Welcome from the Parent and Teacher Association
Read a letter from the PAT Co-Presidents that describes the work of the PAT, the services they offer and events they plan, and the many opportunities for parent involvement in the upcoming year.
August 1, 2017
Dear BFS Families,
Welcome to another academic year at Brooklyn Friends School! We are thrilled to represent this stellar institution in the role of Parent and Teacher (PAT) co-presidents as we celebrate our sesquicentennial. We know that, together with all of you, we will help make this, our 150th year, a dynamic one for our children.
This is your PAT. Simply because you are a parent or guardian of a student at Brooklyn Friends, you are a member. And because so many of you volunteer to serve on committees, act as Class Parents, or give your time to the 20 or so school-wide events that take place at BFS every year, this is a vibrant and healthy community. We invite you to continue this tradition of enthusiastic parent participation through 2017-2018 by taking an active role in the PAT.
Some of this year’s events include our Family Folk Dance, Black History Month celebration, Embracing Diversity event, WinterFest – our December extravaganza – and the Friends Cemetery Clean-up. We also host a series of New Families receptions, our Staff/Faculty appreciation breakfast, an all-school Used Book Fair, and we help to plan and support the school’s annual fundraiser for financial aid, the Spring Gala. This year the Gala will be a special celebration of the sesquicentennial at the Brooklyn Museum on the evening of Friday, May 11, 2018. Consider joining the committees that produce these events. If you are new to BFS we encourage you to dive in. Volunteering is a great way to get to know the school and the wider parent body. A full list of volunteer opportunities is available on the BFS PAT web page. You can sign up there as well!
In addition, and as always, there will be three PAT General Meetings where you will hear from Dr. Larry Weiss, our Head of School. At the February General Meeting, the four Division Heads will also be present to report to the school community. There is time for Q&A built into each of these General Meetings, so Dr. Weiss and the Division Heads can hear from you. Remember, your voice is essential to the effective running of this school.
Brooklyn Friends School is a place where your voice is valued, so, we encourage you to follow your interests and contribute to the rich school culture that has been 150 years in the making! Once school begins, please contact your Class Parents for help with anything you need this school year. Your PAT Division vice presidents are also a great resource. Of course, you can also reach out to us. We can be reached at PAT@brooklynfriends.org.
We want to hear from you, as we value the diverse points of view that make BFS such a dynamic community. When we apply the rich Quaker values that make our school so very special to the work we do within the PAT, we recognize what a gift it is to be part of this school family. We are excited to move forward with all of you, together.
In friendship,
Megan Hertzig-Sharon and Eisa Ulen Richardson,
PAT Co-Presidents, 2016-2018