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Kelly J. Johnson, Principal
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For Parents |
I would like to welcome returning families back for the new school year. I would also like to introduce myself to new parents and students. I have been the Parent Coordinator at BSGE since 2004. Both my children have attended BSGE since the first year. One was a member of the first graduating class in 2006 and the other received the IB Diploma in 2008.
Please feel free to contact me with with any questions or concerns. I am available to meet with parents during the day and attend school events and meeting.
Prospective parents may contact me for information on Open House dates, tours, etc.
Sincerely,
Amy Reichel
Parent Coordinator
Contact Information:
Room 208
718/361-5275 ext. 2081
718/361-5395 (fax)
347/563-6974 (cell)
areichel [at] schools.nyc.gov
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The BSGEPTA |
The Parent Teacher Association plays an essential role in our school. They provide leadership and direction to parents seeking to become more involved with their children’s education and within the school community. A school’s Parent Teacher Association is a good place for parents to find out what’s happening in that school. Through involvement in their Parent Teacher Association, parents can learn how their school operates and discover a network of people committed to their children's school.
The Parent Teacher Association also provides an important link between individual schools and the District Presidents Councils. These Councils handle issues affecting all schools in a District. They offer parents an additional opportunity to share ideas and information about schools, communities, and parenting.
The BSGEPTA holds monthly meetings. All parents or guardians of BSGE students are members of the PTA. Dues are not required. Any person wishing to make a contribution to the PTA may do so at any time. Checks are to be made out to BSGEPTA. In the past parents’ contributions have been used for scholarships for SAT prep classes, student activities and gifts to support the teaching staff.
We encourage all parents to give in any ways that they can. Your ideas and your time help to support BSGE’s activities and programs and are extremely valuable in a small school.
The BSGEPTA 2010-2011 Executive Board:
Julie Levine, Co-President
Andrea Weinzimer, Co-President
Maria Romero, Secretary
Karen Chu, Treasurer
2010-2011 PTA Meeting Dates:
September , 2010
October 13, 2010
November 10, 2010
December 8, 2010
January 12, 2011 [rescheduled Jan 26]
February 9, 2011
March 16, 2011
April 13, 2011
May 11, 2011
June 8, 2011
BSGEPTA Links
Gym Uniform Order Form
BSGEPTA Donation Letter
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The School Leadership Team |
The School Leadership Team (SLT) is the primary vehicle for parents to work with teachers and the principal to establish school priorities, decide how the budget is spent and evaluate a school’s progress. The Principal, PTA President and UFT Chapter Leader or their designees serve on the SLT. The remaining members of the team include other parents and staff from the school, and may include students (a minimum of two students is required at the high school level) and community-based organizations. Parents are elected by the PTA to serve on the SLT and have the opportunity to directly influence how a school operates.
The SLT is a vital communication link within a school and between the school and its larger community. The SLT is responsible for evaluating the quality of its school’s educational program and its effect on student achievement. The SLT develops the Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) that sets annual goals for the schools in all areas and focuses on developing educational strategies for improvement.
At BSGE the School Leadership Team has elected to have a total of 12 members, including five parent members and two student members.
The BSGEPTA 2010-2011 School Leadership Team:
Kelly Johnson, Principal
Julie Levine, PTA Co-President
Adam Noor, UFT Chapter Leader
Sarah Nikolic, Parent
Fatima Bourara, Parent
Nancy Northrop, Parent
Maritza Herrera, Parent
Vanessa Rabines, DC37 member
Aly Lakhaney, UFT member
Diana Nikkolos, UFT member
Erica Llanera, student
2010-2011 SLT Meeting Dates:
September , 2010
October 20, 2010
November 17, 2010
December 15, 2010
January 26, 2011
February 16, 2011
March 16, 2011
April 27, 2011
May 18, 2011
June 15, 2011
For more information on School Leadership Teams, please log on to the following sites:
http://www.nycenet.edu/govern/governancedece/default.htm
http://www.nycenet.edu/govern/leg2.html
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The BSGEPTA Mailing List/Discussion Board |
Our BSGEPTA Listserve was plagued with problems. This year it will be replaced by informational emails sent out by the Parent Coordinator. If you are not receiving them and would like to, please provide Amy Reichel with your email address. We are also planning to set up a discussion board for parents who are interested in discussing various topics.
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The Role of the Parent Coordinator |
The Department of Education
has created a staff position designed to help parents and
their children. The Parent Coordinator's first job
is to create a welcoming environment in the school for all
parents. One of the key objectives of the Children
First reforms is increasing parent involvement in education. That
begins by creating a sense of welcome in all our schools.
Parent Coordinators will be parents' first stop in their
search for information about their child's school; the
system in general; or for issues or concerns which need
to be addressed at the school.
In creating this position, DOE realized that most problems
involving students and their families must be solved at the
school level. Unlike parent volunteers working in a
school, the Parent Coordinator is a staff professional who
can work with her/his colleagues to solve problems.
Another task for this person is to support existing parent
organizations, such as the Parent Association and the School
Leadership Team. While some Parent Coordinators are
former Parent Association officers, the position of Parent
Coordinator is not an extension of the Parent Association. The
job of the Parent Coordinator is to work with parent groups
to find ways to attract and serve a broader range of parents
in each school.
The Children First reforms also address the key need to
involve entire communities in improving schools. Parent
Coordinators will be reaching out to community and faith
based organizations to seek their assistance. Health
care, after school activities, and mentoring programs are
part of a broad range of issues for which Parent Coordinators
will seek community assistance. The goal is to support
students in the broadest sense.
Every parent should take the time to introduce themselves
to the Parent Coordinator in their school. Be sure
to get their direct phone number. As the school year
unfolds, Parent Coordinators will be offering many opportunities
for parents to learn more about supporting their children's
education.
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A Parent's Guide to School Involvement |
This guide was developed as a joint project of NEA and National PTA to help parents and communities become more involved in their children’s education.
Why do schools need parent and community support?
Thirty years of research clearly shows that parent and community involvement in schools improves student achievement. To reach their potential, students need parents and the community to take an active role in their education.
Schools are working hard to provide a high quality education for every child. But they can't do it alone. Parent and community involvement is critical to creating great schools.
What can I do to be involved?
There are many ways parents, other adults who play an important role in a child's life, and community groups can be involved with children's education at home, at school and in the community.
What can I do at school?
As a parent, or an adult who plays an important role in the life of a child, your involvement in your child's education at school and at home shows your child that you value education. Teachers can see that you care about your children's learning. You can provide teachers with the most reliable source of information about your child. The partnership between you and your child's teacher is powerful.
Here are some ways you can be involved in your child's education each year at school:
• Meet the teacher. Tell her about your child's interests and hobbies. Let her know how and when it is best to reach you. Ask her how you can support your child's learning at home.
• Make a date with the teacher to visit your child's classroom. Are the kids busy learning, exploring and asking questions? Does the teacher draw them in?
• Go to parent-teacher conferences. If the school doesn't have them, meet with your child's teachers. Ask how your child is doing and review his work.
• Join the PTA or other parent group. Go to school events, like back-to-school night. As a group, see how you can help the school reach its goals.
• Stay up-to-date on school policies, schedules and rules. Ask about opportunities to participate in the development of school policies.
• Make sure that your child is learning what she needs to know to meet the standards set for her grade level.
• Find a teacher or counselor you feel comfortable talking to about your child. Talk about the courses she should take to reach her goals. Do they match what the standards say she should be learning? Will they prepare her for college and a career?
• Check your school's Web site regularly.
• Contact your child's teacher or counselor if you have any concerns about what's going on with your child at school.
How can my community be involved in my child's school?
Here are some ways communities, parents and teachers can work together to provide a high quality education to all of their children:
• Establish school-business partnerships. Schools and business can work together to prepare students for further education and for life as productive members of their communities.
• Employers can grant parents leave to attend school meetings, conferences, or to volunteer in the school.
• Engage in activities to better meet the needs of children and their families. For example, the county health department can schedule regular visits to the school health clinic. Social service workers can meet with school counselors. After-school program providers can operate homework clubs utilizing textbooks and other materials provided by the school.
• Establish and operate a mentoring program for "at risk" students through the involvement of volunteers from community, civic and religious organizations, local businesses, or the Chamber of Commerce.
• Check out public libraries, which are strong educational partners. They can sponsor story hours for preschoolers and their parents, special programs that motivate children to read, or specialized evening topics of interest to parents.
• Ask businesses, PTA's, churches and civic organizations to provide valuable services for schools. Many are excellent sources of volunteers, and many sponsor evening or after-school tutoring programs for students who need extra help, organize drives to collect school supplies for needy students, and raise funds for scholarships.
• Recommend that schools in your community remain open during the evening and on weekends to allow parents and neighbors to use the library, playground, computers and other equipment. Let local groups hold their meetings and special events at the school.
• Recruit retirees to volunteer in the schools and to share their experiences and expertise on relevant topics. Retirees have much to contribute to schools.
For more information on parent and community involvement in schools:
How to Help Your Child Succeed, published by National PTA.
Family School Partnership Program, External Partnerships and Advocacy, National Education Association, 202-822-7446.
Parents Are Powerful, published by the Center for Law and Education.
106 Ways Parents Can Help Students Achieve, published by the American Association of School Administrators, available in English and Spanish.
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