New Beginnings at Brooklyn Friends School
A Look at the Evolution of Virtual BFS and the Joy of a New Year
Journal FALL 2020
Mute
Stop Video
Invite
Manage Participants
Share
Chat
Record
Breakout Rooms
End Meeting
A Message From Crissy Cáceres
3
A Joyous Reopening!
4
New to BFS: Welcoming Two New Division Heads to our Community 6 8
Looking Back at Spring 2020 Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
10
In Memory of Gabriel Edwards
13
The Evolution of Virtual BFS
14
Students Unite!
20
Alumni Class Notes
22
Checking in With our College-Aged Alums
23
“More Wonderful Than I Could Ever Describe”: The International University Experience
26
Three Cheers for our Three Retirees!
29
2019–2020 Recap
30
Guided by the Quaker belief
that there is a Divine Light in everyone, Brooklyn Friends School cultivates an intellectually ambitious and diverse community that celebrates each individual’s gifts. We challenge our students to value and embrace difference as they develop critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge and intelligence both in and out of the classroom. In this rich learning environment, we inspire all members of our community to voice their convictions, to discover and pursue their passions, and to seek truth. Our graduates are compassionate, curious, and confident global citizens who let their lives speak in the spirit of leadership and service.
BROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL JOURNAL
Journal FALL 2020
is published by the Advancement Office of Brooklyn Friends School for alumni, parents, grandparents, colleagues, and friends. 375 Pearl Street • Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel: 718.852.1029 • brooklynfriends.org Karen Edelman, Director of Advancement Dan Altano, Director of Communications Anna Ferber, Associate Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement Emily Cowles, Special Events and Digital Marketing Manager Peter Mackie, Advancement Administrative Assistant
A MESSAGE FROM
Crissy Cáceres HEAD OF SCHOOL
These past few months have been ones that no educator could have scripted. The level of challenge that has befallen educational spaces has been unfathomable to consider. And yet, amidst all of this challenge, I have witnessed our community time and time again rise up and persevere. From the first moment of having to close our doors on March 9th and reinvent our classroom experiences for children, creating new ways to build meaningful social emotional connections with them, their families, and one another, to a summer of creative envisioning, redesigning of spaces, and non stop hard work on the part of our colleagues, we reopened our doors on September 14th to children eager to feel the warmth and familiarity of care and love and joy that is real within our community. Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed endless exchanges between adults and students which emphasize the many ways in which we prioritize children’s experiences. From a song taught by our teachers with purposeful lyrics to help our young preschoolers remember to hold the railing and be safe as they walk down the stairs, to a teacher’s conversation with students asking them to consider their friends’ feelings as time is shared on the rooftop playground, to a child excitedly telling her teacher over zoom a story about the graphic novel she wants to write, our students are back learning and thriving, both in person and virtually. From our Family Center to our High School, a blank canvas is being filled each day while leaving room for the ways in which the picture painted can and should change and evolve over time. I am lucky. I witness each day the behind the scenes of how this happens. I watch our various teams, from facilities, to dining, security, nursing, athletics, and more, continue to think carefully and critically about the ways that they can support the vision of what we seek for all children, young and older, within BFS. I extend heartfelt gratitude to all colleagues for their dedication. Recognizing that the newness of all we’ve been tasked to consider has brought with it sincere exhaustion and even points of fear and doubt within all of us, my thankfulness for what we’ve made possible runs deep.
To our families, we thank you. We thank you for your patience now and in the months ahead as we continue to work creatively and thoughtfully to continue to make real a balanced and healthy experience for your children. We know that you too have navigated your own share of complex experiences. We are here to support you. To our alumni, we recognize that we need to partner with you further in our quest to live as one full and mighty community. You are living in many corners of our world, and we know from following your stories, that many of you are making an incredibly positive social impact on many with your life’s footprints. Your focus on the realization of an inclusive and just world is constant. For that, we thank you, and we are here for you. In the spirit of our Quaker school and the principles that inform our moral compass, this is a time of centeredness, which calls us to extend peace to one another as we steward our community forward. Our reopening has proven that we can lean on one another in times of challenge. It has proven that we are beautifully imperfect in this landscape of education and humanity, and yet, at Brooklyn Friends School, it is when owning our imperfections and creating because of and in spite of them, that our canvas is most complete. In friendship,
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 3
On September 14, 2020, BFS opened its doors for school for the first time since March. The excitement of a new school year was in the air in what Crissy Cáceres called a “two thumbs up day.” Since then, each day has brought about new reasons to smile as students continue to enjoy their time back together.
4 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 5
New to BFS: Welcoming Two New Divisional Heads to Our Community This Fall, there are several new faces being seen around BFS. In this Journal, we hear from our newest divisional heads: Jason Novak, Head of Lower School and Kamaya Prince Thompson, Head of Upper School
A WARM WELCOME FROM
Jason Novak HEAD OF THE LOWER SCHOOL
It is my deepest pleasure to have begun a journey at Brooklyn Friends School. In my first few months, serving as your new Head of Lower School, I have wholeheartedly fallen in love with the joy and connection I have felt in our community. Brooklyn Friends School is a very unique and special place, and I am truly grateful to have joined in our commitment to cultivate an intellectually ambitious and diverse community that celebrates each individual’s gifts. Having just relocated with my husband Alejandro to Brooklyn, NY, from the Washington, D.C. region, I can happily say that we are both becoming quite acclimated to the area and have enjoyed exploring NYC. Being new to Brooklyn, I have utilized my first months to connect with Lower School colleagues and Leadership Team members and also to begin learning about our community. I am beginning to gain insight into the many layers of the school experience at BFS, and I am looking forward to many exciting years ahead. Words can’t express the excitement we all felt when we reopened our doors this past September. Seeing the smiles on the faces of our children and families was an unforgettable thing to witness amidst an unprecedented year. To the children attending in person to those attending at home, I am filled with nothing but gratitude when I think about how resilient and dedicated you all have been. It is truly inspiring and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings for our community. My favorite hobbies: I spent part of my career serving as a music teacher, and have formerly performed as a cantor. I love listening to all different types of music. I also enjoy getting outdoors and being outside in nature. My favorite food in Brooklyn: Alejandro and I really enjoy eating at home. He loves to cook. Two restaurants we have really enjoyed are
6 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Imani and Evelina in Fort Greene. We definitely still have a lot more investigating to do! When I was an elementary school student, I’d describe myself as: In elementary school, I was very passionate about doing well in school and playing the violin. I was somewhat shy and introverted, and kept to a very close group of friends. I can remember all of the science projects I created during my elementary school years (erupting volcano, a food created map of the human brain, etc.) My favorite song: There are way too many to list! Music is a big part of my life and has always been. My father was a musician in his high school band, and both my sister and I played violin and the tuba growing up. In Friendship,
A WARM WELCOME FROM
Kamaya Prince Thompson HEAD OF THE UPPER SCHOOL
I am so deeply moved at this moment to be connecting with you as Head of Upper School at Brooklyn Friends. I am honored to serve in this capacity and deeply committed to work side by side with you to grow this community and achieve our goal to be a just, inclusive, and equitable institution. We are living through a watershed moment in history, and I want you to know that my foremost priority is and will remain the physical, emotional, and spiritual health and safety of all colleagues, students, and families. In just a very short time here, Brooklyn has already begun to feel like home. I have walked around our new neighborhood and have only begun to scratch the surface of the rich and vibrant cultures that infuse this city with life. Jeremiah, Olivia, Zora, Ruby, and I have experienced a number of special places here in Brooklyn, most notably Brooklyn Bridge Park, which we have traveled to several times already. Our first few months here have been incredibly meaningful because of the warm, open-armed welcome from our new BFS family. And for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This moment has allowed many of us time to recalibrate and figure out what will work best for us individually and for our families. For me, the period of quarantine allowed me time to reflect on what is most important, and these past few months, in particular, have given me so much to feel grateful and hopeful for. I continue to be encouraged by what this community demonstrates: compassion, empathy, and an uncompromising commitment for justice. Our students, your children, here at BFS have come together for each other and this community over and over again. From the baseball team’s unified showing of their Panther Pride, to the brilliant student artwork hanging on the walls at Lawrence, to the powerful music played by incoming 9th graders at last spring’s Moving Up ceremony, and the incredible passion and leadership displayed by our students at the “Students Unite: We Continue the Fight” event.
building. Because of our students’ drive and their hard work, no incoming Head of Upper School could be more honored to join you. With that pride, I enter these first few months at Brooklyn Friends eager to get to know all of you even more because your stories, your voice, and your heart precede you. My favorite hobbies: As a former swimmer, swimming will always be a passion and my go-to exercise. One of my happy places is also on my mat in a hot, Power Vinyasa yoga class. I am also a foodie and love finding new recipes (especially vegan) to try out at home. My favorite food in Brooklyn: That’s really hard… I will say that a few of my favorite recent meals were at Colognie and Imani. So good!!! I also love creating a beautiful charcuterie board with my girls. Union Market has become a family favorite spot for olives and cheese. I encourage any and all food recommendations! When I was in high school, I’d describe myself as: A lover of school—I would knit and quilt in my classes (because it was widely encouraged), and I always wanted to hang out with my friends. My favorite song: Mary J. Blige’s “Everything” In Friendship,
I am so proud of the work that we have done and the values which we continue to live out loud, both in and outside of our
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 7
Looking Back at Spring 2020 Upper School Ceremony
At the end of the spring, the BFS community came together to celebrate our Class of 2020 in a myriad of ways, from featuring and profiling their achievements and accolades on social media, joining them in their jubilation as they learned of their respective college acceptances, to highlighting their transformative years at Brooklyn Friends leading up to their Commencement Ceremony. For our graduating seniors, many of whom started Brooklyn Friends in preschool, the Commencement Ceremony was bittersweet. The Class of 2020 is our largest graduating class of “Lifetime Friends” where their connections and friendships have helped shape who they are today. Each commencement speaker spoke from the heart, detailing what the BFS community has meant to them in their transformative years. Speakers Nicole Adriano, Otto Moran, and Anique Edwards were joined by a special performance from Francisco Verastegui on the flute.
8 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Middle School Ceremony
The Middle School Moving Up Ceremony kicked off with displays of student artwork from ceramics, wood, and paintings to stained glass art pieces. Showcasing the wide breadth of talent, the slideshow ended with artwork centered around civic engagement and social justice. In a powerful reading, Kallie W. shared her poem, “My People are Dying” alongside student speakers, Isaiah S., Talia K.L, Eli G, and Eden B. A common thread of social justice was highlighted throughout the speeches with the Class of 2024 imploring everyone to take action against injustices in our world. We were treated to a performance of “For Good” from the musical Wicked by BFS colleagues Janet Villas and Stephen Buck, and students Pearl W., Austin P, Anne A., and George A. Commencement MC and MS Dean of Students, Kathleen Clinchy, spotlighted three Merit Scholarship recipients, Isaiah S., George A., and Simone H.. Merit Scholarships are awarded every year to recipients who demonstrate strength and consistency in service, scholarship,
and behavior. Student Astrid M. led a Quaker applause to recognize BFS colleagues, which was followed by the official presentation of certificates from our colleague body.
by their students giving advice to incoming 4th graders and sharing what they loved most about their Lower School years.
Lower School Moving Up Ceremony
Maura Eden and Crissy Cáceres opened the celebration with a welcome to preschool families and students. Our Preschool 3s and 4s celebrated the close of the year in true preschool fashion full of song and joy. To spread joy, preschool students wore their classroom colors. Songs included, “This Little Light of Mine”, “I Will be Your Friend”, “I’m Glad I’m Me”, “Give Light”, and so much more. Sticking with tradition, Tony Soll and Nancy Tanney led our sing-along with light and love.
In a touching LS Moving Up Ceremony, students prepared a beautiful performance of “Empire State of Mind” for families and friends. Coordinated by Piper Macleod and to honor retiring Head of Lower School, Jackie Condie, colleagues similarly prepared and performed, “Friendship Medley” with students, which was shown during the celebration. With joy and jubilation, Lower School families viewed slideshows and interviews
In Their Own Words... Isaiah S., Class of 2024 “BFS has prepared us well with lessons in civil engagement and social justice, and most importantly, helping each individual student find their voice. Especially for me, as an African American male living in America, whose voice often goes unheard, so I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. Now with our voices, we will become doers.”
Talia K.L, Class of 2024 “We are dedicated to pursuing social change and justice. We feel that it is essential that in a ceremony focused on us, we mention issues that we
Preschool Closing Celebration
have cared about since the beginning of our middle school journey. We will go into High School ready to take action and respond to the inequalities we see in the world.” Eli G., Class of 2024 “Although this is far from the graduation we planned for us, I’m still so grateful to have spent the last 4 years of my life with all of you, being able to create memories that will last a lifetime.” Eden B., Class of 2024 “BFS has successfully cultivated creativity, a desire for action, intelligence, opinions, identity, empathy, and friendship. BFS has fostered in us a commitment to find and nourish the light in every person regardless of and precisely because of their unique identity.”
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 9
NOT PICTURED CLASS OF 2020 SENIORS Sylvie Butler, Lila Liebeskind, Elsie Richter, and Fadila Sare
10 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Congratulations to the Class of 2020! By Emily Cowles
Activists. Performers. Musicians. Dancers. Artists. Writers. Athletes. Scholars. Friends. The class of 2020 represents the best of Brooklyn Friends School. Despite the physical distance that our community endured last spring, we came together to celebrate the 52 members of this extraordinary group of young adults in a myriad of ways. Each celebration recognized the unique members of the class as well as their collaborative positive impact on the BFS community and the legacy that they leave behind. Each classmate was celebrated individually on the school’s social media channels and weekly E-News. BFS colleagues came together to create the profile for each graduate. Students were celebrated for their athletic and artistic achievements, their activism, their scholarship, their community mindedness, their friendship, and the many different ways that each classmate is unique and contributed to our school life. Our community of social media followers recognized each classmate with supportive messages and cheering emojis. Students and families reshared the posts with their own families and friends. The classmates of 2020 also each received some Blue Pride to display at their homes! Throughout Brooklyn and beyond, vinyl window decals can be seen demonstrating that a member of the class of 2020 lives there and that our community is proud of them. An online “kudoboard” was created to honor the class of 2020. Colleagues, families, and friends posted memories, photos, videos, and messages of love for our graduating class. As a meaningful parting gift and memento, each member of the class of 2020 received a recorded voice message from colleagues. Colleagues read messages of congratulations and care to their students.
Class of 2020 CAS Projects
Adasa B. & Fadila S. — The Evolution of Hip Hop Workshop Aja M. & Jack B. — Coding for Beginners Workshop Anique E. & Miah P. — Underground Poets: A BFS Slam Poetry Experience Ben F. — Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden Walking Tour Ben R. — Ecorangers Betsy A. & Ethan K.L. — “An Often Overlooked Experience” Transracial Adoption Workshop Cameron W. & Harrison K. — Financial Literacy Workshops Coby W., Sam E., Sam F. — Jewfinity Connection Dylan B. — “Dylan’s Plant-Based Delights” Cookbook Elsie R. & Willa S. — Mug Cake & No-Knead Bread Baking Tutorials Emma S. — Peer Mental Health Support Group Finn S. & Ty S. — Voter Registration Workshop Francisco V., Sebastian B.S., & Walker T. — BFS Indoor Soccer Tournament Gabe D. & Oliver S. — Upper School Chess Gena T. — BFS Bowling Club Jackson K. — Adventurer’s Guild Jesse I. & Mazai A.W. — Home Crafts for Kids Tutorials Jonathan L. & Mohamed F. — Upper School Talent Show Kaley B., Lila L., & Sage G. — Spectrum Identity Discussions Kennedy W. — Quarantine Fashion Show & Digital Catalog Libby S. & Sammi H. — Middle School Tutoring Program Lily E. & Milly B. — Environmental Action StudentLed Activity: 2019 Earth Day Lizzy G. & Jazz H. (‘21) — Upper School Peer Tutoring Program Logan H. — Caste in the Modern World Workshop M. H. — Anonymous Anthology Zine Max B. & Nick D. — Quarantine Cooking Show Milly B. & Otto M. — 2020 Climate Strike & Climate Justice Presentations Nicole A. & Holly H. (‘19) — Young Asian Leadership Alliance (YALA Gala) Conference Nora S. & Salma M. — Homemade Face Mask Tutorial Ryan B.H. — Quarantine Life Podcast Salma B. — “What We Bring” Digital Exhibit Sylvie B. — CAS in the Age of COVID-19 Documentary
On the kudoboard for the class of 2020, former Head of Upper School Lisa Arrastia wrote: “You will forever be the remembered class, not just because of the current historical moment but because of who you have been as individuals and as a student community over the years and because of you, you shall become: courageous, generous spirits compassionate and respectful of different perspectives and willing to listen deeply to understand those who are different from you.” Thank you, class of 2020. You’ve left an indelible mark on the BFS community and we can’t wait to see what you do next. PHOTO ABOVE Salma McLaughlin ’20 with Class of 2020 vinyl decal
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 11
Class of 2020 Admitted Schools (Attending is marked in BOLD)
Agnes Scott College Albright College Allegheny College Bard College Barnard College Baruch College - The City University of New York Bennett College Boston Conservatory Boston University Bowie State University Brandeis University Bucknell University California State University, Northridge Champlain College Clark Atlanta University Clark University College of Mount Saint Vincent Colorado College Connecticut College Coppin State University CUNY/UAPC Curry College Delaware State University Denison University Dickinson College Dillard University Drew University Elon University Endicott College Fordham University George Washington University Goucher College Grambling State University Guilford College Hofstra University Hood College Howard University Indiana University Bloomington Ithaca College Juniata College Kalamazoo College Kenyon College King’s College London Kingston University
Lawrence University Lewis & Clark College Lincoln University Loyola University Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College Marist College McGill University Merrimack College Miami University, Oxford Middlebury College Morgan State University Mount Holyoke College Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Occidental College Pennsylvania State University Quest University Quinnipiac University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Royal Holloway, University of London Rutgers University - New Brunswick Saint Francis College Sarah Lawrence College Skidmore College Smith College Spelman College Springfield College St. Edward’s University St. Lawrence University State University of New York at New Paltz Stetson University Stony Brook University SUNY at Albany SUNY at Buffalo SUNY Binghamton University SUNY College at Geneseo SUNY Fredonia SUNY Potsdam SUNY Purchase College
12 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Susquehanna University Temple University The City College of New York The City University of New York Brooklyn College The City University of New York College of Staten Island The City University of New York Hunter College The City University of New York Queens College The College of Saint Rose The New School The Theatre School at Depaul University Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University Tyler School of Art Union College University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of Colorado Boulder University of Denver University of Hartford University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of San Diego University of Southern California University of St. Andrews University of Sussex University of Vermont University of Wisconsin, Madison Vassar College Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University Wheaton College, Massachusetts Whitman College Whittier College Xavier University of Louisiana
[T]he thing that I am most thankful
for at BFS, is how I was taught to love myself as a woman of color and as an immigrant.… I learned that success is about who you know, but it’s not about knowing famous people. It’s about people who teach you kindness, and hard work. It’s not about people who’ll throw you up the ladder, but people who will teach you how to climb it yourself, and confidently. — Nicole A., Class of 2020
Progress takes time, so the process
of building up the communities we enter must start as soon as we leave this one. Fortunately, this is a process we can trust, and the Class of 2020 has its fifteen year legacy here as proof.” “Brooklyn Friends moved me to take an active role in its community, a role I never intend to graduate from.
In Memory of Gabriel Edwards
In a heartfelt announcement, Kennedy White revealed that the Class of 2020 Senior Gift would be made in honor of the memory and life of one of our beloved BFS security team, Gabriel Edwards. The senior class, along with all members of the BFS community, were heartbroken to have lost Gabriel to COVID-19, but his memory and light will live on at Brooklyn Friends with this senior gift. As Crissy Cáceres, Head of School, highlighted in her speech, there is no greater example of what the Class of 2020 stands for than this decision that they made as a collective body. The humanity and compassion of the Class of 2020 will be celebrated for years to come.
— Otto M., Class of 2020
By encouraging us to reach out
to advisors and teachers whenever needed, BFS has fostered a setting where intellectual curiosity is tied to personal connections. Everyone in our grade has at least one faculty member who is like a parent to them, and that bond is part of what encourages us to push ourselves and be the best version of who we are.
PHOTO ABOVE Gabriel Edwards and Donna Foote
— Anique E., Class of 2020
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 13
The Evolution of
When Brooklyn Friends School transitioned to Virtual BFS during the week of March 9th, our community had no idea what was in store for the remainder of the school year. Could major curricular capstones and traditions continue? Could we still connect as our beloved BFS community? We soon found that the answer to these questions was a resounding “yes!”. Here are just a few examples of how the colleagues and students of BFS continued to learn and engage during Virtual BFS.
Family Center
One way that the Family Center students and teachers stayed connected and continued learning and growing during Virtual BFS was through music! Singing and music were always present in the physical classroom, and teachers incorporated singing virtually every day. Dance parties were always popular and they also played “Name That Tune”. But what about instrumental music and accompaniment? Teachers found different ways for the children to continue being musical remotely. They “played” instruments they had at home, and also made their own. With simple household supplies—toilet paper rolls, wax paper, rubber bands or hair ties, tape and dry rice/beans, small plastic containers with lids—they created an orchestra. The children moved their bodies and made lots of music together. Joyful! PHOTO ABOVE A Family Center student
enjoys a sing with Tony Soll.
14 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Preschool
Blue Room Butterfly Week
As spring blossomed outside our windows in May, the Blue Room threes students enjoyed a springy Butterfly Week at Virtual BFS! Their study of the lifecycle of the butterfly included music, songs, books, a scavenger hunt, and hands-on activities. By the end of the week, the Blue Room students were butterfly experts, ready to spread their wings and fly!
Green Room Fairy Tales Study
The Green Room fours students enjoyed an in depth study of fairy tales and folktales during Virtual BFS. They learned what makes fairy tales unique, including their story structures, literary elements, and characters, by reading many stories, making castles, creating characters, and story acting. They also tried out making potions, magic wands, and porridge!
PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP 1 Blue Room teachers Camille
Fobbs, Jazelyn Montanez, and Linda Villamarin kicked off Butterfly Week in a message to their students. 2 Jackie Oritz demonstrated how to build a castle out of household items including toilet paper rolls. 3 Lisa Ventry showed how to create your own puppet theater to tell the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Lower School
The 2nd Grade Brooklyn Bridge Play and Circus
Despite facing disappointment that they would not be able to perform the traditional Brooklyn Bridge Play and Circus in person, the 2nd grade students and teachers pivoted and found new ways to continue these curricular capstones. The Brooklyn Bridge Play became the “Brooklyn Bridge Monologues”. Each student recorded their performances, in full costume, and the monologues were pieced together into a film telling the Bridge’s story. Students, families, and colleagues gathered on Zoom to view the Monologues and to celebrate the students’ work. When it came to the joyful 2nd Grade Circus, the students and teachers once again didn’t miss a beat. The brilliant group of students and their teacher Helen Tocci made BFS history by juggling, lion taming, and performing acrobatics — all virtually! Portions of this beloved BFS tradition were performed live for families and friends on Zoom and the rest was presented as a video compilation of their amazing skills.
3rd Grade Haikus
Putting their writing and art skills to work while celebrating National Poetry Month in April, the 3rd grade wrote and illustrated their own haikus. The students took inspiration from “Wabi Sabi” by Mark Reibstein. In “Wabi Sabi”, a small cat seeks to find real beauty in unexpected places. We were touched by these students’ abilities to find beauty during these trying times.
Lower School Challenges:
Throughout the spring, Lower School students, colleagues, and families engaged in various challenges that brought our community together in creative, fun, and meaningful ways. Read more below:
The Rainbow Challenge
Children and families all over the world decorated their windows with rainbows as signs of hope and positivity and as a way to show support and love for nurses, doctors, delivery persons, and all essential workers. The first Lower School Challenge was to join this chorus of hope and create a rainbow at home made out of found objects; a rainbow out of socks, leaves, recyclables, whatever friends could find! View the rainbows at brooklynfriends.org/rainbowchallenge.
The Screen-Free Challenge
The second Lower School Challenge for the community was to share their screenfree time! They took photos of themselves cooking, building a couch fort, drawing, reading, digging for worms, snuggling with a stuffy or real pet, and more!
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 15
Middle School
7th Grade Criminal Justice Week
The 3rd Annual 7th Grade Criminal Justice Conference, originally planned for March, went Virtual to a week of programming in May presented by the Office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement and a group of 8th grade leaders. On one day, the 7th grade heard from a group of panelists from all aspects of the criminal justice system. Thanks to Michael Farkas, a criminal defense lawyer, Andrew Carter, a federal district judge, Tyiesha Bush, a NYPD officer, and Illya Szilak, a physician currently providing care to inmates at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, for sharing their experiences and insights with us. Students also learned from organizers with community partners JustLeadershipUSA, the HALTSolitary Campaign, and Huwe Burton, an exoneree, and Alexis Agathocleous, a staff attorney from the Innocence Project. The goal was for students to hear from those who have been most involved
with the system so that they can then support efforts to make positive change. All programming during this Criminal Justice Week closely ties to major aspects to the 7th grade curriculum. Read more about Criminal Justice Week in the words of Ana N., an 8th grade organizer, at the BFS website now: brooklynfriends.org/criminaljustice2020.
5th Grade Squid Dissection
Despite being in their homes instead of a lab at Pearl Street, 5th grade scientists rolled up their sleeves and dissected squids in May! Each spring, the 5th grade dissects squids and the experience is a rite of passage and learning in the Middle School. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of teacher Laurice Hwang, the traditional experience continued at Virtual BFS! As colleague Rachel Mazor noted, “It’s good to know that some traditions live on…”. A completely voluntary experience following a viewing of a computer animated dissection, students who wished ordered squids to their homes and signed onto Zoom to follow as Laurice dissected a squid in her own kitchen. After experiencing this hands-on study of anatomy and the animal’s various adaptations, the students gathered later for a calamari making session with Laurice.
Math Jokes With Kate & Jonathan
NBC may have Jimmy Fallon, CBS may have Stephen Colbert, and Comedy Central may have Trevor Noah, but BFS came out ahead in the spring 2020 ratings with Kate Minear and Jonathan Edmonds! Kate, Jonathan, special guests, and a staff of Lower School comedy writers brought laughter and joy to the Virtual BFS community each week this past spring. Stream all ten episodes now at the BFS website: brooklynfriends.org/mathjokes.
16 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
PHOTO ABOVE The Math Jokes logo and Math Jokes hosts and
Lower School Math Specialists Jonathan Edmonds and Kate Minear and special guest 4th grade teacher Lauren Yi and her dog Archie.
Upper School IB Art Show
At a time when we are all searching for glimpses of beauty and joy in the world, the Brooklyn Friends School community was met with an abundance of both at the Virtual Artists’ Reception for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Arts Show in May. The work of 26 artists in the class of 2020 was viewed by 170 members of the community. Head of Upper School Lisa Arrastia, in describing her joy after the reception, shared: “Poignancy, Pride, confidence, daring, profundity in message and medium, and diversity in ideas and perspectives: these are the imbrications of schemes, visual and sound landscapes, and movements of youth work in the BFS Arts program. Thank you to visual arts colleagues Nurit Newman, Mark Buenzle, and Liz Duell, for their work and partnership with their student artists and Paul Romano and Andy Cohen who helped to make the virtual reception and exhibition a reality. You can explore the IB Art Show at brooklynfriends.org/IBArtShow2020.
The Play
The cast and crew of the Upper School Play rose to the challenge of presenting a production during Virtual BFS! With work already put in towards a production on the Meeting House stage when our school buildings closed in March, this group came together and pivoted their production to a show that they could present to our community virtually. They overcame scheduling, technological, and isolated Zoom acting challenges to present “Animated Conversations.” The play, written by Alan Haehnel and directed by IB Theater teacher Catherine Clark, is a series of conversations between people and inanimate objects. A topical choice given our current isolation, the cast and crew explored what happens when your pile of laundry or other everyday objects talk back to you. PHOTOS FROM TOP 1 IB Art Show photograph by Salma
Bensalim ’20 2 Students present “Animated Conversations”e
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 17
Marvelous May Fridays
Students and colleagues joined together for Marvelous May Fridays which began with a musical Lower School Assembly and culminated in a 2nd Grade Circus Extravaganza. 3rd and 4th graders gathered for lunch bunch and the Lower School experienced a Sonia de los Santos concert, a Bollywood dance lesson, the Drag Queen Story Hour, a performance by Liam the Magician and more. Marvelous May Fridays also featured student-led programming like the 3rd Grade Green Life Club and a Quarantine Fashion Show, senior Kennedy White’s C.A.S. Project.
Athletics
All our teams found ways to connect and move when things went virtual. Coach Lydia Gonzalez offered live Zoom workouts and athletes met with their teams and coaches to watch sport‑related videos, skills and drills clips, and other fun activities like sports trivia. The boys varsity baseball team also created a fun video for the community and the baseball team virtually played catch which you can view at brooklynfriends.org/virtualcatch.
LS Black Lives Matter Challenge
The final Lower School challenge of the school year called on the entire BFS Community to show their solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Friends did chalk drawings, wrote messages in the sand, and created art to show their care and love. You can view them at brooklynfriends.org/blacklivesmatter.
Cooking with BFS
What brings people together more than food? Dining services colleagues Tom Buckley and Elena Novikova both hosted their own cooking shows. Tom demonstrated how to make cafeteria favorite tomato alphabet soup for an episode of The Life while Elena shared a video showing her cook her stuffed cabbage with students and colleagues. Middle School students virtually gathered for the “Great BFS Bake Off” with colleague Kathleen Clinchy and other special colleague guests.
18 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Colleague Trivia Nights
Colleagues found fun ways to remain socially connected throughout the spring and summer; one popular way was with colleague trivia events on Zoom! Many colleagues gathered on a weekly basis for friendly competition and laughter. What teacher doesn’t love a knowledge challenge?
Colleagues Receive Kudos!
Thanks to the efforts of Brooklyn Friends and Families, BFS colleagues were uplifted and gratified by an online kudoboard in their honor. Families submitted messages and images filled with love and thanks. The Brooklyn Friends School Colleagues Kudoboard was bookmarked and refreshed by colleagues throughout the week. Thank you, families and friends, for sharing your appreciation. Explore all of the kudos at the BFS website now: brooklynfriends.org/kudoboard.
API Dinner
In June, our community enjoyed the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Virtual Gathering! The event focused on the impact of COVID-19 and racism on the local restaurants and ways that we can support the Asian Pacific American (APA) community and each other.
Shabbat at BFS
On a Friday evening in May, the Parent Jewish Affinity Group hosted the third annual Brooklyn Friends School Community Shabbat Dinner. Crissy Cáceres read the text for the lighting of the candles, which evoked a beautiful Quaker connection.
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 19
STUDENTS UNITE! On February 23rd, just two days after the Brooklyn Friends School 11th grade returned from their Nobis Project field study experience “Race, Power, and the Preservation of AfricanAmerican History & Gullah-Geechee Culture” in Savannah, Georgia and on Sapelo Island, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man and Sapelo descendant was shot and killed by two white men while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia. As a school community, we have been holding Ahmaud Arbery’s friends and family in light and love, and we have been inspired and moved by their powerful organizing to galvanize over 80,000 people through the iRunWithMaud* campaign for justice. This spring and summer, we have been honored to partner with the iRunWithMaud Committee, including co-organizing two events calling for students to unite in seeking justice for Ahmaud Arbery and to create systemic change. In collaboration with our Office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement and several members of the BFS Class of 2021, Cyrah, Kayla, Loane, Bebe, Alani & Evelyn, who have been serving as iRunWithMaud student interns, these events included thousands of students, educators, alumni, families, and school community members across the country. On June 2nd, we welcomed iRunWithMaud Committee Founding Members Akeem Baker, Demetris Frazier, Coach Jason Vaughn, Josiah (Jazz) Watts, and Pastor John Richards to join us via a Zoom session with over 2,500 registrants for “Students Unite! Justice for Ahmaud.” During her opening remarks, student leader Kayla, shared: “We would like to acknowledge that there is so much going on in the world, including the overwhelming amount of racialized violence that has been present throughout the history of this country, and every day since its founding. As we know, the systems that are present in America are designed to keep people of color, specifically Black and Brown people, in different forms of captivity, and they continue to try to do so. Throughout many lifetimes, we have watched Black people continue to fight for change, and for their freedom. We would like to acknowledge and honor the many many voices that are rising to the surface to help us get justice for the lives lost due to racism in this country. We are grateful for this opportunity to offer a platform and space specifically for the family and loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery.” In the ninety minutes that followed, our guests spoke with us about Ahmaud Arbery, their personal experiences in the aftermath of his murder, and what this tragic journey means for them and for all of us. They discussed their perspectives on systemic racism, policing, accountability, and justice in America – for Ahmaud and for all Black and Brown bodies. They also emphasized what
20 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
IMAGE ABOVE Poster design by Cyrah J, Class of 2021
each of us – young and old – can actively do to seek justice and create change rather than sitting idly by. In addition to concrete action steps to seek indictments for the men who killed Ahmaud, Jazz Watts emphasized that “We have to actually do the work of dismantling racism. We must know how to mobilize, organize, and work together to dismantle each of these existing systems.” Student leader Cyrah closed the event with the following sentiments: “We believe that students are the voice of change. Once we understand our history and educate ourselves we are unstoppable. There are many calls to action in the world right now and we are inspired by the potential to stay connected and organize together for justice. This is a time of reflection and holding our communities accountable. We will continue to build together across the country and continue to honor the humanity of Ahmaud and other Black and Brown people who have been killed at the hands of racial violence.” During a follow-up interview conducted by the Nobis Project, student leader Loane shared, “Humanizing Ahmaud was one of the most beautiful takeaways from the event. There was a lot of love that you could see between the iRunWithMaud Committee... They’re just a really nice group of people and having a discussion with them… I learned so much.” Kayla added, “That the conversation itself impacted people was really nice to see because it made it clear that we can use what we have in the midst of this pandemic, even when we can’t
be physically together. I think that one of the most impactful things was connecting to Ahmaud’s humanity, for sure.” In the weeks that followed, collaborative organizing efforts continued to build momentum. On July 7th, the conversation continued with “Students Unite! We Continue the Fight!” and we welcomed back iRunWithMaud Committee founders Jazz Watts and Demetris Frazier, as well as attorney/writer Jim Barger, and actor/author/activist IronE Singleton. Our guests generously shared their strength, wisdom, courage, conviction, inspiration, spirit, humility and grace with students and school communities across the country.
Young people are the spark! Young people are the catalysts. Young people are inspiring. — Josiah “Jazz” Watts at “Students Unite! We Continue the Fight” on July 7th, 2020. Cyrah began with context about how “our team has been reflecting on how important it is that we continue the conversation because this must be an ongoing effort if we are to make change. We are all here to continue preserving the memories of those who have been murdered, to connect with each other and organizers in the movement who have been directly impacted, and to learn about ways we can get involved.” The conversation was then focused on four themes: the importance of history and where we come from, progress made as a result of the iRunWithMaud campaign, as well as each of our roles as activists, as student-leaders, and as educators. Meaningful context was shared about the collective history and legacy of Sapelo Island, including descendants Ahmaud, Jazz, and Demetris, and how this legacy informs the justice work of Sapelo descendants. After an acknowledgment of the successful iRunWithMaud organizing that resulted in three indictments for Ahmaud’s murder, discussion moved toward the importance of now repealing the Citizen’s Arrest Law, that allows people to take the law into their own hands. Demetris grounded the conversation about our roles as activists by reiterating, “The core values of the iRunWithMaud Committee are focus, solidarity, activism, endurance, and most of all, justice… this is a marathon and not a sprint… It’s a marathon that we have to continue to run to the fullest… and these are the values we live by in seeking justice for Ahmaud and for everyone.”
letting go of the responsibility to do one’s own work, raise one’s own consciousness, and work on the dismantling of systems influencing our lives. As Cyrah so clearly stated, “We cannot emphasize enough how important it is that educators play a supportive role by creating space for us to use our voice, offering us a platform to connect and ask questions, and challenging adultism by partnering with us and believing in us. When educators truly listen to students, with humanity and compassion, we are then able to collaborate and create positive change. And we’re so thankful to the adults who have supported us in this way.” As Head of School, Crissy Cáceres, reflected, “I am buoyed by what is possible when we ACT together with CONVICTION and with a belief in our ability to dismantle painful systems that have hurt and ended lives. We are showing what is possible. We are acting. We have much complex work ahead of us, and… it is worthy work. It is human work. It is love work. It is change work. It is critical work. It is life-saving work. Our time is here and now. Our value is in working together. Our work is about activism via, as was said multiple times, ‘TRUTH AND LOVE.’” You may watch recordings of these events and find resources regarding race, racism, and racialized violence at the BFS website now. As Loane encourages us, “Be open to learning and growing. I already thought that I had a good understanding of social injustice and racism in America, but I’ve learned so, so much in recent weeks. To let yourself grow is really important.” Visit the Students Unite! website for the latest updates at brooklynfriends.org/studentsunite. You can also explore the submissions to their recent “Art & Action for Ahmaud” call-to-action, in partnership with Youth Speak Justice and the iRunWithMaud Committee! * As of August 28, 2020 the “iRunWithMaud Committee” officially announced the formation of their non-profit organization the 2:23 Foundation and will be known as the “2:23 Foundation” moving forward.
The charge from BFS student leaders Alani, Bebe, Cyrah, Evelyn, Kayla, and Loane was for educators to consider the ways in which adults can partner with and further support, youth. Educators are called to center youth voices without
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 21
ALUMNI Class Notes We welcome the newest members of the BFS alumni community, the Class of 2020! Please read all about them on the next page. In the meantime, here’s a few updates from other alumni. We love to hear about how you are all doing, so please keep us updated at alum@brooklynfriends.org. Marcus Levitt ’72 reports that he retired from USC in Los Angeles three years ago after teaching there for over three decades. “My wife and I moved to Medford in southern Oregon where her sister lives. Our two kids, Jesse and Betsy, are grown up and live in Portland. We live on a beautiful property in a cool house that we had renovated and feel amazingly lucky (selling our house in L.A. largely made this possible!). I have been continuing my scholarly work in the field of Russian literature and culture, writing and translating and editing, and I have been invited to teach in the fall at the School of Higher Economics (a new western-style university) in Moscow. I am on FB and would be very happy to reconnect with old friends from BFS. My email is: levitt@usc.edu.” Best of luck to you, Marcus, on this new phase in your life. Eric Drooker ’77 does it again. His cover of the March 30, 2020 New Yorker magazine “Grand Central Terminal” early on in the pandemic in New York City, was chilling. Darrick Hamilton ’89 is really making the news! Darrick was recently named to the Biden-Sander’s Unity Task Force. Darrick is currently the Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and a Professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. He will rejoin The New School in 2021 as the founding director of the newly created Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification and Political Economy.
Congratulations to Magnus Hedlund ’91 who was recently made Partner Director of Engineering at Microsoft. This July he celebrated his 25th anniversary at Microsoft. Kyle Neptune ’03, Assistant Coach for Villanova University Basketball, was named one of the top 40 college basketball coaches under 40 by ESPN! Kyle was a member of Brooklyn Friends School’s 2003 State Champion Boys Varsity Basketball Team and scored 1,650 points in his time as a Panther.
We recently heard from the daughter of a member of the class of 1936. Clark Benson attended BFS for a few years in lower school and she shared this remarkable picture of her father’s first grade class in 1925. Sadly, Clark lost his battle with lung cancer in 1980. The BFS Alumni LinkedIn group is rolling. Please connect with us at Brooklyn Friends School Alumni.
In Memoriam Marna Press Dann ’54 Jane Ellen Wiener Einhorn ’54 Ann Hallan Lakhdhir ’50 Jane Morehouse Johnson ’51
PHOTO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 1 The cover of the New Yorker Magazine illustrated by Eric Drooker ’77 2 1st Grade Classroom, 1925
22 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Checking in With our College-Aged Alums By ANITA BUSHELL
Every year the Journal checks in with our alums who are either in college or have just graduated. With the pandemic, the economic downturn, and the national demand for social justice, this is a crucial year to find out how our alums are coping. This year, we checked in with Cecilia Emy ‘16, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate (‘20), Emmitt Sklar ‘17, a rising senior and Belk Scholar at Davidson College, Henry Killen ‘16, a Reed College graduate (‘20), Ben Francis ‘17, a rising senior at Brandeis University, Sam Francis ‘17, a rising senior at Brandeis University, and Sierra Vines ‘16, a graduated of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (‘20).
Tell me about your work at college?
Cecilia Emy At RISD, I studied Furniture Design, where students explore product design and sculpture through an abundance of materials, with a focus on wood and metal. I found that I enjoyed working in wood the best. My work is accentuated by an attention to color and shape, often looking eclectic and bright. I find myself rejecting the formal language of traditional furniture and embracing the colors and shapes of public furniture, like bike racks and subway interiors. Emmitt Sklar I just wrapped up my Capstone for Political Science. I studied Arabic in Amman, Jordan and I wanted my research to focus on U.S. involvement in the Middle East and North Africa. I wrote about the U.S. intervention in the 2011 Libyan Civil War and 2013 Syrian Civil War to examine the strength of Responsibility to Protect, an international norm on responding to genocide. A little bit after I finished the Capstone, Susan Rice, who was [President] Obama’s National Security [Advisor] and U.N. Ambassador during this period, came to Davidson and I was able to ask her some questions about the topic, which was a really cool experience. I also just finished up a year as Student Body President at Davidson. I was elected my sophomore year and served until this March. It was an incredibly meaningful experience
that gave me the opportunity to put into practice many of the values that I have as a result of my time at BFS. We started a micro-grant program for sustainability projects in order to help our campus meet our carbon neutral goal. We also were able to reevaluate what justice looks like on a college campus. We eliminated punitive fines which affect students of different background[s] in different ways and replace[d] [them] with a restorative, service-based model. Henry Killen I majored in neuroscience, which meant
taking a large number of prerequisites. All of this was rewarded by the work I was able to do on my senior thesis. I spent the last 15 months or so establishing optogenetics as a viable tool for neuroscience research at Reed. I then used optogenetics to examine the interaction between dopamine and a peptide produced in the gut—ghrelin—during drug-seeking behavior. The research is ongoing, and hopefully I will present it at the next Society for Neuroscience meeting in October.
Sierra Vines While at college I was granted the opportunity through my work-study grant to become a research assistant at the Program on Integrative Medicine my junior year. At this job I was assigned to a project that aimed to develop an artificial intelligence chat-bot for African-American Type II Diabetics. To my surprise I was given a lot of freedom to provide input and direct messaging into the software that would aid a group of people to whom I belong and chose to study academically—African Americans. To combine my love for health, culture and race in a program that seeks integrative approaches to wellness and health was an awesome experience, to say the least.
What’s a lesson you’re taking from these last several months that you feel will impact your growth or has made you more resilient? Emmitt Sklar How much the ability to be resilient is built into the structure of the world around us. It is in
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 23
so many ways the result of our environment. While this summer was destabilizing for everyone, it became very clear how uneven the infrastructure of resiliency is across the city. I think everyone should be motivated to stay engaged because there is no vaccine for a lot of these problems. Sam Francis One of the lessons that I’ve taken from these last several months is the importance of embracing adversity. So much is going on at once right now and it is very overwhelming. In times like these, being able to accept what has happened and finding ways to work around, even with the cards we are dealt, is a true test of character. This has helped me immensely in the past few months and it is a sure way to work towards future success. Sierra Vines These few months have shown me that normal doesn’t exist and for that I’m grateful. Let me explain. It’s easy to adopt a mindset that to attain success one should follow a “normal” course of life. That path usually looks like high-school, college, professional education, then career. These months have completely shattered the notion that I had for a long time of the “normal” sequential climb toward achievement.| Instead of thinking about what application I can send out or studying for a placement examination, I greet my grandparents with a kiss on the cheek and ask them what they want for breakfast. When I see them finish their plate and are satisfied, that feeling is better than an “A” on any test! Trust me, they’re picky. What I’m saying is that my new lifestyle isn’t going to fit a mold and it was never meant to. The pandemic was a necessary disrupter to my illusion of normalcy. I am comfortable in my quirky path toward success.
What teachers had a profound effect on your experience at BFS?
Ben Francis One teacher/member of faculty that had a profound effect on my BFS experience was former diversity director Dr. Eddie Moore. Talking with him made any place feel like home. When he worked at BFS, his smile was always beaming whenever you saw him, and he never shied away from asking the very necessary questions we all needed to ask ourselves as students and as people living in an unjust society. While at BFS he gave us the opportunity to attend the White Privileg e Conference every year, which educated us about and challenged the concept of white privilege and racism. The conference also gave students the tools to combat oppression. He would always give all students a platform to make their voices heard and would encourage us to delve deep into and challenge our own ways of thinking. At a school that tries to
24 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
tell its students to be okay with stepping into uncomfortable topics, Dr. Eddie Moore was truly a valuable asset to the faculty, staff, and the BFS community as a whole. Another teacher/faculty member that had a profound effect on my experience at BFS was former math department head Zenzile Keith. Zenzile is a mother of three children, having her third child while teaching at BFS, but she was truly a mother to us all. While she worked at BFS, the math office was so welcoming that it felt as if something was pulling you in there even if you didn’t need any math help. I remember one weekend during finals week, Zenzile opened up the school with her own free time that she definitely could have used to be with her family, to help tutor all students who were struggling in math, or simply just struggling in general. Whether their struggles were school related, family related, or mental health related her motherly instinct could always tell when something was off, and she never stopped showing her support. It’s a shame that current BFS students will never have the same experience I had with Zenzile Keith, but the values that she instilled in me still shine bright to this day. Sam Francis Zenzile Keith is a BFS former math department head and a former BFS math teacher. Throughout math class, I always remember her pushing us hard with a firm but encouraging hand, as she saw the potential we all had to become great. Because of Zenzile, I rediscovered my love for math. Zenzile may very well have been the personified qualities of “hard work” and “determination.” I remember that even when Zenzile was pregnant with her third child, she still came in early and stayed late to help students in and out of her class with things they were having trouble with. Not only was Zenzile an outstanding math teacher and a fantastic example to live by, but she was also a fearless advocate for students of color in the BFS community and words truly do no justice in capturing my gratitude for her. Speaking truth to power, one of the mantras of Quakerism, is what Zenzile did daily and she was not afraid to risk her position or make some people uncomfortable when she was lifting up the unheard voices of students at BFS, even when others would not do the same. My experience at BFS was exponentially improved by having such a selfless and strong black woman to rely on in times of need. Orinthia Swindell is the former diversity director at BFS, taking over from former diversity director Dr. Eddie Moore. Every day at BFS, Orinthia’s office was a beacon of light in the hallways and her embracing warmth helped me feel comfortable in my own skin. In my senior year, I will never forget how she made it her ultimate goal that I and several other students attend the White Privilege Conference.
This conference helped me learn the tools and obtain the skillsets to fight oppression and racism in this country. Not only did she do this, but her involvement was also crucial in the organization of my last Privilege Day in senior year, a day that many students at BFS hold close to their hearts. During this time, professionals and students alike organized workshops throughout the day to teach their peers about the multifaceted term “Privilege” and all its applications from race, age, gender, ability, sexual orientation, etc. She was a rock in the BFS community, and I will always remember the impact she had on my maturation at BFS. Sierra Vines Although there were many teachers that impacted me greatly at BFS, for me to honestly answer this question I can’t limit myself to just teachers. I say this because I felt like I was at home with my aunty when sitting with Donna waiting to get picked up. David Gardella gave me a place to have fun and be myself within sports, a place that I never would have imagined that I would fit. Leaving school and running to Kevin Narvaez, and he would tell me how proud he was of me, gave me a little more confidence when I felt like I was behind. When I was sick and had a sore throat one day, the assistant chef, Joe, made me fresh ginger tea and we would chat, having a great time. I looked forward to lunch so I could see Nitza Rivera. She would always greet me with a warm smile and hug me whenever she got a chance. I feel that the janitorial, kitchen staff and sports staff at BFS were my safe havens of love, support and transparency. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention any teachers because there were so many that I could go on and on about. I loved Sidney [Bridges] and his compassion for students, enthusiasm about literature and spirit of gentleness. My beautiful women of color teachers, like Zenzile Keith and Megan Schumacher who lit up the room, were so necessary in my coping with my own blackness and gender. I found a forever family member in Tiffany Huggins who, to this day, I can call on for anything! Then my advisor Pete Prince and Jesse Phillips-Fein showed me what true ally-ship meant.
What has this year looked like for you, before and during the pandemic?
Cecilia Emy This year was challenging—the spring of senior year is when students work on their thesis—or as we call it, Senior Degree Project. We are required to make at least three fully-realized pieces, but before we could complete one, we were forced to pack up and leave, due to COVID-19. My peers and I had to sacrifice the projects we wanted to do, either starting a new project that was feasible to complete
from home, or realizing our projects as drawings on paper, and creating a report that was more research heavy, which is what I chose to do. It was incredibly hard to abandon my studio practice, but I feel that the report I completed still represents the incredible effort I put into all my work. Ben Francis For me, pre-pandemic was pretty normal. My classes were going alright, and I was in the middle of studying for a few midterms. Online classes were different, to say the least, being very hard to adjust to. The unfamiliarity with online learning caused some issues, and distractions at home proved difficult to overcome. However, all went well, and I still did well despite the switch to online. Brandeis handled the switch as smoothly as they could.
How did the Quaker education you received at BFS prepare and guide you for your studies in college, on a micro and macro level? (For example, daily life and challenges, as well as the larger issues of growing up, being away from home, and navigating the world of the university for the first time?) Henry Killen I attended Quaker school from 3rd grade to 12th grade. The core Quaker belief that there is “that of God” in each individual is extremely appealing at a time where the president of our country values the current state of the economy over human life, and system[ic] racism is revealed in every corner of our society. Even for a non-religious person like myself, believing that the highest good can be found in every person, and we are all equal in that regard, has helped guide my decisions and priorities. I did not have a hard time moving far away from home and navigating university, but I attribute that more to going to camp every year. I think that the most important lesson I got out of my Quaker education is respect for the inner light, as a Quaker would call it, in every person; on a small scale this means respecting other people’s time and acknowledging the work other people do for me on a daily basis, and on a larger scale this means making time in my life to help people who need it. To read the full text of all the interviews, please visit brooklynfriends.org/tag/college-aged-alums.
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 25
“More Wonderful Than I Could Ever Describe”: The International University Experience By ANITA BUSHELL
How exactly does one respond when your child comes home and tells you they’d like to go to college in a foreign country? For four years? Not just “Junior-year abroad”? Each year, the college office at BFS addresses student interest in universities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and—this year especially—the Netherlands. The Journal spoke to several parents and students about their interest in and/or experience at international schools.
Anita Bushell, Contributing Writer, Alum Parent, Former School Committee Member: Our daughter, Maya, having spent many a high school summer traveling to countries such as Ecuador, England, and Ireland, decided she wanted to apply to schools such as the University of St. Andrews; the University of Edinburgh; and Trinity College, Dublin. Although the initial shock was profound, it took all the courage I could muster to take a deep breath, put up both my arms against the tide of flooding thoughts, and respond with a calm, and controlled statement: “That’s an interesting idea. Let’s talk about that.”
college letters started arriving, it became clear that Maya —because of the European university timeline (which is different from that of the U.S.)—would not find out about U.K. and European acceptances or rejections until July. Some of her peers—those who had applied “early decision”—had known since December where they were going to attend school the following September. Talk about a gamble. When Maya did get her acceptance from Trinity, as well as the University of Edinburgh, it was time to have that conversation. And I couldn’t be happier that we did. Maya’s dream to go to Trinity was coming true—she had done all the work in making it happen and my husband and I both agreed that it was our job to let her go.
Maya Bushell, Trinity College, Dublin (’20), BFS (’16) The Journal: Can you tell me about what brought you to the decision regarding international-school applications? Having lived in New York City my whole life and having gone to school in Brooklyn for almost my entire educational career
First, a little backstory: my mother would have never entertained this conversation when I was applying to colleges. Without going into family history, it is important to note that her idea of college was that I stay as close to home as possible. It was precisely because of this kind of thinking that I held my tongue. After all, who was I to tell Maya that she couldn’t follow her international university dream? At this stage, though, it was just that: a dream. She had not yet applied, and she certainly had not gotten any acceptances. And with that, I put the whole conversation out of my mind. If there was one thing adulthood and parenting had taught me it was that there was no point torturing myself about something that had not happened yet. While senior year and the college application process were grueling, a strange reality was beginning to form, one that we could not have possibly prepared ourselves for. As the PHOTO ABOVE Maya Bushell ’16
26 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
(barring a two-year stint in Queens), I felt like I wanted to be somewhere completely different while attending college. For a long time I considered taking a gap year, which I still believe is an exceptional choice for anyone unsure if they want to go straight from high school to university, but I realized that what I ultimately wanted was to have the adventure of taking a gap year (traveling to, and living in a different country, as well as immersing myself in a new culture and its people) while also continuing my studies. Attending an international university seemed like a perfect medium between these two desires, so I began researching schools in countries I wanted to live in, which also had strong programs in the areas of study I wanted to pursue.
What was the application process like, including acceptances/rejections/waitlists? And the period between final U.S. acceptances and Trinity?
The application process was very straightforward, but unfortunately not centralized like the U.S. system, where the majority of colleges utilize the Common App. I had to make an individual application to each of the universities I applied to through their specific websites, the components of which were very similar to most U.S. schools: a short personal essay, academic transcript, teacher letters of recommendation, and an outline of any relevant extracurricular pursuits. The one critical difference was that I chose to submit my IB test scores instead of my SAT/ ACT scores for consideration. This was a choice given to me, which I took because I felt more confident in my ability to achieve high marks on the IB exams rather than through standardized tests, which I’ve always performed poorly on. This meant my teachers had to prepare my predicted IB grades to send with my applications. Since the IB exams are not held until much later in the school year, I received conditional acceptances to the universities where my applications were successful, which meant I had to achieve a certain score on my IB exams in order to officially attend the university of my choice. This score was assigned based on the specific degree of study I was applying to, which, in the case of most of my applications, was a joint English Literature and History of Art and Architecture program. Although studying intensely for the IB exams in order to achieve the scores I needed was, at many points, incredibly stressful, it ultimately prepared me very well for the European university system, on which the IB program is based. Having to wait to receive my final scores, and ultimate acceptance to these universities—until midsummer—was, in all honesty, excruciating, but I was privileged to have it be rewarding. I would be happy to speak more in depth with anyone interested in taking this route, which I found to be more singular within BFS when undertaking the application process.
What Others Are Saying Loane Bouguennec, 11th grader, BFS
I think that I’m interested in international schools because I greatly value global perspectives.
I think that I study history and politics with a slight bias, and I’m interested in understanding an outsider perspective on American issues and other political conflicts. I think that because European countries all border each other there is more cultural exchange which I find less commonly in the U.S. I think that the European application process encourages its students to find a school that is the right fit rather than applying to as many as possible, as the application process is more restrictive. I greatly value the small classroom sizes and individualized attention I experience at BFS. However, I think that navigating a larger university will be a new challenge for me that will further teach me to advocate for myself.
Pascale Setbon, Mother of Loane Bouguennec My husband and I were born and raised in France. We came to America 25–30 years ago—the American dream was sold to us at the time.
Loane, our daughter, is a true bilingue and bi-cultural young adult. She has developed great interest for French literature and political science. She had a very good school experience at BFS and has been very interested for several years now getting closer to the true experience of American colleges. She likes that you can double in a major and have lots of flexibility in choosing courses you have never thought about before, just to expand your mind and discover a little more of who you are. In Europe, Loane is attracted by the culture of the added value of all European countries that she can take advantage of once there. She is interested in going away to come back for a master’s [degree]. The European track is also very appealing for financial aspects. If you ask the question to Loane, she may have a very different story to share.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 27
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
What was the experience like, especially first year, of studying at Trinity? Academic/ social/life abroad/travel? My experience studying at Trinity was more wonderful than I could ever describe. It was definitely an incredibly challenging university to attend, but it taught me to be independent in more ways than I expected. I learned to cook (there’s no meal plan at Trinity; you live in apartments with full kitchens), navigate a city and culture that was extremely different from my own, and become a skilled independent writer and researcher, which is what Trinity’s academic environment ultimately asks from its students. In the beginning, there were many days—even weeks—where I felt like I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I soon realized, however, I was in the exact same position as all of my friends and peers. The transition from high school to college doesn’t come easily or quickly to many, myself included. It took a long time to feel as though I was in step with the experience I wanted, but that feeling did come, and it was because of the community that I built. The classes were amazing, the opportunities for travel extraordinary, but the people were everything. Friends shared in my life and welcomed me into theirs, and allowed me to feel that home, though distant, was never that far away.
One last question: How did living abroad inform your love of travel? And how did opportunities for travel enhance your learning experience at Trinity?
By studying at Trinity, I was able to travel a great deal, both within Ireland and throughout the rest of Europe. The ease of access to travel (inexpensive airfares, student rates on train tickets, etc.) made it so that I could travel during the academic year and visit places I’d always wanted to go but couldn’t justify traveling to from the U.S. for shorter periods of time. All the trips I took reinforced my love of travel and enabled more intimate experiences with cities I’d always wanted to experience. Trinity also encouraged travel, not just through established programs such as Erasmus and Study Abroad, but within individual departments, as well. In my second year I went to Paris with the Art History department and spent a week visiting architectural sites, museums, and galleries with my professors, which offered an incredible experience of these spaces and institutions and furthered my general course of study through in-depth engagement that was made possible through travel.
28 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
Three Cheers for our Three Retirees! Joan Martin 15 Years of Service
Joan Martin. A storyteller, a passionate writer, a foodie, and a true Friend. As the Director of Communications for 15 years, Joan has been instrumental in telling the story of Brooklyn Friends School to our community and beyond. She oversaw the launch of our new website and rebranding of our school, managed school wide publications including our journals, calendars, newsletters, and informational pieces, and promoted countless student and colleague events. She has spent 43 years in schools and nonprofits advancing each organization through multichannel communications strategies and innovative marketing. What colleagues and families will miss most about Joan is her humor and ability to find laughter in even the most challenging of projects.
Jackie Condie 25 Years of Service
During her 25 years at Brooklyn Friends School, Jackie Condie has redesigned spaces, reimagined schedules, expanded teacher programs, created student affinity groups, and so much more. Under Jackie’s leadership, robust programs are now in place including the current Writing and Spelling Program, our Spanish Program, a Math/Science Day, and a major math curriculum overhaul. As Head of Lower School, she has made transformative contributions to programming, curricula, and infrastructure. But more importantly, Jackie will be remembered for her partnership, her commitment to families, students, and colleagues alike, and her deep love for education.
Janet Villas 28 Years of Service
In her 28 years at Brooklyn Friends School, Janet Villas has worn many hats. Among her many roles, Janet coached soccer, baseball, and basketball, taught science to middle and high school students, spearheaded our recycling program, and helped fundraise on behalf of our school. Janet has impacted the lives of generations of students and her legacy at Brooklyn Friends School is one of joy and celebration. One of the biggest footprints Janet
has had on the BFS Community is creating holiday traditions including our cherished Holiday Sings. Because of Janet and her love of singing, students and colleagues participate in a celebratory sing every year during the holiday season. She has lent her voice on numerous occasions to moving up ceremonies, videos, celebrations, and performances. While she is retiring after 40 years of teaching in classrooms, we know her spirit and love of teaching will live on at Brooklyn Friends School.
In Their Own Words... I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with an amazing, dedicated, and diverse group of colleagues. They represent the heart of the school and make everything possible. I am thankful to have known so many BFS students and families. My relationship to BFS has been very personal. I have most enjoyed engaging with people, helping them in any way that I can, and telling their unique stories as we continue to build a vibrant, thriving community. You are BFS. Thank you for being such an important part of my life.
Joan Martin
I have been blessed to work with dear, smart, and committed colleagues and families. What an honor it is to come together each year in the spirit of love and compassion as we seek to educate the hearts and minds of all community members. An adventure awaits! What I do know is that BFS has nourished my heart and soul and intellect in ways that I could have never imagined. The love and inspiration and deep learning that I have experienced in this community will sustain and ground me forever.
Jackie Condie
I have been at Brooklyn Friends School since 1992. In these 28 years, I have taught 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12th grade science, and coached soccer, basketball and softball. I have always taught 8th grade science and have cherished the traditions of the opening convocation, the holiday sing and the Cape Cod trip. I have been a teacher for almost 40 years. It has been a very satisfying choice. I appreciate everything Brooklyn Friends has given me and look forward to maintaining a good relationship with the institution and my many friends.
Janet Villas
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 29
Because of you, because of our collective heart and breath, Brooklyn Friends School exceeded our fundraising goals! Together, we reached over $1 million!
Thank YOU for your generosity and for believing in our community in the midst of all the uncertainties in our world today. Your gifts to the Brooklyn Friends Fund, the BFS Cares Emergency Fund and our BFS Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund has strengthened the fabric of our families and Brooklyn Friends colleague body. In our 152 year history, we’ve weathered many storms together. And together, we will continue to face challenges that will only strengthen our spirit, community, and school.
2019–2020 Brooklyn Friends Fund During this global pandemic, we’ve witnessed the full strength, resilience and stewardship of our community. With your support, The Brooklyn Friends Fund helped make our online community come to life. Here are some of the ways your gifts made a difference: Equipment for teachers and students. Because of you, BFS was able to provide equipment, including computers, wifi, hotspots, and more, for colleagues and students allowing for everyone to take part in e-learning. Professional Development. To make Virtual BFS possible, we provided training to colleagues on remote learning. Teachers connecting with students on virtual platforms. We’ve invested $25,000 in educational platforms to make online learning a reality.
After April 20th, we launched our second initiative, the Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund. The goal of this fund was to help bridge the temporary hardships faced by some of our families and continue to support their ability to remain at the school during a difficult time. Together, we raised over $100,000 to help keep our community whole.
The BFS Cares Emergency Fund was established to allow us to assist those in our community in need of immediate assistance with living essentials including housing and food insecurities. We are deeply grateful to a current BFS family who matched the first $10,000 of gifts to this Fund. With a goal of raising $100,000 by April 20th, we exceeded our goal within weeks.
30 Brooklyn Friends School Journal Fall 2020
P.E.A.C.
Physical Education & Athletic Clubs
Fall 2020 Brooklyn Friends School Journal 31
Brooklyn Friends School 375 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Address Service Requested
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID S. Hackensack, NJ Permit # 79
THANK YOU! LAST YEAR WE RAISED OVER $1 MILLION! We raised over $100,000 for the BFS Tuition Assistance Emergency Relief Fund We raised over $100,000 for the BFS Cares Emergency Fund We raised over $876,000 for the 2019–2020 Brooklyn Friends Fund Moving forward, the majority of our communications will be sent out electronically. If you have not been receiving messages from us, it is likely that we do not have your current email address. Please send us an email at communications@brooklynfriends.org so that we may keep you abreast of all the great things happening at BFS!
