10/19 – Dear BCS Students and Families, here is this week’s family email. Happy Diwali. Thank you to all the student and parent volunteers and our staff for making the 2025 BNS/BCS FALL BOOK FAIR was a FANTASTIC EVENT for the Whole of the 610 Henry Street Community!!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Unity Fest – Sat Nov 1
- Postponed to Sat Nov 1 – BCS/BNS Unity Fest (in-person) 11am-3pm – bring your families!
- Food, fun, and more! Great for all ages! Bring new or gently used items for the clothing swap.
- BCS Cafeteria
- Fundraiser for both school’s PTAs – Our PTA also created a Pay It Forward ticket and an option to add a donation to their tickets. Please contribute generously!
- Here is the link code for the Unity Fest Welcome Table and for advance sales.
No School – Mon Oct 20
- No School – Diwali
Upcoming Dates (No School – Fall Semester)
- Nov 4 – No School for Students – Election Day
- Nov 11 – No School – Veterans Day
- Nov 27-28 – No School – Thanksgiving Recess
- Dec 24- Jan 2 – No School – Winter Recess
- Jan 19 – No School – Dr. MLK Jr Day
- Jan 26 – No School – Professional Development Day for Staff
BCS Picture Day – Mon 11/3
- All students should be photo ready!
- All students will take a crew photo and all Grade 8 students will take photos for yearbook
- For students in Grades 6-11 who want individual photos, there are two ways in which pictures can be ordered and paid for:
- 1) Students were provided with a hard copy of the order form in their backpacks that can be filled out and cash brought in
- 2) Parents can electronic order at www.YearbookInnovation.com – Click on Order MYPHOTO – Enter Keycode (Pre-pay code) that will be shared shortly – Parents can click on the active gallery to view and purchase picture packages and items. Please print the receipt of the online order or write the confirmation number on a piece of paper and send it in with the student to present to the photographer in the auditorium on Picture Day.
- Note – Grade 12 Senior Pictures in cap and gown will be on Mon Nov 24
Donors Choose – please help donate to BCS classrooms – all donations matched
- Vibrant Materials for Unforgettable Learning Experiences
- Playing Games, Making Friends, Building Community
- To have your donation boosted, just make a contribution on that page.
Evacuation and lockdown drill resources for students and families
- Every year, as required by NYC Public Schools, we conduct multiple drills (a combination of evacuation drills, shelter-in, and lockdown drills). Teachers teach what is required for each drill before students participate, and we discuss feedback to improve each drill with our Building Cabinet
- We ask that all students cooperate silently in the drills so that they can listen for adult directions and learn to prepare for emergency situations
- Here are some resources for families:
Middle School Girls Basketball Team
- MS girls basketball interest meeting on Wednesday, October 22nd at 3:15 PM. We will meet outside of the gym to discuss the team, logistics, pass out permission slips, and collect contact information. Email andie@bcs448.org with questions.
- Stay tuned for more information about Middle School Boys Basketball Team – email brandi@bcs448.org with questions.
No personal student laptops
- The 2025 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.
- Students who need laptop access must use the school laptops, available in every classroom every class period.
Phone policy
- 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 – show their phones at entry to staff or School Safety, pouch their phone 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.
- Distraction-free schools without internet-enabled devices increase academic achievement, decrease mental health concerns, increase positive socialization, and decrease behavior incidents for all
Please join us for the Brooklyn PTA Fun Run on 10/25!
- The run is a family-friendly event where Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and community members of all ages come together to run, bike, scoot or walk around Prospect Park loop road (approximately 5K). The aim is to raise funds for Brooklyn schools with Title I status, including BCS. To sign up, click here to register – during registration, pick the Brooklyn Collaborative school team
- https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Brooklyn/BrooklynPTAFunRun2021
Homework Help Resources
- Here’s some resources for free tutoring and homework help. In addition, we have Tues Tiers with all teachers every Tuesday afterschool from 3:05pm-4pm.
- Where NYC Students Can Get Free Homework Help and After School Tutoring
- UFT Dial-A-Teacher (K–12)
- This free homework help service hotline is a collaboration between the United Federation of Teachers and the New York City Department of Education. Any New York City public school student or parent can call the phone line and be connected with a qualified teacher for one-on-one homework help. Many of the teachers are also bilingual, so they can assist in languages including Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog.
- Where? Contact the hotline at (212) 777-3380 or 311 to get connected.
When? Dial-a-Teacher is available Monday through Thursday between 4 and 7 p.m. when school is in session.
- Brainfuse-HelpNow
- Brainfuse is a free online tutoring service provided by the New York Public Library (NYPL) and Brooklyn Public Library. The web platform offers live, one-on-one tutoring in various subjects, including math, science, reading, and writing, for students from early elementary through high school. The one-on-one tutors can speak English, French and Spanish.
- In their website, they also have video content and other resources that walk students through topics such as math, reading and writing. There’s an online writing lab too where you can submit essays for constructive feedback.
- Where? To access this help, you have to log in to a Brainfuse account using your library card. Need a library card? Here’s how. If you need help applying, contact Ask NYPL.
When? The virtual tutors are available from 2 to 11 p.m. every day, but you can access the online resources any time.
- Learn To Be
- This is non-profit organization dedicated to providing free, one-on-one online tutoring to underserved students throughout the United States. The platform connects students with volunteer tutors for personalized academic support in math, writing and reading.
- Where? Visit their main website and click on enroll a student to fill out the online form. They will get back to you within two days.
When? Once enrolling your child, the schedule will depend on the availability of the tutors.
Expeditionary Thursday fieldwork
- Thank you to all our students for participating in our regular ET fieldwork Fieldwork ET Permission Slip 2025-26
- Our next Expeditionary Thursday ET is Thurs 10/23
Free Afterschool Programming at BCS
- Grades 6-8 YWCA – email Danielle@bcs448.org
- Grades 9-12 Inspiring Minds – email Ashley@bcs448.org
- Activities offered every day afterschool – free and inclusive to all
| 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 |