PTA Newsletter | No. 19
Dear BNS Families,
Wonderful weather has arrived! And, we have a Spring to look forward to: full of fun, fundraising and exciting observations. A reminder to all: The NYC School Survey needs to be completed by each family by Friday, March 25.
We need volunteers to help us solicit donations for the Spring Auction on May 5th. Time is very short and we need to start building up our selection of items for the auction as soon as possible. No auction item is too small. Learn how to support below!
Don't ever hesitate to reach out to your PTA presidents with questions, concerns or feedback (richambler@gmail.com and mahshad.vakili@gmail.com).
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
Read-A-Thon is Back and Begins April 2, Collect Sponsors Now Read-A-Thon is back again this year for all grades. It begins April 2 and runs until April 15. Last year we raised over $28,000, all by kids diving into a good book! We are hoping to push even further and bring in $30,000 this year. Sponsor collection has run and will continue until April 2. More details are up on our newly designed website. Check it out here.
Ramadan Begins April 2 and lasts until May 5. Ramadan begins on April 2 and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr on May 2. During this religious period, some Muslim students may choose to observe Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset and will go without eating or drinking throughout the school day. School staff will continue to provide a supportive environment for Ramadan-observing students during this period.
The BNS Spring Auction is May 5, Volunteers Needed.The BNS Spring Auction is back on Thursday, May 5 from 7:00pm - 11:00pm . The party will be held at The Green Building in Gowanus. We'll have a free bar, a taco food truck, DJs and a live auction with special guests. AND We really NEED your help. We need volunteers to help us ask for donations (learn how). Time is short and we need to start building up our selection of items for the auction. No auction item is too small. It could be a gift certificate from your favorite shop or local restaurant, a yoga class, a cooking class, a bottle of your favorite wine or whiskey, a weekend in a hotel upstate. Nicole Galluccio (nggalluccio@gmail.com) is coordinating this effort, please contact her to contribute your time and/or how to donate an auction item!
Volunteers Still Needed to Help with PBAs and Konstella. Konstella has been a great platform to connect parents to each other and stay connected to what’s going on at BNS. We need a volunteer to help manage Konstella communications and the calendar. If you are interested, please reach out to Radhika Chalasani (rc@radhikachalasani.com).
BNS PBA season continues with our next round of panels, starting this week. We need families & community volunteers to join panels, to listen in carefully and join in the process of asking reflective questions. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what students study at BNS, while providing an authentic, curious audience for our student experts. Click here to read more about them & sign up to volunteer when you can!
Kick off the month-long Read-A-Thon By Bringing/Taking Books to the BNS Book Swap! The DEI committee will be collecting books the week leading up to the swap (starting March 28th) so please have your child bring books to school that week and drop off in the designated bin at the main office, room #206, or bring them directly to Prospect Park on April 2nd from 10am - 1pm! The Book Swap will take place at Prospect Park picnic tables (enter at 9th street and Prospect Park West, look for signs). Most importantly, come and browse, hang out, swap stories, and bring home new books to inspire YOUR reader/s at home. Please bring no more than ten books that are in good condition*, and that will inspire readers to rack up minutes for this beloved tradition.
*all pages in tact, no rips/tears or drawing on pages
**Any books left over will be donated, organization to be confirmed
***All books are free, and there will be buckets to make donations for those who are able
BNS Makerfest 2022 is April 9 from 12-4pm! We Still Need Volunteers. BNS Makerfest is returning Saturday, April 9 from 12-4pm! Makerfest is an amazing afternoon where parents, teachers, and other BNS community members lead maker activities like knitting, pressed flowers, hat making, leather-working, butter making, jewelry making, and more! Makerfest 2019 photos are here (thank you Justin).
We’re looking for parent volunteers to:
Lead activities: If you have arts, crafts, science or engineering talent or interest, we can help you get the materials you need and figure out how to organize your station.
Set-up, work the door, provide extra support at activity stations, provide food, sell food, clean-up.
Please fill out this Google form to show your interest and availability!
Farm Stand at BNS is back, Wednesday, March 30, 2:00-3:30pm on Rapelye Street. Pay what you can for local seasonal produce and get pastured eggs, raw honey and local grains at wholesale prices. No pre-orders necessary. Just show up and shop!
Health & Safety Information
DAILY HEALTH SCREENER
Please fill out NYC DOE Health Screening ahead of time every day. If you need a printout of the paper screener, please ask your child's teacher.
WEEKLY COVID TESTING
The DOE now conducts random COVID-19 testing for students in grades 1–5 every week. Only students whose families have provided an updated testing consent form can be tested. You are strongly encouraged to provide this consent for your child. Go to your child's NYCSA at http://mystudent.nyc/ to give consent for random COVID testing in school. If you gave testing consent last year, you will need to submit again for this school year. You can also fill out a paper consent form—email it to Janine at janine@bns146.org or return it to school in your child's backpack.
☑️ Reminders
LEADERSHIP'S LETTER TO THE BNS COMMUNITY: Read Diane and Malika's weekly letter
SCHOOL FOOD MENUS: Check what's on the menu in March
Looking Ahead
Bookmark the 2021–2022 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.
March 24: DEI Meeting @7pm; NYS tests in ELA and Math @8:20am in-person/zoom
April 9: Makerfest @12pm
April 2-15: Read-A-Thon 2022
April 5: Parents as Learning Partners Math Meeting @8:20am in-person (flyer)
April 11-12: Picture day
April 15-22: Spring Recess (No School)
May 5: Cinco de Mayo Spring Fundraiser
BNS PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2021–2022
Co-Presidents:
Rich Ambler, parent of Elena (2nd grade, Andrew and Greta)
Mahshad Hall, parent of Ruby (Kindergarten, Mary Ann)
Co-Treasurers:
Laura Trevino, parent of Emilia (1st grade, Jessica B)
Krystina Athas, parent of Liam (1st grade, Valerie and Carrie) and Alexander (3rd grade, Claudia and Jennifer P)
Co-Recording Secretaries:
Cherrelle Hall, parent of Dylan (pre-K, Tammy)
Jessica Smith, parent of Henry (Kindergarten, Kori and Jenn)
DEI Co-Chairs:
Jade Harris, parent of Miller (2nd grade, Penina and Amy)
Leslie King, parent of Frederica (5th grade, Nneka)
Fundraising Chair:
Sarah Gable, parent of Captain (Kindergarten, Kori and Jenn)
Correspondence Secretary:
Nicole Cohen, parent of George (3rd grade, Claudia and Jennifer P)
Communications Chair:
Radhika Chalasani, parent of Anila (3rd grade, Nancy and Alex)
Web Editors:
Sherri Powell, parent of Tekla (pre-K, Skye)
Corissa Trani, parent of Logan (pre-K, Skye)
Patty Lin, parent of Deren (Kindergarten, Doug)
Social Media Manager:
Elyse Neiman Seiter, parent of Aidan (4th grade, Kristen) and Lola (BNS grad)
Food Sales Chair:
Carolyn McGown, parent of Lorelai (5th grade, Laurie and Navika) and Ophelia (BNS grad)
Class Parent Coordinator:
Margie Dotter, parent of Cliona (5th grade, Nancy and Rachael), Juniper (1st grade, Jessica B), and Abby (BNS grad)
Members at Large:
Candybelle Acevedo, parent of Emilia (4th grade, Zack and Kaelyn) and Isabelle (1st grade, Abby and Jennifer D)
Maggie Ross Newville, parent of Magnus (5th grade, Laurie and Navika) and Axel (2nd grade, Amanda)
Hannah Nudell, parent of Eliza (3rd grade, Katherine) and Gideon (pre-K, Skye)
Linnea Veder, parent of Leo (pre-K, Jennifer G)
Contact the 2021–2022 BNS PTA at pta2021@bns146.org
