BSI Newsletter Week of 12/19/16

Schoolwide News 

Good Afternoon Families,

We are very excited to announce that BSI is forming a student government!
BSI’s student government is run by and for school students to provide a voice for their community. The members of the student government will work together with students and faculty to strengthen school spirit, plan special events or projects, and offer a forum for student expression. Read more about it here.

Seth Low Park has been in a three-phase improvement project since 2013. Phase one and two have been completed as of this summer and we have reaped the benefits of brand new basketball, handball, and tennis courts. The third phase of the project, which involves the construction of two synthetic turf fields, one striped for soccer and one unmarked field for other activities launched about three weeks ago due to which part of the park is closed. The tentative completion date for the synthetic fields is fall 2017.

Things are going well in Mixed Sports. We would like to include a short message from last week and encourage anyone who feels that their child got anything below their 2nd choice to reach out to us directly.
Students were surveyed on their preferences prior to the launch. 92% of our students were placed in their 1st choice sport and nobody was placed in anything lower than their 2nd choice.  

The art room is in need of oversized (broadsheet) newspapers like the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal to be used as table covers. Please drop off in the main office if you would like to contribute. Students can also give it directly to Ms. Nanna in the art studio.

To continue with our FAQs below are three questions that will be added to the archive.

• What is the school’s protocol on outdoor play during cold weather? DOE policy on outdoor recess which we embrace wholeheartedly at BSI is included below. (***We are making the cafeteria available for students who would rather stay indoors.)  

  All schools:
  Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Unless it is snowing, there is ice on the playground or the wind chill factor creates an effective temperature below zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius), temperature alone should not be a barrier to outdoor play.

• Is candy and gum allowed in school? BSI has a no-candy/gum policy.
• Can students bring personal sports equipment such as balls and hockey sticks to school? Students, regardless of age or grade, should not bring personal sports equipment to school. We have an inventory at school that students use. All of the equipment has been carefully selected to reduce the amount of injuries and incidents.

Middle School News 

Grade 8 families: Senior dues must be submitted no later than this Friday, December 23rd.
Senior dues cover the following: the cap and gown, honors graduation stole, padded diploma case, senior class T-shirt, school yearbook, class gift. The senior dues do not include other items or events such as a senior ring, senior pictures, senior dance or senior trip. If this presents a hardship for anyone please reach out to dtaylor@bsi686.org

Student Government Info has been posted on school loop as well as in the halls for students.

MTA Buses
Since 11/30/16, we have been negotiating with the MTA to have them hold buses for our dismissal at both Bay Parkway and Stillwell Avenue and Kings Highway and Stillwell. We’re hopeful this will happen but are going through the bureaucratic channels.

Library Volunteers Needed
We are looking for volunteers to help with the library. If you are available please fill out this form and Yulianna will reach out to you to make arrangements.  Click Here

Upcoming Events:
(for details check out the main calendar on http://www.bsi686.org) 

Outside Opportunities 
THE 2017 SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE  TO APPLY: Click here or visit www.cvent.com/d/zvqrf8