🎒 Getting Ready for BFS
Everything you need to get started.
Welcome to a new school year at Brooklyn Free Space!
We know there is a lot of information to keep track of at the beginning of the year. This page brings together the everyday information families are most likely to need as children settle into BFS—from school hours and what to bring to lunch, building access, and Extended Day.
Bookmark this page and come back whenever you need a quick answer.
🌱 Beginning the School Year
Each school year begins with a modified phase-in schedule designed to help children become comfortable with their classroom, teachers, classmates, and daily routines. Phase-in schedules vary by classroom and group, so please refer to the current schedule for your child's specific arrival and dismissal times during the phase-in period.
View the 2026–2027 Phase-In Schedule →
Please note: Regular school hours listed below begin after your child's phase-in schedule is complete.
Once phase-in is complete, regular classroom hours are :
🕒 Regular School Hours
🐞 Jitterbug & Dragonfly
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
🦋 Butterfly, ☀️ Sunshine & 🌈 Rainbow
8:50 a.m.–3:10 p.m.
Please plan to arrive within the first 10 minutes of your child's school day and pick up promptly at dismissal.
Families using Early Bird, Grace Period, or After School should refer to the Extended Day information below.
🌈 Getting Familiar with Brightwheel
Brightwheel is used for school communications, billing, attendance, and daily check-in and check-out. If you have not already done so, please log in to the Brightwheel app and complete the following steps.
Complete Your Brightwheel Profile
Please review and complete all requested profile information for both your child and their parents or guardians. Make sure the following information is accurate and up to date:
Parent and guardian names, phone numbers, and email addresses
Your child’s personal and medical information
Emergency contacts
Approved pickup persons
Your child’s photo
Any allergies, medications, or important health information
Please update Brightwheel promptly if any of this information changes during the school year.
Find Your Check-In Code
Each parent, family member, or approved pickup has their own personal four-digit code for checking a child in and out.
Open the Brightwheel app.
Tap the ☰ menu in the upper-left corner.
Select Edit Profile.
Tap Check-in Code.
Your four-digit code will appear on the screen.
To display your code on the Brightwheel home screen, go to ☰ Menu → Edit Profile and turn on Show Check-In Code.
Check In or Out Using Your Phone
Open the Brightwheel app.
Tap Check-in/out on the home screen.
Scan the QR code displayed on the BFS kiosk.
Select your child.
Complete any requested information and enter your four-digit check-in code.
Tap Check-in/out and wait for the green confirmation message.
Check In or Out Using the BFS Kiosk
Enter your personal four-digit code on the BFS check-in device.
Select your child.
Complete any requested information.
Tap Check-in/out and wait for the confirmation message.
🔒 Please keep your code private. Each authorized adult must use their own Brightwheel account and personal check-in code.
🎒 What to Bring to BFS
Please label your child's belongings with their name or initials.
Your child should bring:
A full change of season-appropriate clothing, including socks
Diapers and wipes or extra underpants, if applicable
Twin- or crib-sized sheet for their cot
Blanket for rest time
Soft stuffed animal or comfort item
Photo of your child for their cubby
Family photo
Comfortable, safe shoes for active play
Filled water bottle
Sunscreen applied before arrival
2-inch, 3-ring binder
📚 Your Child's BFS Portfolio
The binder will become your child's BFS portfolio. Throughout the year, teachers will use it to collect and document your child's work, ideas, experiences, and learning.
🚫 Please Leave These at Home
Per NYC Department of Health regulations, please do not send:
Pacifiers • Baby bottles • Pillows
Sippy cups and soft comfort items are permitted.
🍎 Food, Lunch & Snacks
BFS asks families to send lunch each day. Family-provided lunches help us accommodate dietary needs, reduce food waste, and make sure children have foods they know and enjoy. Teachers have access to a refrigerator and microwave and can assist children with simple warming and opening containers. BFS provides two snacks each day—one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Nutritious food is always available for any child who does not have lunch or whose family needs additional support.
Food Allergies
Because allergies can vary from classroom to classroom, BFS reviews the allergy needs of each class and provides guidance to families accordingly. Families will be notified if there are specific foods or ingredients that should not be brought into their child's classroom. These guidelines may change during the school year as we receive updated information about children's needs. Please follow the most current allergy guidance shared by BFS and your child's teaching team rather than assuming that a food permitted in one classroom or school year is permitted in another. If your child has a food allergy or dietary restriction, please make sure BFS has current information on file and let us know if anything changes.
Pre-K Families
For Pre-K children whose families have opted into the school lunch program, BFS will provide lunch as required. Families may still choose to send lunch from home based on their child's needs and preferences.
🔐 Entering the Building
Families may enter the building during regular drop-off and pick-up times.
Individual building access codes are not provided. If you need to enter BFS outside of regular arrival or dismissal, use the building call system and dial: 0069
Please request access outside regular arrival and dismissal times only when necessary, as answering the door takes teachers' attention away from the children.
When appropriate, families can contact their child's teachers through Brightwheel Messenger.
⏰ Need More Time at BFS?
BFS offers Early Bird, Grace Period, and After School care to help support family schedules.
Visit our Extended Day page for current hours and rates, registration information, billing, ad hoc care, and answers to frequently asked questions.
🌅 Extended Day Information & Registration →
Extended Day is subject to available space, required ratios, and staff availability.
💬 Staying Connected
BFS families can stay connected through classroom email groups and our family contact list. You can also confirm or update the email addresses BFS has on file for your family below.
📱 Brightwheel
Brightwheel is used for important classroom communication and other family information throughout the year. Families can also use Brightwheel Messenger to communicate with their child's teaching team.
Classroom Email Groups
Use your classroom email group to communicate with other families in your child’s classroom.
🐞 Jitterbug
🦋 Butterfly
☀️ Sunshine
👨👩👧👦 BFS Family Contact List
Looking for another BFS family? The 2026–2027 BFS Family Contact List includes contact information shared by current BFS families.
View the Family Contact List →
✉️ Confirm or Update Your Email
Make sure BFS has the correct email addresses for your family.
Confirm or Update Your Email →
💛 Your BFS Family Hub
Your Home Base for BFS Resources
The BFS Family Hub is the central place for current-family information and resources throughout the school year.
You'll find forms, calendars, Extended Day information, events, phase-in information, family resources, and answers to many common questions here.
The Family Hub does not replace communication from BFS. We will continue to use email for announcements, reminders, time-sensitive information, and to let families know when something needs their attention. Whenever possible, those communications will direct families back to the Hub, where information can be easily found and referenced later.
If you're looking for something and can't remember where you saw it, start with the BFS Family Hub.