On Friday, September 23rd, all of our seventh graders and 40 of our 10th and 11th graders had the opportunity to participate in Forced From Home, a free, interactive, educational outdoor exhibition designed to raise public awareness about the global refugee crisis in Honduras, Burundi, Lebanon, and Syria. Guided by Doctors Without Borders field workers, […]
Every year during the second grade changemaker unit, there is a moment where our students begin to notice that some kinds of protests work well to make change across a range of causes. They notice that activists can make change by giving powerful speeches, many activists march with signs, many activists collect signatures on […]
A group of BFS 8th graders — Cammi F, Jazz H, Danielle F, and Tessa M — have been asked to present their green proposal to Dr. Jane Goodall at Roots & Shoots and Youth On Making the City Green. The event is Saturday, Sept. 17, from 12 to 3 pm, Allen Shandler Recreation Area – Van Cortlandt Park. […]
Upper School Privilege Day on April 13 was a time for listening, questioning, observing and learning as the entire student body and faculty examined real-life issues of privilege, oppression, and inequities in school and beyond. The day was organized by the Upper School’s Youth Action Project (YAP), who led — with other interested and involved […]
This year’s PAT SERVICE LEARNING SPRING DAY OF SERVICE on April 9 was a wonderful day. The morning PurpleStride 5K Run& Family Friendly Walk with Angie Ungaro (Gr. 7/8 Dean and Librarian) and her family was a great success. (see group photo at right of Mimi’s Milers). There was strong Middle School representation – students, […]
On March 3 and 4, Upper School students (l to r in photo above) Justin W ’18, Emmitt S ’17, Taekyung K ’18, and Amanda B ’18, joined Director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement Natania Kremer at the 40th annual UNIS-UN Conference. Held in the United Nations General Assembly, this year’s conference topic was […]
After months of intensive planning by a dynamic group of volunteers, the 17th annual Black History Month Celebration has arrived. This year’s theme is Brooklyn Activism.Talking about activism and what makes someone an activist helps children think about how changes happen in a community. Through a variety of workshops ranging from Food Justice, Animal Rights, Craft Activism, Homeless […]
On November 12, Director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement Natania Kremer and a swift team of Upper School students held a half- day Community Issues Conference for the BFS Upper School as well as other independent school students and faculty in the new BFS Upper School at 116 Lawrence Street. Tenth grade co-organizer […]
It’s not unusual for BFS faculty to take advantage of summer seminars offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and other organizations, then return in September to regale the faculty and enhance their curricula with all they have seen and learned. This year saw some particularly colorful and profound experiences unfold. Upper School […]
On June 17, 2015, Upper School students Abby M (Class of 2016) and Emmitt S (Class of 2017) accompanied Director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement Natania Kremer (CUSSW Class of 2007) to present to an Advocacy class for graduate students at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Abby and Emmitt shared about their […]
The culminating experience for our 10th Grade Service & Justice Seminar: Exploring Parallel Struggles with C.A.R.E. (Community, Accountability, Reciprocity, Equity) is a New Orleans immersion experience during the first week of June. We partner with the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal as we examine power and privilege in the context of service. […]
The 9th Grade End-of-Year experience was based in Brooklyn and focused on service learning and civic engagement in various communities in our borough. Students learned more context about the history of activism in Brooklyn and engaged with community partners doing meaningful work on a range of issues: Black Veterans for Social Justice provides assistance to […]
