PTA Newsletter No. 3 - 12/11/2024
Dear BNS Families,
As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on the incredible learning and growth happening at Brooklyn New School. Students are fully immersed in the hands-on, project-based activities that define BNS—whether using Class 1 levers to lift each other or channeling water flow at the Salt Marsh, they’re thinking critically and solving real-world problems.
There are many ways for families to connect with student learning this month—3rd and 4th Grades have Shares, 1st Grade has a Math Morning, and 2nd Grade has a grade level family meeting.
December calendars went home on Friday, and you’ll find reminders of key dates below, and in Konstella. Don’t miss the PTA meeting on Friday, December 13th, at 8:20 AM. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you for helping make BNS a place where students thrive. Wishing you a joyful holiday season
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
⛸️ DISNEY ON ICE TICKETS ⛸️
Come join Mickey, Moana, and the entire Frozen crew at Barclays Center, Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 PM. Your ticket purchase helps support our school’s programs and activities. Get your tickets here!
📸 PICTURE DAY IS THIS WEEK! 📸
Wednesday, Dec. 11:
PreK: Tammy, Jessica T, Amanda
K: Valerie P & Marisol, Doug
1st: Bill, Abby & Jennifer D, Carrie, Valerie M
3rd: Janet & Laura, Nancy & Alex, Katherine, Claudia
Thursday, Dec. 12:
K: Kori, Jenn C
2nd: Beth, Greta, AnnMarie & Andrew, Amy & Alexandra
4th: Candy & Josh, Lindsay & Jess B, Kristen, Kaelyn
5th: Jennifer P, Rachel & Michael, Laurie & Navika
🔦 SPOTLIGHT ON 1st GRADE 🔦
Here are highlights from the Nov. 22 family meeting:
We’re putting the farm to bed for winter, exploring composting and worms, cooking in the Green Studio, and visiting Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
As part of our community study, kids created self-portraits and learned about each other and their families. We’ll continue exploring classroom and broader communities.
In math, we’re learning number parts, word problems, and starting subtraction soon. Join us for Family Math Morning on 12/13!
In reading, we’re building foundational skills, focusing on individual growth, and sharing ways for families to support reading success at home.
During choice time and Green Recess, students plan projects, work deeply, and practice executive functioning skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
Stay tuned for more field trips and an insect study in spring!
🫂 GET READY FOR BETTER TOGETHER 🫂
The DEI Committee will host the second annual Better Together, Celebrating the BNS Community event on Saturday, February 1 from 11 am to 1:30 pm at BNS. This event is intended to bring together our diverse community and create an inclusive space for all. Join us for an open mic, arts, music, food and fellowship! Get FREE tickets here.
Volunteers are needed! Please contact Cherrelle Hall at cherrellem.evans@gmail.com with any questions and/or to volunteer your time. We look forward to seeing you there!
👕 BNS MERCH ON SALE 👕
We’re having a sale on select items and new inventory is expected to be in stock before Winter Break. BNS hats, tees, and totes make great stocking stuffers or Hanukkah presents! Buy gear in person during the Bake Sale, Farm Stand, PTA Meeting/1st Grade Math Morning, Movie Night, and the 4th Grade Share/2nd Grade Family Meeting. Or shop online anytime: https://www.bns146.org/shop
We want every child to be able to show off their BNS pride and believe that cost shouldn't be a barrier. If you would like your child to receive a tee shirt, please email their name, classroom, teacher's name, and t-shirt size to familiesforfamilies@bns146.org. This inbox is only accessible by select BNS staff members for distribution purposes and messages sent here are never visible to other families.
🎁 BNS calendars – a perfect gift! 🎁
Every year the PTA's Green Committee sells calendars featuring artwork by BNS students. The funds go to the PTA's general fund and help fund all the programming that makes BNS special, including Shore School, Ecorama, the Green Program, and of course, the chickens! Think of the chickens.
For each beautiful full-color, 11x17" calendar, we're asking for a $20 donation. Buy 3 for a discount! And for $10 you can buy one for a teacher or staff member. We'll distribute them via backpack mail.
Order here by 12/16: https://www.konstella.com/open/sales/673bc899079cfd809171f8d6
If you need to arrange payment via check or cash, or an alternate price, or special delivery instructions, please email justinfield@gmail.com
🐜 HEAD LICE? DON’T PANIC! 🐜
It’s common for head lice to spread in schools. Check out this flier for information on how to check for lice and what to do if your child has lice.
🧁 BAKE SALES 🧁
In an effort to build community and raise money for our school, we are hosting monthly bake sales after school at BNS. Each Bake Sale is "owned" by a different grade - parents from that grade volunteer to organize and staff the sale - but all families are encouraged to contribute and purchase baked goods (or seltzer or fresh fruit or homemade soup) each month.
This month's 3rd Grade Bake Sale on December 12th will support the 3rd Grade Africa study. It will either be on Rapelye Street or in the Cafeteria depending on the weather. Sign up HERE to bake or volunteer. Bus kids' voices have been heard and we’ll make sure they can grab a treat before the bus!
We are asking a few more families to sign up to run a Bake sale to raise funds that support curriculum specific to their child’s grade. From shore school to farming to camping trips — we need someone for kindergarten, first and 4th grades. Sign up HERE to volunteer (we promise it's not too hard and we can help answer any questions!)
🔦 STAFF SPOTLIGHT 🔦 - 5 QUESTIONS WITH VALERIE MOSES
Meet Valerie Moses—First Grade Teacher, After School Director, and Summer Rising Director. Valerie has been at BNS for 16 years and is in her fifth year as a classroom teacher. She lives in Brooklyn with her college-aged daughters, Allisha and Cheyenne, and her dog, Chance. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new things, traveling, and spending time with her family. “They motivate me to be my best self.”
As a first-grade teacher, what’s the process of teaching students to read like?
Teaching reading is incredibly rewarding but can be challenging since every child learns differently. It’s a mix of patience, encouragement, and foundational skills-building, using engaging activities like games, read-alouds, and technology. Watching “lightbulb moments” when a child learns to read and discovers a new world is amazing.
What brings you the most joy as a teacher?
Seeing a student’s “aha!” moment is pure joy. It’s the culmination of hard work and patience, whether it’s reading a word for the first time or solving a tough math problem. Those moments of success shift their mindset and make teaching so meaningful.
How do you balance all your responsibilities at BNS?
Balancing multiple roles takes organization, flexibility, and a focus on supporting students and families. Reflection helps refine strategies and adjust as needed. It’s busy but rewarding—the moments of growth, excitement, and community make it worthwhile.
What makes BNS so special?
“BNS-y” perfectly captures the spirit of our school—child-centered learning, a strong community, hands-on exploration, inclusivity, and passionate teachers. BNS celebrates growth, not just achievement, nurturing curiosity, respect, and ownership of learning. It’s a place where kids feel loved, challenged, and empowered to be their best selves.
What do parents have to say?
“Valerie was so instrumental in motivating Dylan and so wonderful at working with Rob and I to get him the support he needed to be successful. Her classroom and teaching was structured, organized and student-centered. She told me at the beginning of the academic year that her job was to prepare the kids for 2nd grade and ensure they were set up for success, and she did exactly that! Thank you Valerie!” - Cherrelle Hall
GET INVOLVED @ BNS!
Thank you to everyone who has helped at school so far this year. You are so important to making the magic (and the boring, nitty gritty work) happen at BNS. We still need a lot more help if you can find some time in your schedule. There are opportunities for ongoing leadership roles, one-off event help, in-person work during school hours and virtual work that can happen at any time. Opportunities are listed below and throughout this newsletter.
Konstella: We still need Konstella volunteers! It’s an easy way to help the school while not having to be at the school. Get in touch with BNSPTA2024@bns146.org.
Games and activities needed: As winter sets in and kids prepare to spend more time indoors during Aftercare, we're looking for gently used/new games, activities, kits etc., that would facilitate creative thinking and entertain our older kids - 3rd, 4th & 5th graders. If you have any you can donate, please drop off items in the main office (Room 205) or directly to Valerie in Aftercare.
Monthly calendars: Did you like the calendar that went home in kids' backpacks on Friday? Please volunteer to make and distribute these in the coming months! Get in touch with BNSPTA2024@bns146.org if you can help.
Spring Fling: If you have connections with venues that could accommodate ~200 people, please get in touch with fundraising@bns146.org
Grants: Are you excited about finding ways to support more art, science, sustainability, professional development – or something else – at BNS? Help us find grants to fund these opportunities! All it takes is a few hours of online research. Reach out to Alisa Wellek (alisaw@gmail.com) or Dawn Eshelman (dawneshyes@gmail.com).
Merch: Do you love BNS t-shirts, hats and bags? We are looking for a Merch co-manager (2-3 hours per month managing inventory, recruiting and assigning volunteers). We also need a group of parents who are willing to take on one or more sales shifts this year at events like Movie Night, PTA meetings, etc. Reach out to Danielle (dvlamotte@gmail.com).
Lice checks: We need two or three parent volunteers who would be willing to help with doing lice checks for classes. Reach out to Shelley (shelley@bns146.org).
Photo archives: We need a volunteer to organize and archive BNS photographs. We have an amazing set of parent volunteers who have been photographing BNS in action for years. But those photos are stored in a drive and not well organized. Will you help us go through photos and archive them so they're easy to find by the website team and others? This work is 100% remote. Reach out to Shelley (shelley@bns146.org).
🍪 PLEDGE COOKIES TO THE GREAT COOKIE SALE 🍪
We’ll provide the box; you fill it with two dozen (24) cookies—homemade or store-bought. Another BNS family will buy them, and all proceeds support the BNS PTA.
Pick up boxes: Friday, Dec. 13, from the Kid’s Kitchen.
Return filled boxes: By Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Please note if cookies contain nuts or are vegan, and avoid items requiring refrigeration. Email fundraising@bns146.org for alternate arrangements. Sign up here!
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS 📅
Tue 12/10: BNS Admissions Open House (9 am)
Tue 12/10: BNS Open Library (2:30 pm)
Wed 12/11: BNS Farmstand (2 pm)
Wed 12/11 & Thu 12/12: Picture Day
Thu 12/12: Bake Sale to Support 3rd Grade Africa Study
Thu 12/12: Grant Writing Committee Meeting (8:30 am, cafeteria and Zoom)
Fri 12/13: PTA Meeting (8:20 am)
Fri 12/13: Pick up cookie boxes for the Great Cookie Sale (all day, kid’s kitchen)
Fri 12/13: Movie Night (6-8 pm, auditorium)
Mon 12/16: Friends of BNS Fundraising Meeting (8:30 am)
Tue 12/17: BNS Open Library (2:30 pm)
Tue 12/17: SLT Meeting (3:30 pm)
Wed 12/18: DEI Meeting (7:30 pm)
Mon 12/23-Wed 1/1 - SCHOOL CLOSED, Winter Recess
🔗 HELPFUL LINKS 🔗
Get four free COVID tests sent to you by mail
Fourth graders: Get a free pass to our national parks for a year!
See what’s on the menu at the cafeteria this week (note BNS serves the “high school hot lunch” menu). Remember, FREE breakfast and lunch are available for all students!
