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Wednesday, July 8, 2020
If there is enough space in an undercrowded school, you can potentially see kids there 5 days a week
For schools that are not crowded which can accomodate 50% of students = 2-cohort model: 2 groups of students, 2.5 days at school for each group (3 days one week, 2 days the other week).
For crowded schools which can accomodate 33% of students = 3-cohort model: 3 groups of students, 2 days at school for each group, some weeks only 1 day at school
For additional safety there will be nightly deep cleanings, better ventilation systems will be installed, face coverings will be required, schools might use large space for classes ie. gymnasiums, cafeterias etc sometimes even enclosed outdoor spaces, there will be new hallway layouts and further action taken.
No punishment of kids if they take their face coverings off, it will be about education about their and public safety.
Staff can apply for an accommodation for medical reason and then work from home providing remote learning.
Same safety measurements will be in effect for Charter Schools in co-located schools buildings.
Principals will hold parent meetings in July to discuss their individual school’s schedule.
The parents portal to sign up for fully remote instruction will be open July 15 to August 7.
There will be specific dates during the school year when remote-learning-only families may elect to transition back to the blended model quarterly.
Families can always switch to remote-learning-only
This guidance could change, check the new website for updated information
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latest
Vineapple Cafe in Brooklyn Heights is open under new ownership
Monday, June 29, 2020
Brooklyn Heights’ beloved coffee shop Vineapple Cafe on Pineapple Street is back! They are open from 8 am to 6 pm currently and will move to 8am to 8pm on Thursday when they add cocktails and small plates. There is currently only outdoor seating until the City allows indoor dining.
... (read more).
Black Lives Matter mural outside Brooklyn Borough Hall
Monday, June 29, 2020
The new mural in Downtown Brooklyn along Joralemon Street between Court Street and Boerum Place is now the second piece of art for Black Lives Matter in Brooklyn after the one on Fulton Street in Bed Stuy. Joralemon street has also been co-named “Black Lives Matter Boulevard.”
... (read more).
A Micro-Middle School in Brooklyn. Rethinking Middle School Education in the Age of Coronavirus. (sponsored)
Monday, June 29, 2020
The Brooklyn Middle School Collective is a small-group middle school in Brooklyn Heights, offering a personal, dynamic, and creative approach to 6th-8th grade education. With classes ranging from 2-6 students, we are able to maximize learning and development in the critical middle school years, even ... (read more).
The Brooklyn Middle School Collective is a small-group middle school in Brooklyn Heights, offering a personal, dynamic, and creative approach to 6th-8th grade education. With classes ranging from 2-6 students, we are able to maximize learning and development in the critical middle school years, even if traditional schools are upended.
The Brooklyn Middle School Collective offers a Project-Based approach to learning in a small-group environment (that also traditions seamlessly to online learning if need be). We feature an innovative and interactive approach to teaching and learning that ignites students’ curiosity. Similarly, our holistic curriculum nurtures the awareness, compassion, and resilience that allows students to develop into happy, healthy, and well-adjusted young adults.
Personal attention and a uniquely tailored curriculum ensures that students develop the knowledge and skills to gain admission into and thrive in the most rigorous NYC high schools.The first class of 8th-grade graduates from The Brooklyn Middle School Collective were accepted into high schools including Packer Collegiate High School (with a less than 5% acceptance rate), as well as coveted screened public high schools.
In addition, a small and focussed environment allows for a much more efficient school day (lasting from 10 AM-2 PM), making it particularly well suited to students pursuing goals and activities outside of the classroom.
Website: BrooklynMiddleSchoolCollective.com
Location: 195 Montague Street, Brooklyn
Phone: 718-285-8583
Grades: 6th-8th
Tuition: Sliding Scale
Currently “e-interviewing” incoming 7th graders
We have also partnered with TFD Soccer Club and offer elite weekday morning athletic training (in all sports) through www.TFDsoccer.com
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The Mayor on the reopening of schools in September
Friday, June 26, 2020
During the daily press briefing, Mayor de Blasio talked further about the reopening of schools on Thursday, September 10th:
We are planning for the maximum amount of students in school buildings with social distancing in place in September
Most educators and most parents want their kids to come back to in person ... (read more).
 or 5 day rotations (one week on-site, one week off-site). School every three days? That could be the new reality of in-person learning in NYC. Read more on Chalkbeat here.
Photo: PS 307
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Outdoor dining in our neighborhoods
Friday, June 26, 2020
Our overview of family-friendly restaurants that are now open for outdoor dining in Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and beyond. If we are missing anything on this list, please email to info@brooklynbridgeparents.com.
DUMBO
Almar
Bread and Spread {outdoor seating, takeout & delivery, 8-5:30pm daily}
Butler Bake Shop {outdoor seating 7-5pm ... (read more).
 {takeout 12-8pm M-F, 10-8pm Sat & Sun}
Front St Pizza {outdoor seating & takeout, 11-8pm daily}
Fulton Burger {pick up & delivery 12-8pm Tues-Sun}
Gran Electrica {outdoor table service}
Seamore’s {outdoor seating & takeout, Wed-Sun 2pm-close}
Superfine {outdoor seating & takeout, Wed 2-9pm, Thur-Sat 2-10pm}
Westville
Brooklyn Bridge Park / Brooklyn Heights
Fornino at Pier 6 What better place to dine outside than right on the East River? Fornino has rooftop seating for 100, where they have a weekday happy hour from 4-7pm that you can enjoy alongside a wood-fired pizza. Reservations can be made through Yelp.
Estuary At Michelin Star Chef Danny Brown’s restaurant Estuary, the patio is open with a super-summery seafood-focused menu.
River Deli (Italian)
Vineapple Cafe
Pilot boat at Pier 6 will be open and taking reservations as of July 13.
Atlantic Avenue
Bacchus (409-411 Atlantic Avenue)
Bareburger (149 Court Street)
Bedouin Tent (405 Atlantic Avenue)
Bijan’s Brooklyn (81 Hoyt Street)
Brado Thin Crust Pizza (155 Atlantic Avenue)
Fast & Fresh Burrito (84 Hoyt Street)
Hollow Nickel (494 Atlantic Avenue)
Kind of Soul (497 Atlantic Avenue)
Luzzo’s BK (145 Atlantic Avenue)
Oaxaca Taqueria (75 Hoyt Street)
Someday Bar (364 Atlantic Avenue)
Sottocasa Pizzeria (298 Atlantic Avenue)
Pronto Pizza (139 Court Street)
The Soul Spot (302 Atlantic Avenue)
Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights
Heights Cafe
Caffe Buon Gusto
Lantern Thai Kitchen
View the full list of Montague Street here.
Cobble Hill / Columbia Waterfront / Carroll Gardens
La Cigogne (French)
Bar Bruno (Mexican)
Libertador (Argentinian)
Gersi (Italian)
Mex Carroll’s diner (Mexican american)
Tenichi Ramen
Kitchen at Cobble Hill
Mazzat (Mediterranean)
Black Forest Brooklyn (German)
Bar Crudo (Seafood)
Fragole Ristorante (Italian)
Cafe Lulu (French)
Santo Bruklin (Brazilian)
Photos: River Deli, Superfine, Pilot and Black Forest Brooklyn
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Registration for the Dumbo Gan for September 2020 is now open (sponsored)
Friday, June 26, 2020
The Dumbo Gan is a nurturing preschool and daycare for children ages 6 months to 3 years old located in one of Brooklyn’s most scenic neighborhoods. We’re committed to keeping our student body small and our environment protected when we reopen this September. With intimate class sizes and low teacher ... (read more).
The Dumbo Gan is a nurturing preschool and daycare for children ages 6 months to 3 years old located in one of Brooklyn’s most scenic neighborhoods. We’re committed to keeping our student body small and our environment protected when we reopen this September. With intimate class sizes and low teacher to student ratio we emphasize a whole child approach to learning and foster a love for education and community. The Dumbo Gan is a Jewish preschool that teaches the values of Judaism in a warm and inclusive way to children of all backgrounds. Our curriculum includes introductory Math and Science skills, Music and movement as well as basic Hebrew language skills and Jewish traditions. We have an outdoor play space which the children use daily weather permitting and enjoy the fresh air. Our staff is dedicated, experienced, professional and loving. Each family that we have at the Gan becomes part of our community and over the past 11 years of operation we have developed a reputation of being a school that is focused on caring for each individual that walks through our door.
Currently we are accepting students for September 2020 school year. There are a number of different schedule and tuition options that are available on the website. If you have any questions or would like more information. Please reach out to our Director Esther at thedumbogan@gmail.com to schedule a call and she will gladly answer them.
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Latest Corona news: Beaches, sprinklers and more pedestrian streets opening
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Latest news on the city’s reopening and planning for the next few weeks from the Mayor’s press briefings:
Private day camps will be allowed to use NYC parks, the administration wants camps generally to take place mainly outdoors with minimal indoor activities.
Playgrounds are open including the playgrounds in Brooklyn Bridge Park, ... (read more).
 will be the day you’ll have to move your car.
The City is adding 23 miles of open streets, bringing pedestrian streets up to 67 miles. Here are the new streets in our neighborhoods, which might also offer outdoor dining on the streets:
Wycoff Street: Nevins Street to 3rd Avenue (Boerum Hill)
Pacific Street: Smith Street to Nevins Street (Boerum Hill)
Willoughby Street: Lawrence Street to Flatbush Ext. (Downtown Brooklyn)
Montague Street: Hicks Street to Pierrepont Place (Brooklyn Heights)
Commodore Barry Park: North Elliot Place from Park Avenue to Flushing Avenue
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4th of July fireworks plans in times of Covid-19
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Each borough will get its own 4th of July fireworks on different nights, according to the Mayor. The fireworks will start June 29th and continue each night until July 4th. The location for each Borough will be announced shortly before to avoid large crowds travelling, each fireworks will be 5 ... (read more).
Brooklyn Coalition of Early Childhood Programs requests guidance and support for preschools and daycares to reopen
Monday, June 22, 2020
The Brooklyn Coalition of Early Childhood Programs is a new group of 50+ Brooklyn daycares and preschools who have come together to advocate, support each other, and create policies that respond to the ongoing effects of the COVID – 19 crisis while aiming to build a better, more equitable childcare ... (read more).
, Mayor De Blasio and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have yet to issue meaningful guidance about reopening childcare in NYC. In fact, the DOHMH, which ordered our shutdown on April 6, was absolutely silent until June 3, and still refuses to issue any guidance around how childcare in New York City will reopen. Even some of our partners and advocates inside the DOHMH admit that this is unacceptable. Home-based, OCFS-regulated programs have been allowed to remain open throughout the spring without pandemic-specific guidance/resources, and day camps are set to open on June 29, also with no guidance.
This sends a dangerous mixed message: if it is safe for children to gather in small groups, why can’t we reopen? If it is not yet safe, what makes camp and home-based daycare different? What resources can all programs expect to appropriately operate in these unprecedented times? In order to prepare for the reopening we know NYC families need, we’ve leveraged our collective expertise in developmentally appropriate practice, and applied it to the most stringent guidelines released by the CDC and other states and cities to create a comprehensive reopening plan for New York City childcare. Our plan meets CDC and NYS standards while outlining how we will protect the wellbeing of children, teachers and families while safeguarding the play, social interaction, and emotional learning so essential to early childhood development.
We submitted our proposal to the DOHMH for approval or guidance in May, but as of June 15 have received no meaningful feedback. We are advocating for a childcare bailout, and for immediate reopening guidance from the City, which has so far shown no indication that it prioritizes the survival of programs that are so essential to young children and their families, We share the belief that high quality early education should be available for all – we stand ready to facilitate the safe and successful return of childcare that New York City needs now.
WE DESERVE ANSWERS, AND YOU DO TOO! TOGETHER, WE MUST ENSURE THAT HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN WHEN FAMILIES RETURN TO WORK. MAYOR DE BLASIO and OXIRIS BARBOT WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!”
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 named Kosmo Kidd crash lands his wind-up rocket ship in Lily’s kitchen. Kosmo whisks Lily away to his floating treehouse in Outer Outer Space, to join his Spacetronaut crew. Lily and Kosmo share many adventures, exploring exotic alien worlds and facing fearsome villains, as Lily proves that a girl from Brooklyn can hold her own among the galaxy’s greatest junior space cadets. Recommended for 7-10 year olds. Shop here.
Mermaids on Parade by Mel Hope Greenberg
Excited about wearing her own special costume for the day, a little girl goes with her family to Coney Island to take part in all the festivities of the Mermaid Parade where mermaids, Neptunes, and sea creatures of all shapes, colors, and sizes go to strut their stuff! Recommended for ages 4 to 7. Shop here.
How Emily saved the Bridge by Fieda Wishinsky
The Brooklyn Bridge, the iconic suspension bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, was completed in 1883. It is thanks to Emily Warren Roebling that the bridge was finished at all. Emily was not an engineer, but she was educated in math and science. She married Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the famous bridge. When Washington became ill from decompression sickness, Emily stepped in, doing everything from keeping the books, to carrying messages for her husband, to monitoring the construction of the bridge. She was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when it opened. Recommended for ages 3 to 6. Shop here.
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