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BCS Students BRING IT!
Every Upper Grades student will receive a new water bottle!
What’s happening?
Dear Upper Grades Students (Grades 9-12),
Today, Brooklyn Collaborative and the NYC Dept of Education are asking you to BRING IT!
This week, you and your classmates will each receive a new reusable water bottle from S’well. It will keep your water cold for hours all day! When you bring your reusable bottle everywhere you go, you show that one person’s actions make a difference for our city and our planet. The bottles have been donated to you, and to students in all 600 of the city’s high schools, by the NYC Department of Education and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. (The city has not provided water bottles for middle school students, hopefully that will be part of their programming in the future.)
Why BRING IT?
BRING IT challenges New York City students to build a cleaner, healthier city, starting with one new habit: bringing a reusable water bottle everywhere they go. Humans around the world purchase a staggering one million plastic bottles per minute! They’re used once and then thrown away. If not recycled, that plastic breaks down and it ends up in our soil and food supply, ultimately impacting our health. Gross. You can change that. When you each BRING IT and carry a reusable bottle everywhere you go, you can prevent about 167 plastic bottles from ending up in our trash each year. When you and your classmates BRING IT, we can keep 54 million plastic bottles out of our trash.
How can I find out more about BRING IT?
Go to www.BRINGIT.nyc to learn more and stay tuned for information on how you can get
involved with the BRING IT movement in school this year. In addition to a new water bottle, the BRING IT team will work with schools and students throughout the year on dedicated projects and competitions that will mobilize students to bring their own sustainability ideas to the table for their schools, community and city.
How will I get my water bottle?
Distribution will take place to students during UG Crew as part of Climate Week (Mon 9/24 to Fri 9/28). You will get your new water bottle from your crew leader. Your crew leader will have a permanent marker for you to label your new water bottle with your name right away (otherwise, it will look the same as 400+ other bottles)!
What is Climate Week?
Climate Week NYC is the time and place where the world gathers to showcase amazing climate action and discusses how to do more. This is a great connection to our mission - for students to be civically engaged and use their intellect to benefit themselves and their communities. Climate Week NYC will take place between September 24-30, 2018 in New York City. It is one of the key summits in the international calendar and has been driving climate action forward since it was first launched by The Climate Group in 2009. Climate Week NYC is a global event, run by The Climate Group in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York, which happens annually during the UN General Assembly. NYC hosts government ministers, investors, governors, CEOs and mayors from across the world; they are shaping markets and setting policy to make climate action a reality. Businesses, governments, academic institutions, arts and music organizations, and NGOs are all invited to participate in the iconic week, through the Climate Week NYC Events program. From panel discussions, to concerts, exhibitions and seminars, organizations and individuals can play a pivotal role in advancing the debate, driving awareness, and keeping climate action at the top of the global agenda. Climate Week NYC 2017 was host to more than 140 affiliate events. We are excited that this water bottle donation event will allow our students to participate in a small way in Climate Week!
What’s the update about new water fountains for our building?
For several years, we have been petitioning the DOE and Department of School Facilities to update our water fountains. We do not currently have electrical lines on the 4th and 5th floors that would support the more advanced water fountains/bottle fillers that we have in the cafeteria and 2nd floor. We are grateful to Councilmember Brad Lander’s office for supporting us with a $35,000 Reso A grant to enable electric and plumbing work on the 610 Henry Street campus, which will allow us to eventually install 12 more electrical lines and new water fountains. This work will take place over several years, so we must be patient, but we are excited that the funding is in queue and that someday in the future, Brooklyn Collaborative will have upgraded water fountains for easy access for every student and staff member!
BCS Students BRING IT!
At Brooklyn Collaborative, we consistently challenge you to use your intellect and effort to benefit yourself and your community. By bringing your reusable water bottle, you will have a big impact on reducing consumption and waste that is leading to climate change. BRING IT, and make a difference every day!
Thank you,
The BCS Team