PTA Newsletter No. 6 - 5/8/2025
Dear BNS Families,
As spring settles in and Brooklyn blooms around us, we want to share our gratitude—for your support of the PTA and our community, and for the dedication of our incredible teachers and staff. Despite the challenges in the world around us, our kids continue to smile, play, and blossom.
We want to take this moment to celebrate the success of recent events like Makerfest, last week’s Plant Sale, the Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser, our engaging conversation about smartphones and screens, and our always-popular bake sales. None of it would be possible without YOU!
As we gear up for Spring Fling on May 22, continue collecting silent auction items, and plan our new end-of-year celebration on June 18, we want to say it again: THANK YOU. Your time, energy, and presence make BNS what it is. We still need your involvement—especially with our upcoming PTA election—and welcome participation in any form. Every bit counts.
We're excited to keep building a joyful end to this year—and to start imagining what’s ahead.
Warmly,
Your BNS PTA
💮 Spring Fling is coming up! 💮
Spring Fling is right around the corner! We hope you’ll join us on May 22nd from 7-10 pm at Littlefield for a fun filled night with friends new and old.
But it’s not just a good time, it’s also our biggest fundraising event of the year. The Spring Fling Auction is full of amazing items and open for bidding now!
Get your tickets here!
🔦 SPOTLIGHT ON Pre-K! 🔦
An important part of Pre-K is the teddy bear study. Each student got a bear and gave their bear a name. Working with Johanna, they built bear beds and blankets in the green studio. They are now working on making clothes and creating a bear box home for their bears.
Pre-K has also been busy with their playground study. Each class is visiting different neighborhood playgrounds and giving them ratings. The playground study will culminate in students building their own playgrounds for the bears!
📱 Screens & Smartphones 📱
At BNS, we’re starting an important conversation about kids and technology. We’re coming together around two goals:
Delaying smartphones until at least 8th grade (Wait Until 8th pledge)
Creating more screen-free fun and connection for our kids.
What’s the Wait Until 8th pledge (waituntil8th.org)?
A shared promise to delay giving kids smartphones. (Basic phones and smartwatches are OK!) We’re doing it together because it’s easier as a community. When more families hold off on phones, kids feel less left out and parents feel more supported.
BNS parents have created a school-wide pledge!
To sign, visit waituntil8th.org and look up Brooklyn New School.
If you missed the last PTA meeting and would like to stay informed and involved, you’re welcome to join us! Email onilionilo@gmail.com.
The PTA Needs you!
We are always looking for more families to join the PTA. There are many ways to get involved depending on your interests and how much time you have—here are just a few:
Communications team: help with backpack Mail (every 2 weeks, at school), social Media (1 hour/week, remote), or this very newsletter!
Email BNSPTA2024@bns146.org to sign up!
🍪 Bake Sale - Granolaganza! 🍪
The next bake sale is Thursday, May 15. Our kindergarten families are sponsoring “Granola-ganza” – can you help? Sign up to make some bulk granola (in bags for takeaway) or bring homemade or storebought baked goods. sign up here
Calling all Cooks: 🍽️🍜🥗
Have you ever been interested in cooking for your community? Did you ever secretly want to run a food truck? Is there a dish you want to make for a whole bunch of hungry kids?
If so, reach out to the wondrous Dagmar (you may have seen her cooking in action at the BNS Café or Farmstand) because a yummy PTA popup is in the works, but we need YOU to make it happen. dagmarwm@gmail.com.
PS. Curious to see this in action? Come to the farm stand!
🎁 Staff Gifting with the Arts Committee 🎁
Join the Arts Committee in creating special gifts for the entire staff. Last year we hand-made leather hearts with each staff member’s name and the school year. This year we are making something new, to be handed out at the staff luncheon in June. (It’s a surprise to the staff…so shhhh!) If you are able to join us, we need the extra hands. It’s a really fun time to gather and create handmade gifts for everyone. Find us in the cafeteria every Thursday 8:30-9:30 am.
Seeking donations for this project: Yellow construction paper (300 sheets), clear packing tape (8), paper scissors (5). To donate, contact tarynurushido@gmail.com.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS 📅
Thursday, 5/8: Arts committee meeting (8:30 am, cafeteria)
Friday, 5/9: First grade family meeting (8:20 am, room 124)
Tuesday, 5/13: BNS open library (2:30 pm)
Wednesday, 5/14: Family chorus (4:45 pm, room 203)
Thursday, 5/15: Arts committee meeting (8:30 am, cafeteria)
Thursday, 5/15: Bake sale (2:30-4:30 pm)
Friday, 5/16: Kindergarten family meeting (8:20 am, room 124)
Monday, 5/19: Friends of BNS fundraising meeting (8:30 am)
Tuesday, 5/20: BNS open library (2:30 pm)
Tuesday, 5/20: SLT meeting (3:30 pm, library)
Wednesday, 5/21: DEI meeting (7:30 pm, Zoom)
Thursday, 5/22: Arts committee meeting (8:30 am, cafeteria)
Thursday, 5/22: SPRING FLING AND SILENT AUCTION!
Monday, 5/26: SCHOOL CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY
🔗 HELPFUL LINKS 🔗
Get four free COVID tests sent to you by mail
Fourth graders: Get a free pass to our national parks for a year!
See what’s on the menu at the cafeteria this week (note BNS serves the “high school hot lunch” menu). Remember, FREE breakfast and lunch are available for all students!
