The Light Fall/Winter 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

STRATEGIC VISION

STUDENT VOICES

ALUMNI NEWS

2022–2023 IMPACT REPORT

angle-double-right IN THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE: Focusing on Focus as a Magazine Focus

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Focus on Peace

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A Message From Head of School, Crissy Cáceres

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BFS' Strategic Vision: Embracing the Journey

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A Night to Shine Our Light

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We Are Excited to Mind Our Light

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Q&A With Kristin Brady

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Q&A With Razi Abdur-Rahman

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Focus on Our Colleagues

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Learning to Flex Our Creativity

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Santi's Excellent Adventure

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Head Over Heels for Being Busy!

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Examining History at BFS

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The Power of Photography

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Balancing School and Athletics

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Third-Annual BFS Fall Fantasy Parade

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Embracing the Art of Dance: A K–5 Journey

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Athletics Roundup

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Panther Perfection for MS Soccer

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BFS Arti-Facts

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Remembering—And Honoring—The Past

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BFS Prepares for 2024 Institutes

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Introducing: Camp Brooklyn!

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Spotlighting BFS Alums

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Class Notes

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In Memoriam

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Impact Report 2022–2023: A Focus on the Support of BFS

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OUR MISSION

Guided by the Quaker belief that there is a Divine Light in everyone, Brooklyn Friends School cultivates an intellectually ambitious and diverse community that celebrates each individual’s gifts. We challenge our students to value and embrace difference as they develop critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge and intelligence both in and out of the classroom. In this rich learning environment, we inspire all members of our community to voice their convictions, to discover and pursue their passions, and to seek truth. Our graduates are compassionate, curious, and confident global citizens who let their lives speak in the spirit of leadership and service.

THE LIGHT

is published by Brooklyn Friends School for alumni, families, grandparents, colleagues, and friends.

375 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 116 Lawrence Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-852-1029 • brooklynfriends.org

Brett Topel • Director of Communications & Marketing Emily Cowles • Associate Director of Digital Content & School Events Manager Peter Mackie • Design, Advancement, & Data Systems Specialist Max DeLott • Interim Director of Advancement Jay Rapp • Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives & Alumni Relations Cover Photo by Joseph Gomez Magazine Layout & Design by Peter Mackie Photography by Joseph Gomez

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angle-double-right FOCUS

FOCUSING ON FOCUS AS A MAGAZINE FOCUS

By BRETT TOPEL Director of Communications & Marketing

of the gathered group and the Light within each human being. It gives everyone, regardless of a particular faith, a powerful tool for spiritual growth. It allows for the power of silence, which is such a dynamic form of focus, and one of many that can be applied in so many cases here at Brooklyn Friends. And it is applied in many cases in this very edition of The Light.

The focus of this edition of The Light is—focus, and it all started with a single photo, taken by fourth grade teacher, Eva Warren.

While photographing her students in September, Eva captured a moment in time that represents focus in more than one of its definitions—two fourth graders, searching for an answer on a globe, while their faces are filled with both intensity, anticipation, and wonder. The photo was not posed, it didn’t need to be. Moments like this happen everyday at BFS.

On the following pages, we focus on many of the things that are most important to us as a school—our Strategic Vision, our students, our colleagues, our arts and athletics, our community, our alumni, and so much more. The rich writing and magnificent photos that appear in this magazine that have been created by so many in our BFS community all share the same focus. That focus is on Brooklyn Friends School. And when it comes to telling the stories of BFS, the overall focus is, forgive us, in sharp focus.

As a noun, the word focus—which comes from the mid-17th century—means, “a center of activity, attraction, or attention” or “a point of concentration.” As a verb, it means to “pay particular attention to; concentrate.” Eva’s photo fills all of that criteria. The photo on the bottom left of this page from our Upper School— taken by photographer Joseph Gomez—does as well. This photo shows the type of focus we like best here at Brooklyn Friends School—a focus that includes a group of students, academic excellence, and joy, all at the same time.

Perhaps no article written in this magazine centers “focus” better than one written by one of our students, Zay Demmissie, an eighth grader. On Page 23, Zay writes that the type of focus they needed to have to compete on the JV Volleyball Team and, at the same time, be one of the leads in the school musical, and at the same time, be a student at BFS. The article is not to be missed, as Zay gives a first-person account of what their experience was like.

Our students, our colleagues, and our alumni are no strangers to focus. In fact, it is at the core of our most basic Quaker values.

At Meeting for Worship, for example, the focus is on the power

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Please enjoy this issue, which not only contains so many great stories and photos, but also includes the 2022–2023 Impact Report.

angle-double-right PEACE

FOCUS ON PEACE

By KEVIN MURUNGI Director of Global Civic Engagement & Social Impact

At Brooklyn Friends School, we care for and hold each other in the light with intentionality and mindfulness of our community wellbeing. As our Head of School, Crissy, shared at the Night to Shine Our Light, Wholeness and Wellbeing are now a core pillar of BFS, along with Diversity Equity & Belonging, and Global Civic Engagement & Social Impact.

During this challenging time for our global community, we remain steadfast in caring for everyone in our immediate community as we consider the impact of global events and how we might respond to them.

Conflict, loss, and heartbreak are currently unfolding around the world. How can we, as the Brooklyn Friends School community, respond in a manner that holds true to our values while acknowledging the complexity and fraught nature of the challenges we face? A starting point is to lean into who we are and remember The Quakers’ central conviction that “the Light” resides in everyone. This belief gives rise to a genuine respect for the intrinsic worth of all people. If we focus on our belief in this intrinsic worth of all people, we can navigate the choppy waters of complexity and hurt that we are facing as a global community and do the necessary work to educate ourselves, have a positive impact, and be agents of change and social justice.

in these difficult times, that Peace is a core and immensely valuable Quaker testimony. We will continue to facilitate peace education and empower our community—students, families and colleagues alike—with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to end violence and injustice and promote a culture of peace. As we do this, we will make sure to act in a thoughtful manner, respectful of nuance and the pain that has, and continues, to unfold around the world. This is something that we must do if we are to truly realize and promote the values, beliefs and attitudes that encourage all individuals to uphold their own rights and those of others. It is my hope that this type of human rights education will help our community develop an understanding of everyone’s common responsibility to make the promotion and protection of human rights a reality in all communities, local and global.

We cannot now shy away from our call to community stewardship. We must, and we will, join in the quest for a sustained peace. We will not remain silent, we cannot, that would fly in the face of our Equality testimony that calls us to honor each person and work against oppression. We are a school community that is built on doing and saying more when our world is faced with injustice, inequality, oppression, and conflict.

In all that we do, we will always center the wellbeing of our students as they tackle these unfolding and upsetting global realities. I welcome partnership from students, colleagues, and families as we navigate even more impactful and action oriented engagement in the coming weeks and months.

We will engage all the truths that exist, even as we realize that those truths are sometimes uncomfortable. We will remember,

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angle-double-right HEAD OF SCHOOL

A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL CRISSY CÁCERES Head of School

Dear Brooklyn Friends Community, Focus. Perhaps no word better defines this school year here at Brooklyn Friends. We have focused on today, tomorrow, our school’s identity and pillars—all through the lens of a dynamic Strategic Vision that was set into motion nearly two years ago.

Now, we celebrate that focus here in the newest edition of The Light magazine.

On October 30, I had the privilege to stand in front of our entire community and proudly launch Brooklyn Friends School’s Strategic Vision—a scaffolded future for BFS, for Brooklyn, and for the World. That Strategic Vision—and everything that it represents—has been our guiding center for this school year. Everything we have done this year—and will do moving forward—is defined by this vision.

Throughout the pages of The Light, you will be able to enjoy stories about the Strategic Vision itself, as well as our interconnected focus on peace, academics, athletics, and arts.

You will read articles written by our students about their own focus strategies and stories about colleagues, whose professional focus never wavers from our students. Moving forward, we are excited about all that the future will bring, understanding that each step of our Strategic Vision is a critical one.

For more than 155 years, Brooklyn Friends School has existed in the Brooklyn landscape, constantly evolving within the cultural, socio-political, economic, and geographic dynamics of this vibrant borough. Throughout it all, our center has been our Quaker identity, and we have strived to embody and realize Quaker principles within all aspects of our existence. Many BFS generations have been influenced by the principles of Peace, Integrity, Community, Simplicity, Equality, and Stewardship, and scores of individuals have dedicated themselves to ensuring that they are fully lived through actions that positively influence peoples’ lives.

Now, in the coming years, our school seeks to boldly push itself towards being an educational cornerstone of social justice and impact within local, national, and global spheres in an effective manner that embodies and punctuates our Quaker identity. It is through core queries and proposed actions, steeped in the Quaker practice of being open to continuous revelation and seeking to connect to our Light within, that we lift the work of the many community members whose voices informed this strategic envisioning and planning process. Through this

year-long process, we sought to grow in our connection as a community, develop our ability to become strategically informed visionary action agents, and punctuate our public-private purpose as school residents of our illustrious local, national, and global landscapes.

The trials facing our youth are different today in both content and magnitude. The skills required to solve them challenge the norms that have influenced educational practice for generations.

Our school’s expansive academic program, its strength and its ethos of wellness and care for all students compel us to think harder about what is needed now that will equip our students with all that they need to not simply make a difference, but to influence the trajectory of our world for the better.

Within this strategic vision, we amplified the mission of our beautiful school and ensured that the process and decisions aligned with our school’s guiding principles. We also actively involved and engaged our community in our strategic planning process, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives were heard and valued in shaping the future of our beloved and needed Quaker School.

Thank you to the members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, the Strategic Planning Team, Individual Interviewees and Community Design Day participants, and a special note of gratitude to the BFS Board of Trustees and all Colleagues for the immense efforts showcased throughout this journey. Your commitment to the realization of the optimal best version that Brooklyn Friends School can be in this contemporary context of education is absolute and will serve as motivation for collective framing and action in the years ahead.

In partnership and with gratitude and tremendous excitement,

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angle-double-right STRATEGIC VISION

BFS’ STRATEGIC VISION: EMBRACING THE JOURNEY

By MEGAN NUXOLL Chief of Staff & Stragety Manager

A common metaphor in strategic planning is a road trip—think about where you are, identify where you are headed, and map out the best possible route to get to your destination. While familiar and even delightful, I find myself bristling at this metaphor and its inherent focus on the destination instead of the journey.

When translated to a school setting, I find that it falls short of what it means to envision a future for children—afterall, our students’ experiences are so much more than the moment they walk across the stage, diploma in hand, at the end of their career at Brooklyn Friends School.

Thankfully, our partners in our strategic planning process, Shu Shu Costa and Carla Silver of Leadership + Design, offered a new frame to this metaphor: instead of relying on a map to route our journey, exchange it for a compass. This reframe resonated deeply with the 20 dedicated Brooklyn Friends School community members who worked for nearly 12 months on the strategic planning process. A compass doesn’t tell you which highway has the least traffic, or which is the scenic route.

Instead, it offers steady guidance, its arrow reminding us the direction of our True North. As a Quaker school, we were able to identify our True North with remarkable simplicity. After all, a Quaker school need not look further than within ourselves for guidance—Our Inner Light.

Our Strategic Planning Team led a relentlessly community‑driven process, listening to the hundreds of stories 8

our BFS community shared of our school and its impact on their education, careers, families, and lives. Within these stories, there was a palpable sense of possibility: BFS is much more than what we do in the classroom, it’s the way our students see the world beyond themselves, and hope to change it for the better. The strategic planning team was charged with not only holding these stories with the reverence they deserved, but also fanning each person’s light so it might shine upon others. We followed our Inner Light all the way to October 30th, when our community gathered together for A Night to Shine Our Light. You can read more about that event on Page 10.

Our strategic vision: Be the Light, See the Light, Shine the Light, is a compass that is shared by the entirety of our community to guide us forward. As a global and local community, the last five years have taught us that even the best laid plans are disrupted by forces outside of our control. A vision allows us to adjust our course and flex to the winds of change while holding what is most critical to our community.

This is not to say that our vision is absent of substantive planning—there are certainly elements of our school community that we are already looking to enhance, improve, grow, and more fully embrace—and the scaffolded format of this vision allows us to do so. By beginning with ourselves—Be the Light for Brooklyn Friends School—we were able to translate the stories from our community into actionable change in the short, medium, and long term.

During the planning process, our community consistently shared that BFS values belonging, community, and connection. These values pushed us to ask a question of how our campus spaces support these values, and what is lost by having two separate campus facilities. Currently, we are working closely with the

Facilities Committee of the BFS Board of Trustees to consider our physical infrastructure and what positive impact a unified campus space might have on our students and our mission. On October 30th, many guests shared their hopes and dreams for a BFS campus, including more outdoor spaces, a gathering space for our entire community, and more athletic and art spaces.

You can expect more opportunities to share your hopes for a reimagined setting for BFS! Similarly, at A Night to Shine Our Light, Crissy drew connections between our Quaker identity and how it informs the two long‑standing pillars of our school: Diversity, Equity & Belonging, and Global Civic Engagement. This has paved the way for the introduction of a third pillar to our school: Wholeness & Wellbeing. Just like our strategic vision itself, if we do not care for our own hearts and minds, we cannot have as strong an impact as local and global changemakers. Presently, we are exploring a partnership with Harvard Graduate School of Education’s program Making Caring Common which conducts climate and culture assessments at schools with an ethos of care that is truly mission-aligned with BFS. In addition to an audit of our wellbeing program, BFS leaders including leaders of our Learning Communities and our student support team, have participated in professional development that specifically addresses the future of student mental health support and expansion of these programs within schools.

It’s no accident that our 10-year self-study and accreditation processes coincide with the launch of this strategic vision: the data we are gathering for the self-study are deeply informative for how Be the Light for Brooklyn Friends School lives and evolves. During our two professional development days this fall, BFS colleagues have explored how our Quaker identity lives in the day-to-day at school, shared what impactful professional development looks like, and explored what belonging means to them. These are far beyond data points: they are stories that

OUR STRATEGIC VISION: BE THE LIGHT, SEE THE LIGHT, SHINE THE LIGHT, IS A COMPASS THAT IS SHARED BY THE ENTIRETY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GUIDE US FORWARD. inform initiatives of our strategic vision: Embodying Our Quaker Identity, Excellence in Professional Development and Growth, and Expanding Equity & Social Impact Initiatives. In just a few short weeks, families and students will be invited to participate in surveys and roundtable discussions to contribute to these parallel processes.

In November, we announced the launch of Camp Brooklyn: a summer camp program that will be based at Brooklyn Friends, but open to children beyond our community to enjoy a dynamic summer experience in our beloved borough. In the BFS Office of Social Impact, Ángel Soba and Kevin Murungi have been navigating the lengthy application process for observer status with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Once complete, this will allow BFS to attend COP29 and other events with the United Nations, greatly expanding our global network. We have heard from parents and alumni who have ideas for community partnerships, students with renewed energy as activists, and school leaders who are prepared to make way for the countless possibilities for our community. The enthusiasm from our community of changemakers is palpable.

So we have recycled our roadmaps and silenced our GPS systems. Instead, we will sit in silence and watch the arrow on our collective compass point north to our own Inner Light—we will be it, we will see it, and we will shine it—and it will guide us into the future.

strategicvision.brooklynfriends.org

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angle-double-right A NIGHT TO SHINE OUR LIGHT

By BRETT TOPEL Director of Communications & Marketing The Brooklyn Friends community jammed into the Pearl Street Meeting House to hear Head of School, Crissy Cáceres, unveil the school’s dynamic Strategic Vision. The evening, entitled A Night to Shine Our Light, was attended by more than 300 family members, colleagues, and friends, and was certainly a night to remember!

“Now in my fifth year as Head of School, this feels like just the right time to launch this incredible moment in our school’s history,” Crissy told the audience. “We need to shine a light on our future, as we honor our past and express gratitude for our present.”

Crissy went on to lay out the Strategic Vision, sharing many details of who and what informed the final plan. She invited everyone to view our tool, the Strategic Vision microsite, through which you can explore all of the Vision’s initiatives and their respective queries, actions, and outcomes. This can be found by visiting the BFS website at brooklynfriends.org.

“For me, there are some experiences that really make you step back and say, ‘oh, I am so blessed and lucky’,” Crissy said.

“In this year five as your Head of School, oh, I am so blessed and lucky.”

Following the Strategic Vision presentation, Crissy invited everyone up to our Upper Gym and rooftop to celebrate the big event. There was food, drink, music, activities, and more! We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who was able to attend.

Our Strategic Vision has been scaffolded to work in three connected parts, each centering the strategic initiatives that BFS will adapt, grow, and thrive amidst the changing demands of contemporary education. Scaffolding the strategic vision to begin with us, Brooklyn Friends School, then the borough of Brooklyn, and finally, the world, is a purposeful and strategic approach that aligns with BFS’ mission, values, and role as an educational leader. You can read much more about this on Page 8.

The power of the evening, meanwhile, was palpable.

“There is no stopping BFS in its community’s aim to become the most welcoming and complete educational environment for students, colleagues, and families,” said M. Salomé Galib—a BFS Board Member, parent of two BFS graduates,

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and one who will graduate this June. “Its impact will be felt beyond its walls, into Brooklyn and the greater world for many years to come, thanks to the experiences our children will be fortunate to enjoy.”

Alexander Tavantzis, the father of two at BFS, is adamant that the future is extremely bright for the school.

“I always tell everyone who will listen how great Brooklyn Friends School is—and how it continues to make me smile,” Alex said. “Besides the thriving academics and athletics, I constantly marvel at how much I like all of my children’s friends and their families. Coming from a place where the community was not nearly as warm, I always tell our sons how fortunate they are to go to, and thrive, at BFS. It is truly one of the best choices we made back in 2014. It is one of our brightest lights.”

During the evening, we were thrilled to share the first step in this journey with the official launch of the Minding our Light campaign for the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School. Minding our Light celebrates and seeks to strengthen how our Light illuminates and reflects in every facet of who we are: our academics, athletics, arts, our pillars, our colleagues, and our home. As we embark on this exciting journey together, it is our deepest hope that each and every member of our community will contribute to this work and affirm our path forward with support for the Fund. You can read much more about Minding Our Light on Page 13.

One night alone can not change the course of BFS’ present and future. However, one night did do one very special thing—it allowed Brooklyn Friends School to shine its light on all of the great things that we are focused on for our school, for Brooklyn, and for the world.

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angle-double-right MINDING OUR LIGHT

WE ARE EXCITED TO MIND OUR LIGHT It was a windy, chilly Monday evening and the threat of rain felt imminent as dark clouds accumulated over Downtown Brooklyn, and yet the doors of 375 Pearl Street were wide open as more than 300 parents, grandparents, alumni, colleagues, and friends gathered at Brooklyn Friends School for a truly special occasion. On October 30th, just two years after the Board of Trustees first approved the beginning of a strategic planning process, we came together as one community to unveil the new Strategic Vision for our school.

The result of countless interviews, listening tours, Think Tank experiences, and campus visits, the Strategic Vision will serve as our school’s North Star for the years ahead in which, as Head of School Crissy Cáceres said, “our school seeks to boldly push itself towards being an educational cornerstone of social justice and impact within local, national, and global spheres in an effective manner that embodies and punctuates our Quaker identity.”

As we begin this exciting chapter, we strive to have all members of our community be our partners in this work.

Through a gift to the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School, each individual or family can make a direct impact in our efforts

By MAX DELOTT Intertim Director of Advancement

to bring the many facets of our Strategic Vision to life. This year’s campaign for the Fund, Minding our Light, celebrates all the ways in which your generosity to the Fund will reflect in every aspect of the BFS experience—our academics, athletics, arts, our pillars, our colleagues, and our home—and where we will invest our resources to realize the optimal best version that Brooklyn Friends School can be.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have continued to support the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School and to the many who are stepping forward to join in this effort.

In this edition of The Light, you will find the 2022–2023 Impact report. We are proud to acknowledge the many members of our community whose philanthropic support during the 2022–2023 academic year inspired us to dream big and to chart a clear path forward for the years to come. We are excited for what the future holds! We encourage you to continue your generosity by contributing to our Minding Our Light campaign.

Thank you for your partnership and unwavering commitment to our school. We are deeply grateful.

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COLLEAGUES angle-double-right COLLEAGUES

Q&A WITH KRISTIN BRADY Preschool Education Director

Tell me a little bit about where you grew up...what was it like?

I grew up in Providence, and I was blessed with a happy childhood. My parents love adventure and people, so my childhood was filled with both. It seemed as though there was always a rogue graduate student staying in my house—my extended family really extends! Our adventures ranged from car trips everywhere (we always needed to bring my dad’s cello...), to lots of international folk dancing (I did the Norwegian Hambo at my wedding), to getting stuck in a flash flood in the Grand Canyon (we survived!).

Talk about what you did professionally before arriving at BFS. Before BFS, I was the director of a small private preschool in Carroll Gardens, running the whole (small) show. I loved creating and being part of a tight knit school community, and that is one of the things that drew me to BFS. I spent a few years home with my children when they were young, running the playground circuit.

I began my career in education while in college, student teaching at a nursery school housed on my university campus. I was really captivated by the daily interplay between theory and practice and am always on the lookout for similar experiences.

This is your first year at BFS, but what initial impression has it made on you and is it the same as you thought before you started in the role?

I have been truly impressed by the authenticity and inspired thinking at Brooklyn Friends School. I first caught sight of these elements in my initial interview with Crissy, and I’ve felt them every step of the way since.

What is it about Preschool that you are passionate about?

Preschool is the absolute best because children aren’t just learning, they are learning how to learn. They are exploring all parts of the world and every day is filled with discovery, joy, invention, and community!

What do you like to do when you are NOT at BFS? I have two teenagers who I strive to keep up with—one sings, and I love attending his concerts, and the other plays baseball,

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I HAVE BEEN TRULY IMPRESSED BY THE AUTHENTICITY AND INSPIRED THINKING AT BROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL. and I love attending his games. My husband and I delight in long walks and talks, and we love to invite all sorts of friends for food and fun.

What is your favorite food, why, and where do they make it best?

My favorite food is spaetzle, which is a kind of German noodle.

It’s best made in my mom’s kitchen!

We know you and your family are big fans of the Boston Red Sox. Any specific special family baseball moment you would want to share?

Go Red Sox! My favorite baseball moment happened at a game in Camden Yards, where we frequently go to catch an away Red Sox game. My children were young at the time and feeling their oats and their opposition. They insisted on cheering for the Orioles!

Just as we were joking with them that unless they cheered for the Sox, they would have to walk home, the loveliest, funniest couple (wearing Orioles t-shirts) in front of us turned around and said to my children, “Don’t worry kids, we’ll get you home!” We spent the rest of the game together having a blast and sharing parenting stories. Community is everywhere.

Q&A WITH RAZI ABDUR-RAHMAN Fourth Grade Teacher

Tell me a little bit about where you grew up...what was it like?

I was born in NYC and spent the first two years living in Fort Greene. After spending five years in the United States, my Mum was homesick, so my parents decided to relocate to Colombo, Sri Lanka. For the next five years, I was fully immersed in the beauty of Sri Lanka—amazing, diverse, and blazingly spicy foods, exotic fruits, jungle trips, and exposure to three languages. But the peace in paradise was fleeting with the changes within the government and my dad and I were forced into exile, leaving behind my mother and sister until we could get them out. My life changed dramatically upon arriving in Puerto Rico. I had a new language and culture, but thankfully it was a similar tropical climate with lots of overlapping features that made the transition less jarring for a young kid. My Mum and sister joined us one year later.

Talk about what you did professionally before arriving at BFS. Right after graduating college, I returned to Puerto Rico to figure out what I wanted to do. A childhood friend had gone to culinary school and was working at a huge 900-room hotel and resort and asked me if I wanted to cook. I grew up in the kitchen, whether it was as a child in Sri Lanka watching my grandfather’s masterful cook, or observing my grandmother make Puerto Rican dishes, all the while being my mother’s prep cook. To cook professionally felt like a natural progression, and I spent the next six years traveling internationally cooking and learning as much as I could about different culinary traditions. I had a great time working in the kitchen but it was intense, and I stepped away. Returning to NYC, I worked in a digital print shop for the next 10 years, finishing every project that came off the printing press. Thankfully, my wife convinced me to quit and pursue a career with more purpose—and that was teaching, and I haven’t looked back since.

You have been at BFS for more than a decade now. That is not an accident. What is it about this school that makes you want to call it your work home?

From the first day I walked through the doors, I was surprised at how happy the students were to be in school. Their sense of community was palpable not only with the students but also among my colleagues. People were kind and generous with their time and knowledge which really helped me feel at home. After my first year at BFS, my eldest son, Matisse, was accepted into first grade, and I saw him blossom into this happy student who yelled, “I LOVE BROOKLYN FRIENDS!” into Pearl Street every day when we left to go home. My grade level team is also amazing, and I have cultivated lasting friendships that now exist outside of these storied walls.

What is your favorite part about teaching fourth grade? Do you have any specific moments or parts of the school year that you like best and why?

Fourth Grade has two unique units of study which I have come to love. The first is our Quest Writing Unit where students get to flex their creative muscles in creating their own quest story that includes all the essential elements of a quest. The other is our New Amsterdam Social Studies Unit which culminates with the entire class building a detailed model of New Amsterdam using all the content we’ve taught.

What do you like to do when you are NOT at BFS? Having two sons, most of my time is spent with them talking and engaging in their myriad interests—movies, art, food, current affairs, martial arts, and all things science. When I have some free time, I tend to practice Afro-Cuban percussion, ride my Fixie, shoot baskets, and dream up new recipes to make.

What is your favorite food, why, and where do they make it best?

Sri Lankan food for sure! It’s embedded in my blood! While there are some Sri Lankan restaurants in the city, the best can be found in Staten Island or if you are lucky enough to sample some of my wife’s cooking or mine.

I know you love to cook—what is your favorite thing that YOU cook and why?

When you love to cook and you are “hard-wired” to cook, you are always experimenting, trying to capture that taste that left an indelible mark on your soul. I love to make lamb/goat/ fish curries, but also desserts like flan and baklava, as well as interesting fermented beverages like kombucha and tepache.

Both the Caribbean and South Asian diaspora are vast, and the migrations of people over the past centuries have created some stunning dishes that have incorporated both new and traditional ingredients. The diffusion of people and their foods and food culture has always fascinated me.

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angle-double-right COLLEAGUES

Many BFS colleagues attended A Night to Shine Our Light, including, from left, Associate Director of Admissions & Retention Jamie Pine, Assistant Head of School Suzie Matthews, Chief of Staff & Strategic Vision Megan Nuxoll, and Enrollment Office Manager Julia Friedman.

FOCUS ON OUR COLLEAGUES Brooklyn Friends School supports its colleagues by sending them to experience many professional development opportunities. Often, those conferences have called upon BFS colleagues to present at their events—or be on the planning committee. Presenting at professional development conferences throughout the nation is no small accomplishment and we salute each and every one of our colleagues who have presented so far this school year.

It is not uncommon for BFS Head of School, CRISSY CÁCERES, to speak at multiple events throughout the year. However, this year Crissy was the keynote speaker at three high-profile conferences in just the first two months of the school year. On September 14, Crissy was the keynote at the NYSAIS Trustee & Governance Conference, hosted by The Dalton School. The title of that address was, “Building Understanding: Trustees as Strategy Rockstars.” Just weeks later, she gave a keynote address entitled, “Designing for The Long View: From Kindergarten to the Rest of their Lives” at the Early Steps Annual Meeting. Early Steps provides a voice for equity, justice, and inclusion in New York City independent schools. Then, on October 20, Crissy appeared as the keynote speaker at the inaugural North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) Administrators of Color Conference. There, she spoke about, “Dismantling Superhuman: Strategically Designing for Outcome.”

Middle School Math teacher, MARIA SANCHEZ, presented at the National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics in 16

Washington, D.C. Her session was entitled, Using Meaningful Engaging Projects to Differentiate Instruction, which was intended to differentiate the middle school math curriculum, while deepening and extending students’ understanding of mathematical practices and standards.

Upper School Science teacher, CHARLES FULCO, presented at the National Science Teachers Association National Conference in

Kansas City, Charles—considered an expert in the field of eclipses, presented on a once-in-a-lifetime eclipse that is expected to occur this coming April.

BFS proudly sent 22 colleagues to the 2023 NAIS People of Color Conference in St. Louis. This year’s conference theme was Gateways to Freedom: A Confluence of Truth, Knowledge, Joy, and Power, which called for participants to converge from different paths to a common journey of truth, knowledge, joy, and power. In this year’s theme, colleagues and students were asked to evoke the presence and strength of their ancestors and the possibilities borne of their posterity and emergent futures. One of the most impressive aspects of the 2023 NAIS People of Color Conference, was the fact that there were 124 proud Heads of Color in attendance, including our very own incredible leader, Crissy Cáceres, who was attending her 27th PoCC. In Crissy’s own words, “My joy was overflowing as I stood on the PoCC stage today with 123 fellow Heads of Color. Listening to the love and support from the crowd touched my soul. I remember the day several years ago as I stood up when Caroline Grace Blackwell, NAIS’s VP of Equity and Justice, asked who had aspirations to become a HoS and the emotions that surged through me. Today, in my 5th year as Head of Brooklyn Friends School, I felt humbled and moved to be among incredible leaders.”

Director of Communications and Marketing, BRETT TOPEL, will be presenting at the CASE-NAIS Conference this winter in Austin, Texas. Brett will be taking the basics of Arti-Facts and presenting on how a school can take moments from their past and connect them with things going on at their schools today. Brett is also on the planning committee for the INDEX Communications Conference, which will be held in February in Sarasota, where he will be presenting a similar session.

Design, Advancement, and Data Systems Specialist, PETER MACKIE, is serving on the planning committee for NYSAIS’ Advancement and Communications Conference for the second time, which will be held in March.

STEPHEN BUCK, BFS’ All-School Performing Arts Department Chair, Middle and Upper School Choral Teacher, was recently elected president of the Eastern Division of The Organization of American Kodály Educators. Beginning at the national conference in March, he will begin as president-elect, with his full tenure as president beginning in March of 2026. Inspired by the vision of Zoltán Kodály, the mission of the Organization of American Kodály Educators is to support music education of the highest quality, promote universal music literacy and lifelong music making, and preserve the musical heritage of the people of the United States through education, artistic performance, advocacy, and research. They are committed to championing diversity, welcoming all people, and advancing inclusivity and equity for all.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING… Friends visiting the fourth floor of Pearl Street have likely noticed that a dark corner has recently been brought back to colorful life! After several years of sitting empty, our 90-gallon tropical fish tank is back— thanks to Nurse Tiffany!

Nurse Tiffany spent months preparing the tank by creating a self‑sustaining, easy to maintain, aquascaped ecosystem, complete with rooting plants, and small creatures, such as shrimp and snails. Then, things really got moving. The tank now has many residents, including zebrafish and swordtails. Look carefully, as one the swordtails has already had five babies! They will be a part of the BFS Class of 2041.

“Our Red Swordtails, not to be confused with their look-a-like Common Goldfish, are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young, like mammals! unlike most other fish. They are happy and thriving,” Nurse Tiffany said.

In November, the tank endured a Green Algae Bloom, during which the tank water looked like Pea Soup!

Thankfully, this was not dangerous to the fish—we just couldn’t see them.

“Incredibly, we have some mystery plants popping up in the back of the tank,” Nurse Tiffany said. “What are they, where did they come from? We welcome guesses!

But they’re awesome and add to the ecosystem. All plants in the tank filter the fish waste in the water and convert it into oxygen. Fish consume the oxygen, and the cycle goes on!”

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angle-double-right PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

LEARNING TO FLEX OUR CREATIVITY

By EMILY COWLES Associate Director of Digital Content & School Events Manager As a member of the Advancement and Communications team, I help to tell the stories of Brooklyn Friends School. These stories—the big ones, small ones, and those in between—help to strengthen our community and school spirit, keep us connected to our alumni, and spread the word about BFS around Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond.

While the incredible stories of Brooklyn Friends School come to us easily, the ways in which we share them need to constantly evolve to keep up with the ways in which people consume information and to reach as many people as possible.

In November, I had the privilege of attending the Brand Together Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, along with Director of Communications and Marketing Brett Topel, where we received a three-day crash course in the latest and greatest techniques on just this topic.

The Brand Together Conference was presented by school marketing industry leader Peapod Design. Fellow attendees included independent school communications, enrollment, and advancement leaders from around the country (and a few from outside of the U.S.!). The sharing of ideas amongst fellow professionals from such a diverse range of independent school communities was a highlight of this professional development experience.

The conference kicked off with a session entitled “Enhance Your Digital Footprint Without Spending Money,” an in-depth dive into search engine optimization. We left the workshop with many important best practices, tips, and tricks on how to enhance our school’s presence in Google search results. We 18

enjoyed sessions on connecting authentically with prospective families, and ways for the communications and enrollment teams to partner to enhance open houses and tours. We dove into effective email marketing, new social media ideas with a focus on the power of LinkedIn, and, what our work really boils down to, “Effectively Communicating the Value of Your School.”

Like any good conference, there were also opportunities to take a step back, relax, and flex our creative muscles in different ways. Held at the Providence Art Club, Brett and I were able to enjoy the scenery and food of Rhode Island’s capital, and explore the campuses of Brown University and RISD. At a session entitled “Ways to Stay Creatively Healthy,” a fellow school communications and marketing professional, Robert Kirk from St. Johnsbury Academy, shared the importance of establishing self-care habits for creatives, as well as some practical creative exercises and initiatives one can add to their routine to revive, inspire, and maintain our creative health.

I believe that the hallmark of any truly impactful professional development experience is that you can’t wait to get back to work to implement all that you learned! On the train returning to New York City, I began to update and enhance our LinkedIn page (I hope that you will follow us and engage with BFS there!). Our team has begun further training in search engine optimization and launched a monthly newsletter to engage with our grandparents and special friends.

The Brand Together Conference was a powerful professional development experience, and my biggest takeaway is that it takes the entire community to tell our story. We hope that you will continue to share your BFS stories with us, engage with our communications, and partner to spread the word about our beautiful school community.

MEANINGFUL CONNECTION In the days leading up to BFS’ All-School Spirit Week, Upper School students spent special moments—reading to Preschool and Lower School classes.This was a very meaningful cross-Learning Community connection for our students.

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angle-double-right OUR STUDENTS

SANTI’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE THE PROUD JOURNEY FOR ONE BFS FAMILY

By BRETT TOPEL

Walk into the lobby at Pearl Street, turn to your right, and you will see a giant poster of one of our varsity soccer players—his name is Santiago McLaughlin, and he is a member of the Class of 2024. If you walk into our Lawrence Street lobby, you will see another large poster with some of our Upper School students interacting—Santi is in that one too. Did you happen to attend our Fall Fantasy Parade? If so, you surely took note of our three fantastic Upper School emcees—yes, Santi was one of them. Oh, and if you or someone you know might have attended a Middle School/Upper School Enrollment Open House, you would have heard from a student panel, which included Santi. Don’t worry, we checked, there is only one Santi.

“For me, to be able to balance all the things I do here is only achieved with the help of my teachers,” Santi said. “The teachers here want to see us succeed in many ways and are always very encouraging. Also, I have taken inspiration from prior years and prior seniors to see how they handled being very active in the school. One of my biggest points of pride is that my senior class 20

BROOKLYN FRIENDS TEACHERS HAVE UNLOCKED ME TO USE MY ATTITUDE AND MY ENERGY FOR GOOD right now is super-interactive with other grades, and I think we lead by example.”

Santi credits the many teachers he has had over his 16 years here at BFS in making a difference in his life.

“Brooklyn Friends teachers have unlocked me to use my attitude and my energy for good,” said Santi, who—in addition to being a leader on the soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams—carries among the toughest IB schedule. “The ingraining of teaching us what is right, and what is human to do—that really becomes a part of who you are, to be a good person.”

Santi has not taken his long journey at BFS alone. Every year, other than the past two years, he has had his two older sisters— Salma ’20 and Yamila ’22—to serve as his guides. He credits them for his success and, in many ways, for the person he has become.

“My sisters paved the way for me to be an outgoing person and to push myself to be my best. … They have been super inspirational to me and supportive with everything I have done,” Santi said.

“Definitely socially, having them here helped me out a lot. But it also helped me out with teachers knowing who I was, and when heading into the IB Program, it was my sisters who really guided me through which classes I should take.”

Over the past two years, Santi has been seemingly everywhere.

However, make no mistake about it, he is not doing all of these activities because he is on an ego trip. In fact, one of the favorite things Santi has accomplished at BFS, was done for a friend.

Santi helped to co-found the Sports Broadcasting Club in the Upper School—not because he had interest in becoming a sports broadcaster—but because he was supporting a good friend, Eli Grubin, who is passionate about sports broadcasting and has in fact broadcast more than 150 BFS events during his time here.

“I wanted to help and support Eli,” Santi said. “Me helping him turn his passion into an official club just shows what BFS is all about. Shining a light on him is something that makes me feel really proud.”

As he enters his final months at BFS, Santi is savoring each and every moment.

“I am obviously thinking back and reflecting on my time here at BFS for sure,” Santi said. “I think about how I started back in Preschool as a kid that was very boisterous and very loud, to

ONE OF MY BIGGEST POINTS OF PRIDE IS THAT MY SENIOR CLASS RIGHT NOW IS SUPER‑INTERACTIVE WITH OTHER GRADES, AND I THINK WE LEAD

BY EXAMPLE. a person who uses that attitude now to do community school events, and speak in public, and be a leader. That progression is entirely due to BFS. … Definitely in your senior year you get sad and reminisce, because every time you do something, it is your last time doing it. I think about every little moment that I have had here, and I cherish every moment.”

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angle-double-right HEAD OVER HEELS

HEAD OVER HEELS FOR BEING BUSY!

By ZAY DEMMISSIE Class of 2028 Recently, there has been a lot on my plate. The combination of athletics, spending time with family and friends, being a lead in our school musical, Head Over Heels, and other activities, consumes a significant amount of my time—but not in a negative way. Some may believe that being busy makes it difficult to focus on specific tasks, yet concentration became easier once I learned how to organize my plans and manage my time.

I was really excited to learn that I got the lead in Head Over Heels, even though the rehearsal dates clashed with many other activities. One main thing rehearsals clashed with was my junior varsity volleyball games. It was difficult to manage both at the same time because I deeply love both activities and wanted to spend as much time as I could on each of them. I realized that the high-profile responsibility of having the role I did in the musical, that I should spend as much time at rehearsals as possible.

I would plan schedules with my coaches and directors, which helped me prioritize memorizing lines, learning blocking and choreography, while also practicing my serves, spiking, and passing. During each rehearsal, I would make sure to focus on the moment and make sure to not get distracted by thoughts on volleyball because if I had too many things on my mind at once things would get stressful—and that’s the last thing I needed.

up with one of those things, I often felt self-conscious about it.

After some slip-ups during rehearsals and final performances, though, I realized that I should be using these mistakes to my advantage, because if I made a mistake I wanted to never make that same mistake again. Instead of saying to myself, “That was so bad!” or, “You should’ve…” I said, “Now that you know what you should have done, try again next time focusing on where you need improvement,” and, “You got this!”

As one of the two middle school leads in the show, I was able to compare myself to the older actors, which was very helpful for me. They had more experience, and that made me think that I should let them take the spotlight because this was my first musical. After getting to know everyone better, it was easier to not put so much pressure on myself to be as good as everyone else and focus on my performance and not other actors’ performances.

All was going well, but then opening night came sooner than I expected. In front of the curtain, the Meeting House was bustling with audience members, and behind the curtain everyone was getting into their places. One of the main things I remember is the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. It was difficult to focus on anything but the butterflies, until I reminded myself that this was the night I had been practicing so hard for, so I should make the best of it no matter how nervous I was. Opening Night went really well—I remembered all of my lines and the audience enjoyed it. The performance was done before I knew it, and I knew I did the best I could.

In the end, I was proud of myself for pushing through the stress of managing so many different activities at once. Making plans for myself, organizing my schedule, giving myself all the time I required to stay strong, and in total, focusing on myself and what I needed to handle all my activities—especially the musical—led me to be my best self all around.

Something that helped me focus on all of the things I was responsible for was setting reminders on my phone because then I didn’t have to worry about forgetting about important things, such as study guides for English class, math homework, or source notes for science. When I arrive home each day, I get settled in and check my phone to see what I need to get done. The mix of two extracurricular activities was difficult at first, but when I learned how to make schedules and manage my time, it became easier to have fun with both activities!

While I love playing sports, I also love to act. However, as one can imagine, the musical posed its own struggle with focus and stress. Many things contribute to the success of a musical, such as memorization of lines and song lyrics, and the ability to perform in front of people without showing any emotion aside from the emotion of the character you are playing. If I messed 23

angle-double-right WE ARE BFS

fourth grade, the question that was being asked was, “Where are you”? That was the question posed as they were beginning their geography unit. Throughout the fall semester, all of our fourth grade students worked on different lessons and activities to lead up to their major study of New Amsterdam. Responses to that seemingly simple—but very complex question—ranged from responses like “a tiny spot in an infinite universe” to “the classroom.” It’s the beginning to how students are asked to define and determine location, followed by the exploration of maps and globes.

EXAMINING HISTORY AT BFS BFS students are immersed into the realms of history and social studies—from the earliest day of kindergarten, when students explore the concepts of self, family, and school community, to Grade 12’s IB History II, where students study advanced lessons in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Here is a cross-section of some of the History units covered this past fall: In Lower School, students in third grade worked diligently on their “New York Today” murals. As part of their year-long study of Indigenous Peoples, the students created a mural illustrating what they learned the New York City area looked like 600 years ago, and made this mural of the area today to create a side‑by‑side comparison display. … Meanwhile, in

In Middle School, students are being asked questions that are a little more tactical, although equally thought-provoking. ”When does the history of the United States begin?” That is the question that seventh graders start with in their history classes.

After reading a variety of texts revealing various—and often contradictory origin stories—students are tasked with proposing a speculative public monument to commemorate the nation’s complicated past.

Meanwhile, in the Upper School, 11th grade students—in International Baccalaureate 20th Century World History: Authoritarian States—come to each class session prepared with notes and questions that interrogate their reading on a topic. Their teacher, Dr. DeGraff, serves as a discussion guide by periodically directing the students to examine areas that need exploration. This first year of IB History is devoted to the main events and developments of the world since 1945. The year culminates with students writing a research paper—an historical investigation into a topic of a student’s choice to demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge gained in the course, and to pursue their own personal interests. In this process, students garner a comprehensive knowledge of historical time periods based on an awareness of multiple perspectives.

THE POWER OF PHOTOGRAPHY

By ITAI RUBIN Class of 2026

The third project of our 10th grade Digital Photography class, taught by Caleb Miller, focused on recreating photos taken by a famous photographer. I chose a photographer named Samuel Herman Gottscho, who was an American architectural, landscape, and nature photographer. I was intrigued by his architectural photographs and scrolled through an extensive collection of his images online. I was surprised to find photos taken by him of BFS (at the time Brooklyn Law School). I was immediately drawn to the pictures and thought it would be really cool to try and recreate them.

Gottscho was born in Brooklyn, acquired his first camera in 24

1896, and took his first photograph at Coney Island. From 1896 to 1920, he photographed part-time, specializing in houses and gardens, as he particularly enjoyed nature, rural life, and landscapes. After attending several architectural photography exhibitions, Gottscho decided to perfect and improve his own work and became a professional commercial photographer at the age of 50. In the early 1930s, he photographed 375 Pearl Street in Brooklyn—what we now know as BFS. In addition to highlighting Gottscho’s work, I was interested in sharing what the BFS building looked like almost a century ago.

Although not exact replicas of Gottscho’s images, I was pleased with the results, which I think nicely capture how much BFS has changed through the years.

BALANCING SCHOOL AND ATHLETICS

By NEVA ALMEIDA-OLIVER Class of 2029 First things first, I have been at BFS since I was three-years-old.

Fast forward to today—since I started 7th grade, I have been thinking about how I can balance school work, homework, sports, extracurricular activities, and break times. Recently, older people around me have always been telling me that 7th grade is when school gets harder. Now that I am in 7th grade, I realize that school work is getting harder, but balancing school and life is even harder—and just as important.

I have always loved sports, and last year participated in the Junior Panthers skills sessions. However, now that I am in 7th grade, I am eligible to play on our Middle School teams. Before this school year started, I decided to participate in a sport every season. I also had some interest in doing the musical or play this year, but as I realized how much practice there was for sports—and the amount of time it would take to finish homework after practice—I decided not to audition for the musical. My

schoolwork and athletic career also prevented me from doing some extracurriculars outside of school this year.

In the past, I have always been nervous about not finishing my homework on time. Some things that have helped me a lot this year are study hall, office hours, and library recess. During study hall, we have time to work on our homework and projects.

Study hall takes place once per week and students can do work during library recess which happens every day. I try to use every opportunity I can to do work on days I know I might be home later, so that I can have some time to relax.

The teachers at BFS are aware of how hard it can be to do homework when you are committed to other activities, so they will offer extra help during office hours.

Overall, the management of my time has gone quite well. I am glad I chose to participate in athletics this year because I know the positive experiences will be worth a couple of late nights.

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angle-double-right FALL FANTASY PARADE

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—THIRD-ANNUAL BFS— FALL FANTASY PARADE It was a sight to behold, for sure! On Tuesday, October 31, in conjunction with BFS Spirit Week, Pearl Street was packed with ghosts, goblins, sharks, witches, superheroes, and many more personalities for the Third-Annual Fall Fantasy Parade. The event was emceed by three of members of the Class of 2024—Santi, Eli, and Anderson—who owned the crowd, commenting on costumes from each class and learning community as they paraded up and down Pearl as families looked on. In addition, Panthers Supreme performed a terrific dance for the excited crowd. Other Spirit Week days included, Blue Pride Day, Pajama Day, Sparkly/Fancy Day, and Wacky Day. One thing was for certain, Blue Pride most definitely Runs Deep.

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angle-double-right DANCE

EMBRACING THE ART OF DANCE: A K–5 JOURNEY

By JULIE GIBSON K–5 Dance Teacher

As the teacher of the Brooklyn Friends School K–5 dance program, I am thrilled to share the essence and uniqueness of our dance curriculum. At Brooklyn Friends School, students engage in dance study centered around genre-specific technique, collaborative skills, compositional tools for dance-making, the exploration of world dance forms and cultural contexts, and social justice learning through the performing arts.

My goal is to provide students with a comprehensive and sequential dance education curriculum that focuses on skill building and creativity. I aim to nurture artistic expression, foster collaboration between students, and instill a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of world dance forms and their historical significance.

At the heart of the dance program is the development of dance technique and artistry. Students hone their physical and expressive skills, enabling them to embody the beauty and discipline of dance. All students, starting from our youngest dancers, learn the fundamentals of movement analysis which include Body, Effort and Dynamics, Space, Relationship and Time. This lays the foundation for a lifelong appreciation and understanding of movement across dance genres.

Over their time in grades K–5, students will receive introductory level instruction in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, West African, Hip-Hop, and Indian Dance forms, as well as Circus Arts.

From mirroring and shadowing, to canon and counterpoint, to guided improvisation, to stage direction and formations, dancers begin to think about how their choreographic choices speak to an audience. The power of collaboration and teamwork grows strong! The dance program reflects and emphasizes the importance of working together with others to make creative and meaningful choreography. Students learn to communicate, cooperate, compromise, and make choices together, fostering a spirit of community that both transcends and celebrates individual abilities. Students in Grades 3 and 4 also draw inspiration from the study of famous choreographers like Alvin Ailey and Amalia Hernandez, whose dance journeys changed the narrative for marginalized and unheard voices.

The students and I hope you will join us during celebrations of dance this year! As an extension to our Alvin Ailey study, third grade students and families went to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in December. Students then learned excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, and will perform these excerpts during a Lower School assembly for Black History Month. Third grade students will also go on a field trip to see Dance Africa at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in May, aligned with their study of West African Dance. In the late spring, Grades 2–4 will perform in the Spring Dance Festival! This year, the Dance Festival will feature the Second Grade Circus, West African Dances shared by Third Grade Classes, and Vernacular Jazz and Hip-Hop Dances shared by Fourth Grade Classes.

Students in all grades begin learning how to share their voice through choreography. They engage in lessons and activities about compositional tools and structures for dance making.

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angle-double-right ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS ROUNDUP

By CHRISTIAN BROWN Director of Athletics Programs & Vision

By DAVID GARDELLA Director of Athletic Operations & Management

KEEPING OUR ATHLETES HEALTHY

BFS was excited to once again offer its students Cardiovascular Testing, courtesy of CAPPOHealth, the industry leader in on-site cardiovascular testing for athletic programs and physicians.

Following last spring’s testing, all students aged 12 years and older were offered free testing at the end of November. It was highly encouraged for all our student-athletes to participate.

Testing included performing an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (via ultrasound) to detect heart conditions that can put a person at risk for a cardiac episode. Vascular ultrasounds were also performed to detect any vascular abnormalities, such as blood clots. We are thankful for our Athletic Trainer, Sharesa Thomas, for arranging and supervising the testing.

BFS STEPS UP TO THE TEE

Always evolving as a program, BFS Athletics is excited to announce that this spring, we will launch the inaugural Varsity Golf Team. Golf will provide a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage in a new and exciting athletic offering that speaks to the diverse interests and talents of our student body.

We believe golf will provide students with additional avenues to develop their athletic skills, foster stewardship and integrity, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. We also believe that this addition will create even more opportunities for our students to shine their light and create lasting memories. We look forward to the growth and success of the BFS Golf Program and cannot wait to see our students on the golf course this spring! Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm as we continue to create a more comprehensive sports experience at BFS. 30

PANTHER PERFECTION FOR MS SOCCER

By HENRY CLARK Middle School Teacher & Soccer Coach

As a player and a coach, I have been a member of 49 different school-sanctioned seasons spanning multiple sports, decades, and states. Only twice have I finished the season with a clean sheet, going undefeated. My first came during my senior year in high school. My second came this past fall, working with the BFS Middle School soccer team that went 16–0.

While we outscored our opponents in every game, going undefeated this season wasn’t a foregone conclusion by any stretch. Three of our games ended in a one-goal victory, including two against Friends Seminary. We faced quality competition all year, and anyone who knows soccer well understands that sometimes the better team does not always win the game.

Plenty of our close matches could have gone either way, but they didn’t. Yes, there were moments when we were fortunate, but we worked hard in practice each day, developed our individual skills and worked on team dynamics. It wasn’t always pretty with 27 players and a dozen soccer balls in the Lower Gym, but our play steadily developed throughout the season. In each game we played, we felt more confident on the field and more comfortable with our teammates.

One thing that I worry about is that we didn’t learn enough about responding to adversity this season. I believe that you learn a lot more about life from losses than wins—the importance of

working hard even if you aren’t seeing results yet, how to stay positive with your teammates when they make a bad mistake, etc. Yet, there are lessons to be learned from an undefeated season as well. We learned how to win the right way, representing our school with class. We learned how to not respond when other teams got frustrated. We learned how to stay driven in practice, never sitting back and resting on our laurels.

I like to think we also learned to appreciate the moment and enjoy the ride. One of my favorite things about sports is how they can be a wonderful vehicle for mindfulness, forcing all of your focus on the present moment. Whether we were in the middle of an intense 50-50 fight for a loose ball, helping a teammate celebrate a beautiful goal, or just belting out Call Me Maybe on the bus back to campus, we all were there, locked into that moment—together.

My players probably lament that all of my pre-game speeches are the same. I open by reminding them what a great opportunity we have today to play a game with our friends. I remind them how we have been working in practice and how prepared they are. I ask them to play hard, play smart, and play together. Before we break it down and take the field, I remind them that today is a great day to be a Panther. Maybe it got repetitive, but it seemed to be working, so why change it up?

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angle-double-right ARTI-FACTS

375 PEARL IS BORN

By BRETT TOPEL Director of Communications & Marketing

This year, Arti-Facts—BFS’ history column which is featured in The Weekly—will pay homage to the 50th anniversary of BFS fully moving to Pearl Street. After 100+ years of calling Schermerhorn Street home, BFS began moving into Pearl as early as 1970, however it was not until the 1973–1974 school year that the entire school opened a school year at the new location—formerly home to Brooklyn Law School. Below are separate short stories about the history, which were released as individual Arti-Facts columns.

Let’s fast-forward to 1927, when Brooklyn Law School was looking for a new home. On June 3 of that year, Brooklyn Law purchased the title to the lots of 373–381 Pearl Street for $261,000. In today’s money that would be approximately $4.5 million—a bargain. The building firm of Thomas O’Reilly & Sons won the contract to build what would be known as 375 Pearl Street. The seven-story building, constructed of brick, limestone, and marble—to be known as Richardson Hall— was dedicated on November 10, 1928. It was designed by the architect firm of Mayers, Murray, & Phillip. Just one year after the project was started, more than 3,000 onlookers were at the dedication ceremony, as William Payson Richardson— the co-founder and first dean of BLS—laid the cornerstone of the building that would bear his name. Little did a small school a few blocks away on Schermerhorn Street realize that someday, it would become their beloved home. At that same time, thanks to a major gift by Dr. William Snyder—the school’s physician and a BFS parent—Brooklyn Friends had just added a third floor to its own school to accommodate expanded enrollment. Head of School Dr. Guy W. Chipman— who led BFS from 1918–1931—finally had an office big enough so that he could “put his feet up on his desk.”

HISTORY OF THE HISTORY OF PEARL STREET

Before we begin to talk about the history of Brooklyn Friends School on Pearl Street, we really need to go a little farther back and look at the history of Pearl Street itself. While there is not much documentation on our Pearl Street here in Brooklyn, it stands to reason that it shares a similar history to our sister Pearl Street located just across the river in lower Manhattan.

That fact is confirmed in the book Brooklyn by Name: How the Neighborhoods, Streets, Parks, Bridges, and More Got Their Names. The history of Pearl Street goes all the way back to the early indigenous inhabitants of this area, the Lenape.

Historians know that the Lenape ate copious quantities of oysters because oysters were plentiful and the shells lasted a very long time. Tremendous piles of thousands of oyster shells have been found throughout the New York City area.

Archaeologists call them shell middens. One such mountain of oyster shells gave Pearl Street, originally on the waterfront in lower Manhattan, its name. Pearl Street was eventually paved with oyster shells, however the Lenape discarded the oysters’ pearls along with their shells. It stands to reason—and has been confirmed in other publications—that the Pearl Street we inhabit today—which also originally extended all the way to the East River, was named for the Pearl Street in Manhattan. In addition, there are many streets right in our vicinity that have been confirmed as Lenape walking paths, including Fulton Street, just blocks from our front door. What Pearl Street looked like exactly when it first was named is left to our imagination at this point. It is that same imagination that allows us to look forward with wide eyes to all of the great things that BFS students on Pearl Street today will accomplish.

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THOSE ICONIC 7TH-FLOOR WINDOWS

When BFS purchased the building, there was a significant amount of construction done inside to transform a law school into a building that was appropriate for an independent school for children of all ages. Recently, thanks to a trip to the Brooklyn Law School archives, we were able to learn what each floor was used for prior to BFS’ arrival. We know, for example, that there was a large auditorium on the main floor, located just behind the elevators. We will have more on that in a future ArtiFacts. Today, we focus on what is possibly the most distinctive characteristic of 375 Pearl Street—the beautiful arched windows on the seventh floor. Now divided into many Lower School classrooms and offices, the seventh floor was originally one huge room that spanned the entire width of the building,

and served as Brooklyn Law School’s library. With incredible natural light streaming into the room high above Pearl Street, the library opened in 1928 with either 14,000 or 50,000 volumes, depending on which BLS history book you believe.

While the number of volumes in the library might be up for debate, the number of women in this photo is not—in fact, if you squint, you can see both of them among the nearly three dozen intense law students studying in the early 1930s! Today, 95 years later, BFS’ first, second, and third grade students learn in classroom spaces where the solid oak tables—each with room for four students to do their work—once stood. The elaboratelydecorated ceiling beams are long gone, but the arched windows serve as a forever reminder of what once was.

MORTGAGE BURNING TIME!

By the time the 1970s drew to a close, BFS was—for the most part—settled in nicely at 375 Pearl Street. Believe it or not, in 1980 the school was still doing renovations. They had owned the building for a decade and used it—in earnest—for most of those years. The move from the original building on Schermerhorn Street had been hard for some, but according to the former Head of School, Stuart Smith, “The move—like most events in the past 10 years—was considered by most as just another day in a vital learning community.” These words were written by Smith in the May, 1980, edition of The Life newspaper—two years after he left BFS. “Many considered it just another logical step for a school that was dedicated to taking risks that often involved change.” One thing that was very much celebrated that same month was the fact that BFS paid off the mortgage on the new building. There were many joyous “mortgage burning” events held at BFS and throughout Brooklyn in the spring of 1980, including theatrical performances in the Pearl Street Meeting House and a special brunch at the famous Brooklyn steakhouse which had been in business nearly as long as BFS—Gage and Tollner—with invited guests Mayor Ed Koch and Governor Hugh Carey. Over the past decade, BFS had done everything it could to raise the money for all of the renovations the building needed to make the transition from Brooklyn Law School to Brooklyn Friends School. One of those little-remembered circumstances was the fact that during the early 1970s, before the entire school had moved in and occupied Pearl Street, BFS sublet parts of the building to tenants. The usable sections of the sixth and seventh floors were utilized by the MTA, while parts of the third, fourth, and fifth floors were used by the New York City Civil Court System. By the fall of 1972, construction was completed on the sixth and seventh floors, and the Lower School was able to fully move in—and thankfully—51 years later—they are still there!

The Lower School, that is, not the same students, they are much older now!

photo, from nearly 100 years ago, is simply amazing and the first one like it many of us have ever seen—a view of Pearl Street, leading away from BFS, heading north. Today, this photo is one of the very few still in existence to show what our school’s street looked like—heading toward the East River— long before Brooklyn Friends moved into the neighborhood.

You can clearly see 375 Pearl Street on the right—at the time the home of Brooklyn Law School—and so many other things that no longer exist. Past the school on the right, which is now NYU, you can see the large warehouse and showroom of desk manufacturers, A. Pearson’s Sons. Their street address was 247 Myrtle Avenue, a section of Downtown Brooklyn which, in the late 1920s, was becoming an important wholesale furniture center, according to The New York Times. Myrtle Avenue used to run between Adams and Jay Street, and beyond. It is now made up of pedestrian walkways and— further down—MetroTech. You can see the Myrtle Avenue Elevated Train Line, which was torn down in 1969. Remnants of that line remain as the M. You can also see Pearl Street disappear into the distance. Today, we all know that Pearl Street ends just past BFS. The truth is, however, it doesn’t end. Less than a half a mile away, straight as an arrow, heading north, Pearl Street picks up once again, and heads all the way to John Street Park, on the edge of the East River. In the days this photo was taken, you could have taken Pearl Street all the way to the water, unhindered. Today, you need to navigate a lot of obstacles, including the Marriott Hotel, and a whole lotta other stuff. By the time BFS moved onto Pearl Street, things had changed, and today we only have blurry photographic evidence of all of this. Thank goodness for old photos.

Do you have any memories you would like to share of your time at BFS that can be used in Arti-Facts? Please email us at communications@brooklynfriends.org.

HEAD NORTH, YOUNG PEARL!

We are extremely grateful for our newly paved version of Pearl Street—yes, it has been paved! So this seems to be a good time to look back at the Pearl Street of yesteryear. This

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angle-double-right HONORING THE PAST

REMEMBERING—AND HONORING—THE PAST This past October, BFS recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day— and shined our Light on the Lenape People—and the fact that Brooklyn Friends School currently stands on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lenape.

We celebrate the humans who were the original inhabitants of Brooklyn—once known as “Lenapehoking” or the “Land of the Lenape,” an offspring of the Algonquin civilization.

The Lenape were tragically forced out of their home when the Europeans “discovered” the land. These early indigenous inhabitants called themselves the Lenape, roughly translated as the “the people,” or “the true people.” Many of the details contained in this article, come from a book about the Lenape

by Herbert C. and John T. Kraft.

The Lenape migrated to this land around 3,000 years ago, and by the time of European contact, there were nearly 20,000 Lenape living in what is now Manhattan and Brooklyn.

A combination of the European conquest, new diseases, wars, massacres, and nefarious land “purchases” eventually reduced their population to just 10-percent of its former power and transferred “Lenapehoking” almost entirely into European hands.

Today’s Downtown Brooklyn stands as a reminder of what once was. According to a 1946 Brooklyn Historical Society map, “Atlantic, Flatbush and Division Avenues, as well as Fulton Street, were all built on old Lenape trade, hunting or walking paths and the modern-day Van Voorhees park is based on an old park labeled as Sassians.​Boerum Hill appears to have been home to a burial ground, and what is now City Hall appears to have been a thriving indigenous village.” As for the Lenape people, there are still approximately 16,000 Leanape descendants today in the United States—mostly

living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Delaware.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day—and everyday—we should pause and remember.

In January of 2022, the Brooklyn Public Library’s Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center, in partnership with the Lenape Center, held the first-ever Lenape-curated exhibition in New York City. Included in the collection was a beaded bandolier bag that dates back to the 1830s, created through intricate stitchwork and made by a member of the Lenape Nation.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Brooklyn Friends School centers the history of the First Nations and acknowledges the systems, which we are a part of, that have impacted their legacy and survival to date. Brooklyn Friends School honors and acknowledges the land on which our school is located is the traditional and unceded territory of the Lenape. We also recognize that members of our community are on territories in New York City which include the lands of the Canarsie, LenapeHoking, Shinnecock, Lekawe, Merrick, Munsee Lenape, Wappinger, Matinecock, Nissaquogue, Setauket, Secatouge, Unkechauge, Massapequas, Merrick, Corchaug, Montaukett and Mannansett. This acknowledgment is part of our school’s Quaker values; a commitment to moving toward just and compassionate relations with Indigenous people through recognition of our own history and responsibility. We name this acknowledgment as a living document.

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angle-double-right INSTITUTES

BFS PREPARES FOR 2024 INSTITUTES

By JAY RAPP Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Strategic Initiatives After the successful launch of the Institutes of Justice and Transformational Change this past summer, Brooklyn Friends School is excited to announce a full slate of three in-person institutes that will take place in the spring and summer of 2024.

We are extremely excited that this spring, BFS will be hosting Power Practice Privilege: Whiteness and the Path to Social Justice, which will take place from April 12–15. During this Institute, educators will come together as a cohort to engage in a curriculum designed to explore, examine, and employ the complexities of what it means to be a white educator in our communities. Together, the group will unpack the realities, dynamics, and uses of our white privilege. It will develop a set of best practices to honor, uphold, and further our mission as equity and social educators within our organizations. We invite you to join us on a journey toward expanding upon our strengths as partners, community builders, and co-conspirators.

This critical program is for faculty, staff, and newly appointed administrators who serve schools or non-profits, identify as white, and are looking to examine their understanding and practice. Please arrive with an open mind and an open heart, ready to discuss ideas, share tools, and dive deep into practice.

Our second institute this summer will be the LGBTQ+ Aspiring Leadership Institute, which will be held in June, with exact dates to be announced soon. The main query for this institute will be: What makes a leader good—or even great? As leaders, do we possess qualities that inherently make us good or bad leaders, or are these learned skills? How do the ways in which we identify, influence the ways in which we lead and the decisions we make?

In this three-day program, participants will explore the answers to these questions and many more. Join us in learning how your LGBTQ+ identity influences your personal leadership style, and what it means to lead authentically. Explore the meaning of effective communication, various ways to manage conflict—both internal and external—the difference between leading versus managing, and how to manage change as a leader. In addition, 36

this is an opportunity to grow a powerful network of individuals who can help support you and accelerate your career.

This program is for any aspiring leader who identifies as LGBTQ+ working in the education or non-profit space.

Finally, BFS is excited to host the Second Annual Restorative Justice Using Restorative Practices: Strengthening Relationships institute from July 31–August 2. For years, schools have been faced with finding different solutions to dealing with behavioral issues that will inevitably occur. Historically, the way of dealing with these issues in schools very much mirrors our criminal justice system which includes, identifying the issue, determining who the victim and perpetrator are, and determining and delivering appropriate punishment for the perpetrator based on the severity of the situation. While some may argue that this approach is effective, others may suggest that the punitive nature ignores any learning that might take place and doesn’t even factor in the experience of the victim and how they move on. That is where the Restorative Justice Using Restorative Practices: Strengthening Relationships institute will come into play.

In this three-day experience, we will explore the engagement of restorative practice as a focus on building community through the power of circles, looking at classrooms as communities, co-creating agreements, engaging authentic presence and communication with the emphasis on relationships, understanding, and empathizing in community. In this experience, we move from one and done behavior support to growth and reflection on a continuum within community. This institute will center a reciprocal practice which engages the practitioner and circle facilitator as well as the participants of the circle in practical application scenarios and reflection.

Anyone working in youth centered, human service, education and/or non-profit space should attend this institute.

All of the institutes will be held on the campuses of Brooklyn Friends School in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn. For more information, including how to register, hotel partnerships, and more, go to brooklynfriends.org/institutes.

angle-double-right CAMP BROOKLYN

INTRODUCING: CAMP BROOKLYN! This Summer, Brooklyn Friends School is proud to introduce Camp Brooklyn: A Dynamic Summer Experience at Brooklyn Friends School. Open to all three-year-olds through rising fourth graders within the BFS community, and all other children in Brooklyn and beyond, Camp Brooklyn will be an exciting day camp, featuring arts, crafts, music, team building activities, day trips, sports and more!

Camp Brooklyn will center children in a warm, caring and inclusive environment that encourages them to explore, be curious, create, and have fun. Our camp colleagues will provide children strong and supportive role models, fostering community, empathy, and a strong sense of wholeness and well-being.

But why are we calling it “Camp Brooklyn”? That’s easy to answer—this camp will not simply take place in Brooklyn, it will be proudly ensconced in Brooklyn, which is consistent with our Strategic Vision. The neighborhoods, the landmarks, the vibe, the people—every aspect of the borough. Brooklyn is so much more than one of the five boroughs that make up New York City, and Brooklyn Friends School is so much more than an independent school in Brooklyn. Camp Brooklyn is the newest amplification of our mission—and we know its Light will be all-encompassing. With a focused vision to create a tradition of summer experiences and memories for years to come, Camp Brooklyn has five major pillars—Inclusivity, Equity, Joy, recognizing and respecting the Uniqueness of each child, and always being Mission and Child Centered.

Camp Brooklyn will be held on the campuses of Brooklyn Friends School in three, two-week sessions. Campers may enroll in one, two, or all three sessions. There will be plenty of

variety for children who spend all six weeks at Camp. Session 1 will be June 24–July 5, followed by Session 2 on July 8–July 19, and Session 3, which will be July 22–August 2. There will be no Camp held on July 4.

Prior to 2020, BFS hosted a summer camp for Preschool 3s through 2nd graders, and a Summer Arts program for 3rd through 7th graders. Like Camp Brooklyn, past camps welcomed BFS students, as well as the surrounding community. The history BFS summer programs actually dates back to the early 1970s, when younger children were encouraged to come to the fully-renovated and fully air conditioned Pearl Street building to enjoy an “open classroom program” which included “creative play, experiences in music, dance, drama, arts and crafts, sports, and frequent trips.”

Formal day camps began at BFS in the mid-1980s.

Activities will include: Team Building, Sports, STEM, Performing Arts, Arts and Crafts, Beach Play, Water Play, Field Trips, Rooftime Fun, and registration will begin in February.

To stay updated, visit brooklynfriends.org/summer24.

CAMP SESSIONS Session 1: June 24–July 5 Session 2: July 8–July 19 Session 3: July 22–August 2 Please note, there will be no Camp held on July 4.

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angle-double-right ALUMNI

SPOTLIGHTING BFS ALUMS On September 9, 1867, The Friends School at Brooklyn, opened its doors for seventeen students ages six through thirteen and one teacher. For more than 156 years, Brooklyn Friends School has provided students with an education steeped in Quaker values, preparing them to be well-rounded, compassionate, curious, and confident global citizens who let their lives speak in the spirit of leadership and service.

This year, BFS celebrates yet another milestone, as this is the 50th anniversary since all students moved to 375 Pearl Street from the school’s original location on Schermerhorn Street. BFS purchased what was the Brooklyn Law School building in 1969, and began

to transform the building through extensive renovations that would ultimately create a space that “encourages the curious, the innovative, and the bold,” according to the Program Planning Committee. While the school gradually began its move from Schermerhorn to Pearl over the following years, it wasn’t until 1973 that everyone made the final move to the new address.

This year, we will be looking back at some of our amazing life stories from our amazing alumni. We want to tell their stories about what it was like to be a student at Brooklyn Friends School, what the experience has meant to them, and how their experience has shaped who they have become today.

FOUR VORAS PASS THROUGH BFS It seems fitting that we would begin with a family whose commitment to the school was extraordinary. The Vora family has sent four of its children to Brooklyn Friends School—most notably lifers Anand ’01, Alap ’03, followed by their cousins Asav ’09, and Axita ’10. In addition, their aunt, Bina, is currently a beloved teacher in our Preschool. Their family story is a significant one in BFS history.

Ashok and Pratima, Alap and Anand’s parents, were small business owners in Brooklyn and had a store that occupied the basement, first and second floors of 385 Pearl, just next door to Brooklyn Friends School. When their sons began attending BFS, Alap was three years old and Anand was four years old.

“For my parents, as immigrants coming to the United States, education was very important,” Anand said. “Not only did Brooklyn Friends meet their criteria for a good education, it could not have been more convenient. As small business owners, my parents spent almost all their time at one business or another.

For our after school program we walked from BFS to our store on the corner where we would do homework, help out, etc.”

The two brothers simultaneously shared their thoughts about their experience at the school. “As students at BFS it was like living in a bubble, a utopia. The school was very open, it was small enough that you got to know everyone. It was not unusual for each division to mix, lower school with middle school, middle school with upper school. We also benefited a great deal from the location and overall diversity of the school but particularly 38

THE ENVIRONMENT AT BROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL WAS ALWAYS SO FRIENDLY, WARM, WELCOMING AND ACCOMMODATING WHICH IS THE WAY WE LEAD OUR LIVES the economic diversity. Brooklyn Friends was not just another school for ‘rich kids’, it was a place that was dedicated to being affordable, accessible to everyone, a place with no bias,” they said.

Anand spoke about the solid education he received that prepared him for the life he lives today. He remembers the course work and how willing the school was to support any student’s educational interest which meant customizing, creating classes that did not already exist. They both went on to talk about dances at Pearl, Quaker meeting, the small class sizes and individualized faculty support from which they benefited. Alap remembered his junior year when the school’s mascot went from the Brooklyn Friends Quakers to the Brooklyn Friends Panthers.

One of Alap’s most vivid memories from BFS was his experience playing on the state championship basketball team during his senior year in 2003.

“BFS had never excelled in basketball prior to our winning the state championship. It was an amazing experience, and it was the result of having the right people on the team at the right time. I am still very close to all my teammates, many of whom I still see

on a regular basis. It was amazing how the school rallied around the team with almost everyone coming to the championship game.”

Our very own Vlad Malukoff was one of two coaches for the team, and it was the first year that Director of Athletic Operations & Management David Gardella served as athletic director.

Anand remembers the soccer program and the many international students that played on the team adding to the diversity of his experience.

“I had classmates from Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the unique perspectives they brought to the school really enhanced my experience.”

In Anand’s junior year, he was one of seven students from Brooklyn Friends School selected to attend a Spanish immersion program in Madrid, Spain, for a month over the summer.

“Our Spanish teachers at the time thought a bunch of us should apply to challenge ourselves. Out of 50 people in the program, seven were from Brooklyn Friends. We stayed in dorms on a college campus in Madrid and got our first taste of freedom and adulthood being, relatively, on our own. I’m still in touch with many of the people that I met on that trip.”

When it comes to BFS’ mission and values, Anand talked about the family’s religious roots as Jains, and the values that those who identify as Jains believe in—nonviolence and reducing harm to living things as much as possible. Values that, in many ways mirror the school’s Quaker values.

Anand Vora celebrates at the Alumni Reunion 2023 with Crissy Cáceres and David Gardella.

“The environment at Brooklyn Friends school was always so friendly, warm, welcoming and accommodating which is the way we lead our lives,” he said. “From the beginning, we felt accepted at Brooklyn Friends School, and it means alot that the school has always kept the doors open for us to come back and continue to be part of the community,” Anand and Alap reflected.

The Vora family continues to be very active in Brooklyn and Manhattan as small business owners. The family owns several small businesses in Brooklyn (Concord Market in Brooklyn, Mercedes House in midtown Manhattan, and Ledo’s Pizza in Manhattan). They talk about owing a great deal of their success to Brooklyn Friends School, where they learned that while things may get hard, you never give up.

ASHA BOSTON’S ‘EYE-OPENING’ EXPERIENCE AT BFS When Asha Boston started at BFS in 2006 at 14 years old, she could not have predicted how her life would unfold. When asked why she made the change to BFS as she entered high school she said, “It was really my mom. She decided that I needed a change. She knew a family whose child attended an independent school which got her started thinking and learning about different independent schools in the area. After looking at a variety of

options, knowing my personality, she decided that BFS was the school for me.”

Asha talks about attending a really large school prior to BFS describing herself as shy and a wall-flower who didn’t step up and speak her mind or make her voice heard.

“I was very sure of who I was internally but was hesitant to express myself externally. I needed smaller class sizes and a

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angle-double-right ALUMNI

place where I felt safe and comfortable speaking up. At Brooklyn Friends I learned pretty quickly that what I have to say matters.”

Asha describes her initial experiences as being “eye opening” as she got used to calling teachers by their first names, enjoyed the hot lunch bar, and began to appreciate the small class sizes and the individual attention she received from teachers.

“All the faculty were very young or young at heart,” she said. “I remember all my teachers so fondly and I am Facebook friends with many of them today. They could relate to us and we could relate to them.”

Two defining moments stand out to Asha. The first was when she wanted to raise money for a charity and decided to do it by organizing a fashion show, which was a great success. It was during this time that her second defining moment came about.

She began getting compliments for her leadership acumen and encouragement and decided to run for president of her senior class.

“I learned the importance of decision making, the necessity for good communication, and how to deal with conflict. I learned how to collaborate and work with others effectively. All skills that laid the groundwork for who I am today.”

In addition to the many life and leadership skills that Asha learned during her time at BFS, she was also able to take advantage of the opportunity for international travel going to both Vietnam and Morocco, which she talks about as being life-changing experiences.

Upon graduation, Asha decided that she wanted to go into media and journalism and in her senior year decided to make a documentary. This project was not connected to a class project but originated from a need that Asha identified. She began to notice how people of color, particularly women of color, were depicted in Reality TV and media in general and she didn’t like what she was seeing. That was when she decided to name her project, The Dinner Table. In Reality TV, Asha explains, you would see women of color fighting, arguing, exhibiting bad behavior at the dinner table. Asha wanted to create the antithesis to that experience and create a diner table that was inviting and supportive, where people told stories and learned from one another.

“When I finished the project, I posted it on Facebook and got lots of great feedback which led me to showing it at various schools, even Brooklyn Friends. As I was showing the film to students, one student in particular challenged me by saying ‘this is not my reality.’ At first I was a little hurt but I began to think of ways to make it a reality for people so I organized and hosted the kind of dinner I wanted other women of color to experience. The first dinner in New York, which I thought would draw about 60-70 people, ended up bringing in 90 women. The second dinner brought in more than 120 people, and we just kept growing.”

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Asha Boston

I LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF DECISION MAKING, THE NECESSITY FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION, AND HOW TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT. I LEARNED HOW TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS EFFECTIVELY. ALL SKILLS THAT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR WHO I AM TODAY. The dinners were an opportunity for women of color to come, eat, connect and network, to be resources for one another. All of this has turned into the creation of a nonprofit called The Diner Table. The program was picked up by the Department of Education and they are now vendors serving schools in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.

“We work with black and brown women between the ages of 10 to 18 to learn leadership skills, health and wellness, and reclaim their personal autonomy by creating safe spaces where their identities are positively reflected back to them. These programs run both in-person and online during the school year. Anyone can enroll and begin to learn the skills necessary to be successful.”

As Asha reflects on her experience at BFS, there are two things that stand out—the school’s dedication to equity and the value of silence.

“The Quakers have historically been great advocates of people of color, which inspires my work today and the idea of silence.

I remember sitting in Quaker Meeting and just finding peace within the busyness of New York City. I learned during that time how to settle myself and my thoughts and how important that is in the work I do today.”

EMMITT SKLAR FINDS HIS LIFE PASSION AT BFS Emmitt Sklar has been quite busy in the short time since graduating from Brooklyn Friends in 2017. Looking back, it was the small tight knit community—in the midst of one of the largest cities in the world—that he remembers most.

“It was a place where everyone knew each other really well, we were just a close community,” Emmitt said. “Looking back, the Quaker inspired education was really important. That time for reflection, the opportunity to embrace the values of the school and explore what I valued as an individual. The idea of being led by an inner light still resonates with me today.”

During his time here at BFS, Emmitt participated in a number of different activities. He talks about being a “crappy art student,” but loving Mark Buenzle, his visual arts teacher. In addition, he was captain of the baseball team, ran cross country, played one year of JV basketball, and was on the chess team. He also fondly remembers Upper School history teacher, Vlad Malukoff, and his participation in Model UN which, “was one of the most meaningful extracurricular experiences during my time at BFS.” Emmitt reflects, “BFS was important in three different ways, the IB program, small class sizes, and close relationships with teachers. When I got to college I felt prepared to advocate for myself. In addition, it was the school’s values and dedication to social justice that spoke to who I wanted to become. Those values really pushed me to think about my place in my community. BFS really gave me the tools to navigate different life situations, it exposed me to the world and prepared me to live in it.”

While at BFS, Emmitt found a passion for history and politics and after graduating began thinking about how government and art intersect. He spent time in Jordan studying Arabic and in Poland exploring his Jewish identity.

Upon graduation from Davidson College, Emmitt got a job here in New York investigating police misconduct. It was around this same time that he began to notice the lack of youth voices amongst those running for public office, so he and a friend decided to develop a non-profit organization called Up Next New York. This organization is dedicated to encouraging young professionals with fresh voices to run for public office by providing an infrastructure that helps younger candidates navigate a complicated process that often rewards political longevity instead of talent and energy. Through endorsements, contributions, and canvassing, Up Next New York makes it possible for young New Yorkers to run for public office.

When asked if he had any aspirations of running for office himself, Emmitt replied, “I like working for city government,

Emmitt Sklar

LOOKING BACK, THE QUAKER INSPIRED EDUCATION WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT TIME FOR REFLECTION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE THE VALUES OF THE SCHOOL AND EXPLORE WHAT I VALUED AS AN INDIVIDUAL. THE IDEA OF BEING LED

BY AN INNER LIGHT STILL RESONATES WITH ME TODAY. working on policy and advocacy and maybe, in the future, looking at foreign policy. For now I really enjoy what I’m doing, and I feel it makes a difference.”

Emmitt truly exemplifies many of the BFS S.P.I.C.E.S, but in particular, it is his dedication to community and stewardship, giving himself up in service to others that makes the Brooklyn Friends School community very proud.

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angle-double-right ALUMNI

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES LISA RICHLAND, ’62

The Class of 1962 continues to meet on Zoom quarterly, having chosen to do so in lieu of an in-person meeting for our 60th Reunion during COVID.

STEVE GLAZER, ’74

I am in my 28th year at Graceland University, a small fouryear institution located in Lamoni, Iowa (about 2 hours north of Kansas City). I am Professor of History and Chair of the Social Sciences Department. I also serve on the Executive Committee of the Midwest World History Association, a regional professional organization. I have had the good fortune to work with and mentor numerous advisees and other students, and I am involved in campus life, including serving as Faculty Mentor to the Women's Volleyball team.

LAURA DELANO, ’76

I am still living in New York City, am a Licensed Massage Therapist in private practice and also produce short films with my husband Bob Celli. I am grateful to still be in touch with other

Brooklyn Friends Alums: Jennifer Jackson Hardy '76, Susan Bruce Hedges '75 , Francesca Coltrera, '76, Val Levine '75 and I was delighted to run into Erica Goldman '77 at an event last year.

KIRSTEN ROHRS SCHMITT, ’77

After a 30-year career as an editor and writer in magazine publishing, I founded Your Best Edit in 2016. I take great satisfaction in providing my clients with updated resumes and social media profiles, assisting students with college application essays, and editing books, theses, and presentations. Following in the Quaker tradition of giving back which was instilled in me at Brooklyn Friends, my greatest joy is to sew quilts and donate them to families in need.

CATHERINE STAMM WOOLSTON, ’80

Hey Classmates, it was great to see a bunch of you on Zoom for our 40th during COVID. Only a year and half until our 45th! Reach out to me if you want to help me organize our 45th Reunion. CatWoolston@gmail.com

IN MEMORIAM JEROME LEVITAN, CLASS OF 1948

ROGER BEST, CLASS OF 1983

LAWRENCE ROSENTHAL, CLASS OF 1952

KATHLEEN SORAYA RIZEK GRIFFIN, CLASS OF 1987

PHILIP SCHWARTZ, CLASS OF 1955.

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angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES ED OLIVER

Co-Chair, Board of Trustees

PENNY WINDLE

Co-Chair, Board of Trustees

EISA ULEN RICHARDSON

Board of Trustees, Advancement Committee Chair Just twelve months ago, more than 110 current and former colleagues, parents, alumni, trustees, and greater community members joined together for BFS Community Design Day, a full-day experience that opened the strategic planning process to members of the BFS community. Over eight hours, participants were able to dive into collaborative exercises, learn about strategy and design thinking, and build prototypes of possible futures for Brooklyn Friends School.

One year later, we are able to look back and marvel at all that our community accomplished in this process. Diving deeply into components of our community – from our Quaker

identity to teaching & learning, campus space to our Brooklyn community – our Strategic Planning Team became experts in the parts that make up the whole of the BFS experience, and channeled our collective imagination of what is possible in the future. Our Strategic Vision is not simply an outline of the next 5-10 years of the BFS story. Instead, the stories shared throughout the planning process were held with reverence: we are committed to a sustainable future which honors the Light within our community, and shines it brightly beyond the walls of BFS. To kickstart the initial phase of this work, every member of our Board of Trustees was among the first to pledge their support for the Minding our Light campaign for the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School at the start of this school year.

Only a few weeks later, nearly 300 parents, grandparents, alumni, colleagues and friends joined in this effort by making a generous contribution to Giving Day, making 2023 our most successful Giving Day yet!

Your support for the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School is much more than a donation. It is an act of partnership and an affirmation of our mission, our values, and our commitment to building the best possible future for our school. Your partnership will strengthen our Light that brightens the way forward as we set out towards our vision for the future that so many of you helped create.

We thank you for your generous support and for your continued partnership in all that we are about to accomplish together!

—Board of Trustees

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angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

Income & Expenses 2022–2023 Tuition and Fees Other Revenue (Extended Day, Facility Rentals, Etc.) Interest (Markets, Endowment & Restricted Funds) Unrestricted Contributions Total Revenue

$34,226,573 $2,071,448 $1,443,196 $749,594 $38,490,811

Colleague Salaries General Operating Financial Aid Plant Operations Instructional Activities Total Expenses

*These numbers are unaudited.

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$21,547,936 $8,737,268 $5,669,840 $1,226,676 $1,499,953 $38,681,673

Leadership Giving This list acknowledges tax-deductible gifts that were made to the 2022–2023 Brooklyn Friends Fund, the Sky’s the Limit Spring Gala, Endowment Funds, and SkateFest.

Meeting House Circle Mark and Allison Dunn John Kline and Penny Windle The LeBlanc Family

Mary Haviland Circle

Tom and Analisa Barrett Billy Clareman and Emily Bravo Ronald Hason '62 The Simeone Kitts Family

Changemaker Circle

Tom and Marge Barrett Crissy Cáceres and James Cox Andrew Coronato ’58 Sean Crnkovich and Karin Kringen Raphael and Melanie Davis Jason and Eliza Factor

Founder’s Circle

Ruediger and Mary Ann Adolf Nicholas Arons and Vivien Labaton William Bielefeld '97 John Cantarella and Samantha Rippner Keith Canton '93 and Symonne Sims Romy Cohen and Family Patrick DeSimone and Maria-Ray Guido Amos and Karen Edelman Herbert Eilberg and Cary Vaughan Stacey Shurgin and Ruth Genn Michael and Stephanie Guild David Harbour and Lily Cooper Benjamin Heller

$20,000+

Duane McLaughlin and M. Salomé Galib Ryan and Carla Norris BB and Jud Reis

Matthew Runkle and Rebecca Koepnick Anonymous (4)

Deborah and Ted Lilly Gabriel Nussbaum and Elizabeth Wood Bob Pasker Mr. and Mrs. David Raymond

Joshua Schneps and Tracey Wells-Schneps Arun Subramanian and Sowmya Rao Anonymous (2)

Aleksandr Falikman and Svetlana Kucher Michael Ferrara David and Kate Klein Kevin Lapin and Debbora Gerressu The Liuzzo Family Frederick Martens and Anne Dette

Taylor Reinhart and Melisa Bell Reinhart John and Katie Roberts Matthew Rogers and Deanna D’Amore Mrs. Irka Zazulak Anonymous (9)

Robert and Laura Hoguet Christopher Isenberg and Zoe Sakoutis Charles and Kirsten Knight Joseph and Melissa Kronsberg Mr. Edward Levin Emily Levin and Satya Maganti Howard Levitt and Nathalie Sommer Aaron Lustbader and DJ Martin David and Kimberly Messina William and Susan Morris Emily Moyer Humberto Pacheco and Alice Roberts Raj Patel and Jennifer Young

Curt Reis and Katie Murray Josh and Ilise Reznick Brian Rifkin and Alexandra Burban Adam and Azi Sacks Courtney Baron and Blair Singer Samuel Solish '75 and Jo Linder Michael and Nicole Tuminello George and Caroline Turner David and Jodi Utz Dalt Wonk and Josephine Sacabo Kenji and Emily Yoshikawa Anonymous (32)

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School. † denotes a deceased donor.

$10,000+

$5,000+

$1,867+

49

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

Schermerhorn Circle

Taylor Antrim and Elizabeth Twitchell Bruce Arnold Marc Avigdor and Amanda Sadacca Jessica Wittenstein Barranco ’74 Bennett Baumer and Amy Wolf Elizabeth Freedgood Breyer ’72 Marc Coltrera ’73 Geoffrey Cook and Cindy McBennett Verina and Errol Crawford Sean and Abby DesMarteau Kate Doniger and Olivia Peoples Nicole and Raymond DuFauchard Andrew and Debra Edwards Michael and Laura Farkas Matthew Feis and Danielle Plafsky Jamie and Elizabeth Hammel Eric and Jodi Harris Anya Hoerburger ’95 Michael Jacobs and Brittany McVicker Jacobs Sam Kaplan and Deborah Singer

Pearl Street Circle

Avi and Rachel Abel F. Murray Abraham Kenneth Adams ’78 and Diana Adams Abraham Axler ’13 Elle Garrell Berger ’60 Andrew and Nicole Bernheimer Benjamin Blickle and Carrie Carlson Steven Burwell and Heidie Joo Burwell Jonathan Busky and Galen Sherwin Ian Carnduff and Maiken Erstad Lyman Casey Guadalupe and Chris Concannon Derek Costas and Cindy Day Emma Cothren Emily and Cory Cowles Elizabeth Crosta Luis Cruz Hernandez and Robyn Marasco Electra Cummings David and Maura Eden Kenny and Unha Engels

Giving Circle

Jonathan Adams ’81 Brittany Adkins-Williams Lauri Adler Bailey ’75 Horace Allen, Jr. and Carine Saint-Jean Señora Kim Allen Dr. Elliot Ames ’67 David Anders and Leena Anders Sobeira Andrade Alexander Anthony and Ayanna Nibbs Jane Brody Anthony ’62 Charitin Arce Jose Arcila

50

$750+

William and Andrea Keh The Kellum Family Rebecca Kelly Samir Khare and Sabina Sangha Stephen Larson and Jill Porter The Lilly Family Laura Lingenfelter and Anthony Innes Lawrence Elliott Madlock MD ’66 Ricardo Granderson and Alisa Martin Granderson Muriel McClendon ’77 Kevin McDonald and Carmen Bryant David McMahon and Sarah Burns Robert Mertz and Lucia Rahilly Marsha Morency Larry Nabritt and Virginia Avent Nabritt Sasha Noe ’85 Jason Novak Adam Rashid ’94 Nathan Rich and Miriam Peterson

Mariano Schwed and Cathie Mahon Russell Smith and Maria Carolina Guedes-Smith Edward and Amanda Smith Lance Soderstrom and Jill Barnhart Alex and Gaby Stern Jed and Lena Tamarkin Paul and Michelle Taylor Karen and Sherman Telis Brett and Emily Topel Pedro and Naomi Torres-Mackie Daniel and Kate Van Der Meulen The Vincent Family Daniel Vinson ’83 and Rosanne Vinson Douglas Wexler Kori Yoran and Vanessa Chu Adam and Martha Zaentz Jonathan Zorach ’65 Catherine Devlin and Christie Halle Devlin Anonymous (47)

Matthew and Sarah Fleischer Jon Freeman and Nina Essman Ivan Freeman ’78 Eric Friedman and Emily Rubenstein Joel Gold and Cathy Vignola Jesse Goodman ’69 Ann Grosz Darrick Hamilton ’89 Magnus Hedlund ’91 Frederic Hinze ’56 Donald Kilpatrick and Karen Lavine Clara Latham and Adele Mitchell Irwin and Nickisha Lawrence David Lynders and Michelle Sartain Robert and Diane Mackie Salma McLaughlin ’20 Yamila McLaughlin ’22 John Mensher ’59 Todd Mulder ’81 and Jody Weber Sami and Kristina Rashid

Claude Remy ’76 Ralph Richardson, Jr. and Eisa Ulen Richardson Barney and Torrey Robinson Sue Rose Anthony Rose and Kemi Akinsanya Barbara Ingersoll Rothenberg ’63 and Harvey Rothenberg Elliot Schwartz and Carole Kiser Paul Segal ’62 Susan Loewenberg Shulman ’60 David and Lauren Smetana Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Nikolas Weinstein and Abigail Phillips David Weller and Ariel Meyerowitz-Weller Norman and Allegra White Dale and Rafi Zaklad Mitchell Zeller ’75 Anonymous (50)

Adam Atherton and Katelyn Ferguson David Atkin and Susan Homer Amadou Ba Tina Klein Baker ’72 Katie Banks Loreto Barranco Nada Davies Barry ’48 Mrs. Joan Bassin Annie Bassin Malcolm Bell ’49 Robert Benjamin, M.D. ’60 and Nancy Benjamin

Elliot Bertoni ’84 Wade Black ’92 Bryan Blatstein and Anne Fulenwider Ami Blumenthal ’97 Julie Keosian Boettiger ’62 Carlos Bonetto and Madelyn du Toit Ray Braverman ’64 and Barbara Braverman Tracy Bucci Betsy ’54 and Al Buck ’54 Stephen Buck Thomas Buckley Mark Buenzle

$375+

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School. † denotes a deceased donor.

Joyce Bullock-Vigdor Crystal Byndloss ’87 Karim Camara ’88 and Orelia Merchant Camara Sharon D. Carter Betty Chang ’69 Tyla Chedu Jackson Cherry ’29 Tobi Chinski Maman Cisse Melanie Closs Mariano Colas Mary Cole Michelle Cole Vance and Jackie Condie David Conrad Alison Cornell Dr. AnaMaria Correa and Jose Arcila Giselle Coutinho ’75 Emma Daley Maria Batista De Luna Laura Delano ’76 Elizabeth Deull-Ledet and Jason Ledet Jamison Divoll and Meagan Bennett Ned and Martha Edmonds Michael and Linda Edwards Derek Eller and Abigail Messitte William and Patricia Epstein Sonya and Carver Farrell Lisa Favata

Matthew Ferranti Joshua Feuer and Mira Sleilati Eric Fingerman Charles Fisher ’54 Burke Fitzpatrick ’72 Donna Foote Elizabeth Fox ’76 George Fox ’62 Seth Frader-Thompson and Hallie Morrison Salvatore Fratto, Jr. and Donna Caltabiano-Fratto Cat Fredenburgh and Christine Caulfield Charles Freedgood ’75 Larry Fuchsman and Janet Strain Charles Fulco Luis Garcia Filpo David Gardella Michael and Katsuko Geller Michael Gertner ’56 Julie Gibson Jane Smith Frances Goodman Ginsberg ’55 Jacob Ginsberg ’12 Justin Ginsburgh and Ruth Gerson Jonathan and Megan Glionna Elizabeth Harten Goldberg ’60, PhD Molly Goldberg Theodore Goodman Millicent Green Eli Grubin ’24

Leslie Gruss Alex Guzchenko James and Agnes Harley Agnes Harley and Sunyoo Kim Peter and Anitra Haskopoulos and Family Andrew Hayes and Ann Amstutz Hayes Carla Scheuer Heaton ’65 Dr. Robert Hertzig Ed Herzman and Kate Daloz Mary Herzog ’87 Jonathan and Jessica Hills Stanley and Barbara Hopard Karen Hopkins Laurice Hwang Martha Hyde Admir Ivojevic Janna Joassainte ’13 Mark Johnson ’63 Nancy Jones ’98 Uniysha Jones Ellen J. Kahan Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kane Carl Kass ’75 Meraj Khan and Farnaz Chowdhry Lisa Kornblau ’75 and Kenneth Kornblau Jeremy and Andrea Kortes Neal and Caroline Kronley Theodore Lane Rebecca Lawrence Liz Layne

51

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

Auguste Leach Ms. Joanne LeBlanc Seamus LeBlanc ’28 Patrick Lee and Mary Lee Mollie Middlebrook Leengran ’54 Helen Leibner ’70 Luis Leon Neil Levine ’57 Lewis Lieberman and Ina Ratner Joshua and Alison Lindland David Liu Kin Liu and MeeQuan Moo-Liu Ivo Lorenz and Carol Ying Lawrence Lurie ’52 and Elinore Lurie Peter Mackie ’12 Kevin MacLeod and Alison Trebby Amanda Magnavita Carmelyn Malalis and Lule Demmissie Henry Maldonado and Elsie Aldahondo Rachel and Torrey Maldonado John and Susan Maloney Gregory and Sandra Maltzman Vladimir Malukoff Joel Marks ’67 Mitchell Markson ’75 Edgar Marshall Mariah Martens Sean Matthias Stephanie Mayer Ethan McCarty and Sarah Schur McCarty Kevin McDonald Marcia McHam Stefano and Akane Merlo Carol Meshel ’61 James Milgram ’57 Stephanie Pollack Miller ’53 Richard Moore and Jordan Kraemer Alison Moore Nadine Morinia David Murray and Elizabeth Manley Murray Kevin Murungi Neha Nascimento Eric Nass ’75 Christopher Nattrass Elmira Naymark Anthony Newman and Meredith Hostetter Kenny and Susan Newmark Martin Norregaard Megan and Jacob Nuxoll Tiffany Olson Ana Oropeza-Parra Jacqueline Ortiz Dora Ortiz Contreras Jack Ostroff ’72 Jake Ottmann Lucius Palmer Vanessa Pang

52

Ian Penny and Lauri Kaplan Tina Piccolo Andre Pilgrim and Jouvonda Weeks Joanna Pimentel Mayda Pasternack Podell ’64 Alyssa Postman Putzel Michael Prior ’82 Melissa Providence Jumana Qamruddin Michael Rae-Grant Susan Rai ’59 Charles Reis ’30 Nicholas Reis ’33 Lisa Richland ’62 Barbara Ringel Doris Rodriguez-Graber Veronica Rodriguez-Torres Maegan Rose Matilda Turkle Rubin ’67 Mark Rusitzky and Elizabeth Wagner Guy Russell ’55 Katie Ryan Jeremiah and Tami Rygus Maria Sanchez Rose Sanchez Karen Senecal Zhongchen Shen and Yu Wang Howard Sherman ’74 John and Marsha Shyer Moses Silverman ’65 and Betty Robbins Vinay and Ellen Singh Megan Craig Skinner ’76 Adam Snyder and Cecelia Cutler Ángel Soba Sara and Tony Soll

Hartley Spatt ’65 Elena Speridakos Joseph Spitz ’72 Michal Stobierski John Storella Marilyn Stotts Brian Sullivan Kyle Sundin and Marie Hoguet Robin Altchek Tashima ’69 Sharesa Thomas Alan and Karen Trachtman Mr. and Mrs. John Trebby Brian Tridgell Eliza Van Rootselaar ’03 Naomi Varnis Isaiah Vogler Trish Walkin Jeremy and Judith Walsh Nathaniel Walsh ’94 Bethia Waterman Jackson Watts Derrick and Khalilah Webster Robin Gowa Wells ’70 Stephen Wermiel ’68 Charles Weymuller ’46 and Carol Weymuller Bill and Carolyn Wheatley Benna Brecher Wilde ’63 David and Elise Wilson Benjamin Woodbridge Tiffany Wright Terence Wrong and Marisa Guthrie Maritza Zapata Peter Zorach ’60 Anonymous (201)

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School. † denotes a deceased donor.

53

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

The Sky’s the Limit Spring Gala Alexander Anthony and Ayanna Nibbs Magna Antoine Taylor Antrim and Elizabeth Twitchell Nicholas Arons and Vivien Labaton Tom and Analisa Barrett Bennett Baumer and Amy Wolf Kevin and Amanda Blackman Paul and Johanna Bonewitz Brooklyn Friends School Organizations Christian Brown Frank Cabrera Crissy Cáceres and James Cox Christopher and Roshni Cariello

54

James Cavoli and Julie Scelfo Eric Chinski and Cherry Montejo Billy Clareman and Emily Bravo Mike Cloherty and Alexis Papageorge Romy Cohen and Family Matthew and Iris Cohen Geoffrey Cook and Cindy McBennett Derek Costas and Cindy Day Emma Cothren Emily and Cory Cowles Sean Crnkovich and Karin Kringen The Czeban Family Emma Daley

Matthew and Luciana Damon Raphael and Melanie Davis Sean and Abby DesMarteau Kate Doniger and Olivia Peoples Mark and Allison Dunn Amos and Karen Edelman David and Maura Eden Andrew and Debra Edwards Mark Egerman and Alisha Bhagat Kenny and Unha Engels Matthew Feis and Danielle Plafsky Matthew and Sarah Fleischer Christopher and Elizabeth Frank

Charles Freedgood ’75 Eric Friedman and Emily Rubenstein Michael and Lindsay Garea Steven Giralt and Gabriela Ponce Joel Gold and Cathy Vignola Aaron Goldberg and Yolanda Miranda Sarah Gordon Jason and Stephanie Gromek Michael and Stephanie Guild Matthew Gurgel and Amanda Close Alex Guzchenko Rebecca Habel Jamie and Elizabeth Hammel David Harbour and Lily Cooper Eric and Jodi Harris Charman Hayes and Kathleen Culhane Benjamin Heller Thomas Henry and Joanna Sherman Michael and Camilla Hill Anya Hoerburger ’95 Matthew and Annie Hopkins The Hsu Family Martha Hyde Christopher Isenberg and Zoe Sakoutis Nathaniel Ives and Molly Small Michael Jacobs and Brittany McVicker Jacobs Audrey Jaynes ’03 and Christopher Cherry Mark Johnson ’63 Michael Johnson and Jerri Shick Sheila Jones Sam Kaplan and Deborah Singer Christopher Kavanaugh William and Andrea Keh The Kellum Family Yvette Kennedy Samir Khare and Sabina Sangha The Simeone Kitts Family Jeremy Klein and Marissa Malick Klein John Kline and Penny Windle Charles and Kirsten Knight Joseph and Melissa Kronsberg Steve and Julie Kupfer Kevin Lapin and Debbora Gerressu Clara Latham and Adele Mitchell Irwin and Nickisha Lawrence Amy Lazarides and Manish Sharma Bevon and Susan Leacock The LeBlanc Family Jessica E. Lee Anna Leipsic Emily Levin and Satya Maganti Mr. Edward Levin Howard Levitt and Nathalie Sommer The Lilly Family

Alexander Lines and Karin McNair Peter Mackie ’12 Frederick Martens and Anne Dette Suzie Matthews Kevin McDonald and Carmen Bryant Duane McLaughlin and M. Salomé Galib Frederica McLean Robert Mertz and Lucia Rahilly Theodore and Angela Michaels Sheedeh Moayery William and Susan Morris Chris Morrow and Peggy Cheng Timothy and Erica Murphy Kevin Murungi Jason Novak Sean O’Neal and Ambereen Sleemi Edward Oliver and Adrienne Almeida Tosan and Jennifer Omabegho Garrett and Kathryn Ordower Daniel Paccione Humberto Pacheco and Alice Roberts Raj Patel and Jennifer Young Jonah and Louisa Pregerson Jumana Qamruddin Adam Rashid ’94 Taylor Reinhart and Melisa Bell Reinhart Curt Reis and Katie Murray Josh and Ilise Reznick Nathan Rich and Miriam Peterson Ralph Richardson, Jr. and Eisa Ulen Richardson Lisa Richland ’62 Brian Rifkin and Alexandra Burban Jesse Robertson-Tait and Susan Heimbinder Barney and Torrey Robinson Matthew Runkle and Rebecca Koepnick Jeremiah and Tami Rygus Adam and Azi Sacks Douglas Schimmel and Erin Morrissey

Joshua Schneps and Tracey Wells-Schneps Elliot Schwartz and Carole Kiser Mariano Schwed and Cathie Mahon Jeffrey and Rachael Schweon Karen Senecal Avi Sharon and Megan Hertzig-Sharon Peter Skinner and Olga Fuentes David and Lauren Smetana Edward and Amanda Smith Lance Soderstrom and Jill Barnhart Sara and Tony Soll The Sonnad Family David Stern and Sondra Goldschein Alex and Gaby Stern Gary and Rebecca Stewart Daniel and Ashvi Stone Arun Subramanian and Sowmya Rao Nicole Summer Jed and Lena Tamarkin Paul and Michelle Taylor Gordon Terry and Carol Bove Pedro and Naomi Torres-Mackie George and Caroline Turner David and Jodi Utz Scott and Elizabeth Valins Daniel and Kate Van Der Meulen Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Trish Walkin Eva Warren Norman and Allegra White William Wilmot and Kate Klock Rui Cai Yang and Kalowtie Yang Roy Yang and Caitlin Kenney Kori Yoran and Vanessa Chu Nitya York and Graham Pollack Adam and Martha Zaentz Martin Zagorsek and Shira Carmi Matthew Zaklad and Laura Newmark Anonymous (13)

55

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

2022–2023 Brooklyn Friends Fund Designated Giving Areas Our School Pillars

Katie Bradley Jonathan Edmonds and Rachel Mazor Michael and Lindsay Garea Geoffrey Goldstein and Jennifer Elson Camilla Church Greene ’60 Charman Hayes and Kathleen Culhane Edward Hernstadt and Maia Wechsler Robert and Diane Mackie Gregory and Sandra Maltzman Larry Nabritt and Virginia Avent Nabritt Jason Novak Melissa Providence Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Anonymous (2)

Technology

Abraham Axler ’13 Zena Cason ’33 Laura Dattner Christopher and Elizabeth Frank Bernhard Mehl and Christine Ying Elizabeth Owolabi Josh and Ilise Reznick Steven Rivo and Jessica Millstone Bernard Schmidt ’95

Blake and Katherine Shaw Daniel and Ashvi Stone Nicole Summer Jingyi Zhang Anonymous (3)

Performing & Visual Arts

Razi Abdur-Rahman and Klara Ibarra David Atkin and Susan Homer Tyler Bauer Jonathan Busky and Galen Sherwin Fiona Cason ’35 Tobi Chinski Barbara E. Davis Oliver Fein and Charlotte Phillips Sarah Gordon Rebecca Habel Shemaiah and Marsha Hohn Patrick and Erin Kiernon Jessica E. Lee The Liuzzo Family Mitchell Markson ’75 Ricardo Granderson and Alisa Martin Granderson Penni Morganstein Leonardo Novik and Idra Novey Rosenberg

Kenneth Nowell and Justine Lambert Jan Postma and Jane Panetta Anslem and Starrene Rocque Hannah Schorr ’19 Daniel Schorr and Ellen Barker Elliot Schwartz and Carole Kiser Peter Skinner and Olga Fuentes Joseph Spitz ’72 Anonymous (1)

Athletics

Carlos Bonetto and Madelyn du Toit Christian Brown Brandon Colon Geoffrey Cook and Cindy McBennett John and Leslie Czeban Lauren Dwyer Elena Francisco James and Agnes Harley Craig Kanarick Salma McLaughlin ’20 Yamila McLaughlin ’22 David and Kimberly Messina Sheedeh Moayery Ralph Richardson and Eisa Ulen Richardson Anonymous (5)

Class of 2023 Senior Legacy Gift Maria Carrasco James Cavoli and Julie Scelfo Johanna Evans The Gregory Family

56

Lewis Lieberman and Ina Ratner Ceima Perkins Matthew Rogers and Deanna D’Amore Anthony Rose and Kemi Akinsanya

Sue Rose Daniel Vinson ’83 and Rosanne Vinson Anonymous (3)

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Fund for Brooklyn Friends School. † denotes a deceased donor.

SkateFest David Anders and Leena Anders Taylor Antrim and Elizabeth Twitchell Nicholas Arons and Vivien Labaton Adam Atherton and Katelyn Ferguson Michael and JoAnna Barlow Annie Bassin Kevin and Amanda Blackman Brooklyn Friends School Organizations Jackson Cherry ’29 Chris Ciancimino and Kathryn Westergaard Emily and Cory Cowles Verina and Errol Crawford The Czeban Family Jamison Divoll and Meagan Bennett Joyce Duverce Mark Egerman and Alisha Bhagat Derek Eller and Abigail Messitte Sonya and Carver Farrell Joshua Feuer and Mira Sleilati Cat Fredenburgh and Christine Caulfield Justin Ginsburgh and Ruth Gerson Steven Giralt and Gabriela Ponce Tunde Giwa and Glenda Johnson Joel Gold and Cathy Vignola Aaron Goldberg and Yolanda Miranda Geoffrey Goldstein and Jennifer Elson Eli Grubin ’24 Scott and Dana Grubin Nigel Hall and Janice Rivera-Hall Agnes Harley and Sunyoo Kim Thomas Henry and Joanna Sherman Jonathan and Jessica Hills Matthew and Annie Hopkins

The Hsu Family Michael Johnson and Jerri Shick Telemachus and Jacquelyn Kasulis William and Andrea Keh Rebecca Kelly Michael King and Brittan Bright Cassel Kroll and Wendy Szymanski Clara Latham and Adele Mitchell Bevon and Susan Leacock Adam Levine and Margaret Grunow Joshua and Alison Lindland Alexander Lines and Karin McNair Eduardo and Jennifer Loja Ivo Lorenz and Carol Ying Kevin MacLeod and Alison Trebby Carmelyn Malalis and Lule Demmissie Henry Maldonado and Elsie Aldahondo Jonathan Edmonds and Rachel Mazor Ethan McCarty and Sarah Schur McCarty Gueber Milien and Anna Perez-Milien Richard Moore and Jordan Kraemer Elmira Naymark Anthony Newman and Meredith Hostetter Leonardo Novik and Idra Novey Rosenberg Edward Oliver and Adrienne Almeida Tosan and Jennifer Omabegho Humberto Pacheco and Alice Roberts Curt Reis and Katie Murray Nathan Rich and Miriam Peterson Keith Richards and Christine Dirringer Uzma Rizvi and Murtaza Vali Anslem and Starrene Rocque Erasto Sampson and Iyaka Jack-Sampson

The Williamson-Saylor Family Joshua Schneps and Tracey Wells-Schneps The Agarwala Seesahai Family Karen Senecal Zhongchen Shen and Yu Wang Josh Siegel and Meredith Martin Courtney Baron and Blair Singer Edward and Amanda Smith Adam Snyder and Cecelia Cutler Lance Soderstrom and Jill Barnhart Gary and Rebecca Stewart Michal Stobierski Anne Suddaby and Marie-Alyce Devieux Kyle Sundin and Marie Hoguet Kendra and Julia Swee Jed and Lena Tamarkin Charlie Tobin George and Caroline Turner Kabir Vadera and Elizabeth Crile-Vadera Daniel and Kate Van Der Meulen Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Derrick and Khalilah Webster Samuel Weinstein and April Hesik Norman and Allegra White Joy Williams Terence Wrong and Marisa Guthrie Roy Yang and Caitlin Kenney Nitya York and Graham Pollack Martin Zagorsek and Shira Carmi Matthew Zaklad and Laura Newmark Anonymous (17)

57

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

2022–2023 Family Giving Class of 2023

Jonathan Butler and Kira von Eichel Maria Carrasco James Cavoli and Julie Scelfo Johanna Evans The Gregory Family Bruce and Erica Hamilton Lewis Lieberman and Ina Ratner Benjamin and Alexandra Luzzatto Penni Morganstein Jake Ottmann Ceima Perkins Matthew Rogers and Deanna D’Amore Anthony Rose and Kemi Akinsanya Sue Rose Dara Sicherman Salett and Stephen Salett Daniel Vinson ’83 and Rosanne Vinson Anonymous (2)

Class of 2024

Robin Callif Romy Cohen and Family The Czeban Family Matthew and Luciana Damon Damion Douglas Jason and Stephanie Gromek Scott and Dana Grubin Eric and Jodi Harris Sheila Gerami Jeremy Holgersen and Hillary Siskind Gretchen Adelaide Hudgson The Kellum Family John Kline and Penny Windle Lena Lalvani Clayton and Buffi McDonald Duane McLaughlin and M. Salomé Galib David and Kimberly Messina Kenneth Nowell and Justine Lambert Sean O’Neal and Ambereen Sleemi Vanessa Pang Maxine Payne Jesse Robertson-Tait and Susan Heimbinder Elliot Schwartz and Carole Kiser Mariano Schwed and Cathie Mahon Senca Springer Paul and Michelle Taylor The Vincent Family Brad and Shayna Wellington Norman and Allegra White Rui Cai Yang and Kalowtie Yang Anonymous (6)

Class of 2025

Razi Abdur-Rahman and Klara Ibarra

58

Avi and Rachel Abel Andrew and Nicole Bernheimer Donald and Heidi Burke Crissy C·ceres and James Cox John Cantarella and Samantha Rippner Barbara E. Davis Mark and Allison Dunn Jason and Eliza Factor Michael and Laura Farkas Elena Francisco Michael and Katsuko Geller Rebecca Odes and Craig Kanarick William and Andrea Keh Stephen Larson and Jill Porter James and Amy Lassman Benjamin and Alexandra Luzzatto David Lynders and Michelle Sartain Theodore and Angela Michaels Chris Morrow and Peggy Cheng Emily Moyer Jonah and Louisa Pregerson Karen Senecal Avi Sharon and Megan Hertzig-Sharon Anonymous (4)

Class of 2026

Alexander Anthony and Ayanna Nibbs Carlos Bonetto and Madelyn du Toit James Cavoli and Julie Scelfo Mike Cloherty and Alexis Papageorge Sebastian Cwilich The Czeban Family Raphael and Melanie Davis Herbert Eilberg and Cary Vaughan Kenny and Unha Engels Johanna Evans Elena Francisco Jon Freeman and Nina Essman Jonathan and Megan Glionna Zoe Goldberg-Stewart and David Stewart Sheila Jones The Simeone Kitts Family Solomon and Linda Kuckelman Howard Levitt and Nathalie Sommer Rachel and Torrey Maldonado Frederick Martens and Anne Dette Gueber Milien and Anna Perez-Milien Sonja Neill-Turner Cheryl Nicholas Elizabeth Owolabi Ian Penny and Lauri Kaplan Sami and Kristina Rashid Taylor Reinhart and Melisa Bell Reinhart Barney and Torrey Robinson

Seth and Sloane Rosner Gregory Walters and Petal Van Rossum-Walters Kenji and Emily Yoshikawa Anonymous (3)

Class of 2027

Horace Allen, Jr. and Carine Saint-Jean Tom and Analisa Barrett William and Sarah Barrett Bryan Blatstein and Anne Fulenwider Jonathan Busky and Galen Sherwin Derek Costas and Cindy Day Patrick DeSimone and Maria-Ray Guido Jason and Eliza Factor Michael and Katsuko Geller Stacey Shurgin and Ruth Genn Michael and Shoshana Goldhaber Peter and Anitra Haskopoulos and Family Ed Herzman and Kate Daloz Patrick and Erin Kiernon Brian Lew and Emily Simonis Alexander Lines and Karin McNair Lawrence and Lorie Lupkin Benjamin and Alexandra Luzzatto David Lynders and Michelle Sartain Clayton and Buffi McDonald Frederica McLean Theodore and Angela Michaels M’Balia Rubie-Miller and Caleb Miller Andre Pilgrim and Jouvonda Weeks Ralph Richardson, Jr. and Eisa Ulen Richardson Barney and Torrey Robinson Mark Rusitzky and Elizabeth Wagner Jim and Laurie Schoenburg Alexander and Ava Tavantzis The Vincent Family David Weller and Ariel Meyerowitz-Weller Brad and Shayna Wellington Jason Zinoman and Agnes Dunogue Anonymous (4)

Class of 2028

Michael and JoAnna Barlow Jonathan Belt and Polly Smail Geoffrey Cook and Cindy McBennett Alison Cornell Elizabeth Crosta Barbara E. Davis Mark and Allison Dunn Brandt Flomer and Molly Spindel Seth Frader-Thompson and Hallie Morrison Jonathan and Megan Glionna Matthew Gurgel and Amanda Close

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor.

The LeBlanc Family Patrick Lee and Mary Lee Howard Levitt and Nathalie Sommer Gregory and Sandra Maltzman Bob Pasker Jonah and Louisa Pregerson Taylor Reinhart and Melisa Bell Reinhart Josh and Ilise Reznick Karen Senecal Peter Skinner and Olga Fuentes David and Lauren Smetana Anne Suddaby and Marie-Alyce Devieux Gordon Terry and Carol Bove Michael and Nicole Tuminello Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Anonymous (12)

Class of 2029

Al-Hakim Bey and Rebeca Dutary Bey Billy Clareman and Emily Bravo Matthew and Luciana Damon Patrick DeSimone and Maria-Ray Guido Derek Eller and Abigail Messitte Michael Ferrara Eric Friedman and Emily Rubenstein Stacey Shurgin and Ruth Genn Tunde Giwa and Glenda Johnson Joel Gold and Cathy Vignola Aaron Goldberg and Yolanda Miranda Lakisha Grant Charman Hayes and Kathleen Culhane Matthew and Annie Hopkins

Audrey Jaynes ’03 and Christopher Cherry Ramon Johnson and Sherese Fralin Neal and Caroline Kronley Steve and Julie Kupfer Clara Latham and Adele Mitchell Amy Lazarides and Manish Sharma Sheedeh Moayery Edward Oliver and Adrienne Almeida Sami and Kristina Rashid Steven Rivo and Jessica Millstone Mark Rusitzky and Elizabeth Wagner Jeremiah and Tami Rygus Jane Schneider Dara Sicherman Salett and Stephen Salett David Stern and Sondra Goldschein Gary and Rebecca Stewart Scott and Elizabeth Valins Douglas Wexler Anonymous (4)

Class of 2030

Taylor Antrim and Elizabeth Twitchell Michael and JoAnna Barlow Bennett Baumer and Amy Wolf Ian Carnduff and Maiken Erstad Matthew and Iris Cohen Aleksandr Falikman and Svetlana Kucher Brandt Flomer and Molly Spindel Erich Grosz and Lee Barnum Michael Johnson and Jerri Shick Telemachus and Jacquelyn Kasulis Rebecca Kelly

Emily Levin and Satya Maganti Leonardo Novik and Idra Novey Rosenberg Humberto Pacheco and Alice Roberts Curt Reis and Katie Murray Joshua Schneps and Tracey Wells-Schneps Josh Siegel and Meredith Martin Michael and Cheryl Steed Kyle Sundin and Marie Hoguet Jed and Lena Tamarkin Martin Zagorsek and Shira Carmi Matthew Zaklad and Laura Newmark Anonymous (5)

Class of 2031

Razi Abdur-Rahman and Klara Ibarra Nicholas Arons and Vivien Labaton Rachel Churner and Kristina Leonetti Sean Crnkovich and Karin Kringen Jonathan Edmonds and Rachel Mazor Amy Lazarides and Manish Sharma Jessica E. Lee Anna Leipsic Aaron Lustbader and DJ Martin Tosan and Jennifer Omabegho Jan Postma and Jane Panetta Josh and Ilise Reznick Keith Richards and Christine Dirringer Matthew Runkle and Rebecca Koepnick The Agarwala Seesahai Family Courtney Baron and Blair Singer David Stern and Sondra Goldschein Gary and Rebecca Stewart

59

angle-double-right IMPACT REPORT 2022–2023

Nicole Summer Alexander and Ava Tavantzis David and Jodi Utz Kabir Vadera and Elizabeth Crile-Vadera Giancarlo Vulcano and Monica Miranda Samuel Weinstein and April Hesik Norman and Allegra White Anonymous (4)

Class of 2032

Eric Chinski and Cherry Montejo Billy Clareman and Emily Bravo Matthew and Iris Cohen Verina and Errol Crawford Luis Cruz Hernandez and Robyn Marasco Raphael and Melanie Davis Elizabeth Deull-Ledet and Jason Ledet Kate Doniger and Olivia Peoples Matthew Ellar and Nicola Darrach Chris Fenster and Rachel Epstein Stacey Shurgin and Ruth Genn Steven Giralt and Gabriela Ponce Geoffrey Goldstein and Jennifer Elson Michael and Stephanie Guild Rebecca Habel Benjamin Heller Matthew and Annie Hopkins Michael Johnson and Jerri Shick Meraj Khan and Farnaz Chowdhry Jeremy Klein and Marissa Malick Klein David and Kate Klein Adam Levine and Margaret Grunow Eduardo and Jennifer Loja Ivo Lorenz and Carol Ying M’Balia Rubie-Miller and Caleb Miller Gabriel Nussbaum and Elizabeth Wood Daniel and Meredith Range Douglas Schimmel and Erin Morrissey The Sonnad Family Michael and Cheryl Steed Douglas Wexler Roy Yang and Caitlin Kenney

Class of 2033

Taylor Antrim and Elizabeth Twitchell Kevin and Amanda Blackman Adam and Marissa Broman The Zeig-Owens Cason Family Laura Dattner Mark Egerman and Alisha Bhagat Aaron Goldberg and Yolanda Miranda The Hsu Family Christopher Isenberg and Zoe Sakoutis Nathaniel Ives and Molly Small Kevin Lapin and Debbora Gerressu The Lilly Family Ethan McCarty and Sarah Schur McCarty

60

Timothy and Erica Murphy Curt Reis and Katie Murray Antony Ryan and Robyn Tarnofsky Adam and Azi Sacks Joshua Schneps and Tracey Wells-Schneps Jeffrey and Rachael Schweon The Agarwala Seesahai Family Edward and Amanda Smith Arun Subramanian and Sowmya Rao Kyle Sundin and Marie Hoguet The Willcocks Family Joy Williams Martin Zagorsek and Shira Carmi Matthew Zaklad and Laura Newmark Anonymous (4)

Class of 2034

Marc Avigdor and Amanda Sadacca Vikram and Rushmi Bhaskaran Paul and Johanna Bonewitz Rachel Churner and Kristina Leonetti Matthew Ellar and Nicola Darrach Christopher and Elizabeth Frank Michael and Lindsay Garea Peter and Anitra Haskopoulos and Family Thomas Henry and Joanna Sherman Jay Jaffe and Emma Span Samir Khare and Sabina Sangha Michael King and Brittan Bright Neal and Caroline Kronley Joseph and Melissa Kronsberg Kevin Lapin and Debbora Gerressu Bevon and Susan Leacock Anna Leipsic Melissa Joy Manning Stefano and Akane Merlo Ryan and Carla Norris Garrett and Kathryn Ordower Raj Patel and Jennifer Young Anslem and Starrene Rocque Blake and Katherine Shaw Josh Siegel and Meredith Martin George and Caroline Turner David and Jodi Utz Ronald Wagner ’81 and Fang Zhong

Class of 2035

Christopher and Roshni Cariello The Zeig-Owens Cason Family Sean Crnkovich and Karin Kringen Mark Egerman and Alisha Bhagat Michael and Stephanie Guild Michael Hamrah and Jill Maxwell Michael and Camilla Hill Christopher Isenberg and Zoe Sakoutis Michael Jacobs and Brittany McVicker Jacobs Bernhard Mehl and Christine Ying

Marsha Morency Nathan Rich and Miriam Peterson Matthew Runkle and Rebecca Koepnick Adam and Azi Sacks David Singer and Alexis Platis David and Lauren Smetana The Sonnad Family Daniel and Ashvi Stone Arun Subramanian and Sowmya Rao Kendra and Julia Swee Michael Telis The Willcocks Family William Wilmot and Kate Klock Roy Yang and Caitlin Kenney Nitya York and Graham Pollack Anonymous (2)

Class of 2036

Emily and Cory Cowles Kate Doniger and Olivia Peoples Evan Gourvitz and Anne Swan Thomas Hazel and Emma Leonard Meraj Khan and Farnaz Chowdhry Adam Levine and Margaret Grunow The Lilly Family Timothy and Erica Murphy Ryan and Carla Norris Gabriel Nussbaum and Elizabeth Wood Jevon Roush and Grier Coleman Lance Soderstrom and Jill Barnhart Daniel and Kate Van Der Meulen Norman and Allegra White Adam and Martha Zaentz Anonymous (2)

Class of 2037

Vikram and Rushmi Bhaskaran Benjamin Blickle and Carrie Carlson Paul and Johanna Bonewitz Andrew Brodie and Anna Wickes Michael and Nan Byrne Christopher and Roshni Cariello Owen Conroy and May Chiang Michael and Lindsay Garea Charles and Kirsten Knight Joseph and Melissa Kronsberg Garrett and Kathryn Ordower Jonathan and Dorothy Ranson Brian Rifkin and Alexandra Burban Mauricio Takahashi and Lilian Takahashi Anonymous (1)

Class of 2038

Michael Jacobs and Brittany McVicker Jacobs Jason Meade and Kathy Wang Ronald Wagner ’81 and Fang Zhong

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor.

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Alumni Giving 1940s

Virginia Miller ’42 Rosalind Hale Campbell ’44 Charles Weymuller ’46 Nada Davies Barry ’48 Malcolm Bell ’49

1950s

Lawrence Lurie ’52 Stephanie Pollack Miller ’53 Alfred Buck ’54 Elizabeth Buck ’54 Charles Fisher ’54 Mollie Middlebrook Leengran ’54 Stephen Silver ’54 Frances Goodman Ginsberg ’55 Marcia McVicar Polenz ’55 Guy Russell ’55 Martin Garrell ’56 Michael Gertner ’56 Frederic Hinze ’56 Judy Candib Larkin ’57 Neil Levine ’57 James Milgram ’57 Andrew Coronato ’58 Fredric Kleinberg ’58 John Mensher ’59 Susan Rai ’59

1960s

Robert Benjamin, M.D. ’60 Elle Garrell Berger ’60 Elizabeth Harten Goldberg ’60, PhD Camilla Church Greene ’60 Susan Loewenberg Shulman ’60 Peter Zorach ’60 Carol Meshel ’61 Jane Brody Anthony ’62 Julie Keosian Boettiger ’62 George Fox ’62 Ronald Hason ’62 Nicole Sweedler Metzner ’62 Lisa Richland ’62 Paul Segal ’62 Mark Johnson ’63 Barbara Ingersoll Rothenberg ’63 Benna Brecher Wilde ’63 Ray Braverman ’64 Mayda Pasternack Podell ’64 Elizabeth Dawson Gullen ’65 Carla Scheuer Heaton ’65 Moses Silverman ’65 Hartley Spatt ’65 Jonathan Zorach ’65

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Hon. Ellen Chaitin ’66 Lawrence Elliott Madlock MD ’66 Dr. Elliot Ames ’67 Joel Marks ’67 Matilda Turkle Rubin ’67 Michael Wald ’68 Stephen Wermiel ’68 Betty Chang ’69 Joshua Farber ’69 Jesse Goodman ’69 Robin Altchek Tashima ’69

1970s

Helen Leibner ’70 Robin Gowa Wells ’70 Tina Klein Baker ’72 Elizabeth Freedgood Breyer ’72 Burke Fitzpatrick ’72 Jack Ostroff ’72 Joseph Spitz ’72 Marc Coltrera ’73 Jessica Wittenstein Barranco ’74 Howard Sherman ’74 Lauri Adler Bailey ’75 Giselle Coutinho ’75 Charles Freedgood ’75 Carl Kass ’75 Lisa Rubin Kornblau ’75 Mitchell Markson ’75 Eric Nass ’75 Adella Rosenthal ’75 Samuel Solish ’75 Mitchell Zeller ’75 Laura Delano ’76 Elizabeth Fox ’76 Claude Remy ’76 Megan Craig Skinner ’76 Muriel McClendon ’77 Kenneth Adams ’78 Ivan Freeman ’78 Anonymous (2)

1980s

Catherine Stamm Woolston ’80 Jonathan Adams ’81 Todd Mulder ’81 Ronald Wagner ’81 Michael Prior ’82 Daniel Vinson ’83 Elliot Bertoni ’84 Sasha Noe ’85 Crystal Byndloss ’87 Mary Herzog ’87 Karim Camara ’88

Darrick Hamilton ’89

1990s

Magnus Hedlund ’91 Wade Black ’92 Keith Canton ’93 Natalie Fernandes ’93 Romi McVey ’93 Adam Rashid ’94 Nathaniel Walsh ’94 Anya Hoerburger ’95 Bernard Schmidt ’95 William Bielefeld ’97 Ami Blumenthal ’97 Nancy Jones ’98

2000s

Audrey Jaynes ’03 Eliza Van Rootselaar ’03 Anonymous (2)

2010s

Jacob Ginsberg ’12 Peter Mackie ’12 Willa Rubin ’12 Abraham Axler ’13 Janna Joassainte ’13 Hannah Schorr ’19 Anonymous (2)

2020s

Salma McLaughlin ’20 Yamila McLaughlin ’22 Anonymous (2)

Families of Alumni Giving Ruediger and Mary Ann Adolf Crissy Cáceres and James Cox Mary Cole Maria Batista De Luna Amos and Karen Edelman David and Maura Eden Andrew and Debra Edwards Michael and Linda Edwards William and Patricia Epstein Johanna Evans Aleksandr Falikman and Svetlana Kucher Cheryl Foote-Johnson Robin Freedman Larry Fuchsman and Janet Strain Jane Smith Leslie Gruss Bruce and Erica Hamilton

Edward Hernstadt and Maia Wechsler Shemaiah and Marsha Hohn Donald Kilpatrick and Karen Lavine Jennifer and Don Knies Mark LaRiviere and Catherine Ramey The Liuzzo Family Karen Luks Robert and Diane Mackie Ricardo Granderson and Alisa Martin Granderson Marcia McHam Duane McLaughlin and M. Salomé Galib Michael Morenko and Carolyn Romberg Larry Nabritt and Virginia Avent Nabritt Kenneth Nowell and Justine Lambert Sean O’Neal and Ambereen Sleemi Jonathan Lipkin and Danae Oratowski

Maxine Payne Daniel Schorr and Ellen Barker John and Marsha Shyer Sara and Tony Soll Senca Springer Ginny Terry Alan and Karen Trachtman Trish Walkin Jeremy and Judith Walsh Claude Watts and Jane Kosow Bill and Carolyn Wheatley Norman and Allegra White David and Elise Wilson Rui Cai Yang and Kalowtie Yang Anonymous (11)

Grandparent & Former Grandparent Giving Tom and Marge Barrett Maxwell Barrett ’27 Theodore Barrett ’29 Nada Davies Barry ’48 Citizen Sigmund ’06 Mrs. Joan Bassin Max Bassin ’20 Sydney Bassin ’25 Claire and Bill Bove Dorothy Terry ’25 Nathan Terry ’28 Tobi Chinski Ella Chinski ’32 Judy and Terry Cook Ford Cook ’28 Dr. and Mrs. James Cowles Arden Cowles ’36 Ned and Martha Edmonds Elijah Edmonds ’26 Naomi Edmonds ’31 Ann Grosz Tamsin Barnum Grosz ’26 Ian Barnum Grosz ’30 James and Agnes Harley Kai Kim ’28 Seong Bee Kim ’30 Ms. Sarah Hart Jazz Hart ’21 Cedar Hart ’23 Dr. Robert Hertzig Ilan Sharon ’23 Rami Sharon ’25

Robert and Laura Hoguet Louis Sundin ’30 Oscar Sundin ’33 Karen Hopkins Natalie Hopkins ’29 Adrienne Hopkins ’29 Caroline Hopkins ’32 Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kane Jordan Strohmenger ’25 Nicholas Strohmenger ’29 Ms. Joanne LeBlanc Amelia LeBlanc ’25 Seamus LeBlanc ’28 Mr. Edward Levin Violet Levin ’30 Deborah and Ted Lilly Margaret Lilly ’33 Nathaniel Lilly ’36 Laura Lingenfelter and Anthony Innes Arlo Kitts ’24 Stella Kitts ’26 David and Diane Master Kara Cavanaugh ’31 Grant Cavanaugh ’33 Alison Moore Willow Telis ’35 David Murray and Elizabeth Manley Murray Charles Reis ’30 Kenny and Susan Newmark Elias Zaklad ’30 Milo Zaklad ’33

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor.

Mr. and Mrs. David Raymond Amelia LeBlanc ’25 Seamus LeBlanc ’28 BB and Jud Reis Charlotte Reis ’26 Charles Reis ’30 Nicholas Reis ’33 Jerome Spindel and Vicki Milstein Theodore Flomer ’28 Nicolas Flomer ’30 Karen and Sherman Telis Willow Telis ’35 Mr. and Mrs. John Trebby Harris MacLeod ’32 Helen MacLeod ’34 Bethia Waterman Enzo Ortolani ’28 Dalt Wonk and Josephine Sacabo Oliver Cohen ’30 Violet Cohen ’32 Dale and Rafi Zaklad Elias Zaklad ’30 Milo Zaklad ’33 Mrs. Irka Zazulak Viola Burian-Schneider ’28 Leonora Burian-Schneider ’31 Anonymous (4)

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Colleague & Former Colleague Giving Razi Abdur-Rahman Kate Abraham* Brittany Adkins-Williams Felix Alberto Señora Kim Allen Sobeira Andrade Magna Antoine Charitin Arce Jose Arcila Bruce Arnold* Amadou Ba Katie Banks Loreto Barranco Matthew Batastini Tyler Bauer Katie Bradley Christian Brown Tracy Bucci Stephen Buck Thomas Buckley Mark Buenzle Joyce Bullock-Vigdor Frank Cabrera Crissy Cáceres Sharon Carter Lyman Casey Tyla Chedu Maman Cisse Catherine Clark Wrigley Chantel Cleckley Melanie Closs Mariano Colas Michelle Cole Brandon Colon Jackie Condie* David Conrad Dr. AnaMaria Correa Emma Cothren Emily Cowles Leigh Cross Dr. Jane Davidson Maria Batista De Luna Jon DeGraff Elizabeth Deull-Ledet Beth Duffy Joyce Duverce Lauren Dwyer Karen Edelman Maura Eden Jonathan Edmonds Vanessa Ehler Lisa Favata Eric Fingerman Donna Foote

Cheryl Foote-Johnson Salvatore Fratto, Jr. Charles Fulco Laleña Garcia Luis Garcia Filpo David Gardella Julie Gibson Megan Glionna Dana Goldberg Molly Goldberg Zoe Goldberg-Stewart Theodore Goodman Sarah Gordon Millicent Green Alex Guzchenko Ed Herzman* Laurice Hwang Admir Ivojevic Uniysha Jones Ellen J. Kahan Christopher Kavanaugh Thomas Keasling Yvette Kennedy Rachel Kleinman Jennifer Knies* Don Knies* Theodore Lane James Lassman Rebecca Lawrence Liz Layne Auguste Leach Luis Leon Kin Liu David Liu Karen Luks* Diane Mackie* Peter Mackie ’12 Lawrence Elliott Madlock MD ’66* Amanda Magnavita Rachel Maldonado Vladimir Malukoff Edgar Marshall Mariah Martens Suzie Matthews Sean Matthias Stephanie Mayer Rachel Mazor Kevin McDonald Ruth McQuiggan Kimberly Messina* Caleb Miller Nadine Morinia Kevin Murungi Neha Nascimento

Christopher Nattrass* Martin Norregaard* Jason Novak Megan Nuxoll Tiffany Olson Danae E. Oratowski* Ana Oropeza-Parra Jacqueline Ortiz Dora Ortiz Contreras Daniel Paccione Tina Piccolo Joanna Pimentel Jamie Pine Alyssa Postman Putzel Melissa Providence Michael Rae-Grant Vanessa Reynolds Lisa Richland ’62* Barbara Ringel* Joy Roberts Doris Rodriguez-Graber Veronica Rodriguez-Torres Maegan Rose M’Balia Rubie-Miller Katie Ryan Rose Sanchez Erika Sanchez Maria Sanchez

Ángel Soba Tony Soll* Sara Soll* Elena Speridakos Michal Stobierski John Storella* Brian Sullivan Thomas Talty Ginny Terry* Sharesa Thomas Chris Thorner* Brett Topel Brian Tridgell Eliza Van Rootselaar ’03 Naomi Varnis Linda Villamarin Isaiah Vogler Trish Walkin Kaila Warner-Haakmat Shayna Wellington Robin Wells ’70* Tiffany Wright Nitya York Maritza Zapata Roxanne Zazzaro* Jingyi Zhang Anonymous (23)

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor. * denotes a former colleague.

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Other Giving Young Friends Giving Zena Cason ’33 Fiona Cason ’35 Seamus LeBlanc ’28 Charles Reis ’30 Nicholas Reis ’33

Friends Giving

Joseph Carrata Matthew Ferranti Patricia and Bob Jenks Leanna Mercedes

John and Katie Roberts Benjamin Woodbridge Paul and Linda Zuckerman Anonymous (1)

Matching Gift Companies Adobe Inc. Bank of America CHUBB Charitable Foundation Coinbase Gap Inc. Global Atlantic Financial Group

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Google Inc. Hearst Intercontinental Exchange LS Power Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. McKinsey & Company Microsoft Matching Gifts Program News Corp PIMCO Foundation UBS Matching Gift Program VMware Foundation

Endowment The endowment forms the capital strength of the school by providing long-term sustainability, allowing us to carry out our mission in perpetuity. Brooklyn Friends School is fortunate to have had the support of many alumni, parents, and friends throughout its history who have contributed to the general endowment or have established permanent funds to support specific programs and initiatives. This list acknowledges those who made a gift to the general endowment or a permanent fund in the 2022–2023 year.

Raoul Bhavnani and Savitha Reddy Guadalupe and Chris Concannon Giselle Coutinho ’75 Catherine Devlin and Christie Halle Devlin Ronald Hason ’62

Lisa Kornblau ’75 and Kenneth Kornblau Mr. Edward Levin John and Katie Roberts Anonymous (1)

Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor.

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Celebration Gifts In celebration of Kate Abraham F. Murray Abraham In celebration of Chef Tom Wade Black ’92 In celebration of Brandon Colon Lauren Dwyer In celebration of Xavier Davenport-Parkin ’23 Ceima Perkins In celebration of Maura Eden Robert and Diane Mackie In celebration of Jonah Genn ’27 Stacey Shurgin and Ruth Genn In celebration of Amara Granderson ’13 Ricardo Granderson and Alisa Martin Granderson In celebration of Kai Kim ’28 James and Agnes Harley

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In celebration of Seong Bee Kim ’30 James and Agnes Harley In celebration of Arlo Kitts ’24 Laura Lingenfelter and Anthony Innes In celebration of Stella Kitts ’26 Laura Lingenfelter and Anthony Innes In celebration of Beckett Ranson ’37 Jonathan and Dorothy Ranson In celebration of Jake Tentler ’23, graduating senior Anonymous In celebration of Nathan Terry ’28 Claire and Bill Bove In celebration of 9th Grade Students Anoymous In celebration of the wonderful preschool and BFX teams!

Owen Conroy and May Chiang

Tribute Gifts In honor of Maxwell Barrett ’27 Tom and Marge Barrett In honor of Kara Cavanaugh ’31 David and Diane Master In honor of Grant Cavanaugh ’33 David and Diane Master In honor of Luca Cavoli’s Senior Year James Cavoli and Julie Scelfo In honor of Ford Cook ’28 Judy and Terry Cook In honor of Maura Eden Dr. Jane Davidson In honor of Nathaniel A. Epstein ’12 William and Patricia Epstein In honor of Emma Rabinovici Forsans ’23 Anonymous In honor of Carson Gregory ’23 The Gregory Family In honor of Zack Gregory ’23 The Gregory Family In honor of Adrienne Hopkins ’29 Karen Hopkins In honor of Natalie Hopkins ’29 Karen Hopkins In honor of Caroline Hopkins ’32 Karen Hopkins In honor of Zenzile Keith Anonymous

In honor of Diane Mackie Peter Mackie ’12 In honor of Vladimir Malukoff Christopher Nattrass In honor of The Moussaddek Family Leanna Mercedes In honor of Nicholas Reis ’33 David Murray and Elizabeth Manley Murray In honor of Charles Reis ’30 David Murray and Elizabeth Manley Murray In honor of Susan Loewenberg Shulman ’60 Anonymous In honor of David Fletcher Utz ’31 Patricia and Bob Jenks In honor of Sienna Utz ’34 Patricia and Bob Jenks In honor of the Class of 1966 Lawrence Elliott Madlock MD ’66 In honor of all the BFS colleagues Joseph and Melissa Kronsberg In honor of Elias Zaklad ’30 Kenny and Susan Newmark In honor of Milo Zaklad ’33 Kenny and Susan Newmark

Memorial Gifts In memory of Peter Delano Laura Delano ’76 In memory of Cheryl Theresa Duguid Ralph Richardson, Jr. and Eisa Ulen Richardson In memory of Philip L. Graham III ’83 Dara Sicherman In memory of AnnaRose King Alison Moore Michael Telis Karen and Sherman Telis In memory of Jill Kneerim ’56 Frederic Hinze ’56 In memory of Charles A. Leeds, Jr. Anonymous In memory of Susan Levin Mr. Edward Levin In memory of William H. Meeneghan Hartley Spatt ’65 In memory of Claudio Novas Felix Alberto In memory of Henry Ofterdinger ’54 Stephen Silver ’54

In memory of Sybil Payne Maxine Payne In memory of Dena Randolph Crystal Byndloss ’87 In memory of Ernest Remy Claude Remy ’76 In memory of Howard Rosan Anonymous In memory of Anslem B. Samuel Anslem and Starrene Rocque In memory of Paul Schulkind ’73 Paul and Linda Zuckerman In memory of Stuart P. Smith Howard Sherman ’74 In memory of Linda Warsaw Trachtman Alan and Karen Trachtman In memory of Diego Joaquin Underhill Mariano Schwed and Cathie Mahon In memory of Dr. Stephen Wortman Benjamin Woodbridge Anonymous

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The school is grateful to the following individuals who have made a bequest to Brooklyn Friends School in the past, or who have included Brooklyn Friends in their estate plans.

Murray† and Lucy Adams† Elle Garrell Berger ’60 Mildred Bijur† Anne Chapman Booth ’27† Arlette Philippous Brauer ’34† Jo Ann Black Chase ’60 Richard Cutler ’62 Ina Evans† Jessica Fadem†

David Field ’42† Mechele Plotkin Flaum ’68† Rona Goffen ’62† Peter M. Horowitz Ruth Jandorek ’43† Thomas and Sharon Kennedy Diana Korzenik ’57 Norman Kurland ’62† Ian Lesser ’75

Ms. Ruth Lofgren† Margaret Voigt Malone ’49 Ira Meiselman ’68 Talmadge† and Edith Neece Kendall Shaw Nan Bright Sussman† Tom and Livia Thompson Sharon and Russ White David Williams ’43†

The names of donors in the preceding lists were for gifts made to the School from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Gifts made afterwards will be acknowledged in next year’s annual giving report. While care was taken in compiling these lists, errors may have occurred. Please let us know of any omissions, misspellings, or gifts incorrectly categorized.

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Bold denotes a 10 year donor to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. † denotes a deceased donor.

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