News
BROOKLYN PROSPECT CHARTER SCHOOL ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
High Performing Public Middle and High School Introduces a New Elementary School in District 13 Where Parents Demand More Seats
May 21, 2013 (Brooklyn, NY) —Brooklyn Prospect Charter School (BPCS), on the heels of yet another year of record-breaking demand for seats in its popular middle and high schools, announced the fall 2013 opening of an elementary school in Downtown Brooklyn, Community School District 13.
In September, this first BPCS elementary division will open to kindergarteners in its permanent space - the upper three floors of 80 Willoughby Street, alongside St. Joseph High School for girls. The new Brooklyn Prospect program, located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn where there has recently been pressure from local parents for the addition of public school seats to accommodate the increasing elementary school population, will grow a grade each year, serving approximately 300 kindergarten through 5th graders at full capacity. Students enrolled in BPCS’s 5th grade will have the option to continue in BPCS’s already popular middle school and high schools.
“Six years ago we set out to open a diverse, high-performing public school that would prepare students for a global world. We are proud of how far we’ve come.” said Daniel Rubenstein, BPCS co-founder and executive director. “Our new K-5 division will allow our acclaimed 6-12 program to have greater academic impact on more students. We owe our success to a world class curriculum, dedicated and highly-trained teachers, and involved parents, which together are putting our students on a path to college and career success.” ... Read more
These gorgeous invitations were beautifully designed, stamped, and mailed by Brooklyn Prospect parents. . . do not miss the biggest event of the year! Click HERE to reserve your tickets!
Thanks to Mike Yuen, parent '19, for designing the beautiful invitations!
|
Applications for our approximately 140 available fall 2013 seats in grades 6-10, topped 1400 before our April 1 application deadline. During our admissions lottery, scheduled to take place at noon on April 9th, lottery numbers will be randomly assigned to all applicants and seats will be offered in order of ascending lottery numbers. We thank families for their interest in Brooklyn Prospect Charter School.
Big thanks to the World Languages department, particularly Ms. Shamey, and student ambassadors for their excellent coordination during Ambassador Carlos Garcia's visit last week. Ambassador Garcia is Deputy Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations. He spoke to students about El Salvador's rich history and culture during Wednesday (April 3rd) assembly.
An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.
For more information visit http://www.unwater.org/
 
In 6th grade art, each class selected a focus to help people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. In this poster, students express their hope that the community will donate much-needed clothing to victims of the hurricane.
Faculty Participate in Secretary Arne Duncan's Project RESPECT Initiative
by Ms. Rachel Beerman and Oliva Toro
No one person has the answer. We learn this as part of becoming a good educator. Limit the teacher talk. If you talk less, more ideas emerge. For students, this means instruction becomes more student-focused, and projects lean on the collaboration of groups and the efforts of our students. At Brooklyn Prospect Charter School (BPCS), our professional development and school community replicates this same ideal. Share your ideas, allow others to share their ideas and watch the ideas become stronger.
On a sunny afternoon in March, we were asked to participate in a professional development session where teacher talk was limited in exchange for robust group discussion. To see our national government embrace the ideas of its individual school is invigorating. Our conversation started with the question; What would you do to remake or improve the teaching profession, if you were given the opportunity to do so?
The person who asked us the question is a teacher and a Washington Teaching Ambassador Fellow from the U.S. Department of Education. On leave from her school in New Mexico, our interviewer had been around the country, asking teachers from many districts for their thoughts on the state of the teaching profession and on the general state of schools. Her efforts are part of Secretary Arne Duncan’s Project RESPECT initiative. ... Read more
CRITICAL FUNDS RAISED FOR RENOVATION OF SCIENCE LABS!
Brooklyn Prospect recently closed a campaign that raised critically needed funds for science labs in our new facility.
In July we launched our indiegogo campaign seeking $15,000 toward the renovation of our grade 6-9 science labs in our new, permanent facility. We exceeded our goal, raising approximately $17,000 for those labs. Sinks, cabinetry, and important safety equipment are currently being installed in all four rooms. We look forward to greeting our 400 students upon their return from summer break, and to igniting their curiosity in our brand new, and exciting space. Labs include prep room and ample storage space allowing for students to participate in simple and complex hands on work. ... Read more
As of July 2012, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate's Diploma Programme. We are pursuing authorization as an IB World School and are also a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme. International Baccalaureate schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Brooklyn Prospect Charter School believes is important for our students.
I AM
Choreography by Ashley Brown
Artist’s Description: I AM is a choreographic work that explores the process of creating by paralleling it with the story of creation. In three sections: Creation, Judgment and Acceptance, I AM will explode, define and reveal. ... Read more
Congratulations to 8th grader Colin, who has been accepted into the China Institute-Star Talk Summer Language Academy of 2012. The scholarship from the China Institute, worth $3,000, was provided through a generous grant from StarTalk, a project of the National Strategic Language Initiative.
Nominated by Mr. Tao, Colin was selected from among many applicants to participate in this highly intensive language program. There, Colin will have the opportunity to receive intensive language instruction with an emphasis on "practical communication skills, integrated with cultural activities, studio art classes, and field trips to areas of cultural and historical significance". The Academy is equivalent to one semester of high school Mandarin Chinese.
Congratulations Colin!
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is proud to congratulate Ms. Kelly Vaughan in joining the New York Hall of Science's inaugural class of Design Lab fellows.
A project of NYSCI's Verizon Center for STEM Learning, Design Lab explores how design-based learning can give teachers new strategies for engaging all types of learners. With this goal in mind, 20 teachers have been selected to work with the New York Hall of Science to design experiments throughout the year that they can use in their classrooms.
Congratulations to 8th grader Tai-yan, who has been selected to attend the Google Computing and Programming Experience (CAPE) 2012 summer camp. Nominated by Ms. Vaughan and chosen from hundreds of other New York applicants in a highly competitive process, Tai-yan will experience daily life at Google and witness the amazing variety of computer science applications in creation there. This wonderful summer program, now in its third year, aims to provide students experiences making technology for meaningful purposes while giving students exposure to real-world experiences. Congratulations Tai-yan!
To read more about the CAPE summer program, click here.
Click here to link to our Earth Day Lessons, featured on Fox News!
BROOKLYN PROSPECT CHARTER SCHOOL FINDS A PERMANENT HOME IN WINDSOR TERRACE
High Performing Middle School and New High School Unveil Plans for New, Spacious Campus on the Heels of Record Demand for Seats
April 20, 2012 (Brooklyn, NY) — Brooklyn Prospect Charter School (BPCS), a successful middle and new high school in District 15, unveiled plans this week for its permanent home in Windsor Terrace, where the school can grow to serve grades six through twelve. The approximately 60,000 square foot campus at 3002 Fort Hamilton Parkway will accommodate steadily rising demand, give students more space and enhanced facilities, including state-of-the art-classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, outdoor space, wireless internet, and a library. BPCS has signed a twenty-year lease, with an additional ten-year option for the space. The building currently houses a Catholic school that is moving to another location.
This week’s announcement marks a new beginning for the school, which has occupied interim space since opening in 2009. The new building will be home to grades six through nine for the 2012-13 school year and will add grades ten through twelve, completing their seven-year program, over the next three years.
“This new school building is a major step for us and one that deepens our roots in the community,” said Daniel Rubenstein, BPCS’s co-founder and executive director. “We set out to create a high performing school that prepares a diverse group of children for success in a global world. Providing that education in a welcoming, state of the art environment is key to accomplishing our mission, and we are confident we have finally found the right home.” ... Read more
BROOKLYN PROSPECT CHARTER SCHOOL ANNOUNCES RECORD DEMAND FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SEATS
High Performing Middle School and New High School Receive More Than One Thousand Applications for Grades 6 - 9
April 5, 2012 (Brooklyn, NY) —Brooklyn Prospect Charter School (BPCS), which will welcome its first class of ninth graders this fall, announced record demand for seats for the 2012-13 school year. The school received 1,031 applications—600 from within District 15—for just 140 seats in grades six through nine.
Demand for seats at BPCS has risen steadily since the middle school opened in 2009. The school, one of just a few non-selective public schools in New York City following the International Baccalaureate program, received more than 230 applications for just 30 open high school seats (the majority of BPCS’s eighth graders plan to remain in the school). The applicant pool reflects the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the school. Prospective students come from over 200 different elementary and middle schools and 40 percent are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. ... Read more
Please join us at our Spring Gala on May 17!
Early Bird pricing will be available through April 19 at $50.00 per ticket. After April 19, tickets will revert to $60.00 per ticket.
Drinks (may be purchased in bundles of 10):
1 drink ticket - water or soft drink
3 drink tickets - beer or wine
4 drink tickets - hard drink ... Read more
With the help of some twenty professionals from our community, Brooklyn Prospect students set aside classes for a morning, and instead considered possible careers that might help guide their high school goal setting. Media, design, public relations, sports management, law, health industry and music professionals joined our 8th graders to discuss, answer questions and in some cases, experiment with a project related to the day to day work of the various professions.
In one classroom, would be media moguls worked with an investigative reporter for the New York Times to capture exciting headlines and develop robust storylines. Down the hallway, another group was enraptured by the day to day decisions a law enforcement officer faces. Students working with a public health professional responded with solemn, yet extraordinarily creative and thoughtful approaches that might help expand access and use medical services for underserved populations in Africa and Asia.
All in all our career experts gave Brooklyn Prospect students a lot to consider, and offered a more detailed understanding of the excitement a career can bring. Our 8th grade students were deeply engaged in the opportunity and finished the event feeling excited and energized to consider setting high school goals that will lead them to successful college and life careers!
Please link for a reporter's view.
As a relatively new public school, committed to serving a highly diverse student population, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School understands the importance of connecting with one’s community from the start. One of our goals is to show our middle school students the power of service to others.
With that in mind, this past December, student leaders turned what began as a small idea into a big challenge to all of our students to collect and donate as many books as they could to local doctor’s offices. Their goal, likely taken from a message that reverberates throughout our school, was to send a message about the importance of reading to and with young children whenever possible.
Sister Act provided some incentive that charged our students up and ultimately helped them understand their own role and the value in building a bridge to their community. The possibility of attending a Broadway show together set off a firestorm of fun around this service project. The importance of reading outside of the classroom became a message that travelled from our small school into our community. The result: our students collected some 1000 books that they donated to local doctors’ offices committed to prescribing and teaching the importance of reading outside the classroom to the parents of their patients-many who are themselves new to the community and have not had educational opportunity in their lives.
Our students now see that they have the power to become future healers of their world. They are looking for more service projects. A simple small deed became a large opportunity for Brooklyn Prospect students who have tasted the positive effect each and every one of them can have in their community and world.
... Read more
We are pleased to announce that Kim Raccio will join Brooklyn Prospect as Founding High School Principal. Our high school program will officially open under Kim’s leadership in September 2012.
Click here for brief details on Principal Raccio's appointment!
On Wednesday, December 21st, 2011, Councilman Brad Lander of District 39 visited Brooklyn Prospect to speak with members of the Current Events Club. Students were treated to a group interview, presentation and discussion with their community representative, and gained more knowledge about the immediate issues that our community faces.
F and G Train Changes at 15th Street-Prospect Park West and Fort Hamilton Parkway, Beginning Monday, November 14th
Beginning this Monday, November 14th, Coney Island-bound F and Church Avenue-bound G subway trains will be skipping the 15th Street-Prospect Park West and Fort Hamilton Parkway stations. These stations will be bypassed until the Spring of 2012.
The changes are part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Culver Viaduct. For service to those stations, you can take the F or G train to Church Avenue, and switch to a Jamaica-bound F or Court Square-bound G train.
For service from those stations, you can take a Jamaica-bound F or Court Square-bound G train to 7th Avenue, and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F or Church Avenue-bound G train.
Congratulations to Taiyan, Jessica, and Lena for their extraordinary performance in BP's round of the 2011-12 Scripps Spelling Bee! These three students will be representing the school in the Brooklyn East Regionals later this year.
On October 12, Brooklyn Prospect joined the world-wide effort to jump into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period. Led by the National Geographic Kids Magazine and supported by Michelle Obama, the record called for more than 20,000 people worldwide to complete one minute of jumping jacks. The event took place between 3pm October 11 and 3pm October 12. Click the photo below to watch the youtube clip!
It will take several weeks for Guinness to determine whether the record can be certified.
**Update - 12/12/11**
The first lady announced to the press that the October bid to break the record for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period succeeded. Over 300,265 people participated, shattering the old record, and BPCS was a part of it!
2011-12 New school uniform announced
Effective September 6th 2011, Brooklyn Prospect has adopted an official school uniform. All students are required to arrive at school in full uniform. The school uniform must be worn respectfully and through the completion of the school day. Separate uniforms are required for gym and other school sports.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF BPCS SCHOOL UNIFORM
Brooklyn Prospect is happy to announce the location of our new interim facility for the 2011-2012 school year at Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School, a family friendly neighborhood in Windsor Terrace.
Conveniently located near the 15th Street subway station on the F,G line and the B61,B67,and B69 bus lines, Bishop Ford is easily accessible by public transportation. In respect of Bishop Ford’s learning community, please be aware that we have adopted a school uniform policy for coming school year. See below for details on BP’s revised dress code.
NEW INTERIM FACILITY ADDRESS
Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School
500 Nineteenth Street
( between 9th & 10 Aves, Windsor Terrace)
Brooklyn, NY 11215-6204
Please link to the Bishop Ford website for photos.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR NEW INTERIM FACILITY
BPCS DRESS CODE
Link here for Uniform Regulations
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate's Middle Years Programme. We are pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Brooklyn Prospect Charter School believes is important for our students.
|
Follow us on Twitter
World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.