Brooklyn North High Schools: Community Newsletter October 2020
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Brooklyn North High Schools: Community Newsletter October 2020 Back To High School Edition! Greetings From The Superintendent Dear Brooklyn North High School Community, Welcome back to the 2020-21 school year! A new year is upon us, unlike one we have ever had before. We know that our families, staff, and students have faced challenges, both personally and professionally in the face of the pandemic, and we are here to support our communities to provide the best educational experience while we work through obstacles together. All students were welcomed back into their schools remotely on the 21st, and students learning in- person will be arriving at their buildings on October 1st. Although this year will be different in the structure of the day, and in delivery of instruction, the Chancellor's priorities and our district goals and priorities are firmly in place to guide schools' efforts. I want to ensure that our whole community is supported socially and emotionally as we make this monumental transition back to school. School staff received training on health and safety protocols, and in trauma-responsive practices to integrate into their academic day, and Central, borough, and district staff are providing aligned supports in these areas to school communities across Brooklyn North. Students experienced a three-day orientation back to school on September 16-18, where they met their teachers, learned about their schedules, and how to navigate the changes in their schools. As educators, parents, administrators, and students our job is to improve our community through our practice and through our actions. We maintain that we offer the most rigorous curricula and hold the highest expectations through our "For All" programs," and teachers have prepared their classrooms with these in mind. We have successfully increased our AP class offerings and enrollment in our AP for All schools and are offering more advanced coursework in math and science, including dual credit early college classes. We are excited to continue our work in support of the My Brother’s Keeper program for our young men, and proudly announce the establishment of My Sister's Keeper @Brooklyn, where we will now engage in developing our young women into the leaders we know they can be! We intend to build on this work in the coming year, strengthening our pedagogy of critical love and helping our students grow into well- rounded and conscientious citizens. Our goal is to ensure that our school leaders and teachers are providing equitable, culturally responsive learning environments, whether students learn in-person, or remotely, and that our families have voice and agency in the district. We look forward to a unique year of cultivating meaningful experiences and fulfilling our responsibilities to the vast community of the Brooklyn North High School Superintendency. We ask that you continue to partner with us to support our 26,000 students as we bravely embark on this school year together. We will do all that we can to support our students' success. Sincerely, Janice Ross October Updates From Our Schools Urban Assembly School of Music and Art Students took part in advisory classes last week that were designed to welcome them to the 20/21 school year and to acquaint them with our remote instruction design for the Fall semester. They participated in mindfulness activities and established zoom etiquette protocols. Students also began to explore their ID MAP (Interdisciplinary Mastery Project) by doing structured free writes responding to James Balwin’s 1963 speech, “Living and Growing in a White World.” In order to meet the instructional challenges before us, in August a small group of UAMA teachers and admin staff began working collaboratively to prepare for a responsible and adaptable instructional focus for this year. Through remote meetings and Google Classroom we engaged in what we ask our students to do: genuine, relevant, and personalize reading, writing, and discussion. Through this process we developed what we are calling, ID MAP (Interdisciplinary Mastery Project), which is a curricular approach that is flexible to withstand the uncertainty of this school year and can provide a foundation for our staff and students to take a journey together as co-learners that will better help us understand ourselves and each other during these difficult times. This work culminated in the creation of one interdisciplinary project that all students will be engaged in exploring titled, “What does it mean to be educated?” A record number of our parents joined us during our town hall on September 14, 2020 to ask questions and receive updates regarding the reopening of schools. SLT September 28, 2020 (5:30 PM) October 19, 2020 (5:30 PM) PTA September 28, 2020 (6:30 PM) October 19, 2020 (6:30 PM) Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School Dear BCAM Families: We hope this start-of 2020-21 finds you and your family well. We know this is a very tough time with COVID19 still challenging health, as well ongoing uncertainty of all sorts. Our school community has worked incredibly hard, and non-stop, this summer, to develop a safe, secure and logical school and instructional plan to support your student’s 2020-21 high school experience, whether it be home remote or blended in our BCAM building. And we hope many of you attended our multiple family orientation meetings in the past months, and/or have logged on to our website, bcamhs.org1 and BCAM Instagram @bcamhs for our constant sharing of information. If you are a BCAM Blended-Schedule Student/Family, please know our school community, our custodial staff and DOE Health/Safety have worked tireless to prepare our building and school for you. As long as you follow the clear health/safety protocols and guidelines, you will engage in organized and well-managed learning and collaborative experiences. If you are BCAM Remote- Schedule Student/Family, you will receive the same high quality instruction and experiences as those students in-building, and from 100% BCAM teachers! Reminders • The school day begins at 9:05am for everyone! • Students should mark their attendance daily before noon, in their grade specific Google Classrooms. • Wednesday schedules for ALL students consist of student independent work time/ class office hours/ tutoring. • Family Coffee and Conversations are held virtually every Wednesday at 10am. SLT and PTA Meetings Wednesday, October 21, 2020 SLT 4:00pm PTA 6:00pm Building Family Connections & Wellness Thursday, October 29, 2020 A virtual space for parents and guardians to connect, learn, and have fun! 1http://www.bcamhs.org/ Science Skills Center High School For Science, Technology & The Creative Arts As we welcomed back students into our building procedures and policies have changed. Currently we have 414 students on remote learning (71%) and 176 students on blended learning. Parents have been moving towards remote learning in this new way of life. Students are excited to see their friends and faculty. They are learning new ways to communicate and connect. At this moment technology has become a driving force in how we interact with each other. Teachers are eager to see students back in their classroom environment. Working with them from a socially distant view, a little louder behind the masks & shields yet focused on adventures ahead together. Science Skills Center High School Parent Teacher Association PTA/SLT Virtual Meeting Calendar 2020 – 2021 Microsoft Teams SLT Meeting 6:00pm – 7:00pm PTA Meeting Thursday, September 17, 2020 7:00pm. - 8:00pm. PTA Nominations Microsoft Teams SLT Meeting 6:00pm – 8:00pm. PTA Meeting Thursday, October 15, 2020 7:00pm. - 8:00pm. PTA ELECTIONS Brooklyn Technical High School Dear Parents: The rich history of Brooklyn Tech is grounded in the involvement of all constituents including students, parents, teachers, alumni, administration, and countless others. The purpose of having an Office of Parent and Student Engagement is to maintain the strong sense of community that has created such a legendary school. In order to stay aware of what takes place here at BTHS, please ensure your contact information is always current and updated. Day to day events and announcements are typically emailed, posted online, or received in a phone call, we rarely send things home via mail. Parents, please remember that you are a vital team member, along with the staff and administration, in the academic and social success of your child. We must work as a team in order to bring your child to his or her full potential. You are encouraged to be an active participant in your child's education. Our PA (Parents Association) has several events, workshops, and educational trips throughout the year that may benefit your family immensely. Joining the PA, or at least participating in a few events, can forge relationships that are bound to help your child succeed. The Office of Parent and Student Engagement is designed to make you feel welcomed by the school, creating an opportunity for full communication between you and the entire staff. We are here to answer any and all questions pertaining to your child no matter how small; everything from lost metro cards to working papers. It is our goal to provide you with as many resources and tools you may need to help your child. On behalf of the entire BTHS family, we truly wish your child an extraordinary school year! Sincerely, Kelly Nottingham Assistant Principal of Parent and Student Engagement Bedford Academy High School We are in uncharted waters as we embark on a new school year. It is our task to make sure that our scholars receive the most rigorous and comprehensive educational experience despite the current pandemic. Of course, we are concerned about the safety of our students and staff and are making every effort to comply with CDC regulations.