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Brooklyn Friends School began its 141st academic year on Sept. 4 with a
solid record of achievement by students, faculty, alumni, parents and
school leaders, said Head of School Michael Nill in his back-to-school
report. Enrollment for 2008-09 is a record high of 645 boys and girls
from preschool through 12th grade. They began the new school year with
exciting academic and extra-curricular programs in place and with
significant facility enhancements completed in the areas of technology,
science, the performing arts, and library services.
Above all, Brooklyn Friends School is looking forward to the continuing
scholastic achievements of its students, highlighted by the outstanding
scores achieved in the International Baccalaureate assessments, the
National Latin Exam, Math Counts, and the Johns Hopkins University
International Talent Search. As a measure of student achievement in
mathematics, for example, every eighth grader is studying algebra this
year, a measure that will accelerate the math curriculum into the upper
grades.
“Our recently completed Strategic Plan builds on these successes and
maps out exciting initiatives for the future,” said Dr. Nill. “To meet
growing demand, we have embarked on a long-term growth plan that will
add one section per grade annually, a process that has already begun
this year with an additional section of Preschool 3s.”
Other goals of the Strategic Plan that will be realized shortly include
the extension of the foreign language program in grades Kindergarten
through 4, the publication of a faculty journal, significantly increasing professional development
opportunities for faculty, and a deeper immersion into the downtown
Brooklyn community, added Dr. Nill.
The school’s link to the community was measurably strengthened this
summer when Brooklyn Friends became the first school in New York City
to become an affiliate of Horizons National. Horizons at Brooklyn
Friends School had its first class of 15 rising public school first
graders this summer, who benefited from a free, 6-week academic,
cultural, and recreational enrichment program. Currently enrolled at PS
287 and PS 307, the children learned to swim at the Long Island
University pool, danced with teachers from the Mark Morris company,
played on the BFS rooftop playground, and visited the New York Hall of
Science, the Transit Museum, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Brooklyn
Museum, in addition to their daily academic lessons. Next year a new
group of rising first graders will join Horizons at BFS and the program
will expand every year until there are eight grades.
The Parent and Teacher Association of the School, known as the PAT, is
reaching out to the community as well, by extending its popular Speaker
Series to the public. On Oct. 27, psychologist Roni Cohen-Sandler will
speak on the new peer pressure facing teens and tweens. Her talk,
“Trust Me Mom, Everyone Is Going” takes place at 7:00 p.m. at the
school, and admission is free. On Wed. March 11, also at 7:00 p.m., Dr.
Elizabeth Bailey presents “Money at Home and in the School Yard.” The
PAT also invites all community members to attend the 30th annual Craft
Fair, which includes carnival games for young children, on Sat. Dec. 6.
Extra-Curricular Programs
The school day never ends at Brooklyn Friends, and students in all
grades will participate in a rich variety of extra-curricular
activities this year. David Gardella (Athletic Director), Rachel Webber
(Director of Auxiliary Programs), Taunya Black (Afterschool Director),
and Elvira Sullivan (Afterschool Music Director) have been working to
build on the success of past programs and offer new opportunities for
students. In particular, there are new afterschool classes in
documentary filmmaking, math enrichment, and preschool Spanish, West
African drumming, and Music, Movement, and Improvisation. Middle and
Upper School students also have an opportunity to learn and play chess
during their lunch periods with chess instructor Gary Ryan. Afterschool
music classes are fully enrolled, and the athletics program has added
another team for cross-country running. Middle and Upper School
students are already in rehearsals for Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the
Woods,” their fall musical, which will be peformed on Nov. 21 and 22 at
7:00 p.m. |