Dear Fellow Parents & Guardians:
As we approach the holiday break, it’s a natural time to reflect on the lessons learned from another year that, while challenging, also brought celebration, renewal and thanksgiving.
This week’s in-person PA meeting was a case in point. More than 100 masked and vaxxed Bronx Science parents braved the dark of near-Winter, NYC rush-hour traffic, and a resurgent virus to come together for the first time since March, 2020. For us, it felt like a joyous collective protest against the adversities of the past 20 months.
We began the evening in the gym, where the boys basketball team had just notched an impressive victory. Taking over the court, our own PA superstars Chris Harwood, Rhonda Sidial and their cast of merry volunteers (see ‘Spotlight’ below) turned the school gymnasium into a Covid-safe buffet and BxSci merchandise mart. With parents lining up for food and gear and re-connecting on the bleachers, we were transported back to a time we refuse to forget … and long to see fully restored.
Then it was on to the first-ever BxSci hybrid PA meeting. Joined by parents at home, who endured spotty audio and masked speakers, we celebrated the milestone with an awards ceremony. The PA presented Exemplary Leadership Awards to Principal Rachel Hoyle and Phoebe Cooper (in absentia), and two Heart and Soul of Science Awards to Assistant Principal Andrew Nasser and Parent Coordinator Cindy Golan. We also presented an Exemplary Commitment and Dedication Award to our keynote speaker, Alumni Foundation Vice President Eleanor Coufos.
Eleanor shared her wealth of knowledge with us, including exciting AF-driven Bronx Science programs, and tips for how our kids can make the most of their summers. We encourage you to visit the AF website here to learn more about how it plays a pivotal role in the enrichment of our school.
Please see an important message below from the PA Health & Wellness Committee.
We will be back to a virtual meeting on January 19, 2022, but the success of Wednesday’s meeting made us resolved to do this again (circumstances permitting) in the new year. Until then, we leave you again with the poetry of Amanda Gorman, whose words are as relevant today as they were on that brilliant January morning…
“And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside…
If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright.”
Have a restful and wonderful break Bronx Science!
See you in the new year,
Jerome Kramer & Cliff Stanton
PA Co-Presidents,
president@bxsciencepa.org
P.S. We want to wish the best of luck to Bronx Science junior, Louisiana Stahl, who will be competing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Short Track Speed Skating this weekend. Represent, Louisiana!
