Dear BCS Team, hope you had a great weekend! Thank you to the families and students who came to our Community Potluck on Friday! How lovely to see you and celebrate the new year!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PTA Meeting this Tues Jan 13 at 6:30pm in Zoom
- Please join our PTA meeting – we need more parents to make quorum!
- Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:30 pm
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88456776627?pwd=cgbM8GIzBtUPUDZabrDN7unaChwpVi.1
Photo Re-Take Day – Thurs Jan 15
- If you need a re-take of a school photo, please speak with Tracey in Office 128 or email tracey@bcs448.org
- The re-take day is Thurs Jan 15 for any students who need it and for clubs/teams
Grades due Fri Jan 16
- Fall semester is ending Fri Jan 16
- Final grades will be uploaded to transcripts on Tues Jan 20
Sat Jan 17 – Join us for BCS’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day
- Families and Students — Join us for BCS’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day—a day to serve together, connect, and reflect.
- Through hands-on service at BCS, film, and food, we will honor Dr. King’s legacy by taking action as a community.
- Date: Saturday, January 17th
- Time: 10:00AM – 3:00 PM
- Location: BCS Cafeteria
- Let’s carry the dream forward together!
Mon Jan 19 – No School – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day
- We have a long weekend coming up
- No school on Mon Jan 19
HS Regents Week (Jan 20- Jan 23) – no school for Grades 9-12 unless Regents or GPBAT
- High school students end the semester on Fri Jan 16
- Then there are NO MORE CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS until Tues Jan 27. Between Tues Jan 20 and Fri Jan 23, high school students do not attend school unless they are scheduled for a Regents or GPBAT panel. This only applies to Grade 11 and 12 students. Grade 9 and 10 students have NO SCHOOL ALL WEEK.
- If you have questions, please reach out to your child’s crew leader.
- Middle school students have regular school this week.
No School – Mon Jan 26
- This is a city-wide professional development day for HS and 6-12 schools. There will be NO SCHOOL for BCS students.
- Tues Jan 27 is the first day of spring semester.
Tuesday Tiers Afterschool
- The semester ends on January 16. Students should attend Tues Tiers with their teachers to revise assessments and aim for exemplary!
- Tues Tiers is available weekly every Tuesday with all teachers from 3:05pm-4pm.
Donate from our Amazon wish list – WE NEED MASKS AND TISSUES!
- We need donations of wipes and tissues!
- Please purchase items from our Amazon wish list to send directly to BCS or send in your child with masks/tissues to Office 416
- https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WX69HNQ4TUM0?ref_=wl_share
Introducing our new YWCA Middle School Afterschool Program Director
- We are excited to start the new year with our YWCA Middle School Afterschool program and we’d love to introduce our new Program Director Tiara Williams.
- Middle School Families, please fill out the survey below to give us feedback on what programming you’d like to see. YWCA AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY SURVEY
- Contact Tiara Williams, Program Director, YWCA After-School Program at BCS
- Email: tiarawilliams@ywcanyc.org
- Phone: 929-787-2529
- Office Hours: 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM
NYCPS – Letter from new Chancellor
- Please see the link for an introductory letter from Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels and the January NYCPS Family Update letter. Both letters are available on the Messages for Families webpage (available in all NYCPS languages).
- Note that this month’s family update letter features important information about kindergarten, pre-k, and 3-K admissions for fall 2026; NYC Teenspace; the next Climate Action Day of the 2025–26 school year; and Respect for All Week.
Parent Workshop – Demystifying the PBAT (Performance-Based Assessment Task)
- Parents are invited to attend a special workshop for parents/family members of Consortium school students: Demystifying the PBAT (Performance-Based Assessment Task): How Students in Consortium Schools Show What They Know
- Most public high schools in New York state use the Regents exams to show that students are ready for graduation. In Consortium schools we use a system of performance-based assessment tasks (PBATs) instead. If you don’t know what that is or want to learn more about this topic, this workshop is for you!
- If you wish to attend, please fill out this form (required) by Friday, January 16:
- Family members will be able to interact with student presenters and ask questions. This workshop is open to all! Participating students will present in English, Spanish, French, and other languages.
- When: Friday January 23, 10 AM to noon
- Where: Julia Richman Education Complex
- 317 East 67th St (between 1st and 2nd Avenue)
- Manhattan
- ***Parents/Guardians who attend the workshop are welcome to join us earlier for bagels (8:30) and the opening conference session (9 AM), featuring a talk by neuroscientist, medical school professor, and parent advocate Dr. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez (who is herself a Consortium parent!)***
Community Resource – Know Your Rights Workshops
Know Your Rights is a citywide initiative that helps New Yorkers understand and assert their legal protections—especially during interactions with non local law enforcement.
NYC Public Schools, in partnership with MOIA, ensure immigrant students and families are informed of their rights under federal, state, and local laws. Resources and training are available in multiple languages to support safe access to education, legal aid, and community services.
Below are upcoming sessions that students and families can join.
January 14, 2026
Afternoon Session Time: 12:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & French
Evening Session Time: 6:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & Arabic
February 2, 2026
Afternoon Session Time: 12:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & Mandarin
Evening Session Time: 6:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & Wolof
February 19, 2026
Afternoon Session Time: 12:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & Haitian Creole
Evening Session Time: 6:00pm
- Interpretation will be available in Spanish & Urdu
Link for all sessions: Join Here Meeting ID: 826 9926 9281 Passcode: 069275
(No registration required – click on the link at the time of the session to join)
| Please join Us for Our First BCS PTA Meeting of 2026!Dear BCS Families:Happy New Year and welcome back to school! We hope you had a restful holiday break and are as excited as we are for a great 2026 ahead!We’re excited to invite you to our next BCS PTA Meeting on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30 pm via Zoom!This meeting is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, stay informed, share ideas, and help shape the rest of the school year. Meeting Details Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:30 pm Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88456776627?pwd=cgbM8GIzBtUPUDZabrDN7unaChwpVi.1 |
| IMPORTANT LINKS Calendar for NYC Public SchoolsCalendar on our school website (specific to BCS)Instagram — upcoming events and fun recapsSTUDENT OPPORTUNITIES – click this link for ongoing student opportunities citywideCONTACTS Important Staff Contacts – Brooklyn Collaborative |
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Summer Opportunity: 2026 School Construction Authority High School Summer Internship Program
The School Construction Authority High School Summer Internship Program is a six-week paid internship program (July 6th – August 14, 2026) with SCA departments and NYC business partners. The program is designed to recruit & provide talented NYC public high school students grades 9-12 (preference given to 11th & 12th grades) with exposure & experiences in the construction industry, including but not limited to:
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Construction management
- Business & public administration
Take a look at a preliminary list of things you will need during the process
- Official HS Transcript
- Up to date resume
- Summer Internship Recommendation Form (attached)
- Take a look at the attached flyer and learn more about the program, eligibility, how to apply & application deadlines here.
Application Process Timeline
Application Window: January 2nd – March 6, 2026
Deadline to Submit Documents: March 6, 2026
Interviews: February 17th – Mid-March
Notifications: Interview Process February/March
Notifications: Summer Internship Program April 3, 2026
2026 ALL IN(clusive) TEEN THEATRE ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS
- Video Submission Deadline extended: extended to Jan 11
- Students interested in theater from diverse backgrounds, abilities, identities and points of view compose, produce and perform an original musical! Open to any and all NYCPS high school students who love theater and building community to create an inspiring, high-level, dynamic, and free All-City Theatre Program!
- Audition website: Click Here
- Watch video profile: NYC All IN(clusive) Theatre Ensemble
- STUDENTS APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/wmcn6aNsriu6GEPk9
- The FREE program spans approximately 12 weeks of play development and rehearsal starting on January 4 and culminating with performances on a NYC stage on March 29 & 30 2026
- With generous funding from the Shubert Foundation, master theater artists from across the professional world facilitate the students to create, compose and stage a realized musical based on their collective experiences and imaginations.
SMASH Academy – intensive, hands-on STEM program for 10th/11th graders
- https://www.smash.org/programs/
- Applications are open for SMASH Residential 2026! We’re looking for current 10th and 11th graders who are passionate about STEM, innovation, and making an impact. Join a vibrant community of peers and mentors committed to building the future of tech and science.
- Program Dates: July 11 – July 31, 2026
Questions? Email programs@smash.org - SMASH Academy is an intensive, hands-on STEM program designed to help students deepen their curiosity, strengthen their skills, and explore pathways to STEM careers. Scholars participate in tuition-free, residential and virtual programming in partnership with leading colleges and universities across the country.
- Throughout the program, scholars engage in project-based learning, explore computer science and technology, and connect with diverse facilitators and STEM professionals who share their backgrounds and experiences. As they go through the program, scholars not only develop their skills and network – they also further develop their voice & build the confidence to become who they want to be.
- By the end of the program, SMASH scholars not only gain valuable academic and technical skills, but also develop their voice, leadership, and purpose as future innovators and problem-solvers.