PTA Newsletter No. 6

PTA Newsletters
Written By Website Volunteers BNS

Dear BNS Families,

 

We’re almost to the final month of 2022. Kudos to you all! Thank you to everyone who volunteered their baking skills for the pie fundraiser and the bake sale. 

 

Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA

Busy Month for Fundraising!

 

Thanks to the 50+ families who participated in our annual pie sale! Our 2nd bake sale was also a great success! We gave out 200 free books in our A Book for the Bus giveaway!

Look out for a very special gift from Friends of Brooklyn New School on its way to your home mailbox!
Merch sales are back, both in-person and ONLINE - items sell out fast so get yours today! We even have gift-wrapped bundles until Dec 31st!
 
The BNS PTA Merch Shop is the place to shop for your holiday gifts. All orders will be delivered to your child's classroom. Help us pay for all of the enrichment programs from BAX, Music, Science, field trips and more! Shop ONLINE. We're also offering the option to donate a hoodie. All donated hoodies will be distributed by Diane and Malika. To request a hoodie, please email familiesforfamilies@bns146.org. This is a confidential email address, and no parents or PTA members are involved.
 
Questions? Email Fundraising@bns146.org

BNS Band Adult Chorus

 

We are pleased to share that the BNS adult chorus is happening, and it’s not too late to join! We meet on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:15 in the school auditorium, and we welcome anyone who wants to sing to join us. No music or vocal background required - and kids are welcome to accompany their grown-up. The chorus is learning how to harmonize (sing different parts together), and to follow a conductor. Singing is joyful and we need more joy!

Feel free to drop in to check it out, or if you want to go ahead and register, you can do so at this link. If you have questions, email Sarah at sarahferholt@bns146.org.

 Mindfulness for Families

 
Thursdays 8:30-9:00 a.m. in the Lower Gym (enter through the main entrance)
 
Families, please come and center yourself to start your day with Kevin (NYU Social Work Intern with Access Mindfulness). This is an opportunity to begin with mindfulness for yourself, and to bring home strategies to share with your family.
 
These sessions happen weekly, and you can drop in for any and all sessions. They are free and open to our whole community, no RSVP required!

District 15 CEC Meeting 11/29 

 
Please join CEC15 for their November Calendar Meeting: Tuesday, November 29th at 6:30 pm. This meeting will be held in person at M.S. 136/M.S. 821 Auditorium; 4004 4TH Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232.  A zoom link is provided below for members of the community who wish to attend via teleconference. All are encouraged to attend. You can hear a NYC School Budget rundown from the Alliance for Quality Education, and hear from our new superintendent Rafael Alvarez.

 

Register in advance for the November 29th Calendar Meeting:

https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqdOmrrDgrHtO5IBdKrwULVDSp1FJm4aP9

#Giving Tuesday is Almost Here!

 

At the Brooklyn New School, giving is an important part of our community. Each day, BNS teachers and staff give their time, passion, and dedication to provide students with meaningful learning experiences. Our students give their best efforts as conscious and empowered learners and leaders, both inside and outside the classroom.

 

On #GivingTuesday this year, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to supplement the funds provided by the DOE, which BNS dedicates towards experiential, hands-on learning that focuses on children's individual needs and interests. This link will take you to BNS’ donation page. No gift is too small or too big - and please forward to family and friends who might be interested! 

 

Of course, there are many ways to give back to BNS, including Amazon Smile, volunteering, merch and bake sales, and more. We also wanted to share this opportunity to nominate a teacher for a FLAG excellence in teaching award, a great way to give back to the BNS community. Nominations are due December 2!

 

Thank you for your support of the BNS community.

 

Volunteer for Movie Night!

 
Sign up HERE to volunteer for Movie Night Friday, Dec 9! (We can't have fun events for our kids if we don't get enough parents to help out - all volunteers get free tickets and pizza for the whole family!)

 

Lost and Found Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to take 5-10 minutes on Wednesdays and Fridays either am or pm to spruce up the content of the Lost and Found shed. You can volunteer directly on the Lost&Found Social group on Konstella for a single week or multiple weeks.

  

Volunteer to Be a Class Parent

Thanks to all of you who have volunteered to serve as Class Parents for our heroic teachers!  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:  Maggie Ross Newville (PTA Class Parent Coordinator), Shelley Bissessar (BNS Community Coordinator), and Amy Sumner (BNS Parent Coordinator) to volunteer to be a Class Parent!  Thank you!

 

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
Forest and Shore School
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (providing performing arts classes from K-5th grade)
Sustainability Program
Science Field Trips
Professional Development
4th Grade Musical
Watermelon Day (our year-end celebration in the yard)
Garden and Farm Curriculum
Math Workshops
Art Field Trips
Faculty Appreciation
Library Books and Technology Updates
Spanish Education
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.
DOE's School COVID Policy
 
If your child tests positive for COVID, please email dandm@bns146.org as soon as possible.  Anyone who tests positive needs to stay home for at least 5 days after the positive test or start of symptoms.  Anyone who tests positive must have improved symptoms and must continue to wear a mask through day 10. 
 
BNS will notify all families in a class impacted by a case, whether a student or a staff member tests positive.  We will also send home 2 home test kits with each member of the classroom.  Current DOE/DOH policy prompts families to test children on day 4 and day 5 after exposure.  Children do not need to stay home after exposure as long as they are symptom-free.  It is strongly recommended that anyone exposed to COVID wear a mask for 10 days after exposure. 
 
You can check the DOE's COVID Safety website for updates about these policies: 

LOOKING AHEAD

Bookmark the 2022–2023 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.

 

November 29: D15 CEC Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

December 9: Movie Night, Auditorium, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

December 12: SLT Meeting, Zoom, 4:30 p.m.

December 14: Farm Stand, Rapelye Street, 2-4 p.m.

December 15: Bake Sale, Rapelye Street, 2-3 p.m.

NYC DOE SCHOOL LUNCH MENU 

BNS PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2022–2023

  • MAHSHAD HALL, Co-President, Mom to Ruby (1st grade)
  • CHRISTIAN LEUE, Co-President, Dad to Max (Kindergarten)
  • KRYSTINA ATHAS, Co-Treasurer, mom to Alexander & Liam (4th & 2nd grade)
  • HANNAH LANE, Recording Secretary, mom to Leo (pre-K)
  • JESSICA SMITH, Correspondence Secretary, mom to Henry (1st grade)
  • ELYSE NEIMAN SEITER, Social Media Co-Chair, mom to Aidan (5th grade) & Lola (BNS grad)
  • MERVE KAYAN, Social Media Co-Chair, mom to Leyla (2nd grade)
  • HANNAH NUDELL, Communications Chair, mom to Eliza & Gideon (4th grade & Kindergarten)
  • MAGGIE ROSS NEWVILLE, Class Parent Coordinator, mom to Axel & Magnus  (3rd grade & BNS grad)
  • SARA KRAVIG GABLE, Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Captain (1st grade)
  • ELENA TATE, Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Hans (1st grade)
  • CATHERINE HELLEUX, mom to Bretton (1st grade)
  • TANICA GORDON, mom to Josiah (1st grade)

Contact the 2022–2023 BNS PTA at pta2022@bns146.org

 

Website Volunteers BNS
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PTA Newsletter No. 5