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Student Family Update

BCS Family/Student Update – 9/13

Published September 13, 2026 by Scill Chan

9/13 – Dear BCS Students and Families, we had a great launch to the school year with our crew orientation!  We are so glad to welcome you to BCS!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cleaning supplies are always appreciated

School Supplies – Families do NOT need to purchase supplies

  • We provide all supplies for students.  You do NOT need to purchase anything – students just need a book bag and writing utensils (pens, pencils).  There are no supply lists.

Fieldwork is beginning shortly – we need your permission slips

  • We packpacked home the Fieldwork ET Permission Slip 2026-27– please look for the permission slip in your child’s bookbag and sign and return to your crew leader
  • Reach out to your child’s crew leader with any questions!

First PTA meeting of the year (In-person at BCS)

  • Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
  • Time: 6:30 PM
  • Location: BCS Cafeteria – 610 Henry Street
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Refreshments will be available!
  • Save the date – In-Person Curriculum Night – Thurs 9/24 from 5pm-7:15pm
  • All families, please come to Curriculum Night for important information related to your child’s grade and to meet academic teachers and crew teachers
  • Schedule here

OMNY card distribution first week of school

  • If your child qualifies for the OMNY card, they will receive the card during the first week of school.  Ask your child’s crew leader or Ms. Diasia in the Main Office 410 with questions.
  • Additionally, students who ride the school bus should check their NYCSA accounts for ridership and bus route information.

Donors Choose – please help our classroom projects get funded!

Donate to our PTA Annual Appeal – we need you!

Upcoming No School Days

  • Mon 9/21 – No School – Yom Kippur
  • Mon 10/12 – No School – Italian Heritage/ Indigenous People’s Day

Book Fair is coming – see attached flyer

  • The scheduled dates of the 2026 BNS/BCS FALL BOOK FAIR are the 25 & 28-30 SEPTEMBER 2026 and the 1 OCTOBER 2026 in our Health Studio (Room 124) all day!

Breakfast and Early Yard

  • Hot breakfast is available from 8:15-8:35am in the cafeteria daily.
  • Students can come daily for supervised recess in the yard starting at 8:15am.  Come and play before school starts!

Dismissal from School – daily

  • School ends at 3:05pm daily.  High School students leave the building via the main entrance and Middle School students leave via the cafeteria entrance on Henry Street.
  • All middle and high school students are permitted to self-dismiss at 3:05pm, they do not need to wait for a parent pick-up.  If you are picking up your child, please make sure they know to wait for you.  

Electronics policy – no phones, no personal laptops, and no headphones/earbuds

  • The 2026 NYC DOE cell phone policy requires all students to keep personal internet-enabled devices stored away from the school day, from bell-to-bell. All personal electronic devices, including smartphones and smartwatches and personal laptops, must be stored and inaccessible during the entire school day. 
  • Middle school students – hand in their phones to Pd 1 teacher and get it back Pd 8 – here is the Middle School Electronics Policy
  • High school students – pouch their phones at entry in the provided Yondr, carry their pouch all day, unpouch when exiting the building at dismissal.  Students must carry their pouches to and from school daily.  Lost or damaged pouches cost $20 for replacement.  Here is the High School Electronics Policy.
  • Students who hand in fake phones or attempt to use electronics during the school day are subject to progressive disciplinary action.
  • No personal student laptops are permitted and no video games.  Students who need laptop access must use the school laptops, available in every classroom every class period.  Additionally headphones and earbuds are not permitted.
  • Distraction-free schools without internet-enabled devices increase academic achievement, decrease mental health concerns, increase positive socialization, and decrease behavior incidents for all

NYCPS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please see the NYCPS Family Letters Online

FAMILY EMAIL LISTSERVE

For school updates and communications

  • If you received this email from us – you’re on our family listserve!
  • If you haven’t received email from us or you have additional adults to add to our email group, subscribe to our listserve by completing this form.
  • Regularly check our website (www.bcs448.org)
  • Follow us on Instagram (TheCollaborativeChronicle)

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities for LGBTQIA+ students from The Center (ages 13+)

  • The Center has an amazing array of opportunities.  If a young adult (ages 13-22) would like to participate we have Intakes Monday through Friday between 3-6 PM. Interested youth can now complete a pre-registration form for all Center services here. Our drop-in Space is open for in-person Services Monday through Friday from 3-7 PM. 
  • Our Back to School Resource Fair is happening on Monday, September 14th from 5-7 PM at
  • The Center! There will be free backpacks with school supplies, free LGBT themed Young Adult Books from Scholastic, Food and drinks along with connections to a variety of community resources and services. Youth can RSVP here.
  • Our Social Justice Internship, ROAR, is starting in September and youth can apply NOW! Youth can create meaningful change and connect with their community through special events and workshops they create! Open to NYC Middle and High School Students ages 13-19. ROAR will meet Wednesdays, September 30th–December 16th from 5–7 p.m. Youth can earn a $250 Stipend upon completing the internship! Meals and OMNY Cards also provided. Youth can register for ROAR here.  Contact: Salem Joseph, sjoseph@gaycenter.org.
  • Youth Pride Chorus is starting a new cycle on Thursday, September 17th, from 4-7 PM. Youth Pride Chorus is a Queer and Trans Centered Choral Ensemble for ages 13-22, all skill levels welcome. The cycle will culminate with a Winter Performance at The Center! Hot meals and OMNY Cards are provided at each rehearsal. Youth can register here. Contact Cooke at:  acooke@gaycenter.org.
    Join us for our 2nd Annual Symposium, Pride as Prevention: Cultivating Joy, Community & Resilience for LGBTQ+ Youth for the Prevention, Resources, Information, Data, and Evaluation (PRIDE) Project on 9/28 from 9 am to 3 pm at The Center! Prevention and Youth Providers from across NYC will share best practices, explore innovative interventions, and build stronger networks of support for LGBTQ+ youth. Lunch will be served. You can register here to attend.
    Our READY Paid Internship for 16-19 year olds in high school or enrolled in a GED program is starting in October with applications available now! During the internship participants work at an external placement where you are supervised and will earn $17 an hour with 80 hours of work throughout the duration of the cycle. If youth are interested they can register here!
  • Our Closed Group Personal Empowerment is starting October 16th and will meet on Mondays and Fridays from 4-6 PM. Personal Empowerment meets for 6 Sessions and explores Social Skills, managing Communication  in relationships Health & Fitness, Emotional Development and more! Meals and Omny Cards are provided at each group and youth can earn $125 in giftcards for consistent attendance. Youth can use this  link to apply!

City Cinema’s Fall 2026 Weekend Program (HS students)

  • City Cinema is a fully-funded, year-round filmmaking and acting program for high school students in New York City. 
  • FILM LAUNCH: offers an exciting introduction to the dynamic world of digital media. Students will embark on a journey through the rich legacy of cinematic storytelling, exploring everything from the origins of the first moving images to the evolution of film, all the way to the video content we consume on our phones today. As the storytellers of tomorrow, you will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on technical filmmaking, culminating in a collaborative project where you will work in teams to write, direct, and produce a short film. Apply now!
    • Dates: Every Saturday 11am – 6pm | September 19 – December 5, 2026
    • Cost: Completely FREE
    • Experience: Beginners welcome
    • Availability: Limited spots remaining
  • WHY CITY CINEMA?

✓ No cost barrier – Accessible to students of all economic backgrounds

✓ Hands-on experience – Students learn by creating and collaborating

✓ Professional training –  Learn from working artists and industry professionals

✓ College & career preparation – Build skills and experience in the creative industries

✓ Continued opportunities – Students can continue with City Cinema through future Spring and Summer programs

Girls for Gender Equity Paid Opportunities (ages 15+)

  • We are a Brooklyn-based intergenerational nonprofit organization committed to the physical, psychological, social, and economic development of girls and women, particularly cisgender and transgender girls and gender non-conforming/non-binary (GNC/NB) youth of color. 
  • Programs begin in October and run two days a week from 4:30-6:30 through June.
  • Participants receive a monthly stipend, care packages, metrocards and more!
  • Application links: bit.ly/YWAC2027 and bit.ly/SIS2027
  • RSVP for the Open House on Friday, September 18th at 4:00pm
  • The Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) is a paid leadership program for young people ages 16–24. Through YWAC, participants help shape policy, programs, research, and funding recommendations across New York City while building skills in leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, and community organizing.
  • Sisters in Strength (SIS) is a paid program for young people ages 15–18. SIS supports survivors of child sexual abuse and their allies through healing-centered programming, joy, community building, leadership development and advocacy skill-building. 
  • Applications for YWAC and SIS are now open.

Published in BCS News