The PTA Newsletter | No. 17
Dear BNS Families,
Kudos to everyone for getting us through the omicron wave and we hope you are all enjoying this milder weather. As we go into the mid-Winter recess, we are sharing with you a newsletter full of helpful reminders, opportunities to get involved and some asks to support our PTA’s great work at school. Please read the new Konstella Usage Policy to make sure you know what’s permitted when posting and responding. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to us, your PTA presidents (richambler@gmail.com and mahshad.vakili@gmail.com )
Sincerely,
Your BNS PTA
BNS Farm Stand is back in 2022
The BNS Farm Stand is a monthly market that supports local farmers and provides healthy food at an affordable price to our school community. We need at least two co-chairs as well as volunteers to work at the stand- if you are interested in helping please join a zoom on March 4th at 8:30am. RSVP for the link by emailing: foodcommittee@bns146.org
BNS AFTERSCHOOL WORKSHOPS, AFTERCARE REGISTRATION BEGINS 2/28
Please mark your calendar for spring afterschool workshop registration.
Register: February 28, 2022 – March 8, 2022
Request Scholarships: February 28, 2022 – March 8, 2022
Workshop Dates: March 21 – June 24, 2022
The workshop schedule, registration and scholarship information will be shared on February 28, 2022 through Konstella and will be posted on our school website here.
WORKSHOPS
BNS partners with community organizations to provide afterschool workshops in a variety of disciplines, including art, dance, music, science and sports. Workshops meet Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2:45 – 3:45pm. Classes are capped at 12 students or less to provide an intimate program. Scholarships are available for all workshops. If you have any questions or if you’re a parent who wants to volunteer to help shuffle children to and from workshops from 2:30-3:45, s, please reach out to afterschooladvisory@bns146.org.
BNS AFTERCARE
Whether or not your child attends a workshop, they can still enroll in the BNS Aftercare program. The BNS Aftercare program is run by Shalisha Jackson (shalisha@bns146.org) and offers a variety of activities to keep students entertained and engaged after the school day ends.
BUY A BNS BEANIE AND BECOME A SCHOOL SUPPORTER!
The sun may be out, but it’s still February! Please help support the school and keep your heads warm with a BNS beanie. We have two fun styles in beautiful bold colors… buy via Konstella and we’ll deliver your beanie to your kid’s classroom, and they’ll bring it home in their backpack. Or, on their head! And, if you’d like to donate a beanie just make a note of it and we’ll give the beanie to Diane and Malika to give to a student or family who would like one. Click through to support our school!
BNS Social Media and Konstalla Teams Need Volunteers
Do you enjoy using social media? Are you good at blurb writing? Do you want to help parents stay informed and plugged in? Do you know how to make simple graphics? If yes to any of those, come join our team! BNS has a social media presence on both Instagram and Facebook (@thebrooklynnewschool) and we are looking for 1-2 parents who would be willing to help with weekly posts. This is a low commitment, virtual and creative way to help out BNS. Email Elyse at Photos@bns146.org if interested. The PTA is also looking for someone to help with Konstella communications. Please contact Radhika Chalasani.
REMINDER: On-site COVID Testing with the LabQ Van
LabQ is still scheduled to come to BNS/BCS every Monday from 12-4pm for Covid PCR testing beginning next week. These Monday visits will allow BNS to increase our testing pool of students and staff, at no cost. Testing through the LabQ Van also includes pre-k and kindergarten students who are excluded from the DOE’s regular Covid testing program. If you would like your child to be Covid tested at the van each week during the school day, please fill out the following Google form: https://forms.gle/Z5nQ47P8UeS1BKvP6 Drop-ins are welcome after school, between 2:30 and 4pm. To volunteer from 12-2:30 to collect children, email Amy Sumner.
Please Continue to Upload Proof of Vaccination and Consent to Randomized Testing
Please upload your child’s or children’s proof of vaccination to the Department of Education COVID-19 Vaccination Portal. Activities, such as band and high risk sports, require proof of vaccination for participation. The vaccination portal provides the New York City Department of Education with information about vaccination status.
If your child is not yet vaccinated and you have not sent in consent for random testing at school yet, we strongly encourage you to do so. Random testing happens once per week for 20% of our vaccinated and unvaccinated students in grades 1-5. Children are only selected for random testing if they have consent on file.
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.
BNS Virtual Open Houses Continue; Share the News
Spread the word to your friends: BNS Virtual Open Houses are underway. The DOE has not released deadlines for applications yet.
Brooklyn New School Virtual Open House Dates:
Wednesday, March 16 @ 9 am: Register Here
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 February
Looking Ahead
Bookmark the 2021–2022 DOE school calendar here. BNS events and important dates are also on the Konstella calendar.
February 15: PTA General Meeting (8:20am – in-person)
February 21-25: Midwinter Recess (No School)
March 2-3: Parent Teacher Conferences
March 24: DEI Meeting @ 7pm
April 2-15: Read-A-Thon 2022
April 15-22: Spring Recess (No School)
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
