Brooklyn Friends School
Encyclopedia
Brooklyn Friends School is a Quaker
school in New York City
. Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is an independent, college preparatory Quaker school serving a culturally diverse educational community of approximately 700 students, ages 20 months through 12th grade.
as a coeducational, nonsectarian school, Brooklyn Friends School is one of the oldest continuously operating independent schools in New York City
.
From an initial student body of 17, the school now enrolls 700 students from Preschool through 12th grade, with a faculty and staff of 180. While the percentage of Quaker families and staff is small, the school’s Quaker heritage has remained central to its mission.
Starting as a grade school, BFS added a kindergarten in 1902, a high school division in 1907, and a Preschool and Family Center in 1985 and 1992 respectively. The most recent addition, the BFS Preschool has gained prominence as one of the city’s premier early learning centers.
(9-12).
, mathematics, social studies
, science, Spanish
, dance
, music, visual arts, woodworking
, physical education
, and health
.
.
, humanities
, sciences, and ethics
. Over four years, students are continually encouraged to reach as far as their strength and talents will carry them.
Ninth and tenth grade students enjoy the support of a special program crafted for each class. In a coordinated approach, groups of ninth grade students take courses in English
, history
, and visual
or performing arts
together so that their teachers can converse and plan as they address their needs and encourage their growth. The approach is similar for tenth graders. In the ninth and tenth grades, particular attention is paid to community building, developing strong communication skills, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, good study habits, and effective time management.
Under the guidance of a faculty advisor and Upper School Head, students work out a rigorous program of study that meets their needs, interests and abilities. Initial placement in math and foreign language varies according to the level of accomplishment each student exhibits. Flexibility in course offerings permits those with particular ability in these areas to move forward at a pace that makes the best educational sense for them. As students progress, they are presented with choices so that they may fashion a largely individualized program in their junior and senior years. The depth of our faculty's strengths permits diverse elective offerings, with courses beyond the college entrance level in both the humanities and sciences.
Brooklyn Friends School offers the International Baccalaureate
Diploma Program for students in the 11th and 12th grades. This internationally recognized program allows students to explore specific subjects with breadth and depth in six major areas. The curriculum encourages critical thinking through the study of traditional college preparatory curriculums while at the same time offers an international perspective. In addition, IB students are required to participate actively in creative activities and community service, as well as completing an individual research project (extended essay) and an inquiry course that delves into the nature of knowledge (Theory of Knowledge course).
The graduation requirements for The Upper School are:
Students take a “hands-on” approach in addressing social issues, participating in age-appropriate projects: Preschoolers might bake food for senior citizens, Lower Schoolers might hold a read-a-thon fundraiser for local, national or international humanitarian groups, Middle Schoolers might share their computer skills with senior citizens, and Upper Schoolers volunteer directly with community organizations. All Upper School students are required to perform 100 hours of community service— 20 hours in the school, and 80 out in the community.
The Middle School Student Council represents the Middle School in governing matters. The Upper School Student Senate, consisting of elected representatives from each grade, makes recommendations to the administration and conducts monthly “town meetings,” organizes dances and other social events. Work on the Student Senate helps students focus on their strengths and leadership abilities, improve their public speaking skills, and work collaboratively with others. Composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the president and senator of each grade, the Senate also coordinates student clubs and activities that meet weekly. Our Upper School students also annually participate in the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference, a nationwide conference affording students and faculty an opportunity to discuss leadership issues, school missions, and community issues both schoolwide and worldwide.
At Quaker Meeting for Worship, students and faculty sit in silence, and if they feel moved to say something to deepen and enrich the experience, they stand and speak. The practice of quieting the mind and opening the heart adds a spiritual dimension to the educational experience and encourages students to be thoughtful, active listeners.
At Brooklyn Friends School, Upper School students gain an intellectual understanding of Quakerism and world religions through required courses in religion, ethics, and Quakerism.
Each week, a Friends school community gathers for Quaker Meeting. The form of the meeting is simple. Each person having with him or herself the ability to discern the truth, Friends worship silently, waiting upon the spirit. Students and teachers are encouraged to speak from their hearts, if so moved. The unstructured nature of Quaker Meeting, with its focus on the power of the gathered group, gives everyone, regardless of a particular faith, a powerful tool for spiritual growth. They are asked to turn to their Inner Light for guidance in living their lives. Quaker Meeting makes explicit the connection between the inward and outward life that is unique in Quaker education.
Quaker Meeting and other dedicated periods of silence provide precious opportunities to be in more direct contact with the light within and among each of us. These are times to reflect on one's values and aspirations, community concerns, and matters of deeper import that often are submerged in the noise of everyday life.
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
school in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is an independent, college preparatory Quaker school serving a culturally diverse educational community of approximately 700 students, ages 20 months through 12th grade.
History
Founded in 1867 by the Religious Society of FriendsReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
as a coeducational, nonsectarian school, Brooklyn Friends School is one of the oldest continuously operating independent schools in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
From an initial student body of 17, the school now enrolls 700 students from Preschool through 12th grade, with a faculty and staff of 180. While the percentage of Quaker families and staff is small, the school’s Quaker heritage has remained central to its mission.
Starting as a grade school, BFS added a kindergarten in 1902, a high school division in 1907, and a Preschool and Family Center in 1985 and 1992 respectively. The most recent addition, the BFS Preschool has gained prominence as one of the city’s premier early learning centers.
Diversity
The school’s longtime, continuing commitment to ethnic and racial diversity has led to BFS being recognized as one of the most diverse independent schools in the country. Students of color comprise about 37% of the total student enrollment. About 20% of the faculty and staff are of color.Academics
Brooklyn Friends School is split into four academic levels: Preschool, Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper SchoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(9-12).
Lower School (K-4)
The Lower School curriculum includes classes in language artsLanguage arts
Traditionally, the primary divisions in the language arts are Literature and Language, where language in this case refers to both linguistics, and specific languages....
, mathematics, social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
, science, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, music, visual arts, woodworking
Woodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
, physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
.
Middle School (5-8)
The middle school curriculum includes classes in the humanities (English and history), mathematics, science, languages, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, health/life skills, organization and study skills and information technologyInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
.
Upper School(9-12)
The Brooklyn Friends Upper School curriculum provides every student with a strong and broad foundation in the artsARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
, humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, sciences, and ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. Over four years, students are continually encouraged to reach as far as their strength and talents will carry them.
Ninth and tenth grade students enjoy the support of a special program crafted for each class. In a coordinated approach, groups of ninth grade students take courses in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, and visual
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
or performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
together so that their teachers can converse and plan as they address their needs and encourage their growth. The approach is similar for tenth graders. In the ninth and tenth grades, particular attention is paid to community building, developing strong communication skills, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, good study habits, and effective time management.
Under the guidance of a faculty advisor and Upper School Head, students work out a rigorous program of study that meets their needs, interests and abilities. Initial placement in math and foreign language varies according to the level of accomplishment each student exhibits. Flexibility in course offerings permits those with particular ability in these areas to move forward at a pace that makes the best educational sense for them. As students progress, they are presented with choices so that they may fashion a largely individualized program in their junior and senior years. The depth of our faculty's strengths permits diverse elective offerings, with courses beyond the college entrance level in both the humanities and sciences.
Brooklyn Friends School offers the International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate Organization
The International Baccalaureate , formerly the International Baccalaureate Organization , is an international educational foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and founded in 1968. IB offers three educational programmes for children ages 3–19.The organization's name and logo were changed...
Diploma Program for students in the 11th and 12th grades. This internationally recognized program allows students to explore specific subjects with breadth and depth in six major areas. The curriculum encourages critical thinking through the study of traditional college preparatory curriculums while at the same time offers an international perspective. In addition, IB students are required to participate actively in creative activities and community service, as well as completing an individual research project (extended essay) and an inquiry course that delves into the nature of knowledge (Theory of Knowledge course).
The graduation requirements for The Upper School are:
- English (4 years)
- Mathematics (4 years)
- History/Social Sciences (4 years)
- Lab Science (3 years)
- Foreign Language (3 consecutive levels)
- Visual and/or Performing Arts (3 years)
- Quakerism (1 semester)
- Introduction to Ethics (1 semester)
- Study Skills with Computer & Media Literacy (1 semester)
- Life Skills (1 semester)
- Physical Education (4 years)
- Fulfillment of Community Service and CAS requirements
Student Leadership and Activities
All students in grades 3-12 take overnight trips as part of the Outdoor Education Program and the foreign language curriculum. Leadership opportunities for Middle and Upper Schoolers include the Model United Nations, student judiciary, El Club Latino, the Social Action Committee, and the Building Committee.Students take a “hands-on” approach in addressing social issues, participating in age-appropriate projects: Preschoolers might bake food for senior citizens, Lower Schoolers might hold a read-a-thon fundraiser for local, national or international humanitarian groups, Middle Schoolers might share their computer skills with senior citizens, and Upper Schoolers volunteer directly with community organizations. All Upper School students are required to perform 100 hours of community service— 20 hours in the school, and 80 out in the community.
The Middle School Student Council represents the Middle School in governing matters. The Upper School Student Senate, consisting of elected representatives from each grade, makes recommendations to the administration and conducts monthly “town meetings,” organizes dances and other social events. Work on the Student Senate helps students focus on their strengths and leadership abilities, improve their public speaking skills, and work collaboratively with others. Composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the president and senator of each grade, the Senate also coordinates student clubs and activities that meet weekly. Our Upper School students also annually participate in the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference, a nationwide conference affording students and faculty an opportunity to discuss leadership issues, school missions, and community issues both schoolwide and worldwide.
Athletics
Brooklyn Friends also has an athletics program that includes soccer, volleyball, cross country, baseball, and basketball. In the year of 2003, the boys varsity basketball team won the New York State Championship.A Quaker School
Every school day begins with a few minutes of silence in the classroom. Middle and Upper School tudents also attend Quaker Meeting for Worship once a week, in the historic Schermerhorn Street Meeting House.At Quaker Meeting for Worship, students and faculty sit in silence, and if they feel moved to say something to deepen and enrich the experience, they stand and speak. The practice of quieting the mind and opening the heart adds a spiritual dimension to the educational experience and encourages students to be thoughtful, active listeners.
At Brooklyn Friends School, Upper School students gain an intellectual understanding of Quakerism and world religions through required courses in religion, ethics, and Quakerism.
Each week, a Friends school community gathers for Quaker Meeting. The form of the meeting is simple. Each person having with him or herself the ability to discern the truth, Friends worship silently, waiting upon the spirit. Students and teachers are encouraged to speak from their hearts, if so moved. The unstructured nature of Quaker Meeting, with its focus on the power of the gathered group, gives everyone, regardless of a particular faith, a powerful tool for spiritual growth. They are asked to turn to their Inner Light for guidance in living their lives. Quaker Meeting makes explicit the connection between the inward and outward life that is unique in Quaker education.
Quaker Meeting and other dedicated periods of silence provide precious opportunities to be in more direct contact with the light within and among each of us. These are times to reflect on one's values and aspirations, community concerns, and matters of deeper import that often are submerged in the noise of everyday life.