Message from the Family Coordinator
Dear BUGS Families,
As we conclude our fourth week of school, I'm excited to share that students have easily settled into the new school year. Last week marked our first PTA meeting of 2023-24 and the launch of Hispanic Heritage Month.
I would like to begin by saying thank you all for the patience and support I have received as the Family & Operations Coordinator at BUGS. It has been an honor and privilege to be part of BUGS and to get to know you and your students. BUGS would not be the same without the amazing families. Unfortunately, this will be my last letter to you in this role as it is my last day at BUGS before moving on to pursue a career in operations.It has really been an amazing journey and I hope to keep in touch.
Moving forward, I wanted to provide you with a quick overview of where to find answers to your questions.
Please send general inquiry emails to info@bugsbrooklyn.org.
If you have any specific questions about the following please feel free to email:
IEP & Support Services- Dan Nee, Director of Inclusion, daniel.nee@bugsbrooklyn.org
Attendance- Attendance Team at attendance@bugsbrooklyn.org
Guidance- Ms. Anali Chavez, anali.chavez@bugsbrooklyn.org, or Ms. Trish Neal, trish.neal@bugsbrooklyn.org
BUGS Records- Ms. Jasmine Holloway, jasmine.holloway@bugsbrooklyn.org
Phone calls will be temporarily directed to other main office personnel.
For Family-facing workshops or PTA meetings please email the BUGS PTA at bugspta@gmail.com or bugsptaexecboard@googlegroups.com
BUGS is recruiting to fill the role of Family Engagement Coordinator and if you know of any exceptional candidates, please forward the following link to have them apply online: https://www.bugsbrooklyn.org/careers. BUGS will notify the community when the new Family Engagement Coordinator is hired.
Warmest regards and thank you again for your support.
Topics covered in this newsletter include:
Curriculum Night 2023
Asynchronous Day on September 29 (only staff in the building)
October Field Study
Brooklyn Community Harvest Festival
If you have any questions please feel free to email info@bugsbrooklyn.org.
Best,
Kevin Peñaloza
Family & Operations Coordinator
Curriculum Night- September 28, 2023 (Thursday)
We look forward to welcoming our families to BUGS for Curriculum Night. During the evening you will follow an abbreviated version of your student’s schedule and experience a day in the life of your BUG'S student. Please note that due to space limitations, the program is for adult caregivers only. Please arrange for your student and their siblings to stay at home.
Pre-work:
Arrive at Curriculum Night with this information. You can ask your student for the info or find it in TeacherEase.
Cohort Number
Advisory Number
Advisor Name
Curriculum Night Details:
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Time: 4:45 pm - 7:30 pm
Evening Schedule
Reminder: Asynchronous Day on September 29th
On Asynchronous Days there are no in-person classes to allow for staff professional development and curriculum planning.
On Asynchronous days students are not onsite and must remain home.
Students will be provided with assignments on Google Classroom to complete independently. Keep in mind that teachers will be engaged in professional development sessions and can only respond during breaks in the PD schedule. Students must complete the online attendance form to be marked present for the day.
Please see the family calendar here for additional asynchronous dates.
Field Study, October 6th, 2023
Important Info for Families:
The first Field Study of the 2023-24 school year is on Friday, October 6, 2023. Field Studies are all-day interdisciplinary explorations that are related to what students are learning, and may entail research and data gathering, or community project implementation.
Please stay tuned for an email from Ms. Laura Karlen for more details.
Reminders about Field Study
Students should arrive on time to avoid missing their grades depature from BUGS.
Please avoid scheduling any early departures as students will be in different off-site locations.
Friendly reminder of the BUGS dismissal expectations for all Field Trips and Field Study outings.
All BUGS students Must return to the BUGS campus to be dismissed from field trips or field study outings/venues.
Students are not allowed to self-dismiss from field trips or field study outings/venues.
Students are not allowed to be picked up by family/friends from field trips or field study outings/venues.
Students who arrive late or need to be picked up/leave before the trip return time will remain at school for that day. The student will remain at BUGS and work will be provided for them.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we strive to keep our students and staff safe to and from field trips/field study outings.
8th Grade Math Curriculum Overview Meeting
Thank you to all the 8th-grade families who attended last night's 8th Grade Math Curriculum Overview meeting with Principal Wynette and Assistant Principal of STEAM Sade Martinez.
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to record the meet.
Please see below the presentation slide deck:
If you have any questions please reach out to Principal Wynette at wynette.caesar@bugsbrooklyn.org or Assistant Principal Sade Martinez sade.martinez@bugsbrooklyn.org
Join Us! BUGS Brooklyn Community Harvest Festival, Oct 14, 12-3pm
Enjoy family friendly activities for a greener and healthier community and celebrate BUGS 10 years of educating for sustainability at our Brooklyn Community Harvest Festival on October 14 from 12-3pm. There will be arts & crafts, STEM activities, and music, dance and games provided by our own Mr. Kid. Admission is free and the event is open to the general public.
Help us spread the word! Click here for a flier in English and Spanish.
Other Ways to Get Involved
Click here to let us know you will attend
Click here to volunteer
Interested in being a sponsor or donating a raffle prize? Contact susan.tenner@BUGSbrooklyn.org
Attendance Policy & Notification
The Attendance Team asks families to use the following email address, attendance@bugsbrooklyn.org, for any attendance related information, including notification of absences, early dismissal, and any documentation needed for excused absences. Please visit our school attendance page to review more information about BUGS attendance policies and FAQ.
Health & Safety
We have COVID home test kits available if you need them. Students can pick them up in the main office and they are available in most classrooms, or email covid@BUGSbrooklyn.org. Note that students are not allowed to self-administer COVID tests while at school.
If your child has allergies or medical needs, please reach out to our School Nurse, Cheryl John. She can be reached at 718-280-9556 x437 or by calling the BUGS main office.
ACTION ITEMS:
Family Income Inquiry Form (Meal Form)
Please take a few minutes today and complete the online form (formerly known as the NYC School Meal form). Completion of the form is critical to our funding, and every family must complete the form each year, even if you don’t think you qualify for free or reduced price lunch, or your child doesn't eat school meals.
Yearly Field Study / Technology / School Supply Fee
This payment of $100 now supports not only our field study program and technology maintenance fees for the entire school year, but also school supplies! Families should pay online in TeacherEase (log in, click the Fees button, and then General, under Accounts), or send the school a check made payable to Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (not BUGS).
If you qualify for Free or Reduced Price Meals as indicated in your submitted Family Income Inquiry Form, this fee will automatically be waived for the 2023-24 school year.
Label your student’s Uniforms!
Please (please, please!) put your child’s name in their uniforms - especially sweatshirts and outerwear. All BUGS Hoodies look exactly the same! We want to return lost uniforms to students but we can’t if they aren’t labeled.
BEYOND BUGS ACTIVITIES
On Saturday, September 23rd, 12pm – 5:00pm, Help Create Roving Gardens at The KoKo Lot for NYC Climate Week using found and recycled materials. Learn about how gardens- even small ones- can make a difference in our communities and help resolve food injustice!! This is a free workshop for families, no registration is needed. Just drop by The KoKo Lot, 440 19th Street, Brooklyn, NY.
Urban Advantage
Please see attached Urban Advantage flier about their Family Science Days.