PTA Newsletter | No. 20
Dear BNS Families,
There are so many exciting events upon us. We are kicking off the Read-A-Thon (4/2) and looking forward to Makerfest (4/9) all while we prepare for the Spring Auction (5/5). That's right, we still need volunteers to help us solicit donations. We have about a month left. Please help us make it great. Want to help? There's a Spring Auction planning meeting on Thursday, April 7 at 9:45 am via Zoom (see Konstella for link). Join in and help out!
Remember: We're always here for you! 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 has Begun! Remember to Track Your Reading!Read-A-Thon Begins today and officially runs until April 15. BUT don’t worry if you haven’t started asking for sponsors, there is still time! You can ask now, and do your 2 weeks of reading any time over the next month. 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. More details are available on the BNS website. Please click here. And if you have any questions, please email: richambler@gmail.com.
BNS Makerfest 2022 is Next Weekend April 9 from 12-4pm. We still Need Volunteers!
BNS Makerfest is returning Saturday, April 9 from 12-4pm! Quiet hour for pre-K and K from 12-1.Bring proof of vaccination and the daily health screener to enter the building. Enjoy the afternoon making arts and crafts with your kids. We still need a few items, please send them to school with your kid: cardboard tubes for rain sticks, caps from puree pouches for a tapestry and socks for sock puppets. We’re still 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!
Reminder: 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 (Bid Bash) is May 5, Volunteers & Donations 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 including special margaritas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a taco food truck, DJs and a live & silent auction.
Tickets go on sale for this very special event very shortly so look out for the announcements on Konstella. Until then...We really NEED your help:
Join us to help us ask for donations (learn how, here!).
Consider collecting JUST 1 donation yourself. Here are some of the items donated so far, just to give you an idea: Tutoring classes, Art classes, gym classes, membership to the MOMA and the Whitney Art Museums, cases of wine, a food&history walking tour, gift cards from local restaurants, jewelry & accessories, a super cool red glide bike, and not forgetting 2 hours of FREE karaoke!
Nicole Galluccio is helping to coordinate the donations. Have questions? Nicole Galluccio (nggalluccio@gmail.com) is coordinating this effort, so please contact her to contribute your time and/or how to donate an auction item! Have something to donate? Here's the receipt to fill out!
NYC School Survey Now Due April 15
Please remember to complete the survey online or on paper and mail it in using the prepaid envelop you received. The deadline is now April 15. You'll need your child's OSIS ID for the online survey - that's your access code. Type a lower case f before your child's OSIS ID, and take it away!
BNS is rated on the percentage of surveys we return, and so far, parents have only returned 12% of their surveys. Let's get that number up! Link for the online survey
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 April
Looking Ahead
Bookmark the 2021–2022 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.
April 2-15: Read-A-Thon 2022
April 5:
Parents as Learning Partners Math Meeting @8:20am in-person (flyer)
Executive PTA meeting @8:20am in person
School Leadership Team @4:00
April 9: Makerfest @12pm
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
