PTA Newsletter No. 2 - 10/01/23
Dear BNS Families,
BNS classrooms are full of activity and the building is buzzing with energy! From fun games to learning the names of their classmates and getting to know each other, to finding their way to the bathroom and exploring the library and the Big Yard, students are growing more comfortable in their school.
We hope you were all able to connect with your child's teacher(s) for conferences and curriculum nights. These meetings set the stage for a successful school year, and, we hope, marks the start of an informative and collaborative relationship between parents/guardians/caregivers and teachers.
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
Last Week's General PTA Meeting
At the first PTA meeting of the school year, we voted in new members of the Executive Committee and welcomed all families to the BNS community. Here are some highlights from the meeting:
- The fundraising committee is having a meeting Monday night at 7:30 pm via zoom. All are welcome to join and contribute their ideas. Contact Amy Osekowsky Davis to get the details: aosekowsky@gmail.com.
- We still need a volunteer to take over the printed monthly calendar. Contact Sara Gable at sonethousand@gmail.com to talk about this astonishingly easy, and very useful volunteer position.
- The Fundraising Committee is looking for a volunteer to organize a parent's night out sometime this autumn. Contact Amy Osekowsky Davis to learn more: aosekowsky@gmail.com.
- We are working on putting together a Read-a-Thon for grades PreK-2 (upper grades already have one!) and possibly even a Math-a-Thon! If you are interested in helping to organize, please contact elenatatelmt@gmail.com
- You can check your child's attendance through your NYC Schools Account. If a child is marked absent, then the office can code the type of absence (e.g. religious, medical appointment, etc.). If your child's bus is late, the child should not be marked late. After 2 consecutive absences, teachers or Joseph the social worker will make contact with the family. Please let a child’s teacher know in advance if you know they will be out.
And mark your calendar for the next PTA meeting: Tuesday, October 17 at 7:30pm on zoom.
⭐NO SCHOOL NEXT MONDAY⭐
All NYC public schools will be closed on Monday, October 9 in for Indigenous People's Day.
Unity Fest Postponed
Due to inclement weather, Unity Fest has been postponed until Saturday October 14, 11:00am-3:00pm at 610 Henry St.
A stamp at entry gives you all access! Food, games, a DJ, a clothing swap and a merch sale. Come to see what 610 Unity feels like!
Most stations will be fully staffed by Brooklyn Collaborative students. All proceeds will be split equally by BNS & Brooklyn Collaborative.
Parents can contribute to a fun day in many ways:
- come and bring your friends
- support our schools with a donation at entry or on Konstella
- help fulfill our Amazon registry here: UNITY FEST
We need a DJ or two to get us moving and shaking. Email amysumner@bns146.org if you're available for either a morning or afternoon shift.
Parent volunteers are needed for grilling and popcorn machine shifts. BCS students will help out, but we’d like adults to head up the cooking and popping. The clothing swap and merch table also need volunteers! Email amysumner@bns146.org if you can take a shift (10-11:30am, 11:30-1pm, 1-3pm)
Join Konstella for School Communications
Konstella is a private app for the BNS community, which includes families, teachers, staff, and administrators. Konstella is a closed system—no one can login or create an account without administrator approval. This is the primary way you’ll receive school information. You can use Konstella from your computer or download the app to your phone. If you don’t register for Konstella, you will still receive school messages to your regular email address, but using Konstella will let you control how and when you receive notifications.
ON THE WEB: To get started with Konstella, go to the website at www.KONSTELLA.com and select ‘Find Your School’ in the upper right hand corner. Complete the form!
MOBILE APP: To register for the mobile app – download the iOS or Android App Konstella, tap on “join” in your confirmation email.
ALREADY ON KONSTELLA? Make sure to update your child(ren)’s classroom(s) in your Konstella settings so you can receive classroom and grade level communications.
.jpg)
Join the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
BNS is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee supports the needs of students, parents, educators, teachers, and administrators to foster a school community where diversity is uniquely acknowledged and celebrated each and every day—in how our students learn and interact with one another and how our teachers engage with parents and teachers who are black/brown and marginalized.
All families are encouraged to join the committee. Express your interest here to get involved
15th Annual PTA Fun Run
Councilmember Shahana Hanif is hosting the 15th Annual PTA Fun Run this year on Sat., October 28th at 10am in Prospect Park (race bib pickup and pre-race fun starts at 9am). The PTA Fun Run is a 3.3 mile run/walk/scoot around the Prospect Park loop in Brooklyn, and is an energizing community-building event with live music, prizes, opportunities to connect with other schools and PTAs, and fundraise for our schools! Please register here. We need a parent to start us off by registering a BNS team. Let amysumner@bns146.org know if you can do this.
The funds raised from participation fees and donations go to participating Title I schools (including schools that had Title I status in the past 3 years). We will also be allocating a basket of prizes for the participating elementary, middle and high school with the most participation (regardless of their Title I status). Prizes include a Tacombi burrito party, Mayor’s Office and City Agency water bottles, totes, coloring books, Museum tickets and more!
We want to ensure the Fun Run is accessible to those who may not be able to cover registration fees, so please encourage families in need to reach out to mperez@council.nyc.gov for free or reduced price tickets or reach out if you are distributing discounted tickets to your school community.
New Date: 5th Grade Middle School Meeting
We are rescheduling the 5th grade middle school meeting to Thursday, Oct 5 to accommodate a middle school process training for staff on Oct 3. This training will inform us about the process this year.
Author Visit with Chris Harris
On November 9th, BNS/BCS library will be hosting an author visit with Chris Harris.
Books are Magic is helping us organize. We would like to encourage families to support our author and our local bookstore by purchasing any of Chris Harris's books. Families can purchase with this link, pick up their book from Books Are Magic ahead of time and bring it in to get signed by our author on November 9th. Our authors do not receive an honorarium for their visits, instead we rely on book sales to support an author's work and make their visit possible.
Arts Community Gathering
Tuesday, October 3rd (first gathering!) in the art room, room 105B
*be on the look-out for additional dates!
8:20-9:30am
Join us for our first community arts project led by Taryn (mom to Azusa, 1st grade). We will be hand sewing a tapestry together for the school. Everyone is invited!
All materials provided and available to take home to continue your practice at home.
*no experience necessary, Taryn will be teaching how to sew.
Contact tarynurushido@gmail.com for more information.
Volunteer to Be a Class Parent
Thanks to all of you who have volunteered to serve as Class Parents for our heroic teachers! This volunteer role is a light lift and helps you to forge relationships with your teachers and class families. Some classes do not yet have Class Parents. This is a great opportunity for you to partner with your children's teachers and assist them throughout the year with communications and other needs. Please reach out to: Laura Wood (PTA Class Parent Coordinator),Shelley Bissessar (BNS Community Coordinator), and Amy Sumner (BNS Parent Coordinator) to volunteer to be a Class Parent! Thank you!
New Families Partnership
New to BNS and looking for someone more experienced to talk to? New Families Partnership is a buddy system that provides a supportive network where new BNS parents are matched with returning BNS parents. This ensures that parents new to our school have the option to buddy up with a parent they can go to for questions and support. If you'd like to sign up, as either a new parent or a returning parent who is willing to help a new family navigate the BNS world, go to tinyurl.com/BNSnewfamilies and fill out the short form. You'll be matched with another BNS parent via email and you both take it from there!
Social Media
BNS is on Social Media! Follow us and stay informed on all BNS happenings. Find us on Instagram (@thebrooklynnewschool) and Facebook (TheBrooklynNewSchool). We are always looking to source and post great photos of your kids involved with BNS activities, so feel free to email them anytime to the Social Media Team: Photos@bns146.org.
Donate to the Annual Appeal
What Your Donation to the BNS PTA Pays For:
Classroom, Office, and Art Supplies
Technology
Science Teachers (not salaried through the DOE)
Bike and Swim Programs
Outdoor Learning Programs (Nature around us, Shore School, and more)
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (providing performing arts classes from Pre-K-5th grade)
Sustainability Program
Science Field Trips
Professional Development
4th Grade Musical
Sendoff to Summer (our year-end celebration in the yard)
Garden and Farm Curriculum
Math Workshops
Art Field Trips
Faculty Appreciation
Library Books and Technology Updates
3rd Grade Africa Studies
PTA Operations (Konstella, Paypal, Stripe, Web Server Fees, and other things like that)
Camping Trips
Lice Checks
5th Grade Graduation Ceremony
Click on this link if you want to make a financial contribution. Whatever your family is able to contribute, know that you are appreciated at BNS.
Here is a public link for friends and family outside of our BNS community.
If your family can afford to donate time, please contact the PTA co-presidents, Elena and Christian to hear about the wide variety of needs and opportunities to serve in our community.
Whatever your family is able to contribute, know that you are welcome and appreciated at BNS.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bookmark the 2023–2024 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.
October 2: PTA Fundraising Meeting (zoom, 7:30pm)
October 4/5: Band Program Starts (K-5)
October 5: Fifth Grade Family Meeting (room 124, 8:20am)
October 9: No School (Indigenous People’s Day)
October 10: KindergartenFamily Meeting (room 124, 8:20am)
October 11: PTA Executive Committee Meeting (zoom, 7:30pm),
BNS PAC Meeting (zoom, 8:00pm)
October 14: BNS/BCS Unityfest (610 Henry, 11:00am-3:00pm)
October 17: PTA General Meeting (zoom, 7:30-8:30pm),
Wednesdays: Adult Chorus (auditorium, 4:30-5:15pm weekly)
Please see the full October BNS Calendar here.
BNS PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2023–2024
CHRISTIAN LEUE, Co-President, dad to Max (1st grade)
ELENA TATE, Co-President, mom to Hans (2nd grade)
KRYSTINA ATHAS, Co-Treasurer, mom to Alexander & Liam (5th & 3nd grade)
HANNAH LANE, Recording Secretary, mom to Leo (pre-K)
MERVE KAYAN, Social Media Co-Chair, mom to Leyla (2nd grade)
HANNAH NUDELL, Communications Chair, mom to Eliza & Gideon (5th grade & 1st Grade)
AMY OSENKOWSKY DAVIS, Communications Co-Chair & Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Emily (Pre-K)
SARA KRAVIG GABLE, Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Captain (2nd grade)
NIKA WHITEHEAD-CLARKE, Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Nicquel (2nd grade)
ABBY COOVER, Newsletter Chair, mom to Valen, Varro & Vesper (toddler, 5th grade & BNS Grad)
LAURA WOOD, Class Parent Coordinator, mom to Phoebe & Sally (4th grade & 1st grade)
NILI OHAYON, Farm Stand Coordinator, mom to Livia (2nd grade)
CORISSA TRANI, Web Master, mom to Logan (Kindergarten)
PATTY LIN, Web Master, mom to Deren (1st Grade)
CLARA PLANEL, Web Master, mom to Olivia (Kindergarten)
TARYN ORGAN, Community Engagement Artist, mom to Azusa
CATHERINE HELLEUX, Sustainability Initiatives Co-Coordinator, mom to Bretton
LISA WALSH, Sustainability Initiatives Co-Coordinator, mom to Max
DIANDRA VERWAYNE, Member-at-Large, mom to Ethan (2nd Grade)
MAHSHAD VAKILI HALL, Member-at-Large, mom to Ruby (1st Grade)
ANDREA GRANDE-CAPONE, Face Painting Chairperson
EMILY DEL VALLE, Co-Chair, Events Committee
Contact the 2022–2023 BNS PTA at pta2022@bns146.org
