PTA Newsletter No. 4 - 10/29/23
Dear BNS Families
Read on to learn more about what our BNS community has been up to and what we have to look forward to in the week and month to come. There is so much happening in our community this autumn. We're grateful to have you here.
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
Half-Day This Thursday 11/2 for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Dismissal for all students is at 11:30, and bus dismissal is at 11:30. AfterSchool will run a program from 11:30-2:30pm ONLY for families who cannot make other arrangements. Sign up here. Children registered for AfterSchool will be able to stay after 2:30pm. Children who are not registered for AfterSchool will need to be picked up at 2:30pm.
BNS Halloween Costume Policy
New York City is a wonderful mosaic of cultures and cultural celebrations. Halloween is one of these cherished celebrations. We ask that it be cherished after school, not during the school day. Please do not send children to school wearing costumes. Costumes may get damaged or lost at school, leading to outsize disappointment.
Families as Learning Partners: Literacy at BNS
On Tuesday, October 31 8:20-9:30am, please come and join our BNS leaders along with Jenny, Elissa and Heather of our literacy team to learn about reading at BNS. We will meet in the Health Studio, room 124.
We will discuss our reading framework as well as what families can do to support their child during the elementary years.
This workshop is appropriate for parents in all grade levels, pre-K to grade 5.
We encourage everyone to attend in person. If you can only attend on zoom here is the link.
Come with your wonderings!
Community Arts Workshop
Learn How to Mend
Join us on Thursday November 2 in Room 102 from 8:20-9:30am for a morning of learning how to mend with local material artist and BNS parent Taryn Urushido who will teach or guide you through basic mending skills. Come learn (or practice!) how to mend, plus take home skills that you can practice with your kids!
Please bring an item to mend: child’s pants, your own tote, a coat, any item with a specific need to mend!
Absolutely NO art experience is necessary, just a desire to create and collaborate. Everyone is welcome!
About the BNS Arts Committee:
If you're interested in creating or participating in arts-related programming, please join other passionate families who want to bring more arts enrichment to the school through the PTA.
Created by celebrated crochet artist Taryn (Organ) Urushido (parent of Azusa, 1st grade), and co-led by Mahshad Vakili Hall (parent of Ruby, 2nd grade), the Arts Committee hopes to create events and opportunities for parents and families to participate in the enriching and inspiring art of handmade craft, and bring these life skills back into the home to build meaningful memories and mementos with our children.
Sad News and a Petition to Support Change in Traffic Patterns Around Schools
This is from the D15 CEC. This is very sad news, so be prepared. Please sign the attached petition if you are moved to:
Dear District 15 Families and Community,
You may have seen the terrible news that 7-year-old Kamari Hughes was tragically killed in a crosswalk by a NYPD tow truck driver who failed to yield. This happened a few blocks from schools. While the driver has been charged, locals demand greater response and enhanced pedestrian solutions. They report that children cross this busy street every day, to and from school, without the aid of crossing guards. The petition linked asks concerned community members to please read and sign for the safety of all of our children and then share widely.
Join Parents of BNS for a Paint & Sip
Grab your BNS friends and join parents of BNS for a Paint & Sip evening. Come get creative and support our school at a small gathering of painting cork coasters inspired by folk art from Portugal. Includes 1 drink, instruction and art supplies. You'll leave with a set of 8 cork coasters.
Details
- WineMak'Her Bar - 492 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
- Wednesday November 15th
- 7-8pm
- Limited seats. No experience necessary.
- $50 Suggested Price. A $25 ticket covers the cost of the event, including materials, the instruction, and the space. $35 includes a $10 donation. $50 includes a $25 donation. Our goal is to raise $500 for the PTA to fund BNS school programming
Box Tops for Education
Scan your grocery & shopping receipts to earn money for BNS!
BoxTops for Education donates to BNS when you buy eligible products, which includes Annie's products, Airborne, Cheerios, Háagen-Dazs, Lysol, and Yoplait. Grandparents, aunts & uncles, friends, etc. are also welcome to scan their receipts for BNS!
To participate:
- Download the app
- Search for Brooklyn New School (It's under the name "Public School 146 Brooklyn New Sc")
- Scan your physical receipts or upload digital ones within 2 weeks of purchase
BNS Fundraiser for Unicef
BNS is resuming participation in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF this year, and it is the first year our school will be resuming this drive, since 2019. To kick off this campaign, a musical puppet show performance will be presented to the students in the cafeteria this coming week to educate them about UNICEF and to encourage the students to collect funds for the children of the world when they go trick or treating this Halloween. Please be on the lookout for the take home flyers that will provide more details along with the BNS QR code that your child may share during Trick-or-Treating this year to collect donations in support of this campaign.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a Kids Helping Kids campaign that started back in 1948 in Philadelphia when a minister and school teacher sought to encourage children in their hometown to collect coins during trick-or-treating to be donated to UNICEF in order to help children around the world. The campaign spread nationwide by 1950, and part of the campaign's goal is to let children know they can be a power for good in the world. BNS has been a participant in this campaign ever since 2011, but took a pause for the past few years as a result of the pandemic. We are looking forward to resuming this year and hope your family will participate by sharing thedonation link and/or QR code with friends/family/neighbors to collect some donations.
P.S. In prior years when BNS participated in this effort, the students collected coin donations in little orange containers when they went trick-or-treating on Halloween. In line with the many things that have gone electronic these days, the donations have also switched to an online platform to replace the coins and collection cartons. In the event your child(ren) receives donations in coin/cash, we ask that the family kindly make a donation online for the same amount in exchange for keeping the coin/cash.
Support The BCS RoboSharks Team 4299
The BCS RoboSharks Team 4299 are a passionate group of high school students from BCS (Brooklyn Collaborative), a Title 1 school within the NYC Department of Education with students from all over the city. Their journey in the world of robotics and technology has been nothing short of remarkable, thanks to the spirit of inclusivity and independence that defines us.
Click here to support their team that is not just about building robots; but about empowering students to be their authentic selves. We firmly believe in the power of inclusion and independence in fostering creativity and innovation.
GrowNYC Journey to Zero Waste
Since 2007, GrowNYC has operated zero waste programs funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation, educating tens of thousands of city residents and property owners about conservation and providing hands-on resources any New Yorker can participate in like composting, clothing collections, free reuse events, and more.
In the past year, GrowNYC has diverted 2,574,601 pounds of food scraps from disposal, conducted 34 Stop ‘N’ Swap events to divert 67,163 pounds of items from disposal to reuse, collected 341,910 pound of textiles for recycling and reuse, and helped to shape the NYC Curbside Composting program.
Please click here to learn more, volunteer or donate!
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.
elenatatelmt@gmail.com
christianleue@gmail.com
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 31:Families as Learning Partners: Literacy (room 124, 8:20-9:30am)
November 1:Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Meeting (zoom, 7:30pm)
November 2:Half Day of School for PTC (dismissal at 11:30am)
November 2:Arts Committee: Learn How to Mend (room 102, 8:20-9:30am)
November 6:Fundraising Committee Meeting (zoom, 7:30pm)
November 7:Election Day | No school for students
November 8:PTA Executive Committee Meeting (in person TBC, 8:30am)
November 9:Author Visit: Chris Harris (library)
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 (Kindergarten)
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 pta2023@bns146.org
