Please donate from our Amazon wish list – ONGOING – WE NEED TISSUES!We need donations of wipes and tissues!Please purchase items from our Amazon wish list to send directly to BCShttps://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WX69HNQ4TUM0?ref_=wl_share
Family Jumprope Login RequestYou can check your child’s grades and attendance in JumpropeIf parents don’t have a login, request it hereAll students log into Jumprope using their BCS email

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DOE Family and Student Surveys – please complete the survey!

Family support needed with cooked or delivered meals

  • BCS is part of a meal train to support a family with an 8th grader and an 11th grader at our school.  Mom recently had surgery and the family would appreciate any support!
  • https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/v0n3kz
  • Home-cooked or ordered meals are both welcome!  

Tues Tiers Afterschool

  • All students are invited to stay Tuesdays afterschool with their teachers to make up work and get extra support and time to complete assessments
  • Upcoming Grade Dates:
    • Tues 3/18: Jumprope grades will be emailed to families and students
    • Tues 4/1: Grades will be downloaded and added to progress reports – official mid-semester grades 
    • Tues 4/22: Jumprope grades will be emailed to families and students 
    • Mon 5/12: Jumprope grades will be emailed to families and students
    • Fri 5/30: LG (Grades 6-8) and senior grades due in Jumprope – promotion/ summer school decisions begin to be made
    • Wed 6/4: last day for new work to be submitted in all classes
    • Mon 6/9: final grades due in Jumprope to be uploaded to transcripts

Social Media Family Workshop (In-Person) and Family Book Group – Wed 4/9 

  • Join us for a BCS Family Workshop (in-person) on Wed 4/9 from 4:30pm-6:30pm about Social Media Awareness.  In-Person at the Library.
  • Get an overview on how to set parental controls on your teen’s phone so you can support with responsible use and strong technology habits!
  • Additionally, we will be discussing the book “Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed” by Dashka Slater.  Winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction.  One review reads: “A propulsive and thought-provoking true story about the revelation of a racist social media account that changes everything for a group of high school students and begs the question: What does it mean to be held accountable for harm that takes place behind a screen?”
  • Email Scill@bcs448.org if you’re interested and we’ll send home a book with your child (or you can purchase your own copy).

Apply to DOE Summer Rising for Grades K-8

  • We are excited to offer Summer Rising once again to NYC students in grades K-8 this summer.  BCS will be a Summer Rising site.
  • Any student attending school in New York City, who is currently in kindergarten through eighth grade (in the 2024-2025 school year) is eligible for Summer Rising.
  • How to apply for Summer Rising for your child

Here is how to apply:

  1. Log in to your MySchools account or create one! If you need help accessing your account or adding/verifying your child, please contact your child’s school. You may need your child’s student ID number and account creation code. 
  2. Under your child’s name, click on the blue button next to “Summer Rising” that says, “Get Started”.
  3. Read the welcome message and click “Next”.
  4. On the next page you will find information about your child. If everything is correct click “Looks Good”. If there is an issue, please contact your school for assistance.
  5. Select the button that says “Search” to begin exploring Summer Rising program options and building your application!

Tips for filling out your application:

  • You can list as many programs as you are interested in. The more programs you list, the more likely you will receive a placement of your choice. 
  • List programs in your true preference order, with your first choice as #1, second choice as #2, and so on.
  • Apply any time by the March 28 deadline. Admissions is not first-come, first-served – all applications received by the deadline will be treated the same.
  • Summer Rising seats are limited; please apply to Summer Rising if your child is planning to attend most of the summer programming.
  • For more information, see here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/summer-rising

Summer Food benefits – EBT card funds $$

  • Many New York City families are eligible for $120 per child in food benefits this summer to pay for meals that would have otherwise been provided at school — a program that launched for the first time last year. But unlike other pandemic-era food assistance initiatives, the summer program is not universal. Here’s what you should know about whether you’re eligible and how to apply.

Middle School Tests Up Ahead

  • Mon 4/21 – Tues 4/22 – Grade 6 ELA NYS State Test
  • Wed 4/23 – Thurs 4/24 – Grade 7 ELA NYS State Test
  • Mon 4/28 – Tues 4/29 – Grade 8 ELA NYS State Test
  • Mon 5/5 – Tues 5/6 – Grade 6 Math NYS State Test
  • Wed 5/7 – Thurs 5/8 – Grade 7 Math NYS State Test
  • Tues 6/10 – Biology Regents for Grade 8 only 
  • Wed 6/18 – Algebra Regents for Grade 8 only

Middle School NYS Parent Opt Out

  • If you would like to opt your child out of the state exams, please notify our principal by completing the parent opt-out form from middle school state tests here – state tests are not required.
  • If you would like to opt your child out of the Regents, please email your child’s Biology or Algebra teacher.

PTA meeting – Tues 3/11 at 6:30pm – Nominating Committee

  • Can you believe it’s already that time of year when we begin planning for our PTA elections? This means it’s time for us to come together and create our Nominating Committee during the March 11th PTA meeting – See Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82805443270?pwd=eFVVN1YvcFc0d2NlWmQ0elFjOFNyQT09
  • ???? CALL FOR BCS PTA NOMINATING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS – We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our Nominating Committee!  It is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in shaping our PTA leadership for next year.   If you’re interested or would like to learn more, please email pta@bcs448.org. 
  • Also, for our March 11th meeting, we’ll welcome back Kim Berney-Brooke, PTA co-treasurer and Belongingness Coach, for the continuation of The Trust Advantage presentation. Don’t worry if you missed February’s meeting- the replay link is below (Passcode required), and Kim’s slides are attached to this email. 
  • Watch the replay: https://us02web.zoom.us/clips/share/2SARXB3bTNqYL_9yhvTi7g
  • Passcode: @BCS2025Feb11

Fri 3/21 – SAT/PSAT School Day for Grades 10/11

  • Every year we have SAT School Day where 10th and 11th graders take the PSAT or SAT exam during school – this year, it will be on Fri 3/21.  
  • The SAT is one important component of the college admissions process and you have to put in the study time to improve your score!  Did you know that a combined SAT score of greater than 1100 is considered a college-ready threshold?  We advise that all students study 30 minutes a day with Khan Academy to practice for the SAT and PSAT, that you attend our Afterschool SAT Class on Wednesdays and Thursdays with Henry and Allison, and that you take a practice SAT test online.  
  • You can do this!  Aim for a SAT score of over 1000 and study every day!

Half Days Coming Up in Spring – PROSE Half Day for Teacher Professional Development

  • Fri 3/14 – Half Day – Dismissal at 11:15am – Professional Development for Staff
  • Fri 3/21 – Half Day – Dismissal at 11:15am – Parent-Teacher Conferences Afternoon
  • Fri 5/16 – Half Day – Dismissal at 11:15am – Crew Day

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES – click here for an ongoing list

Summer Music Program for HS students

  • SOUND THINKING NYC is offering a FREE FOUR-WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE for NYC public high school students interested in exploring how to turn their passion for music into a possible career.
  • Now in its 8th year, STNYC is a program of the CUNY Creative Arts Team (CAT) and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment  (MOME). STNYC was founded as part of an initiative to address the underrepresentation of women in New York City’s thriving music industry by bringing together a community of young people to learn about careers, train in music production, build leadership skills, and network with industry professionals. We are excited to invite all NYC public high school students to apply for the 2025 Summer Program. Each summer we welcome a new cohort of students.
  • The session runs from Monday, July 7th to Friday, August 1st Deadline to submit application is: 
  • May 25th, 2025 – ’25 Summer Intensive Application

Applications are open for *free* Spring Break bead-making camp at UrbanGlass!

New free summer writing program – HS Students

  • Hawthornden Brooklyn is thrilled to announce a new free summer writing program for New York City public high school students, and a new writing residency for New York City public high school teachers. As this is the first year for both programs, we hope that you will share this information far and wide with your students and colleagues. 
  • Hawthornden Brooklyn invites applications from creative high school students who currently attend New York City public schools to participate in our Summer 2025 Young Writers’ Workshop. In three separate ten-day workshops, students will have the opportunity to sharpen their skills in either fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction at the Hawthornden Brooklyn house in Ditmas Park, a space specially designed for writers. Lunch will be provided every day, and the students will be offered a stipend of $1000. To learn more and apply by April 1, please click here. 

Drum Program – grades 8-12

  • Join us for an 8 week fellowship where we will drum, sing & chant in community as we learn artivist (artist-activist) skills, write songs of peace and justice and go to protest to make the revolution irresistible!  The program will meet IN PERSON on SATURDAYS, starting on 3/15 through 5/17 from 3:30pm-5:30pm. 
  • RSVP: https://bit.ly/liberationdrumcircles
  • Rehearsals will be in Midtown. Snacks, Community Service & $150 stipends! (Exact Location will be shared  Read more about the program here

Calendar Lookahead

  • Tues 3/11 – PTA Meeting in Zoom at 6:30pm
  • Thurs 3/13 – Expeditionary Thursday
  • Fri 3/14 – Half Day – Dismissal at 11:15am – Professional Development for Staff
  • Thurs 3/20 – Parent-Teacher Conferences Evening
  • Fri 3/21 – SAT/PSAT School Day for Grades 10/11 
  • Fri 3/21 – Half Day for all other grades – Dismissal at 11:15am – Parent-Teacher Conferences Afternoon
  • Thurs 3/27 – Expeditionary Thursday
  • Mon 3/31 – No School – Eid al-Fitr
  • Fri 4/4 – Middle School Glow Party
  • Tues 4/8 – PTA Meeting in Zoom
  • Thurs 4/10 – Expeditionary Thursday
  • Fri 4/11 – High School Dance Party
  • Mon 4/14 – Fri 4/18 – No School – Spring Break
  • Mon 4/21 – School Resumes
  • Mon 4/21 – Tues 4/22 – Grade 6 ELA NYS State Test
  • Wed 4/23 – Thurs 4/24 – Grade 7 ELA NYS State Test
  • Mon 4/28 – Tues 4/29 – Grade 8 ELA NYS State Test
  • Tues 4/29 – SLT School Leadership Team Meeting in Zoom
  • Mon 5/5 – Tues 5/6 – Grade 6 Math NYS State Test
  • Wed 5/7 – Thurs 5/8 – Grade 7 Math NYS State Test
  • Thurs 5/8 – Senior Prom – Class of 2025
  • Tues 5/13 – PTA Meeting in Zoom
  • Thurs 5/15 – Student-Led Conferences Evening
  • Fri 5/16 – Half Day – Dismissal at 11:15am – Student-Led Conferences Afternoon
  • Mon 5/26 – No School – Memorial Day
  • Tues 5/27 – Middle School Awards Ceremony
  • Tues 5/27 – SLT School Leadership Team Meeting in Zoom
  • Thurs 5/29 – World Arts Expo afterschool
  • Thurs 6/5 – No School – Eid al-Adha
  • Fri 6/6 – Class of 2025 Senior Awards Night
  • Tues 6/10 – Biology Regents for Grade 8 only (Grades 6+7 all Crew, HS regular class)
  • Tues 6/10 – PTA Meeting in Zoom
  • Thurs 6/12 – High School Awards Ceremony
  • Tues 6/17 – SLT School Leadership Team Meeting in Zoom
  • Mon 6/16 – Last Day of Spring Semester
  • Tues 6/17 – ELA Regents for Grades 10
  • Tues 6/17 – Thurs 6/26 – No Classes for Grades 9-12 (PBAT Week – High school students only come to school if they have a Regents or a PBAT panel)
  • Tues 6/17 – Thurs 6/26 – Middle School Intensives – regular schedule
  • Wed 6/18 – Algebra Regents for Grade 8 only
  • Thurs 6/19 – No School – Juneteenth
  • Fri 6/20 – Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony
  • Tues 6/24 – Graduation for Class of 2025
  • Thurs 6/26 – Last Day of School – Half Day – dismissal at 11:15am

Published in BCS News