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August 1, 2011
Dear Lower School Families:
We are eagerly anticipating your return to Brooklyn Friends School in September. In the Lower School we are preparing for the opening days, which means, like last year, we have a few building projects underway. On the 7th floor, we are adding a third first grade classroom and designing new classroom space for our second grades. The 6th floor is getting a complete facelift as we move our kindergarten classrooms from 7 to 6, renovate the hallway, and add an ADA bathroom. And if all of this isn’t exciting enough, we are renovating and moving our pre and lower school library from the 6th floor to the 2nd floor. Michel Rimpel, our Director of Physical Plants, reports the work is moving along very well. We are all looking forward to the new classroom spaces!
Of course, the building and our lovely new spaces won’t be complete until the children and teachers arrive in September. Please join me in giving a special welcome to all families and faculty new to BFS. I’d also like you to welcome an old face to a new position. Jonathan Edmonds, former 2nd grade teacher, will be our Lower School Math Coordinator. Jonathan has been a math leader in our Lower School for many years. He has taken graduate level math courses through the Bank Street Math Leadership Program, participated in numerous math workshops and courses locally and nationally, planned and conducted math education coffee hours for our parents, and has designed and taught full-day workshops for our assistant teachers.
As a classroom teacher, Jonathan served as a math leader and mentor. Jonathan is a talented and thoughtful teacher, devoted to improving math instruction, and we are thrilled that he has agreed to be our new Math Coordinator. In his first year as Math Coordinator, Jonathan will observe and model lessons, provide direct instruction as needed, and meet regularly with K – 4 classroom teachers to support and deepen mathematics throughout the Lower School.
As you begin to prepare for the start of this school year, please review our student and family handbook, which is online. Important information about arrival, dismissal, health guidelines, and school policies can be found in our handbook. I hope you will take the time to read it. You will also find the forms you need to complete before the start of the school year on our website. See the enclosed green flier for information and website links. As a reminder, your child’s medical form is due by August 15th. You can download the form by going to www.brooklynfriends.org/health. The Afterschool Program brochure and registration is also on our website.
BFS continues to make an effort to reduce the amount of paper we use and the number of mailings you receive. Please make sure we have your correct email address so that you receive your weekly BFS Enews. Letters, once mailed home (information about curriculum night, school events, parent/teacher conferences….) will be on our website and easily accessed through your weekly Enews.
For All Kindergarten Parents and Parents NEW to BFS (grades 1-4)
On Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00 p.m., we will hold an orientation for parents new to the Lower School. At the orientation, I will go over useful information that will help you and your child make a smooth transition into the Lower School. Kindergarten parents will meet the Kindergarten teachers and learn about routines and procedures specific to Kindergarten. The orientation will be followed by a PAT reception, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Arrival
- Kindergarten and First Grade children can enter their classrooms between 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Children arriving after 8:45 will be marked late.
- Second, third, and fourth graders enter their classrooms at 8:15 a.m. Children arriving after 8:20 are marked late.
Early Bird is offered for Lower School children who require an earlier start. We have two groups. Kindergarten and First graders are supervised in room 704, 7th floor, from 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Second, Third, and Fourth graders are supervised on the roof from 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. The children are brought to their classrooms at the end of the early bird session by the supervising adult.
If you arrive early and your child does not go to early bird, please wait with your child in the lobby or in the cafeteria. You are not permitted to be on the 6th and 7th floors until 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal – Lower School Dismissal Times and Location:
Kindergarten dismiss from the lobby 3:00 p.m.
First grade dismiss from the cafeteria 3:05 p.m.
Second grade dismiss from the cafeteria 3:05 p.m.
Third grade dismiss from the lobby 3:10 p.m.
Fourth grade dismiss from the lobby 3:10 p.m.
Teachers will bring the children to the lobby and cafeteria and will dismiss them to the designated adult. Once you have picked up your child from the lobby or cafeteria, please exit the building promptly to help with the traffic flow.
Please Note:
• Make sure your child’s teacher knows your dismissal plan for the year.
• Children attending afterschool will be met by their afterschool teachers in their classrooms.
• Strollers should be folded and stored in the alleyway. (Strollers are not permitted on the elevator.)
On the first day of school - Friday, September 9th, all grades will dismiss from the classroom (noon dismissal for Kindergarten and First Grade). Lobby and cafeteria dismissal will begin on Monday, September 12th.
Calendar and Schedule Your enclosed BFS calendar reflects our new schedule! Each week is marked as week 1 or week 2. When you receive your child’s classroom schedule, please make note of the day and week that particular classes meet so you know what day your child’s library books are due and how to help your child dress appropriately for activities. Most Lower School Specialty classes will meet on a consistent day each week, however children in the older grades will have some classes that meet twice on week 1 and three times week 2. For example, your child might have Spanish M and W on week 1 and M, W, F on week 2. Please note, on Friday, December 16th, we will have a noon dismissal.
Class Placement and Lower School Faculty
Enclosed you will find your child’s class assignment. To learn more about our Lower School teachers, please go here.
If you have any questions about this mailing, please feel free to email Trish Walkin, Lower School Administrative Assistant, at twalkin@brooklynfriends.org or me at jcondie@brooklynfriends.org . You can also leave a message for us on our voicemail. Trish is at ext. 226 and I am at extension 225. We will be checking our mail and returning messages the week of August 29th.
May you return to BFS refreshed. As I begin my 23rd year at BFS, I am looking forward to working with you, your children, and the faculty to ensure another very successful school year. Enjoy the remaining days of summer!
In friendship,
Jacquelyn Condie
Head of Lower School |