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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 June 15, 2020 HAPPY SUMMER!!!Last WAG until next school year!?To submit an item for the “WAG” in the future, email cbassett@birmingham.k12.mi.us?Sunday, June 14Summer Learning Packets for students available at BCSonlineWednesday, June 174th to 5th grade Math Placement letters mailed to families (see below for details)Friday, June 19Report Cards available to parents via PowerSchool Parent Portal (see below for details)Click on the link to the full BCS Calendar: District CalendarWEEK AT A GLANCE – Week of June 15, 2020 HAPPY SUMMER!!!Last WAG until next school year!?To submit an item for the “WAG” in the future, email cbassett@birmingham.k12.mi.us?Sunday, June 14Summer Learning Packets for students available at BCSonlineWednesday, June 174th to 5th grade Math Placement letters mailed to families (see below for details)Friday, June 19Report Cards available to parents via PowerSchool Parent Portal (see below for details)Click on the link to the full BCS Calendar: District CalendarJune 14, 2020Hello BCS!This week marked the final week of school for our BCS students and teachers and my final week "with" them as their principal.? From the gift bag drop off to our 8th graders by big yellow schools buses on Monday, to the 8th grade ceremony on Tuesday,? to the surprise parade on Wednesday, to the end-of-year staff gathering on Thursday, ending with the material pickup/drop off on Friday, the final week was historically different and abundantly emotional for me in my final year as the leader of this amazing, internationally-recognized school.? In many ways, my address to the 8th graders during their ceremony on Tuesday was a microcosm of these emotions, so I included these remarks in the post this week on my blog titling it Sadness, Excitement, Joy and Hope - A Final Week, A Final Address. Thank you in advance for reading! Thank you BCS!Following are two important staffing changes that we would like to announce. First, Kathy Juriga will be moving to Groves. While we are excited for Kathy to take on her new role at Groves, we are sad to see her leave BCS. Below is her heartfelt goodbye to our community…-----------------------------------Dear BCS Families,The year 2020 has been a year full of change for everyone. Well, I’m going to add another change to the mix. I’m excited to announce that I have accepted a position over at Groves High School in the front office. I took the job way back on March 12th. We would have started to work on the transition plan that next week but unfortunately, we never went back to school.For the past two months, I have been working in my current capacity at BCS and expect that to continue thru the summer. I look forward to helping in the transition with the new BCS Secretary, as well as supporting Dr. Hakim and Mr. Hill as best I can.I have been a part of BCS as a parent, 6 years, and a staff member, 7 years, for the past 13 year. I will miss the students and families that I have gotten to know so well during their time at BCS. I will continue to help with the end of school wrap-up and with anything you may need, so feel free to keep emailing. Thank you for all of the support you have given to me and to BCS over the years. And please stop and see me if you are ever at Groves.Kathy Juriga----------------------------------------We thank Kathy deeply for her years of service and support of our BCS community and wish her well in her new position.Secondly, as mentioned a few weeks ago, Nancy Best is heading over to the finance department at the administration center, and we would like to announce that Jennifer Walker has been selected, enthusiastically and unanimously by the committee, as the new secretary at BCS beginning immediately. We are so excited to have Jen return to the BCS family as our new Secretary, replacing Nancy. Some may know Jen as the parent of a BCS student who is 2019 “graduate” of BCS and is now a freshman at Groves. The family experienced BCS twice as they moved to Germany after grade 5 for two years for her husband Don’s job. However, when they returned for grade 8, a spot was available at BCS, and their daughter finished up at BCS. Jen graduated from University of Michigan with an A.B. in English and from Boston University with a J.D. from their School of Law. In both her interviews and performance task, it became immediately evident that Jen is a self-motivated professional who offers more than ten years of experience in management, relationship building, public speaking and training and education. There is no doubt of her love of BCS, her enthusiasm to join us in this role, and our excitement to have her join the BCS team. Please welcome Jen when you see her!Be sure to review the announcements that follow in this WAG for important reminders and information regarding Summer Packets for students, summer reading lists, report card release information and so much more!Finally, as my time leading this incredible community winds down, I finding myself reflecting on the amazing school that BCS is and the privilege I have had to lead here. I am excited to move on at the end of the month, though, please know, the positive and everlasting impact this community and the members of it have made on me for the nearly 8 years I have served. It is the culture, the talent, the collaboration and the excellence that each of us expects that will continue to carry BCS forward as a premier and incomparable school with Dr. Omar Hakim and Mr. Jason Hill’s leadership.With deep fondness and gratitude,Mark Morawskimmorawski@birmingham.k12.mi.us Twitter: @mark_morawski #BCSLearnsCheck out my blog: ALL?BCS NEWS INCLUDING SOME SUMMER INFORMATIONBE SURE AND VISIT US on twitter (@bcs_cobras) and LIKE “Birmingham Covington School” on FACEBOOKHONORING OUR BCS 8TH GRADERS - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!Since we were unable to celebrate our 8th graders in person, we instead had a virtual ceremony. Please check out the incredible 8th grade ceremony video online! It originally aired on June 9 from 6:30 PM.? The ceremony is 53 minutes and can be viewed at .? Congratulations to our BCS 8th graders!REPORT CARDSQuarter 4 Report Cards will be released in PowerSchool on Friday, June 19.? Use your parent login to view your child’s report card.? As a reminder, 3/4 reports will include specific comments about your child’s learning and progress during Q4, though will not include “grades” for the standards within the report.? For grades 5/6 and 7/8, all students will receive a “G” as their grade along with relevant comments regarding their performance during Q4. The “G” will not affect students’ grade point average.?4TH TO 5TH GRADE MATH PLACEMENT LETTERSLetters will be mailed home on Wednesday, June 17 to families with students exiting 4th grade.? The letter will include key details and a rubric indicating your student’s math placement in 5th grade.? Feel free to review the Math at BCS and The BCS Math Placement Process sections of our website.PARENT ORIENTATION VIDEOSFor parents new to 3/4, 5/6 and/or our 7/8 teams, your principals have created (not professionally mind you) Move Up Day Orientation Videos.? As your child enters a new BCS team at 3/4, 5/6 or 7/8, you probably have many questions about the structure and experience at this level. To hear about the daily schedule, academic classes, co-curricular classes, lunch and other topics of interest, check out these orientation videos:3/4 Move Up Day Orientation video for Parents/Guardians (slides from 3/4 presentation)5/6 Move Up Day Orientation video for Parents/Guardians (slides from 5/6 presentation)7/8 Move Up Day Orientation video for Parents/Guardians (slides from 7/8 presentation)LAST CHANCE FOR AUDITIONS - IS YOUR STUDENT INTERESTED IN JOINING THE FORENSICS TEAM NEXT YEAR??BCS is looking for students (current 4th-7th) who want to join the Forensics team. Forensics is competitive acting and public speaking. Students learn how to effectively communicate and is a great activity for students who love to act, who love to research and write, or who need help with confidence boosting in front of a group! It is a fun, multi age, large group that competes during Quarter I and Quarter III. If students are interested in being on the team next year, we are asking that they go through virtual auditions on Wednesday June 17. Check out the Intro to Forensics document to find audition information. Questions? Contact coaches Veronica Pilarski vpilarski@bps- or Courtney Bassett cbassett@bps-??IS YOUR STUDENT INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BCS DEBATE TEAM NEXT YEAR?Any 6-8 grade students (current 5-7) interested in joining the debate team should follow these steps in order to be considered for the team:Read the 2020-21 Debate Informational Packet to make sure the commitment is realistic for your studentEmail Mrs. Bassett at cbassett@bps- to introduce yourself and state why you wish to join the debate team.?Sign up for the choice hour on Mondays for Quarter I?2020-21 QUARTER I CHOICE HOUR SIGN UP WAS DUE FRIDAY, JUNE 12REGISTRATION IS ONLINE ONLY! The registration deadline was Friday, but students should still sign up ASAP.?Believe it or not, it is time to sign up for Quarter I Choice hour for the 2020-21 School Year!?The choice hour selection books and links to the online sign-up forms are available online at: I runs September 1, 2020 - November 2, 2020Reminders:?All choice hour sign up is now ONLINE for all grade levels! The form can be found online at make sure you use the correct booklet/form. Choose the grade level that corresponds with your student for NEXT YEAR.?At this time, we are not accepting payments for Quarter I of choice hour. We are still asking that you sign up by the deadline, but we will collect payments later on.??If you have questions about the Choice Hour Program and/or class offerings contact Courtney Bassett, Choice Hour Program Coordinator, at cbassett@birmingham.k12.mi.us. Thank you for supporting the Choice Hour Program!?Free Breakfast and Lunch Program - Thru June 29Free Breakfast and Lunch Will Continue until June 29th.? There has been a change in how Chartwells is delivering meals for families during this time of crisis.? Please see the flyer attached which summarizes the following information regarding the change:? New Food Service Flyer. Free breakfast and lunch are available for pick up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Each child will get multiple days of meals. This is happening to help everyone stay safe and stay home.Pick up locationsGroves High School 10 a.m. – noonDerby Middle School 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.Huntley Square Apartments 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.Maple Elementary 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.?DID YOU BORROW A LAPTOP FROM BPSStudent device drop-off will take place tentatively during the week of August 10th. This is tentative because depending on what the ultimate plan ends up being for next school year and face-to-face instruction that collection could change.What parents need to know?If you received a technology device from Birmingham Public Schools for use during the remote learning experience due to COVID-19 please plan to drop the device off at the location it was retrieved from during the week of August 10, 2020. For staffing reasons each building will likely have a different day and time. Depending on which deployment you participated in, this may be your child’s school or Groves High School. Please be on the lookout for an email from the Technology Services Department with more details closer to the week of August 10, 2020.Students who are leaving our district:If you are leaving BPS and not returning in the fall, please reach out to the helpdesk at helpdesk@birmningham.k12.mi.us to coordinate a device drop off. This is only for? families who are not returning to our district in the fall.SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2020-21 SCHOOL YEARFor those who ordered supply kits, thank you.? Unfortunately, with the “unknown” of how school will look, BCS staff informed me that they don’t feel comfortable with the current list they have (especially since some of the supplies were used to “share” with each other).? The lists may change, but teachers aren’t sure that those changes will be made in time for me to make them available in your kit.? For a full refund email the company before June 30th with your order number (found on your email receipt from 1st day school supplies) and let them know you would like a refund.? If you do NOT do email them,, the kit you ordered will still be mailed to you in August and you can keep everything because you think those items will get used at home or at school by your child anyhow knowing there may be extra items or additional items teachers request. Sorry for the confusion. If you have any questions, please email me.? Alifya Vohra, alifya@LOOKING FOR A GREAT SUMMER READ?The BPS Library Media Department is excited to present these tried-and-true titles to keep you reading all summer!??BPS Summer Recommended Reading Lists:?Grades K-1Grades 2-3Grades 4-5Grades 6-8Grades 9-12?POWERSCHOOL TIP FOR GRADES 5-8How about a tip for grade 5-8 parents?? Our grade 5-8 teachers are using PowerSchool to update students and parents about the status of assignments and provide feedback via comments.? For the assignment in PowerSchool, there will be a status of complete or not complete and there will be a green dot with words next to it for any comments notes. To begin, please sign in to PowerSchool and on the Dashboard switch your view to Quarter 4. ?Another useful part of this will be for parents to be able to sign up for automatic PowerSchool email reports. You can choose from a variety of detailed reports that will be sent to you automatically. This is shown in the below video tutorial link. Parents can even choose the frequency with which they are sent. Also, parents and students can try out the free PowerSchool App after downloading it to a phone.? Take a look at the Parent Portal for PowerSchool video for grades 5-8: Aides Needed for 2020-2021 School YearNoon aides needed! Noon Aides are needed at BCS for the 2020-2021 School Year. Cafeteria/Playground Noon Aides monitor and supervise students eating in the cafeteria and provide consistent day-to-day care and supervision of children on the playground and cafeteria. Consider applying by contacting the Assistant Principal Jason Hill at jhill@birmingham.k12.mi.us.?Click for List of Duties?COVID-19 BPS UPDATESYou can find all BPS COVID-19 related updates online here: Birmingham Public Schools will be closed beginning Friday, March 13 and will remain closed through the end of the school year?Additional websites and resourcesThe Oakland County Health Division has provided the attached fact sheet to help address concerns. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) What You Need to Know. Additionally, the CDC provides a situation summary that is updated daily as needed: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary, as does MDHHS: Communicable & Chronic Diseases. The CDC will continue to prepare for the potential spread of COVID-19 and will provide guidance to communities. Learn more at CDC Protects and Prepares Communities. Find a resource on all local food sources here. Information on the Pandemic EBT Program to support families in need here. ?Lighthouse has partnered with Oakland University to help provide food deliveries to our Oakland County neighbors in need. If you are in need of having an Emergency Food Box delivered to your home, please order using the online form here.?COMMUNITY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOLLOWS…Seaholm Offers Support (SOS) is a service organization founded by BPS community member, Lisa Corey, and supports members of the Birmingham Public Schools community. SOS provides volunteer services and limited financial support to families within the community who experience temporary need. SOS has been able to donate $2000-$4000 each week to BPS families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. They are in need of additional funds in order to continue this support to our families. If you are able to help with a financial donation, please visit .? A donation of $50 will help feed a family this week.VIRTUAL SUMMER FORENSICS CAMPNew and returning forensics students - or students interested in a cool virtual summer opportunity that promotes performing, research, public speaking, and civic inquiry - should check out this camp! Details can be found here: SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIESNepris is offering a series of virtual summer camps. Seven weekly virtual summer camps for Elementary, Middle, and High School students that explore career pathways across a variety of industries. Campers will engage directly with real-world professionals to spark their interest in future career endeavors! Check them out, learn more, and sign up at SEAHOLM RUNNERS INTERESTED IN CROSS COUNTRYAny interested families, please watch this video about the cross country team: SEAHOLM STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SEAHOLM MAPLE MOTION DANCE TEAMHello all graduating 8th graders!? Are you interested in joining Seaholm High School's Dance Team?? Please follow our Instagram page (MapleMotionDanceTeam) and/or Facebook page (Maple Motion Dance Team).? Information on auditions will be announced on our page in the next several weeks.? For additional questions at this time, please email parent booster club president Beth Schrock (Beth_Schrock@) or treasurer Sarah Johnson (dsjohnson5@).?INCOMING SEAHOLM BOYS INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOCCERNew Players/Families: Our New Player Information night was canceled.? If you know of incoming freshmen or new players interested in Seaholm Soccer, please direct them to and the New Player Information page.? And please encourage them to register and follow our FB page - Seaholm High School Men’s Soccer.??INCOMING SEAHOLM GIRLS INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOCCERCalling all graduating 8th-grade girls who are interested in joining the Girls Seaholm Golf Team in the Fall.? Golf tryouts start in early August and we would love to have you join us for some summer rounds and workouts.? Please send your e-mail and phone number of the student and parent to kvalente@.? We will add you to the list of communications.VIRTUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAMPWho: Student entering grades 5-9 this fallWhat: 75-minute online sessions filled with fun, interactive activities to build an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset including:Playing gamesDeveloping new “products”Producing commercialsCreating a pitchWriting a jingle ANDSitting in the investor seatWHEN: AM and PM options the weeks of June 15-19 and 22-26 on ZoomLearn more and register on Virtual Entrepreneurship Camp OnlineFor additional District and Event News, Athletics Community Sports Groups Information click BPS District eNews?Review the annual FERPA updates and guidelines:FERPA Directory Notice HYPERLINK "" FERPA Annual Notification of RightsReview the District's Non-Discrimination PolicyAsk questions, submit comments or share stories anytime, anywhere through Let’s Talk! ................
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