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Student Family Update

BCS Student/Family Update – 9/7

Published September 6, 2025 by Scill Chan

9/7 – Dear BCS Students and Families,

We had a great beginning of year!  We are so happy to have students back in school!  Please expect an email from us every weekend with news about the school!  You will also receive weekly updates from your child’s academic team leader with information about classes.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.  There are no supply lists.

Complete required forms on your NYCSA account

  • Please click the “Forms” tab on your child’s NYCSA account to complete the city’s required forms, included military recruitment opt-out, media consent, digital equity survey, and housing questionnaire 
  • If you do not have access to NYCSA, please email Scill@bcs448.org for your account creation code

Students cannot arrive to school before 8:15am

  • School starts at 8:45am.  The earliest students can enter the building is 8:15am, no earlier.  Students can go to the cafeteria, yard, or upstairs if they arrive early.  If students go upstairs, they must remain quietly in the halls until first class begins.  No electronics are permitted in the building, even if students arrive early.

Email L2@bcs448.org

  • For us to be on the same page, it helps to email L2 with all updates or any other relevant info so that both Scill and Imani get the info – thanks.  

Please join us for the Brooklyn PTA Fun Run! 

  • 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

NYS Law – No Electronics – No Phones, No Headphones or Earbuds anywhere in building

Be prepared to turn in your phone to your teachers to be locked up during class

  • NYS law restricts phones in school.  Cell phones must be off and out of sight during the entire day of school.  There is no electronics use in the cafeteria, yard, or gym.  There is no electronics use in the hallway or bathrooms inside the building.  The school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronics so please do not bring expensive items to school.  
  • Once you enter the building, you must put away all phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones.  School Safety and staff will be at the door and we will ask you to put away your phone, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones BEFORE you enter the building. 
  • This is NYS law – students must follow school wide collection policy or be subject to discipline including suspension.  Students who do not turn in their phones to the lock boxes will be sent to the office, their phones will be stored in the office until dismissal and parents notified.  Repeated incidents will lead to disciplinary consequences including suspension.
  • Middle school students (Grades 6-8) have their phones collected by their Pd 1 teacher and returned by their Pd 8 teacher.  Teachers lock the phones during the school day.  MS students cannot use their phones at lunch or recess.
  • High school students (Grades 9-12) turn in their phones at the beginning of each period and get it back at the end of the period – each teacher and crew leader has a lock box.  No phones, no headphones or earbuds.  Students will shortly be given their phone pouch where they will need to pouch their phone upon entering the building. 
  • High school students in Grades 10-11-12 who have the privilege to go outside for lunch will have access to their phones for safety.  Your phone may only be used outside of the building.  Before students enter back into the building, you must put away phones and earbuds and headphones.  Even if it is before your lunch period ends, you must put away all electronics. 

No eating in halls/classrooms

  • To prevent problems with rodents, students may only eat in the cafeteria.  There is no eating in halls or classrooms.  Thank you for your cooperation.

BCS Grading Policy

  • At the start of the semester, we wish to share our schoolwide grading policy with students/families for your reference
  • Please speak with crew leader or Scill/Imani with any questions

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

New Victory Theater is hiring for HS Ushers $$$ (Grade 11 students)

  • The New Victory Theater is the preeminent family theater in New York City, located in the heart of Times Square. Our High School program offers paid opportunities for students to work as Front of House Ushers at our theaters.The Ushers handle ticketing, seating, crowd control, wayfinding and all operational procedures inside the theater.  In this program, we also offer personal and professional development workshops, trainings, mentorship and helpful resources to the young people who work with us! 
  • We’re currently in the process of recruiting more Ushers for our 2025-2026 season.
  • For those who are interested, they can apply here.
  • All New Victory Usher applicants must:
    • Be enrolled as a junior in high school or the equivalent in an HSE/GED program.
    • Be able to work a three-shift minimum each week (between shifts in the theater and workshops), including day, evening, and weekend shifts.
    • Be able to attend select mandatory weekday after-school workshops.
  • A reminder that candidates do not need prior Front of House or theater experience to apply. The deadline for the application is Monday September 16th!

Pre-Professional Health Program for HS students (Grades 10-12)

  • The Columbia University Neurology Department would like to invite students to participate in a fun, free, and impactful pre-professional health program for NYC students called ACComPLISHED this fall (Hybrid: Saturdays, Sept 27-Dec 20). 
  • Open to students in grade 10-12 – Applications are open (deadline September 14th)
  • https://uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_068N4lyAozuwXpc
  • In the application, students can apply for the fall (September-December 2025), spring (January – April 2026) or summer (June -August 2026) depending on which cohort they are hoping to participate.
  • Students learn about medicine and community health from physicians and graduate students while completing a project under the mentorship of medical, dental, and public health students. It is a fun and supportive environment for students to discover their passion for a health career, learn about healthy living, and have a positive impact through a mentored community project. In 2024, students created over 500 health education and local health interventions that impacted over 10,000 community members, and our 2025 cohorts have already exceeded these milestones.
  • We meet weekly virtually on Saturdays from Sept 27th-Dec 20th from 12-2PM and there are office hours each week. Students learn about stroke, dementia, epilepsy, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and more. Virtual sessions are recorded and posted on the Columbia Course page. We also have monthly in-person sessions at the medical campus with CPR, first aid, simulations, standardized patients, poster presentations, and more. Past students have loved the program with 99% recommending students to participate and many find it meaningful with 85% saying teens should definitely do it.
  • ACComPLISHED is one of the largest pathway programs at Columbia featured by the Provosts’ office, and we are proud of the growth and impact of our students in the community. Student testimonial.

Circle Keepers (Grades 9-11)

Are you in grades 9–11 and ready to make a difference in your school and community?

This past spring, our Council Member Shahana Hanif called on the D39 community to vote for projects through a Participatory Budgeting Process and YOU Voted for this Project! Now, it is time to bring it to life!

The Circle Keepers is launching the D39 Peer Mediators 2025–2026 Fellowship in Brooklyn – and we’re looking for 10 passionate students to join us!

As a Fellow, you’ll be trained to become a:

  • Restorative Justice & Peer Mediation Leader – help resolve conflicts and create peace in your school and your neighborhood!
  • Youth Researcher & Policy Maker – use Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to influence real change, create policy and advocate to change in City Council as well as in the State Senate in Albany!
  • Community Organizer & Artist-Activist – build movements that challenge the school-to-prison pipeline and create safer, more just schools.

Program Details:

  • In Person Location: The Alex House Project. 9 Bond Street. 4th Floor. Brooklyn 
  • Meetings: Tuesdays, 4:00–6:00 PM
  • Snacks always provided!
  • $250 stipend per semester
  • Community service hours & leadership training
  • Swag, recommendation letters & future paid opportunities

Important Dates:

  • Applications close: September 8, 2025
  • Interviews: Week of September 8
  • Decisions: September 12, 2025
  • Program starts: Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Ready to Apply?  

bit.ly/d39peermediators

Want to learn more?  Follow us on IG @thecirclekeepers or email us at hello@thecirclekeepers.com

BCS PSAL Sports (Grades 9-12)

  • Please see below a list of sports at BCS! These team sports are offered for grades 9-12 students. All sports teams compete on the Varsity level. Please see below:
    • Fall Teams:
      • Boys Soccer
      • Girls Volleyball
    • Winter Teams:
      • Boys Basketball
      • Girls Basketball
    • Spring Teams:
      • Boys Baseball
      • Girls Softball
  • To participate in team sports at BCS, PSAL (Public School Athletic League) requires a completed medical form, and a completed parental consent form:
  • Tryout information for Volleyball & Soccer to come soon!
  • If you have any questions please email Athletic Director brandi@bcs448.org

WAYS TO HELP

Grade 7 Social Studies Donors Choose Fundraiser


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

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)

Published in BCS News