UPDATED ON 12/2/25 Two weeks ago, Brooklyn Friends School seniors Derrick W. and Beckett Z. were featured in The New York Times and brooklynfriends.org for their innovative website to assist with the affordable housing crisis in New York City. Over the holiday weekend, the dynamic duo was featured on CBS News New York. “Listening to […]
While most of the BFS community took the past two weeks to rest, relax, and spend time with family and friends, a group of 17 Upper School students and three colleagues made the educational journey of a lifetime—spending 10 amazing days in Ghana. The program, which was organized through BFS’ Office of Global Social Impact […]
This past week, Middle School students at Brooklyn Friends School participated in a cherished tradition deeply rooted in BFS’ Quaker values. The entire Learning Community came together in the Pearl Street Meeting House for the annual Peace Tree Ceremony—a beautiful ritual that has honored community, reflection, and the Quaker testimony of Peace for more than […]
In the world of educational professional development, there are events and then, there are events. This past week’s NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) People of Color Conference, which was attended by more than 6,000 educators and 1,200 student leaders in Denver, was most certainly the latter. BFS is extremely proud to have sent 22 colleagues and six student leaders […]
The BFS community recognizes Juneteenth! Founded by the activism of the “Grandmother of Junteenth”, 94 year old retired educator, Ms. Opal Lee, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the freedom of enslaved African Americans, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. […]
Thank you to Lower School Colleagues Jonathan Edmonds, Sarah Gordon, Doris Rodriguez-Graber, Laleña Garcia, and Amelia Jenison for sharing this reflection. This past Wednesday, the Lower School came together for our annual gathering to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other changemakers. Over the years, the Lower School has built and evolved the traditions of this special moment to be together in community, […]
It is not often that one finds a community that perfectly combines mission driven colleagues, students and families, an alignment of values and vision, and a general orientation toward the practice of meaningful engagement in social justice, action, impact, kindness, and joy. This is what I have been immensely grateful to have found—and now be […]
We will celebrate as a community on Friday, October 14 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Cafe at our Upper School (116 Lawrence Street). Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month or Hispanic Heritage month (official government designation), recognizes and honors the enduring contributions and importance of Latinx community members in the U.S. At Brooklyn Friends School we embrace, […]
This letter appears in the summer 2022 issue of The Light, our Brooklyn Friends School magazine. Recently, I heard beautiful remarks that focused on the concept of what it means to actively and intentionally create a home. As I listened, I thought of the places that I have called home. All have been home because […]
“Juneteenth is freedom for everybody. I want everyone to know dreams can come to fruition.” -Opal Lee While Juneteenth has become a national holiday due to the tireless efforts of 95 year old former school teacher, Opal Lee, the day represents both a rejoicing of freedom and one of the many manifestations of systemic racism […]
June is PRIDE month! The Brooklyn Friends School community stands together in the light, power and solidarity of the continued LGBTQIA+ struggle, legacy of resilience, and fight for equal rights. As a community we align ourselves with the lived responsibility of belonging and justice. Starting with the Stonewall Uprising in June, 1969, Pride Month commemorates and celebrates LGBTQIA+ activism and culture uplifting voices, celebration […]
Can eight rising sixth graders change the world? One thing is for certain, don’t tell them that they can’t. In early June, the eight students—Tess, Lucia, Natalie, Sarah, Rose, Letizia, Adrienne, and Lyla—entered into Head of School Crissy Cáceres’ office with a purpose. They had been there twice before to discuss their plans on how […]
