Activities

Over the year BFS observes a variety of community activities that are open to family friends and/or the general public. The array of these activities have been listed below...

Indigenous People’s Day of Reflection & Mourning: This replaces the previously held “Community Feast” held on the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving break. 

Winter secret gift exchange: Students and staff draw names and give gifts before the winter break; gifts planned and exchanged within advisory groups. Focus is on low or no cost and equity. 

Festival of Lights: The school day community (students, staff, volunteers) are invited to light a candle and share a wish for the new year in a special ceremony that marks the darkest time of the year. 

Community Love Celebration:  Advisories each have another advisory to create a valentine for and students share valentines individually also.

Career Fair: Held at 6 pm one evening in February, the career fair is for educators, administrators, and others who want to learn more about career opportunities at BFS. 

Pi-Day: Pi Day (3/14 or closest school day) Students compete to recite from memory as many digits of pi as they can. Top three winners get to “pie” staff volunteers in the face. 

Annual Musical: Each year students put on a musical that’s open to students of all ages. Past musicals have included The Wiz, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Peter Pan, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, and West Side Story. Students can participate by performing, helping with costumes and makeup, helping with music, assisting with stage management, or working on the set.

End of Year Events: 

  • The regular schedule ends before the last week/two weeks of school, and is replaced by special events and trips. These typically include: 

    • Field Day: On one of the days during the last week of school the whole school walks to Ft. Greene Park and spends the day playing organized games in mixed age teams and enjoying informal outdoor time together.

    • Beach Day: On another day during the last week of school the whole school heads out for a day at the beach! Families are invited to join. 

    • Goodbye Ceremony: Slideshow to celebrate the year past, and an appreciation circle (staff led) for any students or staff leaving the school at the close of the year. (Includes graduating seniors.)

    • Last Day of School Community BBQ & Yearbook Ceremony  Community BBQ at the Picnic House grills in Prospect Park; organized by the school, but supplies are potluck and labor is shared. Yearbook Ceremony takes place at the BBQ; each student is recognized by the staff in our special ceremony, in which yearbooks are passed out (every BFS student has their photo in the yearbook), and clues given by advisors so that the whole school gets to guess (and celebrate) each student.

    • Graduation: A graduation ceremony for the BFS graduates, their families, and the BFS community at 11 am. Families are invited to join!

Birthday Appreciations

Birthdays are celebrated individually in advisory groups. Summer birthdays are celebrated collectively in a goodbye ceremony during the last week of school. Birthday treats can be shared with groups and/or the school community at the end of the day after end of day meeting. Summer birthdays choose an alternate date for a “Spirit Birthday” appreciation and celebration.