Upper School

A Message from our Upper School

Dear Upper School Community,

Happy August, Friends! I hope that this letter finds you well, rested, and excited for the new year. As I walk around our halls and see all our empty classrooms, I am reminded of how each one of our students serves as the necessary Light that brings meaning and joy to all that we do. We have been busy all summer preparing diligently for you – working with the facilities team to make sure the composition of each classroom is just right, partnering with departments to order new texts for each student, making changes and additions to spaces in the Upper School so that students are able to do their best work in each space, and a great deal more. All that is missing now are our students.

As we start a new academic year this fall, we want to center our Upper School community once more around these essential and intertwined principles:

l We are committed to living our mission as a Quaker school. l We are committed to excellence, both academic and personal. l We are committed to the social and emotional well-being of all members of our community. l We are committed to seeing the Light, the joy, and the love both in ourselves and in each other.

Families, you will find a good deal of information below to help prepare you for the new year. Please take a look through each section. Students, the first few days of school will take place either here on campus or away at a retreat center in Maryland. We are excited that we have this opportunity to come together in community, engaging in conversations and activities that will prepare us even more for the awesome months to come. We look forward to seeing and engaging with you very soon.

In Light and Love,

Kamaya Prince Thompson Head of Upper School

Daniel

Daniel Paccione Assistant Head of Upper School for Academics

Welcome New Upper School Colleagues

A new school year brings many opportunities. One such opportunity is the welcoming of new friends to Brooklyn Friends School. Please join me in welcoming the following colleagues to the Upper School.

l Maman Cisse, Upper School Learning Specialist l Alexa Galberth, Upper School Counselor l Susan Ma, Upper School Math Teacher l Danielle Perkins, 7th & 8th Grade English Teacher & English Department Chair l Heather Phan, Upper School Science Teacher l Maegen Rose, Upper School Librarian & Director of the Library Program l Michal Stobierski, Upper School Science Teacher l Naomi Varnis, Associate Director of College Counseling l Maritza Zapata, Administrative Assistant to the Upper School

We would also like to announce the following exciting changes to returning colleague roles for the 2022-2023 school year:

l Lucien Kouassi, Upper School Science Teacher & Science Department Chair l Rachel Maldonado, Lower School Psychologist & All-School Wellbeing Coordinator l M’Balia Rubie-Miller, Middle School Learning Specialist & All-School Learning Support Coordinator) l Jingyi Zhang, 7th-12th Grade Mandarin Teacher & World Languages Department Chair)

Summer Reading & Preparation for School

If your student has not yet finished their summer reading, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible! Please find the list of texts HERE.

When your child begins their first day of classes, each one of their teachers will share with them the specifics of all that they need (calculator, texts(s), etc). They should, however, arrive at each class on their first day of school with a writing implement(s) and a tool for taking notes.

The School Day

The 2022-2023 School year will begin officially on September 6th for Seniors and on September 7th for students in grades 9-11. Our schedule will run from 8:15 to 3:30. Specific student schedules will be available in MyBackpack by Monday, August 29th. The schedule template can be found HERE.

Handbook Updates

There have been significant changes to the Upper School section of the All-School Student and Family Handbook. Please take time to review it, especially the following sections with your child: l Attendance, Absences, and Lateness l Academic Concerns & Academic Probation

l Academic Honesty and Integrity l Cell Phone Policy

Students will discuss changes to the handbook and the ways that their teachers, advisors, and the leadership team will be present and ready to support them.

Opening Days & Retreats

11th & 12th Grade Retreats

The Junior and Senior trips to Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center will proceed as planned! Seniors will leave for their retreat early on Tuesday, September 6th, and return on the afternoon of September 8th. Juniors will leave for their retreat on Wednesday, September 7th, and return in the afternoon of September 9th.

Seniors, as the leaders of the entire school, will focus on leadership development during the retreat, discussing and planning for the moments and ways in which they will lead intentionally this year.

Juniors will use their retreat time to focus on building relationships across peer groups. Both groups will also have ample time for games, bonding, and community relaxation.

Families will receive more detailed information about the trip, including required forms and packing lists, in the next two weeks. Students will also receive surveys to determine rooming preferences. It is important that everyone completes the forms and sends them back to the Dean as soon as possible as there will not be an opportunity to meet in person before we leave for the retreats.

10th Grade First Days and Retreat

Sophomores will return to school on Wednesday, September 7th. They will spend the first week of school in activities around leadership and community building. Their sophomore retreat will take place on September 28th, returning on September 30th. We will send more detailed information and forms to prepare for the trip at the start of the school year.

9th Grade Orientation

The 9th grade will have an orientation day at the Upper School building on Wednesday, September 7th. They will be introduced to the culture and processes of the Upper School, and enjoy plenty of activities to bring them together as a grade.

If you have any questions about any of the retreats, please contact our Dean of Students, Brian Sullivan at bsullivan@brooklynfriends.org.

The Office of College Counseling

Senior College Night—Tuesday, September 13th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Senior College Night is the College Counseling Office’s official kick-off to the college application

cycle. This program is our opportunity to frame how we support students and families throughout the process, individually and as a whole grade. We will share important deadlines, discuss best practices, and answer any questions from students and families. Our goal is to reinforce the deep level of care and attention each student and family will receive as they navigate this process.

Upcoming Communications, Events, and Connect and Talks

In the weeks and months ahead, you will continue to receive messages around the moments in the year when we will gather in person or over Zoom in conversation. Our goal is to keep everyone informed, engaged, and connected around life here in the Upper School. Please note the following upcoming events:

l US Family Visit Day—September 6th, 9:00-11:00 AM If you would like to walk around the Upper School, please stop by and see the building before the students arrive! l 12th Grade Retreat, September 6th - 8th (Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center, Maryland) l 11th Grade Retreat, September 7th - 9th (Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center, Maryland) l 9th & 10th Grades Opening Days, September 7th - 9th (BFS) l Upper School Picture Days, September 12th & 13th l Senior College Night, September 13th, 6:00-8:00 PM l Upper School Curriculum Night, September 22nd l Succeeding with your Financial Aid Application, (Seniors & Families) Office of College Counseling, October 13th l Connect & Talk, October 14th l HBCU Panel, October 18th, 6:30 PM (All are welcome to attend!)

We look forward to welcoming all of you to the 2022-2023 School Year!