CHMS Early April Parent Update

Post date: Apr 6, 2018 7:29:28 PM

Clinton Hill Middle School Update

Friday, April 6th, 2018

In this update…

Upcoming Date & Events:

Printable Calendar of CHMS events for April, May and June linked HERE

It was wonderful to see so many of you at family-student-advisor conferences the week before break! Your students work so hard and are impressively thoughtful, insightful, and curious young people. We genuinely enjoy teaching them and working with your families. 

WHOLE SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ELA and Math State Tests

The ELA state test is coming up next week on April 11th-12th, and the Math test will be on May 2nd-3rd. Our message to students around testing is to take it seriously while remembering that it does not define them. We know that no test could measure the excellence that our students demonstrate in so many dimensions! That said, please help set our students up for a good experience by making sure that they get a good night's sleep before the state test and eat a good breakfast. We want our students to feel proud of their work, to feel confident in knowing how to approach tests like these (which come up again in high school with the Regents and for college entry) and to come in ready to show all that they know!

Progress Reports and Report Cards

Progress reports went home as part of conferences. If you did not receive your child’s progress report, please contact your child's advisor or call the main office to schedule a time to meet. These progress reports represent a “snapshot” of student performance mid-semester. Report cards were mailed out last month for the first semester (which closed January 26th) and will be mailed out a few days after the last day of school for second semester.

Free Summer Academy and Camp from July 9th - August 10th

Brooklyn Prospect will be hosting a Free Summer Academy and Camp from July 9th - August 10th. Camp is open to all Middle School students however there are a limited number of slots per grade level. Parents will be notified of open enrollment in June and students will be enrolled on a first come, first serve basis. Take a look at what we did last year!

Spring After-School Schedule & Funding for Clinton Hill's Program

Principal DeLuca is thrilled to announce that we've secured a multi-year grant from the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to fully fund Clinton Hill's after-school program. In the immediate, this allows us to waive all winter fees and offer the spring season of after-school at no cost to families. We are also excited to increase our course offerings this spring and completely redesign the program to include sports teams, academic enrichment, and a number of new clubs for the 2018-2019 school year. HERE is the spring schedule. You can still sign-up by completing the paper enrollment form and submitting to the office. Please note that any outstanding bills from the fall season of after-school must be paid in full before students can attend programming. 

Parent Panel for Prospective Elementary Families

Many BPCS Families with students in the 4th grade are interested in learning more about Clinton Hill's Middle School program andPrincipal DeLuca, with the support of the CH PTSO, is looking to organize a special informational event specifically for these families. She would like to include a panel of current Clinton Hill Parents to share their perspective on the program and answer questions. If you are willing to participate, kindly complete this survey HERE indicating your availability by next Friday, April 13th.

Dress Code Reminder as Warm Weather Approaches

As the weather begins to get warmer (hopefully soon!) we wanted to remind everyone of our dress code:

Tops:  Regulation polo shirt with BPCS logo in white or green, long or short sleeve. OR Regulation green BPCS t-shirt with white logo.

Bottoms: Solid black, gray, or khaki bottoms worn at the waist OR Regulation black sweatpants, gym shorts with green logo or other solid black bottoms that allow for freedom of movement (ie. leggings, track pants).

2nd Layer: Regulation sweater or athletics sweatshirt with BPCS logo OR solid grey or black, non-hooded sweatshirt, sweater, or fleece.

Public Hearing re: Co-location at 300 Willoughby

At 5:30pm on Wednesday, April 11th, the Department of Education is holding a public hearing regarding a potential continuation of our school's location within the shared K117 campus. The DOE has been working with us to put a contingency plan in place, should we encounter any significant delays or unanticipated challenges with the completion of our new building. Please note, we are still on timeline to move to the new building over the summer. All are welcome to attend the public hearing to express concerns or support for this co-location plan. 

6th GRADE SPECIFIC UPDATES:

Metropolitan Museum Trip

On Wednesday, April 25th & Thursday, April 26th, Clinton Hill sixth graders will be traveling to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. Since the beginning of the year, students have been learning about Mesopotamia, World Religions, Ancient China, Ancient Greece and will soon be learning about Ancient Rome. Through a guided tour students will have an opportunity for students to engage first-hand with the artwork of the Ancient World.  The permission slip for the trip can be accessed HERE (hard copies available in the Main Office), and are due to the Main Office no later that Friday, April 13th.

7th GRADE SPECIFIC UPDATES:

Sneakerheadz Movie Night & 7th Grade Student Work Showcase!

To conclude our unit on Sneaker Design, we would like to show the award-winning documentary Sneakerheadz after school on Tuesday, April 17th. The documentary is 1 hour and 15 minutes- we should finish up by 5:25 pm.  Clinton Hill Parents are welcomed to attend!

In studying the ever-growing subculture of sneaker collection,  students have explored its widespread influence on popular culture and have learned how to apply both functional and decorative design aesthetics to create personalized and ambitious visual work.  During the movie, selected 7th Grade Sneaker Designs and Sculptures will be on display. This will be a celebratory time to showcase their hard work in a professional gallery installation! The permission slip for this event can be accessed HERE (hard copies available in the main office) and must be returned to Ms. Davenport by Tuesday, April 17th.

"Prep for Tech" Opportunity for District 13 Students

Attached, please find a letter from DOE Superintendent Freeman inviting families of 7th grade students interested in sitting for the Specialized High School Admission Test in October 2019 to enroll in a special test preparation program.  "We are inviting all District 13 district public and charter school families to apply to participate in the program.  Tentative dates are attached.   Additional Saturday dates reserved for the administering practice exams, will be sent shortly. Participation sign-up will be on a first come first serve basis."

FUN & UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES:

Summer Youth Employments for Students Ages 14+

If you have a student who will be 14 this coming summer, be sure to check-out the Summer Youth Employment Opportunities. 

2018 Brooklyn Youth Music Summer Program

The 2018 Brooklyn Youth Music Summer Program will take place on July 2nd - July 13th from 9am-3:30pm at PS 230-Doris L. Cohen School in Kensington, Brooklyn (Off of the F/G Trains, B67/B69/B103 Buses) 

The Program Includes:

Limited Financial Aid is available and Sibling Discounts are offered. Registration can be found HERE

Lincoln Center Events for our Students

Lincoln Center offers the LC Kids 2018-2018 season. Many of these events are targeted towards families, specifically with middle school aged children in mind! Please follow this link HERE for more information on upcoming events, and how to become a member. (Discounted $5 tickets are offered to member families for many of the events)