Dear BCS Families/Students, we hope you had a great weekend. Our Grade 8 Dance on Friday was amazing! We’re excited to continue our celebrations this month!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congrats to our new PTA Exec Board!
- Congratulations to our new PTA Exec Board – we had elections on Tues June 10 and it was a beautiful slate of parent representation! Names to follow!
- THANK YOU to our outgoing parent leaders as you transition after graduation! We are grateful to all you did for our students/families/staff as part of the PTA or SLT!
HS classes are over
- Congrats to all our high school students for persisting to the end of the year!
- Classes are over! Grades are finalized!
- We have trips on Mon 6/16 for eligible high school students – bring back your permission slip if you were given one by your teacher.
- Otherwise, there are no more HS classes – students only return if they have an invitation to a Regents exam or for a GPBAT panel.
- For all other students, have a great summer!
Family Event for Rising Juniors and Seniors – Wed June 18
Event: BCS College & Career Nights: Rising Seniors, Juniors & Families
Location: BCS Room 524 (in person, slide deck will be sent following the event)
Time: 6pm
Date(s):
Wed 6/18 101: A Look Ahead: BCS Postsecondary Advisement 2025-26
Fri 9/12 102: Welcome to Application Season 2025-26
Fri 9/19 103: Opportunity Programs & Special circumstances
TBD 104: College Affordability: Financial Aid Process
What to expect: A series of information sessions for Rising Seniors, Juniors & Families offering an overview of our Crew to College & Career advisory system; the 2025-26 application season; undocumented student & family advisement; opportunity programs (EOP/HEOP) and special areas of counseling & advisement (prospective student artists, athletes and more.)
Immigration Alert to our families/students
- We wanted to make you aware that this week, in the Red Hook area, there were reports of ICE agent sightings. We ask that you remain alert and continue to be mindful, as you have been in these past few months. Our students have received lessons on Know Your Rights, and our staff have received professional development and have distributed red cards in all languages to our students.
- BCS welcomes all families regardless of immigration status and we are here to support our community. In NYC public schools, we do not track immigration status, and our schools remain safe spaces for all of our students.
- We advise all families/students to review the information below (previously emailed out in our Sunday family email):
Know your rights / Conozca sus derechos / 了解你的权利 / اعرف حقوقك / আপনার অধিকার জানুন / Konnen dwa ou
- KYR-resources in many languages
- Know Your Rights videos
- You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you.
- If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause.
- If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions
- Sources: Know Your Rights | Immigrants’ Rights | ACLU
- Know Your Rights with ICE – Immigrant Defense Project
- Keep a know your rights card / Guarde una tarjeta que describa sus derechos / 保留一张了解你权利的卡片 / احتفظ ببطاقة معرفة حقوقك / আপনার অধিকার জানার কার্ড রাখুন / Kenbe yon kat ki montre dwa ou
- Red cards are available at BCS
- Link to printable red cards
- Talk to your family about your plan / Hable con su familia sobre su plan / 与家人讨论你的计划 / تحدث مع عائلتك عن خطتك / আপনার পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে আপনার পরিবারের সাথে কথা বলুন / Pale ak fanmi ou sou plan ou
- Meet with a trusted immigration attorney to discuss your immigration history and whether you qualify for any form of relief / Reúnete con un abogado de inmigración de confianza para hablar sobre tu historial migratorio y determinar si calificas para algún tipo de alivio migratorio / 与值得信赖的移民律师会面，讨论你的移民历史以及你是否有资格获得任何形式的救济 / قابل محامي هجرة موثوق لمناقشة تاريخك الهجري ومعرفة ما إذا كنت تستحق أي نوع من المساعدة / আপনার অভিবাসনের ইতিহাস এবং আপনি কোনো ধরণের সাহায্যের জন্য যোগ্য কিনা তা আলোচনা করতে একটি বিশ্বস্ত অভিবাসন অ্যাটর্নির সাথে দেখা করুন / Reyini ak yon avoka imigrasyon ou fè konfyans pou diskite sou istwa imigrasyon ou ak si w kalifye pou nenpòt fòm soulajman
- If you qualify to adjust your immigration status, seek community organizations to adjust status / Si califica para ajustar su estatus legal busque organizaciones comunitarias que lo ayuden a ajustar su estatus / 如果你符合调整移民身份的条件，请寻求社区组织的帮助 / إذا كنت تستوفي الشروط لتعديل وضعك القانوني، ابحث عن منظمات مجتمعية للمساعدة / যদি আপনি আপনার অভিবাসন স্ট্যাটাস সামঞ্জস্য করার জন্য যোগ্য হন, তবে আপনার স্ট্যাটাস সামঞ্জস্য করতে সম্প্রদায় সংস্থাগুলির সন্ধান করুন / Si w kalifye pou ajiste estati imigrasyon ou, chèche òganizasyon kominotè pou ede w ajiste estati w
- Resources
Summer PSAL for students entering Grades 9-12 – sign up!
- The PSAL High School Summer Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Program registration portal is now live. See the attached flyer.
- Register to stay active and play sports this summer – open to all entering Grades 9-12 students.
- Register here: https://www.psal.org/psalapps/summer/#/registration
- Program info, sites, and offerings: https://www.psal.org/events-and-standings/summer.aspx
- Registration is first come, first served and will remain open until each activity reaches capacity.
Donate laptops
In partnership with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Fifth Avenue Committee, and Big Reuse, Councilmember Shahana Hanif’s office is collecting gently-used, working laptops. These devices will be refurbished and distributed to students in local literacy programs—helping bridge the digital divide and fuel lifelong learning right here in our community.
Drop-off locations across District 39:
- My District Office (197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
- Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–5 PM
- Community Board 6 Office (250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201)
- Monday–Friday, 10 AM–3 PM – Email info@bkcb6.org before drop-off
- Principles GI Coffee House (139 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
- Monday–Sunday, 8 AM–5 PM
- Big Reuse (1- 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
- Monday–Friday, 10 AM–6 PM
- Old Stone House (336 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
- Friday–Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM
Let’s keep old tech out of landfills and in the hands of learners.
Resource – Free Summer Parent Workshops
Parents, please join us for our June parent workshop series, facilitated by Annie Graham, a Stanford-trained clinician and researcher. These free virtual workshops provide parents with research-backed strategies to support their children’s emotional wellbeing.
Upcoming Summer Sessions:
- MON, JUNE 16 | 8 PM ET | Summer Social Media Struggles
- THUR, JUNE 26 | 8 PM ET | Managing Screen Time Over the Summer
If you are moving and not returning to BCS in the fall
- If your family is moving and will not be returning to BCS in the fall… (only for current Grade 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 students)
- THIS FORM DOES NOT APPLY TO GRADE 8 STUDENTS WHO ARE MOVING TO HIGH SCHOOL
- THIS FORM DOES NOT APPLY TO GRADE 12 STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING
Summer EBT Benefits
- Like last year, New York State (NYS) is implementing Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), a food benefit program that helps low-income families with school-age children purchase groceries during the summer when children may not have access to free/reduced school meals. Children are eligible if they participate in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, or have been reported as eligible for free/reduced price meals by their school. The Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child is provided on a Summer EBT card and will be issued only once; benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days after they are issued.
- Benefits can be used to purchase eligible food items and can be used anywhere SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted, including participating grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and other retailers. Eligible families will receive an eligibility letter in the mail from NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), who is administering the program. Benefits are expected to be issued beginning the week of June 16.
- Please read this informational letter (and available translations). Please note that this is not an NYCPS program. For questions, families can call the Customer Service Contact Information or OTDA.NY.gov/SummerEBT and then call the Summer EBT Helpline (1-833-452-0096) if further assistance is needed.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES – click here for an ongoing list
TDF’s FREE Young Playwrights Summer Program (HS students)
Taught by award-winning playwright and teaching artist Crystal Skillman, this two-week intensive helps participants learn the art of dramatic writing. Students will work individually and in groups, with a final presentation on the last day. This program is offered at no cost to accepted students.
Applicants must have well-developed writing skills and an interest in playwriting. A writing sample and a recommendation from a teaching artist or an English teacher are also required. Team spirit, commitment and enthusiasm are important qualities for this program.
Young Playwrights Summer Program Info
Who is eligible to apply to the Young Playwrights Summer Program?
Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and spring 2025 graduates in the tri-state area who are interested in learning the craft of playwriting and creating their own works. Other forms of dramatic writing, such as audio drama and screenwriting, will also be covered. Deadline to apply is Monday, June 30!
When is the Young Playwrights Summer Program?
July 21 to August 1: Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Final presentation on Friday, August 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where does the Young Playwrights Summer Program take place?
In-person sessions will take place at TDF’s Midtown Manhattan offices at 520 Eighth Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets, Suite 801.
What does the Young Playwrights Summer Program include?
- Playwriting workshops five days a week for two weeks with group writing; individual writing will be done independently
- Two evening outings to shows
- Small group seminars with professional theatre artists talking about their creative process
- Writing (and rewriting) a short original play
- Professional actors reading student plays in progress
- Staged readings of final works by professional actors
Girls Inc. of NYC…FUTURE LEADERS SUMMER ACADEMY!
We’re excited to kick off recruitment for our High School Summer Academy, open to incoming 9th–12th graders!
This year’s camp will focus on college and career readiness through a dynamic mix of workshops, networking opportunities, and field trips—all designed to inspire and empower.
Students can choose between two attendance options:
- Group A: Mondays & Tuesdays
- Group B: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Participants will engage in hands-on workshops, connect with professional women from a variety of industries, and explore career pathways in a supportive and motivating environment.
Spots are limited, so be sure to spread the word and encourage early sign-ups! Register today by scanning the QR code on the flyer or clicking the link below:
Let us know if you have any questions or would like more info.
FREE and PAID Summer Filmmaking Workshops
- APPLICATIONS OPEN! Reel Works’ FREE intensive filmmaking and workforce readiness workshops support and prepare New York youth with essential insights and skills needed to make their films or work in the media industry.
- Reel Works students receive hands-on training, learn from professional filmmakers, and use professional equipment to make festival-worthy films.
- https://www.reelworks.org/afterschool