No. 38 June 20, 2021
Dear BNS Families,
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures!
Last week, at the final DEI anti-racism workshop of this school year, parents reflected on how to look at policies/norms with a lens of inclusion, and how to build community in a meaningful way as we head into next year. Thanks to everyone to participated in these rich, challenging, and brave conversations.
And last Friday, we sent our 5th graders off with a proper hurrah. We know they will take the spirit of BNS with them wherever they go. For the rest of us, we’re keeping our eyes on the prize—summer break—knowing that our community will disperse for a much-needed break from school and come back again strong in the fall.
We wish you a happy last week of school, an epic Watermelon Day, and a summer filled with rest and celebration—but we’re not through yet! We’re putting out a call for volunteers to lend a hand this week. Read on for ways you can help out with everything that’s going on.
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
Congratulations to Our 5th Graders!
For our 5th graders and their families, last Friday was a bittersweet day: graduation day.
We are so proud to celebrate how far these students have come and all that they’ve learned this year. The 5th grade studied Mayan culture and discovered what’s important to them to stand up for. They’ve grown so much!
Many of our 5th graders have been part of the BNS family since pre-K, and some joined us each year along the way—making lasting friendships that have shaped who they are today and building a strong foundation for who they will become as they continue to grow.
We send them off with confidence to face the future, even as we will miss seeing them in the hall and on the screen. This was a year unlike any other, and our 5th graders not only survived—they thrived!
Thank you to Radhika Chalasani for the photos.
🕮 CAN YOU HELP DELIVER BOOKS?
We have many bags of books from our 5th grade closet to donate to our sister school, Castlebridge, in Washington Heights (560 W. 169th Street). They are in bags in the cafeteria on the first floor at the moment. If you have a car and can volunteer to deliver any of them, it would be hugely appreciated by both schools! Books can be picked up at arrival or dismissal time, just connect with Diane or any 5th grade teacher and we will show you where they are located.
BNS Field Days continue this week! Please be sure your child wears comfortable shoes and brings a water bottle.
Here’s a partial list of activities: relay races, board games, bubbles, neighborhood bird & tree walk, badminton, kickball, soccer, biking, green activities (a touch of Ecorama), face painting, and more! Check out the schedule:
Volunteers are key to make this a successful experience. Please join us from 9:00am to 11:00am to help out.
Thanks to Radhika Chalasani for the photos.
Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Pride Month Meeting
Tuesday, June 22 @ 3:00pm on Zoom
Everyone is welcome—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer, intersex, questioning students, and allies, including students who identify as straight, students with LGBTQ+ families, and students who don’t have or need a label for their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Come and say hi or just swing by to listen. All 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are welcome!
To join the Zoom meeting, go to:
https://zoom.us/j/3865644088?pwd=M0xySGp5WDZ5bFB4U0xwY3F3MnNnUT09
Meeting ID: 386 564 4088
Passcode: Michael
To join the new GSA Google Classroom, use code j6fdylx or click here for an invite. Feel free to email Michael with any questions at michaelcruz@bns146.org.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meeting
Thursday, June 24 @ 7:00pm on Zoom
Please join the DEI Committee for our final meeting of this school year! We will sum up the year and set the stage to pick up where we leave off next September, which includes looking for new parents/caretakers to join our steering committee and help continue this important work. All are welcome.
To join the Zoom meeting, go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 812 9508 5501
Passcode: MCS98e
Friday, June 25
Watermelon Day on our last day of school is a special way to celebrate and say goodbye.
We need a few volunteers to help the morning go smoothly. Come at 8:00am to slice and dice. Bring a knife and a cutting board. And if you can pick up watermelons, please email Amy at amysumner@bns146.org.
Children and their families from all cohorts are welcome to drop in, see friends, have a slice of watermelon, and say “See ya in September!”
Meet in the Big Yard for watermelon at these times:
Lunch and recess will happen at the usual time. Buses will leave at regular dismissal time: 2:10pm.
☀️ Register for the BNS Summer Program
July 6 through August 20
BNS will have a FREE summer program at 610 Henry Street for current K–5 students as part of the DOE’s new Summer Rising program. Register your child(ren) now. Online registration is now available for BNS (our DBN is 15K146) or fill out the forms here. Children cannot be accepted into the program without a completed medical and consent form.
Please send all Summer Rising forms and questions to summerprogram@bns146.org, which is monitored by our on-site director, our own Valerie Moses.
As of today, we have no further information about enrollment or busing.
BNS 4th Graders Go Camping
Huge thanks to Lauren Barkan for her heroic efforts to organize the parent-led camping trips for our 4th graders. Last weekend, the first group headed upstate to the Ashokan Center for a weekend of woodland hikes, nature studies, blacksmithing, and a mock classroom from 1817. In the evening, they sang campfire songs, made s’mores, and were captivated by a presentation with birds of prey and reptiles.
A second group will go camping in July. Many thanks to Justin Weiner for taking photos.
Please Return Your BNS Chromebook
We are collecting BNS Chromebooks that were loaned out to families for remote learning this year. (We haven’t yet heard from DOE about iPad returns, so this only applies to BNS Chromebooks.) We know the year isn’t quite finished, but we would like to begin planning forward and inventorying our tech if possible.
Here’s how you can help: If you have a BNS Chromebook, please make a plan for when to return it before the summer. You can:
Please be sure to return the power cord with the Chromebook. If the device you borrowed was damaged, please return it anyway. Ed can often repair devices to make them useable again.
If you have any questions or need to arrange an alternate plan, please email Diane at diane@bns146.org.
⭐ MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE ON TUESDAY!
On Tuesday, June 22, NYC will hold a primary election for local offices including Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, City Council, and District Attorney (Manhattan).
The city’s Chief Democracy Officer Laura Wood is a BNS parent and she did this interview on WNYC a few weeks ago, explaining the new ranked choice voting process. Now you can rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.
Go to voting.nyc to learn about the candidates and for information on how to vote, where to vote, and why to vote.
Information for In-Person Students
HEALTH SCREENING EVERY DAY
Each child attending BNS in-person must submit a health screening EVERY DAY. Watch this quick tutorial then bookmark this link to fill it out online, and be prepared to show it to the nurse at morning drop-off. Or print out the newest version here and send it to school with your child. Please include your child’s name and the date on the paper form.
A/B CALENDAR FOR IN-PERSON DAYS
This Wednesday will be a B day. Click here for the April to June in-person schedule for children in Cohorts A & B. The A & B days also appear on the Konstella calendar.
SCHOOL MEAL MENUS
Here are the links for the June 2021 breakfast and lunch menus.
DISMISSAL ROUTINE
Dismissal is at 2:10pm every day. We ask families to wait on Rapelye Street until the bus kids have come out and we open the gate, at which time families can enter the Big Yard to pick up children in pre-K through 2nd grade. Children in 3rd to 5th grades gather with their crews along Rapelye Street. Please pick up your child at their crew spot and be sure they say goodbye to their crew leader, then exit the Big Yard. Please note that once the school buses leave, Rapelye Street is reopened to traffic. Dogs are not permitted in the Big Yard.
📚 Weekly Library Read-Alouds
Every week our BNS/BCS librarians post new recordings of books to share with your child. These books can be enjoyed by anyone at any time, and they are great conversation starters.
Click here for the Weekly Read-Alouds.
You can keep up with what’s going on at the library through the BNS/BCS Library webpage, which has booklists and online resources as well as our library catalog (use the left-hand sidebar to navigate and then explore tabs).
More Ways to Support BNS
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If you or your kiddo is having a birthday soon, consider setting up a Facebook birthday fundraiser to help support your favorite school—BNS! |
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Do your online shopping on AmazonSmile and select “Friends of the Bklyn New School- Bklyn School for Collab Studies” as your charity. Amazon gives back to BNS for every purchase made, and it really adds up! |
LOOKING AHEAD
Bookmark the 2021–2022 DOE school calendar here.
September 13: First day of school!
BNS PTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2020–2021
Contact the 2020–2021 BNS PTA at pta2020@bns146.org
Click on “Support a Fundraiser” and select “Brooklyn New School”
Search “FRIENDS OF THE BKLYN NEW SCHOOL- BKLYN SCHOOL FOR COLLAB STUDIES” under Charity.
