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January PTA Newsletter
Wed, Jan 21 12:31pm


Dear Families, 
This is our January PTA Newsletter, thank you for reading! Email us with any questions or comments.
bnspta2025@bns146.org 
Your BNS PTA

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

Link to full letter here

Dear BNS,

Earlier this month we held our second Families as Learning Partners workshop of the school year, on the topic of literacy in grades K, 1 & 2. (For more information on our first FLP session, “Making the Most of Work Shares at BNS,” check out the full version of this letter by scanning the QR code.)

Our reading intervention team (Jenny M., Elissa and Heather) led a group of families through the journey of reading and writing development for elementary learners. We explored sound/letter matching, blending, and so many other attributes of this complex and deliberate process. Heather, who works with our second through fifth graders who need a bit more direct support with continuing to develop their foundational skills or comprehension strategies, guided all of us to try out some phonemic skill practice work: “Alright everyone, say ‘wood.’” “Wood,” we replied, a room full of adults. “Now, change the /w/ (w sound) to /g/ (g sound).” “Good!” we all said, after thinking for a moment, as we manipulated the sounds in our adult minds. For children, this type of work helps develop many layers of their reading, writing, and listening brain pathways.

Great questions come up in sessions like this one, such as “When we do that activity as literate adults, I imagine many of us visualize the word and then replace the letter, and then read the word that we see in our minds. What skills is a more pre-literate young person using when they do this?” This brought us into a conversation about how different minds process reading, print, and sounds when we’re doing this work as readers of all ages.

We encourage you to join us for these sessions any time you can, and we are working on ways to document the work so it can be reviewed later. We will be sure to share invitations to the upcoming sessions scheduled throughout the school year.

Until next time,

Diane

Join Us Sat. at Better Together!

Saturday Jan. 24, 11 am - 2 pm

Sponsored by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Please join our annual tradition celebrating the incredible diversity of our BNS community. We invite you to share in fun, food, and music. Bring your family's favorite dish for our community potluck or just come and enjoy time with your community! 

Save the Date: Spring Fling!

The BNS Spring Fling is happening Thursday, April 30, from 7:00–10:30 PM—an adults-only evening out for our school community in support of BNS. We’re looking for help soliciting silent auction donations (items, experiences, or connections) and business sponsorships. Email fundraising@bns146.org to join our team or visit https://BNS2026.auctria.events  

BNS Family Nights Out are here! 

Join fellow BNS families for fun-filled events while supporting our school. Upcoming outings include Disney On Ice (Jan 31), Harlem Globetrotters (Feb 15), and Ringling Bros. Circus (Feb 21)—all at Barclays Center. 🎟️✨

Grab your tickets, enjoy a great night out, and support the incredible programs that make BNS special! Check your email or Konstella for links to buy tickets.

Get your tickets:
Disney: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Ps146DisneyOnIce
Globetrotters: https://www.gofevo.com/event/HarlemGlobetrottersPS146
Ringling: https://www.gofevo.com/event/RinglingBrosPS146

See’s Candies for Valentine’s Day

Sweeten Valentine’s Day with See’s Candies! Order by Jan 30 and 20% supports BNS. Order Here

BNS Calendars Now 50% Off!

Start the new year on a bright note with our beautiful wall calendar featuring full-color artwork by BNS students! Calendars are now just $10, and all proceeds support our school. Order yours (and check out our new merch!) at bns146.org/shop and we’ll deliver to your child’s classroom.

Calendar

  • Better Together at BNS Sat. 1/24 11 am-2 pm

  • SLT meeting Tues. 1/27 3:15-4:15 

  • Early childhood band shares Wed. 1/28 8:15-9:15, cafeteria

  • Rainbow Families Coffee 1/30 8:15 am

  • BNS Family Day at Disney on Ice Sat. 1/31 7 pm

  • Wednesday band shares (all Wed. classes except early childhood) Wed. 2/4 2:30-4:30 pm

  • Thursday band shares (violin, trumpet, percussion) Thurs. 2/5 2:30-4:30 pm

  • BNS Open House (online) Thurs. 2/5 5 pm

  • 4th grade musical part 1 Wed. 2/11 5 pm (no band classes today)

  • 4th grade musical part 2 Thurs. 2/12 5 pm (no band classes today)

  • PTA meeting Fri. 2/13 8:30 am, room 124

  • SCHOOL CLOSED for midwinter recess Mon. 2/16 – Fri. 2/20