A Truly Phenomenal Woman BFS Dance Concert 1989 With Maya Angelou’s passing last week, let’s go back 25 years to 1989, the year which saw the creation and first performance of “A Truly Phenomenal Woman” at the BFS Dance Concert. This short dance was set to Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman.” Choreographed by Monique N. […]
Read the Brooklyn Daily Eagle article “BFS Bests Calhoun for Volleyball Title“ Great moment last week at BFS: our Boys Varsity Volleyball team won the PSAA championship, an amazing feat for this first-year team. Our team’s ranking, as of today at maxpreps.com: 120th in the U.S, 4th in New York State and 3rd in New […]
BFS and the Class of 2014 may be gearing up for Commencement right now, but at this time 50 years ago, it was the Class of ’64’s big moment to graduate BFS. Fun to look back since many of our ’64 alumni are planning to celebrate their 50th reunion on June 7 at BFS Alumni Day. […]
Got to thinking about Benjamin R. Burdsall this week as our Upper School faculty has been doing its own thinking about recipients of our annual awards for the Upper School closing ceremony on June 9. Today seems a good day to remember who Mr. Burdsall was for so many at BFS and why BFS gives […]
It proved to be a false alarm the morning of March 1,1971, at our historic home of 116 Schermerhorn, when BFS received a ominous phone call threatening, “There is a bomb planted in your building.” The fire alarm was soon activated and the buildings were evacuated, searched, then given the all-clear and BFS was able […]
The First May Day, 1928 Some readers may recall BFS May Day celebrations held at Friends Field and perhaps at Pearl Street. May Day was a huge lower school event that began in 1928. Each year had its own unique theme such as early U.S. settlers, nations around the world, the circus, toys, candy, and […]
Dick Begelman, 1968 BFS Alumni Day is June 7 and it will be a fabulous event as always. Our annual Alumni Day is for all alumni, faculty and friends. Alumni of all graduating years are welcome, yet Alumni Day is also the day for alumni class reunions. BFS often recognizes faculty at Alumni Day and this […]
The Earth Flag Today is Earth Day. 44 years ago on this day, BFS students were part of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, and you can read all about it on page 6 of the May, 1970 edition of The Life and journalist Stephen Magagnini, BFS Class of ’72, briefly recalled that first […]
1928-1936 BFS Lower School Scrapbook,news clipping of the first May Day, 1928“Emulating the May Day Celebration of the Early Settlers…” Sometimes history reveals a past that is not always what we want it to be, even at BFS. A few months back, I wrote about our school’s path to enrolling students of color, particularly to […]
“Know your history, ask questions and follow your heart.” Garrett Bradley, BFS ’03, Bridge Film Festival alumna It’s Spring Break, but it’s also time to reserve your tickets for the 15th annual Bridge Film Festival on Thursday, April 10 at BFS. The festival was established in 1999 at BFS by Andy Cohen, BFS director of media services, and […]
Stuart Smith, 1968 to 1978 Since 1867, BFS has had 19 heads of school, not including interim heads. Over the years, the title of our school’s highest administrative role has evolved from principal to headmaster to today’s head of school. The history of each administration is unique, fascinating and lengthy, so today I’ll only give […]
Thoughts this week turn to the many wonderful people we know and have known at BFS, particularly those no longer with us. Such thoughts make me feel fortunate to have worked with the late Gilbert Zalman. I so enjoyed my occasional conversations with Gil over the years that I envied his students their near-daily opportunity […]
