June 2, 2024
Dear Fellow Bronx Science Parents and Guardians,
Today, the Bronx Science Foundation is hosting their annual Alumni Day, which is an opportunity for BxSci alumni to reconnect, attend talks, stock up on BxSci merchandise and more!
We are grateful for the Foundation’s ongoing support of our students, which provides them many unique experiences not available in most high schools. Many thanks to all the folks who heeded our call for volunteers, and who are at the school helping with this event today. We knew we could count on you! Look for pictures in next week’s newsletter.
This week happens to be the busiest one ALL YEAR for the PA, jam-packed with five events! The good news is we are in terrific shape for the Teacher and Staff Appreciation lunch and the Senior Awards Reception.
We are still seeking more volunteers for the two upcoming events below.
The first is the Prospective Students Open House on Wednesday, June 5. This historically has been an energetic and fun evening, which allows our community to proudly showcase what Bronx Science has to offer. There are still slots available here, and we welcome additional help.
Then, early the next morning, we have our Incoming Parent Breakfast on Thursday, June 6. This event allows incoming parents and guardians to connect with the PA and administration while their students attend Camp Science. It is the initial impression many families have of our community, and it is a significant opportunity for us to engage with them. We have plenty of hospitality volunteers, but still need help with merchandise. Please help us extend a warm welcome by signing up to assist here.
Speaking of hospitality and merchandise, this week we would like to acknowledge our core team members in these two areas. These teams play critical roles in events and meetings throughout the year. Hospitality doesn’t just feed a lot of people, but it also helps create an atmosphere where students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and guests feel welcomed and celebrated. Similarly, selling merchandise is not just a way to raise extra funds, but more importantly it elevates events by providing families and alumni opportunities to buy the swag they love, and adding some flair to the festivities.
The PA wholeheartedly thanks Hospitality Co-Chair Lilach Bar, who has led every hospitality event for the past two years. Her commitment and dedication to our community cannot be overstated. We also extend our deep gratitude to Hospitality Co-Chair Kosaku Shinoda who has been a great assistance these past two years, and thanks to new committee members Luisa LaFleur and Karah Rempe for joining the committee this spring. We will sadly bid adieu to Lilach in this role next year, but are grateful for her service and the expertise she will continue to pass on to new team members.
The PA would also like to thank board member Ernie Sander, who led our merchandise efforts this year, streamlining the inventory and sales process, reorganizing the PA room, and making merchandise sales more manageable. This was no small task! A huge thanks to Jenny He and Sai Satav Swarup who spent many weekday and weekend hours alongside Ernie, tackling this mammoth project. We are thrilled to announce that Jenny and Sai have stepped up as Merchandise Co-Chairs for next year!
If you are interested in joining either team, you are wanted and needed, plus you will be in very good company! These teams are instrumental to a well-functioning PA, and believe it or not, we are already recruiting for next fall.
Finally, please mark your calendars for our LAST in-person PA meeting on Wednesday, June 12 at 7 PM. We are delighted to welcome a panel of recent BxSci graduates, moderated by AP Andrew Nasser. These graduates will share their college experiences, how Bronx Science prepared them for higher education, what surprised them the most about post-high school life and more. Let’s fill the room and show our support for these students who have graciously lent their time to us. Dinner will be served, and it would be wonderful to see you for our last BxSci PA meeting of the year (and for some of us, ever)! Please RSVP for a food count and submit questions for the student panel here!
We hope to see many of you over the next few busy and crucial weeks, and don’t forget about the Ellington in the Park outdoor social on June 22 (see post below).
Sincerely,
Christine Kattan, Elizabeth Polkovitz, and Jennifer Allen-Cheng
PA Presidents
president@bxsciencepa.org
