Dear Students/Families, we hope you had a great winter break. Happy New Year! May our 2023 be as amazing as our 2022!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Take a COVID test before you return
- All students should take a COVID test before they return to school on Tues ⅓
- You can get free COVID tests from the offices to bring home
Spirit Monday January Lookahead – please send to photos@bcs
- Mon 1/9: New Year, New Me – wear anything that captures your new self in 2023
- Mon 1/16: Dr. MLK Jr. Day – No school
- Mon 1/23: Wear your favorite color
- Mon 1/30: Professional Development Day for Staff – No school for students
Gym closed 1/3-6
- Due to bleachers repair, our gym will be closed for all of winter break through Fri 1/6. All PE classes/recess will be moved to the auditorium or classroom.
COVID notification – please email Scill if you are positive so she can tell you a return date
- After December 23, as per the DOE, schools are no longer required to inform members of the school community of individual COVID-19 cases. School communities will continue to be informed about COVID-19 cases through the Daily COVID Map. This will be the last schoolwide notification of COVID cases you will receive from the school.
- You must still report a positive COVID result to the principal who will notify you of your return date to school after quarantine.
DOE – COVID-19 Guidance for the Winter Recess
- The DOE strongly encourages all staff and students to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to school on January 3, regardless of vaccination status, and especially if they traveled. Staff and students can get COVID tests from the school for free.
- Additionally, as cases of respiratory illness such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the rise, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) encourages New Yorkers to get the flu vaccine, wear a mask while indoors, and regularly wash hands. In addition, DOHMHM strongly encourages staying up-to date on all vaccinations, including the new COVID boosters, if eligible.
Seasonal gratitude for the BCS staff
- Please send an email of thanks to your teachers/crew leader/counselor, we love to hear from you – it makes our day! You can find staff emails here in our photo directory
Families are invited: BCS New Year’s Potluck Community Feast: A Celebration of Hope
- We warmly invite you to join us to celebrate our third annual BCS New Year’s Potluck Community Feast: A Celebration of Hope on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the BCS Cafeteria.
- Bring your family, friends, and a favorite New Year’s dish for an evening of celebration, performances, community building, and breaking bread with other families and staff.
- Kindly RSVP to imani@ bcs448.org to confirm that you are coming and the dish that you plan to bring.
- Come enjoy performances from our BCS YWCA Lower Grade & Inspiring Minds Upper Grade After School Clubs, World Arts Department, Cheerleading Team, and so much more!
Thank you for donating to the BCS Book, Toy, and Coat Drive
- The book, toy, and coat drive is officially over. BCS donated almost 1000 items to Children of Promise to benefit children who have been impacted by mass incarceration. We would like to congratulate Abbey/Mark crew for bringing in the most amount of items. We would also like to congratulate Stephen/Brandon, Charene/Jose, and Henry/Jesse’s crews for donating the second and third most items. We would also like to give honorable mentions to Amanda/Phill, Sarah/Sophia, Raka/Tamika, Tom/Kori, Claire/Stephanie, and Devon/Betsy/Nateesha crews. Thank you to all of those who have donated BCS!
Upcoming Dates to note in your calendar (DOE Calendar)
- Mon 12/26 to Mon 1/2 – No School (school resumes Tues 1/3)
- Mon 1/16/2023 – No School (Dr. MLK Jr. Day)
- Tues 1/24 – Fri 1/27 – Regents/PBAT Week – No School for HS Students unless you have a PBAT panel or Regents exam, MS students have regular school
- Mon 1/30/2023 – PD Day for Staff – No School for Students
- Mon 2/20 – Fri 2/24 – No School (Midwinter Recess)
Tuesday Tiers with Teachers Afterschool (formerly Tues Mastery Support)
- Every Tues afterschool, all teachers are available from 3:05pm-4pm to help students revise assessments, get extra help, or to check-in
- ALL students should take advantage of this opportunity to check in about assessments and Jumprope grades
Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (HS students)
- The Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at the New York City Bar Association is currently accepting applications for the Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP). TMSLIP is an intensive internship program which places diverse New York City high school students with legal employers for the summer. Students should submit all materials by January 15, 2023. Since 1993, this program has provided students with an experience designed to develop them as young professionals and expose them to the legal profession. We also provide students with additional programming in preparation of their summer internship and beyond.
- Now in our 30th year of programming, we aim to make TMSLIP 2023 bigger and better than ever before! Please apply here for TMSLIP and read more about the program in the attached brochure.
- If you have any questions, please email mellenlarosa@nycbar.org. Thank you!
WAYS TO HELP BCS
Support with tech in the Social Studies classroom
- With Chromebooks for every student in my classroom, we can update curriculum to help students be more civic-minded. With access to technology, they will be able to conduct research and learn more about ways they can be change-makers!
Annual PTA Fundraising
- Please donate generously to the PTA Annual Appeal!
- The Brooklyn Collaborative PTA budget pays for the buses for our camping trips, staff development for expeditionary learning, project and classroom supplies, intensives, team dinners, 12th and 8th grade gifts, our community-building events, and more. These costs are not covered by the DOE school budget.
- There are 690 students at BCS. If you are in a position to contribute directly to our $75,000 fundraising goal, that amounts to almost $110 per student. Economic diversity is an important part of our school’s strength. Please consider giving for families that may not be able to right now.
- There are many ways to contribute, all of which are appreciated:
- If you’re able, please make a one-time donation HERE for an amount that is meaningful for your family
- Set up a smaller recurring monthly donation here (e.g., $5 or $50 per month) and check the box that reads, “Make this a monthly donation”
- Select Brooklyn Collaborative on Amazon Smile