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BJP Purchases Chromebooks, Exciting Coding Curriculum to Follow

3/24/2021

 
by Giancarlo Milea, Director of Development

Did you know BJP recently purchased enough Chromebooks to ensure a 1:1 pairing for our students?

The move comes amid BJP's ongoing efforts to navigate the pandemic and provide cutting edge technology to its students.
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“When the pandemic first hit last year, we did a lot of research about how online learning might affect our students,” said Assistant Principal Sara Shannon.  Lack of access to technology quickly proved a crucial obstacle.  “We found that 23% of BJP’s students - almost 1 in 4 - couldn’t access the internet via a computer at home.”
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That number didn’t even tell the whole story.  Even if a student did have a computer at home, one device wasn’t always enough.  “The entire household got pushed online,” notes Erin O’Neill, one of BJP’s counselors.  “That means parents were working remotely, siblings were also in online school, and other relatives were still using the device for entertainment and normal purposes.”  
That reality was an important consideration for BJP’s administration as they designed their remote learning curriculum, BJP@Home.  “We just couldn’t responsibly ask students to hog their household’s device,” said Fr. Powell.  “To accommodate the needs of our families, we had to cut our schedule roughly in half, which is a shame, because that means that students lost valuable instruction time.  It shows just one important way online learning has been a disservice to Black and Brown students, who often lack access to the necessary technology to make learning at home work.  I never want to be forced into a sacrifice like that again.”

BJP’s administration acted on this data quickly.  “We interceded and did a lot of work to ensure everyone could access online learning.  It was tough because resources were stretched to help so many newly remote students in New York.” recalls Principal Arte, “but that was just a temporary fix, until the end of the school year.”  Remarkably, thanks to temporary devices and online learning tools like Freckle, 94% of BJP students achieved one year of academic growth in both ELA and math, according to BJP's MAP testing.
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BJP students use Chromebooks in a variety of ways, from in-class instruction to independent study and homework.
By the start of this school year, the percentage of students who could not access the internet via a computer at home had fallen to 14%.  The same issues resurfaced.  What’s more, even when students were learning in-person, as was often the case, the prospect of sharing computers or tablets was dangerous.  “We needed to make sure each student had his or her own supplies, and that includes technology,” said Mr. Arte.  “We’ve wanted a 1:1 technology pairing for a long time.  We’ve given a lot of long-term thought to new possibilities for our curriculum that pairing would provide.  COVID just forced our hand.”

This new Chromebook program has given the administration greater flexibility in its COVID planning. Now, students can rest assured knowing they have a device to do their classwork and homework on at home.  It has also given teachers the ability to use new online resources and plan new lessons.  “I'm able to give extra work to students who understand a concept while working on the board with students who need a little extra attention,” said Mr. Braithwaite, S,J,, one of our math teachers.  “Everyone is learning more with this enhancement of our resources.”
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Chromebooks have allowed BJP teachers to bring in a variety of guest speakers.  Having a device for each student fosters conversation and more direct engagement between students and speakers.

L: Alumni of Brooklyn Prep discuss
42, the Jackie Robinson biopic, with eighth grade students who watched it as part of a unit on Catholic Social Teaching.
R: Sixth graders meet Paulette Singer Barrett, a survivor of the Holocaust, as part of an English unit called "Why Do We Remember the Past?"
​The Chromebooks have also created more significant changes to the curriculum as well.  “Unfortunately, one of the casualties of the pandemic has been our music program,” intoned Mr. Arte.  But in that vacuum has sprouted a new coding course available to all BJP students this spring!  BJP will be partnering with CS Extends, a technology education organization, to offer one course offering this year and an additional three next year.  
“I’m very proud of this new coding curriculum,” said Fr. Powell.  “The pandemic has required a lot of quick thinking and adaptability on the part of our faculty and staff.  Sometimes, it can feel like we can’t think long term, because we’re just trying to think about tomorrow.  Mr. Arte’s team has capitalized on a tremendous opportunity to improve the education of BJP students in the coming years, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to make it in a 21st century economy.”

Camp Montmartre 2019

7/31/2019

 
The rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders spent the first four weeks of July at BJP's Camp Montmartre on the campus of Fairfield University.  With classes in the mornings, camp games and activities in the afternoons, and advisory and prayer in the evenings, the four weeks at camp set the foundation for the next school year.  Students learned more in reading, writing, and math, learned how to swim, went hiking, camping, and to a ropes course, and bonded as a community.  The theme for the summer was to seek grace in the small things.  St. Peter Faber once said: Seek grace in the small things and you will accomplish, believe in, and hope for the greatest things.  Check out the video with all the pictures from their time at camp!
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Graduating Class of 2019!

6/13/2019

 
We celebrated the class of 2019 and BJP's 14th commencement exercises. The 19 young men and women were offered $165,985 in scholarships and have accepted a total of $106,235. They will be attending high school at Cathedral, Cristo Rey New York, Cristo Rey Brooklyn, Fontbonne Hall Academy, La Salle Academy, Nazareth, Mary Louis Academy, St. George, St. Jean Baptiste, St. Joseph, St. Saviour, and Xavier. We can't wait to hear about all their successes and welcome them into the Graduate Support Program!

Take a look back on all the memories from the past three years.
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Graduation Season Has Begun

5/30/2019

 
Our BJP family celebrated Mass for Ascension Thursday and after Mass Father Rivera led our 8th-grade students through their Commitment Ceremony. Our graduates are committed to keeping the Grad at Grad characteristics they lived each day during their middle school years as they move forward to high school. These values are to be Loving, Intellectually Competent, Religious, Committed to Social Justice, and Open to Growth. The St. Ignatius medals they will receive at graduation were blessed, and they prepared themselves for their 8th-grade retreat tomorrow. Please keep our school family and in particular our graduating students in your prayers as the graduation season begins. 
#Honoringthepromise @JesuitPrep
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Fr. Mario M. Powell, S.J. Appointed President of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep

4/26/2019

 
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FlyWeel Charity Ride for BJP!

4/5/2019

 
Please join our Young Professional Group to support BJP on Saturday, April 27, 2019!
Click HERE to reserve your spot.

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Protecting Our Vision!

1/29/2019

 
Thank you to ChildSight® for providing free in-school vision screenings and new prescription eyeglasses to our BJP students. This program fills a critical health services gap for children with limited to no access to quality basic health or vision care services. 
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​​Each student needing glasses selects their own frames from a wide variety of trendy styles—after all, if kids don’t like their glasses, they are not likely to wear them! Their new eyeglasses will be  delivered to BJP within one to two weeks.
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Renew the Spirit of Camp

1/2/2019

 

The first day back from Christmas Break marked the thirteenth annual Renew the Spirit of Camp all-school retreat.  Students spent the day in their camp advisories reminiscing about the good times at Fairfield University, the many activities at camp, the growth they made during the summer, and the goals they set for themselves. At Mass, Fr. Ralph Rivera, SJ celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany with the student body. His homily touched on what it means to be wise. Father shared with our students being wise is knowing the right thing to do and then doing it. It was a great day to get centered for the rest of the school year.

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2018 Alumni Basketball Tournament

12/17/2018

 
 
Our BJP family met on Xavier High School's basketball courts for the Graduate Support Program's annual alumni basketball tournament.  Alumni competed in a friendly 3-on-3 basketball tournament.  After the games, alumni sat down to a nice meal and caught up on high school and college life, reconnecting with friends and meeting other alumni.

In addition to helping current 8th graders with the high school admissions process, the Graduate Support Program maintains a relationship with graduates throughout high school and college. Just another unique experience that makes up the BJP way of educating and caring for the whole person.  Learn more about the three cohesive BJP programs by clicking here.
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A Dream Grows in Brooklyn

9/11/2018

 
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Brooklyn Jesuit Prep
925 E. 37th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210
T: (718) 638-5884
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