MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT YEAR?
Dear Families,

​The Brooklyn Brownstone School was was founded by parents to provide a comprehensive educational experience for our children. We are constantly striving to improve and expand our offerings. Since returning from the pandemic, we've added Spanish foreign language and world heritage, dance and improvisational theatre, and our hydroponics labs. We have new partners in World Explorers to provide more after-school options, including childcare for 3K and Pre-K. 

In September 2023, we opened our first class at our early childhood annex in the K025 building, 787 Lafayette Avenue. This spring, we will break ground at our MacDonough St. site for a massive state-of-the-art playground that will be transformative for our community and a renovated cafeteria that will result in more food choices for our scholars. 

Next fall, Brooklyn Brownstone School is expanding our partnership with Responsive Classroom to include their new social emotional learning curriculum, Fly Five. The curriculum developed on the core belief that, in order for students to be academically, socially, and behaviorally successful in, out of, and beyond school, they need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies, namely cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control (C.A.R.E.S.). The Fly Five lessons are intentionally designed to be easy to follow and implement so that teachers can place their attention on the important work of noticing a student’s academic, social, and emotional growth and progress and creating conditions for that progress to continue.

Also in the fall, we are expanding our award winning debate team so that more students across grade levels can participate. At Brooklyn Brownstone School we believe students learn best when they have the opportunity to talk to their peers and engage in discourse. We envision our 2nd and 3rd graders refining their debate skills and having try-outs for our competitive team in 4th and 5th grade. We are also adopting the Civics for All program. Civics for All provides resources, materials, professional learning, and student-facing programming. The initiative focuses on culturally responsive civic education models that are interactive, project-based, and relevant to students’ lives. Our vision at Brooklyn Brownstone School is to "empower tomorrow's community advocates to become catalyst of change. Students will learn to be independent critical thinkers and creative problem solvers, and work productively within a diverse group to improve their community." We believe these two initiatives are in direct alignment and will help our vision come to life.

If you would like to see more programs offered at our school, please let us know by visiting our beliefs page and sharing your vision. ​

In partnership, 
Principal Brunner

FACILITIES

SECOND CAMPUS
For the 2024-2025 school year, Brooklyn Brownstone School will continue expanding to include 3K and PreK at our second campus. Students and families at the Lafayette Campus will receive the same high quality education, enrichment, and afterschool opportunities as our MacDonough St. Campus. We will now have 54 PreK students, located at 2 sites that will have priority for our 75 kindergarten seats at our current location the following year.

We are excited for the potential this opportunity brings our very first 3K class and increased accessibility to Bed-Stuy families.
NEW PLAYGROUND
During Spring 2024, we are breaking ground on a massive playground. This space was designed by the students and will include a track and field, outdoor classroom and painted games, "green" roof gazebo, playground equipment on a cushioned safety surface, new basketball courts, tables, benches, and over a dozen new trees!
HYDROPONICS LABS
We are the proud recipient of the NY Sun Works Hydroponics Lab Grant from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. We are re-imagining what sustainability science education can look like. With the Congresswoman's support, we’re fanning the flame of innovation and building a bright future for the young people of Brooklyn. 

We are expanding the program for the 2024-2025 school year, our hydroponics lab equipment will be in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade math and science classrooms!
CAFETERIA RENOVATION
This Spring, our MacDonough Campus cafeteria was being transformed! The renovations create a warm and welcoming places for our school kids to enjoy nutritious meals. This project was centered around four core pillars: student choice, fast service, modern style and new furniture. ​
Fast Facts​
  • Student choice: Enhanced cafeterias will feature new ways to consume fruits and vegetables
  • Faster service: No waiting on line for meals,so students have time to eat and unwind with friends
  • Modern style: Cafeteria redesigns to emphasize warm, welcoming environment
  • New furniture: Adding comfortable tables and chairs into redesigned spaces
  • Expanded halal options at schools across NYC

STUDENT PROGRAMS

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Fly Five is a social and emotional learning curriculum developed on the core belief that, in order for students to be academically, socially, and behaviorally successful in, out of, and beyond school, they need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies, namely cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control (C.A.R.E.S.). The Fly Five lessons are intentionally designed to be easy to follow and implement so that teachers can place their attention on the important work of noticing a student’s academic, social, and emotional growth and progress and creating conditions for that progress to continue.

Fly Five is offered by our partners at Responsive Classroom. Responsive Classroom is a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline, which Brooklyn Brownstone School has implemented since we were founded in 2008. From 2022 to 2024, all current Brooklyn Brownstone School Staff were trained in Responsive Classroom's core and advanced course. We are excited to take the next step and offer SEL curriculum directly to our scholars. 

The Fly Five curriculum aligns with the Responsive Classroom approach by intentionally supporting each of the four domains through lesson plans and instructional materials in order to make implementation of these ideas in the classroom easy and achievable. Ultimately, the Responsive Classroom approach creates the conditions necessary for students to develop their social-emotional competence, while Fly Five provides the guidance and instruction necessary for teachers to foster grade-specific SEL skills. 

For more information check out the Fly Five website. 
CIVICS FOR ALL
We believe civics education is an essential part of every student’s core academic experience and will launch a civics curriculum in the fall. Civics for All helps schools support students in making connections between history, current events, and democratic structures. The goal is for all our students to be engaged community members who can think critically and are empowered to chart the course that our community takes. 

                                                                                     HIGHLIGHTS

Civics Week is a time each spring for schools across the city to celebrate youth voice, civic empowerment, and the importance of registering to vote. 

Students will understand the role of the elected officials who represent them. They will visit and host local elected officials to discuss their needs.

Participatory Budgeting is a student-driven, democratic budgeting process where school community members decide how to spend part of a budget on something to improve the school community.

SoapboxNYC is a public speaking experience that calls on students to speak out about issues that affect them and their communities. Students create and advocate for solutions to improve their schools, communities, and the lives of other young people.

CULTURAL AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES
CASA is a City Council program supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. The goal is to partner with schools and cultural organizations to provide after school arts programming free of charge to schools. Brooklyn Brownstone School is proud to partner with Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) to offer two residences to our scholars; street dance and hip hop and improvisational theatre.

Our goals are to foster creativity and imangination, expand verbal and non-verbal communication skills, enhance capabilities for critical thinking and problem solving skills, fortify social emotional learning skills, and provide student centered, culturally responsive teaching. 

Brooklyn Brownstone School Teachers and BAC Teaching Artists partner to facilitate multiple 45 minute clubs over the course of 12 weeks. These programs serve a total of 120 Brooklyn Brownstone School Scholars. 
STREET DANCE AND HIP HOP CLUB
Learn to dance like a B Boy!
Street Dance and Hip Hop provides a fun and energetic environment to learn popular dance styles such as popping, locking, and breaking. Students will improve their coordination, motor skills, and body awareness while developing their creativity and musicality through freestyle and choreographed routines. The course fosters teamwork and community, allowing students to gain confidence and develop a positive self-image. 
IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE CLUB
Create an original play or musical!
Devised Theatre offers a unique opportunity to explore creative expression through the development of original stories and characters. Through engaging in this collaborative process, students will develop their communication, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills while building an appreciation for diversity and different perspectives.
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