Dear BUGS Families,
It is hard to believe that we are almost one quarter of the way through the school year! It is such a joy to be together in school with your students and to be resuming more of a normal school routine. We are so appreciative of everyone’s continued efforts to keep our community safe and healthy.
Make sure to read the Family Newsletter in its entirety.
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDE:
Program and Policy Updates/Reminders
Attendance Protocol
Missing Documents
BUGS Lost & Found
Family Income Inquiry Form (Action Item) - complete this and you may qualify for a uniform gift card from Lands End! See below for details.
Family Tech Inventory Survey (Action Item)
Events
Conversations Over Dinner Workshop on October 20
Field Study on October 28th
High School Info Session on October 19 (8th Grade Families Only)
BUGS Picture Day on November 2
PTA News: Fun Run and Join Our Facebook Group
Let Friends and Family Know About BUGS Fall Virtual Info Sessions
Monster Mash, October 31, 2022
Coffee & Conversation, October
The BUGS Family Newsletters are posted on the BUGS Website and can be found here:
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kevin.penaloza@bugsbrooklyn.org.
Best,
Kevin Penaloza
Family & Operations Coordinator
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 absences. Please visit our School Attendance Page to review more information about BUGS attendance policies and FAQ.
BUGS Coffee & Conversation
Please join us on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022 for our first in person Coffee & Conversation with Principal Wynette Caesar, Executive Director Susan Tenner, and members of the leadership team. This is an opportunity to have an informal conversation with BUGS school leaders.
Please see information below:
When: October 18, 2022 (Tuesday)
Time: 8:20 - 9:00 am
RSVP your spot by clicking on the link:
Limited to 50 people (on a first come basis)
BUGS Conversation Over Dinner Workshop
Ms. Anali and Ms. Monal are excited to host families for Conversations Over Dinner on Thursday, October 20, 2022. This workshop covers ways to have open conversations with your child. Parents/guardians and students will participate in ice breakers, answer prompts, and enjoy pizza and refreshments! Seating for this event is limited! Look out for an email with details about signing up. We look forward to seeing you there!
BUGS Monster Mash:
We are quickly approaching our annual BUGS Monster Mash Celebration on October 31st! We're so excited to celebrate IN-PERSON again and we're hoping to make it as magical and memorable as possible. Please see below for the event details and the ways in which support can be given.
Please see information below:
WHEN: Monday, October 31st, 2022
TIME: 1:00 PM until 2:20 PM
WHERE: Cafeteria
WHAT: Staff and Students have the option to dress up in costumes to celebrate Halloween with music, snacks, and art craft activities. Costumes are not necessary to attend the Monster Mash. There will be a classroom provided for students who prefer NOT to attend the Monster Mash. Costumes must avoid real and fake weapons or weapon-like objects. Costumes cannot have masks that cover the entire face.
If you are able to donate & volunteer please complete this survey:
BUGS Field Study, October 28th
6th grade field study: 6th grade students will walk to the new Koko site to learn about the sustainable features of their site and to deconstruct broken household electronics for a math, science and social studies related deep dive into the products mined from the Earth that make up the parts of everyday products we use. Extension lessons will include where these natural resources are mined from, working conditions and how we can best dispose of these products.
7th grade field study: 7th grade students will travel by subway to the New York Aquarium and attend classes relating to their grade level sustainability theme of water systems and their science unit on biology.
8th grade field study: 8th grade students will travel by subway to the New York Historical Society to gather background knowledge about industrialization before starting that Social Studies unit in November. Connections will be made to their grade level theme of energy and air quality by exploring how fossil fuel energy propelled the Industrial Revolution and some of the environmental impacts of that era that New York is still dealing with to this day.
Students should arrive on time to avoid missing their grade’s departure from BUGS. Please avoid scheduling any early departures as students will be in different off-site locations.
In the event that there is a prior long standing commitment that requires a student to leave early please reach out to the IS Team at fieldstudy@bugsbrooklyn.org no later than the Monday before Field Study so that they may plan accordingly.
BUGS High School Workshop (8th Grade Families ONLY)
Join BUGS School Counselor, Ms. Anali, for the 8th Grade High School Family Workshop on October 19, 6:00- 6:45pm. This workshop is similar to the workshop held in June. We will review the research process and discuss admission methods/priorities, and MySchools. However, the agenda is subject to change as updates become available from the DOE. This will be a virtual meeting and the Google Meet link can be found on the BUGS Family Calendar.. This meeting will be recorded and posted on the BUGS website.
BUGS Picture Day
We are very excited for our upcoming Picture Day onNovember 2nd.
Who: All students and staff members. Students will travel by Cohort with their teachers to get their individual and class photo taken.
When: Wednesday, November 2nd (from 9:30am-2:45pm)
8th Grade Cap & Gown Picture Day will happen on December 14th. * Details will come at a later date.
Where: Bishop Ford/BUGS Auditorium
Dress code: Students are encouraged to come dressed as their best selves! This is one of the few days where students can come in the attire of their choice or in BUGS uniform. Students are still expected to adhere to the BUGS dress code (details on our dress code can be found here).
Cost: Students will be sent home with “proof sheets” 3 to 4 weeks after picture day that will have personalized info needed to view and order photos. All ordering is completed online through Irvin Simon’s website and the cost will be provided for you there.
Please be on the lookout for another email regarding picture day. As always, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Jasmine at Jasmine.holloway@bugsbrooklyn.org.
Attention Required: Submit Your Missing Documents
We are still missing items from over 140 families!! Please upload or send in any missing items (or pay your Field Study/Tech fee) as soon as possible! If you do not know what you are missing, please reach out to aqilah.richardson@bugsbrooklyn.org or call the Main Office.
6th grade parents: If your child is about to turn 11 (or has turned 11 recently), they will need to get their TDAP shot as soon as possible. Please make sure your immunizations are up to date.
BUGS Lost & Found October Clean Out
Please have your students check the lost and found. We will be donating all items left in the lost and found at the end of October. The Lost and found is located near the boys bathroom at the end of the 6th grade hallway.
Help reduce items in the lost and found by labeling your student’s sweatshirts, water bottles, lunch boxes, and coats.
Encourage Friends and Family to Apply to BUGS
We would love to welcome middle schoolers you care about to BUGS. Online applications for the 2023-24 school year are now open at https://brooklynurbangardencharterschool.schoolmint.net. Remember siblings of students at BUGS receive priority in the lottery.
Please let friends and family know they can also sign up for a fall Virtual Info Session on November 18 or December 8 here.
New from the PTA:
Join the BUGS PTA FUN RUN team
Exciting news for BUGS Families and Friends! The Office of Council Member Shahana Hanif is hosting the 14th Annual Fun Run on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 10am at the Lefrak Center in Prospect Park (bib pick-up at 9am) and we'd love to have you join the BUGS PTA Team.
Registration pricing is as follows:
Single adult: Price: $25.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee
Other adults in a group or family: $15 ($10 discount)
All children under 18: $5
This pricing attempts to balance maximizing fundraising with affordability. However, price should not be a roadblock for any person wishing to participate. Please reach out to Mia Perez at MPerez@council.nyc.gov to discuss any situations that might limit community members at your school from participating.
Start Time: 9:00am EDT
End Time: 1:00pm EDT
Registration: Registration ends October 22, 2022 at 12:00pm EDT
Sign Up Link:
Get Connected with the PTA
Join the PTA Facebook page to stay up-to-date on news and activities! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/435224245339197
ACTION ITEM:
Complete the Family Income Inquiry Form
Please complete the online 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.
If you complete the Family Income Inquiry Form and qualify for free or reduced price lunch, your Field Study/Tech fee will be waived, AND we will send you a gift card for uniform items at Lands End.
ACTION ITEM:
Complete the Family Tech Inventory Survey
Please complete this form to provide us with information regarding your students' access to technology at home.
In an effort to be equitable within our school community, BUGS will work with families who have limited/or no home technology to provide loaner Chromebooks at home in addition to those that will remain onsite.
The criteria for students to be eligible to take a chromebook home is as follows:
Families must complete this Family Tech Inventory Survey - SY22-23 by Friday, Oct. 14
Families must qualify for Free or Reduced Price Meals.
Family Income Inquiry Form (Free and Reduced Price Lunch Form)
Please note that we have an extremely limited number of Chromebooks available for home use.
We will follow up with updates and Chromebook loan status as needed.
If you have any questions please contact us at techteam@bugsbrooklyn.org