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Student Family Update

BCS Student/Family Update – 2/22

Published February 19, 2026 by Scill Chan

Dear BCS Students/Families, we hope you had a restful mid-winter recess!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

No School – Winter Recess

  • Mon Feb 16 – Fri Feb 20 no school
  • THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON MON FEB 23 DUE TO SNOW (all school buildings are closed, NO ONLINE SCHOOL, NO REMOTE LEARNING, TRADITIONAL SNOW DAY)

Sat 2/28 – BCS Community Resource Day in our Cafeteria

  • Sat February 28 – breast cancer screening (9 AM-4 PM)
  • Resource table and food distribution (12 PM-4 PM)
  • We’re proud to welcome a wide range of community based organizations who will be sharing valuable resources and services designed to uplift and empower.
  • Get excited! We’re hosting a clothing swap, food pantry distribution, hands on workshops, and plenty of other fun surprises!
  • The Italian American Breast Cancer Screening Mobile Van will be on-site beginning at 9:00 AM (until 4:00pm) offering accessible breast cancer screenings because caring for our health is one of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves and each other. Please email or call to schedule your appointment – 718-923-4700 ext. 1283 or email tracey@bcs448.org
  • Please tell your friends, families, and neighbors – all are welcome.

Glasses 2 Classes vision screening – second day on Tues 2/24 from 1pm-3pm

  • Vision screening was a success last week but we still had about 100+ students who were unable to be screened since the team ran out of time
  • Any students who were absent will be screened on Tues 2/24 either Pd 6, 7, 8
  • All students will be vision screened.  Any student who needs glasses will get a free pair.

PROSE Half Days – Dismissal 11:15am – upcoming calendar days

  • BCS is a PROSE school, with special permission from the city to have additional in-person professional development with our staff.  This year’s PROSE Half Days are:
    • Fri 2/27 half day
    • Fri 3/6 half day
    • Fri 3/13 half day
  • Students will be dismissed at 11:15am each day.  MS Afterschool is available through YWCA for any students in Grades 6-8 who would like to stay.
  • Additionally Thurs 3/19 is Citywide Half Day for 6-12 for Student-Led Conferences and Fri 3/20 No School for Eid

Donate to our PTA Annual Appeal – we need you!

  • We love providing all our programming to students – camping, Expeditionary Thursdays, campus visits, supplies and more!  Please help us with our PTA Annual Appeal – we recommend $50 per family if you can – more if you’re able.  As a NYC public school, we rely on our city budget and generous support from families like you to keep our high quality programming! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/2025-26-brooklyn-collaborative-pta-annual-appeal

Donate from our Amazon wish list – WE NEED MASKS AND TISSUES!

Parents – interested in volunteering?

  • We are looking for parents who are available Fridays 9am-10am to practice English conversation with some of our MLL students in the library – prompts/convo cards will be provided to parent volunteers.  
  • Please email Scill if interested in volunteering!

Family Book Club – How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe

  • Wed April 29, 2026 @ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
  • Dinner & Book Talk in Room 213 (In-Person at BCS)
  • Join BCS school leaders (Scill, Imani and Tracey) and Ashley (Director, Inspiring Minds) to share educator/parent voices on changing your perspective when your brain works differently!  Dinner and book provided!
  • About the book – In How to ADHD, author Jessica McCabe reveals the tools that have changed her life while offering an unflinching look at the realities of living with ADHD. She explains how ADHD affects everyday life, covering executive function impairments, rejection sensitivity, difficulties with attention regulation, and more. You’ll also find ADHD-specific strategies for adapting your environment, routines, and systems.  Open to all families and staff! Come learn and discuss with us!​
  • 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). Supplies are limited. Even if you aren’t able to read the book, please join us if you can!

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

  • 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. 
  • 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

Published in BCS News