BSI Newsletter

Issue # 30

Week of April 22, 2024 - April 26, 2024 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION & UPDATES

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to our school newsletter! As we step into April, we’re excited to share updates, stories, and inspiration with you. Let’s embark on this journey together, celebrating our school community and the joy of learning.

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Key Testing Dates 

NYS Math Test

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th
Date: May 7th - 8th

Computer-Based NYS Math Test

Grades: 5th, 8th
Dates: May 13th -14th

NYS Science Test

Grades: 5th, 8th
Dates: May 15th

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Stay tuned - Spring Family Fun Night is around the corner.

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SCHOOL NEWS

SPORTS ANNOUNCEMENT AND CHANGES

CHAMPS Basketball will be offered AFTER SCHOOL every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 2:50 - 3:50 PM.  These will be more team based workouts and will be our first step in establishing our BSI Middle School Basketball team, with a potential scrimmage game this June.

We are taking steps towards reestablishing our schools Volleyball team so stay tuned! Volleyball will be offered EVERY FRIDAY MORNING FROM 7:30-8:20 AM through the end of the school year.

Students will need to fill out a CHAMPS parental consent form (attached) before participating and be in good academic and character standing within BSI.

If you have any questions please contact Coach Shea: BShea@BSI686.org

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K Cafe: May 20th to May 23rd

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Class of 2024 Pictures Through the Years & Congratulatory Ads

8th Grade Families,

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Graduation 2024 Announcement

We are thrilled to announce that BSI will be celebrating its 2024 Graduation Ceremony! 

Date: June 25, 2024

Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: Claire Tow Theater, Brooklyn College

Mark your calendars and join us as we honor our talented graduates. Stay tuned for more details!  Congratulations to the BSI Class of 2024!

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Family Morning

BSI Family Hour will take place on Thursday May 23rd, 2024. Families will congregate in the auditorium at 8:15 and will proceed to the classrooms at 8:30am.

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Bridging Knowledge and Creativity: A Journey with The Center for Architecture 

We’re thrilled to announce the continuance of the exciting 8-week program for our 2nd grade students!  This week, The Center for Architecture visits our classrooms to ignite young minds with the wonders of bridge building. 

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Beam Center @ BSI

Beam Center works with our students on a project that is aligned with their social studies curriculum. Students are hands-on experiential learning and working together throughout this process to produce collaborative projects. Students create while learning skills in fabrication, prototyping, metalwork, physical computing, construction, and design. They use tools and craft to honor the individual voice, celebrate the joy of producing something larger than themselves, and inspire lasting sense of wonder and accomplishment.

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BSI's 6th Annual Talent Show

Talent show will be held on May 28-31. Families will attend Show #3 on Friday, May 31 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

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PTO Meeting

Our school's Parent Teacher Organization held their monthly meeting on April 18th. It was wonderful to see so many parents and teachers in attendance, truly highlighting the engaged community we have here.

You can access Principal Havlik's presention here. 

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Stomping Ground Pictures 

Pictures are available to view and purchase: https://iloveschoolpictures.com/bsi/5726  

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No Place for Hate

 BSI was designated as a No Place for Hate School for the 2023-24 School Year! We have been awarded a beautiful banner that will be given to us at a ceremony on May 22nd. Here is a sneak peak at the banner:

At Brooklyn School of Inquiry, our walls come alive with creativity. Led by Ms. Ferguson, the No Place for Hate campaign fills our hallways with colorful posters. These student-made artworks celebrate diversity, challenge biases, and promote empathy. As we walk past them, we absorb their messages—subtle yet powerful. The entire BSI community rallies around the No Place for Hate Pledge, ensuring our school is a haven of respect and acceptance. These posters aren’t just decorations; they embody our shared mission.

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NYCSA Parent Portal: Report Cards & Academic Screeners 

Families can view academic screener outcomes [iReady and Acadience (K-2)] in NYC School Accounts (NYCSA) in the new Reading and Math Progress tile.   Portal: https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc  

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 Teacher Emails / Contact Info 

An updated staff contact sheet: click here

• A reminder to email instead of sending a private msg to staff on Konstella.  Konstella is used to share class-wide updates and news. 
• If a student wishes to contact a teacher via email, she/he should email the teacher from their DOE account to the teacher’s DOE email address. 
• If a parent wishes to contact a teacher via email, she/he should contact the teacher at their DOE email address.  

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NYC Reads & HMH Resources: 

Teachhub - Into Reading 

• Students and families may use Teachhub to access Into Reading materials.  Teachhub is a portal to support students and teachers. The portal provides quick links to essential applications for remote learning, including: 
• iLearnNYC, the NYCDOE Learning Management System 
• Student report cards (available in the Student Documents icon) 
• Student grades (available in MyDashboard - if published from DOE Grades) 
• Multiple educational applications 
• G Suite, Microsoft O365, and Zoom (using secure central accounts) 
• And more! 

Here  is the link to Teachhub.  Students/families can sign in using DOE  student credentials.  Once you enter Teachhub, click on the Into Reading icon and then click on Discover. 

Video:Click here  

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Daily Dismissal Changes - If you need to make a change to your child’s dismissal on a given day, please complete the daily dismissal form: click here. (changes need to be made PRIOR to 1 pm)  

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BSI FAQ Directory here. 

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REMINDERS: Save the Date

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2024 Outdoors for Autism with INCLUDEnyc

You bring a blanket, we’ll bring the fun!

Join us, as well as some of our amazing partners —including Special Olympics New York, United States Tennis Association (USTA) Eastern, KEEN New York, Music for Autism, The Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society, and Extreme Kids and Crew— for an afternoon of fun, entertainment, and connection.

Activities include:

Arts, Sports, Sensory Parachute, Bubbles, Acoustic Music, Performance, Yoga, Cornhole, Sprinklers, Playground, Blocks, Quiet Activity Area and more!

This event will focus on young people with autism, age 0 – 18, and their families, but all are welcome!

This free event is made possible by the New York City Council Autism Initiative.

When: Sunday June 2, 2024 | 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Where: Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park- E 164th St &, River Ave, The Bronx, NY 10452
Languages: English, Spanish

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Americans whose heritage connects to one or more of the 22 Arab countries have a rich history in this country dating back to 1527 when, according to the U.S. Department of State, the first people from Morocco and Lebanon immigrated to this country. Those two men, from Morocco and Lebanon respectively, were considered the first "Arab Americans."

Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by sharing films about Arab American communities and documentaries by Arab American filmmakers.

In this beautiful short film, a collective of Palestinian-American dancers living in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn use traditional Dabka as a way to connect to their community and homeland.

Watch more documentaries that highlight Arab American stories and experiences here.

Check out the NY Arab Festival going on all month. New York City’s first Arab and Arab American art and culture festival, celebrating the song, dance, fashion, performance, ideas, and cuisine that have made Arab heritage part of American heritage. Link to their schedule here.

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Autism Acceptance Month

Explore resources - Knowledge is Empowerment

Everyone deserves to live fully.  Find the support you need, when you need it by accessing these resources here.

Autism is a lifelong brain difference that impacts the way a person thinks, communicates, interacts with others, and interprets the world around them. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that as many as 1 in every 36 children in the United States are identified as being autistic. Autism is seen in all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Characteristics associated with autism are typically present before the age of three and last throughout the lifespan. While there is a great deal of variability across the autism spectrum, there are primary characteristics that are common among individuals with autism, specifically related to social, emotional and language development.

Due to differences in the brain, autistic people often have different ways of processing, interpreting and reacting to information, stimuli, and/or people. Each experience is unique, and every story is important.

For additional facts & statistics about autism, visit the Autism Society’s Facts and Statistics page.

For more detailed information on autism during different developmental stages, click the categories below:

• Infants and toddlers
• School Age
• Adulthood

At BSI, we stand united in our commitment to inclusivity and compassion. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and create a world where everyone feels accepted and valued.

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Earth Day is Everyday

We are all connected to and by Earth --- whether it's the trees and plants that give us the oxygen we breathe, the snow-capped mountains that provide the water we drink, or the breathtaking geophysical forces that shape the land beneath our feet.

NASA has over 20 satellites measuring the height of oceans and inland water, clouds and precipitation, carbon dioxide and much more. These include measurements of snowpack, hurricanes, wildfires, ocean ecology, and more. 

By understanding our changing world, we improve lives and safeguard our future. By adding these details to our overall understanding, NASA contributes significantly to climate research and environmental management.

Remember, every little bit helps! Even small actions can have a big impact when we all work together. Happy Earth Day!🌎🌿🌍

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NYC DOE MESSAGES FOR FAMILIES 

• Messages for Families Page Click Here 
• Introducing the NYC School Bus App! This app allows families to track their child’s school bus as it travels to and from school. Click here for more details.
• NYC DOE 2023–2024 School Year Calendar Click Here 
• Remember to check the calendar for details: https://bsi686.org/calendar/

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Caring Corner

Kindness Heroes² 

A kindness hero is someone who goes beyond the ordinary to spread compassion, empathy, and goodwill. These everyday heroes perform acts of kindness—big or small—that make a positive impact on others’ lives. Whether it’s offering a listening ear, lending a helping hand, or simply brightening someone’s day, kindness heroes inspire us all to be better versions of ourselves. They remind us that even the smallest gestures can create ripples of positivity in our communities. Enter Elizabeth and Stella.

Elizabeth (Class 801) and Stella (Class 502) noticed a fellow student in distress and immediately offered their support. They listened attentively, provided comforting words, and stayed by the student’s side during a tough time. Their genuine care and empathy did not go unnoticed.

Recognized for their selfless act, they are now celebrated as heroes who spread kindness at BSI. In recognition of their compassionate actions, Elizabeth and Stella were presented with kindness journals. These journals serve as a personal space for them to reflect on their feelings, continue their journey of kindness, and inspire others to do the same. The kindness journals are a symbol of their heroism and a reminder to all that simple acts of empathy can make a significant impact on someone’s life.