PTA Newsletter No. 2
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.
In the first two weeks of school, we hope you were all able to connect with your child's teacher(s) for conferences. This brief meeting sets 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. Catch up with the full meeting minutes (posted here). Here are some highlights from the meeting:
The PTA is still looking for a communications co-chair (looking for tech-savvy folks to help)
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 18 at 8:20 a.m.
NO SCHOOL THIS WEDNESDAY AND NEXT MONDAY
All NYC public schools will be closed on Wednesday, October 5th for Yom Kippur and Monday, October 10th, for Indigenous People's Day.
UnityFest Was a Big Success!
Despite the rain, UnityFest went off swimmingly! Families from BNS and BCS enjoyed games, music, crafts, and food, all while raising money for both schools.
Did you take any UnityFest photo of your child having a blast? If so, would you mind sharing them with us for BNS social media? Email to photos@bns146.org!
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Bake Sale - October 6, 2:30-3:30 on Rapaleye St
BNS Afterschool Band Classes begin Wednesday October 12th
Please note that BNS Band, including early childhood classes, ukulele, chorus, and songwriting, all begins on Oct. 12 and runs through the end of May.
Looking forward to a year of music making in community with you all,
Sarah and the Band Team
Purchase picture books to support our author visit with Selina Alko and our local bookstore Books Are Magic
Our BNS/BCS library will be hosting our first author visit of the school year! On October 18, Grade 1 will meet picture book author Selina Alko with the support of Books Are Magic. We will be highlighting her picture book I is For Immigrants. We hope BNS families will consider purchasing it on our Books Are Magic/BNS link. 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. Books can be picked up at Books Are Magic. More author visits to come!
Drop off and Dismissal Routines - No Dogs Please
We know you love your dogs, but they must not enter the school yard or Rapelye Street, which is effectively our school yard too. Not even for 5 minutes. We've had close calls already this year at drop off.
Thank you for thinking of the whole community!
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.
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 Konstella committee here to get involved.
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!
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
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.
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/5bf31afde4b0dcc4a138cf23/donations/631fbd6c78b88fded13c01ce
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:
DOE’s School Visitor Policy
All visitors must show proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination to enter a DOE building. Visitors do not include students attending school in a DOE building.
Acceptable proof of vaccination is one of the following:
A CDC Vaccination Card; a photo or photocopy is also acceptable.
A NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record from within or outside the US, including from a healthcare provider. A photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
An acceptable COVID-19 vaccination includes one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine fully authorized or authorized for emergency use by the FDA or WHO. For more on school health and safety, go here.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bookmark the 2022–2023 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.
Wednesday, October 5: No School (Yom Kippur)
Thursday, October 6: Bake Sale to Support Breast Cancer Awareness
Monday, October 10: No School (Indigenous People’s Day)
Wednesday, October 12: Afterschool Band Begins
October 18: PTA Meeting (in-person, 8:20 a.m.)
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)
JULIXA CAMPUSANO, Fundraising Co-Chair, mom to Zayden & Zachary (4th and 3rd 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
