SCHOLASTIC AWARDS: BC RANKS #1 IN BROOKLYN AND #2 IN NYC FOR WRITING

The 2017 NYC Scholastic Awards competition awarded 110 honors to Berkeley Carroll Upper School and Middle School students in the writing and art categories.

With 75 writing honors, Berkeley Carroll ranked No. 1 in Brooklyn and No. 2 citywide in the writing competition. We also placed as a Top 20 school in the arts competition. In the elite senior writing portfolio category, Berkeley Carroll students won two of only eight keys awarded this year; Hannah B. '17 and Alessandro G. '17 earned a gold key and silver key respectively.

This continues our school's longstanding history of achievement in this prestigious competition and reflects our strong writing and arts programs.  Past winners include Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Lena Dunham and Joyce Carol Oates. Learn more.

Congratulations to all of our winners!  See the full list and group photos (there are too many winners to fit in one picture).
UPPER SCHOOL HOSTS CURRICULUM NIGHTS

The Upper School recently hosted grade-specific Curriculum Nights for parents and students to discuss the expansive and challenging curriculum options that provide students with breadth, depth and flexibility in their studies.  As they move through the Upper School, Berkeley Carroll students can choose an increasing number of their own classes from well over 100 offerings. 
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT SPOTLIGHT: MEGAN SAXELBY
Middle School Humanities Teacher Megan Saxelby recently attended a conference at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education called “Engaged, Empowered Minds: Using Brain Science to Educate Ethical 21st Century Citizens and Problems Solvers.  

“I think my biggest single take away was that, in the age of Google, it is every teacher's mandate to really think about the question, 'What is the value add of students spending time in this classroom,' “she says.

“We have to truly challenge the old assumption that there is only one person in the room with all the answers and forge meaningful, collaborative spaces of inquiry if we want our students to thrive in a world where we are not quite sure what the landscape will look like in even five years. Read more about what she learned.
LOWER SCHOOL CELEBRATES VALENTINE’S DAY
Lower schoolers celebrated each other on Valentine's Day with appreciation valentine hearts and treats. "The hearts the children made were so creative and thoughtful!" Ms. Lee-Georgescu writes. "We had a fun-filled day sharing them with friends." Photos. 
ATHLETICS
This week brought the long winter season to a jam packed end. Read about some of the highlights in Athletic Director Dick McGrath’s update which also includes a preview of the upcoming week. 
ON SALE NOW: “BLOOD BROTHERS” TICKETS
The online box office is open for the Upper School spring musical, "Blood Brothers!" The show is the third longest-running musical in the history of London’s West End and our Upper School cast injects an enthusiasm and energy into the BC production. (Watch the short sneak peek from a recent rehearsal.)
6TH GRADERS WORK TO DISMANTLE ISLAMOPHOBIA
As part of a Humanities class unit on understanding the history of Islam from a religious, historical and cultural perspective, the 6th grade is examining "What is Islamophobia?" and "How can we work to dismantle Islamophobia in our local, BC and global communities?" 

One idea was to use food as a vehicle to better understand Islamic culture. Hannah W. '23 and May C. '23 partnered with BC Bridget Donoghue to create a lunch menu of foods with significance to Islamic culture, which our entire school enjoyed. They later their classmates in a lesson on the religious and culture significance of the menu items.

THIS WEEK’S SENIOR SPEAKER
This week's senior speaker was Savana M.! She spoke about growing apart from a childhood friend and how friendships take work and effort from both sides.
FIRST GRADERS SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT AT MUSIC ASSEMBLY

First graders performed for students, faculty, staff and their families at a music assembly this week. They showed off their skills on xylophones, drums and vocals. Photos.
KINDERGARTNERS START THEIR OWN POST OFFICE
Kindergartners in Ms. Misrock-Stein's class are running their own pop-up post office, collecting and delivering mail to their Lower School classmates in 701 and 712 Carroll St. The post office, which opened for business on Feb. 14, will be operational until Feb. 28. Learn all about its inner workings in the video above See photos from the opening.





DON'T MISS 
Feb. 28: National Latin Exam
March 2 & 3: Parent/Teacher Conferences (LS, MS, US)
March 6-17: Upper School Spring Intensives
March 6: "Into the Wild" Meeting
March 10: Benefit for Berkeley Carroll
March 21-31: Spring Break (School Closed)
April 5 & 6: National Spanish Exam (6th-8th Grade)
April 8: Unity Fest (PA Event)
April 11: Passover (School Closed)
April 14: Good Friday (School Closed)
April 17: 9th Grade Curriculum Night
April 17-20: Middle School ERB tests
April 19: Green Coalition Party (PA Event)
April 20: Upper School Information Night for 7th Grade Parents
April 21: Grandparents Day
April 22: Science Research & Design Symposium (Day 1)
April 27-29: Middle School Play
May 6:  Science Research & Design Symposium (Day 2)
May 12: Evening of Jazz
May 13: NYC Student Science Research Conference
May 16: Choral Concert
May 17: Senior Arts Night
May 18: Dance Concert

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