Www.birmingham.k12.mi.us



Mission/Purpose StatementBCS is a dynamic and collaborative learning community. We cultivate an engaging environment that embraces all students and empowers them to pose questions, integrate resources, synthesize, evaluate and apply their knowledge to positively influence our diverse and ever-changing world.WEEK AT A GLANCE – Week of January 13 - January 19We will begin our Weeks-at-a-Glance with important dates this week followed by Mr. Morawski’s letter and BCS News and Announcements.To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email cbassett@birmingham.k12.mi.us?Monday, January 137-8AM Boys Intramural Basketball8:25AM 4th/5th Grade Battle of the Books Author Visit (Angela Cervantes)3:20-5PM Girls Swim Practice4PM Boys Basketball Game - Home vs. Cranbrook MS4:10-6PM “Willy Wonka, Jr.” Rehearsal (All Cast)Tuesday, January 146:45-8AM Boys Basketball Practice3:20-8:20PM Snow Club3:20-6PM “Willy Wonka, Jr” Rehearsal (All Cast & Crew)4:10-5:30PM Girls Swim PracticeWednesday, January 157-8AM Boys Intramural Basketball8:25-9:25AM 8th Grade Scheduling Presentations4PM Boys Basketball Game - Away @ Bloomfield Hills MS4:30PM Girls Swim League Meet @ Groves4:10-6PM “Willy Wonka, Jr.” Rehearsal (All Cast)6PM BCS Public Lottery for 2020-21 School Year (Education & Administration Building)Thursday, January 166:45-8AM Boys Basketball Practice2:10PM 3/4 Town Hall2:55PM 5/6 Town Hall3:20-6PM “Willy Wonka, Jr” Rehearsal (All Cast & Crew)6:30PM 8th Grade Families Groves Orientation: EXCEL Program Discussion7-9PM 8th Grade Families Groves Orientation7PM FRIENDS Meeting (BCS)Friday, January 171/2 Day of School - Dismissal at 11:30AM (No Choice Hour on half days)Last Day of Quarter II6:45-8AM Boys Basketball Practice11:30AM-4PM “Willy Wonka, Jr.” Rehearsal (All Cast & Crew)Saturday, January 18Sunday, January 19Click on the link to the full BCS Calendar: District Calendar - 12, 2020Hello BCS!What a great first full week of 2020! As we enter 2020 with great energy, I want to thank each of you as BCS family members for all you do to support our students (your children) and positively partner with our teachers and staff members. The work we do in schools and you do in homes is challenging, and the rewards we reap from the efforts we make support children’s growth and development as learners and human beings. THANK YOU! As always, feel free to check out our Birmingham Covington School Facebook page to see some recent pictures of activities involving our BCS staff and students. We would like to remind you that this Friday, January 17 is a half day of school due to the final day of the quarter. Also, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, there is no school on Monday, January 20, though there is BPS Day of Service from 9:30 AM-12:00 PM at Groves High School. The program begins in the Groves Little Theater (West Entrance). All students (K-12), families, friends, and staff are encouraged to attend. Hear from inspiring student speakers and take part in a variety of service projects, benefiting local organizations. This event is sponsored by the BPS Community School Organizers. Click this Sign-up Link to reserve your space – spots are filling fast! We hope you will attend!Finally, as Quarter 2 ends on Friday and teachers begin preparing report cards for their students, reports will be available online via PowerSchool at the end of the day on Friday, January 24. As our 3/4 families may recall, the online report card at the 3/4 level, and accessing it, is different than the online card at grades 5-8; thus, we would like to share, once again, this video that will show 3/4 families how to access the electronic report card from the Parent Portal account you created in October. Click this link to the short video to see how to access the 3/4 report card.Thank you for reading,Mark Morawskimmorawski@birmingham.k12.mi.us Twitter: @mark_morawski #BCSLearnsCheck out my blog: Character Connections Word of the week: CARINGInfuse this word into your conversations and share these quotes with your children as a character education focus. There will be a new word every two weeks.“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” – James Keller“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore RooseveltALL BCS NEWSBE SURE AND VISIT US on twitter (@bcs_cobras) and LIKE “Birmingham Covington School” on FACEBOOKChartwells - BPS Food Service -Parents/Lunch Menu?Support Our December Service Drive –Disaster Relief at Work! ?On Monday, January 20, 2020, BPS students and their families will come together for the 5th annual MLK Day of Service. As part of this effort, all schools will be collecting items for DRAW, a non-profit organization that collects funds and items to help places hit by natural disasters. BCS‘s goal is to collect 800 washcloths and 200 hair brushes for the cause. A donation bin is outside the BCS office. We hope to reach our goal before we leave for winter break so please consider adding washcloths and hair brushes to your holiday shopping list!Click Here If You Wish To Gather More Information From The Draw Website?REGISTER FOR WINTER CHESS AT BCSWe are so thrilled to announce the return of the BCS 3-8 Chess Club. Our prodigious Chess Club is open to kids at BCS of all ages. Chess has been shown to improve academic skills; assist in critical thinking, focusing, and long-term planning. Classes begin after the Winter break, Wednesday, January 22nd! Classes run for an 8-week session, from 4:10 pm to 5:10 pm. For more information, and a form to register, please click on the link below. With a limited number of available spots, don't delay sign up today! NINTH ANNUAL GEOGRAPHY BEECome and participate in the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee.? The competition is open to all 4-8th graders. The first stage of the BCS competition will be held on Monday January 27th, during choice hour, with the top ten competing for first place on Feb 3rd.? Competition rules, Study guides, and an online practice quiz can be found on the National Geographic website at: is also a GeoBee quiz app you can download to practice. The overall BCS winner will be eligible to try for the state and subsequent national competition with the possibility of winning cash prizes. Any interested student can register by sending an email to our parent coordinator Nicole Mays at nicolemays1@ with the following information:?Student Name, Grade, Parent contact name and email address.?SPONSOR THE BCS BLASTOur BCS Blast, set for Sunday, March 15, needs sponsorship.? Please read this BCS Blast Letter for details and sponsorship levels.? We thank you for your consideration and sharing this letter with otherS as they or their companies consider sponsoring our great school!Link to PDF version of this letter for sharing?HEARING AND VISION SCREENING AT BCSPlease see the Hearing and Vision Screening Information Sheet regarding screening scheduled for the 2019-2020 school year. BCS 3rd, 5th and 7th grade students are scheduled for vision screening on Jan. 14-17, 21, 22, 23, 2020.? Students in grades not listed are not screened. If you do not want your child screened, please email Cindy Balicki, cbalicki@birmingham.k12.mi.us.??LUNCH AND ITEMS DROPPED OFF DURING THE SCHOOL DAYWhen dropping off books, lunches, homework, etc. for your child, we now have a cart located in the vestibule when you walk into the school. Please place your child’s belongings on the cart with their name. If your child calls/texts you to request an item, please let them know that they will need to come to the office to pick it up.? Then, your child can check the cart later that day before the item is needed to collect it. Lunch items not picked up, will be delivered to the lunch room during the appropriate lunch period. The teachers and staff are very excited about this new process and look forward to fewer interruptions in their classrooms.?ARE THE BCS BUSES ON TIME LEAVING CAMPUSAs a reminder, daily, we update the timing of our afternoon buses leaving our campus for the day.? Use this Bus Status Link to check if your child’s bus left campus on time.? Thank you!?DONATE USED EYEGLASSESEye Make A Difference is an eyewear donation program to help the 2 billion people globally who don’t have access to much-needed eyewear due to income, distance, or disaster. VSP Global will work with Lions Clubs International to clean, refurbish, and label your donated glasses for VSP network doctors and schools of optometry to use on global eye care missions. Seeing clearly provides the opportunity for adults and children to succeed at school or work, and care for their families. Helping others see is easy. Simply donate your gently used glasses (prescription glasses, readers, and sunglasses). Please help us help others by donating your gently used glasses (No cases, please) the collection bin is inside the BCS main office.??DONATE USED BOARD GAMESThe “How to Make A Board Game” Choice Hour is looking for used board games to be donated! Please consider donating games, even if they are missing pieces! The “scraps” will be repurposed to help bring new games to life! There is a donation bin in front of the main office! We will take boxes, pieces, boards, etc!??FIGHTING THE FLUA Message from the Oakland County Health Department:Dear Parents and Guardians,The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that causes more hospitalizations among young children than any other vaccine-preventable disease. Making healthy choices at school and at home can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others. Protect your child from flu:Get a flu shot. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get a flu vaccine every year. This is especially important for people at high risk of serious complications from influenza including children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, older adults, and those with chronic medical conditions.Wash hands and clean/sanitize surfaces. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.?Stay home when sick and/or wear a mask. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care. If you are unable to stay home, wear a mask to limit spreading illness.For more information, visit health. Nurse on Call is also available to answer questions at 800-848-5533 or noc@, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.3/4 UPDATE3/4 GYM SCHEDULEMonday, December 9 through Friday, January 17:Butzin, Davis, Harvath, and Wallington will be in the GYMFrishman, Seley, Mali, and Parkin will SWIM7/8 UPDATEGROVES ORIENTATION FOR 8TH GRADE FAMILIESPlease mark your calendars for the Class of 2024 Orientation at Groves High School on Thursday, January 16, 2020 from 7pm to 9pm in the Groves Auditorium.? This evening is designed for parents.? Parents will be able to discuss academic offerings, graduation requirements, honors classes, and the array of electives offered at Groves.? Counselors will be on hand to provide information related to 9th grade course offerings.? Content area department chairs will discuss course content and suggest course progression for student scheduling options.? Groves administrators will also be available during orientation to answer any questions you may have about the school and the logistics of how your 8th grader will transition to high school.? Prior to start of the orientation, teachers will discuss the Excel program, an integrated approach to learning English and social studies.? If you are interested in learning about the Excel program, please arrive by 6:30pm in the Groves Auditorium.?SEAHOLM ORIENTATION FOR 8TH GRADE FAMILIESPlease mark your calendars for the Class of 2024 Orientation at Seaholm High School on Tuesday, January 21 from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM in the Seaholm auditorium.? This evening event is designed for both parents and students.? Students will have an opportunity to tour the building with student guides and visit key elective department demonstrations, and parents will receive counsel on navigating the logistics and culture of Seaholm.? In order to prepare for the information you will receive, we ask that you visit our website () where we have a Class of 2024 Orientation tab to help with pertinent information.? There, you will find a series of short videos from our department chairs who will lead you through important details of their curriculum and which will be convenient as you begin the scheduling process.? Also, prior to the general meeting, we will have English and social studies teachers present information regarding the English Team, World History and Flex programs to help you make the decision of which course best fits your learning style.? If you are interested in seeing this program, please arrive by 6 PM in the back of the auditorium through the lobby entrances.CHOICE HOUR UPDATE2019-20 QUARTER III CHOICE HOUR SIGN UP WAS DUE 1/3/20 - YOU CAN STILL TURN IN A LATE REGISTRATIONREGISTRATION IS ONLINE ONLY!The choice hour selection books and links to the online sign up forms are available online at: III runs Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, April 16, 2020.Reminders for Choice Hour for the 2019-20 School Year:All choice hour sign up is now ONLINE for all grade levels! Sign up by using the new online form. Online registration is preferred. The form can be found online at make sure you use the correct booklet/form.Electronic payment is now an option for Choice Hour! Learn more by visiting the BCS website for information on eFunds: you have questions about the Choice Hour Program and/or class offerings contact Courtney Bassett, Choice Hour Program Coordinator, at cbassertt@birmingham.k12.mi.us. If you have questions about Choice Hour scheduling, contact Kathy Juriga at kjuriga@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Thank you for supporting the Choice Hour Program!?Students will not be scheduled into Choice Hour classes unless payment in full is made by the deadline of January 3, 2020 at 11:59PM.? Students who do not complete the sign-up process, including payment, by the deadline will not be allowed to make a change in their schedule once they receive it. You will indicate on the online sign up form if you plan to pay by check/cash or using eFunds. If there is an outstanding balance from a previous quarter it must also be paid by the deadline in order to ensure your student’s quarter III registration is considered on time. Those with a previous balance will be contacted separately.?Please contact Courtney Bassett at cbassertt@birmingham.k12.mi.us if you have any questions about the Choice Hour program. Questions regarding Choice Hour scheduling should be directed to Kathy Juriga at kjuriga@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Thank you for supporting the choice hour program!ATHLETIC UPDATEWINTER II ATHLETIC REGISTRATION OPENED ON JANUARY 2nd!If your child is interested in 7-8 Girls’ Volleyball, 5-8 Girls’ Intramural Volleyball or 6-8 Boys’ Swim Team, please visit VOLLEYBALL: QUARTER IIIWinter II season tryouts begin Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Girls will not be allowed to tryout without an "Orange" slip. For more information, click on Athletic Registration above.8th Grade Tryouts:Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 7:00am to 8:00amWednesday, Jan. 22 from 7:00am to 8:00amThursday, Jan. 23 from 7:00am to 8:00am - Team announcement7th Grade Tryouts:Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 7:00am to 8:00amWednesday, Jan. 22 from 7:00am to 8:00amThursday, Jan. 23 from 7:00am to 8:00am - Team announcementPlayers will be given an envelope before the end of the school day on Thursday, January 23 with their status on the team.? Season Practice: Both teams will practice on Fri. Jan. 24, 2020 from 7:00am to 8:00am. Team practices will be in during Choice Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Morning practices from 7:00am to 8:00am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.BOYS SWIMMING: QUARTER IIITryouts: None. Season starts Tuesday, 1/21/2020 from 4:15pm to 5:30pm.Practice: Monday / Wednesday 3:25pm - 5:00 pm (Choice Hour), Tuesday / Thursday / Friday 4:15pm - 5:30pm*As a reminder, the boys must have an orange slip (indicating that all payment and paperwork is in order) before they will be allowed to practice.*LIBRARY UPDATESAUTHOR VISIT!On Monday, January 13, Angela Cervantes will be visiting with 4th and 5th grade BCS students from 8:25-9:30 in the Media Center.? Ms. Cervantes is the author of the Battle book Me, Frida, and the Peacock Ring.? Bring in your copies of her book and get them signed after the presentation!? Parents are always welcome, too.?Follow the BCS Library Media Center on social mediaFacebook: : @BCSMediaCenteror visit our website at NEEDED!The BCS Library is looking for parent volunteers.? We need your help with: assisting students, checking in and out books, shelving & organizing, and processing new books.? No experience necessary – training provided! Sign up to help at: .? Questions?? Email the librarian, Ann Truesdell, at atruesdell@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Thank you!?BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUBCelebrate your child’s birthday by donating to the BCS Library!? Your donation buys a new book for the library in which we place a bookplate with your child’s picture, name, and birthday.? Your child is the first to check out the book, and our collection continues to grow with updated, high interest books! Learn more at and 5th Grade BATTLE OF THE BOOKS**CRAM SESSIONS!? BCS students are invited to prepare and practice for the Battle with Mrs. Truesdell during lunchtime recess on January 22 and January 30 in the Media Center.**Battle of the Books is a program sponsored by Baldwin Public Library and supported by BPS Media Specialists to encourage and foster students’ enjoyment of reading. Fourth and fifth grade students form teams with an adult coach, read from a selected list of six books, and then participate in a district-wide contest where they will compete with other teams by answering questions based on the books. Save the date for the district-wide Baldwin Battle of the Books on Saturday, February 2, 2020! ?Please note that registration is now closed.? Check out for more info.?BPS/Baldwin Birbery Reading Program!**BOOK CLUBS!? Birbery Book Clubs begin in January and run throughout February.? Students must attend at least two of the book clubs for eligibility to attend and/or compete in the Quiz Bowl.? Check out the complete book club schedule here: .**?The Birbery Reading Program is well underway!? This is a program brought to you by the BPS middle schools and Baldwin Public Library for all BPS 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.? For more information and a book list, visit the BCS Media Center Birbery website at NEWS AND INFORMATION FOLLOWS…For a complete list of upcoming BPS and community news and information click BCS Community NewsFor additional District and Event News, Athletics Community Sports Groups Information click BPS District eNews?Review the annual FERPA updates and guidelines:FERPA Directory NoticeFERPA Annual Notification of RightsReview the District's Non-Discrimination PolicyAsk questions, submit comments or share stories anytime, anywhere through Let’s Talk! ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download