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Student Family Update

BCS Student/Family Update – 9/27

Published September 26, 2026 by Scill Chan

9/27 – Dear BCS Students and Families, hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!  Thank you to all our families who joined us for Curriculum Night!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Morning Drama Club – Interest Form

  • Is your child interested in performing in a play in front of a live audience? This school year, BCS is continuing to build our ensemble theater troupe! All actors, costume designers, make-up, set, and tech crew–join us and be a part of the magical experience of presenting a play.  Interest Form here
  • This theater club will run 8:00-8:45 AM, every Friday morning from September-June, in Room 505B.  Open to all students.
  • Email kori@bcs448.org for more info

Parent Jumprope Accounts – checking attendance and academic progress

  • Parents – please sign onto Jumprope to check your child’s attendance and academic progress.
  • if you don’t have access yet, please sign up for a parent JumpRope account using this form if they have not received an invitation.
  • Family JumpRope Login Request

Thurs 10/22 – Glasses 2 Classes Day – Vision Screening for ALL students

  • We have scheduled our glasses check day for all students on Thurs 10/22 – all students will have vision screening.  All students who need glasses will receive a pair for FREE.  Please make sure students are present on this day to be screened – no make-ups if you are absent!  Please bring your current glasses as well – all students who need glasses will get a free new pair, even if they already currently have glasses.
  • Students will get their assigned time to go to the auditorium to be screened – students will be told in crew what their time is.
  • Parents – please email Scill@bcs448.org only if you DO NOT want your child to be screened for glasses on Thurs 10/22 – otherwise ALL students will be screened.

Cleaning supplies are always appreciated

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!

No School – Upcoming Dates

  • Mon 10/12 – No School – Italian Heritage/ Indigenous People’s Day

Donate to our PTA Annual Appeal – we need you!

Book Fair is here – see attached flyer

  • The scheduled dates of the 2026 BNS/BCS FALL BOOK FAIR are Sept 28- Oct 1 in our Health Studio (Room 124) all day!
  • Please send your child with some money to buy a book to support both schools in the building!

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!

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

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

Girls Initiatives Fall Programs (HS Students)

  • The Girls Initiatives Fall Programs Application is open for one more day! Our programs are designed to inform, engage, and inspire young people to become self-advocates. Our goal is to ensure that every young person gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue the education, career, and life options of their choice. Our programs meet weekly from October 5th to December 12th . 
  • Fall Programs
    • College Knowledge: College Exploration (Juniors Only) 
    • Geek Girls: Introduction to Raspberry Pi (2x a week)
    • Ambassadors: Social Justice in Action  
    • ARTivate: Powerful Poetics 
    • College Knowledge: College Application Academy (Seniors Only) 
  • View our full list of program offerings and descriptions here.
  • Mandatory Orientation for all programs: October 2nd, 4:30-6pm – Save the Date!  Facing History School, 525 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019
  • Apply HERE by 11:59pm this Sunday, 9/27.

Free Fall Filmmaking Workshops for HS Students – Apply Now!

  • Reel Works’ free filmmaking labs give New York City youth the skills, mentors, and tools to create festival-worthy films and launch careers in media. Students receive hands-on training, work with professional filmmakers, and use industry-standard equipment — all at no cost.  If you would like support with filling out the application, don’t hesitate to reach out! Please contact or mariam@reelworks.org with any questions.
  • Documentary Lab Application: Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 – The Doc Lab is an intensive, 7-month after-school filmmaking workshop offered to high school students in NYC.  This is a free introductory course to documentary filmmaking and no previous filmmaking experience is necessary. If accepted, you would be paired 1:1 with a professional filmmaker mentor to plan, shoot, edit, and present a short personal film about your life and community. Applicants will be interviewed before entering the program, as we have limited spots.   Workshop Dates: October 28, 2026 – May 25, 2027/ Monday & Tuesday 4:30 – 6:30 PM Location: Gowanus, Brooklyn; Application Deadline: October 4th (Apply Here)
  • Fall Supported Experimental Lab Application – The Reel Works Supported Experimental Lab is a FREE filmmaking workshop that provides community, support, and resources for neurodivergent NYC students as they explore storytelling through filmmaking. Students will use cameras and mobile devices, as well as professional editing software to explore storytelling and make their own short films! Student films will be featured at an internal screening at the end of the program and on our Reel Works YouTube Channel. The Supported Experimental Lab is part of Reel Works’ mission to advance diversity and inclusion efforts in our community, as well as create and strengthen an inclusive culture for all people in the media industry. Reel Works is focusing on individual needs to provide multiple entry points to expression. This workshop will have 2 lead Filmmaking Instructors with a Special Education background, as well as Reel Works peer mentors for 8 students. We are looking for young aspiring artists who are interested in filmmaking, or the media entertainment industry, however, applicants are not required to have experience in film or media in order to be accepted into this program. Applicants will be invited to meet with the Reel Works team, as part of a selection process, before entering the program, as we have limited spots. Legal Guardians/Parents are encouraged to support in filling out this application and are invited to the meet and greet.  Application Deadline: Sunday, October 4th @ 11:59 PM / Eligibility: Neurodivergent Ages 15-21 (Apply Here) Workshop Dates: October 28th, 2026 – January 26, 2027, Mondays and Tuesdays 4:30 to 6:30 PM

Building Beats Music Program (HS Students)

Interested in music, creativity, and exploring careers in the creative industries?  The bbLeaders Fellowship is a free, 25-week program that helps NYC public high school students build creative skills while developing the workforce skills they need to pursue future jobs, internships, paid creative work, and post-secondary opportunities.

Fellowship Highlights:

  • Creative Track: Music Production or DJing
  • Workforce Development: Resumes, interviews, financial literacy + career preparation
  • Schedule: November 2026–June 2027 | 2 days/week, Tuesday or Thursday + Wednesday, 4:30–6:30 PM 
  • Location: BRIC Arts Media, 647 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY
  • Eligibility: NYC public high school students, open to all immigration statuses, grades 10–12, ages 15–18
  • Cost: Free | No prior experience required | Equipment provided
  • Paid Opportunities: Up to $1,250 through paid work-based learning and gig placements 

Application deadline: September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Watch the Info Session: Recorded Info Session
Learn More: Webpage
Apply Now: bbLeaders Fellowship Application

If you’re able to share this with students, families, counselors, or other staff who work with students looking to build creative skills, gain real-world experience, and explore career pathways, we’d greatly appreciate it.

Questions? Feel free to reach me directly at sam.lee@buildingbeats.org or (347) 762-5662.

Opportunities with the Brooklyn Public Library

Published in BCS News