WHAT'S NEW...
4th ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA
Brooklyn Free School invites you to our
4th Annual Fundraising Gala
at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West
Thursday, May 17, 2012
6pm - 10pm
This year's Gala will feature musical guest, the Eri Yamamoto Trio, plus a specialty cocktail from Juice Box & Brooklyn Republic Vodka.
A Live and silent auction, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres will complete this incredible once-a-year event.
The Gala is our largest fundraiser of the year, and all proceeds go to the BFS Scholarship Program which supports 75% of our student body.
We ask every year for our entire community to come together to participate in this event, here are all the ways you can help...
Buy Tickets:
Don't wait to buy your tickets - buy tickets now, and ask your family and friends to buy them too - you will be supporting an amazing school that supports our kids, and where our kids can't wait to go every day! Early bird special has been extended - just $45 until May 1st!
Collect Auction Items:
Get donations for the live and silent auctions. Contact the businesses and stores you visit often - they will want to help their regular customers. Click here to download the Merchant Letter.
Sell or Purchase Journal Ads:
Last year the Journal alone raised over $3,500! Consider placing an ad to congratulate your BFS student or the school on its 9th year. Ask relatives to place an ad - a banner ad is only $40, a good deal. Journal ad closing date is May 11. Click here to download an Ad Rate Sheet.
Join the Gala Food Support Team:
Volunteers will gather at BFS on Wednesday evening (May 16) before the Gala to prep dishes. Volunteers are also needed for two-hour shifts during the Gala to pass yummy bites prepared by the incredible 718 Collective (http://718collective.tumblr.com). Interested in joining this effort? Let Lily know or contact Tami for more gala volunteer info.
Volunteer at the Gala:
We need several people to help out at the event. Please contact the Events Committee at gala@brooklynfreeschool.org if you'd like to volunteer that night.
View the Gala page for more information.
Can't wait to see you all there!
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MARCH 20, 2012 - JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:
Brooklyn Free School is now accepting applications for Lower School and Upper School Advisors for the 2012-2013 school year. We seek applicants who have early childhood, elementary (Lower School), middle and high school (Upper School), teaching experience. The school is located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. Advisors receive an annual salary of approximately $40,600 and employee health insurance. These positions are scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Advisors receive time off for all school holidays and breaks and during the summer months.
Brooklyn Free School engages students and staff in democratic decision-making and problem solving. We honor student choice and facilitate student centered learning through play and exploration, constructivist teaching, collaborative course work and self-directed student initiatives. We support social and emotional development though conflict mediation, personal reflection, diversity awareness and community responsibility.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter, current resume, three references, including one from an educational supervisor, and any additional information you think we should consider in evaluating you as a candidate. Strong applications will succinctly address the following questions:
a. What makes you a strong candidate for the position?
b. What assets/skills/knowledge would you bring to this position?
c. What challenges do you anticipate and how do expect to address these challenges?
All materials and inquiries need to be submitted electronically as an attachment or in the body of an email to: bfshiring@gmail.com
The deadline to receive full consideration is Friday April 13th, 2011.
All candidates will be informed if they were selected for a first-round interview on a rolling basis through April 27th, with an anticipated hiring decision made by May 25th.
Brooklyn Free School is an equal opportunity employer
Brooklyn Free School Advisor/Teacher Job Description
Teacher
Create curriculum and teach classes, guided by student interest and need
Locate resources for subjects of student interest
Plan weekly schedule collaboratively with other staff members
Develop curriculum collaboratively with other staff members when appropriate
Advisor
Serve as primary contact for students in your advisory
Hold weekly advisory meetings
Hold regular one-on-one meetings with students in your advisory
Build teamwork by taking students on advisory trips
Help identify and assist in resolving interpersonal conflicts, modeling and teaching conflict resolution skills
Additional Upper School Advisor responsibilities:
Provide college advising and post BFS employment/travel advisement
Administer and grade RCTs
Prepare transcripts
Work with other staff:
Work collaboratively and cooperatively with staff
Attend weekly staff meetings twice a week and two weeks of staff development per year
Work with parents
Work collaboratively and cooperatively with parents:
Offer family conferences twice a year
Initiate and respond to ongoing communication with advisory caregivers
Work with school as a whole:
Create and support routines and daily practice that include lunch and stewardship of school space and materials
Lead with one special project area (admissions, space use, literacy, math, etc.)
Act in accordance and support of the mission, core principles, bylaws, and other resolutions as adopted by Brooklyn Free School
General skills:
Show flexibility and creativity
Initiate your own learning and problem solving
Prioritize multiple competing tasks
Follow through on commitments; see tasks to completion
Utilize effective nonverbal, verbal, and written communication skills
On time for daily responsibilities and meetings
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CAREERS AT BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL:
BFS will be holding its first Career Fair, sponsored and planned by the Hiring Committee, for educators, administrators, and others interested in working at our school in the future.
Brooklyn Free School Career Fair
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
6-8:30pm
372 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Free School is inviting teachers, educators, and other professionals to its first Career Fair. Meet BFS students, staff, and parents; hear about possible employment opportunities; and learn about the school's unique groundbreaking, democratic, and educational approach.
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Dear BFS Supporter:
About 9 years ago, I wrote an article in the Line Waiters Gazette, the newsletter for my local food coop in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It was an invitation to parents about starting a Democratic Free School. Brooklyn Free School [BFS] is the first democratic school to open in New York City in 30 years since the closing of the 15th Street School in 1975. It is a departure from what we have come to expect from schooling and education.
With the movements to promote democracy increasing in frequency and intensity here in the U.S. and around the world, there's no better time to support a school such as BFS, a model of direct democracy, inclusion, diversity and equality. BFS is at the forefront of working with youth of all ages to take responsibility for their own education and their own community - using a process where all voices can be heard and all count equally, regardless of income, race, ability, age, or gender. BFS strives to maintain a highly diverse socioeconomic community, because we believe that all students should have the capacity to be empowered to make decisions about their education and school, learning first hand how to build a better democracy and a better world.
Join us in supporting this important work.
With Best Wishes for the Holiday Season,
Alan P Berger,
Founder and Director
P.S. We receive a crucial part of our funding from donors like you. Without your generous support over the past years we would not have been able to get this far. Please respond with your donation today by clicking CONTRIBUTE!
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DAYTIME TOURS:
Daytime tours will begin on Thursday, October 20th, at 10am by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please email: bfsadmissions@gmail.com or call 718-499-2707.
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AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP:
We are very excited to announce that we will be entering into a partnership with Wingspan Arts, a non-profit after school enrichment program. Initially, they will be offering a 2 day/week program for children ages 5-12 (on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-6:00pm) beginning the week of October 3rd and we hope that the program will grow to a 5 day/week program by the Spring. They employ very talented and engaging teaching specialists in all manner of disciplines, from art and science, to drama and dance, and are very enthused to incorporate our school's unique qualities into their program. They have been running after school programs since 2001. If you'd like to read more about them and see the list of schools that they currently collaborate with, go to http://wingspanarts.org/.
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BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL IS SEEKING INTERNS:
Would you like to work in an environment where you can be yourself and share your interests and passions with students; a place where you can relate to and work with students in a real way as the unique individuals they are without any mandatory curricular requirements or constraints? Brooklyn Free School is such a place. At BFS students are in charge of their own learning. There's no set curriculum, tests, homework, or report cards and students and staff have an equal say in the day-to-day decision-making necessary to run the school. BFS is the only democratic school in New York City and serves students from 4 to 18 years of age in a diverse community in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
BFS is seeking intern volunteers for the 2011– 2012 school year.
Interns work at least one day a week and are responsible for assisting
the full time staff, offering classes and activities of their own and/or
facilitating classes and activities initiated by students. We are looking
for people who are dependable, reliable, relate well with children of
all ages, and are excited about learning for themselves and others. Candidates
of color are strongly urged to apply—BFS is dedicated to maintaining
a diverse community.
Past interns have earned college credit, had amazing and memorable experiences,
and built the kinds of close relationships with students, staff, and parents
increasingly rare in educational communities today.
Please review our website at brooklynfreeschool.org for more information on our school and on democratic education. If interested, please paste in the body of an email your cover letter and resume with references, and send to: alanpberger@gmail.com
Brooklyn Free School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or
gender identification in the administration of its educational policy,
scholarship and loan programs, admissions and other school-administered
programs.
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MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE AND BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL (BFS) PARTNER TO PRESENT DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
The 2nd Annual Democratic Education Symposium will be held at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn on March 5, 2011, 9am to 6pm. The theme of this year's Symposium is: Extending Our Roots to Find Common Ground and Taking Action to Change Education. The keynote speakers will be noted NYU professor Dr. Pedro Noguera and BFS students Semeo Doe and Naya Streeks.
The event is a free one-day conference that will center on how various stakeholders are bringing change to education in their classrooms, schools, districts, to make them more democratic-fostering greater input and involvement from students, teachers, and parents in the educational process. The symposium invites scholars, researchers, educators, parents, and students to examine and transcend the boundaries that divide them by participating in activities and discussions.
For more information download the press release or download the flyer.
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BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL ON THIS AMERICAN LIFE
Brooklyn Free School was featured on the radio broadcast This American Life. The program aired in January, 2011, as part of their series titled "Kid Politics" - stories where kids are being handed adult sized decisions of all kinds.
The show originally aired on January, 14th. Please click here to listen and download the episode.
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Brooklyn Free School is now licensing space to other non-profits with
the goal of becoming a community center for alternative education. For
photographs and more information click here.
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Brooklyn Free School (BFS) is proud to announce the winning
of a $5000 grant from the LEGO Children’s Fund. This project was
the brainchild of a BFS student who wanted to create a science center.
The award will be used for an Aquarium Project that will focus on the
study of coral reefs and other aquatic life. With the funds received from
the grant, BFS will be able to buy both a salt
water and fresh water observation tank, each 65 gallons in size. The students
will be involved in selecting coral, live rock, plants, fish, and other
marine life, and in maintaining these tanks. For the advanced studies
program the funds will cover a microscope,computer, and a science table
for dissections. For more information click here.
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The Regents of The University of the State of New York has awarded Brooklyn Free School with an absolute charter, replacing the provisional charters that the school has been operating under for the past six years.
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We welcomed Meghan Scibona and Scott Colthorp's film
crew into the school to work on their documentary, The
Good, The True and The Beautiful. See a rough cut of some of the interviews
they did here. This is a must see! It really captures the spirit of the
school and highlights some of the wonderful members of our community.
Click on The Good,
The True and The Beautiful.
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Brooklyn Cable Access Television produced
a wonderful segment about our school. Click here to view the segment courtesy
of Brooklyn Cable Access Television
BCAT Segment
This segment is in QuickTime format. If you do not have QuickTime installed
on your computer you will not be able to view it. Click here to download
a free QuickTime installation file